Com‘rirzhted, 1886, by Bnpu up Anms. Bum-ad M Lin: Push 012m: at )uw Yuk, N. \'.. us buuuml Chm )1an Mann. $14.4, 1886.

 

2.ro Publishei Week] b Beadle and Adams I‘ I ,.
“avg”. No. 98 WILLZmyST.. NEW YORK. , F‘Vurégfl" No' 

T0111 TflbOI‘, the Boy Fugitive; Or’;:eg‘ff’:;:v:jfh-

BY BARRY RINGGOLD.

'W ‘wmn_ ‘- '0-

 

J.
‘ V 4 ’
,1. ‘ I“? I a ‘ k. I»:

“THE FIRST WHO “YB L HAND ON MY FATHER DIES!" THE BOY FUGITIVE CRIID.

 

/

,

 

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

Tom Tabor,
THE BOY FUGITIVE;

OR»
The Young Lynch-Gang “ Wolws.”

   

A Romance of Colorado Hills.

BY BARRY RINGGOLD,
amen or “LITTLE BUCK," “OLD mars,"
are, are. -

CHAPTER I.
TH E A. 'r 'r A 0 K .

I _ be near Central City, now. I’m
pretty well blown, and can’t go much further
to-day. Halloal if those people yonder are not

I Indians I’m much mistaken l”

The person thus speaking to himself was a
boy’ot sixteen, tall and strong for his age, with
ruddy cheeks and clear, sparkling blue eyes.

, He wore a gray cloth suit and carried a good

rifle, besides which he had a long hunting—knife
thrust inabrond leather belt about his waist.
Anammunition-pouch and a. well-stocked wal<
let ware slung over his shoulders, from which,
hanging crossways over his breast and back,
was also suspended a good rubber blanket. I

r ' His present situation was near Long’s Peak,
Colorado, amongthe Rocky Mountains, and the
Indians to whom he had alluded were about a
quarter of a mile distant, descending a rugged
hill ahead of him.

It was the hour of twilight, and the boy had
been about selecting a halting-place for the
night in some one of the hollows which were in
his vicinity, among the rocks.

'As he spoke he climbed to an elevated rock,
diflcnlt of ascent, and cocking his piece, placed

_ himself behind a ridge whence he could watch
. ' the approaching savages. .

 The latter, numbering four men, were fierce,

stout-looking fellows, wearing leggins and blan-

« , ‘ k'ets, two of the party carrying rifles, and the

' -, , others having long spears.

That they had seen the lad was evident from
their quickean pace, although they did not ap-
pear to notice him.

’ At length, having reached the base of the
rock on which be'stood, 'they halted, while one,
raising his dusky, rugged visage, acted as
spokesman. '

“ bl where’s nigi” he gruntetl,

“ ho the deuce is nigi” said the boy. “I

. _ - don’t know any such person.”
" ’ “ Him call him Jumble, but him black-face—
very black—little boy like you.”
“ Just pack that, won’t you? I’m not used to
beinfigmmpared to a nigger.”
' l “ s the white be not seen him?”
“No. What have to do with him?”
. r “Ugh! nig been steal from Crow. Crow want
' :31. take back what he steal. from him. That is

’ ‘ 5 ,“ What did he steal from you?”
' I‘Little white balls on string."
' . “ You mean beads?”

 

 

 

 

” It is so." -

“ Well, it I should happen to see him, I will
tell him that you want your heads.”

“ Think big up there, on same me}: where
is. He hide there, perhaps in hollow. We '
come no and see,”

“ That’s too thin! I haven't lived in Colorado
a year for nothing. I know a thing or two, or
my name isn’t Tom Tabor. Just ‘walk,’ won’t
you i” added the lad, pointing his rifle over the
led e.

Tgbe savages appeared to withdraw, and were
soon out of sight in the gloom.

“ Hil hi! hi! yahl yah‘! yahl I’ll bu’st dis stom-
ach, sbuah, listenin’ to dat brave boy I”

The laughter, and the words with which it
was blended, came from a hole in the rocks
'ust' behind Tom, who, on turning, now dimly

eheld a woolly head, with a black face, as
round as an apple, and the whites of two great,
rolling eyes protruded through the a erture.

“Halloal a live nigger!” cried the ad in sur-
prise. “ How long have you been here?”

“ Been henh half hour. Berry glad you come
to help Jim Jumble." .

“ How do you know I’m going to help you?
You ought to give those heads 1 see about your
neck, to the Indians, who say you stole them.”

“Day lies. Dem beads belong to de missus—
dar’s de fac’ out and out, and dem ’lnjuns want
to steal de same and scalp (115 mg. Dat am (is
bressed truf, and nutfln’ but de' trill—so help
me and de Lord I”

“Who is the ‘ missus’i” _

” Young lady, Miss Lormer. _ She gom’ to see
place where poor fodder been killed—and dis mg
go ’long to take car’ ob her, as well as to act
de part ob a darin’ scout!”

At these words, Tom became as pale as death:
but whatever the cause might have. been, his
attention was now diverted from the subject by
a movement on the part of the Indians, who
taking advantage of the diversion caused by his
seeing the negro, had again stolen up and start.-
ed to climb the rock. ~_

“ Be! there! you redvsklnsl” shouted Tom.
“Just ‘snake’ back again the way you came,
and make tracks!” _

The Indians, however, had dodged behind
projecting shelves of rock, which would screen
them from Tom’s rifle, and they showed no dis-
position to leave the placer W

“Give beads, and Indian go his wayl grunt-
ed the one who had spoken before.

“You can’t have them,” said Tom. “ They
belong to a youn lady, who was in company
with the ‘darky. ”

As the lad spoke, his breast and head were
incautiously exposed. One of the Ind1au_s’ rifles
cracked, and a bullet passed within an inch of
his ear. I

J umble,who had crawled out of the hole, roll-
ed over and over. kicking up his heels.

Bang! want another rifle, at that moment,
followed by a succession of cries from Jumble,
who [turning head-over—heels, commenced to
rub his left “ shin ” with One hand, while he felt
of his head with the other. ,

“T’ank Jeremiah! (is head am still dar, but

ohl ohl ohl ah—whool ah-whool ah-whool” he'

yelled. as he continued to rub his “ shin.”

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'l'om Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. 8

 

“ What’s the matter! Are you hit!” inquired

om.

But Jumble only howled the louder, and his
companion believed that the last bullet had
slightly “ barked " his ankle. '

_ “Shut u . will you!” the boy cried, impa-
t1ent1y._ “ ou’ve got only a. scratch!"

Keeping good watch of the Indians, Tom pre-
vented them from ascending the rock, which
they could do only on one side.

The darkness of night hid the lurking forms
of his enemies from his gaze.

“Here, Jumble, you keep watch behind that
bowlder, while I look out from this ledge,” said
the boy. ’

Jumble shook with terror, his teeth rattling
and the whites of his eyes rolling as he
placed himself at his post. More than
once he bobbed quickly down, dodging aside
on seeing the dim outlines of the savages, and
bumping his woolly head against the hard rock,
yet not seeming to mind these thumps, which
would have hurt the softer skull of a white per-

son.

Suddenly as he stood on the edge of the hight
aloose piece of rock gave Way under him, preci-
pitating him to the base of the elevation. As this
was only eleven feet high, and as Jumble land-
ed upon a mass of branches, which, lately, [had
been piled under the rock to serve some hunter
for a couch, he was unhurt,

The ludians, who were on the other side, and
who, in the gloom, had not seen him drop,
were not aware that he had left the rock.

 

CHAPTER II.
run MEETING.

GOLLYI” muttered Jumble to himself, “dot
white boy come to sabe me jes’ in time, and I
hopes dat he won’t suffer for de same. As one
good turn obserhs anudder, I'll hel dat chap,
in de bes’ way I can. I‘ll jes’ streu it to Cen-
tral City, and see Trapper John, and tell him
’bout dat teller, and don we come togedder to
sabe his skin."

He ran along at a‘ breakneck pace, not- paus-
ing to draw breath until he gained a hill, from
which, in the for distance, he' could see the
lights of Central City.

Several hours later he arrived there, made
his way to a hut, on the door of which he
knocked.

At first no atien tion was paid tohis summons,
but, at length. the door opened, and a boy’s
face was thrust out into the gloom. ‘

“ I knowed yer knock, Jim Jumble," he said.
“ Whar hev er been, and what’s the news‘i”

. ‘,‘,I will tel yer, Trapper John, of yer let me
in.

The trap or allowed the he to to enter the
hut, the lig t in which now tel full 11 on the
little grotesque figure of the darky w 0 was
apparently about fifteen years old. e wore a
round, gra cloth cap, with a, torn crown,
through which his wopl.y hair protruded. The
cap came down to blS eyebrows, without con-

cealing his enormous ears.

An old blue jacket, with bra buttons, scarce-
ly reached his waist. about w was a belt.

 

containing two enormoushorse—pistols. of which
he seemed Very proud. His pants of blue wool-
en stuif, hardly came down to his “shins,”
small as he was, and his ankles being skinny,
made his large feet, incased in cowhide shoes,
seem even larger than they really were.

The person whom he had called “Trapper
John,” was a boy of sixteen, of a thickset, mus-
cular figure, with a scarred, fierce-looking face.
He was clad in semi- hunter costume, and was
heavily armed with pistols, bowie-knife and »
rifle.

“Saba him, sah, sabe him!" cried Jim Jam.
bl '

e.

“Save whom? What yer talkin’ ebontl”
“Dot white boy what I so gloriously stood
up fur, till dar was nullin’ left fur me to stan’
on 1”

It was some minutes ere the young trapper
could obtain from Jumble a clear explanat on
of his meaning.

“ I will go and see what I kin do,” he then
said. “ You kin foller on behind.” \

“ You can depen’ on me. Dis nig will stay by\
you t’rough ebheryt’ing.”

The trapper took a rifle from acorner, and
soon, with Jumble,’he emerged from the but,
the door of which be locked after him. '

The two had not proceeded far, when; all at
onco, the negro came running up to the bane
ter. ' .
“ Dar’s some one comin’, and dar may he '
more dan one. S‘posin’ dis nig run back to ,.
hunt for more help?” .

And he was about to take to his heels when. "
his companion seized him by his shirt-collar. ' '.

“None 0’ that, nigl” he said sternly. “Ef
thar’s to he flghtin , you shall stand up toit
like a man, which is the best way to get used to
sech things.”

J umble's teeth began to chatter.

The forms drew nearer. '

“ Who comes that!" cried the trapper, cook-
ing his rifle. ’ '

“ It is I—Tom Tabor l” answered a be h
voice. “There are half a dozen Indians a 1
me!

The trapper started and an exclamation acct

surprise escaped him. ‘

“ Come on,” he then said. “Thar’s an earth-
ridge hyar, behind which we kin make a stand.
I’ll help you all I kinl”

The boy was soon at the speaker’s side. On
seeing Jumble, whose black face could hardly.
be distinguished in the gloom, Tom uttered a 
cry of anger. ‘

“You miserable little imp! You left me
niCely in the lurch, didn’t on?”

“Dis nig run to bring elp—dat’s do way it .
was. See, now, I bring Massa John.” V
“ If an enemy had started up in front of you,

you would have run the other way,” said the
lad. “ The Indians managed to climb the rock ', ’f
when I thought they had all gone. I stumbled , 
dgw’n before they could capture me, and mode ‘
o . ‘ l  » x
The dim forms of the savages were seen rm.
approaching through the gloom. “i ‘

“Now, then," said the trapper, “they are
near enough for a shot.” ‘ I , ,

Be and cm took mm and fired. Jumble also,

4‘

 

1

   

 

 

 

 

 

‘ onto

4

 

 

Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive.

 

mustered courage enough to fire off one of his
pistols. ' . _ -

The Indians, thinking that the boy had met
with a large party of friends, slunk off, and
were soon lost to view in the glorm.

“ You have done me a great service," said
Tom to the young trapper. “But for you, I
suppose I should hays been soalped.”

‘ Yes, ou’d probable hev had yer hn’r lifted,
but why ev yer come out in this perilous wil
demessl”

“Icome from Denverand I am going to Central
City to find out whether or not a story I have
heard, about my father is true or onlyare-

rt.
p0“Let me beer all about it, and ’raps I kin
tell on something ’boul the thing, ’ said John,

, “ as “in jest from the city.”

f‘ Well, then, the truth is that I was told by a
person, lately come from these arts, that ' my
other had killed a certain sheri named Robert
fiornfier—in fact that—that he had murdered
iml ‘

"‘ What was yer father’s name?”

“Ned Tabor. He was known by the name of
Trapper Ned I”

“Then i’m mou'ty sorry to say that it’s true,
ever word of it. Yer father did murder Lor-
mer ”

Tom gave a cry of anguish.

“ No use of takin’ it so much to heart.” ~
v “ It is hard to bear,” answered Tom. “ Had he
killed the man in a quarrel, it would not be

_ quite so bad.”

“I reckon it’s a long time since yer’ve seen

\yenfather?” said John.

“Five years,” replied Tom. “He went away
on a trapping expedition, just five years ago,
telling my mother that he hoped to do well, and
won] be back before long. A few months
after he set out mother died, and I went to live
with an uncle. Father wrote b‘le on hearing
the news, telling me to stay with my uncle in
Denver, and go to school until his return. SIX
months ago, he sent me word that-he was com-
ing home. Then, all at once, while I was ex-
pecting him, I heard that horrible story of the
murder!”

“It is true, every word of it,” said John,
aternly, “and I am one of the lynchJaw boys
who are hunting for him to bring him to jus-
tice! There is a. gang of us, and we are called

, the LYNCH GANG Wonvnsl"

“ You are hunting for my father?”
“ Yes,” the boy answered, “ I am now look-
ing for him.”
“ In that case we part company." said Tom.
And shouldering his rifle, without another
word
isight.

CHAPTER III.
. A GInL’s PERIL.

As Tom Tabor moved on, he stumbled against
a human body, and was thrown to the ground.
Looking close y at the form stretched out before
hula)” was enabled to perceive that it was a
den Indian-evidently one of the Crows who

a plungedst the darkness, to soon pam ‘

 

As he raised himself from the ground, his
hand came in contact with something which he
knew by the feeling was a bullet.

The moment he reached a place where he
could be sheltered from the strong wind, which
was now blewing almost a gale, he struck a
match, and examined the piece of lead.

“Good!” he cried, with a feeling of relief.
“So it was not my bullet, after all, which

assed through that Indian’s head, for this one
is shaped differently from those I have with
me.”

He kept on, and finally reaching an alcove
among the mountains, he concluded to pass the
night here.

“Early in the morning,” he muttered. “I will
go on. I must try to find my father, and from
his own lips hear him confess that he perpe-
ttrated the crime he is accused of before I believe
1 .

Spreading his rubber blanket, he threw him-
self upon it; and thoroughly worn out with his
late exertions, he soon dropped into a deep
slumber.

He was awakened at about midnight by a.
deafening roar. Ablinding flash of lightning
danced before him, and he heard the pealing of
thunder.

In fact, a terrific storm was raging. The
wind howled with fury. the bending pines about
the clifll made a noise hire an angry sea. as the
gale rushed through them, and the rain came
down, crashing and sputtering upon the rocks
with the din of a hundred cataracts.

Saturated by the rain which blew into the
hollow, the boy sprung to his feet.

All at once he uttered a cry of surprise A
flash had shovvn him, upon one of the rocky
plateaus about fifty yards 01!, the form of a
black horse, standing motionless, with a young
girl seated on its back.

He was sure he saw both, and yet, when the
next flns came, horse and girl were gone.

“She as probably ridden on out of sight."
thought Tom. “I shouldn’t wonder if she’s
some on - who has lost her way in the storm.”

He moved toward the plateau, lighted on his
way by the occasional flashes, and finally gained
the spot where the vision had appeared. Now,
however, it was not there.

At last the light of dawn helped him. Look-
ing from a. hollow, in» which he had sought
shelter, he beheld a. scene that thrilled him with
dismay.

The storm. raging with redoubled fury, had
swollen a descending mountain stream not far
ofl’, so that its waters, overflowing their rocky
bed, were now sweeping along on their way in

a broad sheet of hissing foam and whirlpools, v

which must ingqu anything they should meet
in their course. Dashing along a broad ledge
that projected from the side of one of the cliifs,
the boy beheld the horse upon which was mount-
ed the girl he had previously seen.

The steed had evidently taken fright at some-
thing, and was making straight for a rocky
barrier under the swollen torrent which, partly
arrested by projecting masses and shelves of
rock, was coming down with the din of thunder
toward the ledge. ”'

. had advanced to attack him and Trapper John. i In a tew minutes it must strike girl and horse.

\

 

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. , 5 “

 

sweeping them from their position into a deep
abyss below, unless the courser could be turned
the other way.

The girl was making frantic but useless ef-
forts to control the steed, which, with dilated
nostrils and fiery eyes, fairly seemed to fly along
the edge of the perilous abyss. Should the ani-
mal on meeting the rugged barrier ahead rear
sideways, as it probably would do, the fate of

the rider was certain—she would then be thrown ,
into the deep, yawning gulf, to be dashed to ‘

pieces hundreds of feel; below.
Scrubby bushes and roots aflforded the boy a

bold, as be rapidly descended the rocky wall I.

which was between him and the ledge.

In a minute after starting he gained apro- 3

jecting point on the rugged barrier the fright-
ened steed was approaching, but from here it

would be impossibie for him to reach the ledge l

in time to help the imperiled maiden.

Taking a rope, which, with other useful arti-
Cles, he carried in his wallet, he formed a slip-
noose on the end of it. The projection he occu-
pied was about ten feet above the ledge, and be
rapidly made his calculations as to the way he
should throw his lasso.

Horse and rider were soon near enough for
him to perform his intended maneuver.

“Hold up one of your arms,” he shouted,
“ and I will try to save you.”

The girl could not hear him very distinctly,
but she understood him; and as Tom threw
the lasso with precision, the loop caught under
the unraised arm.

“Now seize the rope with both hands!” yell-
ed the boy, as the horse reared to one sine.

The rider caught at the rope, holding firmly
to it with both hands, while the horse, bolting
from under her, plunged headlong into the deep
nbyss, uttering one unearthly jibber as it was
dashed to death upon the rocks far below.

The girl, clinging to the rope. landed upon
her feet on the ledge. She seemed coulusud,
and let go the rope.

Aronr as of many thunders sounded above
her. The desoending torrent; with its sheets of
white, foamin water, now was not fifty feet
ubnve her hes .

Sue looked up. understood her peril, and
turned as if to run. -

“No use of runnin’; you can’t escape that
way,” said Tom. “Put the noose around you
again and I will haul you up.”

He spoke in a quick, sharp. ringing voice, ’

best calculated to enforce compliance.

The young woman put the noose about her, .

lclutlched the rope, and Tom ‘commenced to
iau .

It was hard work, but this lad was very
strong, and when, the next moment, the ava-
lanche of waters. wiih a deafening crash. struck
the spot where she had just stood, the girl hung
several feet above them.

Roaring and tumbling. thev rose up almost to ,_
her neck, as if “ determined ” not to be cheated ‘

of their intended victim; but Tom, having
taken a turn with the rope about a rock near
him. reached far down and clutching the im-
periled one by the shoulder, slowly and steadi-
y, assisted by her own efforts. held her flrmly

i until the first mass of waters had tumbled into ,, hi?
the abyss.

, Then he again proceeded to haul, and a few

‘ minutes later she was safe at his side.

She was a brunette, about fourteen years of ,
age, and Tom thought he had never seen a love- \
lier creature. A deep rose color had succeeded 1’
the palenesa caused by terror; and her great '.
black eyes. bright and vivacious, were turned A3. '
up gratefully toward the lad, while, with one
little hand, she pushed back the dark Masses of
magnificent hair that escaped from under her, .
broad straw bat. - ,

Her first words were characteristic of her .

 

   
    
 
   
    
      
  
 

sex.

“Seal the rain has spoiled my hat!" she “
said, as she took oil! her the article and shook it. -'

The boy could not help laughing. ' r

“What are you laughing at?" she inquired,
a little piqued. “I do not feel like laughing.”

“Beg pardon,” said Tom, bowing. “It in
no tirne to laugh. You have had a narrow es- ‘ 1
ca 6.7
l ‘It was good and brave at you to save me,
‘ and i thank you much,” she said. r I,

“To see you flying along that dun erous
ledge, almost took the spunk out of me, con.
tinued the boy. i .

“Such a time as I have had,” said the girl, 7
sadly. “I lost my way amon the mountains. 
l 11: mi rht have been better had staid in Central '
City, sat night, instead of purchasing a horse X *
‘ there to continue my journe .”  ~

“Yes. I can believe you. It is hard line: for,
a young lady to be traveling alone in this wild
country. Will you go back to the city?" ‘

“I don’t want to go back there!” was the
quick answer. -
, Sue pouted, stamped one little foot, and tear.~
‘ came to her eyes. ' » -

“ May I ask why?”

, “ Because—because-some one is there I don’t
~ like. He has followed me.” V

l “Tell me his namei” said Tom, fiercely.

“No. I don’t want any quarrel, on my ac,-
count, but tell me if you have scan a little negro.»
who answers to the name of Jim Jumble? Home
l with me to help me on my journey, and to act”
l as a sort of scout, but we I ot separated by his, -

going off for birds‘ egfis, w en I think he must

have lost his way. e had in pearl beads. ~ -‘
‘ with him. I had given them to lm to take 011', r
1 one of the pearls, which had become broken." 
, Tom started, and a ghastly paleness over-
, sprend his face.

