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Copyrith 1891, by BIADLI AND Ann... Entered na Sacond Clan: Manor M. the Nuw Yurk. N. L. Pull Oflicu. July ‘11). IBOI.

 

 

 

 

No  $2.50 Published Wgékiy byigégdle and Adams, pme. V01 
I I I I

“ Yefl- No. as \VIHJAM ST. NEW YORK. “V” Gen“-

TOM TEMPLE’S BIG STRIKE

BY BARRY RTNG G"? LD.

m.)
/:

 

TOM uru‘umm .\ mv ow ;~111u-:m;u. wnn- m1 HAW WAS 'nwr WUNIHCIu-m, “ “EH—rm“ mzzx‘mu
KNOB ou- me‘, WHICH THE "MAGICIAN ” HAD sun WAS GOLD.

 

 

“Lime Buck, the Boy Guide.

 

“Tum Tample’s Big Smile; H i

LITTLE BUCK, THE BOY GUIDE.

‘ BY BARRY RINGGOLD.
‘

CHAPTER I.
 A FRIEND in man. ,
"~ Fan away. among the rugged peaks, branching
- from the Rocky Mountains, on the borders of Mon-
‘ tans, Torn Temple —the lone boy traveler, was
awakened at dawn from his slumber in a deep cave.

b a succeflon o unearthly shrieksl Seizing his

rée, which In by his side, he sprung to his feet, and

looked about 'm.

The cave was a narrow one, and, as the entrance
was small, but little light could come through it.
The shi'leks were repeated, and yet, looking in the

direction of the no so, the boy could see nothing,
owln to the gloom in that part of the hollow.

“T ey must be wild animals of some kind," he
muttered. “ Whatever they are, they seem to be
coming this way!" .

He cocked his rifle and stood ilrm.

Dim as the lifilgt there was, a spectator coul l have
seen that this y of sixteen was more apt to lose
danger than to retreat from it.

He had a resolute mouth and blue eyes beaming
with ‘life ’ and spirit. Although of slender frame,
he was of that compact, slnewy build, fitted for the
endurance of trials and ardshlps.

He wore a sort of brown him in jacket, confined
about the waist with a broad last or belt, in which
were thrust a pistol and a knife, and his pants were
tucked into light but serviceable boots. of that en-
d kind which are only found “out West."
Upon the floor of the cave lay his wallet, containing
a scant supply of revisions, and his 1 ubbcr blanket,
‘uggn whic he he slept, was spread near it.

_ sally, as the lad peered ahead of him, he beheld
eight round, glaring eyeballs shining upon him
through the darkness; and he could soon make out
at? forms of square faces, ears and projecting

, The catiike visages and presently the figures of

the s, as they continued to approach, showed

' Toni that they were a large female wild-cat and her

3508233. which his presence in the ’den had probably
nrbed.

“Pooh! is that all you are?” cried Tom.
And he laughed aloud as he spoke.
/ Evidently be was not used to these creatures and
their ways, or he would not have felt so merry.
,zUnless he had been hunting the cats for their skins
'—which was not the case—he should have quietly
backed out of the cave, and sought other qu'irters.
as this would have saved him much useless trouble
and n .
Taking aim at the female, he fired, and, hearing a
yell of pain he believed that he had it her.
“ Think ’ve finished her," he muttered, vainly
tr ng tol pm through the smoke, as he reloaded. .
ce

thing came whizzin through the air, and the female
cat was upon him— 00th and claw.
The claws du into his breast. and the sharp fangs
« were about to aswn u on his throat. when, seizin
the beast by the tail th one band, he strove to bur
her away from liim.’ '
With an aiig snarl she turned round, almost
doubling her Iiin )er form and fastened her teeth in
the sleeve of his hunting- acket, Ere she could bite
through it, the boy drew is knife with his leftl.and
and thrust it clean through her  ,
The yell she gave almost deafen the 1nd, but in- '
new 01 WNW. she scrambled made up the ,

 

back of his arm. toward his neck, tearing athlm
with her claws as she went. At the same moment
two of her offspring about the size of small rabbits
jumped upon the 'boy from behind. and be coul
feel hem racing up toward his head. .

The sition of the creatures prevented Tom s
using either of his weapons, as he could not reach
the animals with them, and, in a few seconds, his
throat would have been torn to shreds, had not the
well—aimed bullet from a rifle, which rung at that
mo ient, passed through the brain of the larger cat,
as ling it wriggling and struggling to the ground.

Ker-whoop!" came a ringing. boyish voice
through the cave, “ thar‘s one ofthe critters floored.
Starlid still, stranger, so as to give meacrack at
t‘ot iers ‘

Tom obeyed the directions of his unknown pre-
server, and he soon heard two quick blows, and felt
the other cats knocked from his back.

Turning, he saw the three on the ground, the
large female dead and her ofl’sprlng dyiii . A few
more blows from the stock of the rifle ca ed by the
intruder, finished the smaller animals.

Tom beheld before him a boy. about seventeen,
wearing a cnonskin ca , with a hunting-sth log-
gings and moccasins. esides his rifle. be our ed a

istol and a knife, the latter being very logs: and
laying a carved ivory handle, a little crook near
t eto .

’rhepi’nce of this be was ood-humored if not
handsome, and deeply anned y sun and wind: It
was a t'llggmi honest face with large, round light-
blizc eyes. which Mare kin in expression, although
very piercing. The youth was tall for his age,
broad in the shoulders, and his arms seemed long
enough for him to touch his knees. The ride he
held w a lengthy one, looking as if it could carry
a great stance. _

" I owe my life to you," said Tom, holding out his
hand. “ it must have tried you some, though, to
hit that cat without touchi me."

“ Not a bit of it. E! I cou dn‘t make a better shot
than that, I‘d chew my own bulletsi That 3 nothing

i to what I kin do i"

“ You‘ve done me a good turn, _ anyhow. How
happened you to know about my being

E ing attacked?“

he rammed in his charge, when some- '

“Why, the fact is, I wasn‘t fur from hyar and I
heard your riilc which, With the olping 0 them
’furnal cats, tol me something 0
on. So i stole up to the hole or the cave and craw -
ing in l fired. Now, then, jist tell me how you
come hyar, for I kin sue that you’re 310 (titular,
which is as plain as the shake of a buiiler s taill

“ How do you know I’m no hunter?" said Tom. a
little annoyed. r

'i'Tliat :clls ther l‘i’ifill stow," ill‘gplletg $38431???

ntn ooneo eyoungw -ca . a
fiend ogf the two. This was one which had been hit
by Tom‘s bullet when he fired at its mother.

“Ahunter would hev known better than to shoot
the young one instead of the parent." continued the
stranger. ‘ _

“ ut I fired at the parent,“ smd Tom. Then he
colored deeply, as it occurred to him that this would
show still more his inexdperience With the rifle.

His companion smile . '

“ Well, come, We no Tat shakes whether on re
a hunter or not," said t 6 boy. “ I like your oak
and whatever ma have brought you to these wil_
guts, I’m bound stand your friend. My name is

uck Bowie, and I was brought up and got what
little schooling I’ve had in’ Portland. Oregon. away
off to the west of liyar. thougnmy parents war from
Kentucky." ‘

“ And mine is Tom Temple. Of one thing I m cer-
tain, which is that i couldn’t have picked up abetter
friend than 'ou, or om inoreto my liking. You ask
what ln'oug it me here?"

“ You're not bound to tell of you‘d rather not.
Perhaps 1‘" a little too curious to ask, but it‘s my
wav. and I opeyou won’t take odense." ‘

ereandbeg

what was goin .

L) "kt",

1. .‘Ifflc‘,r’ .

Winsome“

o

 

 

 

Little Buck, the Boy Guide. 8

 

" Instead of that, I'm all the more glad to tell you,
as you may be able to give me some information
about what I came here for. The truth is, I‘m in
search of my father, who went away from home six

ears :1 0. Mother‘s ion plned about his not com-

g bac ’, and that's why determined to hunt him
up. I‘m all the way from Brooklyn, New York."

“What set you on this track for him?" inquired
Buck. " Has he been seen out hyar?"

“ He had a brother who was su posed to have
gone to the Montana mines, and ha not been heard
from since he went. So father said he‘d go and see
if he could not look him up. Well. he went—that
was six years ago—and he has not returned nor sent
us a letter since he departed."

“ That looks queer " said Buck slowly, shaking
his head. “I don’t 1i re to say it. but it seems to
me that he must hev ‘ gone under ’ -your not
hearing from him so long.”

“He ma , but it is to find out something about
him that I ve come out here.“

‘‘Did you tramp it, or did you come in the mall-
coach!"

“I came in the mail-coach from Salt Lake City.
Soon after we reached Idaho, on i113 iring at one of
the adobe stations where we sto pe . I learned from
a half-caste there that a man w osaid he was on his
way to Pleasant Valley Station had stopped there a
week before By the description of him, I thought
he might turn out to be father; so I left the coach
and tram ed itto those three big mountains. ‘The
Three Te ons,’ where the station lies. but when I
got there. I could learn nothing of the traveler the

alt-breed had told me about. I rested there alittle
and got some provisionS' then I kept on to finally get
among these mountains. '

“ Sorry I kin tell you nothing about our father,"
said the other boy. “I‘ve never hear of any one
before of the name of Temple, but then I‘ve been
‘inost’always busy in these parts, hunting and trap-

in .

“ Are you trapping, now i"

“ No, nor won’t for six or seven weeks to come. I
expect a big party out hyar then—all fust‘class
trappers—you in be shore of that—and we’re goin
to trap to other. Fur the resent, I‘m stoppin
Bannack tation. t‘other si eof the Rocky) can in
divide—where my comrades are to meet me.
Tho ht I‘d est come out hyar to keep my ride in
pract ce by s ooting a few deer, and perhaps a b‘ar
or two."

“ I supElose you are a flood shot i”

“ You i: it well enoug thar. I'm known among
my cummarndes, and also amon some of the In-
jins, by the name of ‘Firedeat ,’ and I‘ve given
that name to my rifle."

“ I wish I was a good shot."

“ You must l‘am. I'll give you lessons, and I’ll
help you hunt for our father too. I have no
rents myself. Fat er and mother both dead, an a
sister lost— robabi dead too. Think the lnjuns are
'countabie or her oath, and that‘s why I’ve alwa s
Owed ’em a grudge, and not felt particular y
squeamish. when I’ve had to shoot ‘em to defend
myself. "

“ They killed your sister?"

“ I reckin so, ut ain‘t shore When she was four
year old, we missed her. We lived at Portland,
Oregon, then. Father and others hunted for'hen—
this was ten years ago—but she couldn’t be found."

CHAPTER II.
was LAST sno-r.

Tm: was something in the freak, manly bearing
of Buck Bowie calculated to win the respect and es-
teem of a boy like Tom Temple.

Beth lads, in fact, took to each other at once, and
became friends.

They sat down on a. rock and had breakfast to-
gether, Buck adding1 some nicely-cooked venison
steaks, taken from is wallet, to his wenxanlon‘s
scant allowance of salt pork and corn br

 

 

"The sooner you rum to shoot the better," said
Buck, when their meal was finished. “Every one
should know how to throw a bullet well in this ken
try whar thar’s both wild animiles and Injuns. I
rec on ou've got good nerves?"

“ I be ieve so."

“ That‘s wanted for a good shot. Fust thing to do
is to keep] your rifle s eady; then you can squint
along the ind-sights and blaze away."

He then set 11 a target—a stick in a rocky crevice
—and ave his rst lesson to Tom Temple.

The atter was surprised at the progress he made
under the tuition of his new friend, while the lat-
ter‘s wonderful shooting excited his admiration.

Placing the wand a hundred yards oiI, Buck split
it in two with his bullet.

Scarcely had he done so, when a uttural excla-
mation sounded behind the twain. an turning. they
beheld half a dozen Indians. who had evrdently
emerged from the hollow of a rock, near where
their Kresence had been unsuspected h the boys.

Bot involuntarily drew their pisto s. but. as he
glanced at the dress of these )eople, Buck smiled
and replaced his weapon in his elt.

" These are Snakes," he said to Tom.
not now unfriendly to the whites."

“Ugh! good shot,“ said one young Indian to Buck.
as he pointed toward the split target, " but Red-
Hoof can do it. too."

" Let‘s see you," said Buck.

He put up another wand in place of the split one
and, taking aim with his rifle, the Indian tired, hit-
tin the object.

“ ou kin shoot some." cried Bur-k. As he enfke
he blazed away at a wild cPigeon, which was winging
its way far above his hen .

The bird, shot dead, dropped upon a shelf of rock,
about fifty feet above the party. Just as Buck re-
loaded, the black head and snout of some animal
was thrust from a hole in a rugged wall, near the
bird to secure the rize.

As quick as lig itning Buck fired at the head.
Red-1100f had seen it. too, and he also fired—both
rifles going‘ofl simultaneously.

The biac head swayed to one side. then it lay me-
tligaliese—proving that the animal had been shot

Fflllowal by the Indians, the boys ascended to the

8 .

Buck dragged the dead animal from the hole.

“ Hyar‘s a prizei" he shouted. "I knew it was I
SILVER. FOX, the moment I slapped eye on iti"

“ A silver fox?“ said Temple. ‘ What can you
do with it?“

“Do with it? Why, I’ll be dog-gone of I don’t do
a heap with iti The skin of this animile. which it
kin be seen, is one of the fust class, will fetch $90 or
$100 in the marketi ’Tain't often you git a smvun
FOX in this art of the kentry, though that's plenty
brown and lack ones i"

"Me shoot too," said Red-Hoof. pointin at the
head, where {we bullet-marks proved that oth the

“ They are

riflemen had hit it.
“You kin see that ou didn’t kill the critter,"
said Buck. "Your bu let passed through the skin,

near the top of the headz and came out by the cor-
ner of one ear, but thar s mine, which you‘ll take
notice went plum-center, between the animile’s eyes,
passing 1hr ough the head! Fur that reason the
prize belongs to me, and I’ll take possession."

A dark flush crossed the young Indian‘s face and
his eyes glittered.

“No matter if not kill—hit all same—so part be-
ion to Red-Hoof," he said.

" hat’s Injun logic," cried Buck. “ Not an ounce
of the animile belongs to on by rights. It‘s mine,
and I'll not give it n , et I now myself." ‘I 1

Here an old In an—-the father of Red-Hoof,
peg-giving that a quarrel impL-nded, stepped for
w

“Lot there be peace between the Indian and his
white brother." he said. “Two shots have killed

 

 

 

. of I could hang it up

I toward the southeast.

one fox but the Indian does not want the fox. it is ‘

better the white boy should have it than that there
should be trouble. The ‘ mngicanan ’ has said that
it would be a dark day for the red-man if he a ain
quarreled with the whites—that he must leave t em
in peace if he would prosper."

"Thar‘s Greek furme," said Buck. “ What do you
mean by the ‘mn ic-mnn?‘ " ,

“ Him great nie icinc—mnn. Me not ever see, but
me hear about him from oddcr Indian—hear what
he says, and what he says is oodl"

"I’m still beat. Who is t is magic-man—is he
white?"

“It is so. Ills home is far away among moun-
tains II

As he spoke the Indian pointed to the northeast.
where the snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Moun-
tains were half-hidden bv the clouds.

What sort of a man is he? Does he live alone?"

“ I have said enough! I have never seen him, and
the whiLe ho should not wish to. he does, he
wichome to arm, for I have heard that the ‘ magic-
man ‘ does not want to see his white brothers."

As the Indian s he, he turned away and walked
off, followed by lus companions.

‘ You think that ‘magician ‘ the Indian 5 oke of
gray t;irn out to be your father?” remarked uck to

em e.
“’lphat thought occurred to me." said Tom.

“So it did to me. But don‘t be too hopeful. Thar‘u
no sat-tint that this ‘ magician ’ and your father are
one and t 8 same person." . .

“I am glad you at the fox without havmg a
quarrel With those to owe," said Tom.

“80 would I heir I was shore I had."

‘ What do you mean?"

wYou kin never feel sartin about an Injun. That
youn Red-Hoof I could see plain enough wasn’t
satis ed to give up the prize. E! he don't try in
some way to sit it yet, I'm mou’t mistaken." '

Having careful] taken ofl‘.’ the ox-skin. Buck pr0¢
cured some flexib e saphn tw1gs, which he fastened
togetherin the form of a cop with stri 5 taken
from his wallet. To this hoop he tied t l-e Skin,
stretched taut. so that it presented something the
appearance of a shield, and in that form he slung
it to his back for inward.

“ What is that for!" in uired Tom. ,

“ Fur the skin to dry, t ough it would work better
or a few days whar it could

swing about in the air. Now, then, we're off for
Bannack, which we kin take in on our way while

‘ looking up that magician, who I hope may turn out

to be your father. ’ .
He struck off among the rugged mountain- aths
The way was difflc t and

perilous in some laces, where the boys were

obliged to creep a ong narrow, rocky ledges, with a

den ravines on each side of them.

T ey had been journeying for several hours and ‘

had just
be obli
side. w
tered a slight exclamation.

Folio ‘ the direction of his aze, Tom beheld
the form 0 an Indian, evidently t at of Bed~Hoof,
about a hundred yards 01!, u n a. rocky ledge hor-
der'lng a deep, dark ravine. a had just raised his
rifle and was now pointing it toward the young

tra‘p'fier.
‘ e mean skunk! I told you he‘d be up to mis-
chief!" cried Buck.

As he spoke the Indian fired. and his bullet
passed so close to Buck‘s head that it grazed his

allied the top of a peak which they would

ear. .
“The raskil has given his cummarades the slip.

They‘re far enough of! by this time, you kin be
shore," said the young trapper. “Load away as
fast as yer like," be ad ed as the Indian proceeded
to ram another charge into his piece. “You'll
never fire another shot."

As he spoke he raised “Firedeath.” its Initeful

I

to climb over to descend on the other 1
en, chancing to look behind him, Buck‘ut- i

   

4 " Little Buck. the Boy Guide.

crack rattled upon the air. and so perfect who his
aim that Red-Hoof, shot through the heart, toppled
over like a stone statue and all headlong into the
rev ne.

"Thar!" said Buck, as be coolly proceeded to re—
load, “ he’s one ’whar he'll never be found. Good-

by to Red- cofl'

CHAPTER 111.
. an CAPTURE.

ON the next day. crossing Hen '5 Peak, the two
boys descended into a deep v ey with the enor-
mous summits of the Rocky Mountains looming up
ahead/of them.

Instead of following the stage—route Buck took a.
path which would lead him to Bannac by a shorter
route. Although not so long as the other route, it
was more dimcult, and at night the boys found
themselves far up among the stupendous crags of
the mountain. .

Buck had made a are, and was cooking some
coffee in a large tin cup taken from his wallet. The
light from the fire extended some distance. bringing
into relief the sharp jagged walls of the rock
which were piled in hu e. fantastic masses abou
them. Just as they drank their cofle and flu-
ished supper, the trapper laid a hand on his oom-
'panion’s arm. "

“ What is it?" said Tom.

“Injunsl” replied the latter in a low voice.
"Hist! snt still and don't act as of you know they
are near,” he added. as Tom was about springing

u .
Qi‘emple regained his composure in a moment.

“ Where are they ?" he inquired.

, He looked about him, but he could see nothing
save the rocks with the li ht playin upon them
and here and there the dar masses 0 cedars an

1 fire extending be and.

I “They are rig t ahead of us," was the answer.

I “ There are about thirty of ‘em.’

' “I can see nothing.”

i "‘Look on that rocky wall and thar you ldnsee
their shadows—that is, the shadows of the’r heads,
as they creep towards us, t’other side of that ledge.”

1 Tom did behold moving swalyingl shadows on the

, rugged wall, but he had oug t t ese merely came

. from some dwarf cedam which were being shaken
by the wind.

“ You think the are enemies!"
" Er they wasn_’ they‘d notbecreeping towards us

I that way you kin be shore. I‘m mou mistaken

: of they ain t Red-Hoof‘s people comin o revenge

' the death of that mean nigger. Some ow they’ve

found out the. he‘s been shot, and they kin now hev

no rest until t ey’ve lifted our ha‘ri"

Buck said this with the utmost coolness. while. in
’ a careless manner, he picked up “Firedeeth "
which lay by his side.

“We must fight for our lives!" said Tom, ache
cocked his iece.

“ Easy, t ar, easyl" answered Buck. “Soon as
‘ thev come out from round the corner of that ledge,

we‘ll see ’em. Blaze away at the fust one you see,

and then follow me."
A few moments later two Indians came 'in sight
from round the ledge. They had no rifles. but.

, flourishing their tomahnwks and uttering an ear-

sphtting {ell they bounded toward the lads, fol-

lowed by alf a. dozen others.

Crack! crack! went the boys‘ weapons, and two
of the savages—one killed, the other wounded, tell
sprawling on the rocks.

"Come!" said Buck.

 

(

Followed by Tom, he dropped down from the edge.

of the rocky inu’orm on which they were seated
upon a rock. eight feet below.
" This w i" he continur-d. : ,
He dm-tw into a hollow. as he spoke, pulling a
loose Lowldcr over the entrance as Tom followed

 

 

“ I noticed this

place, jest before we halted on
the rock above," I

e said. “it leads under the

rocks, and will bring us out at the other cud, in the .

rear of the Injuns. The fust thing to do is to ram

home some more fodder in our pieces, as thar mou't

be red-skins at t‘other end of this passage. on the

watch fur usl“

thflavi‘gg reloaded, the bOys moved on, Buck taking
P e .
So dark was the passa e, and so swift were the

movements of his guide. t t Tom could hardly see

m.

All at once he missed him.

He moved forward. to find himself at the further
end of the passage.

The nextmoment his rifle was snatched from his
Frasp, he saw the outlines of dark faces, the gleam-

ng of fierce eyes all around him, and, in a moment
36 was hurled down and his arms Were pinioned With

ion 5.

“ 0 use, Tom. Th~ cussed niggers hev us fastl"
came the voice of Buck. near him, also a prisoner.

The lads deprived of pistols, rifles and knives,
were led oi! a short distance to a path amen the
mountains, where tied to some firs, they behel the
outlines of horses.

A fire was then kindled, b the light of which they
now saw the forms and t 1e fierce visages of the
Snakes who had captured them.

There was a look of exultation in the eyes of these

0 ie.
pfi‘glglhl" ejaculated the old chief. whose son Buck
had s 0t. on the day before, “did the white boys
think we were fools to let them have the fox-skin?"

"So you followed us?" said the young trapper, as
the chief took the skin away from him.

“ It is true. The boys had good rifles and we had
none—no one except Red-Hoof. Enoyzh of our
tribe had been shot, and we did not want to lose
more. That was why we waited—that we might
get the skin without losing a man."

“ You have not succeeded," said Buck. “You
have lost two men 1"

“ It is so," answered the other calmly, while there
was a terrible expression in his eyes. “lint the
torture of the white boys shall pay well for it. We
are goin to Mm: out (It 1r brawls u-ilh/Ire/vrandl.”

A shu der passed through Tom‘s frame, but Buck
showed no emotion whatever. He had, b taunting
the old chief learned from him, as he ha wished to
do, what fate was in store for him and his com-

anion.

p “ The Snakes should beware," he said. “ He spoke
of the at white magician!"

The ndians had thrown the boys down upon their
backs, and they were preparin to hen the fire-
hrands upon Tom’s breast when uck s o e.

“ it is true.“ answered the chief. " at what has
the ‘m cian‘ to do with the boys? He does not
» like whtgpeople, and he will not care ,what the

Snakes do. .

“Thar you mistake. The white boy with me is
the son 0 the ma ician. and when he learns that
’ the Snakes have ed him he will be an ry and he

Will be revenged. He has a sealed box w ich he will

open. and from which he shall send the small-pox,
to carry off all the: are left of your tribe 1”

These words were not without their eifect u n the
sufierstltlous Indians. who. like many of the r race.
be eved that the disease spoken of could be carried,
scaled up in a box or bottl by any white“medi-
m “ and could be sent forth y his simply opening

e cask t.
“The talk 3! ‘the youn hunter may not be
straigh “ saidthe old chie . “’ n e white boy may
nqtllie 1dt e son of the ‘ magician.
1:

him," answered the on trap .

mm “Martha’s?Nimitz}: m"
a a co on 00 see .

So interestedwerethesfvazesinthe subject that

Little Buck. the Boy. Guido.

tell you you'll soon find out of you harm I

. .y'v « J». .- ;
,...w ml». -»

 

all deserted the fire and gathered in acircle about
thon- leader.

Taking advantage of this Bin-k contrived, unob-
‘ served, to draw himself close to the burning brands.

Finally, on one of those, a little detached from the
rest, he placed the thongs that were about his
ty\}r‘t'irsts,lan¢l in a moment he had burned them nearly
v roug l.

One uick jerk of his arms then enabled him to
comple ly sever the bonds. Still lying prostrate,
he ulletlja jack-knife from his pocket and cut Tem-
p n s cor s.

“ligake fur the horses! Kin you ride?" he whis-
pcre .

“ Yes " re lied Tom.

i“We’ll e the two horses nearest to us. You
kin jum on the brown one and I‘ll git on the black.
We won t be a second loosening the lariats from the
tree. N ow then!"

He s run to his feet, and, followed by Tom, he
reach the )orses with two nimble bounds.

As the lariats were loosened and the two boys
dashed off down the rocky path the Indians. with a
yell. started in pursuit.

They were soon mounted. and away they went.

Tak ng the lead. Buck kept along the path at a
breakneck pace. with his companion close behind
The n ht was very dark, but so lonf
theIn ians clattermg in his rear he 'new that this
path was safe enough for the horses. '

All at once it took a sharp turn. at n . lace where
it broadened, with greatmassos of rock. um astically
heaped upon each other, on both sides.

