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Copyright, 1892, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N.Y., assecond class matter. Jan, 26, 1899,

 

aha i M. J.IVERS & CO., Publishers, :
iNo.* 4, P ee (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) | Price & Cents. Vol |
eon Every Week. 379 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year. ip)

 

increas ipl cette ttananns

_BY MAJOR H. B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout.

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

   

Copyright, 1892, by Beadle & Adams. Entered at Post Office, New York, N.Y., as second class matter,

 

Jan. 29, 1899.
; 5 M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers. 5
. No 4 Published (James Sullivan, Peoprieters : Price 5 Cents. Vol |
t Pans 2 dowery Week. 379 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year. 2

 

_ | ILLIE, THE RECKLESS RIDER

BY MAJOR H. B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout.

 

 

 

 

 
Xu

 

Gordon Lilife,

   
    

 

 
  

LILLIE,
THE RECKLESS RIDER;

| The Wild inter A Secret,

BY MAJ. H. B. STODDARD, Ex-Scovrt,
aa AUTHOR OF ‘‘NECK-TIE NED,” ‘‘ PONY,’ THE
evs COWBOY,” ‘‘ RAPIER RAPHAEL,” ‘‘ THE

s BOY VIGILANTES,” ETO., ETC.

 

 

Bs CHAPTER I.

BE E A QUARREL AND A FIGHT,

: THe subject of this life-sketch was born in
Bloomingtoa, Illinois, in 1861, and little of in-
terest happened during his school-days until he
arrived at tae age of sixteen, when, just before
he graduated from the High School, an inci-
dent occurred which changed the whole course
of his life.

Gordon Lillie was a youth of unusual bril-
liancy and quickness of memory, and_ these
qualities mide him an exceptionally bright
scholar, so that be readily acquired lessons in a
few minutes which it took others hours to com-
mit to memory.

Besides this he was a perfect model of boyish
beauty and his fair hair, blue eyes and almost
feminine delicacy of complexion made hima
great favorite with those scholars that belonged.
to the weaker sex as well as with his teachers:
for he combined with his good looks a gentle-
ness avd courtesy of manner that won the
hearts of nearly all those with whom he came
in contact, : ;

But there was one member of his class, who,
jealous of Gordon’s popularity and chafing be-
neath the taought that this stripling who was
so far inferior to him in strength, should be es-
teemed his superior in all other accomplishments,
seized every opportunity to insult and to mock
and scoff at the lad.

His taunts at length became unendurable,
and one day when Big Ben, as the boy was call-
ed had gone further than usual, Gordon Lillie
suddenly turned upon him as they were leaving
the school-house together, and said:

“ Ben Wilson, I’m tired of your bullying, and
it’s got to stop.” Ai *
_ © Got to, has it?’ sneered the bully, confident
in his superior years and strength. ‘‘ And who
‘1 make me stop?” | }

Soh WH!

You. you baby!”

“ Yes, I, And to prove it, take that!”

“Paat,” was a sounding slap from Lillie’s
right hand which suddenly struck the other’s
cheek with a resounding smack, before he could
parry the blow, and left a deep red mark where
the palm hac. irritated the skin and flesh.

With a growl of rage Big Ben drew himself
together to |»ap, on the frail lad who thus defied
bim and crush him to the ground beneath a
hail of blows; but the sight of the principal of
_ the school, who at that moment came around

the corner, deterred him,

   
 
  
 
 
  

   
  

  

  
  

De elton. of a ee ”

only added to Wilson’s wrath by answering

 

“Just wait until to-morrow, you ycung
milk-sop, and 11 fix you!” muttered the elder,
as, mad with pain and rage and mortification—
for a half-dozen of the boys had witnessed his
discomfiture—he bottled up his anger as best he
could and slunk away. — es

“Tl pe at ‘The Hole’ to-morrow afternoon,”
called out Gordon, naming a favorite swim-
ming place much affected by the boys in the
summer, for here was an eddy, and the water,
shallow above and below, just at this spot was
some twenty feet deep. : Bare

The other nodded that he understood and the

little group separated, most of the boys follow- ©
ing Wilson, to whom they wished to toady; for,
although they disliked, yet they feared, him.
- But two of the Jads remained with Lillie, and
walked slowly home with him, talking of what
had happened and while praising his pluck,
advising him to keep out of Big Ben’s way. *

“You'd better look out for him, Gordon,”
cautioned, one of hisfriends, ‘‘ He never’s been
licked and he’s had lots o’ fights.” _ :

*‘Never’s a long time, Jim,” laconically an- .
swered Gordon, ‘‘and if he never has been that
is no sign that he never will be.”