“ Yes,” he answered “ I have seen your Jum-
ble, rigid} now know that you are the daughter» j '
‘ o —o — i 3

“Of the sherifl' who was murdered!” put in
the girl. “ Yes, it is true. My name in Minute
Lorinerl” , t

 

 

 

CHAPTER IV. ‘ '
JUMBLE’S sronr. .
For. several moments after hearing the name.
of the girl whom he had rescued, Tom was too
agitated to speak. .
“ How she would hate me,” he thought, “if~
she knew I was the son of the man who is laid

 

 
 

 

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

to have killed her father. I cannot muster
courage to tell her.” ,v
“ I am going,” confirmed Minnie, “ to see the
place where my father was killed. It will be a
poor satisfaction, still it will be a. little,” she
added, with tears in her eyes.
“ It is some distance from here, I believe,” said

om.

“ Yes, about thirty miles, I should think—on
the shore of Black creek.”

“ Might there not be some doubt of your fa-
father’s having been killed by Ned Tabor, as it
is reported? understand that he was not seen
to do the deed.” _

“There is, in my opinion, no doubt of it.

' Tabor and my father were together, near the
creek—were seen there by some passing hunters.
The hunters went on, and had entered a thicket,
which hid the two from their gaze, when they
'heard a shot. ,A few minutes later they saw
Tabor rushing along the bank, looking pale and
agitated. They called to him to stop and tell
them what the matter was. but he kept on, and

.was soon out of sight. The hunters went to

' the'shore of ylack creek, and there they found
the sheriff’s bat. There were marks on the
ground as of a struggle and as if some one. had
fallen or had been ushed into the water.
My father had evident y been killed by Tabor

' and thrown into the stream, which has a rapid
current. His body was searched for, but it
could not be found. It is supposad that it was

"drawn by the current into some one of the
In ny under-water cavities, which are known
to be beneath the bank. Tabor, I believe, has
not yet been discovered, although many persons
are hunting for him—among others a fierce

ng of young fellows who are called the
Y'NCB-LAW WOLVES.”

“CircumstanCes are against him—that’s a

fact,” said the boy, sadly. .
Then he changed the subJect.

' v “Come, 1 will ,i’nake a fire, so that you can

' our clothes. _
érx’aniere will you get wood? It rains no

'longer, but every stick you can find Will be
wet.”

. “ [noticed a pile of dry branches in a hollow,
on the cliff above us.” . _
As he spoke, Tom perceived a ledge, which
‘ led-up the side of the elevation, halt concealed
shrubbe . ' ‘

' byBy meangf this ledge the twain soon reached
the summit of the hight. Tom found the hol-
low he had spoken of, and, With the dry

,branches there he made a fire. He spread his
rubber ulanket on a small bowlder, which_would
serve his companion for a seat, and, while she
Was drying her, wet dress, he took some corn-
cake and some pieces of venison from his wal-

let. ' fl '
“ h ve breakfast” he said. It _w111
not Kalil veary good one, but it is better than
nothing." .
Minnie partoolr of her repeat, and said she
had enjoyed her meal.
. The skygradually' cleared, and at length the
' ' ' sun shone brightly upon the mountains. After
' the girl had rested, she and Tom resumed their

1 “Letyob; would like to see the place where

 

your father met his death,” the boy had said,
‘ and if you do not object, I will go with you.”

Minnie had not objected; on the contrary she
had seemed pleased at having so brave an es-
cort.

Two days later they reached Black creek—a
stream, with afew rocks and a thicket on one
side, and huge, towering cliffs on the other.
Minnie wandered sadly along the bank, now

and then shuddering as she looked at the dark,
swift waters, and at the black earth-caves, visi-
ble beneath the surface.

The boy, with his face turned from her,
gazed, meanwhile, at the marks on the ground,
now nearly obliterated, where it was supposed
that a struggle had taken place.

.At length he turned, but he noticed that Min-

me was gone. '

“She has probably passed round that rock
ahead,” he thought.

01] looking behind the rock, however, he
could not see the girl.

Her footprints on the damp ground led him
toward a flat rock, further on. When he
reached this, he lost the trail. He looked on
every side, but nowhere, beyond the rock could
he see Minnie’s foot-marks.

“ Strange enough,” he muttered.

He continued his search for a long time, but
in vain.

As he moved on through the thicket, he
stumbled over something crouching in a mass
of shrubbery.

There was a. yell of terror, and he saw before

him the negro boy, Jumble, with his little
round body and woolly head, crouching, face
to the ground.
. “1100! hool de tomerhawkl Oh! don’t use
it, good Injun, on dis poor niggerl He nebber
do iiufliu’ a ’in’ ye’, and he’ll nebber do nuflin’
more! Lea e him his scalp, for dar not much
ha’r on his head, nohowl” V

“Ugh!” grunted Tom, imitating the tone of
an Indian. “ Wool dod’or ,patch legginsl”

“ Ohl mudahl mudahl’ shrieked Jumble.
“ Help! help! somebody! I’s gwine to be killed,
shuahl”

Tom drew his knife, and lightly pricked the
hack of the boy’s ankles with it' but no sooner
did he feel the touch of the bla 6 than Jumble
commenced to turn somerset after somerset,
receding from his tormentorlike a black ball.
He was about to throw himself headlong into a
hollow, when Torn, springing forward, caught
him by the arm and held him.

“ Stop, you foolish nigger!” he said. “ Had
ou turned you would have seen that I am no
'ndianl”

0n hearing these words Jumble sprung up
with a cry of joy, and commenced to caper
round and round the lad.

“There, that will do,” said Tom. “Totell
the truth, although I joked with you, I am not
much in a joking mood. Have you seen any-
thin of Miss Lormer?”

“ b de young missus? No! Bab you seen
_de missus?" /

In a few words Tom explained. .

Then Jumble rolled the whites of his eyes,
and looked much distressed.

“ I’s ’rraid Injun got that missus!"

 

  

Tam Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

“ What makes you think so!"

“ It am a long story. In de fust place, after
you lef’ us, John and I go back to Central City.
I no like he wid John. Him not bad fellah, but
him make little nig work too hard. Do truf am
dat, in de tus’ place, I was wid missus. We sot
out togedder from near Denver, whar she live.
Dat John, he want to be sweet on her. and he
want to cotch up wid her for do escort! Jes’
as if," added Jumble, drawing himself up, “ dis
brack boy am not de bravest ob (is brave, and
wouldn’t make a better escort hisself dan all do
‘ J ohn—jams ’ put togeddérl Well do long and
de short ob it am (lat missus and I got separated,
and I fall in wid John who is lookin’ for missus,
as well as for de man what kill do sheriff. De
odder day, while John and me war huntin’ for
missus, we got separated ’mong do mountains,
and I See Injun, and hide on rock. What happen
at’er dat you know. At las’ I concluded, af’er
do most maturest reflection, to lenbe John, and
go on alone to hunt for missus. Dis af’ernoon I

ot bash in de shurbberbum, and I seen a. big

njun go b . Den I hide myself as you s%, and
dat’s why t’ought you was de Injun, and dat’s
why ['5 ’fraid dat Injun take missus away.”

“ How long ago did you see the Indian?”

“ About half an hour.” ,

“ That looks as it the savage had earned her
ofl,” said Tom, “ but I heard no cry."

“ Iojun mou’t have put his hand over her
mouf, or he mou’t have knocked her down ’fore
he tuk her off.”

“Well, Jumble, we must do our best to find
and rescue her.”

“ Sart’in! If dar’s anyt'ing I can do—if I hab
to go t’rough fire and water, I’ll do it to sabe
missus.”

“ Come on, then,” said Tom. “ I wish I knew
what direction it is best to take.”

Jumble scratched his woolly head.

“De canoe couldn’t go ag’in’ de tide,” he said,

rofoundly. “ De philosoifity ob de t’ing am
Eat, whichsomever way do waters flows, dat’s
de way t‘ing on de water will go. For in-
stant,’ ed Jumble, striking an attitude, “ de
force ob de tide will cause a stick ob wood to go
wid deutide, which am called de lors ob grabi-
tation.

“ What do you mean? Did you see a canoe?”

“Not ’zactly dat. I see’d it, and den ug’in I
didn’t see it. "

“You confounded little niggerl" cried Tom,
grasping him by the shirt-collar and shaking
him. “ Out with ,it; explain yourself. See it
and didn’t see it—what are you driving atl"

“ Well, den, I sees dat canoe in de fus’ lace,
but I didn’t see dat canoe af’erwards, or de
fieason dat it sail away and. dat I t’row myself

own.

“So all this time you knew that an Indian
had carried Miss Lormer off in a cancel”

“ Oh, yes; I knowed dat.”

“ And why did you keep it from me! Again,
why didn’t you try to rescue the girl?"

“ Dar’s jes’ how it aml I didn’t like to speak
Oh it, from de fear dat you would t’ink I

as!
Ed

' ou ,hter try to sabe missus. But I had no arms

— at’s de whole truf ob do matter!”
“ What do you call those?” said Tom. point-

ingto the two huge horse-- istols and a. Ion ~. if
knife which Jumble carried 1% his belt. 8 

“_Ebberyt’ing in dis yere worl’ goes by oom- ‘
parlson,".answcred the black boy. “Dat ln- 
- Jun hab rifle and tomerhawk, and ’longside ob
dem things, I hub no arms!”

“ What a little muff!” cried Tom. “ Well,
come onl You have legs, at any rate, and can
use them fast enough.” \

\ .l

 

CHAPTER V. ,
mammals DANCE. ,, 

TOM and the negro boy moved rapidly along 5 ‘ l
the bank of the stream. a ' .v

They had proceeded about a quarter of a mile
when they came to a place where many rocks
progocting above the surface of the'water, would
have prevented a canoe from going further;
By being dragged over these rocks to the clear
water beyond, however, the voyager could com ’
turns on his course. . '

Certain prints of moccasins on the soft ground
of the bank indicated that the Indian and his _ ,
captive had quitted the vessel at this point and" .3 
moved ofl! toward the mountains. . ‘* ‘;

“ We ought to see the canoe here," said Tom.
“Look for it, nig.” - s

" I bah seen enufl ob it,” answered Jumble.

“Look for it, I say,” repeated Tom, stern] .

Jumble and his companion searched for o- 
light craft, which they soon found in a small
cove. concealed by sbrubbery. ‘ ‘

“ Now that We know where the canoe is, we
will follow the trail," said Tom, as be c
by the rocks in the stream to the other side.

Just as he reached the opposite bank he Was ‘
startled by two thundering reports behind him?
He turned to see Jumble holding his. pistols
pointed toward the canoe, at which his shots had 
just been fired.

“ You little fool! Why did you fire?” ,

Jumble bravely flourished his pistols. ’

" Dat canoe hab been de cause ob all our
trouble,” he cried. “Dat canoe carried 03-.
missus! Dat canoe am a rascal l—a scamp ob
do worse inscription. for treatin’ de missus ,dat
wayl Dat’s why I fire at de canoe!” .e 

As he spoke he thrust his pistols back “in his:
belt, with the air of a hero. and crossed over‘to
Tom’s side. a .  "

"Don’t you fire again until I tell you to,"
said the youth. “ You have probably spoiled #
everything by these shots. If there are Indians
near enough they must have heard the noise." ‘

Moving on, the two finally reached the sunl-
mit of the cliff from which they obtained a" I
view of a wooded valley in the distance.
From among the trees rose a column of smoke.

“The Indians are there, I’ll be sworn,” said
Tom. “Now, then, we must be careful. We
must ,contrive to rescue Miss Lormer. before»
nig t.

“I would ask if you are goin’t to try to ‘teal
a march on dem Injuns?” ' * '

“ 0r course,and we must have our arms ready.
You better reload your pistols.” '

J umhle’s teeth began to chatter. Thawhites \
of his eyes rolled wildly, and his lips turned
l pale. He drew one at the pistols and cothmov

  

 

 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
  

 

 

"treetow ‘ch

3 Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

ed to ram into it an old red and yellow hand-
kerchief.

“ What are you about?” said Tom. “ Don’t
you know what you are doing? See what you
are putting into your pistol l"

Jumble held the pistol before him a stared
at it. Then be fastened his teeth in t e end of
the handkerchief and proceeded to ull it out.

“ Here. give me the pistols,” said ‘om, obServ-
ing that the negro’s hand and arm shock as if he
had the ague.

He loaded the istols from Jumble’s ammuni—
ggiti-pouch, and t rust them back into the boy’s

“ Come on.” he said.

'J’umble reluctantly followed Tom down the
sloping precipice. Shaking like a leaf, he kept
close to him, holding one of his great pistols
ti ht! .

heyboys were within a hundred yards of the
valley, when, b peering through a cleft in a.
rock, they coul see Minnie Lormer, bound to a.
tree. with half a dozen savages seated near her.

“‘Tbere are some bushes between us and the
valley,” said Tom. “We will creep up close to
the tree back of which you can See there or
tends a line of shrubbery. Once in that shru b-

'bery, we can reach the tree, and as the savages

are sitting with their backs to it, I can cut the
thongs holding the girl, and creep « if with her.
You must be ready with our pistols to take

90d aim and fire from t e shrubbery at the
Indians, the moment they discover the girl’s
esca . Do you twig?”

“ t am perfec’l y plain," gasped the frightened
darky, “ and de commands ob de enemy—I mean
de command ob de general. or redder yours,
shall be peromtoly fullfilled.”

“There is where you are to post yourself,’
said Tom, indicating a thick clump of bushes on
a knoll a little to the right of those behind the

tree.
“Dere’s whar I’s to be a p05t," repeated J um-

‘ bis. in a whisper to himself.

. “And,” continued Tom, “ you are not to fire
until the Indians perceive that the girl is gone,
and start in pursuit. "

“ 1’: not to be fired at when dem Injuns starts
inpursuit ob de girl instead ob me,’ again re-
peated Jumble. ‘ .

“ Don’t you fire until sure you Will hit.”

“Be shuah day don’t the so as to hit ,dis

I chile,” murmured Jumble.

When the latter gained the sition pointed
ontto him, he shook so that om feared the
savages might hear the rustling he made in the
bushes. I '

The ho orfift cautiously along toward the

innie was bound.
I When close to it he rose and whispered in
the girl’s ear: “Dori’t'act as if you hear me.
The moment I cut your thongs, stoop cau-
tiously and creep along with me through the

,shrnbbery.”

Although somewhat startled. by the sudden
address, yet Minnie made no name.
Drawing his knife Tom severed her hands,

' and "the girl crouching. crept along With her

manner through the shrubbery. Evidently her

'u’com would for some time have remained un-

/

 

discovered but for Jumble. The darky, trem-
bling in every limb, as he stooped among the
bushes on the knoll, saw the shadow of one
of the Indians sway suddenly as he made a.
slight movement. Imagining, in his terror,
that the savage was coming toward him, the
boy raised his pistol and fired/at random. the
bullet passing high over the heads of the party
by the fire.

In an instant the red-men sprun totheir feet,
and while two of them bounde toward the
knoll, the others noticing the escape of the girl,
darted into the shrubbery, in search of her.

With an unearthly yell, Jumble, throwing
away his pistol, leaped from the bushes and

ran.

“ Black-face, stop, or me fire!” cried the fore-
most Indian, who was withiu a few yards of the
fugitive.

“ Ohl Lord! 0h, Goll—a-mighty, help dis little
nig!” screamed the “ dark ,” throwing himself
upon his back, his legs an arms sawin the air
like a. windmill. “ Oh, massa Injun, didn’t
fire dat pis’l it went ofl’ ob itself, and I aim it
straight in do air, when I pulled de trigger!”

“Fool, get up!” said the Indian, as he now
looked down at the boy.

“ Yes! yes! anyt’ing in de worl’ if you spar’
J umble’s life. I never had any grudge ag’in’ yer,
and dat’s de livin’ trufl” _

. He arose, to face both savages who had been
ingursuit of him. '

ne of them caught him by the ear, and with
grim playfulness made a circle about his. woolly
head with his tomahawk.

“Ugh l” be granted, “tired of white scalp!
like black scalps for change l”

“ Dey’s no good! dey’s no good! shuah as yer
born!” gasped Jumble, claSping his hands, “ dat
black scalp is not worf a pin 1” V

“ Good for give to squaw; squaw show to baby.
Make baby laugh.”

“ 0n de contrary, sah, dah black scalp would
frighten do little one out ob his nateral life,
and de wool would come 01! and ’tick in his
eyes 1”

One of the Indians snatched the string of
pearls from the speaker’s neck.

He looked at them admiringly.

“ If let black boy go, will he bring more?”

“ 0h, do Lord bless yer, yes! I kn0w whar
dar’s a hull bushel ob dem pearls. I’ll brin
more ob dem, and half a. dozen gol’ rings, an
ebber so many chiny Cups and saucers. and all
sorts ob little chiny imerges, and little dolls,
wid heads dat go roun’ and roun’."

“ Lie l" briefly answered the savage.

Then looking steadil at the “darky,” with
eyes that gleamed like re from under his hid-
eous head-dress, he said:

“ Wl'li’at make black boy have heart like a

new

-‘ 0h, golly, as l” faltered Jumble,"de heart’s
in do right place, but I’s fond ob do woo! on my
head, bekase it keeps my head warm in de win-
ter time. and bekase dar’s so many brack' girls
dat wants a. lock ob my h’ar."

‘f Ugh l black girl have strong stomach.” grunt-
ed the savage. “Come, we MOW what we do
with the black-face.” I

 

 4.--”.-.

Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive. 9 ~

 

“Hei i he] i" screamed Jumble, as the In—
dian co lured im and dragged him toward the

fire.

“ Reast legs with fire. Want to see the boy
kick,” said the fierce captor.

“ Goll-a-mighty l" yelled Jumble, “ whatsom-
ebber yer do, a nr’ (16 shins ob dis chilel Dey’s
de most tender oin part ob de human body 1"

Headless of his supplications, the two Crows
tied him to a stake With a rope so long that it
would give freedom to his movements. and then

they rolled up his trowsars, baring his legs to 1

the knees. . .
The terror of the “darky” was at its hight.

when one of the savages pulled a burning brand ‘

from the fire and approached him.

The CrOWs had evidently heard of the report- ‘

ed tenderness of a negro’s shins. With the end

of the brand the Indian touched that part of ‘
J umble‘s leg causing him to hop and dance about ‘
in a grotesque manner, while he filled the air ‘

with his elis.

In reality he was more frightened than hurt,
for the Indian touched him only once with the
lighted end of the stick, causing no more pain
than might have been made by the prick of a
pin. After that the savage amused himself by
applying to the captive's “shins” that end of
the brand which had nofire u on It! V _

So great was the force of umble’s imagina-
tion, however, that he danced, leaged, sprung
and yelled, under the impresswn t at he was
suflering excruciating pain!

.——-

CHAPTER VI.
mum‘s FORTUNE.

Mm and her com anion, the moment they
heard the re rt of t a pistol, knew that the
Indians woul be in pursuit, of them.

They quickened their pace, and gained a
ledge behind which Tom now paused.

The three savages chasing them had caught

sight of their forms and were coming on, one ‘

holding a rifle ready for a shot and the two
others grasping lon spears.

The boy pointed is piece toward the three
and fired, when the one with the rifle dropped
his weapon, his right arm having been struck
by the bullet.

“I’ve winged one of the varmints,” said Tom,
“and that'll keep the others from coming up in
a hurry.”

The lndians did not emerge from behind a
mound where they were now sheltered. They
were evidently awaiting the darkness of night
to conceal their advance.

Meanwhile the ear-splitting yells of Jumble
were heard in the distance.

“Poor Jum‘," murmured Minnie, with tears
in her eyes. ‘ it is terrible to hear him. They
are torturing him, I am afraid.”

“I will go and see whatI can do for him.”
said Tom, as soon as it is dark enough.

“You can do nothing. There are too many
of them. Oh! I am so sorry for Juml”

“ I'll never leave a friend 'in the lurch,
whether he be black or white i” said Tom.

“ Sometimes there is no help for it.”

“There are only two Indians, tormenting the
‘darky.”’ responded the boy, looking taward

/

i the fire. ‘" They seem to be touching or prick-
ing him with something. as well as I can see.”

“Barbarella! dreadful!” murmured the girl,
shuddering.

As the twilight shadows deepened, Tom took
‘ Minnie’s arm, and hurried with her among rocks
and bushes which would hide the two from their
foes, toward the stream.

The lad had tied a kerchief about his head,
; and on the ledge he had left, he had placed his
cap, so as to give the watchful savages the im-
pression that he was still there. The dece tion
i was successful, and the fugitives\reach the

stream without being pursued. Tom, having

dragged the canoe over the rocky obstructions
i in its way, fastened the warp to a rugged pro-
‘ jection, and helped the girl into the vessel.
4 “Now, then,’ he said. “Wait here for me
to come back. I am going to try to rescue
Jumble. If you should see nrlians comin . un-
tie the canoe-rope, and let the craft drift own-
stream.”

“ You are a brave boy,” said Minnie, ad—s
iniripgly. “ But I am afraid you are too reck-

ess.

“ You’ll soon see me coming back with Jun-
ble,” answered Tom, as he hurried awe .

Cautiouslv but swiftly he moved in t e direc-
tion of the fire, which he now could see twink-
ling like a red eye in the gloom.