“ We don‘t know the Way, and a cat could n‘t hard-
ly tell where it was going on such a dark nightl"
cried Tom.

“We’ll
Buck. “

la

'gIe ll git of! the horses, and hide ‘mon t
lariats will then send the horses rattling on, as if Old
Nick was after ’eml"

The two boys stopped the horses and dismounted.
Then, lashing them furiously, they set them to speed-
ing on along the rocky path.

he Indians were too far in the rear to perceive,
on so dark a night, that no person was on the unit
the s.
Buck now crept into a hollow, and Tom was soon
by his side.

,Not three minutes passed, ere the whoopin In—
dians went dashing by. looking, in the gloom, ii e so
man dusky fiends flying through the air.

“ cod 1" said Buck, as the rattling hoofs died
away in the distance. ‘ i wonder of the nigger-s tool:
our rifles with ’enr. I looked sharp asthey went past,
but I’m pretty shore i saw nothin of the rifles. ‘

As he spoke he ore t out of the ollow.

our iecesi" e continued. . -

“ nd 1‘ o with you " said Tom.

The boys urried up the path, and. in a short time
the light of the fire guided them to their destiny:

1011.

They cre t toward it. keeping them selves screen
by a rock, ut they quick perceived that. none
the indians had been left ere.

‘~ Hyar‘s what I saw ’em atom-rifles." said Buc
as he moved toward a hoi ow, under a rock—“ on
hyar they are. shore enough." he 10 fully added. as
he drew forth the weapons, with t e ammunition-
pouches. “ The nig ers were in such a hurry to 08$
ture us that they dl n‘t stop to take the pieces wi
‘em. thinking they‘d soon be back with us." ‘

‘- Which way shall we go, now?" inquired Tom. as
each boy wok the rifle belonging to him and slung

 

ursuing a comic
owed.
are they thought

we'll keep on this we ,“ he added
. op site to that the dians had f'o
| he lads ourne ed on for hours
of haitina or rest?

as he heard.

those varmints a trick." answered

“ I'm goin back w ar we come from. to look far i

' .ka

the rocks. till they go by. A smart crack with t e. .,

‘2‘

his pouch. ~
“ ‘m a little puzzled in the dark," said Buck, “hut V

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
   
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
  
   

l.‘

"pegk’éhwgm togi '1' sh tingi t cti
" uc 00D mue V9 Om 00 nsru ODS,
‘ sndthelads ed. ex-

0 Little nuckfi‘he Boy Guide.

 

They were now in a deep lch. wra ped in im~
penetrable gloom, with towerfllg walls 01f) rock rising
on each side of them.

After restin a moment, Buck climbed one of the
rocks and 100 ’ed about him.

In the distance, be beheld several twinkling lights.

“Did you see anything?" inquired Tom, when he
came down.

“Yes, I saw Bannock!"

CHAPTER IV.
A SURPRISE.

Tan boys were soon continuing their way, but it
was almost dawn ere they reached the settlement of
Baunack—a city of log huts. between the lofty
mountains.

Most of these huts appeared to be deserted, but
now and then the two would pass some which were
inhabited.

Occasionally they met with miners single and in
groups, wearing felt huts, hunting-shirts and heavy

oots. Someo them were fierce, desperatevlooking
fellows. and all were armed with knives and pistols.
At length Buck reached a but a little detached from
the others. ‘

“Hyar we are," he said.

He took a key from his pocket and unlocked the

002‘.

Two windows in the sides showed aroom about
eleven feet square. There was a mattress on a
rude bedstead in one corner, and there were two
chairs and a table.

“Fust thing we'll hev breakfast—then we’ll take
agood squar’ nap," said Buck.

There was a rude fireplace in one side of the
apartment, with some fagots heaped near it.

Buck had soon prepared some coffee, and with
venison and the remnants of corn meal cake in their
possession, the b0 5 made a tolerable regs-t.

They then stretc ed themselves upon t e mattress,
where they soon fell asleep. .

Next day the two scoured the city from one end to
the other. making inquiries from miners and from
the few hotel-keepers in the place about Tom’s
father. Nobody, however, could give them the least
information about him, nor had any of them ever
heard of the white “ in ion " or the medicine-man
of whom the Snakes ha spoken.

, “You kin be shore your father was never hyar,"
said Buck. "Some of these miners have been h ar

‘d hev been likely to or
heard the name, had he n in these digggxngs."
, “ But I should think they would have he of the
, white ‘ cian.’ " . -

“ No, the miners may never hev heard any lnjun
mention it, and even of they had, they'd hev taken
no interest in anything of that sort, and would soon
hev fo tten it. ’

Rema ing a week at Bannack to rest and recruit
the boys havi stocked their wallets and provided
themselves wit knives and istols, in place of those

- taken from them by the In , started to continue
heir search.

> " When he spoke of the magician, the Indian chid

had pointed far away to the north and east, and in
that direction the twain Proceeded. '

They finally reached V rg'lnia City-another mining
settlement, where their inquiries were still unsuc-

cessful.

After halting here fora few days Tom procured
a small but strong coil of rope, which he thogofigt
.. might be useful among steep and dithcult r .
, The boys then kept on, crossin the bridge over
Jeflerson river. after which, ha Passed many
settlers' huts they reached it wil , oneiy region,

swhere no hab tatlons were in ht.
The were now in the very earl: of the Rocky
Moan which towered around them peak upon

summits lost among the clouds.

improv When they had

 

II
{houl

hausted the stock of Provisions they had brou ht
with them from the wo settlements, their cs
afi'ordod them a constant supply of deer‘s meat
wild pigeons, etc.. so that there was no dange of
their suffering from hunger while they had their
was ns and a good stock of ammunition.

“ bar‘s awild duck. and Mar‘a a igeou." said
Buck, one morning, pointing in opposite directions.
ali‘il fetch the due and you kin see of you kin take

e pigeon.

Both boys raising their rifles tired at the birds.
The duck dropped dead on a shelf of rock a few
yards 01!, the other wounded, wheeling about a
fioment, fell into a deep valley among the rocks,

“ I'll go and get i " cried Tom. '

“And l’ll be gett ng this one ready for a roast,
while you’re gone," said Buck.

Tom climbing over the many jagged rocks ahead
of him finally reached the edge of the valley, in
which he saw his bird. now dead. He scrambled
down toi and had picked it up, when he heard a
grunt beh nd him.

He turned. to behold a young Indian of fifteen or
sixteen before him.

The savage was naked. with the exception of a
piece of bu ale-skin about his middle. His face was
almost as dark as a mulstto's and he wore a hideous
headdress of feathers. which drooped over his fore-
head, almost concealing his fierce e es.

“Ugh! no wantto hurt young 8. e-face," he said.
“but ale-face ot good rifle. V ahnook burst his.
the ot or day. ould like have this one," and he

inted to Tom’s lace, which the be now regretted

a had not rel ed, after shootin e bird.

“ It is not for sale," he answe .

“ No want to buy it. Must take it!”

- “ I don’t think you will," said Tom.
i The Indian loosened a tomahawk from his girdle.

“If not give rifle, take scalp,“ he said, threaten-

infi‘lg raising the weapon.

e bog c ubbed his rifle, and aimed a blow at the
Indian’s cad. but the sav dodged it nimny and
steppin forward he won] the next moment ave
cloven t e lad’s skull, had not an active form sprung
inflow from behind, and hurled him down upon

Koala motionless as it dead, for the back part of
:itishm had struck a rock with force enough to
un

m.
"Thar you are—a thieving Growl" said Buck,
for be it was who had thu opportuner come to the
assistance of his friend. “ Lucky I tuck a notion to
follow you, Tom, arter you went, or you‘d hev been
us under before now. Jest as I got to the togl of

a valley. 1 saw this varmint start up from be nd
a rock, sneak after you. We’ll keep him for a
hos a. You kin be sartin thar’s more of his tribe
near yar, and so he'll be of use to us."

“ In what way?"

“Ef we‘re troubled b t’others, I'll point"Fire-
gels? ' at his head. an threaten to put a bullet

vigil him, unless they leave us alone."
" “ ll he go with us!" '

“Yes; thar‘ll be no diflkilty about that."

So saying the young trapper took some strong
pieces of rope from his walle , and tn the sav-
aglehover. made his wrists fast behind his

e boy, runting. at that moment came to.

He wildly at his two on tors before he
could seem to collect his scattered oughts. I

“ [Mull ’" $31235} the I dial). hrliggln m

, e co n s g s r
are, on perceiving that his wrists were tied. '

What on want Wahnook to do? Why you tie
Wahnoo '9 hands? He no want to hurt pale-face-
only make believe."

‘ That you‘re an infamal liar. thar kin benoques-
tlon. Come. get up, and. then I'll tell you what I
want of you.‘ ,

The lama“ to his feet. He strove to

the on of his face. but there was a

 

 

 

 

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Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

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look of hatred in his glittering blabgi: eyes as he I

looked from one to the other of the ys.

“ Better let Wahnook go," he said. “Plenty
Wahnook‘s people close h . If let go, he will see
the}: they no hurt boys; not let go, they quick
sea ."

“ hy, thar's the very reason we want you with
us! It is that we kin make shore of having.r no trou-
ble with your people. Ef the offer to molest us,
we’ll blow out your brains! omel"

Placing themselves on each side of the young sav-
age, the two friends compelled him to accompany

em. -

They soon reached a flat rock, where, with some
sticks, gathered from a mass of dry brushwood,
near by Burke made a tire.

Then he pltwked and prepared the two birds.

He roasted them on a spit. and the boys had
breakfast, which the shared with their captive,
whom on account 0 his hands being tied, they
were obliged to feed as if he were a baby.

The meal being finished, the three were ready to

continue their jourueg.
“ uck, “ I her a good offer to

Wahnook," said
make tgfyou. Although you‘ve acted like a mean
skunk, ou‘li guide us to the ‘ White Magisian.’
I'll see th you‘re made a present of a. brand new
rifle—to say nothing of what you may get from the
ician himself.“

“ hite magic-man?"

“ Yes; I kin sw’ar ou‘ve heard on him."

“It is true; but ahnook could not take the
white boys there, for the indians in those moun-
tains are his foes. Besides, them ic-man would
not thank Wahnook for showing the
lives. He does not want to see white pt-ople.”

“ Yes he does—in this case. My fnend hyar,
whom you were goin to kill, is his son."

Wahnook‘ ,iut the next moment he re-
gained his com osure. . _

It was eviden he thought Buck had lied to him.

“ ahnook will show boys the way—but where is
the ride you romise him i"

“ You sh
some friends I expect, meet me,\ few weeks from
neg)“ Indian tly tisd d

e on a push was sa 5 .

“ It gonogd' but thegmy is long. Better mlfnsten
am so can tter show the way." ‘

“ 0, thank you. I‘ve no notion of your givmg us
the slip; You kin bet I know something of lnjun
natur .

The so gavea dissatisfied sort of grunt.
“ Come, en; \Vahnook show the way ” he said.
Allowing him to keep ahead, the boys ollowed.

The dusky guide swiftly pursued a rig-nag path
amolg the mountains. .

B kept a wary eye about him.

All at once, as they were passm a lofty hight cov-

ered with the shit ai o a rille was hear
gggda b stagnated witxfidm an inch of Tom's for:

"Tmach‘rous varmintl” cried the young trapper,
as he and Tom ran u to him. and the former
pointed his pistol at h head. “You’ve fried to
eadus into a hornet‘s nest. The pine thicket is
full of your cussed people. Make a sign to ’em not
to attempt your rescue, or I sw‘ar I'll put a bullet
through on!" .

- The In boy waved his head backward toward
the thicket, thus trying to give the desired signal;

but seal-eel had he done so when there was a yell
and the rot-is h ' I

all around t e trio were alive with
dusky fo‘es, some armed with bows and arrows and
some with riflesl

These would have been discharged at the white.

boys had not their enemies perceived that the
yo trapper had his hand on the trigger of his

rifle. muzzle of which almost touched the Crow's

The Indians knew what this meant, and not a ride
was fired or an arrow discharged.

 

ys where he i

’ inn keenl
hev it, squar‘ on the nail, soon as'

The sav . however, kept narrowing the circle ’
around the roe.

“Keep whar you are!“ shouted Buck in them.
“Ef you come a foot closer it‘s all up with your
man's cakes i"

At this the savages stood motionless. .

“ Fire!" shouted the Indian boy. “ Wahnook not
'fraid to dial He have revenge, and that will be
good. even if he lose his life!"

This, however, did not suit the' savages, who
would rather show their skill and cunning by getting
gossgssion of the captive without causing his

ea .

Buck now compelled Wahnook to go with him
and Tom to a high rocky ridge, which would aflord
him a good low 0 his toes.

For some me the Indians seemed tobe holding a
consultation. Before the shades of night closed in
about the place not one of the savage party was in

sig t. _
At dark the two boys suddenly missed Wahnook.

 

CHAPTER V.

was am.
“Emmi” cried Buck. “ I had to eye on
jcst a moment since. and now cf he ‘t slip
away from us like a greased pig‘s tail."
As he spoke he leaned over the edge of a «ch
that shelved smoothly down from the rock on w
the he s stood

1 An 0 Ject, looking in the gloom like the outline of

a ball. was visible, some yards below. rolling down
the descent.

“ Thar he is—thar he goes!" cried the lad. “We've .
i lost him, shore enough i" .'

“ Why don'ttyou fire at him?" inquired Tom. /
“That woul n‘t do. It would bring all the other
r varmints hyar in no time. They’d know what was
up. The sooner we get out of this the better!“
He led the way over amass of jagged rocks, look-
about him as he went. Right ahead he
suddenly held the outline of an Indi seated on
the edge of aprecipice. His back was ward the
’ boys, but they e ted every moment, that he
would turn his hegeifnd see them. '
Buck, crouching on his hands and knees. mp: .
swiftly forward» .
Just then the Indian turned. and saw him. With
a wild whoop and his tomahawk uplifted, he sprung
at the young trap r. '
Tom had ah yraised his rifle to fire, when he
saw the savage. who had made a blow at the

ward like a frog.

Buck had seized him by the legend pulled it from
under him, when with a horrid yell. away went the
Crow. falling sideways over the edge of the precl- .

piee.

“Thar, I‘ve finished his ’taterl fur himl" said
Buck as he rose. “Glad you didn’t fire, as that
would have showed the rest of the niggers, who. I
now feel shore, ain‘t‘far ofl', jest whar we are.”

“Will we escape them as it is?"

“We kin try—thar’s nothing shorain thisworld.
Come on!"

I Tom followed his guide. who now led him a swift,
. race over the rocks. down into hollows, and along
i zig-zaf paths, between the rugged masses. »

1 At d . when they had pmceeded for Mambo.
. pause ‘ ‘

“Tha’r, I reckin we've got a. good see ahead of

I. the varmints. H or we ll make a ‘ ungo,‘ keep-
ing a lookout unti morning."

| aking turns at keepin watch. that each might
obtain sleep the boys saw the morning light
creep around them.

They could as at seenothin of their foes. Far
below them stre bed a vast p
and there by a creek or river at long) distances from -
each other. and thinly bordered y .

. cottonwood. Away to the north. Tom pointedout .,

 

crouching boy, fall over the latter as he leaped tor- 

watsred here. “
willows and “

 

a. thin column of smoke. rising from among the

In; stu iendous cmgs thnt towered in that direction.

W " titans?" inquired the boy,

C' x “ i'm not shore. \\ nit it hit."

m He climbed to the summit of n lofty rock that
 I loomed up from the place where the two stood.
i 1.»: Tom watching him, saw him beckoning to him,
i .j and he was soon by his side.

“It’s no anunsl" cried Buck. “ Shore as you're

olive. thar‘s a house tharaway, who: that smoke
I comes from. "

” A house!”

, “Yes, a house built of stone. I reckin—not a very
big one, but a house tur all that. You kin jest see
one side of the wall and the chimney."

Tom was soon able to make out the ha itatlon.

“Glory!” he cried. “ Do you know, uck, I feel
3! if my father is there 1"

“Don‘t be too shore. It does look. though. as of
that must be the home of the ‘magician ’ the Injuns
hev told us about."

“You can bet your bottom dollar it is!" cried
Tom. “Come! let‘s lose no time in getting there."

“ You kin make up your mind that it‘s some days‘
gouruey to that place," said Buck. “ It’s further off

it looks. to say nothing of the savages who
are todlspute our getting thar. Besides, it'll be a
difflkilt place to iind." ‘~

“We can carefully take the bearings of it from

re.

?‘ That we kin do, but things'il look mou’ty dill"-
rent when we git to that part of the mountains.
You kin see that the house is built nmong crngs.
which will be hard of not onpos.~ible to clom'u.
Thar they are, all steep, ‘thout any oothoid. so fur
' as I kin see, and how any human cri ter got up thur
and built that house whar it is beats me!"

“ There must be a way to it, of course, unless this
‘ magician ’ has win "

“ Sart'intly; but t e thing is to find that way.”

“You’ll hel me look for it?"

- “ I‘ll stick you like a live gum-tree. The i’ust
V thing now is to hev breakfast."
I i Their frugal repnst was soon finishedI and the
, boys were about to descend to the plain, which
- , would aflord them smooth traveling. instead of
 continuing along the mountains from where they
, . were, when Buc suddenly pulled Tom down behind
; the ledge near which the we stood. ,

‘ , “What is it?" inituired the boy. '_

“Injunsl Thar hry are—them infernal Crows,

sin, shoreas ou‘re alive 1"

‘ e inted own at the very base of the eleva-
tion. ble thro h an opening in the ledge, and
Toni! saw a file 0 lndians emerging from a gully
thntlgieroed 3 art of the mounts n.

"' ey are ooking ugi I think Ican make out
Wahnook. Can it be t at they have seen us, and
know we are here?” /

“I reckin not, but the are looking fur us.
That's Wahnook large as e. i hope to git squsr’
with that chap some of these days.‘

Therewsre about twen Indians in all. Having
taken a useful survey of he mountain crngs, they
moved 09mm distanceI scanning the ground for

the boys
“ Glad we didn‘t ttbe start on 'em,“ said Buck.
f‘Ef we had, the ‘ hev tracked us shore.”

The Crown. ha ng carefully searched the ground, to
discover no trail, now used as ii.‘ in consultation.
Not until sundown did hey leave this place. n hen
the moved to the base of‘the mountains where the

n at rugged elevations curved inwa . as it cnn-

/ eluding that their young fees were to be sought (or
among the rocky high 3. At the base. however,
the again paused, most of them remaining on the
. . ‘ Foal. while they sent'scouts among the rugged hills
./ . , ousearch tor the tugiti

   

ves.
We must lose no time," said Buck. “Those nig-
gersrwln hang about hyar fur days. Thor’s our

Little Buck. the Boy Guide.

   

 

And he pointed at abroad stream which glided
pn..~:l,.nnl‘ sillonl‘ the elevation on which he stood.

This stream was bordered with willows and cotton—
wom s.

New and then a drifting tree was borne along by
the current.

“ The wind last night was high," said Buck, “and
it must have blown down some of the trees. which
‘ accounts for their drifting thar. We must take ad-
! vantage of it and make use or some on 'em this
l
l

“P91110012.”

“Come, I’ll show you."

They were soon on the shore of the stream, hide
den here from the Indians, who were collected, as
stated. in the curve of the mountain-chain on the
other side. 9

. Buck contrived to ull several of thehoatlng trees
. to the bank. He his led them to ether and covered
‘ them with willow branches, so t iat the whole mess
i looked like one single tree, whose non he had been
» broken and disarranged by the late g e.

He gu vo his directions to Tom, and the boys
waded out and got hold of one of the tree-trunks.
Placing their rides. their other weapons, their wai-
iets, etc., upon the raft they ushed it out into the
siren in, and, concealed by the ranches, they drifted
along.

With their le 5, as they drifted. the two guided
their novel era t whenever it showed a tendency to
whirl shoreward and thus the were soon passln
{he Blane opposite to where t e Crows were so -

ocle .

Some of the Indians were seated on the ground—
otheis were carelessly walking to and fro, now and
then gazing toward the stream.

Through interstices among the branches the boys
could see them plainly, and to their dismay they be-
held Wahnook. who had been lookin at the floating
tree, saunter toward the bank wit his gaze at
flXUd upon it.

“It cannot be he has seen us!" said Tom.

“ No,” answered the young trapper; “e! be had,
you‘d see the whole kit on ‘em coming this way.“

Wahnook soon rgtchmi the bank.

The boys knew t at he did not see them. and they
were hoping to drift sateli past, when the youn In-
dian, reaching over caug t at a branch of the oat-
ing mass, and, pulling on it, drew the rsit toward
the shore.

Natural as it had looked a short distance oil, it
was plain that the indian now noticed its utiui
construction. and as he leaned over, Tpeermg among
the branches. he caught ht of om‘s heed pro-
truding over the edge oi_,the urther side of thefloat-

ingmass.

“Ughl” grunted the say s, but, ere he could
give the alarm to his pa in the distance, or
could hurl the tomahaw , which he had lifted. to-
ward Tom is Buck sprugg ’11:}: from under the
mm In: [1 feet. and burl knife to the hilt in

ea. . /
So swift and sure was the blow that the young In-
dian. without a groan. fell headlong into the stream!

 

,, CHAPTER VI.
A summons memo-men.

BUCK, on perceiving that Wahnook would not an

ggdigofiv‘e’r 21%  had swum ugdc-r the float-
n us comeu onteot er d
and in time to save the life of hispi'dend. “1 e'

There were a few shrubs on the bank. partially
screening the youth when he fell into the stream,
trom his people beyond.

The keen—eyed 5a es migh however, have
obtained a. glimpse of h m, or mig t have heard the
splash he made in striking the water. .
“£35le 1knew there “2:8 bno time to lose. so.ngain

g, e swam eneath the surface. Ind
, came an alongside of Temple. _

 

 

 

 

__..‘_ r

A r_u.;,.7<

 
  

.14.:

‘13:; “Ana In ‘3‘.“ _‘

 

  

   

 

 

_m___.

 

 

Little Buck. the Boy Guido. .

 

Meanwhile the raft was again gliding swiftly for-
ward with the full force of the current.

uYou were just in time,“ said Tom. “How did

on know that im would see me with so many
ranches between him and me?"

“ Those fellows see like cats. They kin make
out things whar a white man wouldn‘t see shucks."

" Hark i" said Tom.

A fierce yell was heard. Peering through small
interstices among the leaves, the lads could discern
the forms of some of the Indians on the shore, look-
ing ata few drops of blood left by Wahnook on the
green bank!

“ I don't think they saw him fall," said Buck.
“ but, as he didn't come back, they scent mischief!
Tharl I thought so," he added. ‘They‘re looking
at the raft, and pointing at it; they‘ll soon be after
us .

Even as he ke several of the Indians started
swiftly along a bank, and were soon opposite to
the drifting trees. 'l‘hat the floating mass was in
some way connected with the disap carance of the
boy they seemed to suspect. butas i was now about
dusk, they were unable to see the lads on the other

side, screened by the thick branches.

The stream was here too wide for them to reach
the raft without swimming to it. A couple of them
therefore, plun ed into the water. and struck on
for it. Tom an his companion saw them get upon
the raft, and creep toward them.

To attack the two would have been folly, under
the circumstances, for the comrades of the savages
were keepin up with the raft, along the bank' and
would have eard any scuffle.

“Can‘t we get under the logs. and keep our
mouths turned up to the openings between them, so
we can breathe ” whispered Tom. “ in that way
we could keep from bein seen, and these people
would then go away, thin ng no one was here."

The rustling made b the two Indians among the

~branches hin ered the r hearing‘the whls er.

“We mou‘t do it." said Buo . “of we adn't left
our rifles ‘mong the branches near us to keep dry.
The ‘d be shore to see them!"

“ hat's so. I didn‘t think of that. But what are
we to do?"

" Stay whar on are. and waitfur me." said Buck.
as he drew his nife. .

Divin under the two In? nearest to them. he,
with a ew blows upon the t ongs holding them to-
gether. cut them loose.

Thus the other trunks, which still held together,
were separated from those to which the boys clung.

"All right," whispered Buck. “ Now the var-
mints kin not git to us, as we‘re in sep‘rate boats."

In fact the two savages who had not at reached

~ this part of the raft. were carried away irom it; for
the oung trapper now braced his feet against some
an en rocks, and retarded the drift or several
moments. By this time the two Indians had been
home t a small utting oint of land.

The ys, by pus ng wit their legs. contrived to
bring the remnant of the raft to which they clung,
against this point.

Seizing their rifles, they crouched among some
bushes, and allowed the two trunks to drift on down
the stream.

The gloom of ni ht enabled them to do this without
be seen by the foes.

“ ich way, now 2" whls red Tom.

“ We're now on t‘other si e of stream from those
varmints," said Buck. “ As we don't want to leave
an tracks, we must take to the water again."

We have no raft now."

\ “ No but on this side, close to the shore, the water

is she! enough for wading."

Waiting unti the Indians on the op oslte bank

ys waded

were some distance below them. the
alo bore. '

“ ar you are; now we'll wait for ‘em to pass
"other way." said Buck. at last.

 

l

 

He drew Tom down by his side, in an earth-hollow
in the bank.

“ Hyar they come," he whi‘sPered. Indistinct
ffii'ms were now seen, moving ong on the other
5 e.

As soon as they were out of sight, the lads with
Buck leading. swam across to the opposite shore
each with his rifle. pistols and ammunition held
above him to keep dry. The used one hand fox-ibis
purgose, while they contriv to keep themselves up
wit the other.

“ Hyar we are, across,“ said Buck. as the stepped
out on the opposite bank, “and now for t 0 menu-
tains, whar we kin keep out of sight better than on
the lains."

" ut we will leave tracks."

Buck pointed to a narrow creek, which Tom had
not noticed, ieadin oi! toward the mountains.

