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Copyrighted. 1885, by BEADLE AND ADAMS. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class Mail Matte

May 13. 1885.

 

$2.50
a Year.

'Vol. VI.

Published Weekly by Beadle and Adams,

Price

No. 98 WILLIAM ST.. NEW YORK. Five 091:“-

No.70.

 

CHAPTER I.
THE SPY IN THE LOG.

AN August night of the year
1862 hung over the forests of
Minnesota.

Tho sky was overcast With a
leaden—gray mist7 and the pale
moon looked feebly to earth.

The river rolled on through
the pur le shadows, Whispering
10w an sullenly to the stately
pines, its faithful sentinels of
centuries gone.

Throw-h the woods bordering
on the Minnesota river, and

contiguous to the Yellowstone '

Agency, a figure was gliding ti

noiselessly along —— a human
figure—that of a boy with bright

BETH, THE BOY RIFLEMAN AND SPY, LISTENED.

 

2 Sure Shot Seth.

blue eyes and strong, propossessing features. He
was li ht in form and lithe of limb, and darted on-
ward t rough the gloom as though it were his own
element. He seemed perfectly familiar With his
course, and dodged in and out of the tangled mazes
of the grim old wood and along the sinuous wmdings
of the valleys like a hound upon the trail.

At length he drew up in the forest under some
stately pines, where the darkness seemed to have
been born of lnfinit . Dropping the butt of .hls
rifle to the ground, are Shot Seth, the Boy Rifle-
man and Spy, listened.

“To-whit-to-whoo-hoo~oo-ool" rung from the tree
overhead.

Seth shook his head thoughtfully.

“I never like to hear an owl hoot,” he said to
himself, “ for it’s a bad sign."

He sat down on a hollow log. and after the owl’s
cry came a deep and profound silence—a silence
that became painful and foreboding to the outh.

Again the old owl overhead sent forth his oarse
notes quaverin upon the air; and the sound was
immediately fo lowezl by a scrambling among the
branches, as upon heavy wing the bird went lumber-
ing away through the night.

Then a silence profound as the grave followed.

“Ah,” mused Seth. “that frightened cry and
flight of the owl, and this terrible silence have a
meaning.” .

He srarted to his feet as he spoke. He had been
trained in the lore of the woods and night, and could
read the sounds of each like an open book, and in-
terpret their meaning and portents. The silence
that succeeded the warning or? of that cowardly old
sentinel of the night the ow , convinced him that
danger was a. proac iug. He bent his head and
listened intent y,

OiT in the direction of the river he heard the
heavy trend of feet.

“They're comin‘, sure as deathl” the youth said
to himself, then he dropped to the ground and crept
into the hollow log upon which he had been seated.

The footsteps approached and paused under the
Email pines w thin a few feet of the log. The boy

new they were the steps of booted feet. and had
some idea to whom they belonged. He ressed his
ear to the orifice and listened. To and re beneath
the branching trees he heard the unknown pacing
with restless impatience.

Presently he heard voices in conversation, and
then a. faint beam of light streamed into the log.

He applied his eyes to the hole again and, in the
light of a. pocket-lantern, swr four ersons stand-
ine‘, and looking like Titan figures in he gloami-ig.

Three of them Seth recognized as the notorious
Sioux chiefs. Little Crow, Inkpaduta, and Little
Priest. The fourth was a white man. whose long
hair, broad-brimmed hat, peculiar garb, and gen-
eral appearance were characteristic of no other class
gfiamen than the wealthy planters of the Southern
‘ tcs.

“So you, have kept your appointment," said the
white man, raisin the lantern and scanning each
face before him w th knitted brows,

“ Little Crow is a great chief " said the redoubta»
ble’ chief himself, “and never breaks his word with
his friends."

The other two answered in the same words.

“i am glad to hear this. chiefs, for it gives me
greater stren t .” replied the white man. “I have
come from t o sunny land of the South to confer
with my red brothers; are they ready to listen?—
are there no enemies’ ears near us?"

“The trees have ears. and the wind sometimes
tells secrets," answered Little Crow.

‘I‘t'ghen you do not deem this a safe place to con-
so

"No; the night-jar screamed with affright, and
. shot into the sky when he passed near here. He is
the spirit that warns the red-man when darkness
hides dangers from his eyes. There are safer places
than this to talk,” replied the chief.

 

“ Let m red brother select the safest place, that
the ears 0 our enemies may not hear what we say,"
said the white man.

“ A brave waits by the river-side to take us in his
canoe whither we desire to go. Let us seek the soli<
tude and well-guarded shores of the island in the
river below. There can we talk in safety, for no
enemy’s car can cross the water." -

“ It- is well, great chief,” answered the white plot-
ter.

Disappointment clouded the face of the youth in
the log as he heard the four emissaries of evil mov-
ing away. But his quick brain soon suggested a
new course of action, and, creeping from the 10 ,
he rose to his feet and glided away through the dar -
ness, going in the direction of the river, but keeping
wide of the four enemies.

He reached the bank much in advance of them.
Then he stole softly down the river until he came in
gght of the Indian and canoe spoken of by Little

row.

The warrior sat in the boat with his blanket drawn
over his head. A rifle lay on the thwart at his side.

The prow of the canoe lay partly upon the beach.

The pole moonbeams struggling downward
through the darkness and mist, revealed all to the
eyes of the young spy, as he crouched in the
s ndows near.

The keen ear of the savage boatman was on the
alert. It detected a slight sound in the shrubbery.
He started from his seat and fixed his eyes on the
bushes before him. Then followed a “ whirr;" a.
dull, sudden blow; agroan; the rush of feet; .a plush
in the water; the dip of a paddle, and the prow of a
boat cleaving the waters.

The moon hid her face behind a cloud as if with
shame; while the river {lowed on as merrily as
glioudgh its waters had not been stained with human

00 .

 

CHAPTER 11.
m LONE ISLAND CONFERENCE.
SLOWLY toward the river Little Crow and his three
companions made their way.
Finally they reached the river-bank a. few rods
above the canoe.

The moon uncovered her face and looked to earth

once more.

Out upon the river Little Crow saw his boatmnn,

seated in the canoe, toying with the paddle; His
head and shoulders were covered with his red and
blue blanket.

The chief called to him. He headed the canoe

ashore. As the prow touched upon the beach Little .

Crow courteoust bade his white friend enter it.

The white man stepped into the craft. advanced
and seated himself.

The boat was a long, slender affair. made of a log.

The paddler occupied the stern; the white man a
seat next. Litile Crow third, and Inkpnduto. the prow.

“Ler- Serleque head for the Island below,” said
Litile Crow, in a low tone.

Without a word the paddle dipped. the boat back-
ed out from the shore. swung its long prow around,
and then under the skillful management of Scrleque,
glided away down the stream.

Silence sealed the lips of the party.

Swiftly onward through the waves glided the
craft. In a few minutes more the island was reach-
ed. Inkpaduta. followed by Little Priest. Little
Crow and the white man, landed. The. boatman
swunz his boat alongside the little sand-bar, laid
down his paddle and drew his blanket closer around
his head.

The island was not over a rod in width by two in
length. It was a barren sand-bar, yet well guarded
by the waves on either side. ,

Little Crow spread his blanket upon the ground
and invited the white man to be seated upon it.

Then the chief sat down opposite him, while the a

other two chiefs sat down, one upon the right and
one upon the left.

; , Whom

;

 

 

 

 

 

if

.r... .9. k g

,..ruw-z.-

Sure Shot Seth. 3

 

“ Let our white brother speak, for we are now
safe," said Little Crow. ,

The white man at once opened the conference: he
re resented himself as agent of the Southern Con-
fe erac . then waging war against the Union. He
claim that he had been sent North to eifect terms
of com romise with the Sioux under Little (lrow. and
enlist t eir aid in battling their enemies, promising
them a vast tract of territory in case victory crowned
their arms. The chiefs listened closely to the prop-
ositions of the Southern agent. and after the latter
had concluded.Litt1e Crow arose and delivered a
warm and eloquent speech. He set forth the wrongs
the had sufiered at the hands of the Government,
an expressed a belief that their grievances would
justify them in taking up arms. He did not come to
a final decision, however. until Inkpaduta and Little
Priest bad ex l‘t'SSOd themselves on the sub'ect.
When they ha . and he found that they favore the
agent’s views. the great Sioux chief at once entered
into an article of agreement with the agent to assist
them in their battle against the Union. Even the
very day and hour upon which the Indian massacre.
so prominent on the pages of history. was to begin,
were agreed upon by the chiefs and the agent be-
fore the conference ended. Altogether, an hour was
consumed by these four arch-plotters, and finally
they rose to depart. As they turned toward the
boat, a cry of surprise buist from their lips. The
boat had left the island and was half-way across to
the shore.

Little Crow called to his boatmnn, but the latter
made no re ly. He ushed on and soon entered the
border of s dows a ong the shore.

Then he ermitted the mantle that enveloped his
head and s oulders to fall to his feet, while a low,
silent pcal of laughter escaped his lips.

The boatman was Sure Shot Set i, the Boy Spy,
not the lndian. as Little Crow believed.

From his covert in the woods had Seth hurled a
stone and stricken the Indian hoatman down. Then
be tossed the body overboard. enveloped himself in
the savage’s blanket, turned the boat away from
the scene of the tragedy and paddled. along the
shore up-stream until hailed by the chief coming
down. And in this manner, the young spy possessed
hiiiilselflof the secret plot so soon to deluge the land
in 00 .

 

CHAPTER III.
was ours TUSSLE.

SURE Sno'r SETH turned and glanced back toward
the island. He could see the four forms upon it,
and hear the chief calling to Serleque, his boatman.
Taking up his rifle from its concealment under the
seat, he examined its priming. and was about to try

a shot at one of the plotters when a sound in the 'p

water arrested his attention.

He gazed downward and to his horror behold a.
human face peering up at him from the Slde of the
boat. It was an Indian‘s face—the face of Serleque.
the boatmanl He had recovered from the blow be
hadreceived at the hands of the young spy, and
Was there to seek revenge.

Seth saw. at'a glance. that the savage had an ad-
vantage to begin with, and the first thing the youth
did was to place his finger to his lips and utters.
shrill. piercing whistle that fairly started? the sav.:ge
as its intonations quivered through the air. ' ‘

Instantly, almost, it, was answered in a Similar
manner from back among the hills. and then the
savage knew that the con“: pale-face had friends
near But, not to be t wanted in his plans of ven-
geance, he rocked the canoe violently and pitched
Seth out into the water. Then the two grappled in a
deadly struggle—the red-slnn and the white—the
man and the boy.

The red-skin had no weapons save those that
Nature gave him. Seth having deprived him of his
knife and hatchet at the time of throwmg him over-
board. And his young adversary was no better pro-
vided, owing to the suddenness in which the conflict

 

had been brought about; consequently the fight was
conflnevl to skill. strength and endurance.
.Unfortunately for the outh the course of the ac-
tion gravitated toward t e center of the river. which
fact gave the enemy another advantage in course
%ucnce of his hight and the depth of the water.

ut brave, desperate and determmcd, the lad strug-
gled manfully, heroically, giving the savage all he
wanted to do. Their flying arms and feet beat and
churned the water to a foam around them. as in
rapid evolutions they whirled and spun to and fro
in ever direction. At times they would sink from
VIEW. 1; 6 water boiling and surging over them, then
pop up perhaps a rod from where they sunk, puffing
and b owing with sheer exhaustion. Now and then
they would cease their struggle for a moment to
rest; but never relinquishing the hold upon each
ot ier.

During one of those lull"- in the conflict, half a
dozen shadowy figures glided from the woods, and
pausing on the shore glanced up and down the
stream. Then a voice called:

“Seth? Seth? where are you?"

“ Here in 1.1—"

The rest of the sentence was lost in the savages »
yell and the renewal of the conflict.

“ Boys.” cried one of the party upon the shore,
“ Sure Shot is in peril."

“Yes! Yes!" responded the others. ;

“Beaver, Beaver!" exclaimed the first speaker,
“ that is your element?" l

The 1nd addressed as Beaver uttered a peculiar
cry of the fur-bearing animal of that name: then,
divesting himself of his outer clothing, plunged into
the water and struck out toward the struggling

oes.

_ By this time Seth nnd the Indian had drifted out
into the middle of the river, where the current was
swift and strong.

Beaver swam rapidly and with as much ease ap-
parently as though the water was his home. When
Within a few rods of Seth and his antagonist
they rose to the surface from a long submersion,
and to encourage his friend, he shouted:

“ Brace up. Sure Shot: brace up. for I’m coming,"
and he ended with the sharp. piercing cry of the
animal after which he had been mi ed.

For a few moments they struggle in the swiftest
part of the current: then spun rapidly across to the
opposite shore. and disappeared among the hanging
network of roots. laid bare by the wash of the waves.
The Beaver knew they were out of the water b the ,
sounds; but they were in blinding darkness. ow-
ever. he was about to follow to the some of conflict
when he saw a dozen savage forms a pear on the '
bank just over the combatants and he was com-

elled to change his mind. He remained perfectly
still on the waves and watched. They walked to
the edge of the bank and looked over. but not see-
ing the foes. one of them dropped himself down
into the river and crept under the bank to his
friend’s assistance.

The next moment a cry of agony issued from
under the bank; then all became still. '

The battle was ended. but who had been the
victor?

The Beaver. slowl drifting down the river unseen
by the savages. hel his breath in suspense.

The next moment a figure crept out from under
the bank, and climbing up into the moonlight,
brandished aloft a human scalp, at the same tune
uttering a fierce, triumph ant war'whoop.

 

CHAPTER IV.
THE WRONG scum AND THE BOY BRIGADE.

Tun Beaver drifted slowlydown the river beyond
danger, then sou ht the shore and his com nions.

“Boys,” he sad, sad and heavy-hearte , “our
gallant young leader is gone. The a savages
were too much for him. Poor Sethl his scalp is flzo
first of the long-threatened troubles.“

    
   
    
  
 
  
  
   
  
 
    
  
 
   
    
  
    
  
  
    
 
   
  
    
  
 
 
  
   
   
   
  
  
   
    
   
   
  
 
 
    
    
    
  

  

Sin-e Shot Seth.

 

A groan of the deepest angui:h was wrung from
the lips of each of the little band of youths—follow-
ers of Sure Shot Set-h.

They held a short consultation in the ed e of the
woods among the shadows; and as the Indians had
left the opposite shore, they Concluded to embark in
the canoe. that lay on the beach before them, in

nest of Seth‘s body. But at this very moment the

udians came back, terribly excite-d. on the oppOSite
shore. and at the same instant the boys discovered
that a large party was also approaching on their side
from above.

"Scatter, boysl" exclaimed one of the Earty. and
the next moment all disappeared like a s adow be-
fore a burst of sunshine.

A savage veil rung through the forest—a yell, the
like of which had not been card for a long time in
that region.

It was a blood-curdling war-whoopl

Away through the forest like hounds glided the
shadowy forms of the savages, their treacherous
hearts thirsting for human blood.

Here and there, every nov taking care of himself,
glided the followers of Sire Shot Sctli. With the
silence of panthers they crept ainangithe bushes,
dodgad around the trees and rocks, and stole on word
through the woods and darkness.

Suddenly the sharp bark of a fox broke upon the
night. One of the fleeing youths started as though
a dmllet had whistled past his ears. H > stoppel,
bent his head and listened. Again the barking of
the fox broke upon his cars. A smile of happy sur<
prise burst over his face, and clear and distinct he
sent forth an exact imit ition of the, sound he had
heard. Thvn he glided away in th - 'lir‘ction whence
the, barking had emanated. Ha move I briskly, yet
with silence, keeping the one course in a “ bee-line.”

.\ He had gone nearly a hundred yards when a. low
voice hailed him:

“ Hullo; is it you. Reynard?"

" Great heavens!" was the excited answer; “ do
my ears deceive in)? Or do i hear the voice of Sure
Shot S :th ?"

“I am her», R9 nard,“ was the response, and Sure

Shot Seth steppai from a cluster of bushes and con-

fronfci his friend.
"Well. by the Lord Harry!" exclaimed Reynard,
“ there‘s a big mist the sornewhem. Why, .‘eth, we

‘mourned you as deal. Tint savago flourished n.

scalp aloft. wh'an he came fr on under the haul: and
uttered a triumphant smile-cry."

“ I know he did, the doliri-xd fool; but the fact is,
he took the scalp of a frieirl. He, siicc is led in get-
ting his knib. out just as I discovered that a secon'l
real-skin had appeared Oll‘tilii scene, and hya sni-
den movement I brought my enemy into such a po-
sition as to receive the knife of his friend in his
heart, The savage knew not but tliatit was me, and
tearing off his scilp, rushed out and climbed up vim
bin: in grant glee with a comrade’s scalp, leavin:
ms to make my way out at leisure. But are the
other boys about, Reynard?"

" Yes; they are scattered through the woods. and
not a tow red‘skins are after them. But, Seth, what
(Lid you dis -over to-niglit? Were the chiefs in coun-
cil with that Southern agent?“

“Yes: and I discovered all lwantsd to—that the
red-skins h'we dug7 up the hatchet, and that the
Yellow‘ Mtzdicins Agency. Fort Ridgcly. New Him
and the Lower Ag -ncy are all marked for destruc-
tion. The good Settlers of these places must be put
upon their guard at once: and so i will call the Bri-

ade. and then turn our faces in that direction.
hippowill whippowill" ‘

The last two words whistled from his lips in an
exact imitation of that night-bird, whose peculiar
song seems very plain to articulate the syllablos
which compose its own name. a moment later a
similar answer was given: and still a few moments
later, a figure emerged from the shadows into the
little opening where Seth and Reynard stood in
waiting.

 

 

“Ay, friend Whippowill" cried Seth, extending
his hand.

“ Blessed Virgin!" exclaimed the youth in the
Celtic brogue. “ and, bedad, and I‘m glad to mate
yc, Seth, me b'y.”

The three soon relapsed into silence; then Seth
uttered a cry like that of a beaver. and was soon
answered in a similar manner. A few moments af‘
terivard, the lad, Beaver, who had swam to Seth’s
assistance, joined the group, beside himself with

Joy.

Then Seth sent forth the hoot of an owl, the howl
of a wolf, and the scream of a panther; and. in an-
swer to the calls. three more youths made their ap-
pearance, and joined the group amid the wildest
rejoicing.

And then and there in that wild wood opening were
assembled seven youths, differing as widely from
each other as nature could make them; yet joined
together as if bound by all the ties of a sacred
brotherhood. By profession they were trappers,
and were known as the Boy Brigade. Each repre-
sented some different nationality, or peculiarity.
There was an Irish, German. African, and Indian

outh in the party, the others being Americans. All
had been reared in the woods, and amid the wild
dangers of the border. As a party, they were as
one: but individuality made them as different in
tastes and notions as seven ersons could well be.
While one liked to trap the cover. another would
rather hunt the fox, or the wolf, or the deer. And
it was the same way with the sounds they heard.
While one loved to hear the plaintive song of the
wliippowil, an ither found more mnsicin the jarring
hoot of an owl. Thus. by their (liifrrent pursuits
and respective cccoiitricities, had each come into
possession of a. sobriquet by which he was known to
the hind.

82th March. the leader of this Boy Brigade, was
called Sure Shot, in consequence of his unerring
marksmanship. ,

Justin Gray was the Beaver. He made that ani-
mal a special object in hunting and trapping,

Teddy O'Roop loved the song of the whippowil,
and the name of that bird was given him.

Balwin Judd became Reynard, the fox, after hav-
ing caught a number of those animals.

’l‘irn Tricks, the African youth, being cook, became
Black Bin.

1 The Owl was the big—eyed, round-faced German
ar .

Hooseah. the Indian boy. answered to the n me
of Le Subtile Wolf. The name was not giVen im
1) 'cause he had aiiv parlicular love for that animal,
but because his movements were as sly and cunning
in “bagging” game as the wolf’s in-taking prey.
The. glossy skin of a wolf was part of his dress.

These names and their emblems were but boyish
whims; yet all had hocovne familiar in the local his-
tory of Minnesota: for the Biy Brigade was an or-
ganization of its kind unsurpassed even by men of
age and experiencs. The oldest of the party was
nineteen. tne youngest sixteen. Sure Shot Seth,
their leader, was l'iq‘ll'vfiell, and yet possessed all the
developments of perfect manhood. Asa trapper, in
lnd no peer; and it was with no feeling of envy or
reluctance that lie was chosen leader of 1h“, little
band of boys. who. early thrown upon their own re-
sources, chose. the exciting. adventurous calling of
the trapper. For two years their business had been
one of undisputed profit and pleasure, but now the
threatened Indian war would put an end to it; but
they accepted all in the spirit of true hemism. and
decided to stand and fight by those who had stood
by them in days zone by.

Their mission for the night having ended, the Boy ,

Brigade bent their steps southward.

Rapidly, and yet silrntly. they made their way
through the tracklcss forest. Mile after mile was
traverSed, until finally they drew up in front of a
long, low, double cabin built of . logs, and standing
in the heart of a deep, dense Wilderness of mighty

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Sure Shot Seth. 5

 

ines. It was the home of the Brigade; and here,
inside and out, was evidence of no little culture and
refinement.

The odor that pervaded the atmosphere was not
that of the wildwoods alone; but the mingled fra-
grance, of wild flowers filled the air. The cabin was
overrun with honeysuckles and morning-glories,
and a dozen other flowers. all carefully cultivated
by the boys, contributed their sweetness to that
delicate sense of refinement so seldom found among
the rude children of the border. The cabin door
was ap reached through a long, shady arbor of wild
cucum er vines, where the hot days of summer were
passed on the grass-plot beneath the sylvan shade.

The little band filed down this avenue of green,
fragrant verdure, and paused before 1119 door, Seth
raised the latch, ushed open the door. and entered.
His companions ollowed him across the threshold.
All was gloom in the cabin, but, halvingin the center
of the room, Seth sniffed the air, then exclaimed:

“ Boys, what do you smell ?" _

“Tobacco, by the Howly Virgin!" exclaimed the
Whippowil. and all repeated his answer.

"That‘s it," answered Seth, “and as none of us
ever use the weed, some stranger has been here
smoking."

A candle was at once lit, and as its light dispelled
the gloom, the boys glanced hastily about them to
see if the intruder had taken liberties with their
cabin. But all was as they had left it.

The cabin was divided into two rooms by a par-
tition of logs, and the one the boys first entered
was us id as a. kind of sitting-room. The walls
were hung with fancifully-wrought robes and furs,
and adorned with the stuffed skins of litauiil'ul
birds and small animals. Over each door were the
branching antlers of an elk, among which were
coiled monstrous spotted srrpents. On a table in
one corner were a number of iimoworn books——
books of the very best kind for the young mind;
and, in addition to this source of mental culture
and pastime, a violin and harp hung upon the wall.

The young trappers set aside their weapons, and
seating themselves. entered into conversation. The
conference, to which Seth had been an auditor,
formed the general topic of discussion. That an
Indian war was inevitable. they had not a doubt;
and as it would be impossible ior them to continue
trapping, they decided to gather in their tra )S,
dispose of their stock on hand, and vacate t e
Hermit Hut, as the place was called. and take up
arms against the savage. At least this was the de-
cision of most of the party, a few evading a direct
answer as to their future course. Seth noticed this
hesitation with no little surprise. but said nothing.
He resolved to let the matter rest until morning,
then-insist for a direct answer from all.

“Boys,” said Seth after they had discussed the
different topics of interest, “this is probably the
last night we will be here. and so let us have some
music, and a final merry-making."

All acquiesced, and the Indian lad, Le Subtile
Wolf. having been placed on guard outside. Tim
Ericks took down the fiddle and Sure Shot Seth the

am. -

Tim Tricks and Seth were both fine musicians,
and, in accordance with tho \‘ hip owilg request,
struck up the “ Grand Russian Marc 1," much to the
delight of their and itors.

The music swelled out in enchanting melody, and
wi’h its varying notes, the blood of the youths glided
through their veins in symphony with the soul-
stirring strains. '

But in the midst of all, while every mind was di-
verted from the cares of the outside world, and ab
sorbed in the sweet melody of music, a dark body
suddenly dropped from above in the middle of the
floor with a dull, heavy thud, and something bright
upon it glinted in the light.