‘Well, good luck. I’d like to see bully Ben
taken down a peg.” 4

And having reached his home the three sep-
arated, Gordon entering the house and telling
the boys good-night, they promising to be at
“The Hole” on the succeeding afternoon.

The boy kept his own counsel and his porents
suspected nothing as he quietly ate his supper,
chatting with them on various subjects, an
taking his books, when the table was cleared
away, and applying himself to preparing h's
lessons for the next day.

This task finished, he said a quiet good-night,
and retiring to his room, be was. soon in bed,
where he quickly fell asieep and slumbered as
quietly as if no such person as Big Ben were in
existence.

Up early the next day, by the time the morn-
ing meal was prepared he had performed the
dozen Jittle tasks he had allotted himself, ana
then, after a hearty meal, siuug his books over
his shoulder and started for school, reaching
which he found, from sundry nods and whispers _
interchanged between the boys, that the affair
had been confided to several of them, and that oe
a goodly crowd would visit the arena to witness

the combat that afternoon. 7 nee 5
He also saw Big Ben; but no words passed
between them, as the bell rung at that moment
and they all flocked'into the school room, ~
And when the classes were called up, Gordon

   
   
   
   
  
         
     
       
     
     
         
     
     
     
       
       
       
      

      
   
 
 

 
 
 
  
  

  
     
 
   
  

  
    
  

  

 

   
   

  
   
   
 
  

  
   
 

 
 
 
 

   

uestions which the other missed, so that by the
time recess came Lillie was at the head of his
class, while Ben Wilson had gradually slipped —
down near the foot, where he stood, nursing his
wrath and.biting his nails until the blood came,

At length twelve o’clock struck, and the boys —
were free for the day, for it was Saturday. an
a half-holiday, and the boys bounded out of the
school-house with shouts and whistles, rejoicing
in their freedom. ‘

ee es i te eee

ocipal, who pr bim for xcellent

Paration, and spoke a few kindly pic

   

    
     
   
   

 
      
 

   
 
 

  

 
 

     
Gordon Lillie.

 

made the boy’s heart glow with pride and pleas-
ure, and then, linking bis arm in the lJad’s,
walked with him until nearly home, their roads
lying in the same direction.

But, as they separated, and Gordon turned
off toward his home, he came upon a crowd of
his schoolmates, among whom was Big Ben.

As he came within bearing, he caught the
words that a little ney spoke, who was not more
than twelve years old:

‘Gordon isn’t
Ben Wilson, that he told Mr. Evans” (the teach-
er) ‘a thing. He is no more coward than you
are, you big buliy.” ;

And with clinched hands and flushed face the
little champion confronted the other.

-But he cruelly raised bis hand and struck the
_ little fellow a crushing blow on the head, while
even his intimates cried “‘ shame!”

Gordon hastened up and spoke to them:

“You know, boys, that I am no tell-tale, and
that I wouldn’t say a word to any one about
anything that had taken place.

“As for you, Ben Wilson, I'll be at ‘The

_ Hole’ at three o'clock and we'll see whois the

coward!”
And he wended his way homeward where he

ete his dinner and then with some excuse for.

his absence, left the house and set out for the
place of meeting, which was some two miles
distant out in the country.

On his way he was joined by Jim Davis, one
of his particular friends, who exhibited with
great pride a sponge, a bottle of vinegar and an
empty bottle which, he explained, was to hold

water. -

“Pm to be your second, Gord, an’ ’ll sponge
you off in great shape. ;

“We'll have a regular prize-fight, an’ I reckon
Ru Calleuder "Il second Ben.”

‘All right, Jim,” returned the boy cheerily,

and they burried along the path, Davis giving
_ Gordon much useful or useless advice regarding

_ the strategy he should display in the combat.

“Keep a-peggin’ away at his ribs, Gord, an’
try an’ get out o’ the way of his rushes.