Jumble was still yelling, but when he was
near enough to see him b the lurid gleam, the
boy noticed that his position had been changed.

The savages had made a second fire under the
tree, and from a branch, with the rope about
his middle, the had suspended the dorky,
who. although t a heat hardly scorched him,
exaggerated, as usual, the horror of his liliqu- ;
tion. In fact he squirmed, twisted himself, and
now and then turned a somerset in the air,
greatly to the amusement of the two young In-
dians, who, however, squatted on their 111%
under the tree, smoking pipes, coolly
gravely watched the spectacle.

As these savages were armed only with spearl
and tomahawks, the boy had no doubt that he
would succeed in rescuing his black friend.
The Indians, in spite of his caution heard the
rustling he made in the bushes, and, sprin‘fi
Hg), they saw him ashe aimed his rifle to

t em.

“ Get away from there, you vermin!!!" cried
Torn, “or you are dead dogs!”

‘ The two Crows, with a yell of rage, darted

1 ad behind a rock, some distance from the fire.

I The boy then advanced to the treeon which ‘
Jumble was she nded.

“ h, Massa om!” cried the . "I"
killed sushi Dar’s no life lef’ in me. poor '
mg am as dead as a stone 1” '

l “ Not quite as bad as that,” lied the youth

‘ below. “ If I throw you my kn e, do you think
you can catch it!" ‘

’ “ I’s cotched enough, already,” said Jumble.

i “ 1’: too dead to catch anyt’ing more.” , ‘,

‘ f‘It is the only way on can be saved!”-
plied Tom. “Karel d out your hands, and
catch the knife I” ‘-

‘ The black boyextendedhis arms, and Toni
threw the knife. . ‘.

The “dsrkv”wu so afraid that it  

I > i

 

 

. \ ‘
(0 Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive;

 

 

stick him, that, instead of seizing it, he struck
at, it wildly, hitting it a blow which sent it
downward, so that it passed through one leg of
his ants, pricking his “shin.”

; e yell which then escaped him might have
been heard for a mile.

“ Ohl ohl golly how dat hurt! Dat shin hab
been burned to def, already, and dis am do
was of it all l”

“ Reach down and pull the knife out of your
ants,” said Tom. “Quick! there is no time to
osel”

Jumble obeyed.

“Now. cut the ropel” added Tom, as he

kicked away the burning brands of the fire.

Jumble did so, and down he came a distance
of, eight feet, landing upon his posteriors, among
the remains of the fire.

“I’s burned up suah, now! Hoo-ahl Ch!
3 ah! He] 1 helpl’ yelled the little negro, rolling
over an over upon the ground, rubbing and
elapgiong his seat.

‘—‘ top, you are not hurt at all i” said Tom.
as he too old of Jumble‘s hand, and pulled
him to his feet. “ Now, then, follow me. ’

The lad directed his course toward the stream,
but he had not proceeded far when he saw dark
outlines of human forms approaching.

‘-‘;We’l dead now, shuah I” said Jumble. “ Heah
(lea come—dem debbils in de shape ob Injunsl"

.. Hist! keep as silent as if you were dead,”
‘ , seidii‘om. “We will creep in here and they

malrpau without seeing us.”
a espoke he crawled. followed by his com-
panion, into the opening of a rock, above which
1mg a large bowlder.
The two remained silent and motionless in the
cavs,-nnd soon they heard the Indians go past.
All at once, just as Tom was about to creep
out of the cavern, he saw the face evidently of
,1: small Indian boy, peering into the hollow.

\ It was so dark there that the presence of the
x fugitives ‘would not have been made known to
the little savage, had not Jumble given utter-
ance,“ a yell of dismay. ‘~

“You have a iled all!" cried Tom.

A! he spoke t 0 Indian boy’s faca disappeared
fromtbe o ning. and. the next moment, down
 wlder with a crash over the en-
’ mme_., .

‘_‘ We are fixed now," continued Tom, much
0): ed. “ That boy has penned us up here
wit the bowldor, and has gone to call the other
unwind bring them here.”

‘ umb e commenced to bowl and groan.

‘ “,Puk that.” cried Tom, “ you have done

. ~mischief enough already.” .

“,P’r’aps dar ma it! some odder way fur git-
tin’putr ob dislblac ole ob ‘ Calcuttah,’ " said
_, Jumble. “ I t’ink I sees an openin‘ up dar,” he
 ad ,-.pointing slautingly upward.

‘“ . e is a hole, sure enough,” answered
Tom, “but whether or not it is big enough for
us tgmt through‘it, remains to be seen.”

T e “ darky ” instantly commenced to crawl
up geleading to the hole, but he had not

it when, with a bowl of terror, he came
roll u back down the rocky shelf.

“#57 degood Lord hab mercy on dis poor
_ nig he cried. ‘,‘ De debbll himself, or some

 

one ob dat happy famerly, hab got hold ob him; ' i

now!"

In fact, Tom could hear smothered squealing,
mingling with the negro’s cries, but whence it
came he was puzzled to tell, as he could see»
nothing.

“ Where is it? What is it?” he inquired.

” Oh, yes, sah. dat’s itl dat’s it! It am de-
‘what is it,’ and it am got (19 teet fas’ in die
darky’s hidel Ohl help! helpl fur de Lord’s;
sakel”

And, as he spoke, Jumble continued to rolli
over and over, now and then grasping the legs.
of his companion.

Tom lighted a match and by the gleam he-
saw the long tail of some animal protruding
from the negro‘s pauts’ pocket, upon which the‘
terrified black tightly pressed one of his hands.

“ Take away your hand,” said the youth, as.
he seized the tail in a firm grip, “ and I’ll pull.
it out 1”

Jumble obeyed, and Tom drew from the ~
“darky’s” pocket 3; muskrat, which, it was-
plain, had got into its present quarters by acci~ v
dent, and from sheer fright.

The boy let the creature go, and it scampered
oif, evidently overjoyed at regaining its free-
dom.

“ There, Jumble, you see what a fool you’ve '
made of yourself. [but animal would not have -
hurt a flea,

“ Well, de fac’ am,” said the black‘ boy, who -
seemed a. little ashamed of his terror, “’th dar’s ~

times when de bravest ob de brave may be

obercome by not Knowin’ do why and de'whur--
fore ob anyt’ing sudden dat happens.”

“Well, now go and see ifyou can get through:
that hole. It may be large enough for you, but v
I don’t think it is for me.’

Jumble crept up to the hole and by dint of
hard squeezing, sncceeded in getting out.

Tom who had also reached the aperture,
found that it was impossible to force his stouter
body through. .

“ Get a stone and pound at the edges of the
hole,” he said to the negro, “and I think you
can make it large enOugh for me to squeeze
through it.”

“ Dem Injuns am comin’,” answered the
“ darky.” "T’ink de bes’ t’ing dis nig can do,
considerin’ de criticality ob do ’casion, am to go
look somewhar fur an ax or a hammer.”

“ No, no,” said Tom, “ with a stone you can
quickly make the opening larger.”

But there was no response.

Jumble had run ofl.

CHAPTER VIL
A FRIEND IN NEED.

J [Jan hurried away with headlong speedK
Now and then in the dark he would stumble,
and tall, but he would pick himself up and keep.
on, scrambling up the sides of the rocks, scrapings
his shins, and yelling when he did-so, but still;
keeping on.

In a short time he found himself at the creek
ing—Dlace, on the bank of the stream. ,

‘Is that you?” inquired a gentle vol?

“ Ohl Lor’ brass yer, yes; it I d pig at

last. come far to rescue yer from ll yer, trou;

 

\ V I I

 

‘ l

/

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. 11

 

bios and perilsl” cried Jumble, who had recog-
nized the voice of his mistress.

As he spoke he sprung into the canoe.

“ Where is Tom?" inquired the girl, anxious-

y“Oh, it am all rightl”answered the“dnrky,”
as, with the knife Tom had given him, he sev-
ered the warp holding the canoe.

“ Why did you do that?” cried the young
girl in alarm. “ We should have waited for
the boy,”

“ 1t am all right,” repented 'Jumble.

“But where is heal—where is Tomi" said Min-
nie. “ We are now drifting fust away from
the place where I was to have waited for him."

“ Oh, it am all rightl” said Jumble again.

And as he spoke the whites of his eyes rolled
and glistened through the darkness.

“ Come, tell me where he is! Where and
how did you leave him?" said Minnie.

“Well, you see dur’s Injuns a-cornin’ for to
scalp dat White boy, and if dis nig hadn‘t made
off. quieker’n u ’possum, rley would have scalp-
eil him, too; but it’s ull right, anyhow I"

“It seems to me it‘s all wrong! So you left
that brave boy in the lurch?”

“I lef’ him in de hollow ob a rock, whar de
Injuus is goin’, nnd whor de probabilitum is «int
hell he scalped if he don’t git away from dar.
But, as do ssyin’ am, whar dur’s life dnr’s hope,
and it am always de darkest before day.”

“ Can you not work the canoe back! We
must return.”

_ “ I can nebbe-r work ng‘in’ dnt current, missus.
If we keep straight on we may see some white
folks somewhar, and send dem to help dat boy."

“ Will we be apt to see any?”

“ Dar’s nuflin’ like tryin’.”

Meanwhile the canes, kept steady by the
negro, who held one of the paddles astern, gl'ld-
ed rapidly on. The moon, which had previous-
ly h on hidden by clouds, was now visible, as
the sky cleared and the silvery light fell upon
the waters of the stream.

Finally, rocks were seen ahead, which would
prevent the further progress of the light
VGSie .
haTie dorky worked the canoe alongside of the

n

“ We mus’ git out heah, missus,” he said. “I
know dis country well. Dsr’s asettlemen’ ’bout
twenty miles from heah, and dar’s whar we
mus’ o.”

“ Let us make all hate,” said Minnie. “ We
will probably find some white people there to
send to Tom's rescue."

“ I don’t t’ink we can reach (lat settlemen’ to-
night, missus. Dsr’s so many rocks and woods
in de Wafiflt it would be onposserble. Prob<
able dat y will keep un:il mornin‘.”.

" Alas! I am afraid it is too late already,”
said the girl.

The two moved on, Jumble leading the way.

At length they came to a clifl, which must be
crossed on their way to the settlement, but
which it would be impossible to ascend in the
dim light.

Jumble found a snug alcove in crock, and
there, with lesvas and branches, he made a,
resting-place for Minnie. _

, “ Der. now, you kin go to sleep. while dis nix

 

keeps guard,” said the “dorky,” drawing his
remaining pistol, which the Crows had not
taken fro . him. “ Rus’ assuahwmissus, dat l’li
pr’otvc’ yer wid my hery life, as become de brav-
est ob scouts!” . . - L

So saying, he moved off a few yards from the
alcove which Minnie had entered, and com-
menced to walk up and down' taking slow, dig—
nifled strides, and carrying the huge horse- 3,
pistol on his left shoulder. ‘

At length, however, he became drows , and
crawling into a crevice among the r s, be
are ped to sleep. ‘ , . ;.

lie was awakened at down by voices, and the " 
tramp of approaching feet. ' .‘3

“ injunsl Injunsl" he yelled. “Wake up,
missus, and fly fur yer lifel" a

He sprung up, as he spoke, and rzzn at a head. "’u
long pace. V  3

The approaching footsteps seemed to gnin ~
upon him. He crouched in the hollow of a rock, .
trembling in every limb, while he repeatedly .
rubbed his woolly head as if to make sure that j
it was still in its place. - '

At thut instant he felt a strong band on the “
skirt of his jacket, and he was pulled backward
with a force which made his teeth rattle.

Down he went, into a sort of pit. bumpi his
nose on the ground, while in the dim Jig t be *
saw a figure before him, claring with a has or,
brush the opening through which he had
jerked into this retreat. “; ' ~

Rolling over and over, the negro split thc‘oir
with his yells of terror. v Lu,»

“1’5 105' now, shunhl I’s mos’ broke my unset,“
Oh! oh! Hoo—ool hoo—" '  . ,

"Stop your noise, you black fooll”rcame the (l ,
stern, low voice of the persoa who had drawn ‘,
him into the pit. “ You are safe enough here!"- , '

At these words Jumble looked up, to see.'b ‘V a
the light which stole down into t erocky t‘
through an openingin the rugged ceiling is V,
a sturdy, middle-aged man, every part of w and
face, except the eyes, was concealed by a. thick
bushy board. He wore a hunting-shirt of buck:
skin, leggins and moccasins. in a bros
about his waist was 21 long knife, and his rifle"
stood against the wall. 1 V

“ Praise de Lord I” cried Jumble. “So yon’sé
a friend to dis poor nig?” ' V

“I will not hurt vou, but don‘t you.“ or
word at present. You kin stay yer ‘
awhile, of you behave yourself." ‘ ‘

“ 1’s still as a mouse,” said the “ dorky,” uhe
crouched upon his hams. »

Footsteps and voices now were heard 
side. It was evident the party Jumble had ,
heard were Searching for some one. - I .2

At length the noises receded. , The hunter-7'
for such he appeared to be—withdrew the brush;
from the opening. and going out, tookalong
survey of the country. ‘ *

In the distance. yelling, shooting like wild,
Indians, he beheld a gang of a down notch
boys, from fifteen to eighteen, clad in hunter's
garb, and heavily armed with pistols, rifles and,
knives. ‘ ,

.“Thsr they go—the Lynch-gang ‘WolveIP": 
he muttered, bitterly, as he quickly drew has? T ‘
and entered the pit. “Now, then, unmade
me what’s the matter wrth you? Why were

  

 

   
 
 
  
  
  
  
   
 
   
    
 
  
  
   
   
 
 
 
    
   
    
  
 

. \ - , _ , w

r.

i V

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

you hiding? Were you afraid 0’ them white
_. people?"
.f' “I t’ought day was Injuns,” answered the
' ne [‘0- o
3." hen he went on to describe his late adven—
tures, making it appear, however, that he had
shown the most heroic courage, from first to

. hat.
, I v' I “ You say you left your White-boy friend
v '. shut up in a hollow,” remarked his listener.
i What was the name of that boy, besides Tomi”
; “ His odder name was Tabor, sah, and he was
i, do son-ob dut fellah what killed do sheriff. Will
é, -' {or please tell me your name, dat dis nig may
'v ‘, ‘ now what to call yer?”
“ Well then,” said the man, hesitatingly, “it
is Will Hacking!"
‘1". He had given a sudden start on hearing the
"- name of the boy who had been left behind in
1.4 such eril. ‘
,  I “ uld you lead me to the place where your
5' ; friendis?” he inquired, seizing his rifle.
A W‘Iconld, marsa; dat is if yer give dis nig
,sumil’u’ to eat, for Fe halt tarnished wid ’tarva-
tion.
_' From the wallet he had just slung at his side,
the 'hunter took some pieces of venison and some
bread, which be tossed to the negro.
w The latter devoured the food greedily, after
which Haskins led the way out of the retreat.
:~ “Yer won’t forgit missus, on de way'i” said
 .. . Jumble. “I don’t know‘what’s become ob dat
} . , bravo young lady.”
“ No, I Will not be likely to forget her,” said
»the\hunter, with astrong emphasis on the last

   

   
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  
  
  
   
 
  
   
     
 
  

1‘ word.
3 Jumble, who, as already stated, knew this
i _ part of the country well, now went ahead, but,
’ onteaching the place where he had left Minnie,
he found that she was gone.
“‘“She ,will probably find her way to the set-
tlement ” said Haskins. “ Go onl Streak it,
.darky, like white lightnin’.”

About an hour later, the two gained the cross-
ing-placed the stream, and, finally, they reach-
ed the hollow, which Jumble at once recog-
nized by an old dead tree near it. The bowlder

.{had been removed from the opening, and Tom

“_ he ’ve captured that boy,” said Haskins,
aaxwus , as he looked at certain footprints on

ground.

“ a’t’s too bad,” said Jumble, scratching his
h ad. “He was almos’ as brave as dis nig, and
A I, dnit reason I’m mou’ty sorry he hab los’ his
' ' ar.

5" “‘We do not know that he has lost his h’ar,”
mid Basking. “ We must hunt fur him. Thar’s
hops, yeti”

' e man spoke in an anxious voice.

:Foll0wing the trail, the two finally came in
tight of a wooded slope, upon which were seated
» half a dozen of the Crow tribe.

-, Jumble’s teeth began to chatter.

j “ No sign of him, tharl” said Haskins, gloomi-
,ly. “ I’m afraid the varmints hev done ther
,‘ .workl xEt they hev, by the ’tarnall I’ll be re
. ~ Maggi!”

i ’ b0“ hat’s yer goin’ to do?" inquired the black
Li "4'  y. ’

"  ' As he spoke. the gaze ot the “hunter fell upon

 

1

  
 

y

 

an Indian lad, who was passing the ridge of
rock behind which the two stood, but who did
not see them, on account of a clump of bushes
on their right.

Haskins pounced upon the boy, holding him
by the throat with one hand, while in the other,
be grasped his long knife. -

“No noise, or you’re a dead coon,” he said.
“Whar’s the white boy you captured last night?
Tell me, or 1’“ cut oil“ your head.”

“Yes, sah,” said Jumble, now holdly ad-
vancing, and shaking his horse-pistol in the face
of the defenseless boy, who had not even a knife
in his belt, “and ai’er yer head comes oii’, I’ll
poundlnyer skull wid dat yere pis’ll D'yer heahl
“'58)’ :

And the negro glared fiercely at the lad, grit-
ting his teeth and showing the whites of his
rolling eyes.

“ Ughl” gruntcd the young Indian, con-
temptuouslyz turning his back upon the
“ darky.” ‘ Logo is u Crow. He is not afraid
to die. Let the white hunter ask a man of his
own size, .if he wants to know. The Crow
braves are not far 01f.”

As he spoke, the lad, with a sudden nimble
twist of his body, loosened liim=elf from tho
grasp of Haskins, and kicked Jumble who was
in his way, on one of his “ shins,” and, in a mo-
ment, was out of sight, gliding like an eel uniting
the rocks.

The “dorky” dropped down in a “heap,”
yelling with pain, while be pressed both hands
upon his “shin.” _

“Histl you coward i" said Haskms, sternly.
‘F Pack that at oncel”

CHAPTER VIII.
THE CAPTURE.

AFTER Jumble left him, Tom endeavored to
enlarge the opening above him by striking it
with the butt of his piece. .

He had made it nearly large enough to admit
his body, when he heard the. Indians at the
bowlder over the entrance, trying to move it.

He redoubled his efforts; but ere he could
make the hole much larger the savages came
into the cave.

Tom then faced round. and looking down

 

upon their hideous fares, revealed by the light.

of a torch which one of them carried, he pointed
his piece toward them.

“ Keep back therel” he cried. “The first one
who tries to come up that ledge gets a bullet in
his head!”

The boy, partly sheltered by an_abutment of
the rock, could not be hit’ by the miles or spears
of the savages.

“ Come down. lnjun no want to hurt. Inilun
want make little black-face bring more pear s!"
cried one or the Grows—a stout man whose leg-
gins seemed much too small for him, and who
had a large, rugged face, with a long, hooked
nose and glittering eyes.

“Get out! You cannot fool me that way,”
said the lad.

“ Pale-face too smart!” grunted the savage.
“ Better come down. What use of being shut
up here?” I _

Tom did not change his pOSItlon', but still held
his piece pointed toward the opening.

\

 

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

..

  

 

All at once, to his surprise, he saw it flying
upward from his grasp.

A strong savage hzul kneeled down by the
hole above, and suddenly thrusting both arms
through it, had jerked the weapon from his
hand.

So sudden had the movement been performed
that Tom had had no time to tighten his grasp
upon the piece.

“ What a fool I‘ve been!” muttered the boy,
as he now darted down the ledge toward the
opening. As he sprung through it he was con-
fronted by several of the Crows, who made him
prisoner. He was led off to the same valley

where Jumble had been made to perform his :

antics. There he was bound with thongs to the
tree from which he had freed Minnie.

“ What are you going to do with me?” inquir-
ed the lad, as the savages now quietly seated
themselves upon the ground.

“ The'white boy will know in time.”

“You better let me go. I have never harmed
on.”

“Shoot one Crow dead, and shoot another in
arm.” '

“I did not shoot the one who was killed, an-
5wered the lad.

“All some. The white boy can lie. All the
pale faces double-tongue.” I

Then rising, he thrust the point of his knife 9.
little beneath the skin ovm‘ the lnd's heart.

“Oh! ohl ohl how it hurts!” yelled Tom.

“ Make hurt more. The white boy is a squnw.
He (‘ries when he has pain. Not so the Urow.
He can bear pain, and be as still as the panther
when he is going to spring."

As he spoke the speaker again
boy with t 9 point of his blade.

“ Sue if you will he still after that, you mean
varmintl” cried Tom, sudden] dealing the
savage, between the eyes, a low with his
clinched fist, which knocked him down, half-
stunned, upon his companions.

Then away he went, making for the thicket
which was on his right.

Some moments elapsed era the Indians were
sufficiently recovered from their confusion to
start in pursuit, by which time Tom had pro-
ceeded u out a hundred yards. '

The crack of a rifle and the whizzing of bul-
lets about his ears showed him ’that his foes had
commenced the chase.

“l’m all right, so far," muttered the lad, as
he crept into a hollow tree, which he saw be-
fore him by the dim light of the moon, now
stealing down among the branches. “ It was a
good move of mine, pretending that I was
frightened while I was cutting mv thongs with
the clasp-knife, which I had taken from the
concealed pocket of my jacket. l’m sorry I
dropped the knife, as it might have come in
11%.