The music ceased, and the boys started to their
ieet with an involuntary exclamation of horror.

In the room before them stood a powerful savage,

 

his head shaven, his face in war-paint, and wreathed
in a sinister smile of diabolical triumph.

There was no loft in the room, and. glancing up-
ward. the boys saw an opening had been made in
the roof during the musical entertainment, and, be-
fore -they had time to act, a second savage swung
himself down into the room and confronted the
young hunters. He was immediately followed by a
third, a fourth, and so on. until six powerful war-
riors stood in the middle of the house, facing the
Boy Brigade with their hands upon their weapons.
adevilish smile of triumph upon their faces, and a
murderous intent in their hearts.

CHAPTER V.
THE STRUGGLE IN THE nv'r.

FOR fully a minute a spuechl: ss silence reigned in
the Hermit Hut. the savages c ing the boys, and the
latter exchanging glances with one and another.
Had the red-skins entered the door as had been their
wont in days past, the boys would not have mistrust~
ed them of mnrdarous designs. But their war-

aint, and ever y feature of the. face. and the black
ei‘l‘ct-cycs, bespoke the evil, murderous purpose in

their hearts.

The Brigade had deposited all their rifles in one
corner, and edging around by degrees, the savages
managed to get themselves between the boys and
the guns. believing that they were in possession of
no other weapons. lot in this the red-skins were
mistaken. Each of the boys was possessed of a
small revolver, and which, at close quarters, would
be themost desirable weapon.

The savages were armed with the deadliest weap-
ons—the tomahuwk and scalplng knife. But none of
them were drawn, and n movoment of a hand to the
belt would be a signal for the boys to precipitate the
conflict.

For half a. minute a lull—such as precedes the
Violence of the storm—dell upon the two lines
of enemies, though each form seemed to tremble
with the emoti'ms that were gent up within it.

Seth had, adxoitly, yet without any apparent mo-
tion whatever, tramferred his hands to his breecth
pockets, in the right of which he always carried his
revolvers, it being more convenient.

His friends saw this movement, and com prehend-
ed its meaning at once, though it never entered the
lndian’s brairs that his movement was other than a.
manifestation of pcacu; and as the Youth’s compan-
ions assumed positions and attitu es that brought
their right hands in juxtaposition with theirrevcl-
vers, a savage spoke: '

“ We will not kill the boy trappers if they will go
quietly as prisoners to the village of Lil the Crow.“

" We haven’t the least assurance of this," an-
swered Seth. “for we have found the Sioux to be
treacherous as the moccasin-snake.” ;

“ For these words shall the pale-face boy die," re-
lied the chief, unloosing his tomahawk. But. he-
ore he could release the weapon, the hand of the.

young trapper-boy was withdrawn from his pocket
and extended toward the savage’s face. There was
a flash and report simultaneously, and the warrior.
with a deep groan of horrible pain. started back: his
face contorted with agony and his muscles quiver-
ing he fell like an ox upon the floor. A round hole
in iis forehead bearing the powder-marks around
its edges told where the unerring bullet had struck. _

This was a signal for a general attack, and the
clash of five other revolvers rung out sharp and
stunning on the night. Every savage went down be-
fore tbe deadly weapons, and victory seemed but
the labor of an instant for our friends: but in the
moment of their bloodless trium h, a fiendish yell
outside the door burst from the ips of ascOre of
red-skins; the door was flung open, and the yelling
demons rushed into the cabin like a tornado.

Turning on his heel, as the door burst from its
hinges. Sure Shot Seth fired at the candle, sanding
opt tin:1 light as completely as though done by agust
0 Win .

 

 

 

 

Sure Shot Seth.

 
 

 

Then the revolvers of the boy trappers were turn-

v ed. toward the door. and a conslant stream of tire
flashed in the faces of the savages. The groans of

the dying wretchos were mingled with the crack of

the revolvers. the soddeu fall of heavy bodies. and

the tumbling of the excited savages over their fallen

comrades as they rushed into the darkened room.

The boy trappers gradually edged around toward
the door eading into the opposite room; and as each
one emptied the last. chamber of his revolvor, he
passed out into the adjacent apartment. Not a.
word escaped the lips of the young friends, and one
by one their revolvers became silenced: but whether
it was by death. or by being emptied. each could tell
nothing regarding his comrade.

A light was obtained by the savages, and then it
was that they beheld the terrible loss they had al-
ready sustained. Maddened by the sight of their
dead braves, they sought the foe in the adjoining
room, but the scene oflbattle hadibeen transferred to
the open air. In front of the cabin tho boy trapper-s
met a number of savages as they passed out, and
here another conflict ensued.

“Boys,” cried Sure Shot Seth, “make for the
woodsl—everiy fellow for hhnselfl“

A moment ater there seemed to he a perceptible
pause in the struggle as the sound of the conflict
spread out in all directions, and yells of savage ven-

cance rum: through the forest. B these sounds

ure Shot Seth knew that his men iad obeyed or-
ders. and that all the survivors were seeking safety
by flight to the woods. But how many had fallen?
This was the question that now rose in the your: :
trapper-‘5 mind as he pursued his lone] way through
the dark and gloomy wilderness. hen assured
that he had eluded his pursuers, Seth stopped and
sat down upon a. log.

All noise of the late conflict was left behind, and
unbroken silence pervaded the night.

Sure Shot Seth grew easier now. He knew by the
sounds that came to his ear that no danger was
lurking near. The acute ear of the experienced
woodman can read the voices of nature as though
spoken in an intelligible dialect. Through force of
habit he becomes accustomed to his surroundings.
and intuitively learns‘by instinct the language of
both animate and inanimate nature, for inanimate
nature has a language. and one that never deceivei.

It was the assurance that no danger lurked near
that gave Seth relief; and when satisflexl that he
could do so with impunity, he gave utterance to the
sharp bark of the fox.

Instantly he was answered in a similar manner
from among the hills. v

“ Reynard. the Fox, lives " the young leader said;
then he uttered the cry of tho beaver, and was an-
swat-ed.

Than changing his position, he gave utterance to
the scream of a (panther, the bowl of a wolf, the
hoot of an owl, an the cry of n. whippowil. All a.u«
swerod but one.

" As I livel" soliloquizcd Seth. “the boys all an-
swered but the Indian, L3 Suhtile Wolf. Can it be
that he has been slain?"

Hooseah was a brave and fearless youth, with but
little of the sava e in his nature. Ho was a Chip-
pewa by birth, ant had spent all his days among the
whites, comng from northorn Michigan when ( uite
a lad; so there was no danger to apprehend oi his
Want of fidelity to the whites. Seth was satisfied
that he had either been killed or else had not heard
his call He did not re eat it through fear of con

.fusion. or of increasin t oir danger.

Moving further bac into the woods. Soth finally
sat down in a dense thicket of shrubhery, leaned
against a tree and wont to sleep. This wns not a
very commendable act for a borderman, but Seth
knew that no danger could befall him there in such
a lonely and desolate spot. Moreover, he was al-

mo:t exhausted with his night’s adventure, and
nothing1 but sleep could restore the much-needed
strengt .

 

It was just growing light when he awoke. He
could see the dusky outline of the tree-trunks
around him, and leanin against one of these. mo-
tionless as the tree itsel , he saw the outlines of an
Indian warriorl

 

CHAPTER VI.
A QUEER OLD cusrousn.

Sara started to his feet, half-bewildered and
half-terrified at sight of the savage standing over

1m.

To his surprise, however, he saw that the Indian
did not move. and a second thought and second
glance removed a terrible weight from the youth’s
mind; for be now recognized the red-skin as his
friend, Hooseah, or Le Subtiie Wolf. The Indian
lad was standing there asleep. It was the way a
Chippewa slept on the war-path.

Seth glanced around him. and on the opposite side
of the same tree. against which he had reclined, he
saw the form of Justin Gray. the Beaver, curled up
in a sound slumber; and under another tree not far
away. the form of Black Pan, the African, stretched.
at full length along the ground.

Seth gave utterance to the shrill cry of a bird,
then in a clear voice called out:

“ Lo Subtiie Wolf?”

“ Ughl me here," muttered the lad, starting from
his slumber.

“ J ustiu Gray 7"

“ Here." '

“Tim Tricks?"

“ Here I is, ole boss.”

“Baldwin Judd?"

“ Hot-e." came from in the bushes.

“ Teddy O’Roop i"

“Here, bcdad.’

“ Mort Schultz?"

“ I here ish.”

And as each one answered to his name he emerged
from among the shadows and stood before his
young leader, Sure Shot Seth. -

" Thank God, we are all permitted to meet again,”
said Seth.

This was the point designated as a rendezvops be-
fore leavingr the cabin when the savages Were pour-
ing in upon them; hence thc remarkable manner
under which they all met.

The marks of a restless night, and of excitement.
wrre upon (each face; yet no look, word or move
ment betrayed the least sign of fear. While the red
dawn of thc rosy mom was bursting into light
around thema shrill, sharp voice suddenly cried out:

‘ w/‘I‘.

The boys started as though a torpedo had ex-
ploded in their midst. They glanced around them,
then at another, a look of wild astonishment upon
each faco. I

“ H re /” again shouted the unknown vmce. and the
sound was followed by an outburst of rollicking
laughter. ‘

It came from overhead, and raising their e es. the
young hordermcn saw that which forcrd an involun-
tary exclamation from their lips. Attached to a
limb of the wide-spreading oak was a sort of a rude
hammock made of a blanket. and over the end of.
this the quaint, comical face of an old man looked
down 11 n them.

This 0 stranger was a man of nearly threescoro
years; yet the bright luster of his mischievous gray
eyes, and the smile upon his thin, bearded face, told
of a youthful. buoyant spirit.

“ I’m in at roll-call, too," he exclaimed, in awhim-
sical tone; “sound the reveille, beat the drum, and
rat-tat-too, for day has broke, the birds are astir,
and the devil's to pay.“ ‘

“ Will, now!" exclaimed Teddy O‘Roop, “and
what fur a. haste have we got there now?”

“ Hello, boggy-tongue," answered the man, with a
comical smile, as he turned over on his stomach
in his hammock and azed complacently down upon
the Brigade, while 9 kicked up his heels like a

  

  

 

 

 

"him

i

‘13}!1wmkzh‘n'zi +  _ , .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure Shot Seth. ' .9

listless school—boy lying in the shade. “I should
think you could see that I’m not a ’possum up here;
nor that I‘m not an oriole in a. hangin‘ nest, but a
full-fledged rooster of the genus man who roosts
high and dry.”

“ We observe that you are rather elevated in your

L ideas of repose,” said Seth

“ Elevated, did yer say?" replied the man; “ Jews
and Gentiles; that’s no name for it. It’s perfectly
delicious up here. Ye see, I’ve slept around on the
yearth with bugs, and snakes, and tortles, and heals,
and wolves, and Indians, and snails, and alligators,
crawlin over and sniflln‘ round me long enough;
and so come to she conclusion that I‘d hangmyself

,, ufiin a tree after‘ds- and I find it‘s delicious. I’m
0

Joyful Jim Tucirer, a brother of the veritable
Daniel who had a Darby lamb; and so I’ll jist come
firgi‘n my chamber in the air, and quiz you chaps a

l .

The man ste ped out upon a limb, unfastened his
hammock. too a rifle and its accoutermeuts from
among the thick foliage above his head, and then
descended to the round. He shook hands with the
boys all around. t en said:

“ S‘pose you Chaps are on the war-path?”

“Can‘t say that we are, exactly, though we had
quite a fight last night with savages at our cabin,
and were routed, though we lost no men.”

"You don‘t mean to say that you compose Sure
Shot Seth‘s Boy Brigade. that’s been ranchin’ at the
Hermit Hut?" exclaimed Joyful Jim.

“ We’re the Boy Brigade,” answered Seth.

“Judas and Benedict Arnold! Why. boys, I was
just on my way to your ranch.”

“From where?“

“Minnisota in zineral; you see I've been doin’ a
little tradin’ up here. ’mong the Ingins for the ast
few years. Ive been tradin’ ’em beads, poc et-
knives and ‘doctored water.’ for peltries; but as

' they've dug: up the hatchet, I concluded to make

myself seldom in their midst, and so pointed nose

‘ for the Hermit Hut. And so they’ve routed you

boss and foot?"

“ They came upon us ten to one.”

“They did? Wal, t’hen, thar’s no (‘enyin‘ blood
and war are u on us: and so Ipropose to have a
hand in it. If tie critters hadn't confiscated all my
stack, I’d been easier onto ’cm: but now I repose
to let ‘em know that I wer‘n‘t eddicated in , a city.
1’“ iist sail riizht into ’em, boot and toe-nail.”

“ ow-oo-ol" suddenly rung in a low quavering
echo through the woods.

Every boy started as if shot.

“It is Le Subtile Wolf," said Seth. who. for the
first time, noticed the absence of the Indian from
their midst.

The lndian lad came bounding into the midst of
his friends. brandishing above his head 11. Sioux
scalg, and followed by a strange youth.

“ rcat shockiu’i” exclaimed Old Jim. “here’s
this bloody Turk with a red-skin scalp. Who says
you can civilize or tame an lngin 2“

“It‘s an Indian’s nature to scalp, and I presume

ou can’t reach it out of him," said Sure Shot Seth‘

‘but who ave you here. Hooseah?“ and he turned
to the white lad accompanying him.

“ Ed Thornly," answered the youth himself.

“ Ed Thornlyf Haven‘t I seen you at Yellow
Medicine?"

“ Yes; I reside there; you are Sure Shot Seth, I
believe?"

“The same," answered our hero.

“Then in mission is at an end. though I thought
for awhile t e Indians had ended it this morning for
me when they captured me. Thanks to your red
friend here I was liberated."

H‘g‘har: you were on your way to the Hermit

Ii. "

“ Yes—totally ignorant of the fact that the Indians
had begun their do redations. But I am here to see
you. Seth, on a li tle matter concerning us boys
at the Agency. Tomorrow we are to have a shoot

/

 

lug-match there for boys. A fine rifle is to be the
prize. There is some rivalry between Tom Grayson
and Ivan Le Clercq, the two best shots at the place;
but on the part of the latter it is not a friendly rival-
ry. He has already resorted to foul means to de-
feat Tom. whom the maJiority of the people like.
By the mean- advantage :1 read grained. it is feared
that Le Clerc will win, so we oys held a meeting,
and conclude( to send for you, and have you take
some of the conceit and Self-arrogance out of that
fellow. I have a request here, signed by nearly all
the boys in the Agency, for you to come down and
scoop Le Clercq out."

Seth‘s eyes brightened as Ed presented him the
paper, upon whic were a number of names. It was
a concession to his superior marksmanship. and he
felt proud of the hon or thus conferred upon him by
the Agency boy. He could, under no circum-
stances. decline, and expressed his surprise at the
honor bestowed upon him, and promised Ed that he
would be on hand at the shooting-match.

“ I‘ll trach your friend Ivan a lesson he has never
learned in handling firearms," he said, “and. as I
am without a rifle now, it will be a kind of a God-
Send to get a now one. Yes, you can tell Tom Gray-
son that I’ll be there.”

The whole band now moved southward. accom~
panied by Ed Thornly and Joyful Jim, the reputed
Indian trader.

That night they encamde ten miles from the
Agency. Ed Tliornly went on home alone, but
under cover of the darkness.

Bright and early the next morning Sure Shot Svth
left the Brigade and set out for Yellow Medicine to '
fulfill his engagement at the shooting-match.

Shortly after his departure the Brigade struck a
fresh Indian Trail leading toward the southwest,
and feeling fully satisfied that the enemy were upon
the war—path, they set oii': in pursuit of the foe-—
upon their first war trail.

CHAPTER VII.
Tim noir CONSPIRATORB.

YELLOW MEDICINE AGENCY was the scene of no
little excitement. for there was to be a shooting-
match there that day; and a big time was anticipa-
ted, for such amusement of the border settlers
usually drew a large number of persons. And,
what made this all the more interesting. it was to be
a match for boys. A fine rifle of exquisite work-
maiishi and elegant finish. and purchased by
Squire xigodson. '1‘ e shooting was all to he done
With the new rifle, at the distance of one hundred
and fifty paces. ' V

The boys at the Agency—and there were qmte a
number of them—were wild over the coming match,
and were out practicingdaily in the woods at target
shooting. There were some fine shots in the arty.
and the contest was likely to be a close one. here
was but little diiference in the shootin of Tom
Grayson, Josh Parson and Ivan Lo 0 ercq. If
there was any difference, it was in favor of the lat-
ter. Le Clcroq was a French half—breed. He was a
flue-looking lad, with dark eyes leasant face, and
a form strai ht as an arrow. e'was rather Wild
and waywar . and some thought alittle treacherous
and insincere in character. . .

There were those in Yellow Medicme that oh-
jected to their boys associating With Ivan; and there
were,others who exercised but little control over
their boys, and did not piesumc to select. their com-
panions. The result was that those inclined to mis-
chief became the followers of the wildnharum-scar-
um Ivan Le Clerc : while the qmetxlisposed were
the friends of Tom rayson.

Tne latter was a kind, brave and whole-souled lad
of seventeen, who loved the sports of the woods as
well as an one living. He was kind and generous
to both oid and young. and possessed of all the at
tributes of a true and perfect man, both moral and
ph sical. . .

is a boy, fronfia certain period, has a natural

\

. .

 

  

tendency toward sin, Ivan, as a matter of course,
had the largest party of followers; and as the two
parties stood divided on all other questions. so they
were divided on the coming shooting-match: Ivan
and party practical off by themselves, keeping the
result a secret from the others; but in the mean
time he sent a spy into Tom’s camH, and thereby
kept posted as to Tom and Josh’s ski .

Ivan Le Clerc finally became so anxious tom
the winner of t e prize that he let his ambition
stoop to the unscrupulous trick of stealing Tom‘s
gun and hiding it away where it could not be found
for several days. This roused the blood In 'i‘om’s
veins. and he resolved to have Ivan defeated in the
shooting-match, even at the sacrifice of the honor
of winning the prize himself; and so sent an invua‘
tion to Sun; Shot Seth to attend the match.

Some way or other. Ln Clercq got Wind of this
movement, when another trouble was ad ed to his
list of fancied wrongs; and to obviate this new dan<
gar to his winning the prize, he called a council of

our of his most intimate friea‘ds on the evening be-
fore the day of the contest. hey met about sunset
on the river-bank. and in tones of secrecy discussed
the probable result of the morrow‘s sport.

All felt satiefled that if Sure Shot Seth came, he
would win the day without any trouble.

“ But we must not let him come," said Lo Clot'cq,
empgiatically.

“ ut if he concludes to come, how are we going
to help ourselves I" asked one of his companions.

“ That’s the question before the house,” said Ivan,
“ and Eve 9. way in my mind as to how to keep Seth
awa .

“ ow 7" asked a companion.

“ Guess."

“ Shoot him?”

“ Not that rough."

“Stick him into the river with a stone round his
neck?” .

“No; watch the road he‘ll come to-morrow, and
catch him and tie him up till after the shooting is

' over. ” said Ivan.

“ That'll fix him.” exclaimed a. companion, ap-
provingly. ‘

“Let s do it," echoed the others.

“ Nufl said," added Ivan; “if you fellers ’11 say
you’ll help me, I'll get ropes ready to-night and to-
morrow we’ll come down here and watch him where
he crosses the river, and snail him up. What do you

a Y
ZAll rightl we‘ll help!" cried the young scamps.
And the matter being thus settled, the conspira-
tors adjodrned, and retriiced their footsteps toward
home. But scarcely were {they out of sight ere two
maidens. of about Sixteen {summers stepped from a
thicket near, their pretty young faces aglow with
pleasure, and their bright eyes sparkling with in-
ward delight.
“We’ll see about that tying up Sure Shot Seth,
won‘t we, Maggie?" said one.
“We will that, Emma; and won’t it be jolly to
beat such bad boys?"
And the two maidens laughed merrily over the
ideaél as hand-in-hand they sauntered leisurely home-
war .

 

CHAPTER VlTI.
wno won THE rurnn.

THE day of the shooting-match dawned bright
and clear. The air was soft and light, and not a
breeze was stirring. Nature seemed to have pre-
pared the day especially for Squire Podson‘s enter.
tainment' and by noon all the people in the Agency
and viola ty had athcred in the “Openings,” in
the river bottom 0 witness the contest. Not all
either. for Ivan Le Clorcq and four of his boon com-
gamons ware not there. Neither was Sure Shot

eth. but he was momentarily expected.

At one o‘clock the shooting commenced. with
indifferent result. Tom vason was not a little

- Surprised at the absence of Ivan Le Clercq, and

Sure Shot Seth.

 

 

bitterly disappointed not to find one other face
among the s ectators. That was the face of Emma.
Milbank. Al the rest of the women and girls of
his acquaintance were there except she and Maggie
Harris. '

Now, Tom lovod Emma very dearly; hence his
disappointment at not seeing her there. For her to
see him win the prize would have been worth more
to him than a dozen prizes; for her to have cheered
his success with one smile, would have been worth
still more than all; for it would have assured him of
her rlegards—that Lis love was in a measure recipro-
catet .

Meanwhile. we will look after Ivan Le Clercq and
his putty. Early that morning the young rascals

ut out for tho river, and, haVing reached its

anks, scattered out along the stream about a bun-
dred yards apart to watch for the comin of Sure
Shot Seth. After hours of impatient waiting and
watching, a boat rounded the bend up the river wit h
a single occupant—Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifle-
man.

The boy that made this discovery hastily commu-
nicated the fact to those below, and in a few min-
utcs all were together. They know about where
Seth would land, and as he would have to pass
through a strip of dense woods after leaving the
river to reach the Agencg. Ivan and his party ran on
ahead, and having mas ed their facus, awaited the
approach of Seth.

The unsuspecting youth soon came tripping light-
ly along, whistling as merrily as only a boy can.
lie was dressed in a neat-fitting suit of buckskin,
with a fringe of the same material up the seams of
the loggings and around the waist and shoulders.
Ho carried no rifle, nor weapon of any sort that
were visible, which fact removed some fears from
the breasts of those lying in ambush for him.

Suddenly the rush of feet arrested his attention.
He stopped and looked around him. Five persons,
with masks upon their faces, rushed out of the
shadows and s izcd him. He stru sled desperately.
heroically, and for awhile held is adversaries a
lively fight. But superior numbers finally triumph-
cd. He was overpowered, borne to the ground, and
bound and gagged. Then he was carried into a
thicket and tied to a tree where no human eye
could detect his presence ten feet away.

This done, the young rufflans hurried away in the
direction of the “Openings.” whence they could al-
ready hear the clear ringing report of the rifles at
the shooting-tournament coming.

When a few rods from the thicket they threw
aside their disguiscs: Ivan Lo Clerc '5 face looked
red and excited; it shown] the unmistakable signs
of a guilty conscience. But calming his emotions
the best way he could, he entered the crowd gather-
ed in the Openings.

“Ho, Ivan, my boy," exclaimed S<Eiire Podson,
gYou’are late, young man; whar thc cuce ‘ve you

cen?

“We‘ve been out on a deer-hunt. Buck Jones
said thar were three deer that come dOWn to the
old ferry every morning to drink, and we thought
we‘d secure one or two."

And what a falsehood the boy told!

“Well,” continued the squire, “you were just in
time, for the last boy has shot. and Tom Gravson ls
chum ion so far. We have been looking for Sure
Shot cth, down from the Hermit But, all morning,
and he may come yet. But now, Ivan, do you want
to try your hand 1’”

“ To be sure I do: that‘s what I come for,” was
the i mpertinent reply. ,

The squire loaded his gun and handed it to Ivan.
The youth turned facing the tar-net, raised the gun
—shootin2 off-hand—and tired. In a minute the
news came up from the target that he made a win-
ning shot. .

The crowd cheered the boy lustrly.

Each contestant was allowed three shots, the best
in three winning.