‘If he ever hits you fair you’re a gone sucker;

_ but if you wind him there’s no tellin’,”
Ina few moments more they had reached the
_ ground and found it occupied by twenty or
more of the boys.

‘The turf was level and ‘‘ The Hole,” a few feet
distant, was covered with ice, not thick enough

to sustain a person, but sufficiently strong to |

make it difficult for any one to get out if they
broke through. -

4 few trees scattered here and there bore ;
amid

their branches a dozen of the smaller boys
who had climbed up to secure a full and unin-
terrupted viow of the fight.

The prelioinaries were soon arranged, and as
the boys insisted on a fair, stand-up fizht, a
weuld-be sporting youth was armed with the
authority of referee, w! ile Big Ben and Gordon

promised faithfully that when either was down
no blows were to be struck, and at the call of
ime” advanced and shook hands. ~

And as they stood there the difference in the
two was remarkable: Gordon with his slight

and white skin, seeming almost effemi-
, yet beneath the velvet covering lurked

coward, and I don’t believe, -

 

—

muscles and sinews of steel, the result of cares
ful habits and thorough exercise; but the mas-
sive limbs of Big Ben stood out in cruel con-
trast, although his skin had a pasty look from
overfeeding and much drinking of beer.

As they stood sparring, ilson suddenly
rusbed upon his young cpponent, aiming a
sledge-hammer blow full at his face, but
Lillie leaped lightly aside and, avoiding the’
rush, sent his right band into Ben’s lower
ribs with a sound like the beating of a drum
and lanched his left with full force before
the other could stop or turn, and catching
him full behind the ear, sent him staggering
over the turf until he measured his length on
the ground.

A chorus of cheers greeted this kncck-down,
and Gordon retired to bis corner, smiling, while
Big Ben was assisted to his feet and led toa
seat on his second’s knee, where the lun-p te-
hind his ear. now the size of a pigeon’s egg, was
bathed by Reuben Callender, while Ben gezed
at his antagonist as if he would anvibilate bim.

In a few moments ‘“‘ time” was egain called.
and this round was decidedly in favor of Wil-
son, for hurling himself upon Gordor before the
latter could get out of the way, he struck him
on thé cheek just below the eye, knocking bim
far off bis feet and following it up with a vicious
upper-cut under the chin, which made the boy’s
teeth rattle, and sent bim sprawling into bis cor-
ner before Gordon could strike a blow.

It was all that Jim Davis could do to restore
him to consciousness, and when he again ad-
vanced to meet his antagonist he was decidedly
light-headed and groggy on his pins, yet, swil-
ing and confident, for his indomitable pluck
stood him in good stead and the severe punish-
ment he had received only served to make him
more cautious.

’ Following Jim Davis’s advice, he kept well
away from Ben until he saw an opening, when, —
rushing under the bully’s guard, be planted one,
two, three stinging blows in his face and, as
Wilson staggered back, gathered all of his
strength into one well-directed blow, which
caught him full in the mouth and knocked bim
backward over the bank, whence he crashed
through the thin ice and disappeared beneath the _
dark waters of ‘‘The Hole,” while a cry went
up from Jim Davis:. he yes :

“Heavens! Gordon you have stunned him,
and he will drown!” ; :

es

CHAPTER II.
A NARROW ESCAPE.

For a few moments the boys stood awe-
stricken by this sudden and unexpected termina-
tion of the fray, while it seemed as if if were to
be a fatal gre; and not the least startled of the
crow was Gordon Lillie, who was herrified at
the thought that he bad thus sent a human
being to eternity, : . :

But in a second more he recovered himself,
and leaping to the bank he threw bis hands far
above his head, and springing into the air,

lunged: head-furemost into the opening where
ilson had disappeared, and dove deep down
into the icy-cold waters. : ere =

*

 
Gordo

a~.

Down, down he went, until he came nearly to
the bottom. when with wie open eyes be saw,
close to the bank, a‘dark object which he knew
must be VW/ilson’s body, and grasping, he en-
deavored {o draw it to the surface; but the
drowning lad’s hand had clutcbed an out-
stretched root, and his grasp on it was like iron,
so fiercely does a drowning person clutch at
anything he may feel. :

Gordon pulled, and tugged and wrenched with
all his might, while his chest felt as if weighted
down with tons of lead, his temples throbbed
and his veins swelled as if they would burst
from the effort to hold his breath.