“ By keeping in t is, we'll show no tracks."

The lads entered the creek, which was up to their
knees, and waded on.

A thin sErinkling of cottonwoods and willows be-
came thic or as they proceeded. and “they-drew
nearer to the mountains, they found themselves ina
dense thicket.

‘* Harkl” said Tom. suddenly.

The sound of approaching feet was heard. Dark
forms were indistinctly seen through the darkness.
with hundreds of wild. fierce eyes.

“Coyotesl” said Buc .

" They’ll not molest us,“ said Tom, indiiferently.

“Don t you be too sure of that. A couple of shots
from our rifles would scatter the critters, but we
don’t want to draw the Injuss this way with the
noise, and so the animiles will hev things pretty
much their own wag."

The numbers of t e coyotes kept increasing. On
both shores of the creek they hemmed in the lads
following them, bowling and snarling. and now
then stretching their fanged jaws toward them. Is it
to seize them.

At length one bolder than the rest sprung at
Tom's throat.

He did not see it coming. but Buck. whose keen
gaze had been at work through the darkness. sow

he dim outline, and with one blow from his no.-
stock. he laid the animal dead at his feet.

All at once every coyote retreated. The outlines
of their dark forms were for an instant seen, as
they‘edscampered over the plain and then disap-
pea .

“Your killing one seems to have frightened all.”
said Tom.

“ It wasn‘t that made ‘em gal"

“ What then?“

“In uns." answered Buck.

IIW era,"

“The Crows are looking for us. knew the
coyotes were not maldng so much noise or nothing.
The animals hev scented 'em, and hev gone cit."

” I cannot see nor hear them yet."

“ You soon will, e! we stay hyar, which this child
ain‘t oing to do. The varmints I take it,sre sll
aroun us. We are sarcumvented, but the rsskils
won‘t get the best of us. for all that."

“ How do you know they are around us?“

“B the coyotes. Hyar they come scamperlng
back n t‘other direction again.

“ Which we shall we go now?"

" Thar,“ s d Buck. pointing onward at the thick
branches of a large willow overhanging the creek.
“ thar‘s whar we‘ll make a ‘ loun the
present. till thar‘s more light on the su ject."

The boys climbed into the tree soon were
upon a broad hough amon the up branches. 80
deep was the gloom in ma thicke that the could
not now see the coyotes which they cou d henr
scampering over the aground.

Not ten minutes h passed when the dusky out-
lines of human forms were seen moving along
through the shadows of the thicket. ’

  

 

[0 Little Buck, thi Boy Guide.

.. ' "Hyar they are—the Crow n rs.” whispered

'. Buck. “Shouldn‘t wonder cf 9 've found the

.A body of Wahnook and by putting t ds and that to-

fitllert. 'they reckin we are somewhar in this
0 e . '

For some time the outlines of the savage forms
were observed passing and repassing near the tree
in which the boys were seated.

At length they disappeared and neither Indians
nor 00,0338 now were seen 01‘ .

“ Hadn‘t we better get down and keep on toward
the mountains? We will, I think, strike them near
\ the lace where the ‘ magician ’ lives."

l “ e'd be some miles from him. you kin bet. but
. ' we‘ll hev tastay hyar fer awhile nnywa . The red-
skins snagging in wait for us. I, kin a1 ost sw‘ar
not far . We‘ll hev to keep whar we are ti-li
morning, at least."

- Throughout the night the ho a took turns at
3-. - we and each thus ohtaine some sleep.

.. ~ At dawn both were awake. About two miles
7" ahead of them, they could see the peaks of the

' . mo a looming up above the trees on the fur-

ther edge of the thicket.

 . “lsee nothing of the Indians," said Tom. as he i
_" , carefully looked about him.
" - ‘ Buck smiled. .
“The varmints areal] around us." he said. “We‘ll '
‘ have to stay in the tree."
' , “Where are they i" inquirqi Tom.

As he' he, what he had taken merely for the
feathers birds, projecting our clumps of shrub-
‘hery. at various goints in the woods. arose. showing
that they were t e head-dresses of hideous faces be-

Ag-ain the savages scoured the thicket. peering
round them in all directions. but they failed to dis-
cover the boys.

At last they moved off. disappearing in the shrub-
_ dinerent sides of ti o woods.

“ 1 what noise is that?" asked Tom. sudden-

. 261113)?“ the lads had partaken of a frugal repast
r m
“ For the first time since their meeting Tom noticed
an expression like that of fear on the face of his com-

on.
’ “Tinnderl” muttered theyoungtragper. “We‘re
'in diflkilt .no . The mean varmin hevset the
~_woods on I"

 

CHAPTER VII.
was man on ma.

Man of the trees in the woods were dry and dead,
and there were piles of brush here and there, scat-
tered about the ground where branches had fallen
from time to time. _

The lads could hear the cracklir oi' the flames
- ' and comfl see the fire surrounding t iem like a lurid
ring. The smoke also rising in thick clouds. wa
blown into their faces, almost suflocating them.

“ What can we do?" said Tom. as the wind waited

flames nearer to the tree. every moment.

“Thar's the question," answered Buck. “Ef we
shut down the tree, the niggers mou‘t see us—ef we
stay wharwe are, we'll make roasted meat fur the

)1

w gap!
afraid it‘s all up with us “ cried Tom.
“ You sartintly will never find your father, at this
n”ggam°k' d him ' an al
a aroun —espec ong
' the bank of m 
” All at once his eyes lighted up.
~ , g r “Perhaps thar‘s a chance fur us." he said. point-
,' ' loan openingin the bank not far off. near the
of the water. “Ef we kin only git down from
‘ ',hyn.rwithout being seen by the ~sk ’ vannints.“
1/ Waiting until the smoke. wh oh tad subsided a

 

  
  
  

 

   
  
   

little was again ,blowu about the tree in a thick
. ' :lhoudhiuck'said to his companion: “Now is our
-, e 1e. -
Tom iollowed him as he descended quickly twin

 

the tree. and the two lads were soon in the creek.
making for the opening in the hank.

This was found to be ust large enough for them
to crawl threu rh, and hey now found themselves
in a sort of cart cave, up to their waists in water.

“ We are safe enough here." said Tom.

“Yes, of a tree doesn‘t fall on the bank above,
and cause the earth to cave in on us "

Peering about him, he discovered. another hole in ’

one side of the hollow.

“ Thor‘s the work of coyotes." he said. “ The crit.
ters are famous t‘ur burrowing in the ground."

Looking through the opening. he gave utterance
to n half-suppressed ejaculation.

“ Hyn r‘s a deep pit," he said. “The animiles
didn't. care to make the‘r quarters thar. The earth
lIlmlist'hnve caved in, jest as they got through the

0 e.‘

“ Shall we in?"

“I don‘t th nk we kin do better. The branches are
beginning to (all pretty lively above us, and we‘ll
have to find shelter."

lie got throu h the hole and slid down into the
pit which was a ut twelve teet deep.

om followed.

“It is close and damp down here," he said. "How
long will we have to stay here?“

“The Lord only' knows. As you kin see, it was
easy enough to g t (101m: hyar. but how we are ever
to git up again beats me!”

In fact. so steep and crumbl was the earth-wall
that an ascent seemed impossib e.

Above them the boflys could hear the crackling
and roaring of the nines, with which was soon
mingled the crash of faillng branches. The roof of
the it partly caved in, and a burning branch de~
licensed toward them. They avoided it by step ing
to one side. It filled the pit with smoke. on . for
several minutes. they thought they would smother
to death. Finally. however. they put out the fire by
throwing masses of earth u n t.

All day long the are rag above them.

Not until next morning did they think of venturing
from their retreat.

“ How are we to get out?" inquired Tom. “ Have
you thought of any wav 1’"

Buck looked at the branch which had fallen into
the it on the day before.

“ his mou‘t help us," he said.

He placed it on end against the side of the pit. it
was about six feet long. and therefore reached
within six feet of the o ning above.

Climbing it, he en eavored to keep on to the
aperture. He had nearly reached it when. n" -‘
once, the hideous painted face of an Indian on

there!

“ hi" ted the savage. and. as quick as
thong t. be buried his tomahawk at the boy. The
Wee. n, owing to the narrowness of the opening.
hit be top 0 it and the force of the blow was so
deadened that, when it struck Buck’s head, he was
only scratched by it.

Pulliu his pistol from his belt, he leveledit at the
head 0 the Indian, but, as he fired, the savage
dropped back ward, thus avotding the bullet.

“hien Buck looked through the opening he was

one

“Come. Tom. we must make quick tracks from
hyarl” he shouted to his companion. “That var-
mint wasn‘t alone. You kin bet t/nar’s plenty more
near him." ,

Tom soon gained the side of his friend.

The two crawled through the opening in the bank
and looked around them.

They could see nothing of the savage who had
retreated. but they doubted not that he and others
lay in ambush for them, not far oil.

All the dr wood in the thicket had been borne:i
and own tie green trees were so badly scorch
am injured the many of them looked as it ready to

--,4

 

 

Little Buck. the Boy Guide. I l

     

 

Suddenly Buck seized Tom's arm and drew him
back close under the shelter of the bank.

He had scarcely done so when the report of sev-
eral rifles was heard, and the whizzing of bullets
sounded close to the he 3' cars.

“Thar they nrel“ sai the young trapper, ointing
to a group of Crows who had sprung u ) rom be-
hind some fallen timber not forty yards 0 . “ Now,
Torn, we‘ll give ‘em all we kin before they captur

Both boys held their ieces in readiness, and, tak-
ing aim at the Crows. uck was about to fire, when
the sharp crack of a rifle, followed by whoops and
yells was heard behind the band. as a large party of
sava es broke cover and rushed toward t em. .

“ e Blackfeet, by jingol“ cried Buck, as he
lowered his iece. “ Save your fodder (ammuni-
tion), Tom. 11 we hev to do now is to stand hyar
and watch the fun!"

Taken by surprise by their enemies, the Crows fled
in every direction, some of them, however, showing
ii ht as they retreated.

he crnck of rifles and the yells of the combatants
made fearful din. “

Tom could not help shuddering when he saw some
of the Crows who were captured tomahawked and
scalped b their enemies.

The str e was of brief duration as the Blackfeet
greatly outnumbered their foes, and the boys now
saw some of them approaching.

“ They look as fierce as the others," said Tom.
“ Will they not harm us?“

“ They’re bad varmints, but I hev hopes that they'll
not trouble us.“

As they had been seen. the boys thought it best to
get out of the creek upon the bank.

The foremost of the Blackfeet was a tall persoeni
wearing a dirty blanket about his loins, and arm
in 1th a good rifle.

“Where come from? What do here?" he inquired
of the lads.

“ We’ve come in search of this boy's father." said
Buck pointing his com anion.

‘; Why’l'ook fo fodder, ere? Think Blackfeet got

1‘ s‘ner ‘

D “No, nor kin any mortil man. of i'm not mistook,
make prisoner of the White Magician. That per-
son is this boy’s father." .

For an instant a look as of respect passed over the
Indian‘s face; then hisvisage became as hard and
imnfiobile as aft  l M t I

‘ oy got or ongue c-man no go son.
Magic-man tell Blackfoot not let any white people
come near him! Tell Blackfoot not harm while men.
but not let come. Blackfoot do as magic-man say-
he not hurt the boys! They can go, but they In
not try to reach him i”

“ You have seen him. then i“ said Tom.

“ It is true. Black Thunder has seen the great
magic-man. and has heard him say that he has no
sons—no daughters to look for him. That is why
Black Thunder knows that the boy has said what
was not true."

Tom looked much discou .

If the Indian could be re led on, his statement
seemed to prove that the mountain wizard was not
Tem‘gle‘s father, after alli ,

“ hat sort of schapis this great magic-man?”
inquired Buck.

‘ Very great," answered Black Thunder. “Him
have glass gun through which Indian can see happy
huntin grounds! Him do along eat thin ." '

“ An yonder is his home-— t not?” quired
Tom, intlnglto the distant mountain peak, where
he h seen t 3 stone house, and from which a col-

. umn of smoke was now risin .

“It is true! but never white boy must fl? there.
Black Thunder not let there, even if w to boy
could find, but he nersr ndi"

“ What do you mean i"

“The path leadinz‘tothe music-man's horned:

1 known only to him and to the Blackfeet, near these
mountains i“ was the reply.

CHAPTER Vin
a smANon nascusn.

“ Wins.1 at any rate, we'll go among the moon-
trains‘to 00k fur game,” said Buck. “ Come on,
em.

“ It is well," said Black Thunder; “but if the In-
dians find you go too near the magic-man’s home,
he make you go back."

The base of the mountains was not more than
half a. mile distant. _

The lads, having crossed a rapid stream lying in
their way, finally reached it.

The were soon climbing up among the cliffs.

At st they paused on a lofty lodge. Looking
around them, not an Indian was to be seen.

Black Thunder, as he had promised, had permit-
ted the boys to go on their way unmolcsted.

“ We cannot see the magician’s hut from here,"
remarked Tom. ,

“ No; it’s a chance of we ever see it again, unless ~ '
we find the secret path of which Black Thunder
spoke. According to what he said, though, the
manic-man cannot be your father, after all\”

“May not the Indian have misunderstood this
magician i”

“No; but I've found that an Injun will sometimes * i
tell whopping lies. which may be the case now.
P'r‘aps he never heard the magician say what he
has told us.“ .

“ This, then. brightens things 11 a little," said.
Tom. “I was awfully down-he when i heard v ,
him say what he did. There are no Indians now to“ 3‘
watch us. Let us go in the direction where we saw
the stone-house, and see if we cannot ‘spot ’ that
secret path." .

“ You kin be shore we'll be seen by the red~skins
Boon, even if we are not now. But I don’t care; I’ve.
sworn to stick by; you and help ion hunt for your ,
father. and I'll eep my word. rst, though, we’d
better take a nap to recruit.” '

They found a. hollow, where they lay down and
en oyod a good sleep. v

ey awoke hun , and made a meal of some of
the contents of th r wallets.

Then they kept on among the wild thickets and
precipices of the mountains, ondeavorinz to shape ,

rom memory their course toward the habitation .
the had seen.
oward nightfall they reached the edge of a deep ‘
valley. Beyond, piled one above the other, in fan- ‘
tastic confusion, rose enormous peaks and crags.
From among the latter Tom saw a light smoke as- _ _ r

cending.
i We've struck iti“ he cried. "After

    
   
    
  
    
    
 
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
   
    
   
    
  
  
   
  
   
    
 
 
  
   
   
 
   
   
    
    
 
 
    
   
   
    
 
    
    
         

 

all. the rocks,between us and that smoke don’t look . ;
so hard to climb over." '
“Don’t count yer e before it‘s bagged," said
Buck. “ That smo e mou’t not come from the v
house, after all. " , .
“ Yes—I feel sure it does!” cried Tom, hopefully.
The two with some dlmculty, after several hours‘.
toil, reached and climbed the rock which separated
them from the s t whence the smoke arose. _ ~
Three wild-loo ing beings—Indians—wsre seated,
round a fire, on a flat rock. ‘5  ,
They showed no emotion whatever—in f hardy
ly seemed to notice the boys, who reco i them
as from the same party they had met the norm
in with Black Thunder. \
lads were about to move on. when the sav.
ages arose, and one motioned bacib the young ad-
venturers. ,
“ Not mus’ go fudderl" he said: “ Go dis way—'3
dat wsyh“ he said, pointing east and west; “ but not
0 ere ’

The lads exohan si iflcant lances. Th
nbw felt pretty mntgey taken glue right

>

 

   
 

,u

   

 

v“;

    

‘ find. T

'Ielt themselves on the very edge of a frightful pre-
‘ would, have precipitated them.

‘ light." remarked his companion, “ and perhaps we‘ll

 ~ keen surve around him, until at len th he saw a ‘
' clump of s rubbery which looked as ‘ it might con-
, .eeal a secret path. '

. said Buck angrily

. don‘t do my

j Iideo

Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

 

 

Han, and that they were not so very far from the ‘
“magician’s ” home. l

The desire of the Blackfoot to turn.them oi! on
some other course seemed to prove this.

“ Comel" said Buck to Tom. I

He led the way toward the east until they were
between lofty rocks, out of sight of the lndians.

“Don‘t you think we‘re close on the place we are
searchin for?" asked Tom.

“It 100 like it," said the other, “and that may
be no secret path, after all. though I reckin it s
likel , as this ‘mafiician,’ ef fur an reason he
didn t want to hev w lite people distur him, would
pick nut some place dlmkllt to git to."

” Pity we’ve got to wait till mormng before we .do
anything. We can‘t see to move about now that it’s

'tch dark.’
pl“No, but we can feel our way, and the dark‘s all
the better, as the lnjuns won‘t see us."

“How can we tell which way to go?"

Buck pointed to a light—a dim, trembling light,
far ahead and above them.

“Hello!” cried 'l‘om joyfully, “ that must come
from the ‘ shant ‘ we’re looking for.“

“No, I don‘t t ink so, but it may come from. some
hut lyinfiih the truck ‘of the house we are trying to

elnjuns hev forbidden our 50mg in that
direction, but. I don't care fur that, e we kin only
make regress in our s‘arch."

F 3 their way, they kept on.

Finally thegrgiscovcred that the light came from a
smoldering , near a crevice in a hollow rock,
where two indians la on their backs, fast asleep.
They kept on a litt e further, until they suddenly

cipice from which another movement forward
“ We’ll hev to make a ‘lounge ' near hyar fur the

nifihyt',“ said Buck.
es. but we‘ll be upsharp .and early at day-

the secret path before the Indians can see and
prevent us i"
They crept into an o ening among the rugged
masses and were soon as eep.
v Buck was the first to awaken at dawn. He took a.

The moment Tom was awake and the boys had
had breakfast. they started forward along the edge
of the precipice, until, on reaching the shrubbery,
they discovered that it concealed no path, but hung

 

I avg; the entrance ota sort of ravine.

, ht rose stupendous masses of rock
which they were about to ascend when the whiz of .
anarrow was heard, and the shafi passed within

mu an inch ofél‘rojmt‘gtegpleheheld a I
.Lookingu w , e ys agrou of erce
Blackfeet, sfandlng on a crag far above them. and

' motion mthem to kee back.
/ “ng8 p

ts must flre first and warn us after,"
. “ True we hev not heeded their
wagging, but what right hev they to warn us any- I
“ Theghave none," said Tom. “We have as good ‘
a ht go tothe i‘magician’ss they have.” ‘
“ at‘s so and you km skin me fur a coon of I 1
st to sarcumvent ’em. and et he‘s to ‘
he got at, we’ll t thar yet",
As he spoke 8 moved, followed by his friend,
among some rocks, which led round to the other
the h ht occupied b

Climbing a ew at t ese e evations, they gained a

; mfied dplatform near which were piled a number
of ai

wl ers sm [enough to be moved b a person

of ordin strength. t that moment he heard

a wild. w oop beneath them, and behel about

flirty Indians, among whom they recognized Black
er

' e latter motioned to them to (Some dog:it :v
we 6

 

 “No 1159570! klnbeckonanabeckon;

t so far, and we're not going to e 11 our Posi-
ionl" shouted Buck. “We‘re tiretfg be 0 cred
about hyar and thar by you and our red-s 'usl"

“If no come down, quick sea {21" shouted Black
Thunder. flourishing his tomahuw .

“I reckon 'ou’ll hev a. hard time to it up to us
hyar,” cried uck, as he gazed aroun him. “Er
thar‘s any vartue in Fircdeath, I kin keep you and
your nig ers from climbing these steep rocks!"

Black under said something the boys could not
hear to his people; then they commenced to scale
the rocks _

“ Keep back, or it‘ll be the worse for you i" shouted
Buck, as he and Tom took him with their rifles.

But the Indians, partly protected by projecting
ledges, came on.

Watching his chance. Buck fired at the arm of a
sa‘vage which was exposed.

The Indian let go his hold, and rolled down to the
base of the rock, the blood streaming from the
wounded arm.

“ Wouldn't it be best to roll these bowlders down
on them?" said Tom. “ They’d break the rock
shelves that protect the Indians, and then they’d
be exposed to our fire!"

“No,” said Buck. “The bowldersare not heavy
enough to break the rock“ But we kin make a sort
of tort with ‘em, which’ll give usa good show against
the varmintsl"

Workin with a will, the two boys had soon piled
the bow ders in a semicircle, breast-h‘ yh, thus
forming a shelter, from behind which they oped to

be able to keep the savages at bay. By the time
the had com eted the barricade, owever, not an
Ind an was to e soon.

“What can have become of them i" said Tom.

Buck looked up uneasily at the top or a rock that
ml behtiilalld ihem'th i mi th

“‘m ning en rsareco ngu on 6
other side of that rock, ghee said. p

He climbed to the summit of the elevation, and
looking down, perceived that his conjecture was

ri ht.

g.i'ble savages were rapidly coming up on that side.

He motioned to Tom, who soon joined him, and
now from their position the boys fired at their toes.
Such of the latter as had rifles shot back at them'
but, owing to their position. the lads. partly shelter
by a. ridge, were not touched either by bullet or
arrow.

The Indians, crouching as they came. in hollow
and behind protruding shelves, could not be reached,
andkwese soon within a few yards of the top of the

rec .

At the same moment the boys heard a scramblin
noise behind them, and iurnin , the discover
that other savages had ascende on t at side, had
climbed over the barricade they hsdcfiut up, and
were now close to the summit of the no .

Before the lads, who had ust fired, could reload,
the party reached the top 0 the elevation, and sur-
rounded them.

Halt a dozen tomahawke were raised above their
heads and they behaved that their fate was

seal .
At that critical instant, while the boys wore an-

I ticipating speedy death, the form of a. young Indian

‘ l a ared on a rock, 0 site.
gu‘l'Stgpfi“ cried the git-£3.93 rich, musical voice.

| “No s rikel Why would you hurtthehoys? Has

not the ‘magician’ told you not to harm any of
the whites, but only to keep them tram coming this

the Indians. 1 way

At these words every tomahawk was held motion-
less in the air.
The sudden appearanm of the speaker and her '

'speech seemed to have producedasmg‘ulareflect

on the stem warriors.

The girl could not have been more than fifteen
years of age. although a certain innocent, childish
expression of face made her seem still younger.

Better-m. however. had all the rounded trace 0! V A

 

 

 

 

 

 

r 41.-..-mm.+vie~—~..i.;.u . mm a

 

 

Little Buck, the Boy Guide. ' .

the woman, and her bright. black hair hung below
the hollow of her back. She wore a deemkin robe,

'nilcd about the waist with a. brl ht belt, and her
Eu, 3 round one, made of soft, dar beaver, placed
juuntilv on her head was ornamented with u l'rd
and w lite feather. ri‘he face of oval contour was
full of piqunnt beauty. the features, although regu-
lar, having lively expression, and a rich color glow-
ing through the clear. olive skin.

‘Linola hufloken," cried Black Thunder “but

her voice 8110 d not be heard now. The lndian l
knows what he is about. The while boyshave fired
upon our men. and they would make trouble. They
must die 1"
“No! nol“ shouted the girl, stumping her little
foot. “ It must not be! if Black 'l‘hun er kills the
white boys, Linola will tell the great ‘magiciun,’
and he w unish the Blackfeet!“

“ Black under is not afraid," answered the
chief. " He will tell the ‘ magician ’ how it was."

- Linola. still pleaded for the lives of the b0 5, but
without success. All at once. she descende from
the rock, but, in her lace, there now a peered a
white man, being so idcously deforms that he
might have been taken for a ghoul from unearthly
re Ions.

is face was long and crooked. It was twisted
half-way round, was disfigured with livid scs ‘
and his bloodshot eyes looked like two red balls 0
flame. His head was bowed so low end his
bent so like a bow, that he had the appearance of
rolling his eyes up into his head, when loo at
those to whom he silage.

li’ointing at the , he said, in a. loud, harsh
vo ce:

“Go away! Leave the boys alone!“

The Indians obeyed without a. word. They de-
scended the rock, and the lads saw them moving off
among the rugged masses. .

They turne to thank their deliverer, but he was

gone I

CHAPTER II.
was PURSUIT.

Fen some moments the boys looked at each other

in surprise. r
“ Well, sortintly, this beats me!" cried Buck.

"I never heard of anything like it " said Tom.
“Ef it had been the beaut of that young lnjun
a], that had done it all," d Buck, ‘ Imou‘t un-
Eel-stand it, but seeh a critter—"
“ l have it i" interrupted Tom.
“ Well, then, ‘ open our face‘ and blaze away i"
“ That men—that eformed creature was the

‘magician, which accounts for the singular eirect

he had on the Indians. Of course by working on

their superstition, he has ‘gained great influence
over them; You must make up your mind to that-

sure 1 .

URI gag": take it in—no I don‘t! Thor’s a dim-
“  ‘
“The Injuns ke ofhishnvi e " lass gun'—

mgavtggfi’g telessogope. of coursed” 8

“How in the name of rst‘tlesnskes, kin a chap
with each eyes look u enough to squint through a
telescope! You coul see that, jest to look at us,he
had to roll his 6 ebails almost mto his heedi"

“ I did not ink of that." said Tom. “ Still I
don’t know but he ght somehow 1(scum-hire to man-r

w

i b throwin
as“‘31 tdouybi: it. Stfil. granting that he is the ‘magl-
a“; 15%? em °£nai§t§§°fith¥$$m‘
o oo

“:1 don‘t know. Somehow I sit a. conviction that

thgtYhideiolai; creaturLord ]e was myggliitfr I" ,
ou ove

“ Yes. It almost takesyighue’ ‘ starch ’ out of me to

thinkofitundyotisawintheman‘semsomof,

 

 

 

   

i V.-
o

earrin . mighty like what I remember seeing in r

my fat ler’s, when I was a child!"
‘Eai mou‘t be alikci Thor‘s nothing in
that,"

“ But these were curious ones.
mon. they were diumond-slmpcd."