 

 

  
   
   
  
    
  
    
    
   
   
   
   
  
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
  
  
   
   
   
 
    
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
 
 
  
 
   
   
   
    
  
  
  
  
  
   
  

 

  

 

 

      

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

sure Shot Seth.

 

Tom Graysou had hit the target twice out of three
possible shots. ,

Again the gun was loaded, and again Ivan Le
Clercq fired. In a moment the news came up that
he had made smother winning shot.

Loud and prolonged rung the shouts from the
spectators: while with a look of triumph, Ivan’s
eyes sought those of Tom.

Again was the gun loaded and handed to the
youth. With more than usual ceremony, intended
to command admiration. Ivan raised the rifle, and
glancing alon the barrel, fired.

A deep an deadly silence fell upon the crowd,
and an eager and expectant look incunted every
face. in the anxiety to know the result of Ivan‘s
last shot.

Slowly upon the air came the response:

“Missed entirely."

Then the lull broke into a storm of shouts of de-
rision and cxclainations of regret. A general hub-
bub of voices arose, and the crowd became clamor-
ous to know who had won the prize.

“Nobody in course," answered Squire Podson;
“ Tom and ivan tied, and so the two ’11 have to shoot
it over."

This satisfied the friends of the two boys and the
shooting was resumed; but it resulted as before—in

a tie. '

“ Shoot it over ag’in,” said the squire; but at this
juncture a new-comer pushed his way into the
crowd and demanded a trial in the contest. ~

No one had noticed this young stranger until he
was in the midst of the party; and all were not a lit-
tle surprised, at his presence.

He was rather an odd specimen of the genus boy.
There was no telling how old he was; but that he
was not beyond the imitations of the rules of the
contest, was evident to all. His face was covered
with a. com lication of rings and dirty streaks made
of the di erent pigments used by the Indians.
Around each eye was painted three rings—the inner
one being black. the second blue, and the third red
—— which gave him the wild, staring expression of a
comic old owl. His nose was painted black; his
checks were touched with blue: and his mouth en-
circled by a ring of dirty red. is hair was cropped
close and the bristling stubs had also received a
coloring of red, black and blue, in spots. He was
dressed in a suit as odd and quocr as himself; and,
altogether, he was the most comic and clownisli-
looking person it had been the fortune of our friends
to meet. .

“Mortal inspirationl" exclaimed the old squire, at
sight of the lad, “ who in all the mystery be you?”

“ I are the youn ring-eyed eagle, jist soared down
from the. Rocky ountains to try a shot at this his-
ness," exclaimed the youth, in a kind of a squeaky
tone, keeping one corner of his mouth depressed;
“I are the little eagle whose dad lords it over the
United States and screams along the sky. Show me
the chicken that says he can beat me shootin’, and
I‘ll flop a wing into his anatomy.”

” Hold on here, youngster,” said Podson, “you're
crazy, ben’t you?" ‘ .

“ Crazy! Oh-a-yi! a—yilf‘ he screamed, in exact
imitation of the eagle, “ give me a few shots at the
target, and I‘ll show you that the ring-eyed eaglet of
Sky’P‘uncher-Peak can warm the wax in any boy‘s
ears this side of his fu’st birthday at shootin‘. Fight,
did on say? Lord, no; I’d run afore I‘d fight, for
I’m he young bird of Freedom—a-yil a-yil“

The in uisitive throng that had crowded around
the lad, lied with grea excitement and curiosity,
now burst into a pea] of laugh ter at the comic antics
gt (ills rollicking young Eagle from Sky-Puncher-

ca .
“ Well. now, lookey here. Eagle,” said Podson,

“whur you from, and what do you want here?"

E‘From Sky-Puncher'Peak, I tell yo, and am here

'to takeahand in the shootin‘-inatch. Jist furnish

me. a gun, show me the thingarnagig you shoot at,
and I'll shew you that the ring-eyed Eagle tram.

 

 

Sky-Puncher-Peak‘s not so slouchy, if he is jist git-
tin’ his fn’st pintfeathers." '

Podson, as well as a number of others, saw that
the lad,~-whoever he was, was playing a role in his
disguise; and while the were wondering who he
could be, and what his 0 ject was, their amusement
became manifest in peals of hearty laughter. Fi-
nally the old squire said: '

“ 'ell, if you’ve come here to shoot, why, in
course, you must have a chance. This ‘ere rifle’s
the prize, but, mind, it’ll take three shots in the
center of yon target to get it.”

"How many chances’ll you give hie—forty?”

“ Just three."

“ Oh, vampires and harpiesl” exclaimed the
youth, with a grimace that rovoki d a roar of
aughter. “Then ’cordin’ to t at some chap has
scored two out of three; 'ust show him to me,
please, till I see the white of is eye and then I——"

“ I'm the chap, sir." said Ivan Le blercq, confront-
ing the Eaglefrom-Sky-Puncher-Peak.

‘ Thar’s iiothin’," said the youth, running his eye
along.r Ivan’s form with a quic , but critical look.

“That‘s a tie," interrupted the squire, “between
him—Ivan—and that teller; so if you want to try a.
shot at the mark, why, d so.” ‘

“ Thank you; lease pa 5 me yer fusilade and I’ll
try its mettle. ‘l'ar the tracks. folks, for the young
Eaglefroni-Sky—Pimchcr-I’eak.“

The crowd ported in a lane extending down to
ward the target. and scarcely was the range cleared
era the boy careless! ' threw the rifle to his shoulder,
and the gun was ischarged, as all supposed by
accident.

"A plumb-center shot," was the announcement
that came up from the target.

A wild, prolonged shout that fairly split the hea-
vens burs from the lips of the crow .

The boy whistled softly as if with surprise at his
own skill. The shouts of the crowd turned to laii h-
ter as they saw the sober comic expression of e
inimitable oung clown's ace.

“Ready or another,” said Podson, as he placed 3
ca on the nipple of the gun.

he boy spat upon his hands, winked at an im-
aginary fiieiid, then took the rifle, and before it was
scarce y leveled, fired. »

A drop silence followed the report, and every eye
turned toward the target. '

“ Another winning shot." was the announcement
that the recorder sent forth, and again the crowd
cheered the young “ ring-eyed eagle.”

The third time was the un reloaded, and thethird
time did the lad awkward y swing the wea on to his
shoulder, squint first with one eye then he other
along the barrel, to the amusement or the specta-
tors, then he closed both eyes and fired.

For the next half-minute not a soul seemed to
breathe, so deep and intense was the anxiety and ex-
peci ancy of the party. But it was ilie calm that pro-
ceded the storm following the announcement:

“ That shot takes [he prize—the Eagle-ofSlcy~Punch-
er—Peak has won l’.’

 

CHAPTER IX.
HUNTED AND HAUNTED.
THE shouts that followed the announcement of
the result of the shooting-match were deafening;
and the young Ring-Eyed-Eagle-of-Sky-Puncher-
Peak became the recipient of a hundred congratula-
tions. Tom Gravson was the first to grasp the
young stranger’s hand, for since he had failed to win
the prize, it afforded him supreme pleasure to know

that lvan Le Clercq had been defeated. ‘
The latter stood off at one side among his httle
party of friends scowling with chagrin, and burning

with anger at his defeat. . .

“By heavens!" he exclaimed, in a whisper to In!
four companiOns, “ if I can get old Podson to extend
the time, I’ll run up and release Sure Shot Seth, and
let him come down and beat that young bra¥art
Tom Grayson is tickled halt to death cause got

  

 

\

‘ Women fell faint, and children Cl‘OllCllel

10

Sure Shot Seth.

 

beat, and I‘d give an eye just to see him look down
his nose, and that dau ed-faced fool beaten.”

“Here, youngster." the voice of Squire Podson
suddenly broke in, as he handed the Eagle the rifle
and accouterments belonging to it; “ here‘s the
prize—take it, for you have won it fair and honor-
ably, whoever you may be. The gun is loaded, and
thar‘s not less‘n fifty bullets in the pouch, and ow-
dot in the born to shove ‘em. Take it, and I ope
you will make every shot count so long as you may
DOSSPSS it."

A faint scream of terror came from the direction
of the woods some two hundred yards away, before
the Eagle could res nnr‘, as he was about todo.

Every eye was a once turned in that dlrection,
and to the horror of all. a maiden, whom all recog-
nized as Emma. Milhank, emerged from the woods at
the top of her speed, closely pursued by an Indian
warrior.

“Oh, my Godl" burst from Squire Podson’s lips,
“the savages are at their hellish work nirvady."

Brave hrarts trembled, and white lips quivered.

with terror
at the feet of their parents. It was a terrible mo-
ment in the history of those people‘s livvs. for all
seemed paralyzed with the terrors of death. But
all wlgre started from their lethargy by another
surie .

“The savage has caught Emma!" was the terri-
llilo announcement that now pealed from a dozen

ps.

True enough, the savage had overtaken her
within ten rods of the edge of the timber, and lifting
her in his arms was fleeing bark to the woods.

“Stand aside for the Eagle-of Sky-Puncher—I’eak,"
shouted that mysterious led. and swinging his newly-
won ritzle to his shoulder glanced along the barrel

re . ,

A yell of agony came down from the woods; and
when all saw the savage stagger and fall, a shout
burst from their lips; the Eagle had made another
wonderful shot, and had saved the maiden from
caplivity.

With the speed of a deer the young marksman
dashed out of the crowd and sprd away toward the
fallen foe. He met the maiden he had saved on the
way, and exchanging a. few words with her. ran on,
passed the fallen savage and plunged into the woods.
A moment later a rifle-shot rung through the forest
and echoed in quavering intonations along the val-
ley of the Minnesota. Scars-er had the sound (1in
on the air, when forth from the woods south of the
Openings a hundred half-nude forms rushed, yelling
like demons. ,

' With a. cry of horror the sur rised settlers turned
and fled toward their homes. Vith the women and
children in front, the men covered their retreat,
fighting the foe as they fell back. The savages' on-
ward rush was checked several times; but nothing
daunted. they rallied and renewed the contest fierce
and deadly.

it soon became evident that the settlers could
not repulse the foe, and so the retreat was turned in

the direction of the Stockade or fort. north of the
Agency. The savages seeing their intentions. at-
tempted to thwart their plans by a general on-
slaught; but hob] and heroically did the valiant
settlers fight for t eir wives and little ones. Many,
however. fell before the fort was reached. and the
gate closed between them and danger; and on the
pages of history this struggle is known as the Mas-
sacre of Yellow Medicine Agency. On the same
.day, the minions of Little Crow, Inkpaduta and
Little Priest, scattering out over the country, began
a general massacre. Acton, in Meeker county,
rea ly became the scene of the first bloodshed. if we
except that at the Hermit Hut. the home of the Boy
Brigade. Fort Ridgely was closer besieged, and
the country to the south overrun. he call to arms
rung through the North, and everywhere the hardy
young ycomanrfi of the land left the plow within
the turww and t e harvest ungleuned and rushed to

 

battle. But history has recorded all the main facts
of this terrible Indian outbreak. We have only to
deal with one of the chains of incidents consequent
upon the war, and which has escaped the notice of
the historian. .

When Emma joined her friends at the Openings,
after the Eagle had rescued her by shooting down
her captor, her first words were:

“ Oh, they have got Maggiel the Indians have cap-
tured herl' "

Before any one could respond, the savages burst
from the woods. and all sought shelter in flight.
Not until all those that had esca ed were inside of
the fort was the subject of Maggie s chpture brought
u . Then the father of the missing girl sought out
Elmma. and from her learned the articulars of his
daughter‘s capture. hut she care ully omitted tell-
ing the object that had taken Maggie and her alone
into the woods. '

Mr. Harris's agony and sus ense became intense.
The savages surrounded the art. and there was no
escape until darkness should set in. The sun was
still two hours high. and during the time spent in
walti g for the shadows of night, the distracted
father made preparations for going in search of his
child. A number of friends volunteered to go with
him, and among the-m were Ivan Le Clcrcq and his
four boon companion ~.

There was one crson among the band of besieged
that noticed a wi d look of uneasiness upon the face
of lvan and his party: and had it not been for the

general excitement that prevailed among the crowd, ,

others might have noticed that their looks Were the
outgrowth of a guilty conscience. Even their move
ments and very actions denoted guilt; and finally
they went to one side and entered into alsecret
conversation—very suspicious under the Circum—
stances.

“Boys,” said Ivan, glancing furtively around
him, “I’m afraid an awful crime rests upon our
heads." .

“ You mean ’bout that Sure Shot Seth affair, don’t
you?“ asked Rube Johnson. _ .

“Yes: the Indians, Iexpect, found him and killed
him.“ said Le Clerc .

“ I‘ve thought of I. let, too.” adde Gus Stewart.

“Me'oby, though," said Abe Thorn. “Maggie and
Emma let him loose before the Indianscame; you
know Emma run out of the woods near where we
left him."

“ S’pose we ask Emma," said Rube Johnson.

“Heavens. no!“ replied Ivan “for if he didn‘t
get away, that’ll let the whole secret out; and if
he should be found dead we might get our necks
stretched." . .

“We might ask her if she seen him," said Gus
Stewart.

“No,” persisted lvan: “ we don’t want to say a.
word about him, for all know that we were away
when the shootin‘-match begun, and it we should
go to askin' any questions. it might raise suspicion
at once. Just keep still, and when I get out of this
forthl‘ll slip out into the woods and see if he is there
yet.

Thus the matter was settled for the time being,
and finally. when darkness set in, the father of the
captiw girl, followed by Ivan and party. and also
Tom Grayson and Harry Busted. stole out of the
fort, and away into the woods without discovery by
the red-skins.

When near the point where they tied Sure Shot
Seth to the tree, Ivan whispered to one of his com-
panions: ,

“ I‘m goin' to drop out of the crowd now and slip
over to the tree: and if I don‘t overtake you in ten
minutes. why. you will know that I can't find you,
and so give the boot of an owl; and ill hear, I’ll
answer.“

“ All right, Ivan," answered his‘frlend.

Ivan dropped behind the party. and finally he
turned to the left and wentpff in another direction.
It was so extremely dark 111 the deep. dense woods

L i
l
i

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure Shot Szth. - 11

 

»

that the absence of the youth was unnoticed. and,
with the silence of shadows, the party pushed cau-
tiously on.

Le Clereq cre t softly along through the darkness
of night With t e stealth of an assassin. His heart
lay like a leaden weight in his breast, and his breath
came in gasps. The fear of discovering himself a.
murderer worked like. a horror upon his mind; and
there was nothing in the blackness of the night, nor
the solitude of his surroundings to inspire him with
aught else than the gloomiest foreboilings.

He was well acquainted “llh every foot of the
ground he was traw rsiiig, and, notwithstanding the

arkness, he moved directly toward the thickt-t
where he had left Sure Shot Seth. when within a
few yards of the tree to which they tied the young
trapper. hepaused and listenrd. But all was silent
as t e presence of, death. A chill passed over his
form, and the lump in his throat seemed to grow
large and more depressing. He swallowed back the.
great lump in his throat, stretched out his hand. and
touching the tree, ran his fingers downward along
the trunk. feeling for the rope that girdt'd it and the
body of Sure Shot Seth, were the youth still there.
Slowly he moved his fingers down. and when it
came in contact with what he knew to be the rope,
he started, with a low. gasping hrs ath, as though
his very soul had been suddenly convulsed,

The rope was still there. and he had no doubt now
that Seth. living or dead, was on the opposite side of
the tree, for the strands were drawn taut.

“Seth l" he called, in a low tone, but started back,
crouching as with abject terror, for the sound of his
own Voice seemed re-eclioed by the sepulchral voice
of a dozen demons. Terror had wrought his brain
to a frenzy. But now, wholly under the influence of
fear. he moved around the tree, with his hand out-
stretched before him; and he had gone but a step or

two when his fingers came in contact with something '

cold. unnatural to the touch. It was a human face.
cold and clnmmy in death. _

" Great Godl he’s dead 1” involuntarily burst from
the wretched he ‘s lips, and he turned to flee. But
that terrible, inVisible power seized upon him again,
and held him by the side of his victim.

Ivan Le Clercq was suffering all the tortures of a
guilty conscience. H is heart grew sick and his head

dizzy, Final] , the thought of detection and a more

terrible punis ment rose in his mind, and measures
toward concealing the crime were suggested. He
never sto pad to think that his four couiranions
were equa ly guilti as himself, but reaching forward
he cut the ropet at bound the body to the tree.
The stiffened corpse fell heavily to the ground.
Ivan tank up the rope, and tossed it away out into
the brush; then he dragged the body into the under-
growth; and, with the reflection that the wolves
would soon make identity impossible, he tuI-ncd and
fled from the scene of his crime. with the blood of a
fellow-being resting upon his soul.

 

CHAPTER X.
THE LED TRAIL.

Ma. ,HARRIS, accompanied by his young com-
panions, pursued his way through the deep woods
and lonely halls of the night. He knew not where
they would find the captiVe maiden, but by scouting
in all directions through the woods, hoped to gain
some clew to her whereabouts. '

Ivan Le Clcroq‘s four companions hung on the
rear of the party, eagerly listening forIvtm‘s call;
but es the minutes wore away l’lllO an hour, and
nothing of his approach 'being heard, the boys

began to feel great uneasiness about him, and a

thousand conjectures as to hisprolonged absence.
ssed rapidly through their minds. Something of
be same. fear as that experienced by Ivan himself
began. to smite the conscience of the four boys, am
in tones of bitter anguish they torpressed their re
regs of having aided in the affair with Sure Shot
9 i ’

 

For hours the party journeyed on through the
woods, but as Ivan fai ed to join them, Rube John-
son plucked his three companions aside. and said:

" Buys. Ivan has eitht 1' been lost or else got into
trouble; and I don’t tliii k we’d ort to deseit him.
We‘re all to Name, if Sure Shot Seth is dead; and I
expect he is.”

“Oh, I wish we hadn’t tied him up to the tree,”
said Abe Thorne, regretfully.

“ But then we didn't mean ‘to have him killed,"
answered Gus Stewart.

"I know it; but then the law won‘t excuse igno—
rance, and if it’s ever foun out we’ll be apt to hang
like Zeke Snyder did,“ said Rube.

“ Ohl oh 1" exclaimed his frightened, horrified
companions.

Here the conversation dropped, for Mr. Harris and
the rest of the party had stopped to wait till they
came up.

“ (living out, boys iv" asked Harris.

“ Oh, no." answered Rube; “ we can follow long
as you can lead. Mr. Harris.”

“Well, I’m beginning to thin]: that it’s useless
tranipiiig ’round here throueli the night. and pro-
]iotse we camp here until daybreak," answered the
39 t or. *

To this all assented, and then all but one lay down
upon the earth to rest. Fewvyes closed in sleep,
however; the. terrors and excitement of the day
were too fresh in every mind to admit of the com-
posing influence of slumber. -

By daybreak every man and boy was ready to
march, and without abit of breakfast they took their
lonely way through the woods, trusting to Provi-
dence for something to eat.

Fortunately. they struck an Indian trail soon after
sunrise. and although there was nothing in the trail
to convince them that Maggie was in the party. all
concluded that, as the enemy were moving away
from the Agency, they had her in custody.

They followed the trail f: 1' about two miles. when
they struck the eastern shore of Lake Rock island.
Here it appeared that tho Indian had taken to the
water, and although the lake was small, it. afforded
an admirable place of shelter among its many rocky
islands.

Mr. Harris suggested a. division of the party to
scout around the lake. but: before this could be
carried into effect.a“dugout.“ with five Indians,
was seen creeping down toward the southern shore.

0111' friends at once drom ed back under cover
of the woods, watching the redskins narrowly.
'I hey soon reached the shore and landed, but had
no captive with them: and so Tr‘ni Gi'nyson. as well
as his companions, were led to believe that Maggie,
had been secreted among the islands in the lake and
as .soon as the red—skins had paSSed out of sight.
the pursuch began nioying around the lake to the
nor! i. As they advanced, the shore became rough
broken and rocky, and in many places shelvins.r an
precipitous. The path they were following finally
pressed them to the water‘s edge; and once there.
there was no deviation to the right nor left, unless
they scalrd the hights or took to the lake. '

They had filed along the narrow way until the
west shore was reached, when Tom Grayson stopped
and exclaimed: .
h “Boys, what if the Indians should cage us in

ere?‘

The. little party started with an exclamation; the
idea had never entered their minds before...

“ We cannot observe too much precaution,“ said ,
Mr. Harris.

“ No; if the enemy should see us in here. it would
be all day with us," said Tom. "We could neither
retreat nor advance. and of course. we couldn't
rlimb this embankment; so the lake would be our
only avenue of escape. Who knows but that we've
been led into this?" '

“Oh. graciousl look here‘." suddenly burst from
Rultie Johnson’s lips, as he panned out acrcsa the
We: at.

 

 

12 Sure Shot Seth.

 

 

Every eye following in the direction indicated he-

. held a fearful sight.

The island was about fifty yards from the shore.

‘ It was a rocky bed with but little shrubbery. A
narrow defile starting at the water’s edge,
terminated in a sort of ow cavern, and in the pas-
sage, with her back toward them and her hands tied
at her back. they beheld the form of Maggie Har-
ris: while crouched before her in the mouth of the
cavern was a huge anther with dripFing jaws
glowing eyeballs. and) quivering tail. he animal
was ready for the leap, and waited only for a move-
ment of Maggie as the s nal.

The maiden seemed ransflxed with horror, for
she never moved nor uttered a sound indicative of

ear.

The head of the terrible beast could be seen onl
to the left of Maggie's cheek and just over her shou -
der. To change the position either to the right or
left, the walls of the defile concealed the panther
from view, while it was impossible to get above
them on the bluff. The bodv of the b east could be
seen distinctly enough, but it lay in such a position
that a bullet shot at it would range backward without
any fatal result, in which case the wounded creature
would soon destroy the helpless girl. The only
vital spot exposed was the right eye; but this could
be reached from the shore only at the risk of Mag-
gie’s life; for this vital mark lay in a range with the
maiden’s check, and that range would not admit of
an inch deviation.

To slay the beast without injuring Maggie would
require the skill and nerve of an unorrmg shot.
Tom Grayson was the best shot in the partv. but he
refused to shoot. His hands trembled. He raised
his rifle once, but lowered it again, saying:

“I dare not shoot, Mr. Harris. To wound the
panther would be sure to result in a horrible death
to Maggie; and to shoot it in the head, a bullet must
fairly graze the maidcn's cheek.”

' “Oh, in God!” cried the distracted father. “my
child will is torn to iecesl The momentshe moves
it will spring upon erl For heaven‘s sake, boys,
make no noise that will draw her attention away.
So long as she gazes into the eyes of the beast, it
may not attack her. But, boys, won’t some of you

,try a shot!"

' “I‘ll try one,” said the voice of a new-comer. and
turning. all beheld that strange, wild youth who had
won the prize at the shooting-match— this indomittv
his young Eagle‘from-Sk Puncher-Peak.

“ Oh, my young frien i" cried Harris, “can you
not slay that beast and save my child?"

“I can try it, sir.” said the Eagle, and stepping for-
ward he threw his new rifle to his shoulder and fired
before any one had time for a Second thought.

A scream rose upon the island—a scream from
Maggie’s lips, and was answered by a. shout of joy
from the father as he saw the panther stretched at

‘full length along the earth, its limbs extended and
quivering in the paroxysms of death.

Maggie turned toward her friends and uttered a
wild cry of joy, then staggering, she fell—overcome
by a sudden reaction from terror to joy.

" My poor child i“ cried the father, "she has faint-
ed. and will yet be dead ere I can get to her."

It was plain to all that Maggie‘s hands had been
bound. and she left alone upon the island. What had
induced the savages to do so was incomprehensible
to our friends. Tom Gravson ex )ressed a belief
that there were savages conceale on ‘the island,
ready to entrap any one who might venture thereon;
and as Mag ie in unconscious on the island. them
was no waygby w ich they could satisfy themselves
of this fact before venturing over there.

“What do you think, my young friend i". said Mr.
Harris turning to the Eagle, who stood Silently at
one side reloading his rifle; “ do you_think there are
savages concealed on that island?”

“I can’t say, gineral, for sure; it seems queer that
’em red scavengers would leave her there alone un-
less they thong 1: she would not get away. and that.