Just as be was about to give up in despair and
release his hold to save bis own life, while he
gave a mizhty wrench at the boy’s arm, the
root parted, and taking a fresh clutch on Wil-
son’s collar, he gavea push with his feet and
shot up toward the surface.

But the slowly swirling waters of the eddy
had carried them under the ice and far away
from the place where they had plunged in, and
as he rose his head encountered the ice which
was thicker just here, there being scarcely any
perceptible current.

' For a moment his heart failed him, as his
strength was almost gone and his lungs would
no Josger remain inactive; but with a last de-
spairing effort he drove his hand upward, and
although he cut and bruised it, the ice yielded
and his head rose above the surface of the
water, where a few deep inspirations restored
his breath, aad he was enabled, with but little
exertion, owing to the thickness of the glassy
surface, to support both himself and his com-
panion, who remained insensible and apparently
dead.

And their situation was still a desperate one,
for it seemed impossible for him to break his
way through the ice until he reached the shore,
while there was not a fence anywhere near
from which rails could be obtained which could
be pushed across the frozen surface te his aid.

nd all this time the cold was creeping
through his bones and bathed in the icy water
his limbs were becoming numb, his muscles
were growing stiff and powerless and it seemed
as if he could not sustain the exertion of sup-
porting himself and his burden much longer,
while as he supported himself with one arm,
stretched out over the ice, the treacherous sur-
face kept crashing and breaking, often letting
bim down until he was entirely submerged be-
neath the cold fluid that surrounded him.

Butin a short time, just as he was about to

ive up, a man, seated in a wagon, came driv-

‘ing across the field toward where the boys
were assembled, gazing at the tragedy which
was being enacted before their eyes, and shout-
ing cries of encouragement to Gordon to keep
up a little-longer.

Jim Davis had seen the vebicle being driven
along the road a short distance off and running
as rapidly as he could toward it, had pantingly
shouted to the driver:

“ 'There’s a boy drowing in ‘The Hole’; come
quick.” ‘

Arriving at the bank the man leaped from his
seat and, as the boys clustered about him, point-
ing out the little group framed in the ice, he

n Lillie,

hastilv ordered them to loosen the reins, while
he sprung to the rear of the wagon and lifted
the tail-board out.

This was fastened to one end of the lines by a
staple in one end, which held it in its place, and
two or three. comforters, hastily taken from the
boys’ necks being tied to the reins the tail-board
was sent spinning over the ice in the direction
of Gordon, and slid up close to him so that he
could easily grasp it.

Resting on the board for a moment to regain
his strength, he then, by a. wenderful. exertion,
lifted Wilson out of the water, bearing on the
plank which distributed his weight and sus-
tained him, and laying him on if, at full length,
face downward, he shouted to those on shore to
“pull away.”

And in obedience to bis words the tail-board
slid slowly along fhe ice until it neared the
shore, when a dozen hands grasped the uncon-
scious boy and lifted him up onto the ground.

Then the driver of the vehicle took the board
in his hand once more and again sent it slidin
over the ice toward Gordon, who, relieved’ o:
the weight of Wilson’s body, found it much
be to support himself, being able to use both
hands. :

But as the board neared him and he partially
raised himself to grasp it as it came within
reach, a cry of horror broke from. the little
erowd gathered on the bank, for the board,
striking an obstruction in the shape of a morsel
of rough ice and turning, flow far from him,
while the knot which held the lines came un-
done, allowing the board to slide over to the
opposite side where it lay out of ais reach.

Again and again did they endeavor to reach
him with the end of the leather reins, but with-
out avail, for the lines were new and stiff and
without a weight at their end to keep them
straight curled and twisted so that they would
not reach, while the boys hunted far and near
for a stone or some heavy article which they
could fasten to the end of the lines and thus
reach Gordon who was perishing from cold be-
fore their eyes,

And suddenly a evry of horror rose to their
lips, for Lillie, calling out a few words which
they could not catch as they issued from his
blue lips, threw up his hands with a despairing
erv, and disappeared from their sight,

And they stood staring at the spot where he
had sunk until they abandoned all bope of ever
seeing him alive again, when they, wrapping
Ben in all of the over and under-coats they
could muster, started to return to the city to
obtain aid to recover the body of their much-
beloved friend and comrade, the insensible boy
being laid in the wagon and carefully driven
over the frozen ground by the driver, who could

fully attaching the lines to the tail-board.