“ I've seen them all shapes. Besides i think I've
heard you say our father was straight and well
formed. while th chap was like a. musk-ox."

“There’s the trouble," said Tom~ “ that’s what
‘fetchcs' mei l‘ve been wondering, if my father
didn‘t break his back in some way, and get scarred
up, as we've seen and if that wasn‘t what kept
him from comin back to motheri He me have
made up his min never to show himself to

r on .
account of his bein so deformed l“

Buck slowl shoo his head.
“When fo 8 are married," said he. “I rockin
they‘re not quite so particular! E]? that Chi: is

our father, you kin bet thor‘s some reason bes des
is being de ormed that‘s kept him/ from making

tracks for home.“
“ Well one thin is certain. Ican’t rest satisfied
question this strange being. who-

now until I see an
ever he is."

“ I’m with you, their let‘s look him 11 ."

The bo s descended from the roc , and com-
ince)ncedt$:l eir sealicth. H t h

nee ey can 1 ag mpseo t edeformed man
ashe disc peer ins. narrow deflle but on reach-
ing this, ey saw no sign of him. The rocky
sage described a. gradual descent. Following its
course a. lon distance, the lads found themselves
ins. env le , watered by a swift stream. 011
the link the now discovered the'trecks of the
man’s moc which showed that he had enor-
mous feet. .

u 
“There's another ‘ clincher ' to make me think this
person is reall my father-l” ,

“ You kin to nothing by that. Many of the chops
out this we hev big feet."

The two oliowed the trail until, finally, it was lost
in the do tbs of 5 dark cave. There was an open-

at t 9 other end of the cave, and, passing
through this, the lads found themselves fit the com~
mencement of a. rocky path, leading upward among
the mountains. .

“The secret path!" cried Tom. “ I believe we've
struck it, at last i"

“gon’t be too shore," said Buck, pointing up-
war .

They kept on until their further progress was
checked by an in ‘
hi h rock, which could not be climbed.

hile they stood looking up at it, the some Indian ‘

€31 who had interfered in their behalf, emerged
in between some rocks, on the right." i

The boys could not hide their looks of admiration
on seeing this beautiful being before them. .
i The girl blushed a little, and, for a moment her
.1021 lashes drooped.

“ e are glad to see you again," said Tom.

“ es, we sartintly are ” echoed Buck.

“Why?” in ulred Lmoia. "

“‘Because— use—we want to ask
questions," answered Tom ~

“ For my part,
1 rettiest gal I’ve ever seen—vyou kin be
shore of t."

Linola smiled, and gave her head a ht toss.

“ Boy should not say that. Indian gir are not so '
pr‘ett as white.“

Buck. “Ikln's'syl never sawawhite gel toeom-

par‘ with ion!

‘fI thin that will do," said Tom. “Linoln
doesn’t care for {our p ; do you, Linole?”

“ We speak 0 other. thi ,"enswered the girl
evasively. “What boyswsn here?”

“We ere looking for the‘mskldsmmuid'l‘om.

 

What isn‘t com- ‘

Pas' '

father‘s feet were very large," said Tom. '

you some ‘
" said Buck, “ it’s becuuse you are 

on are an exception—that! kin sw‘arl" cried I

l

surmountabie barrier—a steep, ‘ l

 

\ l
i

 

 

 

 

 

' .‘yk‘

a little impatiently.

~us with your compliments."

V.‘ some more, of I‘m not mistaken."

‘rockwithac

’andh

,than ever. Fixing the gaze of his upward-rolling

14 _.

Llano Buck, the Boy Guide.

 

" The truth is, I believe he is my father, and I want
to see him to make sure."

The girl shook her head.

“ Him not see you."

Tom looked puzzled.

“ Do on know what his name is?"

“Ind call him Netoa —that is all.”

“ Will you guide us to in? or. at any rate, show
us the way to his house?"

“Netcap want not to see white people. Linola
promise never to show the way, and she must keep

er word."

“ At least, tell me if that deformed white man who
saved our lives isthe ‘magician.’ “ \

“ Nothing have to say. Must tell nothing about
the magic-man‘l

“ You’ll tell Inc—won't you Linola?" said Buck
coaxingly.

"Why you more than other boy?" said Linola.
smiling, while the black 9 es shone merrily.
th" 1figcanse we hke eac other. I‘m shore of

a

Ageal of silvery laughter broke from the rl.
be“ You make hurry; is that the way wi white.

vs

“You've hit it thar, lum-centerl"
Again Linola u he ; then with an arch glance
at cm, she dart off. disappearing among the

rocks. v
“ Oh. Lord! what a sweet gal i“ murmured Buck.
“ We’re after something besides girls," cried Tom,

“You’ll own she’s abeauty?" said Buck.
“ of ’course she is, but you‘ll keep her away from

“ Don t you believe it; she'll come back again for

“ You have a good 0 inion of yourself.“

“Well. now, I reckinr that's my own at! ," said
Fuck. "“ Thar‘s no reason why gals shouldn’t take
0 me.

" You might kee your bragging to ourself."

Buck brou ht dgwn the butt of his rifle on the

“See hyar Tim!" he cried. “I see how things
are—you’re iealous of me, and of you kee on we
mou‘t quarrel, which isn’t to m liking. oined

on to be] you hunt for your fat er because tuck
0 you bu sooner than have any ditl‘ikilty with you
I’ll jest go my own way and £2: kin o yours!"

Tom realized that he had n a ttle too hasty.
The young trapper seemed to speak more in sorrow
than in anger. and this touched him.

“I don‘t think you and I shall quarrel.” he said,
holding out his hand. “Here’s hoping we may al-
waiyls be friends."

ck accepted the proffered hand and the two
bovs journeyed on amicably to ether.
th’l‘beirsearcthbfor thefitflorm man, as well as for
» e score pa , was ass.
at ni ht they rested under an overhanging rock

an r.

“We’ll aged watch and watch " sum M.
Tom had the first watch. The new moon was
shining above some of the and asthe
was clear, there was a dim lig t above the boy.

All at once he beheld a human being on a are:
above and ahead of him.

“The deformed man!” he murmured. “I must
_see him and speak/to him 1"

He stole round to the other side of the mg.
3:1de over it, and descended quickly to the man s

e.
In the dim light this person looked more hideous
eyes on file lad he uttered a slight cry, and turning,

darted o .
“ Waitl" cried Tom. as he pursued him. “ Tell
Iris 1if you are the ‘ magician ‘-—if your name is Tem-
A h i

The fugitive answered not. Tom still pursuing.

 

laddenl! felt a loose rock on the edits of a sharply-

 

sloping h ht give way beneath him. He went roll-
ing down he declivity until his further course was
checked b a dwarf cedar projecting from a cleft,
where he ay bruised and stunned.

As he gradually recovered his sens-as be half rose
resolving to ma e an attempt to reach the top of
the hight, about forty feet above him.

Just then he can ht sight of a terrible object
looking down upon h m. It was a large black bear,
whtose eyes gleamed like flery stars in the dim

he bear advanced a little; some loose earth and
stones gave way under it. and Tom beheld the crea-
ture sliding swiftly toward him.

Mustering all his strength the boy crawled out to-
ward the end of the slan ng cedar.

The bear struck the tree which arrested its
course. It staggered to its feet. braced its fore-
paws on the trunk and lared at Tom.

The latter unslung h s rifle and took aim at the
brute. The piece roared, but the brute tossed its
head with a wl as of defiance.

The bullet ad struck a branch,’which turned it a
little from its course. causing it to merely graze the
tog of the creature‘s head.

he monster crept out on the tree toward the lad,
showln its fangs and uttering ferocious growls.

Tom w his knife. Meanwhile the tree, which
was not very firmly held in the fissure whence it

ew. cracked and bent with the weight of the

or.

looking beneath him, the boy realized that he
would be thrown into adark abyss or ravine, into
which the precipice shelved should the cedar give

wa l

The bear came on. Tom made a blow at it with
the knife, but it dashed the weapon from his grasp
with one stroke of its paw. and the next moment
its fangs would have been at his throat. had he not
clutched a branch and s himself from the
trunk. His feet touched the rock' he braced them
against a protrudin ledge, and letting go the
branch. threw himse forward. The bear glared

' down at him. and was apparently about to let itself

drop upon him, when, with a crash, the tree ave
my, and the animal descended into the dark a yes
ow

It was a narrow escape, and feeling thankful for
his deliverance. Torn now endeavored to crawl up
the slopiniwail of the precipice.

He reac ed the summit at last. and tried to find
his way back to his friend. But he failed. and, lost
among the intricate crass. he sunk down exhausted.
He had been hurt more severely than be imagined.
His head throbbed with pain; he felt faint, and was

half- arched with thirst.
“ lghsmgdwould I not give for a drop of water!" he
mum
“Here is some." was answered. In a leasant
voice, and Linola, the Indian sir appea before
I him, withacantsen which she had not unslung from
her side. ‘-
CHAPTER x.
1‘00 AmO'l‘lONATI.
Ton received the canteen, and took a deep, re-
freshing dra ht. He also bathed his head and
ten: lee with a cool water.

“ feel better now " he‘said. “How came you
here at this hour?" he addedgazingwlfli admira-
tion upon the beautiful girl.

“It is not far from the but where Linola lives
with Mokatook. her old mother. I came out to
walk a little, which I like to do when weather is
clear and stars are bright.“

“You do not speak like most Indian women,"
w 11:1.‘0111. Your My of talking is better. Why is

“ ‘ Magician ‘ Meme lessons. Him teach me
some to speak and "

“ So you can write, too!" .

“ Yes. but not very wall.”

.. o ._ :9. t

 

- V 542» ‘~

-_._._,,. H

\

Little Buck. the Boy Guide.

   
 

\

15

 

“ I wish you wmild guide me to the ‘ mngician.‘
I must see him before i leave these mountains."

“ He not want to see white eople."

“ You are sure you heard h m say that?"

“ Yes; other Indians hear him say so, too.”

“I think there must be some mistake. I know he r
would see me. Will you do me a favor?"

“ Anything Linola can do that is right. she will do
for the white boy."

" Well. then lwish you would tell the ‘ magician’

that a white

v. named Tom Temple. is in these

mountains. looking for him, and that he believes he

is his son.“

“I will tell him, but it will be of no use."

“Yes,l mi ht

I ran after

name was Tom Temple. he di
“ You ran after ‘magi

know that." said Tom. "for when

in. this very ni ht. and told him my

not heed me."
cian?‘ "

In a few words the boy described his chase of the
deformed man and the result.

“ Poor

uw"mmu

nola. “ You been have much

trouble: but im on run after is some deaf, so him
not could have heard what you said.“ .

“ That accounts for it,“ cried Tom.

“ I feel sure

that. had he heard my name, he would have stopped,
or I might have learned that he was really my

father. "

Linola smiled. Her dark eyes beamed u n the

speaker with a peculiar e

ression—a loo of in-

terest and sympathy that se Tom’s heart to thump-

in violent]

y.

e rose and took her hand.

‘t Linoln." he said.

“ I never yet saw a rl that I
00d

like so much as I do you. You and I be g

n

5.
five wigeb?l frijends." she answered. coyly draw
in a a r an .
ghewloyoked so bewilching, standing there in the
dim l' ht. that Tom said:
“ Le us seal the compact with a kiss."

" No." said unola. givin

her head a toss. “ Linola

is onlya poor Indian gir but she not kiss stran-
ers.‘

“ But you know we are friends, now " said Tom.

Linoia stood silent. tapping the

her little feet. v
" Your friend. the trapper boy, not is so bad as

you,” she said
more respect—him

Wl

tool: with one of

th a. mischievous smile. “Him

not ask for kiss."

“ Do you like him?" in uired Tom. 1

“ Yes, me like him muc ." she replied, smoothing,
with both hands, her long. dark trusses. “Him
plenty make fun.‘

“I suppose I’m too serious for you,“ said Tom,

gloomily.

“ his not say that."

“Oh, I understand. You like a boy that will flirt
with you, and I'm not one of that sort."

“ Sober boy more bad than funny boy." answered

Linola.
“ Are you

“ No—no—no

read

“ Sober boy ask for kiss—funny boy not."
py to give me that kiss? '

And as she spoke, she draw back, holding up both

little ban

is B!

and buffaloes!“ came a clear. ringln‘

voice. “Idon’taskfurak‘issi Itake it, of Iwan

it i"

There was a slight scream from the girl, as Buck
Bowie csmo_leaping. like a cum: anther. from he-

hind a rock near and gave
logs on inertial).

c

deer.
II I'd
n 1
t? undo
3 Dee
“ Was in"

V ltwasthe
Mythic:

ve ch
said

said’l‘

71 that
iudzins

nola wo hearty smacks

k. red lips, and another on the left
“Oh. you bad he —hadl bad! bad!" she cried.‘
And, blushing

, she turned and fled like a

e! I wasn‘t afraid of losl ou
 « dill.
r hev you been! I heard your rifle. not long
and that's what bro

turning to Tom. ‘.V

ht me this way.”

cm, s . “ I‘d have thought
brought you this way more than
from your actions. "

r

 

  

 
     
  
  
   
 
    
 
 
   
   
  
    
   
    
   
  
   
   
   
     
   
   
   
  
   

" mm 1 known she was hyar. 1 should hev come
anyway, you kin bet, furl like that gal."

“ You show it a little too plainly."

“Well. so long as she don t find fault, I kin see no
reason i’ur you to."

" Oh, if you choose to be rude to a woman. I have
no more to sayhi" . 3

" 'l‘har‘s no lag rude in kissing. Itake to it al‘ -; ' "
natural] as a b‘ar takes to hone .

“ \Vel , we‘ll drop the subject, ' said Tom, with a
look of disgust.

“ All right, then. let‘s ‘pack it.‘ and now tell me
how you came to leave our post, while I was
asleep. I ‘woke. and ug you thought you was ‘
a one coon, shore?" . ‘

om brie related his adventure. When he
spoke of his ear encounter. the long-limbod young
trap r leaned far back. laughingh . ,
“ see nothing to laugh a ." said Tom.

" The joke is jest hyar," answered Buck. “It
seems you waited fur the critterto come down from’ ' ~
the top of the rock and corner on on adead tree ’
before you tired. I kin imaginefsee you dropplni ’ X '
on the. tree. expecting the b‘sr to come stop 0 ,

ou. ‘ ’ ‘ -

“ I must own I can't see the oke. Asto ‘ -
the light was too dim for me to 1do that whilfloflgé ' ’

was on top of the rock." ' ‘

“ Well. well, every man to his taste. -»What do 9’

on snppgge made that deformed chap run away '
rom on i “
"“Iddn't know. unlesshedid notcare to be qui- .
one . ‘ ' ’ i

“ We‘ll hunt him up again in the morning. We
better make a lounge somewhar fur the present. _ as ‘ " ‘
you seem pretty well used up." I ‘ v

They found a mossy rock, upon which Tom
stretched himself to soon fall into a deep slumber, ; '
while his companion. with his ride over his shoulder, ,
walked to and fro. keepinga lookout. ‘ i

All at once he heard a low voice above him.

“Hist! hunter boy, histl” . ~
[He iokohed up. to see Linola on a projecting shelf

0 me

" So you are thar. beauty i" said Buck. ‘ ;
“Icometoaskhowpoorbo seemmbe. Doeshe
sleeg well! Was he hurt much?" * x ’

“ h, he's well enough.” answered Buck. “m.”
I hev another kiss?” ' v

“No, you bad boy, noi" ‘ 1 ‘ '

Buck scaled the rock with the activity of a tiger,
and overlook the girl before she coud ascend a
more difficult cragin her way. He threw an’ arm ‘1
about the supple waist. She screamed and struggled “
in his grasp as he endeavored to kiss her. and 'per- ,
ceiving that she was really oifended. he was she t '
to let [50 his hold, when he was seized by the th ' ‘ '-
and led violently away from her. ..

oung fool. what [do L 2

“ vs the lgirl alone! You y
you mean?" 0 ed a stern voice. - .
Buck was surprised to discover that his assailan ,
was the deformed man. who. in jerking him
had shown himself of enormous stre
The fiery-tempered bo . without pausin ‘
fleet, whip outhis knife-like s fiash.btfi.~ere’ "0‘
couldusei his apponent pushed him awayfrom.
roe at sent t eyouth'downi 11
side. Still more enraged. the latter drew his ” V
and aimed quickly at the head of the others. ‘ "’5'
an rise. his 1: deous-iooki own?“ “We?”
bu ad but stood quietly be ore im,' “range
“2‘; iii“ “it"msmum' m 5. mm. ,3,
‘ e o. e e
as he loweredy his pistol and ng whis‘fset .
you kin stand are that w . ck Bowia'ain‘t
one to shoot each a game ni"- ‘ ‘-  “

As he s ke the deformed man ed. 0R. m,
the mkmp‘f’ollowed by the Indian all? ‘ ' '

l

       

   
 

 
 
  

 

    
  
 

     

     
  
    
  
  

      
    
   
 
  
  
  
  
   
 
  
 

 

   

 
 
 

   

         
 

         
  
 
   

 

i6

Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

 

CHAPTER XI.
was sunnsros.

THE morning following the events just related was
bright and claw.

Llnoia, the Indian girl. had risen early in the morn-
ingtrom her couch of mattin r in the mountain but,
had made a hasty toilet. and leaving her old mother
{mice , are wound her way swiftly among the rocky
a n

rom a distance Tom and his companion had been

watching her, but, on reaching a high rock, she van- ;

ished like magic and did not again reappear.

Ten minutes later she was speeding along the
wet , leading toward the magician‘s house.

Mamie arrived at the door.

The house was a small one, not built of rtone, as
the boys had supposed, but merely of logs, neatly
arranged to line a roomy car which had an open-
ing at the top, in which a in e chimney had been
put up. The door being wide 0 11, revealed the
nterior, lighted by two apertures n the sides of the
apartment. The floor was of smoothly hewn logs,
and a couple of canvas hammocks swung about two
feet above it, at the further end. The furniture
consisted merely of a rude bench and a table.
Amen the other contents of the room, the most
eonsp aliens was a telesco , about twelve feet
long on a tripod. and whic was now pointed to-
ward the doorway, with the upper end of the tube

hted elevated.

middle—aged man, with thick, black hair han -
ing nearly to his shoulders and a grizzly heard a -
most concealing a face lighted by a pair of brilliant
black eyes, keen and eager in their exprewsion, was
looking attentively through the instrument.
Near him, aper and ucil in hand, was seated
the deform man, who as been alluded to.

The entrance of the Indian girl caused both men
to look up.

“ Well, Linola, what news? Any more white peo-
ple about?" inquired the person at the telescope.

“No only the boys. It is of one of them I would

on.

“I amynot interested in them, except so far as
their safety is concerned. I hope our people will
not ogeerpggilidtgd lgnn them," and hhopye that they
ma oaway rom ere. ’

“yan of them wantgme to tell ou that his name
is Tom Temple, and that be t inks you are his

father!"

The “magician " for he it was whom the girl now
addressed, started-a wild, eager look on his face.

“ Temple? did he say his name was Temple?"

“Yes—so he tell me."

:dwrm' tsort of a looking boy is he? lshe cross-
07

“ Cross-3e? What you meant"

“Crook in the e e—eye twisted to one side.
This way," and he on cavored to illustrate.

“ No—no," said Linola, blushing. “ Him ilne look
ho‘y. every way."

Although saw both boys distinctl on] once
sir." ke up the deformed man, “ fee ' uite
sure not notice the misfortune you spea
about either 0! them."

“ Then the boy who says his name is Tom Temple
is either an impostor, trying in this way, to gain ac-
cess to me, or else he is the son of some other Tem-
ple. I dare say there are men out this way, anion

he miners. of the same name as myself. and the
“’th “fi‘ "ii’i‘ih‘liix’mfliémf‘ ii???
see in, no 9 o e r
“ you can tell him that I am «at his lather—that he
had better go to some of the settlements to look (or
thstperson, asIun nowsure hewill not find him
here '
um [tell him," answered the rl, " and I glad
it he go away for the Indians do no want boys here,
and 1 afraid they do harm by and b '
em," said the

“ You must kee a sort of watch olth
"Wicks." to his assistant. “1 would not

of}

I have the boys hurt. It is very rash of them to ven-
ture here among the linoki‘vvi .”

"I will do the host I can," answered the other.
"I have saved their lives once, and I will still ti in
shield them from harm, but I am afraid the lmhans
will soon lose atience, and contrive to slay them,
while I am not y."

Linola now departed, and the magician again ap-
plied his eye to the telescope.

“ Do you see it yet, sir?“ inquired his assistant.

“ No—not yet. The sun is hardly high enouc
and— Halioai by George! Yes! there it is, now!
he suddenly interrupted.

What he saw was a brilliant ball of dazzling light-—
a fixed mass ap Jax‘cntly about the size of a man‘s
head, that scint ated and sparkled in the rays of
the sun!

The assistant rose and gazed in the direction of the
stupendous crags and towering cliffs far awn y
among which the glitterigg object was visible, but
which, seen with the nak eye, seemed no bigger

“ Do you see it, Jameson?"

than a in rge button.

“ Yes—there it is~—iu the same spot where we have
noticed it for the last two years, without being able
to find it."

“ We must find it," said Tern lo. “I am confident
that what we see is a lump 0 cold! With such a
lump there, there must be man others in the vicin-
‘ ity—a mine of unbounded weal hi"

“ Still, as I havqsaid man times before," remarked
i Jameson “it may. after a i, be nothing more than
. mtt'tl ori may ssibly be silver."
“ No—no—ne ther mica nor silver could show that
reddish-yellow luster. I tell ou it is gold!"
“ Stran e that not even he Indians. who first
I pointed 1 out to us, have been able to find that
. gleaming knob."
J “ That is because it never shows longer than half
an hour—on] while the sun is in a certain position.
‘ Then, again, 0 trouble is that ’most all the peaks and
I cliffs in that direction are nearly alike—so that we
1 have no particular mark to o y in looking for It.
It must be in a perilous loufiity, too, tor according
to Mokatook—Lmola‘s mother—the old lndian wo-
, man who first told me about inn-:2 brother whom i

ll;

have thus far been unable to strangely disap-
peared while searching for it.”

“One would almost feel tempted to give up the
. search,“ said Jameson, shrugging his shoulders.

“ I will not give it up. It is this which has so long
kept me awa from home —from those who are so
dear to me. at I have written tothemman times.
so as to let them know the cause of maong a senco,
and I trust they do not feel worried a ut me."

" I hope your letters have reached them,” said
the assistant. “ It is strange you get no answers.“

“ No, that is not strange, for l have told them on
no account to send me a letter. That would be sure
to bring some white man this way in search of me.
as you know, I do not even carry my own letters to
the settlement for the but send one 0! the
Blackfeet with them."
m“?A,re you sure he posts them in the right quar-

r .

“I have no reason to doubt it. Wh should he
‘ not? I have so worde on the su rstit on of these
i Indians that I believe they wou d do anything I
< should ask of them, exce t to s are their enemies—
snd even that they woul do if were present when
they were going to slay their foes. Now, then.
Jameson. let us again try to make some mark for
finding that rec ous gold knob—that ‘Eye of the
Morning,‘ as he Indians call it."

The assistant sat ready.

"An old, blasted pine, about a hundred yards to
the left of the knob. Put that down' Jameson. and
that‘s the mark I'll try for next time," said Mr.
Temple.

“ ve got it down,"
, meats later.

1

responded Jameson a few Ino-

Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

17

 

" Very well. The tree on a line with the round-
toppcd rock nearest to us."

‘ All right~down " said Jameson.

Several more nmrlrs which Temple thought might
assist him were jetted down, by which time the
glittering knob had vanished as suddenly as it had
a are .

R Now, then.I go a sin to make an attemptto
find that ball of old,’ said Temple, as soon as he
and his compan on had partaken of a frugal ro-

ast.

p Temple put on a brown shirt, a pair of canvas
trowsers, and strong but light boots. Then slinging
a rifle. and also a coil of small re s, beside his am-
munition pouches, he turned to epart.

“I sup ose you will not be back for several
days?" d Jameson. “1 do not like your goi
alone‘ on these tramps. \\ by not let me go wit

out
y “ I Prefer to have the honor of making the discov-
trery a‘one," said Temple—“as I have told you be-
ore.‘

" I believe you are afraid I would put in a claim
for my share if we found the mine together," said
Jameson, y.

“ No, no!" cried Temple. “I did not mean that,
my friend believe me. '

‘I am g of it, for I could never forget the mat
service you rendered me, so far as to wish for the
smalles roflt from any valuable discovery you may
make. 8 deformed wanderer, he] less amon
the mountains with a contagious ever, whic
caused him to be abandoned even by the Indians
with whom he had traded, must have perished, had
you not led him to our retreat, and fearlessly doc-

ored him there. was more your kindness than
anything else that cured me."

"' You make too much of it,“ said Temple. “ I
studied medicine in my youth and knew {ust what
to prescribe for your disease. ’And how I wi 1 tell you
that in real reason for not waniin you to go with
me is cause I know that, in spi e of your great
strength, any great hardship you may undergo is
apt to bring on a fever. Believe me when i say that
you are v liable to fevers."

“ I know t—lt is hereditary," answered the other.
“ Still I am not afraid—"

“ Well, am," interrupted Temple. smilin .
“ What should I do without my assistant?“ be -
ded. “ I could never get another like you. You are
excellent at obtaining game. while I am so or a
shot at long range that I would starve to dea h if I
relied on my own rifle for obtainin food. No. no,
Jameson; take good care of yourse , that you ma
hunt igeons, geese and deer for our table, while
hunt or gold.‘

So sayingihhir. Temple started on his way.