 

no one would dare follow them there. But that’s a
question that must not keep assistance from her,
alnd I’vr’n going to board that log, and paddle over
t iere.

Slinging his rifle well up on his shoulders he waded
into the water, threw himself astride of a log that
had floated there and, with a large piece of bark,
paddled out into he lake toward the island.

With eager impatience those on the shore watched
the progress of the boy as he labored on through
the waves.

The Eagle had nearly reached the island when a

ell arose to the south, and glancing in that direc-

ion all saw. to their utmost horror, 8. dozen savages
coming along the shore toward them.

Before one of ourf iends had time for a word or
act, the voice of the Eagle cried out:

“ Flee. friends, and trust Maggie’s safety to God
and mei“ ‘

There was really no alternative but to obey, and
Mr. Harris and his young friends at once beat a
hasty retreat in the direction they had come, pur-
sued by the yelling savages.

The Eagle reached the island before the savages
were wit iii gunshot, and assisting Maggie to her
feet, conducted her to apoint of safety on the op-
posite side of the island.

"You see, Maggie.” the youth said, “I am now
having a chance to repay your kindness.“

“ Oh, my friend," she cried, “ I am almost crazy.
The Lord only knows what ,I have suffered since a
captive. But tell me, did the savages destroy the
settlement?"

“Not altogether, Miss Mag ie." the lad answered; .

“though, several were kille before the fort was
reached. But, remain here under cover, Maggie,
and I will watch the movements of those savagos."
He crept around the island and when he had dis-
covered that the enemy was gone in pursuit of Har-
ris and his party, the youth went down to the water’s
edge and washed the paint and dirt fromhhis face
and hands and then arranged his clothingin such a
different, yet reall natural way. that the boy was
completely trans ormed from the odd, grotesque-
iooking Eagle-of-Sky-Puncher-Peak, to a different
b dug; and that being was—Sure Shot Set/L, (he BJy
Rj entrm,’
aggie Harris was not ignorant of his identity.
She and Emma Miibank had rescued him from the
tree where Ivan Le Clercq and 'his companions had
bound him; and that Ivan and his party mightsuffer
the remorse that they now really wore, these two
brave and fearless girls had assisted Seth in arrang-
ing his disguise and keeping the secret. Unfortu-
nately, their kindness to Seth had resulted in Map;—

gie's capture; but never for a moment did the kind-

hearted maiden regret what she had done.

Returning to Maggie, Sure Shot Seth, as we will
now call the Eaglevof-Sky’Puncher-Peak, was greeted
with a smile.

“ You have discarded your disguise?”

“ Yes: I think it has served me throu'rh,” he an-
swered. "I don't think one of my five young one-
“1198, or friends either for that matter. penetrated it.
I aflected so much when in their presence that no
one could think it was i."

1‘ Then you won the prize at the contest?” she
said, her pretty eyes sparkling with admiration an
delight, as she gazed upon the manly form and
handsome face of the boy hero. ‘

“Yes: without any trouble,2Maggie, thanks to you
and Miss Milbauk. This is the gun, and with it I
slew Emma‘s captor, then ran into the woods in
hopes of saving you but was too late."

The attention of tie young people was suddenly
drawn to the form of an Indian standing on the
southern shore of the lakelet. He was over three
hundred yards away, else Seth would have been
tempted to try his new rifle upon him.

From appearances, he was a young wnr~chief dc-
corated in all the paraphernalia of barber c flnery.
His scarlet blanket flushed brightly in the sun. and

 

 

 
 

x9".

 

 

 

, ‘st . a. «.

i
i
;
‘i
I

 

 

 

Sure Shot Seth.

 

contrasted handsomely with the spotted jaguar-skin
that girded his loins. His movements Wei-e some-
what awkward and stiff, as though unaccustomed to
the dignity required of one of his position.

“ There seems to be more of the white man than
the red-skin about that fellow yonder," remarked
Seth, “and if I mistake not, he is a white man."

They watched the chief until he had left the
beach, then entered into a discussion of the events of
the day. And thus the day were away without any
further demonstration on the part of the enemy;
but about sunset a sharp and vigorous firing was
heard in the woods east of the lake, and that a bat-
tle was goingr on, Seth had not a single dou' t.

Night final y closed in and put an end to the firing;
and now Sure Shot Seth became restless and uneasy.
He knew the enemy would avail themselves of the
cover of darkness to regain the island and their fair
captive, and, as they were likely to come in force, it
would be impossible for him to repel them. He had
been unable to do anything toward the construc-
tion of a raft during the day, and now the darkness
made it almost impossible. His only hopes lay in
Maggie‘s friends coming to their relief before the In-
dians got there.

The moon would not be up before ten o’clock, and
the gloom was rendered more intense by the gray
mist that hung over the lake.

Seth silently fiaced the shore in eager anticipation
of the approac of friends, ever and anon halting to
listen for some sound. But a deep silence reigned.
Not a breath of air was stirring-not a ripple chafed
the island.

With her shawl drawn hood-like over her head,
Maggie. tired and hungry, rat under a ledge within
the sound of her young protector’s footsteps.

Suddenly the discharge of firearms bumt upon the
night, heavy, sullen, and stunning; and was followed
by yells and groans that fairly chilled the blood in
the veins of Seth and Maggie.

Silence succeeded the murderous discharge of
weapons. Not a sound could he heard, and what the
result of the collision had been, Seth could not tell.
But in the course of a few minutes the sound of
waves breaking upon the island became distinctly
audible. As there was no air stirring, our friends
knew a. boat must be approaching. .

In a breathless silence they waited and listened.
Soon the faint dip of a paddle was heard. Seth
strained his eyes into the gloom, and was soon en-
abled to make out the dimmest outlines of a long
boat creeping toward them across the lake.

The danger that threatened the young folks Seem-
ed to strengthen their eyesight. or else. at this junc-
ture. it. became‘somewhat lighter, for they were
now enabled to make out the dark length of a long
“ dug-out," with three persons seated in it, quite
distinctly. - _

The prow of the craft soon touched the island
when the occupants landed. and havuig drawn the
boat partly upon the beach, turned and moved cau-
tiously away across the island. They passed With-
in a few paces of Seth and Maggie; and no sooner
were they out of sight than Seth whispered:

“ Now’s our time, Maggie. Let us jump into their
boat and flee.” ' '

Maggie made no dissent. but taking hold of Seth‘s
arm.~ rmitteri herself to be led to the boat. Step-
ping nto the craft Seth assisted the maiden in and
to a seat. But the instant she sat dOWn she uttered
a little cry of terror. for her seatymoved under her——
a savage, who lay curled up in the craft ewdently for
that very purpose. sprung to his feet and uttered a

' yell. But it was his last. Scarcely had the sound

died upon his lips ere Seth’s revolver flashed in his
face, and he fell overboard into the lake, his limbs
beating the water in his last agonies. _

But Sui-e Shot Seth now found himsolf in a dilem-
ma from which there was no escape. Before he
could get the dug-out on, or Seek shelter among the
rocks, the three savages were u on him. He turned
and met them, revolver in han . One of them shot

. landed.

 

grist him, and, leaping into the boat, seized Maggie.
eth was standing up in the ,prow at the time, and
the impetus with which the savage landed in the
dug-out shot it out into the lake so abruptly that
Sure Shot was pitched forward, headforemost, upon
the beach.

As the youth fell, he fired his revolver and killed
one of the remaining warriors; but before he could
regain his feet the other had grappled. and to ether
they fought in deadly embrace upon the beac .

CHAPTER XI.
THE DISGUISED CAPTOR.

MAGGIE was thrown almost prostrate b the sud-
den lurch of the boat. and before she con (1 recover
herself, she found that she was in the power of a
sava e, who, in plain English, said:

“ ot a word, or I’ll smother you.”

Filled with terror, she sunk half-unconscious in the
wet bottom of the boat, while her captor took up the
paddle and kept the craft moving out further and
further from the island. Themaiden knew not what
had been the fate of her brave young companion.
She could hear the sounds of a strug le somewhcre,
and supposed they proceeded from t e island. She
hreathed a pro er for Seth’s triumph, yet she felt
there was little ope for him, boy that he was, con-
tending with two powerful savages. In the midst of
her devout supplications, 3. str nge medley of cries
rose upon the night. and was followed by a. savage
yell, the crash of firearms, and the shouts of com-
butants.

The savage ceased paddling, as if paralyzed by the
sound; and, for a moment, he seemed undecided as
to the course he should ursue. He dipped the pad-
(110, turned and whirle the craft in one direction,
then in another. r

In a moment the chief regained his composure,
and sent the boat rapidly toward the shore; but with
a iickleness unbecoming a chief, he soon changed
his mind again, and turned into a little island, and
He assisted Maggie from the boat. and
conducting her to the interior of the island, spread
his blanket upon the round for her to be seated.
Tired and weary. in hot 1 body and mind, the maiden
availed herself of his proffered kindnrss; and when

. seated, he lifted the edges of the blanket and wrap

ped them about her shoulders.

“Let the white maiden rest easy, for no harm
shall come to her now,” the young chief said, in
g( od English.

Maggie started at the sound of his voice. for it
struck her as being familiar. She endeavored to re-
call the faces of the Indians she had known and
heard during the days of peace; but among the
many that had frequented the Agency. she could
remember no face to which the voice belonged. Re
covering her power of speech she answered:

“ Why, then, have I been taken from my eople?”

“Why does the maiden pluck the rose rom the
parent stem 7" was his answer.

Maggie made no re ly.

“ it is because she ovcs the flower," the chief an-
swered. “and that is why I have taken the white
rose of the pale-faces.“

“You were not with my captors last night,” she
answered.

“My warriors were," he rejoined. “Long has
Hawk-Eyes loved the white maiden and wanted her
for a wife. He has spared her life that she might
brighten up his lodge with the light of her face."

“Tth you may as Well kill me here, for I will
never be your wife," answrred Maggie. indignantly.

" Let my white rose remember that her People
are all dead, and that Hawk-Eyes is her best fiend,
now.‘ ' -

“Hawk-Eyes tells a falsehood l“ reiterated the
maiden, scornfnlly, “ and I hate him for it.“

“Ugbl the white rose has thorns that are con-
cealed.” the chief answered sarcastically, “ but they
are harmless," he added, mockingly.

" A brave chief would not mock a feeble, helpless

  

  

 

 

 

 

14 Sure Shot Seth.

 

girl. He dare not face the friend I left on the island
and speak thus to me."

*‘ Hawk—Eyes fears not the dead,” was the saw“
age’s reply. that fairly crushed the maiden's heart:
but she bravely concealed her emotions from her
tormentor. 'Upon reflection she took courage. She
knew her captor’s assertion was made without any
positive knowledge as to wlr-ther Seth hal been
slain or not, for they had left beforo the struggle
had been decided.

The discharge of fire-arms, the shouts, yells, and
strange cries that rent the night 5 ion after their
departure from the island. had died out. and a deep
silence reigned. Pretty Maggie noticed that her
cantor betrayed uneasiness, yet he endeavored to
conceal it. in every way possible, from her.

Suddenly 9. shout rung across the lake, that
seemed to increaSe the chief’s fears, and he at once
embarked in the dug-out for ozher quarters. Some-
thing in the sound he had heard convinced him that
it was not safe to tarry longer; and what gave him
uneasiness and fear. gave Maggie hope and courage.

The Chief plied his 'iddlc with extreme caution,
and darted from one is and to another.

Maggie sat in front of her captor. her head bowed,
and her eyes fixed on the glassy water rippling out
from the side of the boat.

They hal passed two or three islands and finally
roachld the one furthest south. It was covered
with a number of tall pines that cast long, wide
shadows out upon the clear water. They were
creeping through this Ions.r stretch of shadows when
a cry suddenly and involuntarily burst from Mag-
gie's lips. There was a single 5 oz; in the shadow
where the mooubeains, sti'ugqlin throuzh the tree
tops, fell upon the surface, as bright nsif concen-
trated there in a focus. In this pat:h of light, as
they paused. Maggie bchelil an upturned human
face—n. facewhite as that of acorpse and stained
in spots with blood. Sin recognized 'thc face; it
was that of Sure Shot Seth!

 

CHAPTER XII.
l A ms’rnmovs common.

To return to the. island where we left Suro Shot
Seth engaged with a savaga. is to follow up the
events that have been rapidly crowdinrr upon us.

The struggle of our hero had lasted-but for a mo-
ment- only. when he succerdcd in getting the muz-
zleof his revolver a'zainst the savaze’s temple, and
fired. This ended the hand-to—nand conflict; but
scarcely had be time to realize his victory, ere he
caught the dip of a number of pars and the heavy
swash of a loaf: bateau plowing its way through the
water at a. fearful 3 col

Simultaneous witi this discovery. the bark of a
fox,the howl or a wolf. the scream of a panther,
the boot of an owl, the cry of a night—hawk and
other sounds rose upon the night filling the soul
of 83th with guy; for in the soon :1 he recognized
the presenc: 0 his friends. the Boy Brigade. With
ashout he answered them, then ran around the
island and met them where they lan'lerl. Maggie’s
father and Tom Grayson accompanied them. and
almost the first words of the former was an inquiry
after his child.

Seth had scarcely time to answer or? r‘m savages
landed on the opposite side or the islcm ‘ and with
a yell cams rushingr across toward our friu._rls. The
moon now lit up the surroundings and the whites
were enabled to see the dusky forms of the enemy

uite distinctly; in an instant a dozen rifles rung

orth on the night.

There was no telling how many fell,but. with a
random discharge of their guns, the saVages quick
ly sought shelter behind the rocks.

Tue red skins had evidently been surprised. or were
ignorant of the number that confronted them; and
the result of the collision could be determined now
only by strumgem and cunning.

 

" ’1‘.) hole. yr gory critters!" yelled old Joyful Jim,
who had allied himself to the rigadc, and numbcr~
ed himself as “ one of the boys."

A defiant yell answered him. '

Only a wall of rocks running across the island like
the fin of a fish’s back now separated the enemies.
0n the Indians’ side it rose el‘pendiculal‘ to the
night of ten feet, and of our riends’ side it was a
little shelving and on the Slme hight. 1t varied in
width from ten to thirty feet. To pass from one
side to the other the would have to go around the
ends of the wall, which would force them close upon
the water’s brink. But neither party seemed dc-
sireus of gaining the opposite side for the sake of a
fight. Each concluded to act upon the defensive.

in afaw words Sure Shot Seth made known the
circumstances under which he and Maggie Harris
113.11 been separated a few minutes before.

Mr. Harris groaned in spirit over the hope he had
been so fondly cherishing of recovering his child.

" I'm going to try and get away from here at
once," said Seth, “and hunt Ma; ie up. I dare say
her captor will wait among the i3 ands the result of
his friends‘ attack here; and if so, I may creep
around and rescue her. She was in the power of
but one savage when I last saw her.”

“ Creepin' tarrapinsl” exclaimed Joyful Jim;
“ thar’s Just about as much likelihood of your fludin
that logic and gal to—nizht as tharis of old Inkpa-
duta hecomin’ an angel."

“ I‘ll try it, nevertheless." answered Seth.

The young: riflemau divested himself of his wea-
pons and such outward clothing as he could dispense
with. Then he crept down to the water’s edge and
entered the lake. He swam oft on his back, his
head and face alone being visible on the moonlit
surface of the water. His friends trembled with the
fear that the savages would see him and bring their
guns tr bear upon him. Nor were their fears with-
out foundation. Scth was scarcely three rods from
shore ere a rifle rung out over the wall. and a. bullet,
striking the water obliquely. skimmed along the
surface of the lake. This shot was immediately
followed by two more, that cut the water close to
the face of the swimmer.

Those on the island were unable to cover his re-
treat. There was no way by which they could reach
the to of the rock that separated them from the
foe, w mile the latter were afforded this means by the
slight inclination of their side of the wall. Not to be
outdone, however. Hooseah. the Indian lad, sudden-
ly dartcl out from under the ledge, and, uttering
the sharp cry of a. wolf, leaped straight into the air,
at the same time throwing his rifle at a level before
him; and just as his head came up even with the
top of the rook. he fired. A yell of agony on the op-
posite side of the wall told how f ital had been his
shot. notwithstanding the manner in which it had
been made. ‘

This caused a diversion in Seth‘s favor; and before
another shot Could be fired. the f rimds of the young
riflzimau had the pleasure of seeing him disappear
around a little island in the distance. ‘

Finding themselves defeated in slaying Seth, the
savages mounted the rock. and. rushing across the
top. thought to take the whites by surprise and
shont them down. But before they could fire. the
Brigade darted under the ledge entirely out of sight.
and gliding along the wall to each end. secui'efla,
position and opened fire on the red-skins. causmg
them to beat a hasty retreat to the other side.

“ Yon“. ye rollicking smoky-skins of Satan 2"tyell-
ed Joyful Jim; “ jist come over on our side if, ye
want to he snaked into purgatory. We're the lolly-
pops that can kink yer systems wusser than a green
persimmon.”

" Kape cool. Joyful Jim." said Teddy O’Roop,
“ and save yer fire for the sthruggle that‘s sure to
come soon—wirral"

A shadow passed over the speaker and a. stone fell
in the lake beyond

“ The bloody devils are beginning to throw stones '

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure Shot _Seth.

ovar here in hopes of crushing us," said Tom Gray-
son.

Our friends were a ‘n obliged to avail themselves
of the protection of t e shelving wall, for the stones
were now raining down on their side like hail, while
they had no chance to return the "compliment."

For full five minutes the missiles hurtled through
the air. uddenly there was a crash. A stone had
fallen into the canoe—a long, frail bark concern—
and stove a hole through the bottom,rendering it per-
fectly useless. This left our friends in a rather pre-
carious situation. and served to increase their fears.

A Iyell from the savages told their gloating tri-
ump ; but it was immediately answered by a
strange medley of shouts and cries from the Brigade.
The whites also began to return the shower of stones
as soon as they dare venture from under the ledge.
and the groans and cries of excitement which came
from the o posite side told that the reds were being
dangerous y disturbed as they had not the advan-
tage of a shelter that their enemies possessed.

This hurtling of stones was kept up until it became
unendurable by savage patience and fortitude, and
with a wild yel they charged around the eastern end
of the wall. The whites were not taken unawares,
and a deadly struggle ensued. But it was brief as
it was desperate. The savages were driven back to
their own side, while a shout rung forth upon the air
from the lips of the victorious Brigade.

“ Och. now." exclaimed Teddy O‘Roop, “and isn’t
it delicious fun,‘b‘ys?"

“ ’Tish fun very much," reiplied young Schultz.

“ Hark! hark] ' cried J ust n Gray.

With bated breath all listened.

A sound, soft and weird as the strains of an Eolian
ha , floated to every ear. Every sound became
hus ed by the magic power of the mysterious music.

A shadow fell across the roc : that separated the
foes—a vision appeared upon its summit. It was
the vision of a woman, the author of these enchant-
ing strains of melody.

The hazy moonlight. the sylph-like proportions of
the figure; the gray, mist—like robe that enveloped
it; the white face and flowing wealth of flaxen 1 air
gave the mysterious creature u on the rock a vague,
spiritual form, and enshroude it in a nimbus that
partook of the light of a celestial being. In her
arms she held a harp over which her white fingers
danced and dashed liko riprles of sunshine; while
her face, clothed in the radiance of womanly love,
was lifted toward heaven, and her lips ured forth
an accompaniment that would have me ted the ston-
iest heart and soothed the wildest brain.

Neither whites, nor reds had seen the strange mu-
sician approach; and where she had come from was
a uestion beyond their comprehension.

ileut and unmoved, she stood upon the rock and
sent forth those sweet, seductive strains. whose
melod awoke a feeling in the breasts of the audi-
ence t at they had scarcely ever experienced.

Thus for all of ten minutes the unknown continued
to play; then, as the last note faded away like, the.
vision of a dream, she turned, and in a tone soft as
a flute‘s, said:

“ Oh. why do my red and white friends fight and
slay each other!”

A profound stillness followed” The question was
repeated, and from the Boy Brigade came the re-
sponse:

“ We are enemies.”

' “ But you are brothersuof the same human fami-
ly." again spoke the angel of peace whose sweet
young face looked down upon the astonished foes
with heaven’s serenity, while she clasped her white
hands over her breast, and pitching her voice into
an appealing tone. cried out: “ Oh. my brothersl

, red and white; cease your struggle here. You are
all brave, but this is not an honorable battle-field."

“The red-men have dug up the hatchet." said a
savage, in a clear, full tpne that was distinctly heard
by the Brigade.

“Th. n go to the woods and light where the van-

 

18

uished can havea chance for life," answered the
air unknown. “Already my ‘red brothers have
lost half of their friends. whlle my white brothers
are strong as when they came. Go. red-men; take
your boat and depart, and the Great Spirit will be
pleased.”

Under any other circumstances the savages would
have received this request with derision; but their
loss of men and impending destruction made them
more considerate of her appeals.

“ If we leave here. the pale-faces will slay us,"
said a warrior.

" I, Heaven’s Messen er of Peace and Mercy, will,
on behalf of my white rothers, promise you a safe
retreat from this island. The pale—faces are not
cowards, and they will respect a woman's wish.”

"Fair bein’l" exclaimed old Joyful Jim. “ of
heaven, of earth, of air, or wherever ye mou’t be
from, we have no respect for a red-skin. I am sorry
to say; but we’d be wusser than heathens not to re-
spect the wish of an angel, wouldn‘t we, boys?"

“ Yes, yes," was the unanimous response.

“ Then, let my red brothers depart hence in
peace,” said the songstress.

The savages were only too glad to obey, and in a
moment they all had embarked for the shore.
They were scarcely a dozen rods from the island
ere the maiden on the rock came nearer and said, in
a natural tone:

“Repair your boat. friends, and flee, or you may
never again have the chance."

She spoke excitedly, and her voice and form now
seemed more of earth than heaven.

“ Who in the wisdom of Solomon be you?” asked
old Jim, glancin u at her with aquizzical look.

“Vishnia of tie alley," she answered. with an
anxious, impatient gesture, at the same time glanc-
ing uneasily around her.

Several of the boys flew to the damaged boat,
and, dragging it up on the beach, set I: i work to re«
pair ti e injuries, which could only be effected by
contributions of superfluous clothing stuffed into the
gaping rent. Whi e they were thus employed, Mr.
lHarris stood and conversed with Vishnia of the Val-
ey.

“ Vishnia, where do you reside?“ he asked.

“ In the valley of the Minnesota, with my father,
whose mission on earth is love and truth, and the in~
culcat-ion of the principles of peace and glory of
God." she answered.

“ But how came you here?" he asked.

“As I now depart." she said, and tripping down
from the wall, she sprung into a canoe, that was so
small her robe almost concealed ‘it from view.
Then lifting alight paddle, and wishing our friends
a God speed. she darted away over the water and
soon disagpeared from view.

“ All a card !" cried one of the boys, as they
launched the boat ready for departure.

The next. moment all had embafied for the nearest
point on the western shore of the lake, and where
the tumult of battle had wageda few minutes be-
fore, the silence of death now reigned.

CHAPTER XIII.
A sncnnr COUNCIL.

MAGGIE HARRIS was paralyzed bv the sight of the
face she had seen in the water. nable to move.
unable to cry out she sat motionless. with fixed eyes
staring at the little patch of moonlight.

Hawk-Eves used the paddle nervously and awk-
ward] , which would have been evidence to any one
verse in the nature of the Indian that he—the chief
——was not a red skin.

Slowly they made their way toward the southern
shore, and were already within the deep border of
darkness that skirted the margin of the water when
there was a sudden commotion alongside the boat;
a dull. heavy blow, a groan, and the fall of a body
into the water. The boat rocked violently; Mag 0
was almost thrown into .the lake. and before 3 0
could recover from her fright, a voxce said:

1

 

 

    

. than friendship. She wanted on]

safety.
The morning dawn was fast breaking into the light
. .

 

16

Sure Shot Seth.

   

 

“ Maggie ?"

A low, subdued cry burst from Maggie's lips, for
she recognized the voice as that of Sure Shot Seth.
The youth had swum silently up to the boat, and by
a well—directed blow knocked the chief overboard.
Then having made his presence known, he sprung
int; the boat. took up the paddles and drove the boat
as ore.