Remaining in the hollow, 'Tom soon heard
the Indians who were hunting for him go run-
ning past.

As soon as he could no longer hear them, he
directed his course toward the stream, which he
reached half an hour later.

To his surprise, he found that the canoe was no
longer there.

pricked the

l
l
l
l

 

. and.

taken from him by the Indians.

   
  
   
  
  
  
    
   
   
   
  
  
 
   
   
   
    
  
   
  
    
   
   
 
   
    
    
    
  
  
    
   
    
     
    
    
  
   
 
    
    
     
    
 
 
  

“The Warp must somehow have got loose "
from the rock to which it was fastened,” he
thought. “ That girl was not the one to go of! .
of her own accord, after she had promised to .,
wait for me.” . ~ 

He kept along the bank of the stream, but he
did not discover the cause, until he had reached ,
the place where it could be navigated no fur-  '
thcr, when he saw it fast among the rocks. ‘ ‘

“The girl must havo got out on the bank,
here,” he muttered. ‘

He looked closely at the ground, and was able .
to make out the prints, upon the soft earth, left ' ~
by Minnie’s and the negro’s feet. .

In the dim light he soon lost the trail, and.
finally, he paused to rest among a group of _ ~
rocks. Here, before he was aware of it, he, i ‘
dropped to sleep. ' ‘

He was awakened at dawn by a girl’s shriek.
He rubbed his eyes and looked a ut him in
confusion, until he again heard that criof dis-'
tress, when he imagined be recognised t 9 voice
as that of Minnie Lohmer.

“ Where can she be?” he muttered, and then.._
springing to his feet, he hurried in the direction
of the cries, which continued. I '

He had not proceeded for, scrambling over
rocks and through bushes, when he came in‘
sight of Minnie. whose position certainly w
one of great peril. r , .

The lgirl was hanging by a vine on the side of
a precipice, fifty feet high, whilelabove hen.
lushing its tail, while its eyes gleamed with fury}
was a large wild-cat, which, movin to and fro'
on the edge of the hight, seemed an ecided‘wh
ther to spring upon the young woman or wai
until she should let go of the vine and drop
the base of the elevation, before attacking her! .

Tom deeply regretted that his rifle had been

 

However, he had with him a loaded plastic]
with two barrels, which, in an inside poc t 0
his jacket, had not been noticed by his “W832

As they had possessed themselves of his our;
munition, it was not in his power to fire mar?
than two shots at the savage beast. _ .4

Desiring, therefore, to make these eflectiv
ones, he ran round to the other side of the rock}.
and got close to the wild-cat ere he fired. ,' .i i

The beast dropped dying at the Second Ihbi,‘
the blood pouring from a wound in its breast.

“ I’ve ‘settled’ himl” cried Tom; “and now
let me see what I can do for Minnie.” \

On reachin the edge of the rock he saw th ‘
young girl sti l clinging to the vine. ‘

There were some roots by means of which he
thought he might descend to her as she won
only about five feet below the top of the GIOVOi
tion. . ; r
He made the trial, and gained her side.
“Now then. put our arms around me, and
gangign to me, whl e I scramble up with you,"

6 ea . - - ,

She complied with his request, and To
slowly and steadily, drew himself to tho lumml
of 15tzlhe elevgaltiotilnd h 1 t h

innie use use a go orpreurvqr
and stepped upon the rock. , v “
“ A second time you havo saved'my' Mafia!!!
“ You are indeed a brave boy ,

     

’\

f is

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

; “Oh! don’t you say a word,” he answered.
' . “Wah’at boy wouldn’t have done the same for
' , ‘,you

i “Jumble,” she answered, smiling.
I‘ _ “ I can believe that,” said Tom.
,. hot with 011 in the Cancel"

“ Yes, e was; and he ran off again last night
and left me in the lurch. There were some peo-
y ‘_ Ele coming, and he thought they were Indians;

ut i could tell by their voices as they passed,
f - without seeing me, that they were whites.
I  They were the fierce Lynch-law ‘ Wolves,’ butI
; tried to make them hear me, for I wanted to get
i: ‘ them to go to your assistance—Jumble having
“ told me that he had left you in peril from the

' savages.”
, " “ And so he did—the mean little niggerl”
' I ' “Well, he came to the canoe, and before I
could prevent him he cut the warp, set‘ing the
vessel adrift. As I just said, I tried to make
~ those' white boys hear me. but they made so
' much noise themselves that I was unable to,
‘ ' , and finally they were too far of! for me to call
‘ ', to them.”
‘ Further explanations were made.
, " The wild-cat sprung toward me from a hol-
‘ low just as I reachedthe top of the rock,” con-
. tinned the girl. “ I ran to the edge and let my-
' self down, and as the creature came on I drop-
' . ped, but contrived to clutch the vine.”
“ We must now try to reach some settle-
ment,” said Tom. “ I am hungry, and I sup-
pose you must be half-famished.”

CHAPTER 1X.
/ mMBLa’s RETREAT.

AFTER the Indian boy had escaped from him,

; Haskins watching, flnall saw him hurry to-

". yarddthe Crows in the distance, whom, he soon
' o no .

v “Now, then, little nigger, thar’ll be work for
Ins,” he said. “Hyar they come, them var-
.»mints, making for us!”

“ What mus’ I do? Tell me, and I will do do

: berry bes’ I can I" said Jumble, with chattering

. teeth.

“No, they have turned and are going in an-
, other direction,” said Haskins.

0n hearing this the “ darky ” all of a sudden
regained his 0st courage. ’

Flourishing his pistol, he cried in a loud
, voice:

“‘Git out dar. yer
comes dis may again
shuah as you’re born!”
i“S”ave yer wind, darky; they kin not hear

our

“ I on’ly wish they’d come dis wayl Wouldn’t

.Iv‘socker' it to ’em; I’s little, butl ain’t to be

‘1 .trod on, nohowl”

“ You may have your wish,” said Huskins.
-- “The Varmint: are trying to sarcumvent us—

. to. t round in our rear!”

. ‘ Is dat so?” cried Jumble, drawing a long
breath. "Den we ought to beprepared. We
ought to go do odder way I"

' l “ That is just what we oughtn’t do, of you
lease! That‘s not a better persition than this,

go wharjbout thesedi gin l”

S’pona’I no shes an look it

“ Was he

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
    

 

aller tiivgersl El‘ er
in ax yEr—yes I will—-

1' can find a

 

good place for to make a stan‘?” said Jumble,
rolling his eyes.

“ No. no, you’ll stand hyarl” cried Haskins,
“ and of they come upon us, front and rear, ycu
kin let ’em have it with your pistol, while I use
my riflel”

“ But—but,” stammered Jumble. “ 1’s ’fraid
I mou’t fire crookrd! De fac’ am, dat dar’s
times when I has a squint in do let’ eyel”

And as he spoke, he twisted the eye far up
under his brow.

“ Nonsense 1” said the hunter. “ Ef thar was
a nice juicy piece 0’ bufller meat before you
you’d see straight enough.”

“1’s goin’ to take a look out, anyway,” cried
the ‘ darky,’ as he scrambled over the ledge and
sprung among the rocks, ere the hunter could
prevent him.

“ Come back hyarl” he shouted, but Jumble
kept on, paying no heed to the summons, and
soon he was far from the ledge, speeding on
among the rocks.

Haskins gave a contemptuous grunt.

“ After all, it is good riddance,” he muttered.
“ The cowardly little nigger wruld hev only
been in the way, had he staid with me.”

As he had thought would be the case, some of
the Crows soon appeared coming up in the rear,
while the others crawled round among the rocks
in front.

The hunter took aim with his piece at those
behind him, and his first shot laid one at his
enemies low.

The bullets of his toes now whizzed about his
head, but he coolly continued to load and fire.

The Indians, however, gradually creeping to-
ward him screened by rocks, must soon have
captured him, but for the appearance, in the
distance, of an approaching party of whites.

The moment the savages caught sight of
these people, they beat a hasty retreat, while
Haskins, crouching behind the ledge, watched
the coming band with keen interest, evident-
ly, with no satisfaction. recognizing the fierce
Lynch-law Gang,'with Trapper John at their
head. As they drew nearer, he crept down the
elevation, keeping himself screened by the
rocks, and made off as rapidly as he could go,
taking a direction which led him toward the
stream. Asyet the whites had not seen him,
and he seemed very anxious to escape their at-
tention, taking advantage of every rock and
clump of shrubbery which would screen him
from their observation.

At last he reached the stream, and, crossing
it, he hurried rapidly along its banks. in the di-
rection of his retreat. ' At this moment he
heard nshout far behind him, anrl’lmew that ho
was seen. On the summit of a cliff stood a boy
looking toward him.

“ It’s that confounded Trapper John," he
muttered.

Keeping on, he finally turned off into the
thicket, and at length reached a marshy field.

Tufts of dry ground, here and there, enabled
him to gain the center of it, where, among a
clump of bushes, he paused, crouching very

10w.
Not long after he heard the voices of the
Lynch-gang “Wolves,” as, wuh Trapper John

v “i- , ,
5.4.}, at

  

 

 

‘Ur

 

‘4
i up

' the “ darhy,” and, knowing t

.stop pulling.

Tom‘Tabor. the Boy Fugitive. 

 

stillat their head, they Went rushing past the
swamp. ‘_ ’ .

Waiting until they were out of sight, Haslnns
emerged from his covart, and continued his
way.

All at once he paused on seeing the body of
the wild—cat, which had been shot by Tom Ta-
bor. Then helooked carefully at the ground by
the base of the rock. i

“ A girl and a boy hev passed this way,” he
muttered. “ I must find out who that boy is,”
he added, his visage lighting up.

Moving on, he was passing a hill upon which
lay‘several logs, when he behold a singular spec-
tav 6.

One of the logs, detaching itself from the
others, came rolling swiftly toward him.

“Oh,goll—a-mightyl ohl ohl 1‘s goin’ to die
for shuah, now,” come the voice of Jumble from
the interior of the log. “ Dar’s a couple ob
honey-bees fas’ened darselves to my shins, and
de Lord on’y knows what dis log am a-takin’
me to!”

“ You’ve comfortable quarters thar, nigger l”
cried Haskins. “ The log ’11 stop ’fore long, in
the pond which are at the foot of the hill.
,That ll pay ye fur leaving me in the lurch!”

Kicking his feet, which protruded from the
log. in vain efforts to stop the rolling piece of

_ timber, Jumble called out:

“ 1 didn’t leabe yer, ’cept to go for assistance.
I was gwine to bring dis log along fur a breas’-
workvdat was all 1”

On. came the log. Haskins might easily have

- stoppeddt, but he stopped aside, and allowed it

to roll. into the pond.
There .was a horrible gurgling sound from
_ at now he really
web in peril, :Haskins seized the timber and pulled
it back upon the shore.

“ No use! 1's gone now! I’s drownded! dead
drowndedl and dar’s an end to dis nigl”
screamed Jumble, wildly kicking his protruding
feet and ankles.

“I’ll pull yer out, nigger—you’re, all right,”
said Haskins.

He seized the ho by his ankles, and tugged
in vain while the ‘darky” called upon him to

“As thar 5 no other way to git you out, I’ll
'hev to cut the log with an ax,” said Haskins.

“Dat would finish me, marsa. Don’t use de
ax, forfiob course you’d split my head as well as
de lo 1

“ [greckin not, if I‘m car’ful. I know whar
thar’s an ax.” '

The hunter procured a sharp stone, which 'he
placed in a crevice of the log for a wedge. Then
obtaining a Hard piece of wood, which would
serve for a club, be commenced to pound upon
the stone.

Thinkin Haskins was usin an ax, Jumble
yelled wit terror, beseeching film to desist.

” I feels do edge ob dat ax in my body, al-
ready 1” he cried. “ Oh, marsal I begs oh you to
Stop using dat “impelment ” ob destruction!
Dar, now, it am cutting into my body, fudder
and fudder,|and I knows dat half ob my ribs am
cut away alreadyl”

At len th, with one tremendous blow, the
hunter spit open the 105 and J umblo crawled

out,hogping to his feet, and staring at the stone
which ad served for a wedge. ‘

“I could ob sworn it was an ax,” he said.

“ Thar it is,” said Huskins, smiling. “ You
kin see by that what fright ’11 do.” <

“Shh!” said Jumble, drawing himself up '.“I
don’t kn \w de name ob fear. It was 11 't‘do
fear ob de ax hurtin’ me, so much as dat was
afraid de ax itself might suffer from de concus-
men.

the tracks here on the ground.” , a
“ Ef one Oh dem tracks ain’t do print of Mini,
illLOfimler’s heel, den I don’t know do meanin’ 0b‘
as s ‘ -
“ You know how to use your own.’.’ I v
At that instant, only a short distance oil, he
heard the yells of savages, followed by the crack
of several rifles.

firmlv by the collar.
“ No, my black friend; thar’s trouble M.
and you and I must see what it is.” . ,- .

 

CHAPTER X.
naaouannn.

their way in search of some settlement w
they might obtain food.
But they looked in vain.

themselves ascending a. wooded bill, on the
summit of which they had noticed a small but.
Hoping that it might prove to be inhabited,
they hurried to the door, and Tom knocked. - »:
There was no response. . .‘ -_. v
The boy then looked in one of the windmh,
to discover that the place was deserted. -. -.
Hanging up on one side, however, were strips
of venison; while a couch of skins in I corner
seemed to betoken that the place had been lots-
ly occupied.
“We will force open the door,” said Tom: L
“ But have we a right to do that?” , ~ '
“Under the circumstances ” said the Fboy,
gatting his empty stomach, “ think‘ wobm.

I had that secret pocket made on

at any rate.
in, but I wish it had

purpose for hidin
been large enoug

thin

either.” . , .
“ How will you 0 en the door?” . 
“ l have a patent or that,” said Tomr r1. . r

the door, throwing himself sideways against" it.

at once.

“We can go to housekeeping. now." , . :i »
Minnie blushed deeply at these 'words, an! a

slight smile hovered about her pretty mouthfu'
some time after. i '

 

‘fiaze fell upon an old envelope, lying on,“
1 oor. .. m

The address was “Edward Tabor,” andlthe
1 handwriting was his own. ‘ ~

I, ‘M

“Well, come on. Iam trying to follow up ‘

Jumble turned, but the hunter caughthilr V I

TOM Taaoa and his fair companion, kept in

Unacquainted  \
this part of the country, they at length found'

esides if there’s anything to pay I’ll pay it " '
he added, taking a purse from an inside pock‘t '
of his jacket. “ l‘he reds didn’t find mymoney. ,. .

to old my rifle,inwhioh~ Q
caSe the varmints wouldn’t have zenith“,

Stepping back half a dozen paces, he ranxat
As it was not very firmly secured, it gasazway, -
“ Here we are ” said the lad whis companion. "

 

" Halloal‘ what’s this?” continued Tom,  ,

‘l jg] .

34‘ ~H ,7,

   
   
  
  
  
   
  
   
  
  
 
 
 
  
   
  
  
  
    
   
 
  
 
   
   
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
 
    
  
  
    
 
  
   
   
  
   
    
   
   
  
   

 

 

16

 

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

  

 

“ I see,” thought Tom, “ this but has been my
father’sl The envelope is that of a letter which
I sent to him, months ago. ”

He said nothing to Minnie about the dis-
covery he had made. He liked and admired
the irl so much that he trembled at the idea. of
her owing that he was the son of the man
w o. as reported had taken her father’s life.

Here is a table and here is a chair,” said the
youth, pointing to a board, laid across two logs,
and to the piece of a sawed tree-trunk, which
would do for a seat. 7

His companion sat down, and Tom helped her
to venison.

“ Eat away,” he said, “ and I will go and get
you a drink. ’

He icked up an old earthern mug from the
ble, and left the hut. -

“ Don’t be gone long," said Minnie.

“There’s a stream under the hill,” said the
boy. “ I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Not long had he been gone when the young
girl was startled at seeing the form of a hideous-

ooking Crow rise suddenly from under the heap
of skins, in the corner!

This savage, who was of short stature, had, a

large head and face, and a deep scar between
the fies added to his ugliness.
' “ ghl” he grunted. springing to the side of
the  and brandishing his tomahawk above
her —“ no make noise, or Moloke quick
reg?”

unie sat motionless and silent with terror,

for an instant; then she glanced toward the
open door, but she saw, as yet, no sign of Tom.
9‘ White boy go for water. He have to go
more far than he think, for the water of the
stream is muddy, and he will look for more.
Crow braves are not far 01!, and they will
make him risoner. Come, you go with Mo-
loke; no ma e cry, on me quick kill.”
He soizad her arm as he spoke, and forced her
’to accom y him.
They seconded the hill, and soon Moloke,
' with the fair captive, was hurrying through the
thicket.
- When Tom returned to the but, to find Min-
nie gone, he was both surprised and puzzled.
“What can have become of her?” he mut~

tered.

He left the but and called her by name, but
there came no reply. i

All at once, glancing below him, he beheld

/ half a dozen Crows advancing up the bill.

“If run—shoot!” cried one, aiming a rifle to-
ward him. r

Tom bounded through the 0 en doorway o

-' the but, and closed and fastene the door, as the

Indian’s bullet whistled past his ears.
Then, through a small hole in the logs of

 

/ also hut, hathrust the muzzle of his empty pis-

“ Keep backl” he shouted. “ The first who ,
takes another etc is a dead man I"

The Crow! sku ked behind knolls of earth and
alum of bushes on the hillside, meanwhile ‘
ate g toward the hut.

.“ I reckon now that Minnie has been captured ‘
and taken 01! b some of those vermints, ’ mut- ,

. Tom. “ hay’ll soon have me. too. in ,

their clutches, for I am without arms and am-
munition.”

“Step aside, lad, and give me a show at the
cussed critters!" was uttered in a deep voice,
close behind the youth. '

He turned, and to his intense surprise beheld
a. stout hunter with a heavily-bearded face and
keen penetrating gaze, while close behind him
stood umble, the whites of his eyes rolling as
usual when he was terrified or agitated in any
way, while be grasped his huge horse-pistol by
the muzzle, holding it upside down.

“ Halloal Where did you ‘come from?” he
gasped, looking from one to the other of his vis-
ltOI‘S. .

“Thar’s no time for explaining now,” said
Haskins, his eyes twinkling in a eculiar man-
ner as he took a quick survey 0 the boy from
head to foot. “ I kin only say that I’m mou’ty
glad I ot hyar jest in time to be of sarvice to
you. game, Jumble,” he added, addressing the
negro; “stand by with your Pistil, to fire after
I do and while I’m reloading.’

“ Yer’s sbuah dese yere logs am water-
Eroof’l” said Jumble, casting a scared look about

1m

“Fire-proof, you mean,” said the hunter.
“ Yes; you kin bet no bullets would go through
these logs, which was put up byapartick’lar
friend of mine.”

“ A friend or yours!” said Tom. “What
was his name?”

“Ned Tabor ” was the answer, as the
speaker leveled his rifle at an Indian and fired.

The piece was well—aimed, and the shoulder of
the save e, the only part of him visible, was
pierced y the bullet.

“You are then a friend of my father?” said
Tom, shakin hands with Haskins, as soon as
he had reloa ed. “ I am Tom Tabor, hi son."

“15 that so?” said Haskins, with much in-
terest. “I’m mou’ty glad to meet you then,
and to be of sarvice to you.”

Jumble had advanced to the hole in the logs,
but the moment he looked through, he sprung
back so quickly that he knocked Tom ofl his

ee .

“ You little varmintl” cried the lad, pushing
highway from him. “ Herel give me the pis-
to.

“Yer can hab it, an’ welcome,” answered the
darkv. “De fac’ is, I’s subjec’ at times to de
St. Vitus 1”

Tom, leaving the negro sprawlin on the
floor, went to the window of the us, and
seeing the arm of an Indian protrude from be-
hind a bush, as he crept along, he banged away
a it.

. The bullet passed through the wrist of the
savage, who, with a grunt, dropped the toma-
hawk he held.

Bang! went Haskins’s rifle the next moment,
and an Indian was shot in the leg.

“Thar’ll be a crippled set on ’em, of they
keep on,” remarked the hunter, as be reloaded
his weapon.

Tom loaded his pistols from the speaker’s
proffered ammunition-pouch, and a tolerably
steady fire was kept up against the Indians,
who finally withdrew.

  

/ .

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. I ‘ I?-

 

“ We've driven them om" said Tom, exnll'n
inglv.
“ ih me dat pls’ll” now cried Jumble, spring-
ing to his feet, and holding out his hands for
hls weapon. “ Let me hab one shot at dem yel-
ler niggersl”

Tom gave up the pistol, when, putting the ,

muzzle through the hole in the logs. the dorky
would have pulled trigger had not Haskins pre
vented him.

“ It’s onlya waste of fodder,” he said. “ We
must be car‘ful of that."

“ Tell me how you came into this but without
my knowing it,” said Tom. “ It is the strangest
thing I ever heard of.”

“First, you and the nigger better help your-
selves to the provisions on this table. Thar’s
no knowing what may happen, and it’s best to
tortify the stummick while you kin.”

At this hint Tom “fell to,” eating with the
relish oil a keen appetite.