After to g among rocks and crags for man
hours he finally reached the round-topped roc
marked down on the slip of ever. From the sum-
mit of the rock he now look in vain for the blasted
gins, which seen through the telescope, had seemed

be on s line with this rock.

“Strange,” he muttered. “that I cannot see the
pine now. '

He descended the rock and moved on as fast as he
could over the diflcult crags and through the deep,
rugged voile s in his path.

For two ya he vainly continued his search for
the knob of go 6.

0n the morning of the second day he caught
sight of somethi white for down in s ravine, on
the ed a of which e stood. By means of the ro
heviim brought with him he now descended into 9
rs. ne. ’

Then he discovered that the white ob ect he had
as: lwas the half-broken skeleton o a human

2

“This would seem like a. warning to me to give up
In search" he muttered.

uddeniy be uttered an exclamation of surprise.

A handsome. malady-«awed clasp-knife lav near

 

the skeleton. it was rust and old-looking from
having luin there so long, )ut ’l‘emph- thought he
could recognize that knife us one he had often seen
in his brother's possitssiolli

It was it SL‘itI'iJll for this person which had iirst
hrou 'ht him out to these wild regions, and nowI at
last, e had found the skeleton of the lost one.

He icked up the knife, and, after rubbing off the
rust mm the silvered handle, be there read the
name of his brother.

“There can be no doubt of it now,“ he muttered.
“I have found all that remains of him at last. He
must have fallen into this ravine while searching for
that knob of gold."

At that moment a succession of wild whoops
caused the speaker to start and listen.

CHAPTER 1m.
nassnrnn.
f Tn?! noises heard by Mr. Temple coull not be very
aro .

There was a narrow defile leading out of the
ravine. and which described a gradual ascent.

By means of this defile the magician ‘ reached a
crag, which afforded hiina view of an unexpected
scene in the distance.

On a lofty rouk stood Buck, the oun tra per,
holding converse with Black Thun or, w it), a the
head of a dozen Blackfoot warriors, stood at the
base of a narrow, rocéliy path leading to the spot the
young hunter occupi .

Near the boy stood the well-known form of beauti-
ful Linola, the Indian girl, in her most co m-ttish
attire, with a beautiful ong red ribbon, whic 1 Buck
lfiad given to her, added to the ornaments upon her

at

“Keep back, you varmintsl” shouted Buck. "I
tell you I won't give her up, although you may do
your worst! She‘s consented to go with me, and

‘Il hang on to sech a beauty prize, you kin bet,
while thar’s life in my bodyl"

As he spoke he thumped the butt of his long rifle
on the hard rock to give emphasis to what he said.

Standin on the 10 axyzhight, his active figure sur-
mounted lythe coon in cup, his tanned face full
of determ n

ation the boy presented a. striking pic-
ture, and seemed well matched with tho bcautiful
girl, who, as he had said, had consented to go off
with him.

Suddenly the old squaw whom Linola called her
mother, emerged from behind a rock where she had
stood, close to the young hunter. She threw up her
arms, and s oke in the native tongue to the warriors
below, but lack Thunder answered with a derisivo
shout. Then, addressing Buck, he said:

“ The white boy has no ri ht to Linolal In it few
moons Black Thunder woui have taken her for his
own wife l"

"Yes." answered Buck, “to make a drudge of
her—to work her to death! It war a. ‘tarnal shame,
tots-est the beauty sol It war hoggish, to use no
worse a term l“

“ liglack Thunder is no hogl" the chief roared

“ You are a hog in everything 'cept the bristles—
that I‘ll ailowi" answered Buck.

“Black Thunder no he i The white b0 shall
fludho is a wolf l" retort the Indian, “ ess he
let 1 come back. He no right steal girll"

“ did not steal her, un. She went with me of
her own accordl Aint t at so, beauty?" he added,
turning to Linola. “ She kin s k for herself." I

At this the girl advanced to he edge of the rock,
h her mother‘s side, and, looking down at the In-

5, she cried in a sweet voice:

“Go awa , Black Thunder, go awayl I do not
want you or a husband! No,and I gowith the
trapmlr bay of my own free will i"

‘ y can she not want Black Thunder?" in-
quired the chief. “He lsstro and well. He has
often brought her beautiful s and flowers. He
has laid sweeten doorman at her-Jest. m

 

' ‘ strike

 

. 7,1,“ .VMW .1,  ‘. thug“

 

* 3  5,3.»

Little Buck. the Boy Guide.

 

very dress she wears was taken from an antelope,
shot by Black Thunder." ’

“ Black Thunder is strong and well, but he is too
old for Linola! Why not take Linola‘s mother!
She would make him a good wife !"

And as she spoke the girl laid her hand on the
shoulder of the squaw, who. besides being clumsy
an enormous wart on each side of her

Black Thunder showed his disgust by laying a
hand on his stomach, and uttering a loud gibber,
like that of a horse.

“Very on entlemanl !" cried Buck. “Ef you
treat theg smothert tway,how do you expect
the gal could take to you, even of you war
youn er?"

k Thunder is not old!" shouted the chief.
“No! he is young enou h to seal the boy trapper,
and to do it alone. if he d the 0 once!"

“Thor’s a lie!" answered Buck. “ I wouldn’t be
afraid to take my chance with you, anywhere on
like, but I‘d know thar‘d be treachery. You'd ev
your men to help ou!"

“ Give u Lino a,” said the chief, " and Black
ThuInder t prggéiait'm yam?“ mgivm th I,

‘ In no a 0 you. 3 u e
that I sw‘ar I’ll not do i" p Ea

The chief measured the rocky ath with his eye.
He knew that he and his men con (1 advance only in
single file, and that the deadly unerrlng ride of the
ymmtg‘ trapper would lay most of his warriors low
ere

path, and struck the ground near his warriors.
crushing his skull and dying instantly!

For a moment the Indians stooo looking down
upon the remains ufthcir chief; then they flourished
their tomahawks, glaring u at the young trapper,
and uttering dem niacal ye ls of re e.

“ It was not fau t of boy!" cried inola, from the
“Him, Black Thunder.

“That is not so. Bo strike at Black Thunder,
and that make him fa! ! Now he-must die! Yos.
we must have scalp, if we hunt him far or near!“
ried one of the savages.

Followed by Linola and the squaw, Buck now hur-
ried off among the rocks, but he had not proceeded
for when he saw his enemies coming up to intercept
him. Turning, he perceived that the were ap-
proaching on both sides of the rock 6 now oc-

summit of the precipice.
fall from accident!"

5 cu ied.

1

eycould reach him, while they themselves.

would not dare to tire for fear of hitting the girl.

“The white hunter says he is not afraid of Black
Thunder! Then let him show it. Come down here.
and he and the Indian will fight to the death! Linola
willsoon see that Black Thunder is as strong and
quick as a young man 1"

“Do you take me. Injun, for a ‘tarnnl fool? Do
you s‘pose I’m goin‘ to give you a chance to play or!
your treach’ous ames with me?"

“Then, if your fraid to come to Black Thunder-
he i not afraid to come to you !“ _,

« And. motion to his‘warriors to keep back, the
chief strode up e roc path!

"Don‘t know asI kin ack out, now.” said Buck,
turning to Linola. “ Ef it wasn't fur you, I wouldn’t
think of it. Ef anything happens to me, now, Black
Thunder will hev you i” /

' “ Don‘t tight!" pleaded Linola. “ Iam afraid you
will be killed! Let usgo away from here. Come!"

“By the ’tarnal! no! Ef everI turn my back on

a single Injun, I hope to be sldnned fur a weasel!“

' So saying. the youn trapper, drawing his long
knife, re for com t. -

Blac T under had also drawn his knife, and the
moment he reached the top of the rock, he bounded

' gke a tiger toward the youth, aiming a blow at his ‘

cart.

This Buck avoided by a twist of the body; then
his own knife clove the air.

The chief was not quick enough to wholl escape
r the blow, the blade passintfi‘through the n above
, his ribs. In aiming ano er stroke at his youn

adve , the latter dodpfid causing him to fall an
, s nose against t e rock, upon which the
. blade of his knife was broken. Enraged at his un-
dignifled situation, the Indian sprung uickly to his
feet, and sent his tomahawk flying at

op-Fimii’fée dodgedihami ' t rdth hi r
‘ . e r rung owe e c e .

now with the butt can ride a blow at his
head,byw chhe hoped to stun him, make him

. ,! prisoner, and kee him as a hos

e.

. To avoid the h w Black Thtggder stepped back
close to the ed of the steep rocky path. A loose
roekgave way eneath him, ut he would have re-
,  n t.not the tixaw, Linolz‘: mo-
_ er, ep orw grasp so as ~ re-

. vent his ggi ,r stumbled inst big: p

With a frig tful ell, the ndian tumbled headlong
mythoedooof precipice to the right of the

/

eheadofhin~

‘ Thar’ll be some music before I die !" cried the
boy as he aimed his long rifle at the foremost of his
pursuers.

The Indian dodged behind a rock as he fired, and
ere he could reload, his foes were hemming him in,
with half a dozen rifles inted toward him.

“ No, no I" cried Lan a as she got between the
weapons and the boy. “ No shoot! no shoot!"

But some of the Indians sprung forward, ushin
her aside, and the next moment a tomahaw wou!
have cloven the lad’s brain, had not Mr. Temple
arrived in time to seize the uggfted arm.

He quickly threw himself tween the youth and
his assailants.

.“ This must not be! The Indians must not harm

‘ the white b0 i

2 one of the warriors.

 

l

H
“He has Killed the great Black Thunder!" cried
, ‘The Indian must have his
reve "cl‘

“Listen!” said Mr. Temple solemnly. " It was
the Great Spirit that caused lack Thunder to die!
Two moons ago, I looked through my ‘ lass n,‘
and saw a great a ow, which said: ‘13 k hun-
der must die that his tribe may be saved! Should
be live, the chief would have the small-pox. and he
would give it to all the rest of the tribe, and sweep
them away from the ,earth.‘ ” -

“Ugh! them ic man has a wise head, and he
can see far anfldg we believe him," responded the
savage. “but we must have revenge for the blood
“'91? cm’flgr’G t S irlt told e that the life of the

o. e rea m
white boy should notpbe taken. Woe to the Black-
feet if they kill the boy!"

at this every tomahawk was lowered, and the
savages, stepping back, held a consultation, in a low,
solemn voice.

“Come with me," said the “magician” to the

cum tra r.
yTheg latltogre followed his conductor among the
labyrinths of the rocks, where they were soon
hidden from the sava es.

around h m, the boy garcde that

kini

gither t e girl nor her mother come with
em.
The youth was about turnin back to seek and

call them, when Mr. Temple lni a hand on his am.
“No.” he said. “Better not trust yourself with
those Indkms again. In spite of what] have laid,
the may conclude to slay you." ‘
“ kut the gal! She was to go with mel' cried

uc .
“ Where were you going to take her toi“
wiz'l‘o Bannock, whar I meant to make her my
e.‘ .
“ Has she consented to be your wifei"
“Not exactly; but I know she would, or else she
ivoulfixy‘tvhave agreed to go 01! with me! Thar in
ON S
n This; 311x113 a great ooquette. You can never be
sure 0 q- x
“ I an pose you know her pretty well sir- but I'm
shore age likes me well enouzh to be in! with. ‘ Ii:

 

/
l
r

5,

 

 

 

, at...“

    

 

/

Little Buck. the Boy Guido.

   
  

19

 

friend and I quarrclcd nhnut‘hcr. and we ngrced to
part. I wasn t going to leave her whar he could liev

any Show, fan wanted to marry her myself, and I 

found it easy to persuade her to go with me. on con-
dition that her mother went with us.”

Mr. Temple endeavored to persuade the youth not
to go bac .

As he could not, he accompanied him; but neither
the girl nor the Indians could now be found.

“ Linoln will probably go buck with her people,
and Pa advise you to go back to Bannock as soon a's
you can," said Mr. Temple.

“ No, sir; I’ll find that gal. of I die fur it."

“ Well, then, I have no more to say," answered
the other, as he turned away to continue his search
for the old knob.

“ G00( -by," said Buck.
and I hev quarreled, I hope he ma fall in with on,
fur I now know you to be the one e's been 100 in};
for. He thinks you are his father."

“So I have heard," said Mr. Temple, dryly, “but
he is mistaken."

A minute later the two lost sight of each other
among the rocks.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
run noun.

As Buck had stated, he and Tom Temple had
quarreled about Linolu. and had separated.

After his late friend was gone, Tom, as his temper
cooled, felt lonesome enough there among the wild
peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

He still prosecuted his search for the “ magician,"
but, as ma be su posed, his efforts were unsuc-
cossful. an dispirited when night came, he
crawled into a ollow between the rocks, and having

inrtaken of some of the contents of hiswallet, he
a down and tried to sleeg.e

Vhen he awoke, just fore midnight he was
startled to see the hideous person of the deformed
man between him and the moon, which was now
hovering over a. peak in front of the hollow. The
man was watching him earnestly, and, when he
opened his eyes, he moved toward him.
11 “ lfit last I ave found youl" cried Tom, starting to

is eet.

He closely scrutinized the scarred face. but he
could there see not' the sli htest resemblance to his
father as he remembered iim.

“ You are the magician?” said Tom.

“ N o; I am his assistant."
marshy did you run away from me the other

“ =ecause I did not want to be questioned.”

“ And now i" r

“I have come to advise iyou to leave this place.
The man you seek is nott a person you take him
for; he is no relation of yours.‘

“ How do you know? What is his name?"

“I know you are not his son. Linola conveyed
your me e to him two days ago, and he stated
that his son ad a deformity, which you have not."

 deformity i”

es

" What was in"

“ There may be a mistake."

“ No;"I him tell Linola that his son had lost
an e e.

Toi’n looked puzzled and seemed to reflect.

“ Why did not Linola bring me this message!”

“ She is one.” i

" Gone?’

“Yes- she and vour friend went on together—so
one of the Indianshas told me." .

Tom turned pale.

“Gone and left me!” he cried. much excited. “I
would not have believed it. I thought she cared
somethln for me, and, after all, she was in love

mm legged Wot amnier u I meet

(
1

“ Although 'i‘om Temple ‘

 

  
  
  
    
 
    
  
  
   
 
    
  
  
    
   
    
   
 
    
   
  
       
   
   
  
  
    
  
  
  
     
   
  
   
    
   
   

him he shall pay fortnisi" added Tom, his eyes
fairly turning green With jealousy.

Jameson smiled.

“ Linola is a sad coqnettol“ he said. “But I ‘
wouldn't care, if I were you. After all, she is only
an Indian [iii-ll“

“Ha shnl pay for takin her away from moi"
cried Tom, look ng at his ri c.

“This is nonsense!" said Jameson.

“Is it? Well, we’ll see, if I ever get hold of him.
Where have they gone to?"

“To Bannock, where, nocording‘to the Indian,
your friend means to make her his wife."

Tom faier ground his teeth with rage. V

“We'll, aier see the magician, 1 will go utter

“ I would do no such thin . if I were you. The
1 has a right to her cho cc, and so has your
riend. Better leave them alone, and return home."

“ I don’t care what you say- Buck has served me u
mean trick. sneaking oil with that girl. without
giving me the ghost of a chancel" ‘

“Poohi ‘nll‘s fairin love and warl' The Indians '
don‘t like her going oil, as ally Black Thu der, I
who was to have made her h s bride in a week
now! At the head of some of his men. he is in hot
chase of the couple, and may overtake them. The
affair has so incensed all the savages, that I don't
think you are safe here. another day, and had better
leave. In fact, what have you now to stay here for?
You know that the ‘magician ‘ is not your father."

Tom made no reply, but again apuzzlsd look came
over his face. \

“I must see him, at any rate!" he said. '

“ You cannot see him. You can never find his re-
treat. I have warned you, and you had better take ‘A
in advice, and go away from here." '

go sayin the deformed man turned. and, gliding
ofl,k;oon dgisappeared among the shadows of the
toe ~

Tom crawled back into the hollow, and strove in .
vain to compose himself. He kept thinkingaof what
Jameson had told him about the “ma c n." and
also about his former friend and the Ind on girl.

At dawn, after having had his breakfast 1 veni-
son and a. piece of corn-meal cake. the bog tarted -
oi! again to hunt for the “magician.” e scaled .
crags, rocks and clifls, until he was tired, when he
paused on a rugged shelf to rest. ' K

He rose and was about to persevere in his search,
when, suddenly, a tall form sprungupfrom between,
the rocks and confronted him. , - ,

It was Buck Bowie. the youn trapper! There be r ‘
stood, rifle in hand, the tail of is coonskin cap rest- ‘-
ing on one of his broad shoulders, his tanned face '_
deeply flushed and a sort of sneer-lug smile deform- \;
ing s usual frank open countenance. .
wi't 1.1m! therel so it’s you!" cried Tom, reddening

an r. .
“Thug: o fact—it's me!“ answered the other: a
“and I jest want to ssh you a question. Tom Tem-

6 .

“.Go on! Perhaps I have some to ask. tool"
:2 wellhflhen, hyar goes! What is shot"
0

h “ nytgltiorlgdto lPellcshorasl I tflaaked berhear/
ares o mnewsedisapearsd-.
aid i want to knowa u’ve hid her irdam me i“ ‘V

“I have not seen her! pretty trick you played
me, takin her 01!! So she's run away you,
after all! ’m glad to hear that."

“I played no trick. I’m not tho man for that.\
She went with me 'thout much ading and ,
would hev staid with me, too but or tbe‘coming a
of them ’farnal Injuns from whom I was rescued by
that magician-chap you're looking for. but who!
caused me to get separated from the gal. I've been
huntin’ tor her ever since and est beioreIcsmo‘
hyéié-xil sat: gei- engughl ell. eé'yoa’xve’hfig ’E
no ng 0 ,er isappearlng, a
Mlhevnomorotoml"  j 

 

 
 

         
 

 

 
      
        
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
      
  

 
  
  

      

  

    
  
 
     
    
   
      
          
 
  
  
      
       
   
   

He would have moved on had not Tom caught his
arm.

" Don't be in n hurry, Buck," he said stcmly. “ Do
you think l'm going to tnmcly allow you to ‘cut me
out' In this way?"

" I haven‘t cut you out. Didn‘t I say the gel wont
of her own accord? Come, Tom, l__don’t want to
, hev any more trouble with you."

,‘ “Are you afraid?"
‘ The other came to a dead bolt.

“1 reckin the coon is skurs that I’d be afraid of,“
he said, “but I am afraid, fur all that.“
.1 , “ So you own u l"

 “ Yes. I'm aI‘Im (I: of "may!!!"

“ 0f yourself? Iiol ho 1“

“You kin jeer as much as you like, Tom Tom 18,
but the fact is, I hev a bad tcui u-r, and don‘t film
it to git the best of me. of I kin icip it, so I always
try to keep it down. Twice it dial 'it the best of me
and I almost killed my man. l'dll
I had killed him. and us I don’t her to hev such n
disgraceful death, preferring the more honorable
,one of ham scalped by Injuns or something like
it, I try to fee out of quarrcliug wherever and
' wl‘lfr‘iever I kml’

excuse," said Tom sneerin 1 his e as
mum-m safe one, tool" ' g y' y
Buck's darkl -tnnned face seemed to turn purple.

{head Ivivl‘iich would have felled a. bull. But Tom

1:.
“ want no such boy's slay us that," he said.
“These are what we are to ght with."
Atnd, as he spoke, he pulled a pistol from his

“ By the ’tnrnell hev your way, then, ef you want
. . it!" cried the young trapper.
-. i‘ Eleven paces are for enough apart," said Tom.
_ The other quickly measure the distance with his
feet and the two boys faced each other,
“ , hysrl" cried Buck, whose temper had by
.. this time cooled. “ You know I’m a dead shot, and
1’ you it would go against my con-
grou'll change your mind about
t hese murderous weapons "
No.“ d Tom, “and if you kill me it will be
my own fault. Are you ready ?"
‘All read 1” answered the other.
' “I will ve the signal—one, two, three! At the
word ‘Threel’ we will both fire."
“Hev our way.” answered Buck, but be resolved
' to fire. possibe, in such a. manner as to only
)0

  

slightly wound his op onent.
om, to tell the trut hnd made up his mind to
, the same thing, for the idea of killing his former
end was repugnant to .
Buck stood near the edge of a deep, dark ravine,
‘ from the sides of which grew trailing vines, which
or had found root between crevices in the steep well.
At the on signal the boys pulled trigger, but
only Tom 5 weapon went 03, the young trepper‘s
having missed fire.
He reeled smoment on the edge of the ravine
than down he want. falling into the dark depths.
" at have I done?" cried Tom, in dismay. “I
have killed himl He is lost 1"
ing his pistol into his belt, he ran to the
ell"!- of the ravine. and peered info

   

iev been hung cf ‘

Little Buck, the Boy Guide. .

Just after sundown he saw, for above him, a
column of smoke, which he ntonco inferred came
from the “ magicinn‘s“ nhoulu.

lingo rocks, lnlcd one upon the other, thus form-
ing a sort of rugged, uncouth " staircase," rose be-
fore him. The were too stoop to climb, but there
were rough proictions on the summit of each, over
which a. rope might be thrown. There being no

 other way to reach the point whence the smoke

 

But he heard no sound—sew nothing but the thick ‘

  
 
   

where the body had fallen
ese all was darkness—im-

l
a. r em... “.23?th denied“:
on 1'00 e 8. mos
painful wound wo Eli: caused him.

damn XIV.

V mum.

Faun“ Tom Temple rose from his prostrate
l‘

gfion staggers: reble and  F0
-w er aimlesslyamonz erngs
taxonomy

thrust asid

   
 
  
 
  
 

 

 
 

 

 
 

scorned to proceed, the boy unslinging the line he
carried over his shoulders, formed a noose at one
end, which he filing to the top the first rock,
about fifteen feet above him. ’l..e noose caught
about. a. projection and having pulled the rope tout,
the laui vounncnce< to climb.

'l‘ho lino sli min}; a little as he ascended, was
brought direct over a. dark, deep, yawning chasm
in the rock be ow, but there seemed no danger, as
he 11:31 not far to go, and as the rope was easy to
1150011 . -

But when he was haU-wayeup, Tom heard an
angry sort of howl. and then held a gaunt, fierce-
looking wolf advance from between some rocky
fragments and commence to gnaw savagely at the

re with ts shs fun i -
fi regsthet, a. few days before, he

8 boy remem
had used the rope to drag a. deer he had shot from

, f l 1 nd .
He aimed, w th his clinched list, a blow at Tom’s ‘ a deep honow’ and that some 0 the b 00“ ) smu

rated the strands of the line. This it was which at-
tracted the wolf, and caused him to bite so savagely
at the being;

In fact t e animal, unless driven away, would
soon bite throu h it, and Tom be precipitated into
the frightful c asm beneath himl He shouted,
yelled, uttered all sorts of discordant noises, but in
vain; the brute continued to cut the strands, which
were alrend needy severed with its sharp teeth.

“ I‘ll try t iisl" muttered Tom, 34: last.

He drew his pistol from Liv b916, took aim and
pulled tri ger, movements dime-nit to perform, as to
execute t em he was obtgcd lo cling tothe rope
with one hand.

The hammer descended on the nipple, but there
was no explosion. .

Then it flashed on Tom's mind that, in his agita-
tion at having shot the young trapper, he had for-
gotten to reload his weapon!

It was im ssible to do this in his present posi-
tion. Even ad it not been the wolf would gnaw
the re through ere he could have time to rum in a
cartri ge. ‘

There seemed no escape forhim, and the youth
gave himself up as lost.

At that critical moment. there was a whining
sound, and the led saw an arrow sent from some

oint above, ierce the body of the beast, and kill

he creature 11 most instantly)

‘Climb uick, before rope break, and you safel"
cried a we -known voice. '

It was Linoln who spoke, but the b0 could not
see her, as she evidently kept herself hi den behind
one of the many, rocks of the chm

Tom soon gained the summit of the rock. “ Linols,
where are you?" he called, but there was no reply.

From creg to crsg, by means of the rope, the lad
continued to climb, but he looked in vain for the
girl who had saved his life. ,

Perseverin in his search. he found himself. to-
ward mldnig t, in a. rocky pass, which he hoped
might rove to be the secret way loudlan to the
“ ‘s" retreat. But,ins’teed ofthst, efound
himself, on reaching the 9nd of the path, close to a.
swift, rapid stream which he had previously noticed
at the base of the hight. .

Thoroughly worn out with his exertions, he threw
himself down bar the stream, and. ere he was awue
of it, he drop into a. profound sleefi.

He was at est awakened by a fee us of motion.
He sat up. scarcel able to credit his senses. He
was in a. canoe. on he stream.

The lirht ves steered b an old squew—Lino-
15's mother—was “rift-Ix was with the cus-

 

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3

rent. Dawn was breaking, and theiaa could por- I

ecive that he was being borne on a course parallel ,
with the Rocky Mountain range. ,

“What does this mean? How came I here?" he in- 1
quired of the squaw.

The old woman fumbling beneath her robe. drew
forth a slip of folded paper, which she gave to the
boy. While he was reading it, she guided the canoe
to the right bank, got out, and made oil', soou
disappearing in a. growth of shrubbcry nrar it.

The note was as follows:

" Go far from here. Alreadythe Indians seek you,
bent on having your scalp. I found you asleep. lly
being careful, lsucceoded, with Mokatoolc’s assist-
ance, in putting you into this canoe without awaking
you. I (irectcd the old squaw to remain with you
until you opened your eyes. when she was to leave

ou and return to me. Let the canoe carry you on.

t will convey you to a small settlement, about sev-
enty miles from here, where you will be safe.
" A FRIEND."
" This, I take it, was written by the deformed
man,” muttered ’l‘om. “ 110 seems determined to
et me away from the. ‘magician,’ but 1 will yet
fialk him. I do not believe it would be inuchsnter
to go the route he proposes than to remain up .ll! the
mountains. At any rate, l‘ll yet see that ‘ magician,
unless i die in the attempt. I dread di-atll'ncw loss
than i ever did bcfoi'c!" he added, shuddering at the
thought of the fatal duel with the young trnppcr. .