Having landed and assisted Maggie from the canoe,
he conducted her rapidly away around the lake. He
was satisfied that he had not slain the young chief,
and that his cries would soon set a horde upon their
trail; and so the greatest precaution and haste were
essential to escape.

They had gone but a short distance when the
sound of voices fell upon Seth’s ears. He stopped
and listened, and, by the sound of the spea er’s
voice. discovered they were savages. A groan told
him that there were wounded warriors among them:
and he felt satisfied they were the Indians who had
engaged his friends at the island. I

ure swept suddenly past them, gomg toward
the In ians. His movements were heav and clumsy

—evidence of excitement and want 0 savage~pre-
caution. He was no Indian; of this Seth was as-
sured, and a moment later he found he was correct.
The figure reached the Indians and began talking in
plain English, but in an excited tone.

” Seth, do on not recognize that voice?" asked
Maggie, clinging closer to her young friend.

"It sounds familiar, but I really can't place it,”
answered Seth.

“It's the voice of Hawk-Eyes, that Boy Chief,
whom you threw overboard.”

“Sorry, then, that I didn’t kill him."

“Seth, he is not an Indian. He is a white boy in
disguise," affirmed the maiden.

“What? Hawk Eyes a white boy and a Sioux

waIr-chieIf i” exclaimed Seth.

“Then we have more to fear than if he was a
savage. A white Indian has a less human heart
than a genuine Indian."

“Where, then. shall we go?” asked the maiden.

“ Let us hear off to the left. and edge around to the
north. There is no telling where we will be safe
now. The wood is full of enemies, and the Agency
closely besieged." I

“Seth, you are endangering: your life for me,"
said Maggie; " it is better that I——"

“Not a word, Maggie," interrupted the gallant
youth; “it is the greatest pie isure I ever enjoyed to

e enabled to protect you. Moreover, I owe you all
this; had it not been for you and Emma, I would
have been slain there where Le Clercq and his com-
panions bound me. It was your own hands. Maggie,

hat liberated me from that tree. and had you not
one there for that purpose you would never have
an ca tured. So {Ion see I am indebted to you."

“I b ame Ivan e Clercq for all our present
troubles." I

“ And at the same time IMaggiIe, I can't say that I
am sorry he acted as he did,” said Seth, in a slightly
hesitating voice.

“ Why, Seth?” she asked. in surprise.

“ Because I might never have met you."

“ Oh!” she exclaimed, involuntarily, and some-
thing of the truth flashed across her mind. sending
the warm blood coursing through her veins.

The moved on a few moments in silence; but the
thoug ts of each were busy. A dozen times Maggie
asked herself if Seth had been actuated in his mo-
tives of kindness toward her by a feeling greater
the assurance of

is fact to make her so reme y happy. notwith-
standing their danger. 0n he other hand, Seth was
laboring under the same anxiety and uncertainty.

They moved slowly onward through the lonely
halls of the forest. Weary miles were traverse ;
but they brought the tired fugitives to no pOint of

 

of another day. when the glow of a fire burst sud-
denly upon their gaze. it was not more than twenty
rods away, and it required no second glance to tell
Seth that it was the camp-fire of whites. There were
four of them—all boys; and to the surprise of both
Seth and Maggie, they beheld the companions of
Ivan Le Clerc . They were seated before the fire,
ap arently in c 056 conversation.

etli was undecided as to the course he should
pursue; but, before he could arrive at an conclu-
sion, he saw a young Indian chief emerge mm the
woods and approach the boys with uick strides.

Maggie uttered a little cry at sig t of him, while
Seth’s hand sought the weapon at his belt.

It was Hawk-Eyes. the Boy Chief, who was wel-
comed by the four youths to their camp-fire.

Sure Shot Seth was astonished by what he had
seen. and trembled for the safety of the fair girl at
his side. They occupied a position not altogether
secure from the keen eyes of a savage. and the first
act of the youth was to retrace his footste s and
gain the friendly cover of a dense thicket. ‘ on he
turned to Maggie and said, in a subdued tone:

“Maggie, 1 must know more about those boys;

There is some treachery going on, and if I can learn
the object of their interview with the chief, 1 maybe
able to save those at the Agency. 1 am going to try
to overhear their interview."

“Be very, very careful, Seth," Maggie answered.

With a word or two of caution, Set moved away.
Maggie watched him out of sight, then sat down.

He a preached the part , keeping a clump of
bushes etween. He gaine a position within ear.
shIot, and pausing, listened. He heard Hawk—Eyes
us : .

“ Do the ale-face youths know that Sure Shot
Seth is dea i” He spoke in good English, but in a
tone evidently disguised and unnatural.

“ We found the skeleton of one whom we believe
was Sure Shot Seth,” answered Rube Johnson.

“And as sure as it is found out, we‘ll all catch
an invitation to court." added Gus Stewart.

“ Between the lndians and the fear of punish-
ment, we‘ll have no rest for—well, God only knows
how long,” said Abe Theme, in a tone of penitence.
“I wish we had left him alone. for after all, the
ca let from Sky Puncher-Peak got the gun."

‘ Do not fear the Indians." said Hawk-Eyes, “ for
if you show them no hostility, I will assure you of
their friendshi ."

" Goodi" exclaimed Rube. “Why not join the In-
dians at once and be done with it?" I
I “ That would never do. I want you to work for me
in the Agency. You can place both Maggie and
Emma in my flower, and then you will have nothing
to fear from t em. I expect to remain an Indian
chief. But a few days ago. Hawk-Eyes, the Boy
Chief, was slain and I have taken both his name
and rank, and have sworn to exterminate half of
Minnesota's whites.”

“ Just so, my worthy youngvillain,” said Sure Shot
to hIimIinelf. “I think you’ll have to swear to that
again.

“ But.” continued Johnson, “ we are afraid to re-
turn home. and had concluded to skulk and hide
firming in the woods until assured it ’d be safe to go

ac .‘ I

“ I'm for just going right home and makin’ a clean
breast of it all.“ said Abe Thome. “and take the
risk. We can tell ’em that we war in fun with Seth,
and mebby they’ll let us off. I’d rather be shot than
hidin‘ 'round in the woods and startin‘ and shudder-
in’ at every sound just like a guilty murderer.”

“Then I suppose you’ll desert us turn State‘s evi-
dence. and let us swing." SUggested Ches Pagan.

“ No, I will do no such thing; I want to git all out
of this scrape in an honorable way,” persisted Abe.

“ You’ll get out in no such way as you propose,"
replied Rube, indignantly, “ for you can’t make
crime honorable."

“I have a right to do as I please," was Abe’s I

reply. '

   
    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
    
   
   
  
  
   
  
   
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
   
 
   
  
  
   
  
   
 
    
    
  
    
  
  
   
  

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Sure Shot Seth.‘ 1"

 

“ on may have the fight, Lut not the liberty,”
was the threat of Hawk-Eyes.

“I want to do what is honorable with you all; but
I will not be driven to add crime to crime. Ihave
gone just as far as I'm going in this matter, and
shall return to the Agency. If you fellers go with
me. all right: if not, all right. I shall keep silent,
however, until I am called upon to tell the truth in
this matter.”

“ Yes. you confounded coward," exclaimed Rube,
“you mean to betray us all!”

“ I mean to do just what I say, and on can't scare
me into anything else, either," was he‘s response,
given in a tone of unflinching determination.

“ Then go seek your skim-milk mates—go!" and
Rube spoke in a tone of authority.

Abe Thorne rose to his feet, his boyish face
flushed with anger and his eyes blazing with indig-
nation. Abe had not been hopelessly lost in wicked-
ness, nor had his companions. but he was by nature
both kind and honest. He was rather wild and
reckless. yet had no desire to commit crime; and he
shrunk from the idea of trying to conceal the su -

osed death of Seth in the way proposed by Haw -

es, the Boy Chief.

aking up his rifle, the youth spoke a few parting
words to his companions, then turned and moved
away.

The eyes of the Boy Chief followed his retreating
form With a fierce, murderous look, that caused Seth
to start with sudden fear. That violence was upper-
most in the young villain’s mind there was not a
doubt in the world. '

Seth watched the cons irators until Abe was out
of sight, then he turns and crept back to where

' Maggie was waiting for him.

“Maggie,"he said, his voice betraying no little
surprise. “I am completely shocke , for I have
made a discovery that will no doubt sur rise you.
1mm Le Clercq and Hawk-Eyre, the Boy 0h (9", are om
and the 8mm person 1”

CHAPTER XIV.
wns 1r was saw or AN ASSASBI‘N?

A RIFLE-SHOT rung suddenly through the forest.
starting Seth and Maggie with sudden fear. The re-
port was followed _by a groan, and that Abe Thorne’s
({ieifittlsihad assassmated him, Seth had not a single

on .

“I am afraid," said Seth. “that they have mur-
dered poor Abe, for they quarreled with him, and he
left them.” _

“If Hawk-Eyes is Ivan Le Clercq, as you say, he
will not hesitate to do an thing." replied Maggie.
“ Why are you afraid they ave killed Abe Thoma?"

Seth briefly narrated al that he had heard at the
camp-fire conference. .

Scarcely had he concluded. ere a peculiar cry rung
forth upon the air—a cry that sent a smile of recog-
nition over his young face. Then. from different
quarters among the wooded hills. rose half a dozen
answering cries. plain and distinct.

“ Ah! my friends, the Boy Brigade, are near,"
said Seth.

A fierce savage yell rung through the forest. then
the sharp. stinging.report of a rifle followed, only to
he succeeded by other shots fired in rapid succes-
sion. '

The boy conspirators started to their feet. and.
like so many frightened deer, bounded awayinto the
woods, while Hawk-Eyes turned and crept through
the shadows in the direction whence the sounds of
conflict came.

“Maggie.” said Seth. “ mv friends are near and
engaged with the savages. on will be safe here for
a while. and I will go to their assistance; but return
to you soon. If we succeed in defeating the foe, our
esca e will be certain.” _

“ , Seth. to your friends‘ assistance. I Will await
your return ” said the brave little maiden.

scth cretpt away through the woods, and soon came
in Sight 0 the combatants. He placed a whistle to

 

his lips and blew a sharp blast upon it. Instantly,
from different quarters, rose the answering cry of
the Boy Brigade.

At this moment the savages on the opposite bluff
char ed from the opposite direction.

Set took to his eels, fleeing in the direction of
his friends.

He soon came to where his friend, the Beaver,
was, and together the two ran on toward the valley.

Others of the Brigade fell in with them, and by the
time they had gone fifty rods. the whole of the band,
including Maggie Harris‘s father and Tom Grayson, .
had joined them.

The Indians, now to the number of nearly a bun-
dred, were in ursuit of them. Sure Shot Seth led
the way towar the recipitous bluff that overhung
the head of the val ey. and which he knew to be
honeycombed with numerous caverns and subter-
ranean passages where one might elude an enemy
With ease. To reach the mouth of one of those pas-
sages required but a few moments. and no sooner
were they under cover than all turned and poured a
deadly volley into the ranks of the advancing enemy.
A number of the latter fell; but their death on y
served to madden their surviving friends. who,
like demons, came on toward the cavern, determin-
ed on exterminating the band of whites.

That the savage were ignorant of the advantage
of which our friends had availed themselves, was
evident from the incautious manner in which they
approached. The Brigade fell back a few paces
from the entrance and. facing about. waited until
the foe came up, w en from the black mouth of the
vault they poured another withering volley. This
caused the enemy to retreat with a full knowledge
of the situation, and, for the time being, all relapsed
into silence. .

“ Well, here we are cooped up like so many fow ,"
saiildI Justin Gray, "and are likely to remain so for a
w i e.’

“ Night let us out,” said Hooseah, the Indian lad.

“What of Maggie, Seth?" asked Mr. Harris, re-
covering breath. «

“ I left her alive and well.” was the ansWer; “ but
God knows what will be her fate ere we escape
from this place."

“ Oh, my childl my child 1" groaned Harris, in hit-
ter despair.

“ Let us not despair; perhaps we can tunnel out,"
said Seth.

“ Let us try at once," suggested Tom Grayson.

With Teddy O’Roop, Sure Shot Seth repaired to

the extremity of the cavern, and with knives and
tomahawk began the uncertain task of digging out.
Their labor was attended with difficulgy. The
darkness prevented them working with 'spatch.
The knife and tomahawk clinked on the stones, and
sparks of fire were emitted by the contact. 1L they
were near the surface and an enemy should hag»,
pen to pass that wav, he would be sure to hear t e
sound of their working; so, altogether there was
nothing to insure escape, even should they succeed
in working a way out. However, Seth resolved to
lose no time in testing the result, for the retty, fair
face of Maggie Harris stood before his 111 nd in con-
stant appeal for help and protection.
' They worked diligently for nearly an hour; but
scarcely had the sounds of their own blows died
away are Teddy grasped Seth by the arm and in an
excited whisper said:

“ Whist, Sith, me b‘yl"

They listened intently. They heard a sound. It
was so very faint the could not locate the i;
from which it came. t seemed dull and far 0 .

“It must be the echoes of our knife and toma-
hawk still reverberating through the cavern," said

Seth.
“Niver, lad, niver. Press yer ear against this

wall and yees can hear something or some one dig-
‘n ."

glSEth did as re nested. He started. with the reply:
“You are rig t, Ted; there is some one digging

 

 

18 Sure Shot Seth.

 

Evithina foot of our cavern wall. But who can it
an“

. As if in answer to the, question, the left wall of the
cavern fell inward. revealing a passage beyond.
cloud of dust rose in the cavern, but through the
black fog thus ervadine: the place a dim light sud-
denlv appeared? and behind it was a fearful human
visage!

"Holy Mother!" burst from Teddy’s lips, as his
eyes fell upon the horrible-looking visage, bloated
and distorted. _

Sure Shot Seth started back in amazement, his
eyes fixad upon the face just visible, through the
cloud of du 15, in the l .rid, wavering light clutched
in a bony hand.

The face was contorted like that of the demon of
rage. It was covered with dirt and blood, while the
wet, matted hair hung in twisted. serpent-like locks
about his face, like the hair of the Furies.

" Haw! h'iwl haw!“ burst in a deep, sonorous
peel from his lips, the sound starting a shudder in
the hearers. as the echoes repeated the fiend-like
gulfaw over and over in a hundred places through-
out the cavern,

Seth grasped his revolver. The click of the lock
brought the man to a sense of his situation, and in a

, more natural tone, he said: .

"Boys. don’t you know me? Can’t you perceive
who I he?" ~

“Joyful Jiml" exclaimed Seth, dropping his wea-

on.

“ The same," exclaimed the old man. creeping
through the opening into the retreat; “ though I‘m
to-t‘ly bumfustlcated.“

" What in the name of goodness have you been
doing?" asked Seth. completely astounded.

“ Havin' an old roarin' time of it by myself among
the red~skins and hornits," answered Jim.

“ And how came you here?"

“I came through that back passage, which, with
a little digging, let me in here. I alers thought that
but a“ few feet separated the two caverns, but never
had occasion to find out," he answered.

" Goodl then our escape is certain."

With as short delay as possible, the little band
made haste to vacate the cavern. Led by Joyful
Jim, they filed away through the dark passage.

The savages seemed to haveinstinctively anticipa-
ted their intentions and swarmed in after t em.
Their yells echoed in tones of thunder through the
chambers of the great vault. But nothing daunted,
our friends pushed on. They finally reached the
rear opening of the chamber. All halted just
within, and sent old Jim out to reconnoiter. In five
minutes the signal agreed upon was given, and the
little baud filed out and joined the scout.

“ Now, which way?" asked the old man.

i “Toward Lake Luster," answered Seth, and
takinz‘the lead, headed toward the southwest

Savage cries, announcing the escape of the Boy
Brigade. rose upon the night. From all points they
were answered; but, silent as phantoms, our friends
stalked on through the darkness, led by the indomi-
table youne,r rifleman.

Seth gradually bent his course so as to bring him
back to where he had left Maggie Harris: but, when
he reached the point and found her gone, he said
nothing but pushed on into the valley.

They soon entered what was known as the Block
Woods—43. dee , dark, and almost impenuirnhle
forest, Where t e shadows were eternal. Stately
pines reared their heads henwnward like giant
Sentinels; the mold in which their roots found nour-
ishment was heavy and sodden; the atmosphere
damp and depressing. Animal life seemed banished
from the place, and a depressing, foreboding silence
reigned there.

But this silence lasted only for a short period—s.
few minutes—ere voices could be heard calling to
each other. from out the depths of the woods, in un-
natural tones. They were s wages.

Suddenly asharp and sullen boom , not unlike that

    

 

of a cannon, burst upon the night, its echoes re-
bounding from hill to valley and fading away in
quavering intonations. '

The Boy Brigade stopped and discussed the'matter
of the noise; but as they could form no conception
as to its meaning, they pushed on through the woods.
They had journeyed nearly a mile when, all of a sud-
den, a broad expanse of dazzling light burst upon
their eyes.

They stood upon the shore of Lake Luster—the
tiny jewel that sparkled upon the bosom of the grim
Black Woods, asi lay bathed in the mellow beams
of the full, round moon.

CHAPTER XV.
wm'rnca SHALL SHE FLY?

MAGGIE IIARRIS was a brave and peerless girl.
When left alone to await her young protector‘s re-
turn, shc stilled the beating of her heart, and recon-
ciled her mind to her situation. She could hear the
firing of guns back in the woods, and knew that a.
desperate conflict was going on. Then, when the
savages charged the Boy Brigade, and their yell
rose loud and fierce upon the air. she was filled with
agrava fear. But, before she had time for much
speculation, a movement in the bushes arrested her
attention.

She turned and beheld an object creepinc along
the earth, with great difficulty; and a second glance
told her it was a human form. Her first impression
was that a savage was creeping stealthin u on her.
Acry rose to her lips, but with supreme e ortshe
restrained it. She recognized the voice, but not the
{flock The latter was haggard and covered with

no .

It was Abe Thorn.

He was wounded, and bleeding to death.

Maggie moved toward him, all the kindness of her

oung heart wakened by sympathy for the wounded

oy.

“ You, Maggie? Are you alone?” asked the youth,
in a feeble tone.

“ Yes; but Abe, what ails you?” asked the maiden,
shuddering.

“Oh, Maggie!“ he cried, in a feeble tone, as he
sunk upon the earth, overcome with sheer exhaus-
tion from loss of blood; “I’ve been shot, and I'm
going to die."

“ Who shot ou?—the Indians?"

“No; one w om I always knew was treacherous,
yet whom I considered my friend—Ivan Le Clercq,
who is now an Indian chief.”

“ My friend susnected as much; but, Abe, lot me
bind up your wounds and take care of you till help
comes.”

“ No power on earth can save me; that T know,"
replied Abe. “Our troubles all come about on ac-
count of Sure Shot Seth. The day of the shooting:-
matcli Ivan and some more of us caught Seth and
tied him up to a tree, so‘s he couldn‘t win the prize.
But the Indians came before we could release him.
and he was killed whi'e bound helpless to the tree."

“Are you sure he was killed, Abe?" questioned
Mamie,

“ Yes; Ivan found his form stript of flesh still
lashed to the tree. The wolveshad eaten him. And
so you see. Maggie, I die with a heavy load upon my
soul... and I’m afraid the good Lord will not forgive
me.

“He will not punish you for the death of Sure
ifihot ,fieth. Abe,“ Ma gie ans“ cred, “for Seth still
ives.

Abe started as if from or dream.

“ Sure Shot Seth alive !" ho exclaimed. “ Maggie,
are on not mistaken ?”

‘-‘ am not; he left me but a few minutes ago."

“Then I can die in peace,“ he said, again sinking
toilie earth: “ but, Maggie, you had better not re-
main here. There are many Indians in the Black
Woods bent noon the destruction of all the whites
they can find.”

" I cannot leave you, Abe, sufiering as you are."

 

 
  

 

vi
4;
I:

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

Sure Shot Seth. ‘ ‘ 19

“Ican‘t suffer long, Maggie, for I am nearly
gone."

Overcome with emotion. Maggie sat down by the
dying youth, and, burying her face in her hands,
weft bitterly.

silence. broken only by the maiden’s sobs, en-
sued. When Maggie again turned to Abe his eyes
were half-closed. his lips were slightl parted, while
an iface wore that calm, yet awf expression of
ea h. .

“Poor Abel" sobbed the maiden; but she started
at the sound of her own voice. It sounded hollow
and unnatural. She glanced wildly around her.
The moan of the woods, and the presence of death,
all conspired to fill her soul with horror. She started
to her feet. then turned and fled the spot like a
frightened fawn.

She ran on deeper and deeper into the shadows
of the Black Woods, as though there were some
irresistible power drawing her into their; gloomy
labyrinths. The shadows were deep as twilight,
though now and then a faint stray beam of light,
dim and ghostly fell across her path.

An indescribable horror lent speed to her feet,
and she glided on until l-er steps were arrested by
a blaze of light bursting upon her from before.
She found the forest had tci initiated in a’brond
sheet of limmerln water. She stood on the shore
of Lake uster. Sue glanced ovor the little sheet
and around its margin. No sign of life was visible.
The place seemed wrapt in profound solitude.

Half-exhausted and half-delirious by her violent
exercise, Maggie sunk down under a tree. She
leaned her throbbing head against the trunk, and
clasped her hands over her beatin heart. She
closed her eyes and sunk into mental repose. She
inhaled the fresh air and the swrct essence of the
breeze among the tree-tops, she sunk into a gentle
slumber, that was as swoet and refreshing as am—
brosia to the lips. Even the sense of hearing was
enraptured as she slept. The soft, flute-like notes of
music fell upon her ears in dreams. Bright vismns
and enchanting scenes passed in rapid review before
her, like the figure of a panorama.

Final] she awoke. Was it mockeer—all bitter
disapporntment that had attended her refreshing
slumber? No, not at all; the sweet breath of the
woods was there, and low, soft and melodious the
weird and solemn refrain of a ha came to her
ears. She started up in artial bewi derment. az-
ing wikgy around her. S e bent her head and 'st-
cued. othing save the ravishing. strains of music,
broke the silence. They seemed to issue from a
cluster of bushes along the shore to the left, and as
if unable to overcome the weird fascination of the
sound, she turned and moved toward it.

She soon came to a little bay surrounded by a
deep fringe of green-foliaged trees, whose boughs
overhanging formed an Arcadian bower over the
still placid waters of the bay. Upon the bosom. of
the latter rested a strange—looking craft, resembling
the long, narrow roof of a house with gables. A
door opened in the side or this roof-like structure,
and in front of it sat two persons, an old man and a
young girl.

The former sat with his face buried in his hands,
apparently absorbed in deep reverie; while the
maiden, with snowy fingers flashing over the. strings
of a Spanish h .called forth those wild, weird
strains of celesti music.

CHAPTER XVI.
run PALACE or 01.13 NEP'l'VNE.

Enanmnn by the music and startled by the
scene Maggie Harris stood Silent and motionless,
listening to the one and studying the other. The
player was a young and beautiful girl, possmly not
Over eighteen years of age. Her rare loveliness..her
sylph-‘like form. her queenly grace. and air of high-
born accomplishments contrasted strangely With
the surrounding scene. Her e es were of a soft
brown, large and lustrous, an full of tenderness

 

and love. She was robed in a gown of misty blue
with awhile collar around the snowy neck. Her
golden hair hung like silken floss d own her back. A
tiny golden clasp at the throat, and a modest little
rose in her hair were the only Oinaments the fair
creature wore. She sat near the old man. her very
attitude, the poise of the head, and the manner in
which she held her harp, all were positions of ex-
quisite grace and ease.

The man was upward of sixty years of age, and in
type and dress the personification of old Neptune.
His face, his heard, his hair and evm his trident
spear, bore a striking resemblance to those of the

God of the Sea. His brow wore the contracted fur-

rows of care and deep thought. By US side lay
some mechanical coutrivance, consisting ( f wheels,
rods and shafts of copper; and b these sat a kit of
tools, such as would only be use by a master me-
chanical hand.