They soon reached the road along which the
vehicle was traveling when Jim Davis had seen
it, and turned off to the right in the direction
of the town. ‘

As they moved slowly along, all talking at
once, and discussing the late oceurrences—
which had happened in much less time than has
been necessary to describe them—in all their

various aspects, they were startled almost ouj

 

not cease blaming himself for not more care- ~

\

 
et

¥

Gordon Lillie.

 

of their wits by hearing a familiar voice call
oat bebind them in chattering tones:

“Bay, seme of you fellows lend mea coat;

*V/m ’most frozan!”

And turning they sasv Gordon Lillie burrying
toward them as rapidly as his almost frozen
and stiffened legs would let bim. ;

In a moment more they were assured that it
was indeed their friend in the flesh and not in
the spirit, and warm were tbe -hand-shakes he
received, and many the expressions of thankful-
ness that he was alive and safe: while be was
quickly wrapped up and seated by the driver,

who pulled the horse-blanket he carried over
his knees and then broke out:
“Say, Gord, how did you get out?

“We thought you was a gone coon when we
saw vou throw up your hands and sink.

“You said somethin’ we couldn't hear and
come to the conclusion it was yer last words,”

“Well, Dick, I was pretty well played out, I
tell you, and knew I couldn’t hold up much
lovger,

“T saw that you fellows couldn’t reach me

with the lines, so come to the conclusion that I
h..d better make a break for myself.”

“Seems to me you was a-makin’ a break;

_ breakin’ the ice, anyhow,” and the driver

chuckled at his joke, which he thought excel-

lent.

“Well,” continued Gordon, as the boys clus-
tered around the wagon to listen, ‘‘I knew that
the water got mighty shallow below where I
was, twenty or thirty feet or so, and that the
current was pretty strong, so that the ice
couldn’t be very thick, so I thought Td try for
it before I was clean winded.

“T hardly remember what I yelled to you
fellows; but I was so cold I could hardly
speak.”

‘‘Get up!” imterrupted the driver, at the
mention of cold, for Gordon’s teeth were still
chattering; and the horse starting off at a brisk
trot, the disgusted boys were left far behind,
while Gordon continued:
~ “So I took a deep breath, went under and
kicked and struck out like a good fellow, head-
ing down stream for the ripples.

‘B-r-r-r! but it was cold! ;

**Tt wasn't long till [ struck the shallows

around the bend, behind the trees, and there I

got footing, and stood up without any trouble.

‘You couldn’t see me on account of the

trees, but I heard the wagon rattling, and,

wading to the other sbore, struck down the

_ bank, crossed the bridge, amd here I am.”
“ An’ right glad we all are to see you!” broke
_in tke good-natured driver, with whom Gordon
was a great favorite, as indeed he was with all

_ who knew bim.

“T bated fearful to face yer pa with the
news of your bein’ drownded, an’ didn’t know
what to do.

__ “ But here we are,” so skip ont an’ see if Dr,
Trevitt isin; Ben, bere, needs him bad.”

- Fortunately the doctor was in and shortly

had Ben stripped and laid on a Jounge in bis

back office, which was well-heated by a small

he warmth of which was very welcome

1¢ he labored with Ben, Gordon’

 

watching bim with intense anxiety, for he
would be partially responsible fcr the boy's
death if he did not recover, and ev ntually his
patience was rewarded, for Ben opened his
eyes, gave a deep groan and begar to breathe
neturally.

Then Gordon, putting on some dry clothes
brought by the good-natured driver, jumped
into the wagon, was driven home aid was soon
warmly covered up in bed, where he quickly
fell into a deep slumber from which he awak-
ened completely refreshed, althoug! he was not
allowed to leave his couch until tre following ,
Monday. 4 i

On going to school he Jearned that Ben would
not be out for several days, and found that by
all, teachers, boys and girls, he was regarded as
a perfect hero.

CHAPTER III.
THE GREAT MATCH,

GORDON received the many congratulations
showered upon him with much nodesty, and —
avoided as much as possible talkinz about his
adventure; yet he had to relate it over and

| over again to various interested crowds, who

seemed never to tire of listening to aim.