When he had finished, I'luskins procured from
a corner of the but a small leather bag, and
stocking it with venison, together with some
meal cakes, taken from his own wallet, slung it
over the lad’s shoulders. ,

“ Thar you hey a supply fur some days,” he
remarks .

“ Thanks,” said Tom. “And now please to
answer my questions. In the first lace, do on
know where my father -now is! 5 he stil at
large?”

“ Yes, he is; I’m shore of that. I know what
he is, too.” ' _

“ Tell me'where, for I am looking for him.”

“Thar you ask too much. To no living soul
will I tell whar Ned Tabor isl” .
‘Z’But I am his own son. You don’t think

“ Pack that, at you please. I know you’d do
everything to help him; still you being with
him would get you, too. in trouble, of he should
be diskivered.” _ .

“ Do you think my father is guilty of the
crime of which he is accused."

But, ere the hunter could reply, yells were
heard all around the hut, and blows _upon the
door indicated that attempts were being made
to force it open!

“ We’re sarcumvented, share as you’re born l”
cried Haskins. “ Another party of them Crows
has ’ined t’others, and they’re attacking the
hutl

“Den We’s los’ shuahl”(yelled Jumble, as he
cowered in the corner, an _commenced to roll
himself up in the heap of skins there.

“ You little fooll” said Haskms, “ we can go
the same way we came I”

 

“1's afraid dey’ll be at de entrance ob dat
subterraneum,” responded the negro.

“ Ver Well, then we’ll leave you hyar, if you
preferl ” said Haskins. .

“ Nol nol 1’s ready to go wid de res’,” cried
the darky. 5‘ Oh! fur de Lord’s sake, make
haste l”

Hasliins now went to the center of the but
and. raising a strip of buffalo-hide there, seized
a iece of re e under it, n on which he pulled. ,

P P

t “ Halloal a. splendid contrivance,” said the
icy.

“ Yes, it is, and a convenient one in a. case of
this kind," answered the hunter.

“ The trap, of course, as you kin see, is made
oi‘ wood, but the top is smoothly covered over
with hard clay, same as that of the floor, so i
that no one, of he wasn’t posted on the thing,
would know it was thar. Jest jum down
thar, and I’ll show you whar the outlet Is.”

Tom let himself drop into the pit, which was
not more than seven feet deep, and the “darky "
followed in such haste that he narrowly escaped ,
coming down on his head. ' ’

Haskins now carefully closed the tra and
fastened it on the inside, after which he olned
his companion. , ~ -

C

 

CHAPTER XI. ’

THE LOST GIRL.
"FOLLOW me,” said the hunter, as be crawled
into a hole, leading slantiugly downward tram '
one side of the it.

The “dorky and the white boy keeping be-_ ' M

hind him, followed him for a distance of about
twenty feet, when he paused at an opening be- '
fore him, and listened. ‘ - s g

“ Thar’s no Injuns outside,” he said, “ and we f"
mou’t as well crawl out.” i

“ Am it not bes’ to stay heahi” said Jumble.
“1Dar:s do most amsolute safety in dis yere‘ ‘
p see.

“We are not shore of that,”sald Hasklns.
“ The lnjuns hev keen eyes, and mou’t diskiver‘
the trap. 1t are sartint that they’ll suspect
something of the sort, when they see how sad-
denly we‘ve disappeared.”

As he spoke he pushed out a bowlder'whlch I
hetliiad placed over the opening, easily rolling it '
asi e. ‘

“ Now, hyar we are, half-way down the hill.
on the Bldin opposite ito wtlIiar7 thefii val-mints ‘
came up. my opin on, t ey re a on the t
of the hill.” ~0'P

Followed by his companions, he emerged , '
from the opening, and, having rolled the bowl- ‘
der against the hollow, he kept on. . .

The three, entering the thicket, moved with
1y along. ~

They had nearly passed through the Woods“,
when they heard footsteps rapidly approaching _-
from the opposite direction. ,1 , _-

Jumble took to his heels, but Huskies and“
Tom, scrambling up a tree, hid themselves
among the thick, leafy branches. .

“Here they come. They are the Lynch-gen
Wolvesl” said the hunter. "I must keepout 0
sight, for being your father’s friend, they would
take me prisoner.” ‘ v '

In fact the party, consisting of its dozen fierce
Ivloung members, with Trapper John at their.”

end, were seen approaching the tree. They v
stood gazing toward it, yelling and flourishing ‘
their knives, as if they suspected that some one ._
was there. '

Finally John looked keenly up at the
branches. ‘ ..
“Come down!" he called. “I hey you, as

To the surprise of Tom abor, he the“ “W 3 last.”

trap lifted. disclosing a. pit beneath. I \

l The two (unitives made no reply.

 

 

    

is

J yhn then pointed his rifle toward the tree.

“ Come, I see yer," he Continued, “and ef yer
don’t come, I’ll hev to tire, which I don‘t want
to do, as I’d prefer taking you alive.”

“ It’s you they see, not me," whispered Has
kins to Tom.

“All right; then I’ll save you," replied the
youth.

H,e disengaged himself from the leafy screen,
and looked down‘at John. The latter uttered a.

cry of disappointment.

/' ‘So it’s only you after all,” he Cried. “I
thought it was ycr father, and that 1 had him
last at last.”

Tom descended the tree.

“I wish I knew where to look for my father,"
he remarked. “I have been honing for him,
but I can find no trace of him."

“ Hev er seen anything of Miss Lormer?“
inquired ohn, as the two moved toward his
party. ‘

Tom then explained about the girl.

“So you’ve been in her company,” said the
young trapper, looking displeased; “ and what’s
worsg yer ve ’lowed her to be carried off by In-
June

“ I told you how that happened.”

“ That girl must be found and rescued,” said

\ John. “ Had she been under my charge, I’d
'hev known better than to leave her even fur a.
minute.”

“There’s no use wasting time talking about
it,” said Tom. “We had better start at once
on the search.”

,“You kin go our wa ,and I’ll go mine,”
said John. “I on’t thin my men would keer
to hev with ’em the son of the very chap they
hev been lookin’ fur.”

“I am not anxious to remain in your com-

. pany,” said Tom, and he at once movad off.
, John and his party took another direction.
They had not proceeded far when they im-
agined they saw upon the ground the faint

' tracks here and there of a girl’s shoas and of an
Indian’s moccasins.

. The tracks, however. were soon lost on the

, .hsrder ground further beyond.

Soon after John and the rest of the men Sepa-
rated, going OR in different directions, with the
understanding that they were to meet at a cer-

A tain‘ point near the bank of the stream.

The trapper-boy walked into the Very depths
of the forest, to suddenly behold far ahead of
him, ascending the side of a valley, the Crow

, who had captured Minnie.

He had fastened a rope about the waist of the
girl and was leading her along by it, now and
then taming and threatenineg flourishing his
tomahawk when he thought she seemed inclined

toh’g. '

“Ill soon put 9. ate to sech work. you big
‘ ' varmintl" muttered ohn,as he raised his rifle.
- ' His aim was long and careful, for he was
7 afraid of hitting the girl.
, At last, taking advantage of a moment when
the savage moved sideways, he pulled trigger.
The lpiece rung sharply through the woods, and
the ndian dropped his tomahawk, as the bullet
' pierced his arm.
With his other hand he pulled the captive

.Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

 

l swiftly along, and a moment later he disap—
' peared with her in the thick shrubbery.

At last the boy came upon what h- believed
were the tracks of the Indian and the girl. They
led him to the bank of a stream, where they
terminated.

“ The critter hev taken to a canoe!” he
thought.

He ran along the bank until he came to a spot
where the water showed manv rocks and snags,
which would have rendered further navigation
impossible.

Directly before him he saw the entrance to a
cave. '

Cor-king his piece, he entered it. It was of
some extent and at the further end the boy he-
held an opening.

He sprung toward it, passed through it and
looked about him.

But he coull discover no tracas of the two
persons he sought. '

Suddenly, on moving further, he uttered a
cry of dismay.

A lock of blood-stained hair lay on the ground,
which hero showed evidences of a struggle.

“Too late!” cried John. “The varmint has
scaiped the gall" ~ '

He picked up the lock of hair, and looked at
it. It. consisted only of four or five threads, but
these, long, black, glossy and shining, had been
torn from Minnie’s head!

“Thar’s an end to my futur’ prospects,” he
muttered.

He hurried on, but he searched'in vain for
the Indian.

 

CHAPTER XII.
rm: HOLLOW TREE.

MINNIE had been led a long distance by her
cantor ere the two were seen and fired upon by
Trapper John.

The latter‘s bullet, as already stated, struck
the savage in the arm. The wound was a se-
vere one, but the Crow, not even by a grimace,
would show what he suffered before his cap-
tive.

After dodging into the shrubbery he turned
off to the right and led the girl to the bank of a
stream where there was a Ounce. He made his
captive enter it, and then, seizing a paddle, he!
guided the light craft swiftly along with the
current until e reached the place VI ere rocks
and snags hindered his further progress.

Leaving the canoe with his companion, he
then shoved the craft among some rocks which
bordered the stream.

Minnie seeing him thus occupied, resolved to
make an attempt to escape. bhe darted into
the cave in the rock near her, and ran on as
fast as she could go.

With an angry ejaculation the Crow followed
in pursuit, flourishing his tt-mahawk in his un-
injured hand, and threatening to brain the In-
gitive if she did not stop. -

Minnie, however, kept on.

Finally, having emerged from the further
opening of the cave, she found herself approach-
ing the edge of a rocky precipice with her pur-
suer not more than ten yards behind her.

 

She soon gained the edge ;01 the rock. which

  

’I‘Om Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

19

 

she now perceived was not more than ten feet
high with a heap of or) leaves at its base, ev1—
tientiy blown there from the trees during the
recent gale.

She resolved to leap that distance, and was
about to do so, when she felt the left hand of
the savage twisted in one of the streaming locks
of her hair.

Before he could obtain a better hold, she
sprung from her position, leaving the lock in
the grasp of the Indian, who transferred it to
his right hand, which was covered With blood
from his Wound. ere he threw it away. The
wind, catching the blood-stained lock, blew it to
the spot where it was afterward found, as
shown, by Tr» pper John.

The girl landed upon her feet, unburt, among
the leaves at the base of the rock from which
she had sprlmg. At the same moment the sav-
age hurled his tomahawk at her, and she heard
the weapon go whistling eat her ears, for, as
he threw it. the Indian’s oot had struck a pro-
truding rock, causing him to stumble and 111158

is aim.

He fell headlong from the summit of the rock,
striking his skull against the blade of the toma-
hawk with force enough to stun him. . .

Looking behind her and seeing him lying
there, Minnie uickened her pace, so that by the
time be had fu ly recovered his senses, she was
out of his sight. '

The girl did not slacken her pace until she
reached the same thicket from which she had
been conducted by her cap'or. _

For about an hour she wandered on hoping to
fall in with some friendly party of whites; then
she seated herself on a log to rest.

She had not been lon there. when she heard
quick footsteps behind er, and rising, she ran
on thinking the Indian was pursuing her. .

“ Hold on thar, Miss Lormer,” was shouted in
a loud voice, “ yer’s running away from a
friend 1”

She recognized the voice of Trapper John, and

auseri.
p “ Thank God 1” he said. " So yer’s not killed,
after all, miss. I thought shore yer’d been
scalpedl"

The girl described how she had escaped.

“Yer’s mou’ty lucky to git away from that
Injun. I kin tell yer. The trap ers calls him
Old ScalpJoclr. for he doesn’t o ten spar’ them
as gits in his clutches, but straightway rips oi!
the‘r scalps, as of they war nothin’ but the
rinds of old cheese!” .

This comparison was extremely disagreeable
to Minnie. In fact it was his coarseness of
manner more than anything else which had al-
wa s prejudiced her against the boy.

‘ I hope you will conduct me to some settle‘
meat from which I may reach home,” she
said, “or, at least, may Join the friend who has
been so kind to me.” ,.

“ What friend mou’b that be?" said John, his
eyes flashing with anger and s ite.

Minnie had bten gomg to'te l him, but fear-
ing from his manner that itmi htinduce the
young trapper to injure the our. in some way,
she resolved not to mention is name.

“It does not matter,” she said. “Are we
near any settlementi” ‘

“ We’re thirty miles or so from the nearest,
but yer need fear nothin’, while yer’s under my
purtection.”

He brought a log for her to sit upon, and gave
her a. drink of water from a canteen slung at his
side.

“ I’va somethin’ to say to yer,” he then re-
marked. “ Facts is. yer must hev guessed what
I'm oin’ to say ’fore this. You well know
that ’ve always had plenty of gals after me in
our native village, but you are the one I would
prefer."

“Unfortunately,” said Minnie, with spirit,
“ this preference of yours is thrown away!

“Thrown away? What do you mean?”

“Simply thatit happens I do not want you I”

" Come now, yer’s joking.”

“ No, I am in earnest, and I hope you will

tlement.”

At the same moment a noise was heard as of
stealthy footsteps approaching. .

“ Injuns, shore as you‘re alive I” said the ho .
“Don‘t leave me ef yer don’t want to
soalpedi I’ll defend yer, miss, with, my life.”

John meant this, for in spite of his coarseness
and conceit, he was brave. \ .

“ Hyarl go in thar, please,”‘he said, pointing
to the hollow of a large tree near the girl.

She glided into the hollow, and in the opening
John pushed a heavy log, jamming it 90 firmly
between the edges of the aperture that it would.
require considerable strength to remove it.-
Thus securely shut in the tree, Minnie was yet
enabled to breathe, as the hollow extended up-
ward the whole length of the trunk, which being
old and decayed, was but elevan feet high.

The boy now concealed himself behind an ad-
joining tree, but as he did so he was seen by the
lndians, who, ten in number, were rapidly ad-
vancing. They were Crows, and were mostly
.arflmed with spears, only three of them having
1‘) es.

the savages. '

“ Git back, or yer’s a dead dog 1” he said to the
foremost of the party.

The lndians dodging behind trees, continued
to advance. ,

The lad’s weapon rung. and one of the band
was wounded in the shoulder. Ere he could re.
load the arty were upon him. A tomahawk
was raise to cleave his skullkbut the chief of,
the arty caught the uplifted arm.

“ ol’ be granted. “Trapper J obn kill too
many Crows. We must make torture. Death
by tomahawk too good for him.” _

Then they led him off.

CHAPTER XIII.
run MYSTERIOUS voion.

 

he had Proceeded a long distance.

“We l, now, here 115, all alone. Dafls on]
one t’ing fur me to do, and dat am to streak t
back to Central City as fas’ as I can go.”

As the country was well-known to him, he
hurried along through the Woods. taking a path
Which would first lead him out of the ,thicket,
and than among the mountains between. bun ,
and the settlement he desired to reach. . ‘ ~- ‘.

 

drop this foolishness and guide me to some set- I

As they came on the boy pointed his piece at d

Jm JUMBLn did not pause in his flight’until I

 

Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive.

  

 

The noise of approaching steps and the gut-
tural voices of Indians caused him to turn from
his course and take a new direction, which led
him deeper into the thicket.

“It seems as if de woods am alive wid In-
juns to—dayl” muttered the “ darky ” when, after
dodging about for hours, he still heard the
voices of savages, apparently on all sides of

mm.

In fact the Grows, in difl’erent parties, were
searching for Haskins and Tom Tabor, who
fled so mysteriously disappeared from the

ut. v '

The shades of twilight were closing about the

. negro, ere he found himself out of reach of the
Indians' voices. ’

“T’ank de Lordl I can res’ in peace now,"
he muttered, seating himself on a stump at the
foot of a tree. '

Finally he rose and moved on through the
woods, but he had not proceeded far when he
heardasound which made him pause, rolling
the whites of his eyes about him in a frightened
manner.

“ Is there any one there! If there is I ask
that I ma be liberated from this placel ’

“ What s dam—who’s dat?” gasped Jumble.

“ It is ll” was answered, in a sort of shriek.
“ Quick, Jumble! get me out of this dreary
place!”

The negro stared at a huge knot on the trunk
of an old tree in front of him. The knot had
something the ap rance of a human face, and

1': was from this t at the voice had seemed to
‘ come!

" Whewl—whew-ewl” half awhistled the start-
led boy to himself. “ I've heard ob dem buggy-
boos dat haunts de woods, but I nebber had
‘orakelar demo’stration ob de fac’ before. What’s
to become ob dis nig? Fus’ it’s de Injuns, and
den it’s— Ohl dar it goes again!” he interrupt-
ed. as a sort of groan now seemed to come from
the face-like knot on the tree.

a The frightened “ darky ” did not wait to hear
more. ‘

“ He gave one yell, and then away he went,
plunging deeper and deeper into the woods.

In his alarm he took no heed of the course he
was pursuing until he suddenly plunged into a
'swamp. .

The cry that escaped him as he found himself
sinking mi ht have been heard for a mile.

“Help! elpl” he yelled, sawing the air with
his arms, as he sunk deeper and deeper. “I’s
goin’ underl 1’s under a ready! and may do
good Lord hab mercy on dis chile! Now do
mud heb flowed ober my mouf, and now it am
up tomy ears, and now— Oh! Hool—hoo-ool”

“ Stop your noise,” came a deep voice, “and
I’ll soon have you out of that!"

“ Massa Haskins!” cried J umble, joyfully.

The hunter’s form loomed through the gath-
ering gloom as he came to the edge of the

' swamp.

With one powerful pull be rescued Jumble
from his uncomfortable situation.

“How came you hyari’i’he inquired. as the
“darky” ran to a stream, and proceeded to wash
the mud from his clothes. “I thought you

 

knew the country better than to tumble into a1

a . "amp." .

  

“ It all come ob dat knot,” said the “ darky.”
“ Knot?”
“ Yes, sah, de buggy-boos am in de woods for

sart’inl I heard one on ’eml”

“What nonsense is this you're talking about?"

“ I tell you sah,” said Jumble, positively,
“dat, shua as you’re stan’in’ dar, wid dat cap
on yer head, and dat rifle in one han’, and dem
leggins on bof’ legs, and—”

‘Out with it!” cried Haskins, impatiently.
“ When did you see and hear this wonder l’ I’ll
bet it was nothin’ more than a screech-owl.”

“It spoke: it hab a voice, some as you or me,
and it use words do same.”

Haskins reflected.

.t ‘f (39mefl’ he said; “ you shall show me whar
i is. ‘

“Not for de worl’ would I go back to dat
buggy-boo!" gasped Jumble. “Besides, I
couldn’t fln’ de way now, if I should try.”

As he spoke, two fierce young fellows sprung
suddenly from some bushes, a few paces 01f.

“Hahl hahl We have you now I” cried one,
pointing a pistol at the hunter’s head. “ Surren-
der! or we’ll—”

But he did not finish the sentence, for Has-
kins suddenly pushed the little negro against
the speaker with a force, which, as the head of
the “ darky ” came in contact with his stomach,
caused him to tumble back against his comrade,
who was close behind him.

His pistol went off as he fell, the bullet Whiz-
zing up into the air, and the next moment Has-
kins had disappeared in the gloom of the
thicket.

“ After him. Jack!” cried the youth who had
fallen, as be picked himself up.

“Dis nig will help yer cotch him!” said
Jumble, as he darted into the thicket, also van-
ishing in the gloom.

He had recognized the voices of the boys be-
longing to Trapper John’s gang. and he had no
wish to fall into their hands again. .

Haskins kept on through the woods. making
toward the rendezvous where he had first been
discovered by the negro.

Concealing himself behind a tree he waited
until his pursuers had passed him; then he kept
on. and, finally reaching his cave, was soon
safe in his underground retreat.

The negro had taken another direction, until
suddenly he was met by a. youth, whom despite
the darkness, he recognized as Tom Tabor.

“ Ohl 1’s so glad to see ya!” cried the “ darky.”

 

CHAPTER XIV. ’
JUMBLE 0N WATCH.

J unnm‘ now told Tom about his meeting with
Haskins. '

“I like that fellow,” said Tom. “There’s
something about him that attracts me.”

“It am de fac’ dat he’s allers provided wid
good grub,” said Jumble. '

“No, I didn’t mean that. I like him as a
man. He appears to be a noble fellow.”

“ Dar er s right, but what yer s’pose makes
him so ' raid ob dem white folks-odat Lynch-
law Gang, dat’s huntin’ for—for—de sheriff’s
murderer.”

“He wasafrlend of my father.” said Tom.

 

 

H!

 

Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive.

81

 

“ and they want to capture him to make him
tell where my father is hidden.”

“ How long sence yer’ve seen yer fadder?" in-
quired Jumble.

“As much as five years.”

“Does yer ’spec’ to ehber see him ag’inl"

“ Of course, or I would not have come out on
so longa trump,” x

Jumble scratched his head.

“1’s heard it said,” he remarked, “dat de
way ob de transgressor am hard. Now, am
it not posserble dat den! folks dat commits a
crime am punishable by bein’ turned into
buggy-boos?

“ hat are you driving at?” said Tom.

“Jest dis. “posin’ yer fadder killed dat man
dat am accused ob bein' killed, and dat accuses
him 0b killin’ him, and dill: yer fadder af’en-
wards came to de mature conclusion (lat he’d
kill his-elf, or cause hisself ter be killed, which
amounts to pretty much do some t’ing—well,
den, do accused 0b de accuser, perishin’ in dat
summanary fashion, mightn’t he be turned for
de double crime, into one Oh dem buggy-boos?”

It was :1 Ion time before the boy could get
at the “dorky 5” meaning through the “rigma-
role ” he made use of.