The craft upon which those two mysterious people
were seated was as odd as it was ingenious. It was
about tWenty feet; ling by ten in width, and sloped
gradually from the water to a point like the comb
of a house-roof, though it was plainly evident that
some portion of its square was submerged. The
whole was plated with galvanized sheet iron which

ave it a white, clouded color. On the top were
our small tubes resembling chimneys, though it
was not ossible that all were used as such. Mag gie
regarde the strange sight for some time with
speechless emotion. She had iften heard of Lake
Luster and the furbodiug solitude that surrounded
it; but never had she heard of these people, who
ltiad, from all apptarancc, dwelt there ior some
1me.

While the fugitive maiden stood undecidedasto
the course she should pursue, the old man started
up, Seized his trident and thrust it into the water.
A smile oval-spread his face-a smile that drove
away all those hard lines, and relieved the fears of
Maggie Harris. As the old man drew back his spear,
our heroine saw a large fish impaled upon it, strug-
gling in the grasp of the terrible barbs.

Releasing the fish and securing it from escape,

the old man again relapsed into silence, whilc the ,

maiden continued at the harp. Five minutes, per-
haps, had passed, when he again threw his spear
and drew in a second fish. While he was releasing
it, the maiden ceased playing, and, walking to the
old man, said: '

“Oh, what a. nice fish, father! The two will be
ample for our wants for a day or two. The poor
thing how it struggles. It seems afiity to kill them,
affter having enticed them here by t ' e enchantment
o musrc.

“God has placed the beasts of the field, the birds -

of the air, and the fish of the sea at our command;
and we have only to take them when our needs de-
mand them. A slice of venison, or a roastr-d fowl,
would be a welcome change at our table; but these
are perilous times, and the report of a. rifle might
guide enemies to our retreat.”

“ Enemies? what enemies have we, father?“ ques-
tioned the maiden. :

“ There’s no telling; the savages will doubtless re-
gard all whites who do not join their ranks usenc-
inies; and, if so, we will be in danger, for I will never
bear arms against my countrymen."

“ Why not observe a. strict neutrality father?"

“ This would be impossible with the fed-skins.
They have no knowledge, in their savage ignorance,

of civilized warfare, and we could not convince them _

that, as neutrals, we had any rights they were bound
to resoect." I .

“Why not quit Lake Luster till peace is restored,
father?" - .

“ I could not think of it Vishnia; especrally, while
upon the eve of success in my invention that must
give me fame and wealth'througl} all ages to come."

“But, father, if there is a war'between the North
and South, the sale of your self-propelling, self-act-
ing torpedo may give you both fame and wealth.

I

 

WWW“..M.~_M

Sure Shot Seth.

 
 

 

yowwould be a good time-to introduce your inven-

ion.

' Not very daughter. The war between the North
and South will not be a naval war. It will be piin-
cipallv on land," the old man replied.

" At any rate, why waste more of your life over a
project that ou may never achieve, and which has
ruined the Ii 6 and mind of many a wise genius?”

Maggie heard all this conversation. and was not a
little surprised. She saw that the old man had se-
cluded himself there to work out in secret the com-
plvcation of some reat invention. His conversation
revealed this, an Maggie had resolved not to in-
trude upon the privacy of his beloved schemes. and
was about to turn away when she heard a rustle in
the shrubbery to her right. Turning her eyes, she
beheld a clump of bushes carefully parted, and a
painted savage face appear in Eh“ opening.

A cry rose to her lips, and like a deer shc darted
from her concealment, and ran toward the water.
She had gone but a few paces. however, when the
shvage overtook her. He grasped her by the arm
and arrested her flight; then he lifted her ii his
naked, brawny arms and turned to flee. But. betore

" he had taken a dozen Ste 5, somethingsr struck him in
the back with a dull thu . A gasp escaped his ii )3.
and with a convulsive quiver running through is

‘whole form, he sunk heavily to the earth, falling
across the unconscious form of Maggie.

A massive footstep approached from the lake, and
the tall form of the mysterious old man of Lake
Luster stood by the side of the dead warrior and the
helpless maiden. Stooping. he seized the savage‘s
form and hurled him aside, then from the body he
withdrew his barbed spear, lifted Mag ie in his
stron nrmsand carried neraboard his boa . Scarce-
ly ha he done so when a fierce, savaife ell burst
upon the air. and a score of savages rus ie from the
woods to avenge their fallen comrade; but. before
they could reach the water's edge, the boat was put
in motion by some invisible means.

The savages fired at the craft, but their bullets
glanced from the metal covering of the structure
like hail from a stone wall; and, in a few moments
more, it was even beyond rifle-range, out upon the
bosom of Lake Luster.

CHAPTER XVII.
TRULY INFERNAL.

Ir was on the night following the events just nar-
rated that we left the Boy Brigade on the shores of
Lake Luster. then bathed in the mellow radiance of
a full moon.

An exclamation of surprise and admiration es-
.caped each lip as they gazed out over the little sheet
and its dark-green border of forest trees.

“By mightyl” exclaimed old Joyful Jim, “if that
ar‘n't the most romantic scene I ever clapped my
0 tics on. Why, she burns like a jewel on the
b ack hand of a nigger gal. Lake Luster, did you
say, Seth?” '

‘ Yes; the water is almost transparent. In many
places you can see the bottom and the fish sporting:
about; but this is nothing more than may be said of
nearly all of Minnesota’s thousand and one lakelets.
Indian tradition has peopled Lake Luster with spirits
of the departed, therefore it has been seldom Visited
by the living."

“That’s 00d, and I hope they’ll continue to ob-

serve this a sence from the spirit lake while we're
here," said Jim. “I've had enuff of horiiits' jave-
lins and Ingiiis‘ bullets to last me till next harvest."

‘ Wherever our trail leads. they’ll be sure to fol—
low min what I tell you." said Sure Shot Seth.

“Whar ore?" old Jim demanded.

“They are led by a white man; or rather a white
boy. whose youth will be nothing in our favor. Ivan
Le Clorcq is unprlncipled and bad. He has just

, enough Indian blood in him to make him blood-
thirsty and revengel'ul; and enough of French to
make him subtle in plotting and planning. Yes; in

 

Hawk‘Eves, the Boy Chief, we have a powerful
enemy, boys.”

At this juncture, Hooseah, the Indian ’lad, who
had been absent from the main party, reconnoi-
tei'éng, came running up in great excitement, and
sai :

“ Bad Ingins—lots—on ahead 1”

“Indeed?” exclaimed Seth; “are they watching
for us?"

" No—watchin' big Wigwam on the lake—see him
float out from the shadows.”

He pointed out over the lake, and all eyes turning
in the direction indicated, beheld along, triangular
structure floating out from the border of shadows
that lined the southern shore, into the moonlit
waters.

“It’s a tent!” exclaimed Mr. Harris.

“It looks like a tent; but it surely isn‘t one,” an-
swered Seth. “ It appears to glimmer like a metal
shield.” ~

“It is movinrr quite fast, and yet I cannot see
from whence it receives its motive power,” said
Harris.

The craft continued on into the open lake until it
had gained the center, when it came to a stand.
Then our friends saw a door open on the 510 ing
side and a man appear from the interior. He ,s ood
in front of the door and gazed around him. The
Brigade could see the outlines of a tall person with
long beard and hair. In his hand he held a staff
with a trident-spear on the end of it.

From the darkness along the shore a tongue of
fire suddenly shat out, and the report of a rifle
started the midnight echoes for miles.

"Och! and the bloody Ingins are firing on the
stranger,” said Teddy.

“Yes: and by that.” answered Seth. “ we are to
understand that the stranger is an enemy of the red-
skins, whatever he may be to us."

With an imperious wave of the hand, the old
man on the raft turned and entered his boat; but
soon he appeared again, bearing something in his
arms.

Our friends stood watching his movements, and
puzzling their brains as to who he was.

A boat suddenly crept out from the shadows of
the east bank an moved toward the strange raft.
There were fiva occupants in it. They were savages.
andbnghtly flashed their paddles as they rose and
fell in the water.

The man now rose to his feet-and in deep, thun- ,

derous tones warnnd the red-skins bnc‘r. But they
either did not understand him, or else heeded not
his warning. Seeing this. the old fellow got down
upon his. knees and placed the article that he had
brouth out with him in the water. Our friends
could see that it emitted a very faint clow not much
larger than the coruscation of a firefly. No sooner
was it placed in the water than it began to move—-
glide smoothly along the surface of the lake directly
toward the red-skins

“What now, in the name of Sodom, does that
mean ?" exclaimed old Joyful Jim. “ See it. bovs?—
a little speck of fire creeping along to’rds that Injin
boat?“

All answered in the affirmative.

“ What do you opine it are?” he questioned.

None could tell. All were equally puzzled.

All watched with bated breath and fixed eye the
moving speck of fire. The Indians, too, had discov-
ered its approach, and sat holding their paddles in
motionless hands, regarding the tiny object with si-
lent attention.

Meanwhile, the old man on the boat stood with
folded arms gazing after the moving speck, While a
silence as deep and profound us creation’s morn
hung over all. It was a foreboding stillness.

Straight toward the rcdskin’s boat, which had
not deviated a foot from its course toward the un-
known raft, the floating spark made its way. The
Indians were deeply puzzled by it, and although
their minds were not unmixed with superstition re

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garding Lake Luster, they aflected no fear of the
approaching object. It was so very small that no
harm could possibly come of it; or, at least, this was
the conviction that it forced upon our friends, as
well as the rod—skins.

A slight commotion agitated the savages as it
neared them, and our friends saw the foremost war-
rior dip his addle and turn the prow of the boat
southward. ut for this act. the floating light
would have assed them slightly to the right; but
the prow of t c boat being turned across its path. it
came in contact wilh the craft. when. horrors! a
sheet of flame burst from the bosom of the lake un-
der the boat, and a roar like the sudden burst of a
volcano shook the night.

High up in the airflow water and fragments of the
canoe and the riven forms of its human freight—so
high that when the debris came down again an arm
and torn hand fell on the shore before their horrified
gaze.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
" MATTER!“

“MY God i" was the exclamation of Harris, at
sight of the human limb that had been torn from the
lhodyhby the terrible explosion and thrown on the

one .

" It must have been a. torpedo that burst under the
boat.” Sure Shot Seth remarked.

"Without a doubt," said Harris; “and the light
we saw floating out from that boat was attached to
the deadly machine.”

“But from whence did it derive its power of pro-
pulsionl"

“That I cannot answer; but I dare say it is some
ingenious mechanical contrivance of the inmate of
that boat. whoever he may he." answered Seth.

“ But who is the inmate of that craft?"

“That‘s the question," said Seth: " but an idea is
creeping into my head, and I‘ll wager anythng that
the angel that came and sung and played between
the muzzles of your and tho savagcs’ guns last night
belongs in that little craft."

" Who? Vishnia of the Valley?“

"Yes: she’s probably some wild. crazy girl. and
the act that saved you on the Rock Island was but a.
freak of her diaeascd mind. No sane girl would dare
wander alone, of her own free will. through those
woods at night much less perform such a reckless
act as to come between the guns of two deadly foes
as a peacemaker."

“That’s mighty sound doctrine. Sure Pop." said
old Jim, thoughtfully. “and Pi] go a cookskin thatif
she’s aboard that craft, crazy as a. loon, her father’s
thar also. crazier'n a March hare."

“Crazy people sometimes perform rnimculous—”

Harris was here cut short by a wild, triumphant
pool of laughter ringing across the lake from_the
raft, fully substantiating and settling in the minds
of those who heard, the truth of old Jim‘s assertmn
—that the man on the boat was a madman.

By this time nearly every vestige of the terrible
explosion had disappeared. The lake had become
tranquil, and not a. savage was to be seen.

The- mysterious boat still occupied its position on
the lake, and its occupant his position upon its deck.
But soon the latter retired from view, and silent and
grim the craft lay upon the placid bosom of the
glimmering sheet. ' '

While Seth and his companions stood discussing
the tragedy, the sound of footsteps was heard ap-
preaching. This enjoined silence upon them; but
the footsteps turned and retreated. That they were
made by savage foot the Brigade had not a doubt,
and that they had not been discovered was also quite
evident.

Scarct-ly five minutes had elapsed when the rush
of a hundred fem-t was heard along the shore. A
horde of savages were stealing upon the Brigade.

.“ Whlrr-rr rr-rr-rr-r." suddenly rose from the
midst o! the Brigade, like the “ whirr " of a pheasant
in a copsevit was the signal to disperse.

 

Instantly. almost. the whole of the little band
scattered in every direction like a flock of sheep.
The savages uttered a yell, 11nd sent a volley into
the darkness after them, but note. bullet took eflect.

Away through the darkness of the grim Back
Woods the Brigade fled. Seth took Mr. Harris with
him. while Joyful Jim and Tom Grayson, who had
been admitted to the membership in the band,
sought safety as did the rest.

In ten minutes‘ time a deep and profound silence
reigned Over the forest and lake. The red-skins
made no attempt to follow the boys far. They
knew the danger of scattering in pursuit.

Out in the wood. under the deep shadows of a
great tree,‘Sure Shot Seth and Maggie's father came
to a halt, and listened.

“We have esca ed." said the latter; “but who
knows the rate of t e others?"

“ Rest assured they are safe," was Seth‘s confident

rep] .

" hut they are all scattered like a covey of quails.
I dare say we are the only two that stuck together."

“That’s the idea, exactly. We take the nail for
our example. A peculiar ‘ whirr ‘ of the cader‘s
wings disperses them. and. rest assured, each quail
will remain concealed until the leader calls. when it
Will come out and answer. If all. as applied to the
Boy Brigade. do not answer, I repeal the call; and it
some are still silent. it is to be taken for granted
that danger lurks near the ones not answering."

“ But suppose one of your bank should be killed?”

“ We have made no provision for such a mishap,
for we don‘t intend to get killed."

“The Boy Bri ado is a splendid organization."
said Harris, “an if it can nd my child, I willbe
under eternal obligations to ir."

“ We will leave nothing undone to find her. Mr.
Harris. She may have fallen into the red-skins’
power. or she may have grown tired waiting my re-

urn, and fled. We have only to be patient and con-
stant in our search."

The father sighed heavily.

Half an hour went by in silence.

h N03 one word nor sound of the others had been
ear . ‘

Presently Seth rose to his feet and said:

“ I’shall now ascertain where the rest of the boys
are.

He uttered a clear, startling whistle not unlike
that of a night bird peculiar to the northern woods.
The sound drifted away through the night and died
in the distance.

The hoot of an owl came back in response.

“Ah!” exclaimed Seth; “the Owl is safe. Did
you not hear his answer Mr. Harris?"

“Was that one of the boys?" '

“ It was; but listen."

One after the other came the respective answers
of each of the Boy Brigade.

" Every one of them is safe." said Seth, “ and, in
the course of half an hour I will call them up as a
hen calleth her brow .” I

They remained silent for some time, when Seth
sent forth the hoot of an owl. It was answered
from the north. and a few moments later youn
Schultz. The Owl. made his appearance. Then fo -
lowed the bowl of the wolf, and Le Subtile Wolf,
the Indian lad. appeared. Thus one call after an-
other was made, until the whole band was together,
though no two calls Wore made in the same place,
through four that an enemy might gain the location.

Once more together. a short consultation was
held. which developed the fact-that the Black Woods
were then swarming with Indians. Justin Gray re— ‘
ported that while he was in concealment a number
of Indians asscd him carrying two canoes in the
direction 0 Lake Luster. As there were a number
of small lakes on the outskirts of the Black Woods
noted for their inexhaustible supply of fish and
fishing-boats. it was very evulcnt that the Indians
were not going to be defeated ‘ in the capture of the
stranger on Lake Luster, and were carrying boats

 

 

  
  

    
    
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   
  
 
    
    
  
    
 
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
    
   

  

'of something on the water.

2 Sure Shot Seth.

 

to the latter point for the purpose of attacking the
en-my, ‘despite the recent horrible fate of their
companions.

Their persistent efforts to capture the raft were.
as our friends well knew, led by the Boy Chief, and
the trained mind of Sure Shot Seth quickly con-
cluded that. in this movement of the enemy. there
was something or some one aboard that rar’t which
they desired to possess or slay. Might it not be
Maggie Harris? Might she not have wandered from
where he had left her to the lake, and been taken
aboard the madman‘s raft?

The stunning report of a rifle, coming from

i the direction of the lake, put an end to his cogita-

tions.

 

CHAPTER XIX.
A GAME WELL PLAYED.

SURE SHOT SETH made known his convictions, and
at his suggestion the party returns 1 to the lake.

The shadows. by this time were lengthening on
the western side of the little sheet; but they had not
reached the raft, which still sat motionless on the
water, and to all ii pearances tenantloss.

Hooseah, the In ian lad, was at once sent out to
reconnoiter the western shore. while Scth went him-
solf to scout along the eastern side of the lake. It
was their desire to know what the In Ii 1.113 were
about, and their exact location. as well as their nu-
merical strength.

Seth kept back about two rods from the margin of
the lake and moved ra idlv. yet noiselessly as n
phantom. He at length ound himself at the water's
very ed e in a clump of bushes on the northern end
of the ake. Before him was a narrow opening or
path. beyond which was another border of (lens:
shrubberv. He was just about to step across this

ath when he heard light footsteps coming along

oward the lake. Remaining quiet, he awaited their
approach. A young chief, dressed in all the gaudy
pnuoply‘of war, brushed past him and stopped on
the margin of the lake.

It was Hawk-Eyes, the Boy Chief. Ivan Le Clercq!

Seth could scarcely restrain the terrible emotion
that ran in his breast on making this discovery. His
hand mechanically sought the weapon at his girdle:
bu . his better judgment revailed. and he remained
as silent as if frozen to t )0 spot, his eyes fixed upon
the young chief.

The young renegade ran his eyes over the lake.
Seth was so close to him that he could see a strange
smile of delight pass over his countenance at sight
What it was that pleas-
ed him Seth knew not. nor dare he even .move his
head to ascertain.

The chief kept his eyes out upon the lake until his
attention was diverted by footsteps behind. Ho
turned and saw a young warrior approaching.

“ What does Hawk-Eves sec?" asked the latter.

“ ‘Shl" cautioned the chief; " look yonder."

The warrior did as directed, when a low. sinister
gmile of triumph shot athwart h's dusky. painted

ace.

The next moment a succession of tiny waves began
chafing the shore at their feet and the dip of a pad-
dle became audible. The chief and his companion
steppe I back into the shadows. This movement left
Seth under less restraint.

“Ah!” the cunning, coward] wretches.” thought
Seth, drawing his revolver, “ t iev are reparing to
pounce upon some unsuspecting vict in. But I'll

see about it.“ ,

The next moment a small canoe with a single oc-
cupant touclie'l the bank where the path ended. and
that occupant was a female~a young and lovely
girl—the fairy-like Vishnia, the maid of the Valley.

As she rose toher feet the chief advanced and con-
fronted her. She started with a little cry of alarm,
Fitisoon recovered her composure and addressed the

u an.
" Vliom have I the pleasure of meeting!"

 

 

  

“ Hawk-Eyes, the Boy Chief." answered the young
renegade. ,

“Dons he lead the Indians that surround Lake
Luster?"

“ He does." was the answer.

“Then with him I came to negotiate terms of
peace."

She stood erect in her rubber canoe as she s oke.
The tones of her voice were soft and child—h e in
their melody. Through the foliage that concealed
his person, ure Shot Seth could see the symmetry
of her profile clearly outlined against the moonlit
water. A thin shawl enveloped her slender figure.
A light straw hat was pushed back from her head
till it rested on her back. thus revealing wondrous
features.

" What does the white maiden want with the Boy
Chief?" the young renegade asked. his tone and
looks devoid of the first principles of courtesy.

“ ’I‘o effect terms of peace." _

“ Well, let me hear what propositions for peace
you have to make." the renegade observed.

"Nothing more than the request that you with—
draw your desigus against our home yonder, on the
lake. and no harm shall befall a red-man, so far as
we are concerned." was the maiden’s response.

“We fear nothing, nor any one,” was the brutal
re ly of the Boy Chief. “The woods and the lakes
be ong to the red‘man. and it is not for the whites to
make conditions regarding them."

“I know the Indians are not cowards. and I do
not wish to intimidate them. I only ask what is
honorable.” '

" What is your father's name?"

"‘ Neptune," she answered; but Le Clercq‘s igno-
rance of mythology concealed the evasion in her an-
swer.

“Neptune,” he repented; “well,l will accede to
your demands on one condition "

“HI will be pleased to hear what your wish may

th“ Well, there‘s a young girl aboard your boat, isn't
ere."

Vishnia started, and hesitated for a moment to re-
ply; but finally she said:

‘I have no desire to answer falsely; thereis a
young girl there —-Miss Harris.“

Seth‘s heart gave a great bound. He was afraid
that it would betray his presence. Maggie was safe,
and that was joy to him. He felt so thankful that
he could have kisssd the garments of her who
brought the gla'l intelligence. But his feelings as-
sumed a different mood when he heard the young
chief say:

"Deliver that maiden into my power and you and
yours shall be molested no more by the Indians."

“1 would not consent to‘ do a wrong. for if you
would hold her a captivu against her will, it would
be cruel and barbarous." said the maiden.

“The Indians are claSSed as barbarians." Le
Clercq replied; “so it wouldn‘t make any material
difference."

" Father will never consent to give her up to her
enemies."

“But I will make him give her up."

“ Do not overestimate your power, young chief."

“I‘ll see to that. I‘ll just hold you in hostage till
llm/ {Ii-ll ii giren up.”

V_ishnia started. and her face grew pale with fear.
This was something she had not expac'ed, and she
saw little chance of escape from her situation.

“I have always heard that the Indians were pos-
sessed of gallantry. and under such circumstances
would treat a woman kindly." said Vishnia; “but
had I known otherwise, I would never have placed
myself at your mercy."

" I am sorry to disappoint you: but the exigency
of this case demands that I hold you a prisoner till
Maggie Harris is given up. Black Dog"—turning
to the Indian—" you will take the pale-face girl to
our camp." . .

Halt-reluctantly, the Indian advanced toward the

    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  

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Sure Shot Seth.

23

 

maiden, who. seating herself, attempted to flee.
But the Indian was too uick for her. He caught
her canoe and dragged it alf upon the shore; but,
before he had time to contaminate her by his touch,
Sure Shot Seth saw the bushes on the opposite side
of the path move. and the next instant a toma-
hawk, wielded by some unseen person there, fell
upon the head of the savage. Like a log. he went
down lifeless, falling partly in the water. Hawk-
Eyes started back, aghast with fear and horror. He
heard the click of a revolver on his left, and the
next moment the weapon itself was thrust through
the foliage into his very face. But not a. word was
spoken—not a face was visible to the half-terrified
young chief. He fixed his glaring eyes upon the
won on, and run them along the arm thrust from
the ushes; but he could not tell by whom he was
confronted. »

For fully aminute the young chief stood winciug
before the weapon thrust at him like the finger or‘
dent ; but, seeing the unknown enemy hesitated
to fire, he gathered courage. struck up the muzzle
of the weapon, then turned and darted into the
darkness. '

Then Seth parted the bushes. and stepped out into
the moonlight on one side of the path, and Hooseah,
the Indian lad, appeared from the other.

“Me kill Sioux brave; why Sure Shot no kill
Hawk-Eyes?" nskvd the young friendly, a look of
sore l'ogl‘vt on his face.

“ i would not fire through fear of bringing danzer
upon 1mg” replied Seth, pointing toward the little
canoe lea )ing across the water under the vigorous
strokes o the fair Vishuia's paddle.

 

CHAPI ER XX.
CLOSE QUARTERS INDEED.

VISHN'IA waited not to learn who her rescuers
were. but wild with fear. she pushed off from the
bench and sped toward the stronghold of her father
upon the lake But, after she. had llud a few mo:
monts for thought, and her mind had become some-
what compost-d. she felt a pang of regret for having
acted so hastily in leaving her unknown friends
without a word of thanks, after they had saved her.
To remedy this, however, was now too late; and she
was to remain in ignorance. for the time being, as to
the persons who had befriended her.