In the evening he went around to see Ben,:
and found him confined to his bed, and still
very weak; but he was glad to see Gordon,
begged his forgiveness for all of bis unkind-
ness and thanked him again and sgain for bis
kindness and daring in thus risking his life,
so ies they parted the best friends in the
world,

At home he was made much of and when it

| was understood that the quarrel wes not of his

seeking he was not blamed.

“Never seck a uasres Gordon,” said his fa-
ther; ‘“‘but if it is forced on you don’t back
down. .

‘Fight as jong as you have a bit of strength
left, if your cause is just—the greatest coward
is he who is torever quarreling and always seek-
ing trouble.

“ Tt takes a brave man to say ‘No!’”

_ And tbs Christmas holidays came, the winter
passed away, and Gordon, faithful in bis attend- ~
ance at the High School, won high praises from
his teachers, and continued a favorite with all
of his companions,

At lepgth spring came, and the day was
rapidly approaching when Gordon was to grad-
uate, BAe 5 :

From bitter enemies he and Ben Wilson had
become the stanchest friends, being constantly
together and the closest possible chums in all.
their sports and pastimes. ‘ Z

They both excelled in atbletics, and when thy —
warm weather came and the High School boys
began to play base-ball, Gordon was electe/,
captain of the tiine and the selection of tks
players left entirely to bim.

Many were the consultations that tcok place
and Jong and deep were the confabs, as he aw
Ben discussed the merits of this and that playes
who were thought of sufficient strength to form
one of the “* Nine.” _ ip faites’, f

Ben was to catch, while Gordon

Pi

; 1 was to pitch
that was soon settled, and at length the nums _

ber of players was complete :

 
. 6 Gordon Lillie,

gan to practise assiduously in the long evenings
after school.

And soon the important announcement was
made that the Bloomington Club had chal-
lenged the High School to a friendly game, and,
the challengs being accepted, the excitement
reached fever-heat, while as the all-important
day drew near the anxiety regarding the
weather was almost insupportable.

At all hours when there was light to see and
they had leisure to devote to it, the two chums
occupied themselves in practicing; Gordon try-
ing the ‘in-and-out curve,” the ‘ up-and-
down” and the slow twisters, while Ben care-
fully studied bis: signals until, at length, they
understood each other, thoroughly.

And finally the day came and every boy in
the city, at peep of dawn, leaped from his bed
and ran to the window to take a look at the
weather; and great was the rejoicing when
they beheld the fair sky overhead, scarce
fl :cked, here and there with an occasioual cloud,

It is to bo feared that little attention was

aid to their lessons by the scholars that morn-
ing and that when the dinner-hour came their
throats were too choked with excitement to
allow any of them to eat very much, and then
how the time did lag! It almost seemed as if
every clock and watch in the city were an hour,
at least, too slow, and the possessors of time-
pieces were driven almost wild by the ever-
recurring question;

* Please, sir, what time is it?”

And long before the hour set—three o’clock—

: the grounds were crowded, and balls were flying
about from hand to hand like hail-stones,

All of the High School girls were there, each
one wearing a strip of lavender ribbon—that
being the color adopted by their favorite club—
and their families were all assembled to encour-
age the boys, while a large number of the

friends of the Blosmington club swelled the.

crowd,
dreds, 2

Aud soon a four-horse open wagon, driven by
the man who had tried to save Gordon from the
stream, and offered by him to the boys, drove
up, containing the champions of tbe High
School; and bright, athletic, manly fellows they
looked in their neat uniforms. F

Toeir costumes consisted of quiet gray shirts
and knee-breeches, and lavender and gray stock-
ings, while a shield was outlined on their shirt-
fronts inclosing the monogram ‘‘ H. 8.”, also in
lavender, while their neat gray hats were trim-
med with the same color as the letters,

A lavender-colored belt about the waist com-
pect their dress, with the exception of gray
shoes, 5
It was the first time their uniforms had been

seen, anda hum of admiration went up from
the spectators, who thus testified to their ap-
proval of Gordon’s taste. ¢

And he seemed to bs the central figure, for
his well-fitting uniform set off his slight but
muscular figure to perfection, while his hand-
some face, glowing with health and excitement,

so that the assembly numbered hun-

-eaused more than one young feminine heart
of his gal- |

to flutter faster, while the stor
lant rescue of Ben was repeated a hundred times

NX

ce fe

and cries from the small boys of*

 

In a few moments the other club drove onto
the grounds, and a feeling of dismay took a
session of the partisans of the High School as
they saw them descend—such big, brawny,
bearded fellows were they.