“You little fool!” he then said, “did it not
occur to you that the voice you heard, seeming,
as you say, to have been uttered by the knot
on the tree, might havo come from the inside of
. ,,

“ I didn’t think oh dat.” said Jumble, his White
eyes shining at the brilliancy of this idea.

“Did the voice sound like. that of any person
you had ever heard speak before i”

“Now I t’ink ob it, it was familiar, but I
can’t t’ink ’zactly whar I ebber heer such a
voice before.”

“ We will go to that tree, to-night. It is an
opinion that some one has been shut up insi e
of it. '

“I don’t resume I could find it in de dark,”
remarked umble.

“ We will try, at any rate. The person, who-
ever he is, may be half starved to death.”

The two set out at once on the search.

They wandered about for hours, but Jumble
was unable to find the “talking-tree ” in the
darkness.

All at once, as the two kept on, they heard a
faint voice ahead of them.

“Is there any one there?”

“Who speaks?” cried Tom.

“Thank God! it is you i” responded the
voice. “I am shut up here in a hollow tree, and
aml’half dead for a drink of water and for purer
air

“ Miss Lormerl” cried Tom, joyfully.

He sprung forward, and in a few moments,
he and Jumble had displaced from the entrance
to the hollow, the heavy log which TrapperJohn
had jammed into it. ‘

Minnie,weak and trembling, emerged, tosoon
inform her rescuer why she had been put in the
tree. \

“ The log was so tightly sgueeaed in the bol-
low,” she continued, “ that could not get it
out. Oh! I am so glad I have fallen in with
you!” she added, and Tom could see the black
ores of the girl shining through the gloom.

He gave her a drink of water from his can-
teen. and also some food from his well-stocked
wallet. .

Explanations were then made.

“ I hope we will not part company again,"
said Tom, “ until I have seen you safe in somo
settlement, and even after that, I hope—”

He was going to say that he hopéd he might
be permitted to see her again, but be checked
himself as the horrible thought again occurred
to him that it was his father who had murdered
the father of this sweet girll

“ I shall always be glad to see you,” said Min-
nie, softly.
darkness, the arch glance which she gave him,
as she uttered the words.

“Poor child!” he thought.
yet know who I am! No one has yet told her,
though I doubt not Trapper John would have
done so had he not been captured just when he
was by the Indians. I must caution the' darky ’
to say nothing to her about it, until after I leave
her at a settlement.”

On learning that Jumble had previously been
near the hollow tree, and heard her voice, which
had frightened him away, the girl could not
be! laughing. and it seemed to Tom that he

that merry voice.
The three finally moved on to a small clear-

The clearing was surrounded byshrubbery and
by massas of dry brushwood. ’
“ This is the best we can do.” said Tom. as he

accommodation.

The girl seemed well pleased with what had
been done for her, and, entering the little hut,
she tried to compose herself for a nap.

Meanwhile she kept thinking of am Tabor.
“ He is a bright boy,” she thought, “ and I like
him, ever so much, but there are times when he
seems so sad! I wonder what can make one
so young as he is that way.”

put the negro boy on guard, believing that the
very fact of his being so easily frightened would
make him a good watcher. '
“ Take care, Jumble,” he said.
eyes open.”
Jum
and straight, the collar of his s irt drawn u to
his ears. Only the whites of his eyes cool be
seen moving from side to side. -
“ bat order shall be fulfilled!” he said.
“If you hear footsteps, let me know.”

' ‘ Keep your

“ Don't run away, but wake me if anything
hap ens.”
de odders, sa 1’
twigs, which he had pulled from among the
bushes, and he was soon in a sound slumber.
With his huge horse-pistol over his shoulder
Jim Jumble paced to and fro at the distance 0
fifteen yards from the sleeping boy.
I “ Hal what’s dot?" he suddenly muttered,
stoppi, short. “It I didn’t heah de murmur
ob a v0 cordon 1‘s certalnfly mistook, Per it

 

And he could detect, in spite of the V '

“She does not I

coud stand forever listening to tho‘music of)

ing, where they resolved to pass the nights

proceeded to put up a. sort of bower for Minnie’s I

om was very drowsy, and be concluded to.

lo stood up like aco oral, motionless,

“Dat command shall alsobeverifledl‘ mid
Jumble. ~ .

" at ‘ooniunction’ shall be granted same as ‘
Tom threw, himself down on cheap of dry ‘

,

 

     
 
   
   
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
   
   
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
   
   
  
   
 
    
   
  
   
    
  
   
  
  
   
 
 
  
   
   
   
     
   
 
   
 
     
      
  
   

 

. vcried.

22 Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive.

 

goes again i" he added, as a humming noise was
her: rd a short distance off.

He slunk away toward the sleeper, intending
to wake him, when, all at once, with a s iteful
whiz and thug, something struck him ull be-
tween the eyes!

“Oh, Lord! Ils sliotl [’5 shot! I can feel (’1
bullet creepin’ roun’ and roun’, inside my for .
bend!” he yelled, rolling over and over up Q
the ground.

Awakened by the noise, Tom Tabor ran to
the “darky's ” side.

“ Stop that racket, will you?” he cried.

“What is the matter?” called Minnie, from
her tent.

“ It is nothing,” said Tom. “Jumble, as usual,

1- has got the fidgets.”

“I’s shottedl I tell yer 1‘s shotted in do
forehead l” howled the little “ dorky.”

Tom now lighted a match, to see a huge beetle
clinging to the negro’s hair.

“ There’s the bullet,” said he, brushing the
/beetle of! upon the ground.

Jumble stared at the insect in surprise.

.Then he sprung up and, with his heel, stamped
the bug to death.

“Dar, you mean, contemptuous t’ingl” he
' :‘ Dar, nowl dat’s de fate oh de enemies
ob dis mg. Good~by to yer tricks af’er dat.
I’s not de pusson to put up Will yer nonsense!"

“Don’t make any more useless noises,” said
Tom, as he again lay down to compose himself
mike“ h 1d J

gain s on erin his istol umbl e

to and fro. g p ' 6 pac d

An hour later, Tom came and said he would
take the lookout for the rest of the night.

 

CHAPTER XV.
WARM QUARTEBS.

TOWARD dawn, the watchful boy heard the
creaking of branches in the thicket.

He awoke Jumble, told him that he believed
Indians were coming, and that he hoped the
negro would do his duty.

‘ We has no show at all,” said the “ dorky.”
“Dem Injuus is ‘legends,’ and we’s on’y
twol”

. “All the more reason that we should do our
best,” responded Tom. “Remember, we have

:gi’rl to protect. We must not go back on
or

“ Speakin’ ob goin’ back,” said Jumble, “ s’pos-
in’ I gees and sees it 1 can find that Haskins,‘to
come and gib us a lift?”

“ No, no; stay here and help me pile up these
logs,” said Tom, pointing to a number of pieces
of timber, which had evidently been put there

' by some hunter with the intention of erecting

a hut.
“ What’s do use ob dem ?”
.“They’ll make us a. sort of fort.
them breast high, in a square.”
He set Jumble to work, but the “ darky’s ”
hands trembled so much that he was constantly
dropping the logs on his toes, and dancing about
with the pain.’ ’
At last, however, the litfle breastwork was
finished. \

We can pile

 

Meanwhile Minnie had risen and come out of
her temporary habitation.

“ Crouch down behind the logs," said Tom.
“You‘ll be safer there than anywhere else.”

“ Can I not he of use!" inquired Minnie. “I
can load the istols while you fire.”

T “You mig t load Jumble’s for him,” said
om.

“ S’posin’ I loads and Miss Lormer does do
firin’,’ suggested Jumble, whose teeth were
chattering.

“None of that, Jumble. Pluck up your spirits
and be a man,” said Tom.

At that moment several rifles rung, and the
bullets cut the air close to the heads of the oc-
cupants of the little breastwork.

Jumble at once crouched down behind the
logs, and his companions could not persuade him
to stand up.

“ Would it not have been better to run away i”
said Minnie.

“ We had no chance for that,” answered Tom,
“ as the Indians came up all about the brush, so
as to surround us.”

Having obtained a good supply of ammunition
from Haskins, he kept firing his pistol and also
filial; of the “ darky, ’ which Minnie loaded for

1m.

That he thus wounded several of his assailants
was evident, for he could see them tying band-
ages about their arms and legs.

The breastwork of logs proved to be a good
place of defense. All the bullets fired at om
lodged in the timber.

The rapidity of his shots served to impress
the savages With the idea that they were dealing
with more than one enemy. ‘

Presently they stopped firing.

“Are they retreating?" inquired Minnie.

At these words Jumble popped up his head.

“ Gib me dat pis’l,” he said. ‘ I’s gwine to
hab some shots at de enemy!”

“ No, the are having a talk," said Tom.

As he spo e, columns of smoke Were Seen ris-
ing from the dry brush which surrounded the
clearing. Then there was a cracklin sound,
and lurid flames were seen bursting mm the
four corners of the brush!

“ Ohl de Lord!" cried Jumble. “ We’s all
burned up now, sbuahl De smoke am a-rollin’
and de fire am a-crackin’ all roun’ us.”

“ ls it so bad as that?” inquired Minnie of

Tom.

“They have set fire to the brush,”.the boy
answgred, uneasily. “ There's no getting over
that!

The blazing circle of flame was creeping every
moment nearer to the log breastwork.

“Be ready!" said Tom. to the girl. “We
must try to break through the brush where it
has not yet taken fire. There are yet. one or
two places.”

“The Indians will be there waiting for us
iwith their tomahawks,” said Minnie, shudder-
ng. l

“ There is no help for it,” answered Tom.
“I’ll fight for you until I drop. That is the
best I. can do.”

Through the leaping flames. the savages could
be seen, on the other side. flourishin their toma-
MWksp While they uttered fierce ye s,

l

 

I i
l

Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive.

  

'23

 

Tom. drawing his knife and grasping it firmly

"with one hand, while he held his loaded pistol

with the other, prepared to make the rush.

“Keep close behind me," he said, to the girl.
“ If I fall, run on.”

At that critical moment shouts were heard,
blended with the repeated ring of rifles, and the
sava es were seen taking to their heels.

“ e are saved!" cried Minnie.
mistake. they are some of Trapper John’s party
who have rescued us.”

Soon after, they saw the Lynch-law Gang go
rushing past. ,

“They do not know we are here,” said Tom.
“There they go in pursuit of the Indians.”

As he spoke, he put an arm about the girl’s
waist, and hurried her through the sln‘nhbery.

Jumble followed, and the three safely reached
the other side of the flaming mass, unharmed,
:xcept by a slight scorching of the hands and

ace.

Neither the white men nor the fugitives were
longer in sight.

" Now, Jumble," said Tom, “ you can make
yourself useful as our guide to the nearest set-
tlement.”

“ Which am much as twenty mile cc," said
the “ darky," as he looked around him.

T “First we will have breakfast,” continued
om.

As soon as the frugal repast was partaken of,
the three kept on their way. In an hour they
reached some lofty hights.

The rested for a short time, and then con-
tinue their way. Tcm enjoysd helping Minnie
over diflicult rocks, as it aflorded him a chance
to take her hand, and to now and then put his
arm about the round, supple waist.

The mountains seemed to become steeper and
more rugged the further they advanced, and
when night came they had not traveled a great-
er distance than seven miles.

Torn now found a snug hollow in the rocks to
serve as a shelter for Minnie, and again the two
boys took turns at standing watch.

Nothing occurred that night to alarm even
Jumble.

’ Early in the morning after they had partaken
of their plain repast, they ke t on. At noon
they halted in a thicket, on t a side ofa high
hill, and had dinner. ‘

Ahead of them, they could see a lofty, appar-
ently inaccessible clifl, which rose from the
center of a lake.

“How far are we now from the settlements?"
in uired Tom.

‘ We’s 'bout twenty mile,” said the “ darky.”

“Twenty miles? What are you talking about!
We were only that distance when we started!”

“I’s obliged to repeat,” said Jumble, making
both eyes. “‘ We’s twenty mile from dat set-
tlemen’.” ’

“ Come, now! you’re chafing,” cried Tom.

“ No, ssh,” answered Jumble, striking an at-
titude. “ Under (is present serious calamitous
sarcumstances ob de case, I would scorn to
trifle wid deafl‘ecksbuns ob dem dat relies on
me for urtection!”

“ Pac that, little nigger! Who’s talking
about aifectionsi I say you are mistaking the
glistapceg’l"" ' 

\

“If 1 don’t ‘ “a.

l
l

 

“ I’s obliged to contradict dat as in. tion." an- ,
swered the ‘ darky.” “ i would udder absorb
dot, of we keep on oin’ as far again as we hab
been progressin‘ a ready, we’d be forty mile
from dut yero settlement"

“ Explain ycurseli’. or I’ll punch your woolly
head!” said Tom. “We’ve been going (I‘o'war

e settlement all this time, have we not’ ’

No, sah."

“You black little mufl! Which way have '
we been going, then?” .

Jim Jumble drew himself up stifliy. ‘

“ We’s been gwine rmm’an’ roun’,” he said,

‘ rolling the whites of his eyes.

“ Round and round! and why have you led us
round and round!"

“De fac’ is, I t’ought more dau once dat I

see’d movin’ fingers like dem ob Injuns, and 1
had been tryin’ all dis time to get roun’ ’em!"

“ Why didn’t you speak to me about it? I‘m
half a mind to punch you for this!"

“My reasons for not spenkin' on dat subjeo’
was fur de oblivious reason datIdidn‘t want
to alarm missus, in de firs’ place, and, in do sec-
ond place, I was afraid dat you might t’lnk dem

 

flggers was nuffln’ but animals, which may 

have been de case: still, I t’ought it best totake
time” by do torelock, and try and git roun’
em! i
Ere Tom ,could answer, the “ darky ” sudden- '-
ly ointed behind him. gasping out. ‘ ' '

‘ Heah day come! We’s as good as gone coon:
nowl”

Looking in the indicated direction, Minnie
and Tom beheld aparty of advancing Cro ._
who were descending a lofty elevation about I
hundred yards ofl’." , " .

“ It all comes of your leading us oi! in thll .
direction!” said Tom to the negro. '

CHAPTER XVI. ‘
ma MYSTERIOUS LAKE. '

“WHAT can we do?” cried Minnie, turning , ,

pale.
Tom threw a quick glance about him. .‘
“ We might find a canoe on the shore of that
lake,” he said. “ You can see that the outlet
of the lake is a stream with a swift current. ,_
canoe might carry us along fast enough for a
to escape.” ,
h.iilie took her arm and rapidly descended ’the
1 . '
“Where is Jumble?” inquired Minnie, when‘_
th'iy arrived at the base of the elevation. \ '
om looked, but he could see no sign of thox
negro boy. . . '.
All at once he fancied he heard a taintshout. f
H_ ran to the place whence it came and found.
himself on the edge of a. deep earth-hole, where '
the earth had at some time cavad in. ‘ .
The voice of the “ darky ” came up from this '

o e. ,
“ Hallelujah! 1’s safe enough, now! Come ,
down heah, de res’ ob us!” . '
“Out of there, you little fool !” shouted Tom.
“The Indians wil look there the first thing)“
“ No dey won’t. Ei day do, dey won’t find

dis chile', fur I’s roll myselt roun’ an, mg“, in a,

“F093,?

; x

I.

,8

 

 

.Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

 

Tom realized that he had no time to lose.

He ran back to Minnie, told her where the
negro was hidden, and then kept on with her
toward the lake.

They soon found the ground so marshy that
th%y_sunk to their ankles at every step.

his enabled the savages to gain upon them.

. The dusky band had now reached the hill,

2nd they discharged several rifles at the fugi-
ives.

“Never mind their shots,” said Tom to the
girl. “ They are not good at hitting.”

The Indians, however, came on in pursuit,
and they were soon within twenty yards of the
fugitives, on the edge of the swainp.

A savage wearing a dirty blanket and leggins

.5, and whose face was hideously besmeared with
, -‘ ocher, called out to the twain:
“Best come back! If come back, no flrel
, Why keep on? What use of keeping on? Can-
not swim with girl in lake."
' “Mind your own business—you big ‘bum-
- merl’ ” answered Tom, not in the least relaxing
hiss ed.
f‘ hat is enough. The white boy shall die!”
cried the Indian, as be aimed his rifle at the

5  lad.
; 9 The latter perceiving that the Indian could
' not well he] itting him at so shorta range,

_ ’ turned and ed at him his pistol.

“r .“Ughl’fgrunted the Crow, as be shifted his
rifle to his left hand, and his arm which had
been struck by the shot, dropped at his side.

_“ He’ll wear his arm in a sling for some
 time,” remarked Tom to his fair companion, as

. he hurried her on.

, ~ A younger savage now took the rifle from the

“FEM-iii” h'te b 11
eei -ew i o wi esca ethebullet of
Trahnooahl” he cried. y p
He was about topull trigger, and the fate of
7 Tom Tabor seemed certain, when a stream of
V _ was_ seen to shoot from the summit of the
.- 0113 which towered from the lake, followed by
g] 7 the tin? of the piece whence it came.
w _' The ndian stood motionless for an instant,
. s pom mg is weapon, uen e e forward
.‘t’ént- ‘. be: ”' h “i
j._ , is, ace, e was n oin o and the
_ bulletstriking the marshim g g
 There was a yell as of rage from‘the other sav-
ages, when they discovered that the youth was
s as dead, and several of them, brandishing
their tomahawks,_sprung into the marsh in
', pursuit of the fugitives, who, they seemed de-
termined should not escape them.
Toni had, by this time, reloaded his pistol,
, -:,and he now sent another shot at his foes, one

o! whom was struck in the leg by the bullet.

_ The heart moment the rifle on the cliff rung a
second time, and down went another savage,
_ wplpndettir ligo the hi3). \

om a r a ew minutes later ained the
-, shore of the lake, but he looked in’vgaiu for a

canoe.
A stout savage had reached the bank by run-

 

‘ . ning round the edge of the marsh. where the
ground was comparatively firm. He had en-.
financed  bethiizdda tree, and Tom now saw ‘

in no wen ee istant ointi h' ‘ ‘
straight at Mingle. ’ p ng 15 fine

1;; ' “surrender quick 0: Crew shoot 3131!” 119

 

said, his fierce, blazing eyes glancing along the
shining barrel of the piece. “Ugh! get fast
nowl boy can’t get away?"

Instinctively Tom threw himself between the
girl and the rifle.

“Nol no!” she gasped. “You shall not kill
yourself to save mel'

And as she spoke, she plunged directly into
the lake.

“ Come,” she continued, as she struck out, for
she was a good swimmer. “ We may escape
their bullets by going under the surface!”

Tom was about to leap into the lake, when the
savage fired, and to the boy’s horror he saw
Minnie sink, leaving a streak of blood on the
water.

The lad sprung at once from the bank, and
swam toward the spot where she had sunk.

Then he dove, throwing out his arms and feel-
ing for her.

To and fro he darted beneath the surface of
the lake, but in vain. He could see nothing of
Minnie.

When he arose to the surface to breathe he
beheld the savage who had fired before, and
who, by this time, had reloaded, pointing his
weapon toward him.

“ Come, or serve same way as girl I” granted
the Indian.

“ Shoot it you want to, you vsrmintl” cried
Tom. “ I’ll never surrender l”

The Indian pulled trigger, but as he did so,
the be quickly dove, thus avoiding the shot.

The ndian rapidly reloaded and watched for
the reappearance of the boy; hut he waited in
vain!

“ Strange! don’t think shot hit him ” grunted
the savage, “ but he don’t come up. Must have
drowned. Perhaps caught in snug.

, The rest of the savages now come up, and a
“talk” ensued.

It was evident that the strange disappearance
of the lad had excited a great deal of surprise.

Finally, i‘rOm the branches of some of the
many willows, near the lake, a canoe was made,
and one of the Indians entered it, paddled along
the sheet of water, peering keenly into the clear
depths.

Not a sign either of the body of the girl or of
Tom Tabor could he discover. After he re-
turned. another Indian got into the canoe, and
also examined the lake, but without success.

The wonder of the savages was great. They
talked over the aflair for a. long time ere they
quitted the bank of the lake.

When some yards from it, they looked u at
the summit of t clifl', from which had on
fired the shot, w ioh had killed one of their
braves.

How had the erson who fired that shot
contrived to reac the top of the cliflf, which
ross nearly to the bight of one hundred feet,
and was too smooth on all sides to be scaled?

At length the Indians concluded that some
supernatural agency had been at work to heme
them, for, in no other way could they account
either for the remarkable disnp earance of the

two bodies or for the resence o a human being .

on an inaccessible cl' .
Believing that the lake must be haunted, they
solemnly quitted its shores.

  
   
 
   
   
   
 
   
  
   
  
  
    
   
    
 
 
 
  
    
    
    
   
   
  
   
  
    
   
    
 
   
  
   
   
        
   

I
,i

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. ’

.\\ ,. 4

 

.“

 

CHAPTER XVII. '

THE RENDEZVOUS.

Tamper. JOHN, as prevmusly stated, had
been carried otf a captive, soon after he had
left Minnie in the hollow tree.

The Indians deprived him of his rifle and
knife, but they did not discover a loaded tw0<
barreled pistol, which he carried. in a secret
pocket of his coat.

“ I’ll make use of that, at I git the chance. to ‘
clear myself of the varmints,” thought the boy. i

The savages led him to a wooded valley, and
fibers, having bound him to a tree, they made a

re.