Seth and Hooseah felt in no wn aggrieved by the
course she had pursued. In file ., it was just what
they wanted, for no sooner was Hawk-Eyes free
than he gave the alarm that brought a. horde of the
savages yelling to the water’s edge. But. all they
found was a comrade lying dead, his head cloven by
a tomahawk.

The two scouts at once beat a hasty retreat along
the shore back toward their friends, whom they
found in a. fever of excitement and anxiety. Seth
lost no time in communicating in Harris the discov-
ery he had made respecting Maggie.

“Good Lord bless von. boy!“ the happy father
exclaimed, wringing Seth‘s hand. “It relieves my
heart of an awful load to know that my child lives;
but now, another fear rises in my mind—the four
that the madman on that craft may do her vio-
lence." '

“ Rest easy on that point, Mr. Harris.” said Seth,

' "for I assure you no harm can befall her there: for

she has for a companion as fair nnd lovely :1 girl as
the sun ever sbnne upon. I heard her refuse to give
Maggie to the savages to insure her own and her fa-
ther’s safety. No; Maggie is safe: but the mystery
surrounding that raft has deeply enlisted my inter-
est.“

“ Then you don’t think the folks on that consam
are crazy, do you, now?" asked Joyful Jun.

“ Far from it; for if the rest are to l e judged by
that maiden whom Hooseah tells me is Vishnin. the
Maid of the Vallcv—she who resound you at Rock
Island. then they are superior beings. B keeping
in. the vicinity of the lake we may be enab ed to un-

 

ravel this mystery. It is true, ourassistance may be
needed at the Agency; but if by remaining here we
can hold a score or two of lndians away from there.
we will be rendering them a great service: so sup-
pose we now seek some safe quarters and rest easy
till morning?”

“.‘Nufl said." exclaimed old Jim, “for I’m “bout
bumfusticaied.“

All readily acquiesced in Seth‘s suggestion, when
the party at once moved a mile southward and
bivouacked on the margin of the lilack Woods. Here
they passed the night, and with the first Streaks of
dawn the were astir. Hooseah brained adeer with
his toma iawk. shortly after daylight, which fur-
nished a hearty breakfast and an ample supply of
food for the needs of the day.

Regaled by their brief sleep,and their meal of sa-
yory venison. the Boy Brigade felt vigorous, and anx-
ious for the day’s excitement to begin.

Hooseah and young Tricks bring deployed as
scouts. the party started back toward the lake.
They had proceeded but a short distance when firing
was heard in advance, and the peculiar war—cry of
Le Subtlle Wolf warned the Brigade that danger was
very near.

In a moment every man and boy sought shelter
and the dozen rod-skins in pursuit of Hooseah foun
themselves in an umbuscnde of deadly enemies ere
they were aware. A short, but desperate conflict
ensued. The red-skins were routed. and but for the
dvnse shadows of the Black Woods, not a man of
them would have ('SCHPEd.

Fierce and terrible the war-cry of the Boy Brigade,
was hurled after the foe, and wild and demoniacal
came the-re onse from the enemy.

The Brie e pressed on towar the lake, and at
length came in sight of it. The first thin that met
their view was the floating cabin of ol Neptune.
Smoke was curling from one of the little chimney-
like boxes on the roof. The door opened. and all
saw a little female figure, with a. vessel in her hand '
trip out upon the porch or platform in front. and
dip some water from the lake, then rc—enter the
building. ‘

“That was the fair Vishnin," said Seth.

“Doin’ up the housework," added Joyful Jim,
with a strange smile.

“ And yonder." said Mr. Harris. “you can see a
horde of Indians preparing to embark in canoes
from the east shore; and. l dare. say, they have de-
signs upon the palace of old Neptune. Boys, can‘t
we drive them away?"

“Neptune will defend himself, I‘ll guarantee."
said Justin Gray. "I‘ll venture the assertion that
he’s surrounded with torpedoes.”

Gaininga point where they could command a full
view of the savages. the boys watched the opera-
tions with no little interest. And it was soon dis-
covered that. in addition to the four canoes which
they had brought to Lake. Luster during the night,
a. huge raft of logs was in course of ccnstruction.
No loss than a dozen logs were in the water already,
lying at rightanzlcs with the shore and about three
foot apart. Across the ends of these,a long pine
stick of timber was placed and firmly lashed to each
cross- lece. Another leg. but smaller in size, was
lasho across the other ends of the under logs, and
then the raft seemed to have been completed. Be-
tween every two logs, two savages took their si-
iion, their bodies submerged in the water and heir
bends and shoulders concealedbehind thelarge log
lashed across the ends of the others. I

It was rather a rude. yet effectual raft for the
purpose intended. and our friends watched the
Preparations for the attack'upon Neptune with no

ittle fear and doubt.

“ If they succeeded in getting within easy gunshot
0f Neptune‘s raft, I am afraid they will be success:
ful in their attempts.” said Sure Shot. " How-
ever. we will walk around that way and perhaps
we‘ll get an opportumty to take the red.rascals m
the rear."

\

 

 

 

24 Sure Shot Seth.

 

G“Ah, there goes the raft!" exclaimed young
rav. A
True enough. the savages remaining on shore bad
ushed the raft away from the bank, and slowly and
eavin the cumbersome affair drifted out, propelled
by the feet of those in the water.

"Now, boys," said Seth, “let us hurry around
there and do our best for our friends on the lake.”

Away they glided like so many shadowa and soon
came within range of the Indians watching upon
the bank. Without a moment's delay they opened
a deadly flre upon them. The savages at once
sought shelter; but in such aposition as to cover
the operations of their friends on the lake.

Harris kept by the side of the fearless youn
borderman. Sure Shot Seth. and it was with a. fee -
ing of the deepest agony that he learned of their
inability to prevent the advance of the raft upon the
structure that sheltered his child.

The Boy Brigade was now in its element ain.
Concealed behind trees, logs and bushes, the ear-
less youths watched With eager. burning eyes for
a glimpse of the enemy. They fought the Indians
as Indians fight; and as the red-skins were laboring
under the excitement of a surprise, they appeared
restless and impatient, and kept dodging hither
and thither like rats. exposing themselves to view;
and whenever the clear report of a rifle, fired by one
of the boys, stung through the morning air, a death-
yell was sure to follow. . .

Sure Shot and Harris were where they could
command a view of both the Indians‘ raft and the
floating cabin of old Neptune. They saw the latter
come out on the Porch or platform of his domicile,
stoop over and ace something in the water, as on
the revious nig t.

“ ow look out!” exclaimed Seth; “it‘s my opin-
ion you’ll hear something ‘drop.‘ That man has
sent another of his infernal machines to intercept
them savages."

About this time a canoe containin a number of
Warriors put out from the northern s lore; but they
approached the raft in a rather cautious manner,
their eyes searching every foot of the crystal depths
before them.

Both and Harris watched the raft closel for some
minutes. Slowly and heavily it crept on t rough the
we or.

At times it seemed to stand still. and the patience
of the watchers became sorely pressed; but at
length the saw the log that protected the savages
shoot sud only into the air, followed by a perfect
mountain of water. Then athwart the morning
burst an awful. pent-up roar that fairly shook the
earth. Aperfect maelitrom appeared to ingqu raft
and savages. The waters of Lake Luster endeav-
ored to leap from their bed, but fell back with a
thunderous surge. Wave after wave rolled with a
sullen crash against the shore. and recoiled with a
rushing, seething roar. Both savages and raft were
lost in the rush of waters; but when the water began
to calm down, several of the dusky wretches were
seen bufleting the waves in desperate attempts to
reach the shore.

Old Neptune stood in front of his floating cabin
and regarded the whole with remarkable indiifer-
once; and as soon as the savages had all disappear:
ed, two female figures issued from the cabin and
stood by his side.

An exclamation of joy burst from the lips of Mr. ‘

Harris for he saw that one of them was his own
lost child, Maggie. Seth’s heart. too, gave a great
bound, but hevke‘pt back the words of joy and love
that rose to his lips. .

For a moment the father and lover watched the
figures on the cabin p web, but suddenly the crash
0 rifles drew their attention aside, and when they
looked out upon the lake again, the three forms had
disappeared inside their defense.

But the savages seemed determined in their efforts
to capture the cabin of the old hermit of the lake.

Dashing the logs that had been washed ashore to-

 

gether again, another party of lndians took their
position upon the raft and pushed out.\ This time
with more success, for not long after they came
alongside the cabin.

The savages. stripped of every garment save their
loin-cloths, climbed and wriggled up the steep,
smooth inclination of the cabin, like huge ma'vgots.

Puffs of smoke burst from the side of the cabin,
followed by stunning reports.

Suddenlya wild cry of horror burst from every
li , and the savages sprung away from the cabin as
i stun by scorpions.

Our 1: rec friends saw the cabin of old Neptune
reel upon the water like a drunken thing, then to
their amazement and horror saw it sink beneath the
waves of Lake Luster with its helpless, imprisoned
inmatesi

 

CHAPTER XXI.
THE mom ensure THE warms.

A GROAN burst from the lips of Sure Shot Seth and
old Jim,while a wail of the most heart-rending agony
escaped the lips of the settler, Mr. Harris, when
they saw the cabin that contained their friends go
down in the lake.

“Oh, my poor child! my poor child!“ cried the
bereaved father, starting up as if to leap in the
water.

“ May Heaven smite their destroyers with its most
terrible vengeance i" moaned Seth, sick at heart.

“Can‘t we help them?" cried Harris; “can we
not—“ ,
“go, Harris," said old Jim. “we can do ’em no
00 ." ,

g Under cover of a, clump of trees the Boy Brigade
held a council. their hearts overshadowed by the dis-
aster on the lake.

“ Why stay here now,” said Justin Gray, “since
web can be of no avail to the inmates of the floating
on in?“ '

“ We owe the dead as well as the livin’ a duty,"
said old Jim, thoughtfully, yet with a strange smile
upon his face. ,

“Yes it is a. duty—a Christian duty we owe the
dead to give them a Christian burial," declared Sure
Shot Seth.

Mr. Harris bowed his head and wept, too full of
grief for utterance.

And so it was decided that the remain by the lake
until the bodies could be rescue from their confines
ment, and interred.

To remain inactive, however. was a persecution
in itself to the little band of bordermen; and as the
hours wore heavily on, propositions for some move‘é
ment were resented by various persons. All were
decided in he negative until Seth announced an
adventure that would admit of no discussion; he

roposed to go himself upon thelake. and examine

he situation of the sunken cabin, leaving his friends
ashore to cover his movements, should the savages
make any demonstration against him.

No one could see any material danger in this,
and so the young rifleman at once embarked in the
canoe, stil in their possession, for the scene of
death. He used the paddle with roziiarkable skill.
and sent the craft flying over the water. He was
guided toward the right spot by the four square
chimney‘tops protruding above the water. The
surface of the lake was smooth and tranquil, and
shone like polished silver under the oblique rays of
the declining sun.

He soon came within five feetof the chimneys.
when he ceased oddling and permitted his boat to
come to a. rest. a gazed over the side of his craft
into the water. Its liquid depths were clear as crys-
tal. He could see the bottom of the lake, and the
lower edge of the sunken cabin. He turned and
looked over the other side of his boat. Ho starred
back with a cry of horror. Beneath him lay the
cabin. There was a_small lass window or skylight
in the root, and at this win ow, her hands clutched

 

 

-  a. .1

use: ~I 

 

 

 

 

 

'3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure Shot Seth. 25

 

hold of the lower sill. herwhite. ghastly face uplifted
with all the expiression of terror that death could
stamp thereon, e beheld Maggie Harris, standing
erect. ri d and motionless. .

“Oh, eavenl" burst from the youth‘s 'ps, as he
beheld the face of his dead darling at the indow of
the sunken cabin. He turned his eyes away. unable
todook upon the ghastly scene. But he could not
drive from his mind the ghastly face, the eyes that
were staring wide open. the flowing locks of hair,
and the look of despair that he had seen at the
window.

For a moment or two he sat motionless, para-
lyzed. A shrill, havering whistle rung upon his
ear. He started— 8 recognized it as the warning of
danger that belonged to the Boy Brigade’s code of
signals. He glanced around him, and. to his sur-
prise and fear. beheld three canoes, loaded With
savages. put out from different pomts around the
lake and move rapidly toward him. Taking up his
paddle he headed toward his friends, while two of
the canoes bent their course to cut him ofl.’ from
shore. This, Seth knew, they would almost accom-

lish. considering their advantages, were it not for
lizis friends, who would leave nothing undone to
cover his retreat. But scarcely had he considered
this self-assuring fact ere the report of firearms,
mingled with yells and shouts, came from the direc-
tion in which he was going, telling him that the
enem had attacked the Brigade. and that he could
look or no succor from that quarter.

What had promised a quiet, uninterrupted visit to
the grave of his sweetheart. now threatened to be a
dangerous adventure. He knew by the rapid firing.

‘ and the fierce, savage yells in the woods, that his

friends were being sorely pressedgand. as he had to
depend wholly upon his own exertions for safety, be
turned his boat and attem ted to escape between
the canoe to the south and hat to the east of him.
The elastic blade in his hands bent like a how; the
canoe fairly leaped under each owerful stroke, and
a white, frothy streak across t e lake defined the
wake of tho boat.

For awhile, stronglhope of escape encouraged the

oung rifleman in is almost superhuman efiorts;

ut in an instant all was dashed to the earth, the

addle fell from his hands, and he sunk half‘lifeless
E) the canoe, a stream of hot blood spurting from
his nostrils. Nature had been overdone. An artery
had been ruptured, and what of life the hemorrhage
left was now in possession of his implacable foe,
Hawk-Eyes. the Boy Chief.

Weak and still bleeding. Sure Sir t was taken
b the savages and conveyed ashore. and out into
the woods into the midst of a large band of young
warriors.

A yell of triumph hailed the ca. tors” arrival, and
a general rush to see the captive ollowed. . .

Seth was permitted to_sit down, and holding his
extended arms above his mead succeeded in stopping

the flow of blood from his nose. He was literally

covered with his own crimson life-tide.

The savages respected his misfortune so far as an
Indian can respect a wounded enemy. No indignities
were visited upon him; but many, :ierce and Vindic-
tive, were their throats. .

Seth ran his eyes over the faces of his captors for
that of the Boy Chief: butlit was nowhere to be seen.
Presently, however, that young renegade made his
appearance with a number of others from around
the lake. As he pressed through the crowd of sav-
ages surrounding Seth. a cry pl” abject fear burst
from his lips when he caughtsnzht of the prisoner.
He started back, at first. as if from the presence of
one he feared. but quickly recovering and concealing

. all trepidation from his braves, be advanced to where

our hero sat.
" Sure Shot Seth." he said, half to himself.
I Sethlraised hi? eyifis. while a cry of surprise burst
rnm t e red-Bk n s s.
“ Who are you thatpknows me?" demanded Seth,
‘_‘ and speaks English so well?"

\

 

“ We met last on the morning of the shooling-
match at the Agency," was the chief‘s response.

Seth knew it, but pretended ignorant-v.

“ l have no recollection of you," he answered.

“ Well, you will know me when you see me again,

I assure you."

“ Ah, that‘s a threat.” Seth replied with disdain.
“None but a coward would mock and threaten a
prisoner.”

“ You are my prisoner—you, the leader of a band
under whose rifle score-s of my brow s have fallen,"
returned the chief.

“ It has been a fair, free fight. You have the odds,
and if on get whipped, you have no reason to com-
plain.’ returned the fearless boy rifloman.

“Then if you get scalped and roasted, I suppose
you’ll have no reason to complain?”

“ 0f nothing more than that it was done at the in-
stance of a cowardly knave—a white red skin, whose
name is Ivan Le Clerc ,” said Seth. contemptuously.

" and who, with Benc ict Arnold and Judas Iscariot.
Will go down to posterity in history base hound and
traitor.”

“But the historian will never know the fate of
Sure Shot Seth, he who played it well the day of the
shooting-match; but I wasn’t asleep."

“ Coward! you believed me dead till you met me
here, a minute ago; and fearing the vengeance of
the law, dyou fled—deserted your own people and en-
deavore to coax your four white friends away with
you: and for all I know succeeded. after having
sneakingly murdered Abe Thorne. You are a vile
wrctcli—too vile even for an Indian."

The Bny Chief started as if thunderstmck at these
words; but he saw that his manifestations of liai-
brought looks of derision and disgust to the faces of
his followers, and so he rallied his spirit of bravado,
and replied:

“Sure Shot Seth, ou know too much to live."

“ And you too litt e to die.”

“And, therefore,” the chief continucd, “I shall ,
sefhthat‘ you do not escape this time. Nor your band
ei er.

He turned aside and held a short, inaudible con-
sultation with his braves. When the pow-wow had
ended, Hawk-E es took the majority of his warriors
and left, going oward the lake. Seth felt sure that
the Boy Brigade was the objective point of this
movement.

Those left in charge of the prisoner finsl'y took
him and moved away toward the lake also. On
reaching the water they embarked in a. canoe for the
interior of the lake. Two other sava es in a canoe,
that was sunk to its gunwalos under a and of stones, ~
followed behind. A third canoe with three occu-
pants, towing behind, a huge log by means of a rope
made of fibrous bark. followed the second.

When about one hundred yards from the sunken
cabin of Neptune the canoe of the prisoner stopped.
The second ran alongside of it, though leaving a few
feet of space between into which the third party
towed the logs.

Something of the truth now entered Seth’s mind.
and Sent 9. shudder through his veins. He believed
he was to bo lashed to the log and left to die, where
his friends, as well as his enemies, could witness his
agonles. and yet render him no assistance. Nor was
he left in a. moment‘s doubt. The red skins lifted
him from the canoe and laid him back down upon
the log. He was then bound with strips of tough
fibrous bark as securely as though he was a art of
the log itself. His hands were doubled un er the
log and bound so that he could not move a muscle.

Along rope of bark was next attached to the log
and the canoe loaded with rock. Then the hr ttom
of the canoe was out through in several places; the
craft filled with water and sunk to.the bottom of
the lake, securely anchoring the log in the center of
the little sheet. _

Having completed their fiendish work, the savages
retired to the woods to await the result. ' V

Seth at once saw through the whole of this devilish

 

23 L Sure 81:01: Seth. ,

work; they had set a trap for the rest of the Bri-
gade. Ex osed as he was, the red-skins knew full
Well that is friends would discover his situation
and endeavor to relieve him. when they—the sav-
ages—would pounce down upon them from their
coverts along the shore like hawks upon a brood.

Seth’s hands and feet were in the water. and as a
strong breeze now disturbed the surface of the lake
tiny waves dashed against the log and sprinkled
their s ray over him. He could not turn his head;
be con d not move a muscle; nor could he breathe
with half his usual freedom. He could see nothing
but the sky, from which the light of day was fast
fading, for by this time the sun had gone down.

As no twilight shadows deepened around him, he
summoned all his strength and sent forth the Brig-
ade’s signal of distress. [t was answered from the
northern shore: but the answer was immediately
followed by the report of a rifle—evidence that the
savages were in close proximity to the Brigade.

Darkness at length fell. The sky was overcast
with swift-moving clouds. The wind swe t across
the Black Woods and tossed the surface 0 the lake
into tin billows. Seth was soon drenched to the
skin ant chilled to the marrow. An inevitable death
stared him in the face. Wave after wave broke
over him. A thousand vague and awful horrors
crowded upon his soul. Strange visions rose up be-
fore him and hovered like spirits around. Strange,
icy arms were clasped around him like hoops of
steel, Then followed an awful roaring and the s -u-
Sation of being,' swept away into the inimitable

epths of eternity. Down, down, deeper and deeper
into the unknown void he felt himself sinking—that
buzzing roar gradually dissolving into the notes of
far-off music, sweet and plaintive, and finally fading
into that oblivion which knows no pain, no suffering
--the hand‘maid of Death.

CHAPTER XXII.
Lnrs IN was NEW WORLD.
How long he had remained unconscious Sure Shot

 

rSeth had no means of tv-lling; but when reason he

zan to assert its power, it was with a vague uncer-
taint that be regarded the state of existence. H3
four: that he was not in the water nor upon tha
log. of which he maintained an indistinct recoll re»
tion; but upon a soft pallet surrounded by walls,

‘ and shadowy forms that were passing around him.

The murmur of voices in the distance also assured
him of the va e. dreamy existence in some spher:
or other; but is mind was so heavy and doprcssel
that he could not collect his thoughts. Liltl: by
little, however, objects around him bigan to as-
sume more tangible and material shape. Out of thy
shadows of unconsciousness those moving fl ures

radually unfolded themselves until he foun that

e was surrounded by men and women. At length
he had so far recovered as to recognize a face bend‘
ing over him. It was that of Vishnia, the Maid of
the Vallev. At one side sat her father, old Nep-
tune. With their presence was connected some
vague horror. He closed his eyes and tried to recall
the pest. One by one the events of the last few
days came troo ing back; and when at length a
remembrance o the sinking of old Neptune’s cabin.
with all on board, entered his mind, a cry burst
from his lips. They lived as he did himself; but
was it not in another sphere? They had surely been
drowned in Lake Luster and phased into another
existence. He had met with a similar fate on the

. log where the savages had left him. This expla—

nation seemed cogent’ enough to him; but as an-
other thought flashed into his mind, he started up,
cryinz out: '

“ Where is she? Maggie?”

“ Here," responded a soft voice, and Maggie Hal"
rls appeared before him, her face radiant with love
em 0y. 1

“ Then we are all here,” he said, sinking back upon
his couch, a great load seeming to have been re-
moved from his brain.

 

"Yes, Seth, we are all safe in the cabin of Nep-
tune," answered Maggie.

“ But have we all not undergonea change? we are
not on earth, are we?” the half-delirious youth
asked; " you were all drowned when the cabin sunk,
were you not?” ;

“ No, Seth,” answered Maggie, “ we were not
drowned. This is a wonderful structure. Neptune
sunk it at his pleasure to save us from the savages.

Every opening can be hermetically sealed. so that
no water can enter the rooms. It was Neptune that
rescued you and brought you here. You have long
been unconscious."

Her words swept away the cloud that hovered over
the youth’s mind; and in a moment he was in full
possession of his senses. He opened his eyes and
gazed around him. He saw that the room was nice-
ly furnished. The walls, which gradually sloped
from the floor to the apex overhead, were heavily
painted and varnished. A small sheet-iron stove one
cupied one end of the long room. In one corner
were cooking utensils and dishes. Further down
the room was a table covered with books. In the
other end was a sort of a stand or work-bench, upon
which lay an almost countless number of tools. A
machine—apparently unfinished—of some kind or
other, and composed of innumerable cogs, Wheels
and pulleys. stood upon the table.

Under the table were five rubber canoes, four
large, one small.

Near the center of the room was something that
puzzled our hero. It was a huge box with a crank
on one side and a fly—wheel on the other. But what
could it be used fer? At first he concluded that it
was some apparatus for we elling the floating cabin
if such the domicile mig it c termed; but, further
investigation revealed a long rubber hose lying
coiled at the foot of the machine, and which led to
the supposition that it was used for manipulatingthe
craft.

Three windows, of but a single large ane each,
lighted the room, while overhead wore our open-
ings, one of which served as a chimney, the others
as ventilators.

Altogether it was a strange structure; but in per-
fect keeping with the wild mysterious air that sur-
rounded its owner, old N’eptune, and his fair and
lovely daughter, Vishnia. ‘

There was nothing to fear in the old man’s looks:
on the contrary there was a majesty in his 'tall
form. his intellectual face and patriarchial beard,
that commanded respect and admiration. v

He came and sat down by Seth, administered
stimulants to him, and at the same time kept,up an
easy, pleasant conversation. The former strengthen-
ed his body, the latter his mind; and in the course of
a few hours the youth was on his feet. Neptuneconw
ducted him to the door and out upon the porch. from
whence he had a fair view of Lake Luster and the
surrounding shores. He Searched the latter for
some signs of his friends, but saw nothing. ,The
beach seemed entirely deserted.

“ I wonder if my friends are alive?” he saidvto the.

old man.

“ They were at ten o’clock last niirht," replied
Neptune, " and I think they had a conflict with the
savages this morning, for I heard a sharp firing over
on the west shore.”