The canoe had evident! been carried a lung dis-
tance from the place he ad ()ccupied'on the pre-
vious night. He left it, allowing it to drift With the
current, and endeavored to track the old Indian
woman. But he lost sight of the print of her mocca-
sins the moment he reached the cliffs and crags of
the mountains. For two days he vainly strove to
find the locality near the magician‘shomc. He saw
no smoke—saw nothin to serve him for a guide
and he realized that he was lost among these Wild
mountains.

There was still enmi h
wallet to last him for t is

On the next, after a restless slumber. he had re-
course to his rifle. He had now become a tolerably
good shot and seeing a large wild pigeon on a crag
above and ahead of him, he fired at it. The .bullet
struck and killed the bird, which, however, did not
fall from its perch, so that Tom was obliged to
climb to it.

It was upon a lofty peak, which the boy reached
with some dimculty. _

Be prepared the bird and soon had it roasting
over a fire, which he made with some fagots, col-
lected from a mass of dead brushwood, not far of!
and ii hted with matches taken from a water-proof
safe wphich he had brought from home.

He made a good meal; then he climbed a leftier
rock near him to take a view of his position, and to
look if he could see any sign of the magician 5

home.

By this time the sun had risen and the light shone
upon some of the peaks, while others were still un-
touched by the ray. _

All at once the lad‘sgaze fell upon a bright object
far away on the side 0 one of the peaks, and which,
seen from that distance, appeared to be about the
size of a small egg.

Tom uttered a cry of surprise. What he saw, was
that wonderful “ Eye "—that dazzling orb of hght.
which the “ma ician " had said was gold!

“ What can it e?" muttered the boy.

He watched it for about a quarter of an hour,
when, to his surprise, it sudden y disappeared.

As he still gazed toward the quarter where he had
seen it, he bl'held the figure ofn inan emerge from
behind a rock which had rekugly screened huh,
and climb to the top 0 a lofticr peak, where he

grovision remaining in his
ay.

stood gazing in the direction of the object which had
attracted the Ian’s attention.

The man‘s position

Little Back, the Boy Guide.

 

his own and the place where

was midway between

    

    

21

the glittering knob had shown itsolf. At so great a
distance the stranger could not be distinctly seen,
but it flashed u on Tom's mind that this might be
the “magician. ‘ He remembered what Buck had

‘ said about this person’s appearing, and saving his

life from the Indians in some place at a distance
from his mountain home, and it now occurred to the
lad that he mi ht, for some reason have remained
absent from h s habitation. Ila endeavored by sig-
naling with his korchicf to attract the man‘s atten-
tion, int, failing in this, be discharged his rifle. The
stranger, unless he was deaf, must have heard it.

! ln fact, he turned his head in the direction of the

sound but instead of approaching the boy, he now
move off the other way and soon disappeared
among the rocks.

“That makes me prctt sure it is the very one I
want to soc,“ muttered em, “for he seems to want
to keep away from me, and l have heard that the
‘magician ’ tries to avoid all white st rangers."

Sliiiging his rifle, the youth started toward the
point where he had last seen the man.

The way was difficult. Cmgs and peaks had to he
climbed, deep valleys traversed, and ravines now
and then crossed his path, com} elling him to make
wide (hm/rs to get around them.

All day he vainly searched for the person he had
secn.

 

CHAPTER XV.
A Foiwm) conmc-r.

Nsx'r morning Tom was posted on a lofty peak,
leuking cart-fully around him.

llaving slept well during the night, and having
made a breakfast of what was left of the pigeon he
had shot the day before, the boy was prepared for
fitirthcr exertions to iind the person he was in search
0 .

As he gazed in the direction where he had last
seen the man, he was surprised to behold again that

litterin knob, which had excited his curiosity on

ie prev ous morning.

There it was still far away among the loft peaks,

d splendor, and again, )etween

shining with azzlin
it and him, the lad eheld the man he was looking

for.
. He watched him steadily and noticed that he. was

gazing intently toward the glittering mass ahead—
that he appeared to he jotting down something in a
note-book, as it trying to take the exact bearings of
the shining ob cct.

“ I have it!‘ cried Tom. “ He wants to at to
that glitterin thing, which has excited his curiosit .
so asto see w mt it is. Now, then if I can find t,
too, we‘ll both stand a chance of meeting at the
same lace. That’s good! it gives me a fixed point
to ma 6 for, and I shall yet find myself face to time
with that mysterious man!"

In order to lose no time he at once started toward
the person he so longed to see.

Intervening rocks and trees soon hid him from his
gaze, but the boy kept resolutely on in the direction

where be supposed him to be. He had proceeded
seine distance when his further pro was was pre-
vented by a. torrent that rushed, braw ing and foam-
ing, down a sloping hight.

“How I‘m to cross this beats me!" thought the
boy; “and if I don‘t cross it I‘ll have to go miles out
of my way to get round it."

Look' along the torrent, he saw a place where
he thong t he might succeed in getting over by
ion ing along some bowlders that projwtcd here
ant there from the surface of the water.

“It‘ll be along jump, but here goes!" muttered
the boy as he started.

He got along well enough until he reached the
middle of the stream, when in tryinng sprin ' over
the space between two bowldcrs art or apar than
the. others, his foot slipped, and he was precipitated
into the torrent!

His situation was now one of great peril, for he
was can-led alanz by the rushinz waters with a force

  
 

 

i clan."

' .‘ i’ [mm the shore, in
_ take hold of my shoulders. and sip me out."

1 agree to be] me in a little ob
, Anything that's right l’il do."

 

:v Eli.” when

'teudw

Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

 

he could not resist. and. a little beyond, the torrent
plun ed'over a high rock, falling to its base upon
one er—a distance of thirty feet

The boy, realizing
clutch some of the projectingsrocks past which he
Was borne. In his struggles ll belt became loosen-

ed causing his pistol and knife to fall out, and his _
r] 0 also coming oil. he thus lost all his weapons.

He was close to the brink of the hight over which
the water tell when he was whirled against a bowl-
der which for an instant stayed his progress.

He caught at the bewlder, but his hand slipped
trom the slimy rock, and he was being carried on
when he saw another and smaller rock within reach

of his hands.

He clutched it, and to this he clung with stand-
cious hol while the force of the torrent drew his
legs over t e brink of the cataract.

Tom vainly strove to draw himself forward, so as
to get his anus about the rock, as this would aflord
him a better hold.

Every moment his gr became weaker, and he
was‘certain that he woul soon have to let go and
sutfiefinthle dreadful fate there seemed no way of
svo g

Suddenly, just as he felt that he could not keep
his hold two minutes longer he saw a man apgear
on the side of the torrent he had endeavore to
neach before he fell.

The man was an un repossessing person.

He wore a dirty but: skin shirt, and in a belt about
his waist was his onli weapon—a long knife.

On his head. whlc

ed to the ugliness of his visage,
He was almost as dark as a mulatto, had a. coarse
brutal mouth. a club nose, at low forehead an
bloodshot eyes ,
Instead of showing the least sympath for the

!boy or making any eflort wrescue him, he stran-

ger. stood with folded arms, grinning at him as if

. 'a o‘ymg his perilous situation.

om felt certain that this could not be the “magi-
” I cover you are, for God‘s sake help mel” he
“Kelp? What, ain't yer havin a nice bath?

Doesn‘t it feel good, this warm wcat er eh?"
- “ Don‘t joke about it," said Tom. “ fcannot hold

‘ en a minute longer and I shall be dashed-to death
0

on the rocks bel w. i

“ Don’t see what I kin do for yer." .

“Byjust walkin out on that rock that projects
nt of me, on can reach over,

“Well, perhaps I kin, but I don't know as I keer
to bother, 'cept on one condition which is that you
I hev before me."

‘ The man’s eyes twinkled. .
“It’s right enough to m thinkin‘, but as ther's no
time to lose, I may as we tell yer that it’s to help

. me track a. sartin person I want to put my knife in.

It’s a white man, understand. not an Injunl" .
'Tom shuddered. What sort of a person was this,
to make such a proposal! a
That he was a scamp, a villain of the vilest sort,
was evident.
“ Come, what do er say? I didn‘t mind owning
use I know that ‘ dead folks

Tom quickly made up his mind. He would pre-
be willing to help the rascal. in order not

only to save his life but also that of the person th

than seemed bent on destroy ?

in .
“#11 right," he shouted; ‘gl‘m willing to he 1)
o“ I!
_ y “ Done, then i“
‘ the edge of the pro
He reached over, seized the be under the shoul-
ders with  drew him

ed the fellow, as he ran out to
ting rock.

out upon the

his danger, tried in vain to r

, was covered w1th a shock of '
andgled black hair, was a round beaver cap, which

i " Now then, boy, I hev yer under 'my finger and
‘ thumb; You are my slave, to do everything as I

On 01'.

“I: won‘t be for long!" was Tom's mental com-
mon .

l As if reading his thoughts, the rui‘flnn continued:

“ Don‘t yer try an game on me. It’ll be the
worse for yer if yer o. Ther’ll be a knife in yer
heart the minute yer try to kick ag‘in’ yer fate, or
my name isn’t Ben Barbeck.“

T ‘ Well, tell me what you want me to do," said
om.

“ Now yer begin to talk. Ther‘s nothing like
threatenin' a boy. I hov always found it to work
about right."

“ Have you?" thought the lad. “I rather think
you‘ll be mistaken in this case.“

“ Do vnr see that rock away of! as fur as yer kin
look—that rock with the dead tree atop of it?" in-
quired the man, ointing far ahead.

“ I see it," rep ed Tom.

“ Well, I want yer to make fur that rock! Come,
go on—march .’ "

Tom moved forward, and, after a long and toil
some tramp, during which the boy‘s companion
ke‘pt close behind him, the two reached the rock.

Thar he is!” cried the man. pointing out the
figure of the person whom Tom had supposed to be
the “magician.” '

The latter stood upon a. lofty rock, intently agazing
toward the spot where the glittering knob h been
vmble, as if still looking for the shining object.

“ You see him?" said the man.

“ Yes,” answered Tom.

““ ell, do you know what he is after?”

“I believe it’s something that he is curious about
—something that glitters ahead of—"

“410i” interrupted Barbcclc, “ so you know about
it, too. I‘ll bet 111 head you were after that lump
of gold tool Thar s too many of us ufteri .”

" Gold i" said Tom.

“Yes, what kin that Elittering ball be but a lump
0’ gold, and it’s Barth ' that’s going to hev it—not
t‘other chap. 113’s got to knock under.”

“ Is it for that you want to kill him?"

“Most, but not altogether. You heard of the at-
tempt to rob the mail-coach from Montana several
years one?"

“1 think I did.“ .

“ Well, I was in that scrimmage with my son."

“ One of the robbers?" , a

“Right thar. I’ll own up. The passen ers i'ou’t

ard, and we had to run. My son was s at dead.

he of the passengers shot him.‘ It was the man
ahead. Now you kin see that it's naterall should
want to hev his‘ life."

“ W' y have you (put it of! so long?"

“Why!” growle Barbeck, “ because I hes fur
years been away. Some on us. me amenit'other.
was arrested bi Vigilantes. Some was ung an
some was banis ed, me among the last. But, arter
the thing had blown over a little, I contrived to
sneak back, and hyar I aln, determined to kill the
men that killed my son. That's what I call 5 nar‘.
But I want to make a sure thin of it, and t at’s
why, seein’ you, I thought of gittln‘ you to help me.
When we reach the chap, you are to turn his atten-
tion from me by talkin’ to him so as to give me a
chance to put my knife between his shoulders.
Come on 1" "

They moved toward the rock about half a mile off,
on which stood the “magician,” Barbee]: still com.
| pelhng the boy to keep in front of him.

“Remember, no tmuch’riyi‘file said. "The min-
ute yo’ulshow any sign of t, you‘ll git my hills in
1 yer ri s '
I Tom, however. was resolved to make an attempt
i

 

to save the life of the intended victim at any risk.
“ Thar! curse it! he’s out o‘ s‘ rht again!" growled
the miller: as the “ magician ' passed /from view
' hv deacon the elevation on the other side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9“

Little Buck. the Boy Guide. 83

 

The u‘vo tolled on, but they did nothatch another
glimpse of Mr. Temple that day.

At night the aused in a deep, rocky valley.

Barbeck p e some black-looking bread from his
wallet, and ave a piece to his companion.

“Thai/ll o fur you," he said. as he took out a
slice of venison for his own sup or.

When the meal was finish , Barbeck snatching
the coil of re that Tom still carried from his shoul-
ders, pointe to a rocky projection.

“ Sit down thari" he ordered.

" What for?" inquired the lad.

“ Never mind; e yer resist, you'll git this in yer
gimrd!"

And he flourished the knife.

Tom sat down by the rock. and the man lashed
him to it with the line, having length enough for him
to lie down.

Btl‘rNovl: you kin go to sleep, and so kin I." said

bec .
S reading out his dirty blanket, he stretched him-
se upon it, and was soon in a sound slumber.

CHAPI‘ER XVI.
'rox‘s BTRATAGEK.

Tun moment he was sure that his companion was
asleep Tom tried to free himself from his bonds,

He rubbed the rope against the rock in the hope
of thus seve. ing it, but in vain.

Finding that he could in no way clear himself
from the cords he finally lay down on the rubber

 

blanket, which he had been allowed to put under '

him and also fell asleep.

lien he awoke the sun was shining. Barbeck
had just risen, and was rubbing his eyes. He un-
fastened the lad‘s cords, and a. meal like the one of
the previous night was partaken of. '

Then the two, as on the previous day. toned among
cliffs and crags, searching for Mr Temple.

Reaching an elevated int, they saw still far
ahead of them. the glitter ng “ Eye of the Morning "
—tbat flashing ball of dazzling light, which Barbeck
had said was gold!

“We kin never git thar, in the world," cried the
man. “ Still I kin try, and its you are light and kin
clomb, Ishal set {ex-to 'skim: yer neck to reach
it—that is of we k n fin exuctlv whar the ‘farnal
place is! Hello! that’s our man!" he added, as the

' magician now made his appearance on a cliff, a

flange: of a mile on, between them and the gold
no .

In order to lose no time Bin-beck now made a
“straight track," as he termed it, for his intended

ctini.
Not once did the two lose sight of him as they pro-
ce ded

P .
At length they reached a rock border-infill: dee
{Ellie . which was now all that lay between t em an
r. am e. A
The escended into the valley. and were soon
climb 11;: the hight on the summit of which the
“ magician “ stood.
Tom felt his heart beat fast as they approached the
man he had so long been striving to reach
The moment was at hand for him to execute a
if: get-Egg formed in his mind for saving the life of
e .
, The latter did not bear the two coming, engrossed
as he was with the survey of the spot where the gold
knob had been visible, but from which it had now
Very];th lltlhlts usual nudge: mannefr. u" h d
as , ar—eas . 0 too as w ispere
 clutching Tom by the back of his hunting-

The boy slackened his pace; at the same moment
the magician, without looking around, commenced
to descend the rock on the other side.

Hurryin to the summit, the two could obtain in

“mm o ln's form, now and then ,as he climbed
own among a mass of rocks low t em.

'33:»! is our tyne," said Bar “ ll the

Tom descended rapidly but looking askanceat
his follower he saw t at ie was close behind, With
his drawn knife firmly grasped, to be used at any
sign of tranche on the part of the boy.

The latter rea ized that, to insure the safety of the
magician, it was necessary to ct rid of his compan-
ion ere the two should reach t 8 side of. the marked
victim. as otherwise, in spite of all his efforts to

revent it, Barbeck might succeed in accomplish-

! ngvhis Burpose.

1 ate ing his chance, the boy suddenly firetend-
ing to strike his feet against a rejection. 1e across
the path of iiarbeck, who, ere 0 could check him-\
self, stumbled against his body. and was thrown
over and beyond him with some violence.

Tom sprung up like lightning, and leaping down
the descent, uttered an ear-splitting yell to attract
the attention of the magician, who was nowsome
yards below him with only the top of his hat visible
above a rock.

lt chanced that Mr. Temple was. at that moment, ‘
close to a chasm, which sloped down among a mass
of tangled vines and bi-iers.

Startled by the sudden, unearthly yell behind
him, he made a movement as he turned which
brought his foot on the edge 01' the chasm. A piece
of loose rock giving way he slid down the side of

‘ the o enin among the vines and briers.

' As om ad not been where he could see how he

‘. had vanished, he was greatly surprised at his disap-

arance when he arrived at the place where be

ad last thought he would find him.

Meanwhile, above him he could hear the angry
shouts of Barbeck, as he rapidly descended the
chi! in search of him.

“ You youn raskili I’ll cut or heart out! A fine
trick you’ve p a ed me!" crie the infuriated man.
as he came on, ourishing his knife.

Tom swiftly scrambled down the higlit.

Finally he reached a. place where the rocks would
hid: him from his pursuer, and there he paused to'
res

He heard the man go pasthim, and peering from_
behind a rugged projection, he watched him until I
he was out of sight. '

“Now, then," muttered Torn, “ what can have be-
come of that m icimi? Magician he seems to be,
in reality, to vanish in such a. mysterious way."

He emerged from his hiding-place. and marched
for the person he was so eager to find, but was unp
successful.

Tired and hungry, the boy at sundown sat down

to rest.

A feeling of dismay came over him when he‘
thought of his situation. , anrc he was, in thu vu'y
heart of those savage mountains, with DOlhlL re. ,
maining in his wallet but a packiire of salt, wit 1 no ‘
rifle—no weapons of any kind to enable him to prom

curegame.

The scent he had obtained from Barbeck .
while he was his company, had left him half
tarnished. - ‘

:zl'na wgrse on than l‘ve been yet," he muttered
— an —

He was interrupted b the she re rt of a rid
not far cit, and, looki‘irig in tli:p dir’eoction of the; .
sound, he saw the smoke of the piece drit‘ tin from, »
a deep pine thicket, not a uarter of amiie o .

“Some hunter!" thong t the lad. “ I ho it '
mag Brows to be a white one. as I’m in a sad p hi:
to a into the hands of an Indian now."

He rose and moved untoward the thicket, but so

    

dlmcult was the. way that he was nearly half an hour
in an'ivin Within fli'ty ya ds of it. .

Throug the shadows 0 the trees he fancied he .
could see a than-e gliding ofl. He watched it kc-cn- \ '
ly, and, tinally, as it crossed an o n glade and also ‘.
appeared from his view hi the s indows beyond, he 3‘
recognized it as that of the “ magician."

He shouted with all with!» hoping to attract!
the man’s -attention,'b1it eiiorts were unsucess‘b
nil:  “musician ‘ did not return. from moved“

 

 

 

 

84

Little Buck, the Boy Guido.

 

on. and entered the thicket, just as the shadows of l
twilight were gathering about him. As he looked
around him, he saw the remains of a black-tailed
door, which Mr. Temple had shot and the best
part of which he had taken with h in. There was
enough left, however. to last Tom for some days, if
properly prepared. With a small jack-knife he still .
gossessed he contrived to cut the meat into chunks. l

lien, finding some dry fagots, he heaped them to« l
gather, and, with some matches, which he had left

n the tight, waterproof match-safe he had brought
from home, he lighted them.

He roasted the chunks of meat, first salting then
thoroughly from the supply of salt which was in his l
wallet, and intln's way no soon had his revisions ‘
prepared for use. He made a hearty me , and hav-

ng quenched his thirst, from a spring, near the
place, he put out the fire.

Thinking that Barbeck might be lurking in the
vicinity, and that he might have seen the light of
tho llamcs Tum now moved 011 some distance from
the spot, that the rufiinn might not succeed in find-
ing him. He had reached the edge of the thicket,
wlwn, far ahead of him, he saw aglcam of light.

“ It is the “ magician " rcparing his meat as I’ve
just done " muttered t a ho . “ Wonder if I
could reach that place in tho dar '."

He made the attempt, but having narrowly es-
caped a fall from a big 1 rock he had climbed, and
no longer seeing the fire, he thought it best to halt
for the night.

SRreadiug his rubber blanket on a moss-covered
roc ', he soon fell into a doc? slumber.

He awoke at sunrise and ookcd around him. No
human being greeted his gaze.

After breakfast, he ascended a lofty peak near
him, hoping to again et sight of the gold knob,
thinking he might see e “magician " at the same

one.

There it was sure enough, that glittering orb—

leaming still far away among steep cliiIs, which
ookcd as if they could never he climbed.

This time, however, he watched in vain for the
pOi'son be searched for.

“ Well. ncver mind,”he thought, “if I can only
gfit to that knob, Ifcel sure that I shall meet him
t rrel

He at once set out. For two days he made every
exertion to reach the shining prize.

On the morning of the third (lay, he discovered
that only a deep, rocky valley Sc arntcd him from
the clills among which shone the nob of goldl

CHAPTER XVII.

 

 

IN A TRAP.

Amuonon so near the golden prize, yet Tom was 1

puzzled to know how he was to got to it.

The cliffs appeared to be too steep to climb. The
one on the other side of the valley, rising, (liparent-
1y, to a higlit of two hundrcrl foot, prescntc on the
gin-face of its rocky wall scarcely a hold for hand or

not.

“ Perha there may be some other way to get to
the top 0 it," muttered the boy.

lie went down into the valley. and soon discovered

a gully extending from the edge of the cliil. IIo ‘

followed this rugged passage, which described a
gradual ascent, until he was obliged to halt at the
cad of it, where it terminated at the edge of a deep
c asm.

He looked up at the cliff on his ri ht which formed
one side of the lly. It was a peri ous one to mount,
affording scant old, most of the way, but the boy
resolved to attempt it.

The to of the peak was about seventy feet above
him, \\' Icn half-way up, the lad standing on a nar-
row ledge, from which there was some danger of
his Hlippiifiz could not reach the next projection,
which we d have enabled him to gain a part of the
wall where the climbing was easy. He thou ht of
his belt, and taking it off, he made asort o noose
at one end by drawmz this and through the buckle.

i
J

Throwing up the noose, he brou ht It over the rocky
roicction: then, seizing the be t with both hands,
a ( rew himself up, and lantin his feet ina niche,

succeeded in reaching he desxred support. The

rest of the way to the summit was easy, and Tom
soon found himself upon it.

Although now probably not many yards from the
gold knob, yet he looked in vain for it. He must
wait until the next morning when the rays of the
sun, at a certain hour. would strike the precious
mass so as to make it glitter.

From his lofty position the boy again took a sur-
ver of the country behind him.

n the distance, descending a cliff, he saw a figure,
which he thought he could recognize as that of Bar-
beck and about a quarter of a mile ahead of him, he
beheld the "magician."

“All three of us bound for the gold knob," mut-
tered the boy. “ One thin is sure—I have the start,
and will get there first, so t at the ruman, Barbeck
will not win the prize, after all. But let me see if l
can’t ct still nearerto it. I will go down this cllfl!
and 0 mb the one beyond, which I think will bring
me closer to the knob."

The cliff was not hard to descend, nor was the
o positc one difficult to mount. Tom flnall gained
t 1e top of it and resolved to proceed no further until
next morning’s sun should again show him the ex-
act situatiou of the knob.

That day and the following night Tom kept an
occasional lookout both for the “ magician " and for
Barbeck.

When morning came he gazed around him in all
directions. but he could see no sign of either of the
two men he looked for.

He now watched for the precious knob.

The sun had risen, but it was not yet high enough
to show him the objcct. At length, however, it
burst upon his sight! A cry of joy esca ed him, for
the prize gliltcred upon the summit of he opposite
peak}; find only this would be be obliged to ascend to
reac .

He descended the hight he occupied, and finally
climbed the cliff before him. Arrived u on the
summit, he found himself amen a mass 0 rocks,
piled in fantastic confusion a 1 about him. He
searched eagerly for the knob which had appeared
:3 gofigarge as a man‘s head, but he was unable

n .

“The sun is too high now to strike it," he mut-
tered. “Iwill find it tomorrow."

He watched for it next morning, but to his chagrin
and surprise, he could now see nothing of it.

In vain he waited; he saw nothing but dull, dead
rocks, which reflected no gleam as the bright rays
fell a n them.

Hit er and thither he moved about the summit,
looking ever where, but in vain.

What had come of that great ball of gold? It
seamed all at once to have disa ipeared forever.

Weary and disappointed, the ad sat down to rest
on a rock in front of a sort of rugged alcove near
which he had been standing. lie fumbled n his
wallet for something to eat, but not a morsel of
food was left there.

“ The ‘magician’ must come before long,“ he
thought, “ and as he is well supplied with provisions
I shall be relieved."

He then fastened his Rex-chief in a crevice of the
rock that overhung the alcove.

“That signal wi fetch him here," thought Tom.
"It will arouse his curiosity to see this where the
gold knob was, and it will hurry him along. Per-

aps it will hurry Barbcck, too. Well, if 0 gets
here first, I can easily keep clear of him until the
one I want to see comes up. By jingol how hungry

I am! Wonder if I can‘t find seine berries to eat. ’

He descended from the hight, and when half-we
down he noticed some huckleberrics on a bush. 9
parth of them greedily, but he looked in vain for
more. He found' lower down some pennyroyal

growing in a niche near a money rock. The herb

 

.