Finally a few who/ had gone away, returned
with a large iron pot, half full of water.

“Ugh!” said a gaunt-looking fellow, with but
one eve. which blazed like a lurid sun, “going
to boil boy! How like that?"

And as he spoke, he smiled grimly on the lad.

The latter returned his look With one of
supreme indifference.

‘ That will do you no good.” he said.

“Make boy howl some. Boiling water hurt
more than fire.”

“ I’ll bet yer I won’t say a word,” answered
John. “I beva tough skin, and yer kin b’ile‘
and h’ile it, but yer’ll make no impression on it.”

“U hl think boy lie.”

' “ E yer’ll untie me I’ll show yer. Come
now, yer jest take these thongs off of me, and
‘I'll show yer what an Arizona boy kin stand.
Yer see I’m from Arizona. That’s what I was
born and brought up till I was thirteen.”

* .v hat would the white boy do?”

"Ef yer untie me yer’ll see. i’ll plunge one
of my arms into that yere pot whar the water
is now b’ilin’, and yer’ll not beer me give a‘
sin le 5 ueak. ’

he ‘rows held a brief “talk.” Then they
untied the captive, and surrounding him, made
him walk to the pot.

He rolled up one sleeve almost to the shoulder,
and plunged the naked arm into the boiling
water, while at the same time he thrust his
other arm under the breast of his coat.

He held the hated arm only for an instant in
the water. As he withdrew it, he pulled forth
his pistol with the other hand, and shot the sav-
age on his right through the head. Dealing the
one on the left a kick in the stomach which
dogbled him up, he bounded ofl’, pursued by the
or ers.

Spears were thrown and rifles discharged, but
Ewing to his being among trees, John was not

it.
On he went, with his pursuers yelling behind

him. He was a swift runner. and having finally
’ reached masses of shruhl .4 which concealed
' him, he hurried toward some rocks, hoping to
find a hollow in which he might hide, for his
breath now was wellenigh spent.

He saw an opening in a rock before him, and
into this he crawled just as the savages arrived
within a few yards of the shruhbery.

“It was a mistake—my cumin’ hyar.” he mut-
tgred.” “They’ll be sure to look hear the fast
t in . \

"§ou are right,” said a deep voice behind
him.I “ Here they come now.” ,
In act. the savages having vainly looked for

 

 

‘ii‘t ' , A

lthe fugitive in the shrubbery, were makin

straight for the opening into which he bag I -
crawled. _

Before he could turn round to see who had 
spoken, he was pulled down into a pit, and some
branches were thrust over the hole through
which he had been drawn. 1

“Lie still,” whispered he who had before
spoken.

John lay motionless, and soon the savages ,.
were heard leavmg the cave above to continue
their search.

“Thar, now, they’ve gone,” said the person
who had so opportunely assisted the lad.

The latter looked at him, but so deep was the
gloom that he could see little more than the
beard on his face and the outline of his form.

Gradually. however, as his eyes became used
to the darkness, he saw the man more dis-
tinctly.

“ l thought so,” he said. “ I thought I knew V
yer voice. I’m sorry this has happened.” '

“ Sorry what has happened?” A

“That you hev saved my life, far, in spite o' ‘
that, I must do my duty, and arrest yer.’

Haskins, for he it was. laughed hoarsely.

“Yer kin laugh as much as ger like,
yer’s nvy pris’ner fur all that!” sai John, draw-
ing his pistol and aiming it at the hunter's head.
“ Surrender, or I’ll hev to put a bullet through ,
yer! Dead or alive is the word of us Lynch— ,
gang Wolves l” ' -' f ,

“Pack that. my young kid,” said Hashim, 4' .j
as, with one blow of his huge fist on ‘the wrist  c
of the lad, he sent the pistol flying from hil
grasp. ' . ‘.

The weapon went CE, and the bullet was
heard striking the roof of the cavern. ' ,-

“I reckin,” continued Haskins, lung ing or
be seized his rifle, lying within his reec , ‘ that?
I‘m in a better condition fur arresting than fur
being arrestedl Thar’s nothing, if 1 wanted to/
do it, to hinder my blowing out your brains,
but, as I’m ofa merciful nature, I’ll not do their ’3
even to the ‘Wolf’ that hunts me downl”

“ You are very kind.” sneered John, 'hll eyes:
flashing at the thought of his helplessness;-

“Whar’s the rest of your boys?” continued
Haskins. « , -

“I don’t know, and would not tell, of I did’.’?5

“Well. you see you’ve diskivered my hidin -,
place,” said Huskins, regretfully; and now 
must look fur another. You won’t oblige me,
sence I’ve been good enough to save you from {:3
Injuns and not to take your life afterward, 'b
telling me of I’ll be likely to fall in with any 0
your gang.” . ‘, W l

“I hev nothing to say ’bout that,” answered

John sullenly. ‘ x.
I won’t ask any more questions,

  
   
   
  
      
   
 
    
    
  
 

.«

',~‘ In

. *x’

o'
a
:9

“ Well. then,
I’ll ;]est leave you hyar in my quarters, what,
you ll find plenty to eat while’you stay." ‘ 

“Yer cannot leave me. 1 shall follow you.” 1

“I’ll fix you so you can’t do that, my kid}?
answered Hasklns. ~ -, V .

And before John could make any resistance.
he had thrown the noose 0M rope over his legs,
and drawn it taut, fastening the end of the
rope to a rocky projection. ,

“That won’t serve you,” laid the boy, derir
sively. ” ‘ {

 

“ I can untie i

    
 

' lashed his ri

26

‘ ‘ Tom, Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

“ its a hard knot—one 'of a peculiar kind,
and of on kin git it loose in less than half an
hour, I’l give myself up to you.”

John crept to the rooky projection and en-
deavored to unfasten the knot, but it resisted
his efforts.

“It will take me at least an hour to git the
knot loose l” he muttered, “ and, before that, the
fellow will again be out of my sight. ”

In fact Haskins had quietly left the cave
while the lad was tugging at the knot, and he
was now hurrying along through the woods.

Finally he found himself on the shore of a
lake, from the center of which rose a lofty pre-
cipice.

“Thar’s a hight which could never he
climbed,” he thought. “ Ef now thar war only
some secret way to git to the top of it, it would
make sech a rendezvous fur me as would never
be discovered!"

As he spoke he noticed a small animal on the
extreme edge of the elevation.

It was a muskrat, and the hunter was puzzled
as to how it had reached so lofty an elevation.

He watched the creature, to see it soon disap-
pear. A few minutes later, from the water
near the bass of the precipice, appeared the
creature, swimming ofl! toward the further
shore of the lake. .

h_A suspicion of the truth at once flashed upon
im.
He was a good swimmer, and having securely
e to his back, arranged his wallet
and his water-proof ammunition pouch, he
struck out for the clifl.
When he was within a few feet of it he

flew, keeping his eyes open under water.

Directly before him, half a fathom beneath
the surface he beheld an opening in the rocky
wall large enough to admit two persons.

He worked himself thrbugh it, and rising on
the inside of it he found himself in a water-
cave, with rocks projecting on one side of him.

Getting upon these rocks he looked upward,
to perceive that the whole length of the preci-
pice was tunneled by a hollow which, on one
side, owing to rugged projections, was almost
aseasy to ascend as a stair-casa.

“ Well, now, hyar’s a discovery worth mak-
ing,” he muttered. “I’ll risk any one’s finding
me now.”

He ascended to the top of the hight, and was

, gratified to perceive that it contained hollows

and ledges which would render it an excellent
stronghold.

1' CHAPTER XVIII.

' nonsm-srnanmo.

WHEN Minnie disap eased in the lake, her
arm had been grazed y the bullet of the In-
dian who had fired.

The blood which Tom Tabor had seen rise to

 

-the surface had come from the slight wound

she had received.
She remained under water until she felt it
necessary to breathe; then she came up to the
surface.

To her surprise she rose in the water-cave of
the cliff, for without being aware of it, she had
swam through the openinz near its base.

/

 

Surprised and half bewildered, she looked
around her.

At the same moment Haskins emerged from
behind a projection which he had just passed in
a descent from the top of the elevation.

“Don’t be afeared, gal,” he said, looking at
her intently. “I’ll do the best 1 kin fur you.
I’d hev shot the savage who last fired at you,
had I been able to fetch him, but you see he
was behind a tree, so that I couldn’t reach him
with a bullet.”

Then he gazed at her arm.

“You are wounded!" he continued.

“It is nothing—only a scratch,” answered
Minnie. “That you are friendly, I do not
doubt. For Heaven's sake, then, help that

brave, noble boy who has done so much for

mel”

“ That’s what I came down hyar fur," said
Haskins, and he placed his rifle against the
wall, and took off his pouch and wallet. “ I’ve
been watching both of you. and I reckin the
lad by this time has also jumped into the lake."

So saying, he dove through the aperture,
with his eyes wide open, to see the form of
Tabor, a few feet ahead of him, under the
water.

He at once struck out for the boy, and seizing
him by the arm, drew him to the opening.

As the two rose in the water—cave, Torn looked
first at his preserver, and then at Minnie stand-
ing on the rocks.

“ She is safe 1” were his first words.

“Oh! Tom, I am so gladl so glad to see you
alive and welll” cried Minnie, clapping her
hands.

“ Yes, this good friend of ours has done us a
great service,” said Tom. “It would have been
all u with us but for him.” . .

“ ou’re not hurt in any way?” said Haskins
to the lad, as the two left the water. _

“ No,” he answered. Then he noticed Min-
nie’s arm. and a cry of dismay escaped him. .

“The bullet only grazed the flesh ” she said,
smiling. “ I mind it no more than 1’ would the
scratch of a needle.” _-

Tom washed the blood from the beautiful
rounded arm, and perceived that only the skin
had been slightly scraped.

“New,” said Haskins, “ we will go to the top
of my stronghold: but first I’ll arrange a con-
trivance which I fixed yesterday.”

So saying, he rolled from the rocks a bowlder,
which, falling into the water, closed the en-
trance to the cavern sufficiently for no person
to fpass through. i _

Glorious! said Tom. “ There’s no poss1ble
way now for any one else to ‘ spot’ this water-
cave!’ , i _

“ It sart’intly is a beautiful rendezvous,” said
Haskins.

Then he went on to explain how he ha dis-
covered it, and, by the time he had fin shed,
the three had reached the summit of the eleva-
tion.

“No one kin see us on top of this hight unless
we choose to show ourselves,” said E’askins.

The three, lungeen dthe savages, watched
the latter unti t wi rew.

“ Now, then, we’ 1 hev something to eat," said
Haskins.

 

 

'V-<-.‘y:‘1a _’

I

Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive. 27

 

They made a table of a rocky shelf, and par-
tonk of a frugal but nourishing repast.

“ I think,” Tom then said, “ that the ‘darky,’
Jim Jumble, has escaped capture. We have
seen nothing of him since we left him in the
earth hollow.”

Both he and Haskins took a keen survey of
that wooded hill in which the negro had been

let .

“ Oh, dear! What kind of an animal is that?"
inquired Minnie, pointing out a black, ball—like
obJect, which suddenly made its appearance on
the hillside. ,

Haskins looked at it long and earnestly.

“ Halloa!” he suddenly cried, “of it isn’t the
head of that little nig erl"

“You are right. t is he, sure enough,” said
Tom. “ He’s taking a survey from his hole be-
fore venturing forth."

“Now he is looking this way,” said Haskins.
“ Perhaps we kin attract his attention.”

The three waved kerchiefs, but it was some
time ere Jumble appeared to see them.

Then he emerged from the hole,’aud slowly
ap reached the lake.

uddenly he paused. He seemed to think
that the kerchiefs were merely a lure to bring
him into the ower of the savages. Vainly did
Tom and Has ins jump up on the ledge, showing
their whole forms to the “ dorky.” He evi-
dently believed they were Indians, and took
to his heels, soon vanishing in a thicket on the
right.

“Dey don’t fool dis chile, in no sech way as
dat,” he muttered, as he ran on. “ Dressed up
in do attire ob de slain, dey would “gull” dis
ui%vinto t’inking day’s his friends!”

hen he had proceeded some distance he sat
down on a stump to rest.
again, and on he went.

Hestook a direction which led him toward the
rendezvous Haskins had lately abandoned.

Seeing the opening before him, he crawled
into it, which he had scarcely done, when he
felt a hand seize his wool with a most tenacious
grasp.

Jumble gave a ell.

"Ohl for de r’s sake! Masse Injunl” he
howled, “ spare dis nig’s wool, and he‘ll be yer
bounden slabs forebbermorel"

There was a burst of halfsmothercd laughter.

“No! no!” continued Jumble, “don’t go fur
to cut me wid dat knife!
don’t!” he squeal-red, wildly flourishing his legs.

“Shut up, yer black fooll It’s no njun, but
me—Trapper John 1"

“ Am dat so?” cried the boy, joyfully.
“ T’auks he to me and de Lord 1"

John now let go of the negro’s hair.

“ How come you hyar?" he inquired.

Jumble told his story.

“So that boy and girl are together again,"
said John, fiercely. v

“ Dar’s whar day is, now i” said Jumble
solemnly, pointing upward; “ in dat bless
land whar all am free and equal—whar de
black and de white angels all sing de Hallelujah
togedderl”

“ Have they been killed! You didn’t tell me

1’ ‘

I .
“ It’s presentable do: hub.”

Then up he rose

0h, don’tl don‘t! ' h

 

“You are not shore.’ You did not see their
dead bodies?”

“No, sah, hut ef dey wasn‘t killed. whar can
day be? I saw nothing ob dem, af’er 1 came
out ob de hole.”

Jumble did not mention the two flguresdwho
had signaled to him from the top of the hight.
He feared that, if he did, Tra per John might
insist that the two were not In ians, and might
force him to guide him to the place.

“Come with me,” said John. “ Hyar, git up,

“ Whar’s yer goin’, sahi" inquired Jim.

“ To hunt fur the ’furual cuss who killed the
sheriff, of course.”

The “ darky ” crawled out of the cave, and be
and John pr( ceeded on their way. >

In the afternoon they emerged from the
thicket upon a broad fleld, havmg something
the appearance of a prairie.

In the distance rose the peaks of the moun-
tains, which the “ darky " had previously at-
tem ted to cross with Minnie and Tom Tabor.

“ owni down i” cried John, suddenly crouch-
ing in the long grass. -

“ What’s do matter?” gasped the “darky,” as
he almost doubled himself up in the grass.

“ Injunsl” answered John. 4

“Goll-almightyl is dey comiu’ dis way?"

“ No; they don’t see us yet. They hev bosses
with ’em, which I don’t -doubt they’ve stolen.
I’m oin’ to hev one 0’ them hosses, as it’s easier
ridin than walkin’.” \

“ How’s yer goin’ to git it?”

'and move along.”

“You jest stay hyar and wait fur me, and -

yer‘ll see. I’ll git two at I kin—one fur you and
one fur me. Kin yer ride?”

“I’s used to ridin’, dar’s a fac’. I can
keep my place on a hoes wid some ’specta-
bilit . ,

Jo u now crawled swiftl and cautiously
through the grass toward t e savages, who
he perceived were Crows. The band, numberin
twenty. had encamped near the mountains, an
were a110wing their horses to crop the herbage:
near where their tents were pitched.~ .- -

John, crouching in the grass within a hundred
yards of their camp, waited until one of the

horses was within a few feet of him, when he _ '
sprung forward and seized the animal  the~ ,

bridle.

e grasped the bridle of another near it, and:
away he went.
The moment the savages saw this maneuver.

they sprung to their feet with a yell and rushed _,1 ‘

in pursuit. . .
Several of them tried to catch and mount the

other homes, but the latter, taking fright at the

din which was made, scampered oi! over the

gag, toward the spot where the “ darky ” was
1 en.

“De good Lord hab mercy on dis nig now!" "
murmured Jumble. “ 1’s trampled to def, shuah

as 1’: born l”

And still keeping himself concealed b ti); :
ac ,

lon grass, be commenced to roll like a
be] away from the spot the frightened coarser:
were a proachingi'. .

Buti seemed a most as if the horses knew ox.

actly where he was. and that they were diatom 

Vaulting quickly upon the back of the steed  

   
 

’ r—v .

 

 

\

28

   
 

Toni Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

mined to stamp out his life, for now, slightly
changing their course, they came on, making
straight for him. '

All at once the crack of a rifle split the air;
and making a flying leap. as it passed the
f‘ darky,” the horse bestrode by Trapper John
emptied its rider at the negro’s feet with a bul-
let through his brainl

CHAPTER XIX.
A RIDE non 1.1m

V THE fright of the little “darky” knew no
. bounds. He turned a somerset, and for an
instant stood upon his head with his heels in

air.

“I’s dead now, shuah! Help—helpl Lif’ me
up on yer wings. some good brack angel, and
save de precious life ob dis poor chilel” .

As he spoke, he flopped OVer upon his Side,
and crouched behind the dead body of Trapper

John.
With distorted nostrils and foaming at the

mouth, the frightened horses, now within a few
yards of the negro, came on.

Impelled by the impulse of fear, Jumble
raised the dead body of ohn upright before the
maddened steeds.

One of them rearing, its hind legs sunk into
the mud of a little pond of water, and down it
went, falling upon its side, so close to the
' “ darky ” that to prevent its rolling over upon
him as it endeavored to rise, be seized it by the
mane and tried to push its neck away from him.

The horse sprung up so suddenly, that the
black was lifted with it, and in order to save
himself from falling under its heels, he flopped
, over 11 on its back, throwing both arms around

its necg. The steed, flinging up its hind legs,
tried to hurl him from its back, but Jumble
« also throwing up his heels, as if to kee time
with these movements, maintained his p ace.

“ Boo-col hoo-ool whoo oo-oopl” yelled the
Indians behind, as they bounded along in pur-

. suit.

Bang! went a rifle, at the same moment,
and1 one of the bullets grazed the negro’s left

as . V

“Mnrdahl murdahl Dey’s seal in’ my heels,
and de ’11 keep on, till dey rips a1 de skin from
mybo yl Git dapl er hossl Make de flreflvl
Oh, say! go it, wont yer, yer ,bressed angell
210 go it, 1 beg ob yer, and sabe Jumbles

. el

Bang! went another rifle, and this time the
bullet grazed the top of the negro’s head.

He gave a yell louder than that of the In-
‘dians.

The horse, with a wild snort on hearing the
hideous noise so close to its ears, shot forward
like li htning. _ _

J um le cast a frightened glance behind him,
but when he perceived how repidly the horse
distanced its pursuers. he began to gather'cour-
age, and raising his huge horse-pistol, while he
still held to the coarser with one hand, he shook
his weapon defiantly at the Indians.

» On went the horse, and soon it had left the

field far behind it, and was_speeding along

V as: more rugged paths, leading toward the
e.

 

“I’s safe now, shuahl” cried Jumble. “ Ef
dat wasn’t a brave feat 0b mine, to mount de
boss in de berry faces oh dcm Injuns, and gal-
lop off from under dar berry noses! Is a, second
Gcn’l Putnam—I is!”

But just then, to his horror, he perceived not
far oil, a Crow, who had succeeded in mounting
one of the horses, in pursuit of him.

“Stop! black-face!” yelled the savage, “or
me quick shoot l"

And as he spoke, sitting, without holding to
the bridle, by pressing both knees firmly against
each side of the beast, he pointed his rifle to-
ward the negro.

“ Ohl Msssa Injunl” cried the latter. “ I’d
stop de boss of I could, but he won’t stop! For
de Lord’s sake, don’t fire 03 do: ins’l‘umcnt,
and HI try and be wid yer soon as p05serblel”

“Pull on horse-rein, and try stopl" shouted
the Indian.

“ Anyt’ing in dis worl’ to oblige yerl”answer-
ed Jumble.

He jerked at the reins, and made every effort
to stop the animal, but the latter flow on.

Crack! went the rifle of the savage.

1The bullet passad close to the “ darky’s ” tem-

e.

With a. screnm of terror, he now whirled
round, so that his heels were toward thecourser’s
head and his face was close to its tail.

This tail Jumble grasped with both hands,
using it not only for a support but also fora
ghield, striving to hold it upright before his

ace.

The Indian was reloading his piece.

“ He’s a-goin’ to fire again!" gasped the
“darky,” as be peered at the savage from behind
the tail. “Oh, Lordl What will become ob
dis hi 1”

By the time the Indian had reloaded, Jumble’s
horse had reached the strip of marshy land
stretched out from this side of the lake.

Its speed as it plowed through the swamp
was diminished, enabling the pursuers to gain.
His rifle was a second time pointed toward the
fugitive, now at so short a range that the negro
must have been hit, had he fired. But. at that
critical moment the ring of a piece was heard
ahead. from the summit of the hight rising from
the lake. and the Indian. throwing up his hands
and making a clutch at the empty air, rolled off
his horse, stone dead—a bullet having passed
through his heart. ‘.

The horse, whirling to the right, now dashed
OE, and he was soon a long distance from the
spot where the rider had fallen.

The “ darky” endeavored to stop the animal
upon which he rode, but it kept 'on, and, finally
with a wild neigh, it plunged into the lake.

Jumble, who was a good swimmer slipped
ofl the horse’s back and struck out for the shore
but ere he could reach it he saw, not far off, the
rest of the Crows coming toward the lake.