In a short time the preliminaries were ar-
ranged, and Gordon and the other captain tossed
for innings, the boy winning and choosing the
* outs.” yo

A gentleman who was thoroughly familiar
with the game consented to avt as umpire, and
the field being cleared, the boys took their posi-
tions. In a moment more “ play ” was called,
and the batsman calling for a “low ball,” the
sphere shot from Gordon’s hand, and the game
commenced.

The first batsman for the Bloomington nine
was their captain and second-baseman, an old
hand at the business, and thorougbly up in all
the intricate points of the game. ‘

Yet Gordoun’s ponios delivery deceived him
and he swept the air twice in vain efforts to
“get onto” the bail; but at the’ third strike he
hit fair, and amid a general cry of pleasure and
disappointment the sphere sailed high into the
air and far, far out toward left-field. _

Here was stationed Jim Davis, and as he saw
that the ball was going far over his head, he
turned and ran as fast as he could, stopped,
steadied himself and getting under the ball,
caught it beautifully amid the cheers of his
friends and aringing cry of ‘‘ well done, Jim!”
from Gordon. : é

The next two batsmen went out easily; one on
a foul-tip which Ben gripped hard as i; flew
over his head leaping high in the air, and the
other on a little “‘ baby ” fly which Gordou cap-
tured easily.

But when the boys went to the bat they found

that they could do nothing against the terrific

pitching of the opposing club; they had heard

of swift delivery, but had never faced it, and

often struck after the ba had settled in the
eatcher’s hands amid many a howl of derision

‘On, gat a barn-door!” -

“T ss him one!”

“What yer hittin’ at?’ and the I{ke. :

So the High School was retired in one, two,
three order and took their positions in the field .
again with disconsolate faces, which were not
brightened when the first batsman for the city
hit for three bases far out to right-field and —
almost got home, ;

But the two succeeding men fell victims to
Gordon’s strategy and they commenced to feel —
more hopeful, when the third man drove the
first ball pitched straight at Gordon, and so
swiftly was it coming that the boy involuntari- _
ly stepped aside to avoid being hit but stuck
out his left hand, and in some unaccountable —
manner the ball caught in his fingers an
although they were instantly numbed, he be
on to it and the side was out without gettingin —
the run they were so confident of. -

And the cheers that went up caused the boy
to grow red as fire and they did not cease until
he had lifted his hat a dozen times. tos

And so the game went on amid marvelous
exhibitions of skill, the boys gaining confi
dence as the afternoon wore away, f j

 
Gordon” Lillie,

 

opponents had not yet brought a man home,
while they themselves had not been able to
score,

Nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen innings
were played and still neither side had won and
such excivement had never been seen in the

 eity,

Nine mere lads to hold down these experts to
nothing in thirteen innings? Why, it was in-
credible!

The driver of the four-horse team was in an
ecstasy of delight, and even went so far as to
offer to wager his team and wagon against an
old borse-shoe’that the boys would win; but no
one would accept the outrageous odds.

“Beat Gord!” he cried, ‘‘the man don’t live
as can give that boy points.

* Just ain’t he a daisy!”

But the sun was sinking low in the west, and
all saw that another inning must terminate the
game, and so it was agreed between the two
captains, and a great hush fell on the immense
audience as they took their positions for the
final struggle, ;

» And in a short time, by an unfortunate play

_ by their sbort-stop, a grievous error by third-
baseman, who bad an excellent chance for a
double play, and an outrageous muff by the
first-baseman, the bases were all full, and not a
man out on the Bloomington side, and the case
certainly looked desperate for the boys.
_ And as if to add to their misfortunes a foul-
tip, glancing off the bat, struck the mask worn

y Ben, heavily, and, breaking it, cut his cheek
just below his eye terribly, almost blinding him,
when “time” was called, and ice-water ap-
plied to the wound. :

Ben was the only catcher, unfortunately, that
the High School boys had, and it seemed as if
they would have to relinquish the game and
give it to their opponents; but Wilson, who
through constant association with Gordon, had
absorbed seme of the latter’s pluck, leaped to
his feet, and refusing the offer of the jotber
mask, took up bis position, bare-faced, under
the bat and nodded to the umpire to call “play,”
while the applause sounded Joud and fast,

And, wonderful to relate! so puzzling did
Gordon send in his balls, that the next three
men were put out by pitcher and eatcher, and

- were whitewashed for the fourteenth consecu-
_ tive time!