 

h

 

was promptly plucked and swallowed by the ban

lioy. AH Li- continued [in Hi art-h for something else,
he IlOiit'l‘Il that tho cliil‘ ho had ascended could he

reached by a narrow assage which prohalil com-
menced far to the rig it of the first elevation e had
ascended. Had he known this lil'fOl'F, it would have
saved him from the tiresome and wrilous exertions
he had made to climb the difficult tight. He found
some more herbs. which he chewed and swallowed.
They made him so drowsy that he could not keep
his eyes open. and ere he was aware of it, he was
lying asleep in a hollow near the passage, at the
base of the elevation.

He was rudely awakened by some rson shaking
him Violently by the shoulder. n opening his
lelyes he behe d the repulsive face of Barbeck above

In

“ Curse you i" cried the man, fiercely. " So I hev
found you at lasti A retty trick you played me."
he added. as be aimed he point of his nite at the
lad‘s heart, while holding him down by the collar
with his other hand. ‘ Now, then, what do you
s‘ ose kee me from putting this knife in you? I'll
te tvigu—i is that lump of gold!"

“ id?" re ated Tom. scarcely knowing, in his
confusion at eing so suddenly awakened, what he
sau .

“ Yes, that gold knobl Tell me what you‘ve done
with it or I‘ll kill you sure‘s you're born 1"

“I have not seen lt—have not found it yet," an-
swered Tom.

“ Thor’s a lie! The knob was to be soon shinin‘ on
top of the cliff ‘fore you got thar, but, alter that. it
vanished. Of course you know where it is. You‘ve
hid it somewhere.”

“ No. l have not. I have not been able to find it."

“What‘s yer signal doing on top of the chi! then?
—that white handkercherl’ You put it there fur
that ‘magician ‘ chap, to let him know you’d found
the gold and to bring him here."

In vain Tom continued denyin he had found the
knob. Barbeck told him he in . When, springing
back, he pulled some heavy bowlders down over the
entrance of the hollow.

“ You are not oing to kee me shut up here!"
cried Tom. “I w starve to cathi"

" That's jest it," was the answer. “I‘m going to
starve you into telling me what you‘ve done with the
knob. When you are ready you can call me. I'm
fifing now to watch fur the ‘ magician '—to lay fur

'm, and of I don‘t contrive this time to fix his
name yer like.

oose for him, you can call me an
t you ve done

a shall never l‘ara from you w
with the recious gold lump. ’

So an g the man we] ed 011', while Tom who
found t at he could not move the heavy bowldcrs.
watched him through a crevice.

“ I shall starve to death here," muttered the boy
in disma . " Only one thing can save me, and the
will be t 0 failure of this man‘s attempt on the life
of the ‘ magician.’ In that case I can, 1 hope, make
myself heard b him, and get hel from him.“

As he spoke a sudden] starte on beholding the
grim figures of three Blue 00!. Indians emerge from
the passage leading to the base of the cliff. The
savages came and seated themselves close to the
bowlders over the entrance of the hollow occupied
by the boy.

They made a table of the very bowlder beneath
the crevice through which he ad been looking.
spreading upon it some venison, of which they com-
menced to partake.

Tom wistfull e ed the meat. The Blackfeet. as
soon as they  finished their meal walked off,
leaving some fragments of venison on the rock. No
sooner were they out of sight than Tom pulled these
shoes into the hollow with his fingers and greedil y

evoured them. The were the tougher parts of the

venison. which the ndians had not cared for, but

never before had meat tasted so sweet to the boy.
Much refreshed b his meal Tom made renewed
exertions to remove {h

e bowlders from the entrance

A

Little Buck. the Boy Guido.

 

, was held to the we

  

25

of the hollow. Finnlly it chancod that the edge of
the lower liOWltlt‘l‘ eruinhicd, thus cousin" the llp<
per one to fall. The boy emerged from the hollow
and looked carefully about him. He thought. the
Blackfeet might still he lurking near, and he there-
fore moved cautiously, keeping behind a ridge as
he made his way toward the summit of the elitr.

Where was Barbeck?

Probably lying carefully hidden somewhere
among the rocks to escape being discovered by the
Indians.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
run com xxon.

Ton kept on toward the summit of the cliif, which
he ilnally reached.

lie crouched among the rugged masses there,
where he found his kerchiei’, which had been blown
down from the crevice in which he had put it. He
hoped that the Blackfeet had not. seen the signal; if
they had, they would be sure to come to the top of
the elevation. He crept into the alcove, and there he
sat. kee ing a careful lookout over the edge of a
rock in rent of him.

Once he fancied he saw, for a moment. the heads
of the Indians above some rugged masses near the
passage leading to the base of the hight, but he was
not sure as the shades of night now were closing.

All through that night the boy kept a good look-
out from the alcove. His long sleep in the (lay-
time madc him feel wakeful, while the icon he had
eaten had restored to him his strength for the pres-
ent.

At dawn he could see nothing of the lndians or of
Bat-beck. Just at sunrise he beheld two forms afar
oil’ moving to the southward

“ There the are! two of the lndinns. at any rate,
and I don’t t iiuk the other one can be far from
them. Now that they have gone, I am again in dun-
ger from Bat-heck."

As yet, however, there was no sign of the rnman.

“ W hen he does come, I will try the (fleet of
these,” he muttered. looking at some bowldt'l‘s near
him. " I can roll these dean and they will keep
him back for a. while. at least."

Just then Tom saw the sun rise above one of the
mountain peaks and our its lurid light directly into
the alcove. upon his ace.

He moved a little to one side to avoid the hlindin
rays, and, at the same moment, as he half turne ,
an exclamation of joy and so: use escaped him!

On the back wall of the a cove. a large mass of
granite, of which the boy had not previously taken
much no ice, was now glittering like a ball of flrel
Jets of 'sparkling light seemed to issue from all sides
of it. and, in the uivcring mlianec, Tom could
easily detect the re dish-yellow luster oi’ goldl

“ hound! foundl" he cried. as he sprung in front
of the shinin mass to take a better survey of it.

But now t e luster seemed at once to leave the
rugged ball. which looked like a mass of bri ht
granite. with streaks and chunks of a coppery ue
adhering to it.

" It must be gold," muttered Tom. “but had I not
just seen how it shone, I Would not have noticed it
at alli What. in the name of Christopher, keeps it,
all at once, from shining?"

As he spoke 'l‘om c ianced to step aside, when
again, as before the rugged piece of granite was one
brilliant blaze of ii htl

“I have it nowi‘ cried the boy, “it was my get-
ting between atflnd the sun, which spoiled the lilteri
Yes. and that is why I was not able to iind it wrote.
Every time I got in front of it. I shut out the sun’s
light from it, so that the lump did not shine, and I
only saw adeud mass of granite with nothing ar-
ticular about it to draw :11 attention. My kerc lief
bunglin down over the a cove, also concealed the
brig t 'nob."

. Looking closely at the m which was about the
Size of an ordinary mafia, om rceived that it
of e alcove y a very narrow

  

 

26

Little Buck. the Boy Guide.

 

stem. Tho idea of trying to detach it from the wall
now m‘currt-(l to the lad, and, picking up one of the
bowldr-rs hour, be $1 ruck the stem with it. He was
obliged to repeat the blow several times ere the knob
gave way, but. no sooner had he dislodged it, than

e regretted having done so.

The “ magician," no longer able to see the glitter-
ing ball, would probably now either turn off in some

t er direction, in the idea. that he was oing the

wrong way, or would give up all further at mpts to
find t a shining object of his search.
“ Yes, that was a bad move of mine,” muttered

the boy, as he sat down by the precious lump, scan-
ning it closely.

Except where it was streaked and veined with
chunks of the yellow metal, and plated with bright
mica, the knob was of pure white granite, which, in
some laces. looked almost trans arent.

“ W at shall 1 do with it?" the ad mentally asked
himself. “It is too hea for me to carry."

After some reflection, e concluded to conceal it
in some cleft of the rocks, carefully marking the
spot so that he could find it at any future time. He
would then watch for the “m cian " and if he
saw him near enough. shout to h m, informing him
of his discovery, which he thought would revent
further attempts on the man‘s art to avoid .im.

Pushing the knob out of t e alcove Tom was
about to carry out his intention, when to his dismay,
he beheld Barbeck dimblng toward him up the ele-
vat on.

The rui‘flan‘s gaze was fixed upon the valuable
prize. and his eves shone with a fierce, greedy ex-
pression.

“ Ho, ho! youn sterl” he cried “ so I have caught
on in the act! out be skeere , though. I won’t
urt yer, if you est quietly give up that piece of

gold to me. and 0 ear out!"

Tom however, knew better. He knew enough of
the villain's character to be sure that he meant to
kill him, that he might “tell no tales " as he had
formerly expressed it. In fact, the fr low held his
knife firmly grasped in his right hand. and if ever
“ murder " was written on alman‘s face, it was to be
seen in the evil expression of this person‘s visage.

Unarmed as he was, the be at once had recourse
to the bowlderl he had prev ousl placed in readi-
ness near the edge of the steeply- oping declivity.

He rolled them down toward his approaching
enemy, who had several narrow escapes from being
struc by them.

' You cursed young rat. I'll cut yer to pieces
when i git up tharl" he shouted.

Alrea he was half-way up, and Tom bad now
used all e bowlders.

Although he was but a boy and felt certain that
this strong miflan with his nife must soon over-
péwverl him, yet he braced himself for a desperate
s rugg e.

There was no way for him to retreat, even had he
been disposed to do so, for on the other side the
precipice was too steep for him to descend.

Every moment the man drew nearer. Only about
six ards se arated the two, when. all at once, an
Ind rose rom behinda rock, ust in the rear of
the villain, and raising his toms. awk, aimed it at
his head.

This savage was evidently one of the three Black-
feet who on the day before had visited the place.
He had contrived to lurk somewhere among the
flocks, on the watch for Barbeck, unknown to the

t er.

The tomahawk flew whistling from his hand. and
would have split the skull of he intended victim,
had not that rson stooped at the instant, in his
eflorts to clim over a protruding rock in his way.

Turning quickly on hearing the noise of the in- -

strument, he and t e savage faced each other. And
now Tom was the witness of a desperate conflict be-
tween the two. The Indian had no rifle, and he at
once drew his knife. The combatants closed in a

 

knives. that flashed glittered and clashed together
as the were rapidly wielded. The boy shudderetl
to see he blades plunged into the warm flesh, again
and again, to be withdrawn reddened with blood.
As many as twenty blows had been given and re-
ceived, ere Barbeck contrived to drive his weapon to
the hurt in the heart of his adversary, who with a
grunt, then dropped dead at his feet!

The knife of the rui‘iian fell from his rasp. He
had received several terrible thrusts, an placing a
hand on his side, where there was a ghastly cut, he
fell ugon the rock, the blood flowing fast from his
woun s.

“ Water! water!" groaned the sufferer. " For
God‘s sake! come here and help me a little! I‘m
past hurting ye, now 1”

Tom was soon at his side, kneeling down by him.

“ Thar‘s water in the canteen at my side," gasped
the man. “ Quick, give me some i"

The boy raised the canteen to the speaker's lips.

“ l'm goin‘ " he said, as soon as he had taken a
draught. “ t‘s all up with me, now! Them cussed
Blackfeet has had a grudge ag‘in‘ me ever since
they found I cheated ‘em about the gall Somehow
they got on my trail this time, and now it’s all up
wit me!"

His breath came with dimculty; he was fast dy-

g.

“ Hyar, boy,“ he continued, in a low. husky voice.
“ Jest ut yer hand inside my hunting‘shirt. Thar
you'll nd a paper!"

Tom did as requested, drawing forth a dirty sheet
of folded writing-paper.

“Now, then, 1 want yer to do me a favor. Do yer
see the direction on that paper?"

“ Yes!" cried Tom, with surprise. “It is Bncx
Bowxsl”

“ This Buck Bowie is a young hunter and trapper,
often to be found at some 0’ the settlements. near
hyar. Now you’ll do a dyin' man a favor, of you‘ll

romise to hunt fur that chap and put this paper in
his hands. It‘s of great importance to him—some-
thin’ about his sister—a gal who was lost years
ago! Will ou promise?"

Tom had seems as pale as death. Never before
had such terrible remorse racked him as now.

“Buck Bowie is deadl" he gasped. “He and I
fought a duel, a {ow days ago, and i killed him!"

But Barbeck card only a part of the sentence.
All at once, with a convulsive upward movement of
the body, and a gurgling in his throat, he expired!

 

CHAPTER XIX.
A DISAPPEAEANOE.
Fan some moments Tom Temple stood looking
gpwn at the dead bodies of Barbeck and the In-

an.
Then he thrust the a rthe n ma ha
hifiinttggis pocsl‘tlelt.: Deb km 8 n dgiven
e sa own e t e eenest anguish at the
thought of in; torme'igmena, whose death he had

caused.

“ No use of this paper now," he mutter .J sadly.
“Perhaps it contains the information that his sister
is living! Oh, what have I done! It is terrible!
temblel"

For some minutes the boy forgot all about the
preciousnglold knob lying so near him.

Gradu
ful effort, these flclggngs of distress, and turn

attention to the p] .

Rolling it to t e base of the h ht, he pushed it
into a hollow over which he pile several of the
bowlders be ad thrown down. The rock was one

I of peculiar formation, a slender column risin

death-tussle. striking at each other with their long ,

I
, I

above the hollow, with a to not unlike the head 0

a buffalo. The be thought c I ould be able to find
this rock at some. uture time, especially as the peak
at the base of winch it stood, was higher than any
of those which surrounded it. and bore upon its top
waged masses which. seen from below and from I

y, however, he shook off, with a power-
ed his.

Little Buck. the Boy Guide.

27

 

further distance, bore some resemblance to the

dome of a temple.

Now nscondin , Tom took possession of the dead
man’s knife, an also of the liidian‘s tomahawk.
110 also transferred from Barbeck‘s wallet to his
own such provisions as he found there, enough at
least to last him for several days.

Then climbing to the top of the peak, 116100de ‘ he muttered.

for the “ magician."

At first he saw no sign of him, but chanclngto
turn his eyes to the southward he suddenly beheld
him, standing on the ledge o a precipice, about
half a mile 011’, gazing intently toward the summit
of the clitf occupied by the lad.

Shouting and wavin his kerchief, Tom endeav-
ored to attract his at ention. Evidently the man
saw him, but he made no response to his motions,
except to shake his head once in the negative.

Finally the “ magician ” descended from his posi-
tion, and the boy did not again see him until next
morning. He was now on a peak to the eastward
of the one he had previously occupied. again watch-
ing for the glittering knob. He seemed to think he
must have been mistaken about its location, for his
gaze was turned away from Tom, as if he expected
to see the knob in that direction.

As before, Tom vain] motioned and signaled to
draw him that way. e stood long, scanning the
cliffs about him, as soon as the sun was above the
hights; when, not seeing the glittering object
looked for, he made a movement of chagrin and
disappointment. A few minutes later Torn saw him
descend the night, to soon disappear among the
rocks.

\Valching keenly, the boy afterward ca ht, now
and then, aglim so of his form as he move

"He is proba ly goin back to his home in the
mountains " thought the d. “ By following I may
overtake ."

He at once commenced to descend the cliff, and
keeping on in the direction where he had last ob-
Sll’l'vegli the “magician,” he finally saw him, for
a ma .

As Tom had thought was the case, Mr. Temple
had given up for the present, any furtherattempt
to find the gold knob.

“This is the fourth time,“ he muttered, as he
pursued his way, “thatI have been balked. That
rold bull seems to be a sort of Will-o’-the-wisp.

ill I ever find it? Months a 0, while on another
hunt for it, it seemed to me t at I was on the very
clilf where I should have found it, and yetI could
see notliin of it! It is stran 6, very strangel“

As may e surmised, Mr. cm lo, on the occasion
of which he spoke, had been one to the treasure
ho was so anxious to find, but his gettin between it
and the sun was what had prevented his iscovering
it, for the shadow thrown over llie granite ball by
the roof of the alcove, had given to it the appear-
ance of a mass of dull, valueless rock. It was only
by the merest accident that Tom Temple, as shown,
had discovered the prize. It had chanced that he
snrered the alcove, oiherwise he would never have
made the discovery, for the entrance was so narrow
that any one in front of it must come between the
light and the valuable knob. Inside, the alcove
Widened, wording room for a erson to ste to one
side of the precious mass, an thus it was hat the
boy had found the golden treasure.

‘ It is time I returned," continued Mr. Temple.
“ When I dropped into that chasm, 1 bruised my arm
so that’I can now hardly use my rifle for shooting
E .’

The chasm he alluded to was the one into which
helliad fallen, on that day, when so startled by Tom's
ye .

He descended about ten feet, when he was caught
b a mass of tough vines, andas he strug led among
t em grasping at the stems, his feet touc ed a rock.

 

This roved to be the bottom of what he had sup-
g‘: to be a deep chasm, but which, in realit , was
us shownto be tuners shallow cleft. E0 owing ,

i

the. course of the bottom of the cleft. which do-
sci'ibod a. gradual descent, Mr. Temple had finally
cmerged into a valley, and kept on his way, hoping
he would not a ain c troubled by the person who
was searching or him. That this was a boy he had
known by the sound of the voice calling him, and be
resolved to kee clear of him, if possible.

It must be t e fellow who imagines lie is my son,“
and so disco “I 113111 tryi tobllicee louttgf hits si lit,

ura e in an o e in 0 nc
thgfssattlemgnt.’g g g to
erwar when he saw the s n on the cliff.
and behold the boy motioning to Em, e was much
annoyed, and, as shown, he would not go to him.

Now as he moved on toward his mountain home,
Eleni-11:) eed he had shaken at this troublesome young

Little did he imagine that the latter, dodging about
among the rocks, or behind him. was endeavoring
to‘keep him in sight and to overtake him.

Glad enough Iwill‘be to get back to my teles-
cope, he continued still talking to himself. “ That
isn good instrument, and it has been my salvation
With the Indians. How fortunate that 1 found it—
there in the mountain cave, left because it was out
of order 1) United States surve ors. At first I did
not think could repair it, but t ere is nothing like
perseverance, and, at last, with a cod deal of

rouble, I managed to fix it well enou , at any rate,
to suit in purpose. As usual, when llook through
it again, ex act to see that tantalizing gold knob
shining as br ght as ever!“

In a cougle of days Mr. Temple found himself with-
in four or ve miles of his mountain home. Coming
toward him he was then surprised enough to see his
deformed assistant—Mr. Jameson.

The latter wore an eager look on his hideous face;
hise‘ylels seeming about 0 burst from their sockets.

‘ ere is it?" he cried, as he came up.

‘ Where is what?"

“ The treasure—that gold prize—that glittering

knob you went after!"

“ My usual luck," wled Mr. Tern lo. " When I
got near the place w it ought to , I could see
nothing of it. '

“ You are jestingi” cried Jameson.

“I feel like anything but Jest ," answered Mr.
Tom le. “ A few more oonfoun ed useless trips
like his one will upset me."

“ You have not got the knob?"

“ Got lt—nol" roaied Mr. Temple in an ill humor.
“ You seem surprised."

” I have good reason to be. If on have not that
gold knob. some one else has it, or i has dropped out
of siglhtl"

“ hat do you mean!“

“I mean that it can no lo r be seen thro h the
telescope. I have looked on looked, but in v "

“ Nonsense!"

“ It is so, I tell youi"

“Pooh! you have pointed it the wron way. Wait
until I look through 1:, and I will soon 5 ow you the
direction of the knob. Then. unless you turn blind
before that. ou‘ll see it fast enough. '

Jameson 5 00k his head.

“ You'll be convinced when you look yourself," he
said. “ But speakin of bein blind reminds me of
that boy, who seem to thin he was your son. I
sent him off several days ago, so that 011’“ not
again be troubled by him. So far from is having
lost an eye, both of his eyes are onlyxfiw bright. lie
is a”keen fellow—a determined y, I can tell
you.

“ 1: do you mean by those words—‘ losing an
eye 7’ " inquired Mr. Tem 16.

" 1Rid you not tell Lino a that your son had lost an
eye

“No: it is your deafness which has caused 'you to
make this mistake. I said he was cross—e ed.

“Ohl Well. at any rate, I am sure boy has
no such imperfection?

 

 
 

\ .

 

    

2.3!

kiuil), Mr. Tom; e had his eye at the tclesoope.

Then he uttered a. cry of surprise.

His assistant had been right. The gold knob was
no longer in sight.

CHAPTER XX.
A mmmo mscovnnv.

Ton Trauma had succeeded in keeping the “m -
clan “ in sight the first day after be commenced 0
follow him, and also for a art of the second. but
there were so many obstruc ions in his way that he
had been unable to overtake him. In the afternoon
of the second day he lost sight of him.

He kept steadil on however, and finally, by the
appearance of t e crags and cliffs about him, he
knew he was somewhere near the place whence he
:had been conveyed to the canoe, as described. a lew

days before.
ii at once he shuddered. He was passing the

I’ rocky ravine into which Buck had fallen, after being

, shot, on the day of the duel.
Twilight was closing about him, and as the con-
science-stricken boy looked at the shadows falling
,« near the ravine, he could almost imagine l e saw the
ghostly form of the young trapper near hi .
“Hence, what's that?" he muttered, scein in
realityaform draw itself up on the edge 0 the
. ravine from a ledge beneath, on which it had been
crouching. There was no answer. and the boy gave
. a. cry 0 terror as the figure, with a wild whoop,
bounded toward him.
The lad saw it plainly enough now. It was the
form of a fierce Blackfoot. holding upraised a toma-
hawk, which he was about hurling an the head of

Ix ‘ the youth.

The latter stooped just in time to avoid the mis-
sile, and drawing the tomahawk which. as revious-
1y mentioned, be now had in his possession, e threw
,it with all his mi ht at the. savage. '

V- The Indians 0 course. have a certain dexterous
\way of throwing this wen n, so that it will strike a
toe blade foremost, but on had had no practice
of this kind. Instead, therefore of the blade‘s
striking the Indian. it was the other side which came
'in contact with his skull.

He dropped like a stone on the hard rock, having
been knoc ed senseless by the blow. At the same
moment Tom heard other yells and whoo s behind,
him, and could see the outlines of due figures
movln toward him among the rocks! The oy took
to his ieels, until, finall , stumbling and falling, he

 

‘4 x struck his forehead aga nst a rock with force enough

to almost stun him. The savages although they
,could not now see him through t e gloom, were
close behind him. and as he sat confused and bewil-
dered. making no attem t to rise. they must soon
.have been li‘llpon him, h not some one seized him
. b ders,.and dragged him gulch-1y forward
.- into a hut, stew (set from the spa where he had

ea. .
‘ it was Iinols‘s mother—the old Indian squaw, who
, had thus come to Tom's assistance.

The moment he was in the hut, she closed the

.door.
“ Lie still,” she said. “ and Indians go by."
A moment later, peerln through an opening in
. front at the hut. she saw t e outlines of the savages

‘4
9
o
I
b‘
o

 

‘ ,, v as they went rushi past

n .
(‘ “‘ You have s%ve(§ my life, Mokatook," said Tom,
gratefully. “W y have you helped me, when it is
your tribe who want my scalp?"
“ Mokatook not want see boy lose his scalp,” she
fizzled. ‘gdntglalrliot wanii'fiiriolr“ magic-Kan, eltl'ig;
mu 3 ere un o atoo l 0 him
“951331113 t l "I m I be. h e
' no eaveun veseent em clan.”
. I “Never can see him." ~ 8“
,- “ Where is Linola?"
“ Don‘t know. Think not far from here."
“Would like to see her.“ I '

Little Buck, the spy Guide.

Next morning. at the usuan hour ror seeing me i
i :

 

 

‘ lamp on a rude table. In one corner of thigaaépart-
‘, {neati reclining on a. mattress. his h

owe
. girl. who kneeled by his side, was the
‘. per Budd Bowie, whom Tom thought

    

/': ' * 

 

“White boy better not see. Trouble enough

. already. Linola not want to see more because make

trouble.“

“ Mokatoo will you do me a favor?"

“What the 0y want?"

" You can go to the ‘ magiciani" "

“ Mokatook go there sometimes.“

“ Will you take me to him? I have some news for
him—good news which he would be glad to hear."

“ Magic-man not want to see white boy. Moira-
took not can take him there!" ,

“Then, if you will go there tor me,’ I will send a
message to him. As soon as he gets that, he will be
glad enough to see me."

“Ittl‘s well. Mokatook will go tell him what boy
wan .

“ Well, then, go and tell him thatI have found
what he has been looking for—the gold knob."

“Knob!” said the old squaw, looking perplexed.

“ Yes—«the com) KNOB—(inu‘t forget. ’

Then he took from his pocket the paper which
Ben Barbeck had intrusied to his care.

“Take this to him, too. In case anything should
happen to me while you are gone—I mean if your
people should find me here—it would be best for the
mailman to have the paper."

'1‘ e woman took the folded sheet.

Then, having covered Tom with some matting in
such a way that he could keep himself concealed
under it. if the savages should enter the but, and
bidding him remain in that sition during her ab-
sence Mokatook left her habitation. ,

An our later she returned. v’

“ Well?" indiuer 'l‘oxn, “did you tell the magician
I had found t to gold knob?"

“ Me tell Linola, and Linola tell ‘magle-man.’
Me gave paper to Linol too."

“ b, she was there, t en?”

“She near house where magic-man live. She so
to him. When she come back, she say magic-man
must see the white boy. Sent for white boy to

comel‘

"At lasti" cried Toml joyfully, “at last we shall
meet."

“Come. Mokatook take boy there. Indians all
other side of mountain. Now it is a good time."

Tom was soon out of the hut. following his guide.
Dim as the li ht was, Mokatook was of course so
familiar with t e locality that she had no diificulty
in finding her way.

At length, havmg ascended to the to of a rock.
she rolled aside a loose bowlder, whic had cou-
cealed an insignificant opening, just large enough
for one person to pass through.

“ You come after Mokatook,” said the woman, as
she entered the o ning.