“ I's gone—1’s los’,” he cried, "‘ de las' hope ob
my life am departed nowl Come back, you
brassed angel—come back, ,won’t yer?” he add— ,
ed, addressing the steed which he had ridden,
and which having now gained the opposite
bank, was about togallop ofi. ,, ~

The horse of course paid no attention was

i prayers, but away it went.

  

 

Tom Tabor, the

Boy Fugitive.

 

Jumble now whirled round, and also swam l
for the opposite bank. in doing so, he was
obliged to ass the base of the clilf rising from
the lake. urniug to look round, be perceived
that his enemies were not more than a hundred
feet distant, and that one of them had pointed a.
rifle at his head. '

“0h! Goll-a-mightyl” he yelled.

Bang! went the rifle, and the bullet struck r
the water in front of Jumble, who at once
turned a somerset, in his terror, throwing up
his heels.

Ju t as he rose to the surface, he felt some-
thing clutch both of his legs with an iron grip!

Then it seemed as if the “ darky’s” white eye«
balls would burst, so far did they protrude
from their sockets.

He made frantic efforts to escape the grasp,
which kept tightening upon his “shins,” while
his cries of terror rung upon the air. ,

“Oh! ohl ohl ohl oh!” Now 1’s gone—gone
—gouel Shuah as 1’s born, dar’s an ‘allerga-
tor’ got hol’ ob me, under (is water! I didn’t
t’ink dar was any ob dem t’ings heah!"

His further utterance died away in a urgle,
as he was jerked under the surface! 6 felt
himself dragged on, but, suddenly, to his sur-
pri~e and intense relief, he rose, in a water-
cave, with Tom Tabor and Haskins on each
side of him, and with Minnie on the rocks,
watching him!

“Now, den!” said the darky, as he crawled
upon the rocks and looked at his rescuers, “ tell
me am dis hebben, or am I dreamin’ on dot in-
teres’in’ subject?"

“What did you think had hold of you?” in-
quired Tom, laughing.

“ T’inki Why oh course I guessed well
enough. It takes a great deal to depi ive me oh
de won’erful self-possession by which Is ex~
tinguished!”

Again Tom laughed.

“ You showed your self-possession on the back
of that horse,” he said. _

“ Didn’t I? Did yer see me shake my pls’l at
dam rascals? Say, did yer? Did yer see me
come de Gen’l Putnam ober dam?”

And, a he spoke, Jumble, folding his arms, ‘
strutted to and fro with a martial aim.

CHAPTER XX.
THE APPARITION.

SOME ex lanations Were now made, after
which the ittle party in the water-cave as-
cended to the summit of the peak.

The Indians remembering their previous ex-
perience near the lake. withdrew into the woods ,
the moment Jumble disappeared. ‘

Haskins now noticed that the prov1sionl in ‘
his own and Tom’s Wallet were running short.

“ To-morrow morning I’ll hev to go and see ef
I can’t shoot a deer,” he remarked.

“ I will go with you,” said Tom.

“No, you must st‘a , hyar, with the gel, but
{fin ,km keep a sort 0 a lookout for me, of you

l e.
Just at dawn, next day, Haskins set‘out on
his expedition taking Jumble with him, al-
thoughthe “darky” tried to avoid going by
pleading a rheumatic lameness about the region r
of the “ shins.” ‘

 

 

Minnie and Tom watched the two until they
were out of sight.

“I have a sort of presentiment that our good
{glend,]the hunter, will get into trouble,” said

e ir.

.“ am afraid he will. If there are any In-
dians prowling about, the report _of his rifle
must draw them toward him.”

“SuppOSe anything serious should happen to
him and the negro?”

“ In that case you would still have me to pro
test you,” said Tom, “ which I would do to the
very last.”

“I have perfect confidence in you, on ac-
count of what you have alreadv done for me.”
said Minnie, with a grateful glance of her bright
black eyes. I

“ I could never tire of doing for you,” said
Tom. “ The truth is,” added the boy, lower-in
his voice, “ you are just the sort of girl
like."

“ LIKE?" said Minnie, blushing.

“No! not like, but love—that’s the word!”
cried1T0m, “ and if I thought you could love
me_, , .

“ Oh, Tom.” said Minnie, nestling close to his, r
side, and allowin him to retain her hand, ,
which he had seize . -

“ I—l—like you. too."

“LIKE?” said Tom. ~

“ What should I say? Come, you must not
force me to own too much, even though there
could not be a better time to say it.”

“ Say it, then,” said Tom.

“ Say what?"

“That you love me.”

“ Well, then. I—I—I do!” -

\Tom threw an arm about her waist, but she ,
coyl withdrew herself from it.

“ at now. Let us say no more on the sub-
ject, now.”

As she‘spoke, Tom suddenly bowedhis head
on his hands.

‘t‘I’ forgot,” he cried, bitterly. “Yes,1for-

0 i

I

“Forgot what?” . 

“ Some other time I will tell you." answered
Tom, over whose mind now hovered that terri- .
ble shadow—the thought that it was his father"
who had killed the father of the girl he loved! I .

Hours passed, but Haskins did not return.

Toward sundown Tom fancied he heard the
report of a rifle in the distance.

“I must go and look for the hunter,” said the
lad. “ You will be safe here.” '

Minnie tried to detain him, but Tom felt that
it was his duty to look for the man who had
done so much for him. ' - »

It was grewing dark, and the boy was about
to descend to the water-cave, when he fancied
he saw a figure approaching.

“ It is Jim Jumble!” he cried.

In fact it was the “ dorky,” who was rapidly V ‘

hurr ing toward the lake. . ,

“ h! deah what dreflul news I’s got to be
de bearer ob! ’ he gasped, as he drew near.

Just as he reached the shore he beheld a dark, ,
shadowy form coming toward him in the wily
10w canoe, which the ndians left, in the lake. '

With a bowl of horror he crouched among
the reeds on thebank. , 

/

 

 

 

    

30 I Tom Tabor, the Boy Fugitive.

 

“Injunsl” he cried. “Ob, now, jes’ as I
comes to de stronghol’, I’s to be scalped by dem
Injinsl Helpl help!” .

“ Hush!” came a low, stern voice. “ Halloal
Jim Jumbleas I livel Where are you goingi
Where is your mistress i”

But the “dorky ” answered not. As the man
sprung from the came, graping him by the col-
lar and raising him to his feet, he perceived

‘ that the living object he held was as limp as a
rag. In fact the ho had fainted.

“ What nonsensel’ said the man impatiently.

He sprinkled the negro’s face with water,
again and again, but Jumble gave no sign of re.
turning animation.

, All at once up 5 rung the little negro, run-
ning off as fast as 8 could go.

The man, who was a strong-looking fellow,
soon perceived his absence, and away he went.
in pursuit of the fleeing figure, which he could
see indistinctly through the gloom.

Tom and Minnie could dimly make out, from

r their position, those two figures, the smaller
one some distance ahead of the other.

“ What does it mean?” inquired the girl.

“I can’t see them at all, now,” said Tom,
“but, if I’m not much mistaken, Jumble is

, being pursued by some one-probably not an
Indian, but Trapper John, or one of his men.
I must go to help him.”

“And I will go with you,” said Minnie. “ I
am afraid he will beat the poor fellow, and you
might not succeed in stopping him, whereas he
would stop at once for me.”

Tom could not dissuade her from her inten-
tion, and the two descending to the water-cave
were soon striking out for the ban k.

, The moment they reached it they started for-
ward, but they could now see no sign of the
two persons they ursued.

Ahead of them, owever, they finally beheld
the bright light of a fire, near which were col-
lected half a dozen wild, fierce-looking young

~ fellows, armed “to the teeth,” whom they recog-
nized as members of the Lynch-law Gang.

As they drew nearer, they saw Haskins
lying, bound hand and font. closo to the party.

Tom, still followed by Minnie, hurried to the

ot.
D“ What does this mean?" the boy inquired.
“ It means that we’ve at last got the coon
‘ we’ve been huntin’ fur.” answered a dark.
brewed youth, named Jonson, “and I don’t
know as you’ve anything to say about it.”
I “This man has never harmed you, in any
way ” cried Tom. ”

" e’s harmed some one else, though. We
Lynch-gang ‘ Wolves’ hev him in our clutches,
at last! ’

f‘I Sent the ‘darky ’ to tell you whar I was,
and what my fate would be,” said Haskins ere
Tom could reply.

“ No, Haskms, you—”

“ What’s that yer call him?” interrupted J an-
son. “ His name ain’t Haskins—it’s Tabor—
Ned Tabor. Is it so long sence yer’ve see’d yer

. father, that yer don’t know him?”
" Tom started as if shot.

“ My Godl is this so?” he gasped.

i “ Shore’s ou’re born, he’s yer lather—the
- «than that k d Sharia Lormerl ’

l

 

“ It is true that
now said. “You
your father?”

“No, because it is so long since I saw
home, and you then wore no heard.
you not tell me who you were before?”

“El? anything had happened to me, it would
hev grieved you more to know who I was.
Therefore, I concluded to keep the secret. and
see ef I came out all right, ’fore I told you. As
things have happened, though, you’ve now
found it out.” _

The boy could see that Minnie was no less
afl’ected than himself.

She had drawn back, her tears falling fast
and subs agitating her young frame.

on are my son,” the hunter
ad no suspicion that I was

on at
by did

 

CHAPTER XXI.
CONCLUSION.

TOM sprung forward, and drew the girl toone
side.

“ You will forgive me for not telling you who
I was,” he said, in a low voice. “I could not
bear to break up our friendship. I never hoped
for anything else, for I was certain that when
you knew all you would hate me.” .

“Alasl you are not to blamel” said the girl. V

“I know that. Still, never could I bear the
thought of asking you to be mine—my wife, af-
ter this, for I would not be willing to wed with
the girl whose father mine had killed.” .

" Ohl Tom l” was all she could say. while sobs
still convulsed her frame.

“ No,” continued the boy. “ All is ever be-
tween us now. We can never beanything to
each other.” I

He then turned away and went to his father,
who was calling him.

“My dear boy,” said he. “I am accused of
having killed the sheriff, but it is not true. I did
not kill him.”

“ You are innocent?” cried Tom.

“Yes, as innocent as you are.”

The lad gave acry of joy.

“They all say that,” sneered Jansen. “As
we don’t believe it, you’ve got to be lynched.” '

“ You have no right to do that l” exclaimed
Tomqvith flashing eyes, "tor he has had no
trial.

“That don’t matter.
ready, boys I”

A youth with a. rope climbed a. tree, and
threw one end of the line over a branch.. .

But young Tabor seized the rope and pulled it

own.

Then drawing his pistol, he stood by his
parent.

“The first who lays a hand on my father
dies 1‘ the Boy Fugitive cried.

“ I see we’ll hev to make you a. pris’ner, tool"
cried Jansen.

Minnie new step ed forward.

“Tom is rightl’ she cried. “His father
should have a trial; but I no longer believe he

is guilt 1”

a,“ God bless you for those words!” exclaimed
om. ,
Jansen frowned darkly.
“ Seize that be 1” he said to his companions.

_ They gave eye and made a rush toward the

l

Hyar, git the rope

V , 

  

  
   
  
  
  

         

w

i-.. m.  -

 

‘ stream ere I rose to the surface.

Tom Tabor. the Boy Fugitive.

 

lad who‘pulled the trigger of his pistol. But
he had forgotten that his late submersion h‘ad
spoiled the charge contained in the weapon,
which did not go off.

The next moment he was aprisonor, and the
reparations for his father’s execution were con-
inued.

The rope, with the noose at one end, soon was
ready.

The noose was placed about the neck of the
hunter, who, with his hands still tied, had been
made to stand up. r .

In spite of the threats and protestations of
Tom Tabor and theentreaties of Minnie, Junson
told his comrades to take hold of the other end
of the rope, and to stand by to pull.

They had already done so, and the fierce youth
was about to give the final order to them to haul,
when two persons were seen rupidlyv approach-
ing, one of them, in a loud authoritative voice,
commanding the men to desist.

As the gang hesitated. still holding the rope,
the speaker came so near that the light of the
fire fell 11 on his face.

“ The slier I” yelled all simultaneously.

“ By the ’tarnall so it is i" cried Janson, in aa-
tonishment. “It is Shem]? Lormerl the very
man we thought was murdered in hyar, alive
and welll”

“ Father I” cried Minnie, springing forward,
and falling, almost fainting. upon the breast of
her parent, who folded her in his arms. .

“ In de name oh humanity, in de name ob de
sheriiI, come to life ag’iu, af‘er many trials and
tribelations, I commands de adjournment ob
dis committee, ob which I constertute myself
do chairman 1’ said Jim J umble, strutting for-
ward with his huge horse-pistol in his hand.

Tom Tabor and his father were now liberated.

“Please explain what all this means,” said
Janson to his late prisoner. “ I own now I was
in the wrong; but you yerself must know that
thar war good reasons fur suspecting yer.”

“Yes, l’ll own that.” said Ned Tabor, “and
it was because circumstances were so strong
against me that I thought it worth my while to
has p concealed from your Lynch-gang ‘ Wolves,’
who were hunting for me, hoping that some
pr00l' of my innocence would be found.”

“The truth of the matter is soon told,” said
the sheriff. “Tabor and I met near the bank
of the Black creek. After some convsrsation,
we indulged in a playful wrestle. My foot
catching against a root, I pitched headlong into
the stream, my rifle going off as I fell.

“The current carried me round a bend in the
I clutched a
branch and drew myself on shore among some
bushes, when the branch broke, and my head
strikipg astoneas I dropped 1 was made an-
consolous.

“That was the last I knew until I found my-
self among a. wandering party of Indians. These

THE

After many hardships, I arrived last night at a . '5 

~ The young couple kept Jumble for a servant.~

 

savages had lately been defeated in a battle

with the Crows, and were retreating when they

saw me. They picked me up and carried me

some distance ere I came to. They retained me'
prisoner, saying they would keep me until some

one should offer them a ransom for me.

“I was finally taken to their camp many
miles from here. An Indian woman there
became my friend. She concealed me one ~ ’
night in a cave unknown to her peo le. Every
day she brought me provisions. he savages
were making a diligent search for me, saving ' ~'*
they would kill me if they should find me. ,Thus.
day after do passed, the Indian woman not
daring to sen me forth from my retreat, lest I
should be captured by her people, who were
still searching for me

“ At last, howevur, she found a chance to lead
me from the retreat and to guide me to a place
whence I might pursue my way homeward.

lake, where, to my surprise. I fell in with my
servant Jim Jumble, then on his way from Ned 3.1,:
Tabor, who had sent him to apprise his son of ~;
his capture. The ‘ darky’ took me for a ghost _ v- 
and ran of]! in terror until I caught him and

roved to him that I was real flesh and blood.

t seems I arrived here just in time to prevent
the execution of an innocent man.”

“After you fell into the Black creek,” said
Ned rilabor, “ I ran along the bank. looking if I
could see you come up to the surlface. I must
have passed the place where you were really
lying unconscious in the shruhbery on the other
side of the bank, for I saw nothing of you and 
believed that you had been drowned.”

The sherifl now reprimanded the Lynch-Gang .
for having been in so great a hurry to hang - '
their prisoner. . _ ,‘

“ This hurried lynching has become too com-
mon and should be stopped,” he rejoined.

“ I’m mou’ty glad youcame when you did,”
said Janson, “ fur me and my ‘ Wolves’ are the V’
last persons that would want to hang a man"
who wasn’t guilty.”

“Well, be careful in future.

Next morning the whole party set out on
their return home. . r , .

In due time Lormer and his daughter reached. M ‘
their native village, which was a few miles. 1
from Denver. v, ‘ ~.' _-

Tom had obtained permission, both from the
sheriff and his daughter, to visit them  a. 1,.
couple of years later he made the girl his Wife.

Ned Tabor had given up his hunter life for a
more lucrative vocation, and on the day of his .
son’s marriage he presented him withadeed, n
which entitled him to a fine house in Denver.

 
   
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
   
   
  
    
 
  
   

The negro retained this situation until his»“orn~ ‘ \
torical powers " captivated the chunky Susanna
Lily Mapleto ,, a colored girl, whom he married
and carried 0 to Nebraska. ~

END.

 

 

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40 Smart Him. ch. Lad will. u I. ‘ . I ’ .\\'llll:t¢ “"V‘" "5"." """ ““R‘fl‘.“'“' "'“h' “YR-5""b‘Wk-

4l The Educ“! 50.“ “y Edwarm ; ' Erma.“- ol ll‘tizoklul Mnltlfi ‘ly E. ltullnmn.

42 “run Fcrflflonm end“,- By in! mnrk‘ u: mum: . n-tun n. D. (Inn.

48 Rifle null evolycr. By Capt. .-ll Whimlln-r.

44 The Lost Boy “ hnlcrn. Bv T. . Inrlmu. .

45 Bronco B Ily. me 5mm).- Prince. By ,4. lugruhnm.

46 luck. the smwnwuy. By (‘lmrlen Moms.
47 The Colorado Bnyn. By Juscpll K. llmluer, Jr.
The Paman llumern. 15v '1‘. (3. lllu'lmlluh.

'l‘vxnn Cllnrllo, (he Bny Hunger. ll)" Coll lllgnllllun.

Luth- lmle. llv (‘uplniu ‘- 1‘ ml " Adm.»

The Yonn Nlhllht. n." ( Inn-Iva .‘IK'rll-‘u

I'on'v (he ‘uwlnn'. Hy .\lnjur H. I Elmldnnl.

RH! linbnnrl nnd lily-Bear. 11y Cupluin “Bruin “
l . mm.

The lye Flo hnnt. Ry f‘upl. Fr-leil'k “'llinulmr.

’l he \ mun: . lonnc-"umorn. 11y \\‘. ll. Nnruing.

The Boy CnI-nl- Flnhorn. ‘w R uvr Slurhmll.

Ih-Yoh't-r Rllly. By Ch]. I‘m-mi» 'l Lrnllnul.

The (‘ ndor kllluru. l’ry 'l‘. k'. II lllvllllg‘ll.

Lml I. mhccln, the Young Tiger I’lglucr. lly Huger

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Nd Trn n; lr. ch.- may luvuls. VB. Barry kingznlvl.
('elltrr 5 mt. thv \Vlllh- Crow. By T. C. Ilnrhnugtl.
.\ Ilot Trnll. By Charles Marrh.
Hunter l’nrd Bell- By Roger Mnrhnek.
'l‘hc Ennulmuux’ Ont-en. m- G.\\‘uldo Browne.
48 Tim, Hm HOV'Arruhul. My (Illnrluwllnrris.
41 The Adventuroun “lb of Nehru-kn Chnrlk- "."ec" "0":9' m" “""S'" l' n“ """'3‘J-T"°"""-
By Col. 9mm. lnmlmm. ' ’I um Tnlmr, W “03' 1-13.: I 12v 1mg. Rinuzul I.
50 Jack Ilarry and Tom. the Three Champion Brothers. Mn'k ( "“t’ “m D"“‘[""h‘"' "5' '1‘ "‘ 1'“ 1"“3‘”! J"
Ry .upl. Fred. Wllinuker. 12? [he Pet-r “nun-rut By John J. )lurshgll.
51 The Ynnn‘: Land-lumber. Bv C. D. Clnrk. 125  "(It-hm; urfiTlm .‘\l|flh‘-Jix|llkn or g1... kleJm.“ _
I g . ,1 v . _ 1;.1‘, (Z I: L \' ‘nl-L. 'ma. IIVVtfll'I. .
g: figfigf’unfiefl ‘It‘rchml‘zu A I?” mg] 129 Flvllverupur: or. ’1 he Mounlxun lIerolne. By Ellwnrd
54. «aural-nu: Joe. Hy Cu]. l’rantlss mnnm... \ymcn- Remix Ol‘t- ‘1- , _ _ , ‘
55 Tip Tn-nnel. the Flam... Ry Edwnnl mum. 13° Room-I» QM" 0- “"5 11m"!- “N 1m? 15- St-Jolm-
56 The snow Hunter-n. By Burl-v.1.- Forrest “MW W‘- 9-
57 Harry Semen, ll": :‘uilor Buy Mugiclnu. By S. \l'. 181 \Vlntnh. the Child Spv. iy Grunge Uleuon.
Puree. Rumly (1M. 15. '
‘8 kanlfidnfifif'tlgncfl  Jnuk’ a” 182 The Iulnnd Trapper By Charlul Howard.
69 Lame Tim. the .\luln "0y um... :u n. c_ Mm]. Imuly Url
60 The Young 'l‘rnll "unto: (‘. "urlluuglh 188 The Few hot-o‘er. Hy Enlwnrd Willem.
g; Bhgw'l‘héer llwlflern.L My .1 n ‘. n -_ kmuly (m, ..l-.
o r nrver' t u“ "\‘il 5‘ »’-il 4 t1 I‘l ' . [3'
Col. Pun-us: [ng’ah‘mm l H t w m“. 5 BDIIIHc‘I Boy'u Library is I'm gala by all Nuwmlenlen.
“3 "130k "0""? Rm. 3" ROW" Sl'u’MW- fiva cunu [u-r copy or sent by nmil on receipt of six cunt; and: ‘
64 You Dick ’l‘nlholl. 8 Albert w. Alkvn. . ’. .
«r- Thenfioy Pilot. Hy Co . l‘rnmiss lnmnlmln. BLADLE A3 ” ADA)“. l’l'bmhem
66 The Dawn Bower. By Charles Morris. 98 “'llllnm Strcei, New York.

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