“ The savages seem determined on the destruction
of the Boy Brigade,” said Seth, seriously.

“ Yes. and the floating-palace of old Neptune."

“But you can outwit them when we cannot.”

The 0 d man burst into a peal of laughter.

Seth continued:

“Your residence here is a Wonderful structure.
Its mechanism surpasses my comprehension.”

“No doubt of it, my boy. But if you will come
with me inside, I will explain the whole thing to you
in a satisfactory manner.”

As they turned to 0 in, Seth caught sight of a
savage standing on he eastern shore, and h his

dress recognized him as Hawk-Eyes, the Boy hlef.

l

«V&.,,>VuW~: 1.,»4‘ ""

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Seth and Neptune entered the cabin Vish-
nia was playing upon the harp from which she had
called forth such ravishing strains a few nights pre-
vious on Rock Island. The old man motioned Seth
to a seat, then sat down himself, and our mg his
face in his hands remained silent until his aughter
had ceased playing. Then, raising his head and
nervously running his fingers through his gra
locks, he took a book from the shelf near at han ,
and turning to Seth read in a clear voice, as follows:

“ PRINCIPLES on FLOTATION.—When a body is
plunged into aliquid, it is urged downward by its
proper weight, and upward by the buoyant efiort of
the liquid. If the density of the immersed bod?Y is
the same as that of‘the liquid, its weight w1] be
equal to the buoyant effort of the liquid, and it will
remain in equilibrium wherever it may be placed.
If the density of the body is greater than that of the
li uid, its weight will be greater than the buoyant
e ort, and the body will sink to the bottom. lf the
density of the body is less than that of the liquid its
‘ Weight will be less than the hue ant effort. and the
body will rise lo the surface. he body will contin-
ue to rise until the weight of the displaced liquid
equals that of the body, when it will come to a rest.”

“ New,” said the old man, closing the book, “ those
are the philosophical principles upon which my craft
~here is constructed. I have always been a firm be-
liever in the ability of talent and genius to construct
a. submarine house and boat in which people may
live and travel under water as well as on the sur—
face of the earth and water. The former I have de-
monstrated to my satisfaction. In the first place, I
had a reservoir constructed thirty feet long, twelve
feet wide, and twelve inches deep. Its capacity,
therefore, is three hundred and sixty cubic feet. 1;
was made air-tight, and provided with a sto cock
and faucets, and loaded with stones until its ensity
was almost equal to that of the water. ’l‘hcn on to
of this reservoir this cabin was eroded, and the m -
ditional weight caused the res:rvoir to sink still
deeper so that a part of the cabin is submerged.
You can see that the threshold of the door is two
feet above the floor, which brings the line of flota-
tion nearly the same hight above the floor, so that a
portion of the cabin is always under water. The
cabin, as you saw, was covered with galvanized
sheet-iron, all soldered together. and the door and
windows made to close hermetically. As the amount
of water displaced b the ail‘»chambcr, below, is
efialto the weight 0 the submerged part of the
ca in, all I have to do. to sink the whole concern is
to open a faucet and let the reservoir {ill with water,
when down we (:0. The sha ) of the roof aids the
downward ressure. Whi e thus submerged, we
receive fres airthrough those pipes overhead that
moi-ct aboVe the surface of the water."
“ ut suppose you should sink beyond your depth,
then those pipes would flood the interior,” said Seth.
“ That is an obstacle that I propose to overcome
soon," continued the old man, thoughtfully. “ I
propose to invent an apparatus by which a. supply
< of fresh air can be ad at Bleasure, even when
fathoms below the surface. ut. when I wish to
’ rise to the surface, I force the water from the
reservoir below by means of this force-pump;
and the buoyant effort carries me to the surface.
This much have I demonstrated in living under the
water. As to traveling,r under the water, I am a firm
believer in its accomplishment; and have already
invented a little machine that travels. by means of a,
screw worked by a, series of clock-works just under~
Death the surface of the water. As soon as Iliad ac-
complished this, the idea of a sclfvmmung torpedo
was suggested to my mind: and as rumors of a war
were abroad in the land. I thought it a good time to
invent something of the kind, and so I went to work,
and how well I succeeded, you have doubtless seen
illustrated within the past few days."
. “ I have seen a. savage canoe and raft blown out
of the water within the past day or two if that is
what you have reference to." answered Seth.

Sure Shot Seth.‘ L  , " ~r

 

C ’,

2‘?-

“It is; and if I had possessed more than the two
torpedoesano savage canoe would ever have roach-
ed my cabin. Since the last attack, however, I have

‘ completed another, ready for some desperate emer-

gency, for which I am hourly looking.”

“ But I don‘t see how you can send your torpedoes
so direct as to intercept the craft of the enemy
every time.” said Seth.

“ Well, it re uires care. The instrument bein
shaped somew at like a fish, has, what I cal
‘ sights,’ on each end, by means of which I get it set
on a line directly with the object I wish it to strike.
The princi a1 machinery is submerged, and to pre-
vent it sin ing, a buoy is attached to it which floats
on the water’s surface. If the water is smooth and
there are no cross waves,or other objects to interfere,
the machine will glide away in a line straight as a.
bullet could travrl. When the canoe is reached, an
upright Wire that protrudes just above the water,
strikes the boat, and having connection with the in— a
side machinery, fires a pistol which in turn fires the
magazine, and the explosion follows. So far. I have
tested it only on a small scale; but repose to apply
the same motor to a magazine su icien‘t to blow a
ship-of—wnr out of existence."

"I dare say you will succeed; but I am surprised
at your coming here. into this wild, savage country
to pursue your experiments,” said beth.

“ ’Tis the seclusion, the seclusion, my son, that I
sought out here,” the old man said, glancing vague-
ly out across the lake.

ft‘lblcptunc, then, is not your name?” observed .

e .
“ Not at all," was the laconic reply of the old man. ’
Seth relapsed into silence: he saw that the old

man had communicated all that he seemed desirous

of doing. and. finally, he rose and Icing to where

Maggie and Vishnia were seated Bani
“ Maggie, your father and friends mourned you as

dead yesterday when they saw this craft sink be-

neath the waves.”

“Poor papa!" said Maggie. sadly, “ I know he
must have suffered," and the tears walled up into
her eyes.

“ Yes; and had you been lost I would haer consid~
ercd myself, in a measure, the cause; for I should
not have left you the otherduy when I di( .”

“You (lid only what you sulsposcd to be for the
best. Seth," she, said. cently.

“Friend Mar< h.” called out old Neptune, v be was
standing at the open door, “ will you come this wov of
moment? I wan your 0 inion on a little matter."

"Yes. sir," answered oil), and he walked down
to the old man.

“ What do on think of the prospect for a. battle?"
the latter as ed, pointing out upon the lake where
three canoes. tilled with savages. were approaching.
_“Too promising,” answcred Seth; “ but if you
Will Erowde me with a rifle I assure you they’ll n'ot
rcac here alive, if I know myself." .

“ That you can have, Seth.” replied old Neptune.
and turning aside hetook a rifle from the wall and
handed it to the youth; “I have heard that you are
called Sure Shot on account of your marksmanship:
so now I want to see your skill demonstrated."

They went out upon the platform Seth looked
the rifle carefully over, balanced it upon his hand,
tried the trigger and pecped through the sights.
Then with a satisfied air he drew the hammer back,
raised the pince. and, taking deliberate aim at the
nearest savage. fired. A yell followed the report;
and the next moment not a savage was to be seen. .
They had elevated over the row of each canoe, a
sort of n hrcasrwork made 0 slabs thick enough to
resist bullets. Three or fourof-these hadbeen made
fast to cross-pieces. and being about five feet long
and four wide, completely covered the inmates of
each boat.

No sooner did Neptune discover this than his face
assumed a. look of serious gravity. He shook his
headd in a doubtful manner. and then turning to Seth
sai :

 

 
  

   
  
 
     
   
   
  
 
   
  
 
   
  
   
   
  
    
     
 
 

    
   
  
   
 
   
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
  
 
   
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
   
  
  

lead them to look through one of the openings, may

 

28 Sure Shot Seth.

 

"I am afraid we will be unable to repel that
force.”

“They are well covered from bullets, friend Nep-
tuhe," answared Seth, “ and seem determined on
the capture of your craft. H0wever, we can pre-
pare to give them a reception."

" Let them come,” said the old man; “ if they get
the boat they'll have to dive for it."

“ Then you propose to sink?"

“ Come in; I want you to realize the marvels of
Nature under the waves." answered the old artisan.

Seth turned and followed him into the cabin.

The door was closed ani barred, and panels were
placed over each window, shutting out the li:ht.

“The Indians are coming again. children,” the
old man said to the two girls, ‘ and we have got to
go down."

Vishnia was unmoved by the news; but Maggie
grew a shade pale, and her eyes having sought
those of Seth, she involuntarily drew nearer to
him through fear and the yearnings of her heart.
Neptune walked to one end of the room, and seizing
a post that protruded through the floor, pulled it
upward a few inches.

Instantly. almost, Seth felt a tremor pass through
the cabin, followed by the rush and roar of water
under them. There was a downward motion of the
building; a cloud seemed to pass over the win lows,
and the cabin came to rest on the lake‘s bottom.

With a fading akin to awe. Sure Shot Seth glance]
around as if expecting to see the sides of the struc-
ture give way under the pressure upon it. Hit in a
moment all became s ‘ttled, and step ing under one
of the holes in the roof he glanced t irough it. He
saw the blue sky, and heard the surge of the waves
above him.

“ What do you think of my submarine hut. S -th?"
the old man asked. his face beaming satisfaction.

“ So far it is a success," answered our hero; " but
if the enemy finds out the use of those pipes, it
would be an easy matter to flood us in hero.“

“But i don't want them to find it out," rcplird
Neptune

“ But how are you going to prevent it?"

“ I cannot prevent it; but should one of them dare
to look down one of the chimneys, he will be shot
while in the act.”

At this juncture a shadow appeared over the win-
dow where the oung folks stood.

A little cry urst from Maggie‘s lips, and she
shrunk closer to Seth, grasping his arm as if to pre-
vent falling.

" What is it, Maggie?“ asked Seth.

" Lookl" she answered.

Seth did as directed, and, to his surprise and hor-
ror, beheld a canoe resting upon the surface of the
lake, nearly over them; while in the craft he could
distinctly see four savages, all of whom were gaz-
ing down through the clear water at the little win-
dow—into his very face!

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
NEPI‘UNE NEPTUNE N0 MOREl

Smn started back In alarm, calling the attention
0: Neptune to the proximity of the enemy.

Toe old man evinced some uneasiness, and ad—
vancing to the pane, looked out. The foo were still
there. the canoe appearing to rest in the air above,
so clear and transparent was the water.

Neptune stood and watched them for amoment,
then turned away. Seth noticed that a look of un-
easiness was u on his face‘ and when he saw the
old man take a race of revolvers from a box on his
work-bench and examine their priming, he felt satis-
fied that the cabin was in danger.,

“The red scavengers of the forest may give us
trouble, my young friends," he said, “They have
doubtless discovered the nature of our boat. and
may tamper with those air-pipes, three of which are
open. But in order that their curiosity. should it

 

 

be fully satisfied, I want each tube guarded, and the
moment a red—skin’s face appears above it. a. bullet
put through his savage brain. Here is a revolver;
watch that tube.”

Seth look the weapon, and scarcely had he taken
his position under the pipe ere a dark object ap-
peared at the upper end, and in a moment all light
was excluded thHrcfrom. Believing it to be a red-
skin's face, he raised his revolver and fired. A groan
of agony. followed by the dripping of something
warm upon his hands, and the appearance of day-
light at the top of the tube, told the youth that his
aim had been fatal.

The dip of eddies, the sound of excited voices, and
the plash of be water above, told of the excitement
that prevailed among the red-skins.

For some time the ittle band was kept in dire sus-
gense by the foe What their next movement would

e. they could not conjecture. They entertained
hopes of the red-skins withdrawing; but as the
moments passed, and their presenc ‘ continued
above‘ these hopes wrre dispelled by the sound of a
blow like that of an ax, which sent a tremor through
the whole building and a chill to the hearts of its in-
mates.

The meaning was obvious enough—the enemy had
attacked the. pipes with their hatchets.

A cry of terror burst from Vishnia‘s lips, while,
with a look of awful resolve on her father’s face. he
sprung to the pump in the center of the room. With
all the power of a Hercules, he applied himself to
the work of saving himself and friends.

The pump worked almost noiselessly. and as the
water, which overcame the buoyant effort of the
structure, was gradually forced from the reservoir
beneath bv the double-action machine, the sub-
marine cabin began to rise toward the surface.
Nothing was more evident of this fact than the cries
of dismay and balllrrd triumph that rose from the
lips of the red-skins. Thrir blows upon the tubes
ceased, but were resumed upon the sides of the
plated structur) with the fury of demons.

The cabin continued to rise rapidly, and in ten
minutcs‘ time had reached its line of flotation.
Then the faucet and stop—cock were closed, and
Neptune‘s labor was done for the time being,

They had now escaped drowning no doubt to en-
counter another death more horrible at the hand;
of the red barbarians thundering at the door. \But
Seth and the old man resolved to sell their lives
dearly, and with revolvers in hand sLoud ready for
the worst.

Pushing aside one of the pant-ls that protected 8.
window. Neptune thrust a revolver throuqh the
glass and opened a deadly flre upon the foe, driving
them beyond range around the angle of the building.
This he repeated, with the assistancu of Seth, upon
the other sides, and to their happy sur rise the
enemy was compelled to boat a retreats oreward
with serious loss. They had, hawcver, gained a ar-
tial victory. Theyhad unraveled the mysteryo the
submarine hut, and inflicted such damage upon it as
would prevent its being sunk with impunity again.
The windows were shattered, and in several places
the wall had been battered and hacked until day-
light was visible through it. In fact, the floating
cabin of Neptune was almost a. wreck.

The men went out upon the porch and gazed
around them. A shout of triumph greeted them
from the western shore. and tho presnnce of the Boy
Brigade evoked an answer from the 1i 3 of Neptune
an i Seth. Old Joyful Jim clme close ItJo the water's
edge and shouted aloud to those upon the craft; but
Satan himself seemed to have sent his imps broad-
cast throughout the Black Wood=. and before answer
could be given back, a horde of red-skins put the
Brigade to (light. 1

“It seems as though we are all doomed to cer-
tain destruction," said the old man, gravely, se-
riously.

"Yrs: those red-skins will give us no peace as
long as we are upon this craft," answered Seth,

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sure Shot Seth.

29

 

“therefore I would suggest that we leave it under
cover of the coming nig t.” .

“ But, my boy," re lied Neptune, “ you Will not

have stre gth to en ure a. long. laborious flight.
, You are thin and pale as a. sheet.”

,“I know I have suffered the loss of strength and
blood; but I think I could stand a forced march to
the Agency.“ _ '

“ Perhaps,” replied Neptune, gazmg away like one
plunged in deep deliberation: ‘therefore we must
avail ourselves of the shadows of the coming night,
as you suggest, Seth, and get away."

With this understanding, the ittle party made
preparations for flight. ‘

Soon after darkness had fully set in, Neptune and
his party began their retreat. By means of a long

ole, the raft was set in motion by the old man.
R‘hey moved slowly toward the western shore, the
nearest point to land. It was their intention to ap-
proach the;shore as near as possmle, then take to
the rubber boats. '

Suddenly two canoes shot alongside of them, and
a dozen dusky figures in the hon s became Vlslble co
the eyes of old Neptune who was on the lookout

' for danger.

Turning. he sprung into the cabin and closed the
door after him. A ycll rose in the night, fiendish
and jarring. Blows fell upon the cabin thick and
furious. Another attack had begun. ,

“My God, we a' e attacked again!” shouted old
Neptune, growing furious.

, A cry of despair escaped the maiden’s lips.
’ The light inside was at once Lit out, the windows
opened and a random firing egan upon the foe;
but with little success. The darkness favored the
chem .

In t ie midst of the tumult of the attack a shrill
cry resembling that of a beaver was heard to come

v from out upon the lake. . . A

Seth, who stood near the Window, recognized it as
the cry of Justin Gray, the Beaver, and at once gave
an answering signal.

Then from other directions rose the sharp bark of
a fox. the howl of a wolf, the scream of a panther,
and the boot of an owl. ‘

There was a. lull in the attack as these sounds is-
sued through the night. By hitter experience the
savages had learned their import.

“ Gloryl" exclaimed Seth, beside himself, “ the
Boy Brigade is near.”

The savages resumed the attack on the cabin all
the more furious. They cut and hacked away until
suddenly a yell of agony from one of them caused
the whole party to suspend operations.

Searcer a minute had elapsed when another war-
rior tumbled into the water with a frightful scream
of agony, and as no shot had been fired from the ln-
terior of the cabin, the savage-s knew that a new
andrsilent enemy had appeared upon the scene of
action. Silence was imposed upon the party, and
all listened with bated breath. A savage advanced
to the edge of the platform in front of the cabin, and
leaning forward. peered down at the water. 'He
caught the outlines of a black, spherical obJect
lying upon the surface of the lake not ten feet from

him; but before he could make his discovery known,

the object raised slightly and thrust forward a long
slender rod with a. sharp Iance-pom’t which entered
his throat, completely severing. the Windpipe. A
half-moan, hulf~cry, mingled With a horrible gur-
gling, gasping sound. followed. and the doomed red-
skin went overboard into a watery grave.

Something of the truth now began to enter the

’ wild brains of the ova-triumphant warriors and
it at o co became necessary for ihem to act upon
the defensive. They beat a hasty retreat from the
Vicinity. leaving their wounded and dead on the
platform of the Neptune.

Among the latter was discovered Isaac Le Clercq,
who was foremost in this most sanguine onslaught.
He had at last met a just fate. '

o sooner was the flight of the Indians an assured

 

fact. ere a shout of triumph went up from the wait r
around the cabin, and a moment later, the Boy
Brigade, together with Mr. Harris, Jolly Jim, Gus
Stewart, Ches Pagan and Rube Johnson—whom the
Brigade had found on the island, and convinced
that Sure Shot Seth was not dead— climbed upon
the 1ribin platform where they were heartily ,
grec ,e . .

The meeting between Mr. Harris and his daughter
was most aficcting‘. “ Boys,” said Seth after con-
gratulations and greetings were over, " you have
Eavedius this time, but we must get away from

ere.

“Yes, and the sooner you leave the better,” ad-
ded Gray.

“My son,” said Neptune, “ we are all ready to de-
part—in fact were making shore for that purpose
when the red barbarians attacked us. I will proceed
to launch my canoes at once, of which 1 have enough
to car the entire party."

In a. ew moments Neptune had launched his rub-
ber boats alongside the platform and placed a few
articles of food and clothing in there. Then they all
bid a last farewell to the submarine but and entered
the boats.

Justin Gray and his companions lrd the way;
Seth and his fair friend came next, while Neptune
and Joyful Jim brought up the rear.

Slow y and silently they made their way to the
northern end of the island, keeping a vigilant eye
upon the shore for the red—skins, but the latter were
nowénere to be seen; they had left the vicinity for
goo .

Crossing the island, they again embarked in their
light canoe—which they had carried across—and
Ends their way rapidly toward the Yellow Medicine

gency.

To their horror they found it deserted, and think-
ing that the settlers had taken re fuge at Fr rt Rip-
ley—that being the nearest point of safety—they at
once set out for that place, which they finallyrc-ach-
ed in safety, and where they found al the settlers of
the Yellow Medicine Aseiicy.

0n the way to the fort Old Neptune revea‘ed his
right name and the r lace of his brine; and while his
sojourn in the wilds of the Northwest had, in the
end, been full of great peril and suffering, he did not
regret that he had come, for he had been restored to
his wontcd health and strergth.

With the cloud that had once seemed gathering
over his powerful brain went all his eccentric no—
tions of submarine navigation; though to have fol-
lowed up what he had accomplished at Lake Luster
might have led to a success and fame equal to that
of George Stephenson and Robert Fulton.

U on one or: er point the Boy Bri . ade was enlight-
ene : and that was the user an even suspicious
manner in which Joyful Jim deported himself while
around Lake Luster. The fact is, old Jim was in the
employ 01' Ne tune as a scout, and secrecy being en.
"Ijoined upon im, of course he kept it to himself.

t was Jim and Neptune that released him from the

log.

Old Ne tune and his daughter soon returned to
their old ionic.

Mr. Harris took his daughter south, beyond all
dangers of Indian invasion. where, in company with
her friend, Emma Milbank. and the other women or
the Yellow Medicine Agency, she spent the summer,
while he went back to fight under the banner of her
lover, Sure Shot Seth.

The Boy Brigade rendered inestimable service
during the terrible Minnesota war, and although it
was in many hard-fought battles, and lost some of
its members, its gallant young leader, Sure Shot
Seth, Passed through the hottest of all unscathed,
to fa] meekly into the ranks of married men, and
become one of the most devoted of husbands to one
i); the most devoted and charming of wives—Maggie

arms.

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Col. Prglllis‘srlngrnhum.’ y Dandy Jack. ByT~ 0- H-rbmmh.
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Antelope Abe. he 3’ u 9- y camel. . _
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Yellowuone Jack. 13". Jngep“ E, mag", Jr. Dcndwood Dick on Deck. By E. L. Wheeler.

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Dlnmond Dlrk. Dy Cnlnm-l Prentiss lumnlmm. The Boy Dueul‘t- By C01. Prentiss lngrnhum.

KeelPKnlfe, Prince nl' ilw T‘rnirirn. By 01] ConnieL Abe Colt, the Crow-K ller. By Albert W. Aiken.

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llnttllng Rube. By Hurry St. Grunge.
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K C. Adams. Dotoqth'c Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. ByChnries
The Boy Cnptnln. Br Roger Stnrhurk. mm"
["0]; nflrnnm the puny Exp"... Rm", 13y cum, Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Riflemsn. By 011 Coomu.
I rerlerick Whlltuker. Shnr F I. or Th A l L f I. .
Bob Woolf. the “on!” anfln- By E. In “'11”an Isy Jl'Al‘r-lgn’ulurll’ut‘lenf ven "M 0 n "and 9" noy'

Nightlngnlo Nut. By T. C. i'inrhnugh. I '

“hwk John, um Rm“, Agent. By J, F“ “when ’1" The Lion 01 tho Sui. B) Albert \\ . Aiken.

0mnhn on, m.» Mnslod Terror. By E. 1.. “'hm-ior. 7’3 Pg?!“ :uP‘I l'llfl. the Boy Slwth- By Edwnrd L.
01: e .

Wlll Some", the Boy Detective. By Chris. Morris.

Kit llnrefoot, the Wood-Hawk. By T. C. liar-

Hurt Bunker. the Trapper. By George E. Lumlle.
The Boy “mom 1;). [L (3. 1mm. 74 Plioxg'une Peter or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective.

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The “’hlte I} ffnln. By George E. Lasnlle. "u u “an '

Jlm Blndnoe, Jr. By Edward L. Wheuler. 75 Illa“! ’n'"; "‘Tl” Pet °Hh° F'"““)'- n.” Bu"-

briulgu llcmyng (Jmk Ilnrknwny).
Ned Hazel. the 13°! TmI’W- By CW" J- F-C- 16 “'ntch-Eyc. theSlmdnw. By Erlwnrd L. wow...
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Adams.
Deadly Eye, the Unknown Scout. By Buffalo Bill. Digsfilflcnd Eyc’ “m Boy sm‘mh'luh BY C°l~ l‘~ 1"-

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NlLk “ hlfllLu A I et. ll) Cnpt. J. 1‘. C. Admns. Bemne.I Pocket Library i. rm “‘8 by “H Nu"-
l)endwood Dir-km Eagles. By E. L. Wheeler. drulus, live cenls per copy, or lent hy nmil on receipt 0! fix
The Border Klng. By 0!] Coomes. cents 2161-.

Old Hickory. Dy )Isrry St. George. BEADLE & ADAMS, Pubnlhen’
The “'hlle Indian. By Capt. J. F. C. Adams. ' 9S “'llllnm Street, New York.