Tom followed, 0 fin himself in a sloping. rocky
pas e, so low that he was obliged to stoop as he
move on. At length Mokatook, enterin a hollow
at the termination oi the usage, w along a
reclapath which descrl a adual ascent.

" this is the secret path 1‘ the ht Tom.

All at once he saw the gleaming o a light ahead,
and on turnin the angle formed bya projectitgg
rock, he beh d a scene which was well calcula

' to excite his astonishment.

Directly before him was the o

ning. leading into
a small, comfortably-furnish h

cave, lighted y a

with ll-
on the arm of Linola. the beautiful Ind an
oung trap-

had shot
and killedl

The lad started back with a cry of surprise.

Both Linola and Buck.
to see the intruders.

The girl, blushing, rose from her kneeling Tpos-
tare. w ile Buck, s tting up and staring at om.
Wits?" “do a 113?? mi 1": last “ I kin trul

“ 0a cm e an I. . say
I'm asslad tomyouasyouars to mmei ain‘t

 

hearing him, now looked up,

 

 

 

Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

29

stand thar, glaring so at me! I'm not a ghost, I kin
asshore you i"

As he spoke he pointed to the remains of a goodly
re st on a plate near the mattress.

‘ Thar‘s some of my work." he mldcd—J‘ a pound
of feed was tuck in by this child an hour a o"

“ But what does it mean?" cried Tom. “ thought
on were dead—that your body lay at the bottom of
he ravine. I am sure I saw you fall into it when I

shot on."

“ es: but in the fust place, your bullet didn‘t
strike whar it could kill. It hit me jest above the
hip, and passed ofl', slanting through the flesh. In
the next place. I didn't fall more‘n six feet. though
the leaves and vines hid me from your sight. I fell
on a mossy shelf of rock projecting out from the
side of the ravine. what I must hev struck the edge
'If the rock hard enough to take away my senses.
When I came to I still found myself lying thar. I
tried to git up, but thar seemed to a be a fifty-
pouud weight in my hip-socket, and I couldn‘t
use.

“ I must hev staid thar the whole day, when I
heard some one ggssing, and called. '

“ It roved to that deformed chap, who at last,
with nola’s help and by means of a. rope, got me
out. They brought me to this cave. whnr. thanks
to the good car' hev had I'm almost able now to
get up and 'vyvalk. Llnola has been an angel of kind~

ness me.

“ So I should think." said Tom, dryly—not forget
ting he had seen Linola with the young trapper‘s
head pillowed on her arm.

That the beautiful girl loved Buck he could no
longer doubt, and he now resolved, painful as the
effort was. to give up all hope of ever being able to
win her a'l‘ections.

Seeing buck holding out his hand to him, he ad-
vanced and frankly grasped it.

"Let the past go, ’ said Buck. “I hope we‘llbe

friends aln."
" We w " said Tom. “The knowledge that, af-
ter all, I di not cause your death, makes me feel

like a new heingl"

“Linola glad, too Linola ve
dian girl, layin ' both little ban
looking wistful y into his face. .

She seemed grieved hccuuse he had hardly noticed
her since he entered the cave. . _

“I suppose you and Buck wdl soon be mamed
now," he said, coldly. .

Buck laughed.

“ That‘s onpossiblol" he cried.

"Why?" inquired Tom.

“gecause,” answered Buck, “that gal is my cia-

“ Your sister?"

" Yes, myown longiost sister I" said Buck.

“ You are jokingl ‘

Mrgiot abit of bin”! hov jest fgilri'd i): ou‘h—finot 1half
our since. y . nut )1: )er w 'c t e I u. ur-
beCk. left with you. forI mlol" n,

glad," said the In-
on Tom‘s arm, and

 

CHAPTER XXI.
CONCLUSION.
As the oun trapper s ks he od
per from {Bhllfii his pillow?o pr uced the pa.

. "When Mokatook gave Linola this paper," con-
tinued Buck, “and she saw that it was directed to
me she put it into my hands. Hyar, road it your-
so " he added, resenting it to Tom.

The latter r the contents which were as fol-
lows, Without the punctuation:

“’Ijbou'vh I that I would never tell you this. Buck
Bowne .I hov konclewded to tell 'ou as there‘s an-
other life tocome, and as l bev cord that a man
should die with a cieer conshuns. As you've lcnrd,
your father and mine was ennemies, and lu- gut
awav from me the womniun I wanted for my wife,
and sworod I woud be even with bun. and so one

 

‘ mot

day. when his dunter—your sister—was four year
old and was out picking berries, I luck her 011' and
gave her to an lnjun blackfoot, named Murkook,
telling him to kill the young one, if he wanted to, or
do with it what he liked and that I would make him
a present of u. cou le oi) bosses, I was then in with
them Blackfoot, w iichl hnd helped in their fl hts
with other tribes, and even agen white folks. ell,
the lnjun was persuaded not to kill the chile by his
squaw, whosc name was Mokutook, and who sed
she woud bruug it up as her own, wich she did and
I suppose the ml is still living. I hev never given the
bosses I promised to the Blackfoot and that's mode
them my eimcmlcs. I don‘t want this paper to [all
into your hands except in case of my deth.
“Bun BARBECK."

“ Now. than," said Buck, as Tom handed him back
the apor. ul know that Linoln is my sister, who
hasgecn brought up by liloknlook since she was
four years old, I questioned tho sqnnw about it as
soon as I had road the u mr, and when I told her
Wh ' I did so, \‘he ownet 1 mt Linolu was the white
chid whom 13 u‘bnck 11nd surrmnlcrcd to her hus-
band. To )l‘tu'c it, she showed mo, when Linols
came back lrom ma ‘nutgiciun,’ to whom she hnd
conveyed your mossagc, a birth-murk—the nuu'k of
awillow-lcuf —just above the vllnnvvwhich I well
remembered my sister had upon her arml"

“This proves. it beyond n. doubti" said Tom, his
whole face lu-mning with joy at Ihu discovery.

“lhopo, ’l‘om, you are nolongcr jealous of your
rival?"

“ Of course not.“ .

“ You no huvc rcnson to bo," said Linola, blushing.
"From the first me like you the host!"

“I am not so sure of that," said Tom. “ You did
not know Buck wst your brother whom you were go-
ing oil to Bannock with him i"

No, me not know it," said Linoln. “but lzlm
make mistake. IIim think lgo uith him because
like him and want to be wife. It was not so. Linola

0 to at away from Black Thunder, who soon wuut
oma'elisr his wife. After Bluck Thunder bl'en
killed, thou Linola leave Buck. and come back here
with the Blackfeet."

Tom was much leased with this artless confes-
sion, ospvcinlly us he eagerness with which she ex-
culnutctl herself. proved to him that he was not in-
diifnrent to the beautiful girl. _

Havim: remained in the cave n. few minutes
longer, Tom was conducted to the one occupied by
the “ magician" and his assistant, a few yards be-
yond.

The moment the boy saw the face of the " magi-
cian“ b the light of the cave-lmnp, he fancied it
had a fluniliur look—that it was rcnlly the fare of
his father, as he ert-mbrrl‘d him although more
deeply brouzed and cat-«worn Ihnn tormerly.

“So. my boy, you have found that gold knob?"
said Mr. 'l‘cmple; “ and—"

lie uttered an exclaimatlnn of surprise as the boy
now stood in a position where the light fell full upon
his face.

“Good Heaven! is it possiblul" he criPd. “Why
~yes—surely I cannot be mistaken! This lad looks
like my sonl What was your mother's name. boy,
before marriage?“

“ Mary 'l‘albotl” he replied.

“Rizhtl that was my wife‘s name—and yet—al-
though I am almost convinced—you are my boy,
Tom I see nothing of that car! in the eye, which my
son ad. (‘nn you have outgrown it? But no—-]
should know better than that! You-—"

“I had a cast in my right 0 e when you wont ‘
“wag,” said Tom, smiling, “ int, a your later,

81' took me to a skillful eye-doctor. who cured
me of the defect—made my eye porn-cl lv sirnlghl l“

“'l‘hon, indeed, you are my son." smd Ir. ’l‘cmple,
as the two cordially shook hands. “Had I known
this before, on would not have been exposed to_so
mun y hurds ps and trials. Was not the operation
on your ave van! t"

 

 

 

  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
   
 
 
  
    
    
 
  
   
    
  
  
     
   
   
 
 
    
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  

v

      
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
 

' , alrea

 

 

Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

 

" was—I do not like to think of it," said Tom, [ He walked about among the rocks, inspectin

shu dering.

Mr. Tom is now had many gestious to ask about
his wife-a of which Tom ai fully answered.

“ It is very stran e you did not get the letters!
sent home,’ said h s father. “I sent as many as a
dozen, since coming out here!"

“ It must be that they were not sted," said
Jameson, who had been a listener to w at assed.
“Do on know anything about this. Mo 'atook?"
inquires Mr. Temple turmngto the old squaw, who
’ stood near him. “ ou told me that the Indian,

Tamena, was a good person to send, and I have
alwa s sent him with the letters."

“ amena been take letters and him try to put
where you send, but Crow Indians always come—so
him been taketo odder place—to house in odder set-
gemept. Him say just as good—letters go any-

ow.

“That accounts for it," said Mr. Temple. “ My
letters, not havi been put in the mail. have never
reached their des ination. You should have told me
this before, Mokatook.“

“T'ink all same—t’ink letters go anyhow,"
granted the squaw. ‘

“Now. Tom," said Mr. Tem le turning to his son,
" let me hear all about that go d ob."

The boy soon told his story.

"Therel" cried his father, when he had con-
cluded, “this convinces me that I have several
times been near the knob, standing, perhaps,
direct! in front of it, without knowin it. Now,
the om, we must see if we can find t e place in
whl on have put it.”

On e next day Mr. Temple summoned a gather-

.v' of the Blackfoot warriors near Mokatook's but.

0 told them that the boy whose scalp they

. sought was, after all, his own son, and that they
must never ofler to harm him in any way, otherwise
their whole tribe would be swept from the face of
thewth. He had had a communication, he said,

I ' W from the Spirit Hunting-Grounds. while looking

Vthro h his "glass gun "—from Black Thunder
,bimse . who had charged him to inform his war-
riors that they must not molest either of the white
' boys—that it was not the young tra per who had
caused his death, but one of t e sp rits who had
done so, in order to prevent his getting the small-
pox and Mug it to the whole tribe.

This dress, delivered in a solemn voice by the

“ great " magic-man,”had the desired effect upon the

savages, and from that moment the lads were as
safe among these Indians as they would have been
' with civilized Ogle. .
' Two days in r om and his father set out to seek
the place where the boy had hidden the gold knob.
It was more difficult to find than Tom had
imagined it to be, nor, perhap, would it have been
discovered had not the two finally noticed the skele-
tons of Barbeck and. the Indian stretched out on the
side of the cliff they were in search of. From their,
present position father and son perceived that the
' clii! presented a diaererJ. a pearance than it did
from the point where Tom ha remarked its peculiar
sbfipe when he stowed away the treasure.
‘ e ghastly remains of the two dead men had
been stripped by birds and wolves of every
partic e of flesh, and the bw shuddered as he
paused. and thought of the drmdlul conflict he had
witnessed between the rufilan and the Blackfoot.
It was now easv to find the hollow into which the
pushed the knob, and the latter was soon
drawn from the crevice. .

Mr. Temple's eyes sparkled.

“ What a reclous lump," he said, as he inspected

e rize. Tom, our fortune is made I"

“ atl Is that knob worth so much i"

“ ltis worth some thousands of dollars, but this
cannot be the only one in these partxl There must
be a rich mine here, and all we have to do is to have
it worked i" ‘r _

."

 

 

  

thin carefully, and. in some places. he found go] a
bearing quartz, which convinced him that he had
hit ut onavaluable mine, With a hatchet he had

"brought with him, Mr. Tongue; now broke up the

knob, and having extracts rnm it a few gold
lumps, he put them, with most of the other arts of
the granite mass. in a wallet. which he had rought
with him for that purpose. Tl (n having set up a
pole, cut from a neighboring thicket, as a mark to
enable him to find the place again, he staited with
his son toreturn to his mountain home. Jameson
was delighted to hear of his success.

“How strange it seems," he said, “ that after all
it was your son who enabled you to obtain what
you have so long been searching tori Had you not
at last consented to See this boy, you would never
have found that knobl" »

“ Poor boyl What trouble you must have had to
find me!" said Mr. Templr‘ to his son.

“ Yes, sir. I could get no information about on
at any of the settlements. You never stoppe
any of them—did Voul'"

“ Not longer than a day. I struck out directly for
the mountains. I was captured by the Blackfeet,
but I showed them the many curiousmedicai instru
ments in a. little medicine chest I carried, and told
them I was a great ‘ magic-man,’ come among them
for their good. They at once tested my skill by iv-
ing me a fever-patieht to cure—Mokatook. who all
been given up by their own doctors. Fortunately I
succeeded in curing her, and, from that moment,
my reputation was made, and I had nothing to fear
from the Blackfeet. over whom, as you have per-
ceived, i now have a great influence."

Mr. Temple wrote a letter to his wife, informing
her of his meeting with their son—of the discovery
of the gold-mine, etc. He stated that they would
remain to work the mine, but that she might expect
to see them before long. .

This letter the writer intrusted to Jameson, who
wont with it to the nearest settlement whence, with
a traveling part , he repaired to Vir inia City,
where he maile the missive. On the very day
Tom Temple and Linola were seated side by side on
a lofty crag overlooking a deep valley.

Linola‘s beautiful face was sad. Sue said but
little to her companion. '

“ What are 1you thinking of?" inquired Tom.

The girl 100 ed up and tried to smile.

“ You will 20 away from here. rich and happy."
she said. “ You will see plenty of white girl; then
you think no more of Linola."

“I shall never forget you.." answered the boy. ~

“ How could i?"

“ White boy soon forget, when not see Linola any
more.

“ But I will see you!”

“How? when go away?”

“ Yes, for you will go with me,"

“ Linola go with you?"

" Yes; it you are willing to be my wife."

A bright blush appx-ared on the girl's smooth
cheeks—her eyes sparkled.

“ Will you marry me?“ continued Tom.

For answer Linola put both arms about his neck
an: bowed her face upon his shoulder.

Soon after, she and Tom appeared before Buck
Bowne, who was now so far recovered or his wound
as to be able to sit ufi.

“Hello! soyou‘re yari I was wondering whar
you were both gone to,” he crird.

“ Buck," said Tom, “ your sister has consented to
be m Wife."

“ e-r-whoopl chnected something of the kind,
and now all i hev in any is that you kin marry her
jest as soon as you like!” . ~

He grasped Tom's hand and gave it a hearty
shake. -

" Thor‘s not a man l’d sooner see her husband
than yourself.” be costumed. "and. of you don't

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Little Buck, the Boy Guide.

     

 

make a happy couple. then that‘s no bufllers in
Oregon!“

 

Tom and his father commenced to work the mine
as soon as this could be done. It yielded rich profits.
Besides the Valuable quartz found upon the cliff
whence the knob had been obtained, much more
was discovered in the rocky valleys lying in the
vicinity.

In the course 0; a. few months Mr. Temple, leaving
his son to superintend affairs. paid a. short visit to
his wife. who had received his welcome letter, and
who was so overjoied at seeing him that, from that
moment. her healt began to improve.

‘On hearing of Tom‘s intention of making Linola
his Wife, Mis. Temple thought it would be a good
plan for the girl to he sent home to her that she
might be educated and otherwise improved.

In due time Linola arrived. She made good pro-

ess in her studies. so that when. in the course of a
ew years. Tom came home to make her his bride,
he was more than ever pleased with her manners
and appearance.

Meanwhile Buck Bowie, who had recovered from
the effects of his wound soon after the finding of the
gold knob. continued to pursue his calling of trapper
and hunter. Being very industrious and enter ris
ing, he amassed a small fortune. with whlo he
bought a. share in Mr. Temple's gold mine.

He was resent at his Sister's wedding, on which
occasion t ere was not'a happier man among the
guests than he.

Tom never regretted his marriage with Linola. nor
was he ever troubled with the fear of losing her:
for, trained to open-air exercise among the wild

Mountains. this 'rl enjoyed perfect health,

whic was effluent in er graceful. elastic step. in
the bloom 0 er cheeks, and in the clear brightness
. other eyes.

Mining affairs with the Temples continued to

rosper.

At last. havin obtained millions from the mine.
Mr. Tem is an ,. son sold out; after which they
remain anently settled in New York. on a
fine estate they had there purchased near the Hud-
son river. v

V was nun.

 

DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS

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AND HOME ENTER TAINMENTS. .

Dlnloguce. Nos. 1 toss inclusive, 15 to 25 popu-
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ume 100 pages 12mo.

Speakers, Nos. 1 to 25 inclusive. Each speaker
100 pages 121110. containing from 50 to 75 pieces.

 

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l Wnos. ERMA! and 59 other Songs.

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15 WHOA. Cnsnun and 50 other Songs.

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21 INDIGNANT POLL! Woo and 59 other Songs.

22 Tue Ono Ann-Cans. and 58 other Songs.

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27 Yo. Hmvn, H01 and 600ther Songs. -

28 "NULL NEVER no 70 Gm rr UP So and 60 others.

29 BLUE Bonns'rs Ovnn. 'rns BORDER. and 54 others,
30 Tm: Mnnnv LAUGHING MAN and 56 other Songs.

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32 Lemma BABY Mme and 53 other Songs. I
33 Du BANJO All or. Ins'rnnunur FOR ME and53 others.
34 TAFFY end 50 other Songs.

35 J her To Ptmsn ms: Bovs and 52 other songs.

86 SKATING 03% ON: is was Gwen and 52 other;

37 Kownnn Keane and 59 other Songs.

38 Nu. DssPniuNnux and 53 other Songs. I
89 Tar. Gnu. l‘Lnrr Begum MI: and 50 other Songs
40 "I‘m new A LITTLE FADED FLownn and 50 others
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when»: AND ADAMS. PUBLISnnnI, ‘ .= x1; -
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BEADLE’S POCIiET LIBRARY.
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/

332 Dakota. Dan in'Canvon Cily; or. Colorado Kate‘s
Check. By Philip S. Wnrne.

32B Bootblnck Ben. the Detective; or, Pooler Jim
and His Purd. By Anthony P. Morris.

331 F. isco Tom on Deck; 01'. The Col Ieu Gate Smug—
liars. By George Henry Morse

3J5 en Bondy. the Boss Pam; or. The Plucky
Parson. By J. Stanley Hen'l-Irson.

336 Fred, the S ort, in Brimstone Bur Cnm : or.
The Boston restler’s Confederate. By Ed. L,
Whaeler.

33? Daisy Dave the Colorado Gnl ot; or. The Bdss

, of Dead Line City. By T. .C. Hurhnngh.

338 The Gold Bar Detective; or. iron Ikc, the Solid
Man. Bv Major E. L. St. Vrnin.

339 Rardo. the Boy Gypsy; or. Reckless Rolf‘s Re-
volt. Ry Wm. G. Patten.

340 Billy ubbl -’s Big Score; or. Tim, the Tramp.
Bv Charles Morris.

341 Colorado Steve's Dash; or. Old Buncomh‘s Sure
Shot. By Philip S. Wurne.

312 Snap-Shot Sam; or, Nen Norris‘s Net=le By
Bucksin Sam. -

343 Mike. the Bowery Detective; or. Palm,r l’rancor
of Vermont. By Edward L. Wheeler.

844 The Drummer Sport; or. ( 'aptain Dnsher’s Droll

, Dilemma.

315 Jaques,

By Edward Willett. ,
the Hardpnn Detective; or. Captain
Frisco the Road- ‘.Lrent. ByJ. C. Cowdrick.
346 Joe. the Chicago Aral); or, A Boy of the Times.
B Charles Morris. -
347 iddy Herbert’s Prize; or The Girl Captain’s
-. Revenge. By 001. Prentiss n'n’aham.
848 Sharp-Shower Frank; or, Tue Young Texan
Purds. By Buckskin Sans.
349 Buck the Miner' or. Alf, the Colorado Guide.
B Maj.’E. L. St. rain.
350 ed the Slab City S art; or, The Detechve’s
Biz Scoop. By E. L. \ liveler. v
851 Rocky Mountain Joe; or. D noon Simplicity o
the War- 5th. By Col. T. H. Monsiery.
‘ 352 New Yor Tim; or. Tue Boss of the Boulevard.
. By Charles Morris. 1
353 The Girl Pilnt' or, Ben. the Reef-Runner. By
Roger Starbuclt.
351 Joe. the Boy StageDriver; or, Nick Hicken‘s
Cunning. By Maj E. L. St. Vrain.
355 Texas Frank’s Crong; or, The Girl Mustang
Rider. By Bucks in am.
.356 Idaho Nam/Detective; or, The Miners of Tan-pot
* ‘ ' City. By Edward L. Wheeler.
857 Guy. the Boy Miner; or. Rocky Mountain Bill.
7 By Colonel Prenliss Ingrahnm.
- 358Jerscy Joe. the Old TM; or. the Wrecker’s
grotege. By Mrs. Orin James. V
359 andy Dick's Dash; 01-; The Boy Cattle-King.
' I By OllCJmcs.
r 861T Jim‘s ’Big Bonanza: or, Jake Dodd and His
L Gang. i W. J. Hami ton.
‘ 361 Oregon 1’ ii, the Sport; or, The Marshal of Two
Bits. By Philip S. Wa'ne.
362 Kit, the Bootblack Detrctlve; or. From Phila-
' dshphila to the Rockies. By Edward L.
V on er.

363 The Ocean Racer; or, Trusty Tom, the Tar. By _

T. C. Harbnugh.
V864 Fritz’s 01d Score;.0r, Bib Gene‘s Right Bower.
By Ned Buntllne.
865 Crack Shot Hal-r ; or, The Masked Rider. By
Colonel Prentiss lam-sham.
366 Gold Dust Rock. the Whirlwind ‘0! the Mines.
‘ " By G. Waldo Browne. , '

‘1

:9990906:9oooffi'oooooooooooooo‘opo

 

 

367 Fred's Bold Game; or, The Cave Treasure. By
Paul Bibhs.

368 Jim. the Sport in Wake-up' or. Foghorn Fan to
the Front By Edward L. WhiMet.

369 Captain Blake's Jonah; or, Harry, the Cabin
Boy. By Roger Sisrbuc (.

370 Denver Kit’s Donblv; or, The Giant Miner of the
Gulch. By Major H. B. Stoddard.

371 Blue Blazes Dick; or, Danger Doll of Dynamite.
l K T. C. Hnrbnngh.

372 » e Sea Cal’s Prize: or, The Flag of the Red
Hands. By Colonel Prenl iss Ingrahnm.

873 Larry O‘Lynn's Dash: or, Kyle, the Renegade.
lly J oseph F. lendoréon.

374 Jun, lhe Sport’s Bil: Boom; or. The Bonanza.
King‘s Rival. By Edward L. Wheeler.

375 Bowery Bob, Deteclive; or. Bianca. the Tam-
bourine-Girl. By Jo Pierce.

376 Buckskin Dick‘s Clean che ; or, Jonathan
Jenks’ Slill Hunt. ByCol. A t lllI‘ i“. Holt.

377 The Deadwood Sports. By Livut. S. G. Lansing.

37* B unco Billy. the Saddle Prince. By Colonel

‘ Prentiss Ingrahum.

371) Dick. the Stowaway; nr. ‘\ Yankee Boy‘s Strange
Cruise. By Charles Morris.

330 Youn .Dick Talbot; 01‘. A B~y’s Rough and
Tumb e Fight from New Yurk to California. By
Aloert W. Aiken. -’ '

381 Dandy Bill’s Doom; or, Deerhunter, the Boy
Scout. By Oll Cooms.

3552 \‘lgillle-Awnko Leorge. the Boy Pioneer. By Ed.

1 BL. *

383 Wild Bill. the Pistol Prince. B‘y Colonel Prentiss
Inzmham. /‘

38; Brimstone Bill’s Booty: or, Mnriposn Marsh at
Dead Man‘s Gulch ,By J oseph E. Badger. Jr.

385 The Boy Tram s; or. 'l‘ue Roughs uf Demon
Hollow. By J. I. Huffman.

386 The Mnntana. Kid; or, Little D n Rock’s Mis-
sion. By Morris wmg.

887 The Boy Detectives; or, B'nker Blondin‘s Big
Reward. By T. C. Harbaugh.

888 The Pony Express Rider; or, Buffalo Bill‘s
Frontier Feats. ' By Cnl. Prentiss Inzrnham.
889 New York Bill, the Dude: r; ur. Two Boys Who

Were “Bounced “ By Edward Willett.
390’The Ticket-of-Leave‘s i‘rick; or. Spring Steel,
King of the Bush. By J soph E. Bad or. Jr.
391 Charley Skylark, the Sport. By Me: at Henry
. toddar . '
892 Texas Jack. the Mustang King.
Prentiss Ingrahnm.

898 Peter, the Dandy Grecnhorn. By Noah Nnfl.
8 ‘4 Tom Temple‘s Big Strike. By Barry Ringgold. .
395 Hsrr , the Country Boy, in New York. By

Char es Morris.
396 Détective Paul‘s Right Bower. By O‘D. Cl'll‘k.
397 ’l'lp Tressell, the Flatboag Boy. By Ed. Will tt.
3'38 Captain Jack in Rocky Roost. By Col. Prentiss

lngraham. Rowdy August 26.
399 Harry Somers. the Magician. By S. W. Pierce.

Ready September 2,

A New Issue Every Wednesday.
anLn‘s Pocxs'r Luaan is for sale by all News-
dealers five cents per copy, or sent by maillon re-
ceipt of six cents each.
Bums AND Aunts, Publishers.
1 98 William Street, New York,

By Colonel