But the first two of the school-boys followed

suit, and then Gordon came to the bat, called

‘for a fair ball, banged away at the first that

came, sent it sailing far over the fielder’s beads,

and before it could be returned had crossed the

- home-plate amid yells and cheers that fairly
» shook the earth. ;

+» ‘The great match was wou!

CHAPTER IV,
A NIGHT ADVENTURE. pee
Ina short time after, Gordon graduated at

the High School and, always having had agreat
: isin to 50 West, he began to urge the project
upon bis parents; but they, considering him too
ung, opposed the idea, Sees
But many of his friends pointed out bow
thoroughly capable of taking care of himself he
was and how he had proven his courage and

self-reliance in the saving of Ben ‘Vilson’s life
so that, at lengtt, their arguments prevailed
and he left home in the spring oj 1878, when
seventeen years old, and landed in Wichita,
Kansas, a short time afterward.

At that time the town was full of cowboys,
cattle-men, gamblers and hard ciaracters of
every description, and midnight brawls and
murders were of such common cccirrence that
scarcely any attention was paid to “hem,

One night, shortly after be had arrived, he
found himself some distance frori the town,
having taken a long walk out over the prairie,
and knowing of a botel or lodging-].ouse not far
off, where he could procure a bed, he directed
his way thither and, arriving at the door,
‘knocked loudly, for there was no light visible
and no evidence of life about the place.

And repeating his summons more vigorously
he in vain exdeavored to rouse some one within,
but again without success.

‘* Hello, in there!” he cried, dete: mined upom
entering, for the night was getting dark and a
few drops of rain began to fall, and he kicked
vigorously on the door until it fairly creaked on
its hinges. i

“Who is there?” at this rude summons
ed a voice inside,

“Open up!”

“ Not to-night.”

“Then I'll rap here until morning,” and _ plac-
ing his back against the door he began to beat a
tattoo on the wood with his heels. i 5

“Tam in bed,” replied the voice.

‘* All the worse for you; get up!”

Whoever was inside thought better of his
former answer, evidently, so cried out:

“Wait a moment!” ‘

And in a few minutes the door was opened
and Gordon stepped in out of the rain which
began to fall heavily as he entared.

The door had been op nd by a rough-lookio
customer, who was completely dressed an

growl-

risen. ;

“Hello!” said Gordon, “I thoug’at you were
in bed.” 3

‘* It is the boss who is lying down.”

“Ah! then you are not the ‘ boss?” e

“No, I am,” interrupted a voice which Gor- —
don recognized as the one which he had beard
while outside, and by the light of a lamp which
the man held, the boy perceived in the corner ~
of the room, where it was darkest, a bed and in
it a man lying down, wrapped up to the chin in
the cover, » :

“You are the
don. a

e ne a : F

nd why didn’t you open up?’

‘Because I am in bed one sick.” =

Ob, chills I suppose, But I want to remain
here tonight; can you give me a room?”

bt No ?” 7

“But I-cannot return to Wichita in this
rain,” : :

The man half-raised and then, recollecting,
hurriedly covered himself, but not before Gor-
don bad noticed that he was completely dressed.
and had a revolver buckled about his waist.
A“ Curious,” thought the boy; “sick and in

t ‘ Se

proprietor, then?’ asked Jor-

 

 

nothing about him indicated that he had just
8 Gordon Lillie.

 

bed, yet completely dressed and armed; I'll see
this adventure through!”

‘“Well, if you must stay, I have a bed that I
can give you; do you want to go to your room
now?” i

“ Immediately.”

** Well, then, Jim, show the lad to his bed.”

And after whispering a few words to the
‘* boss,” as he called him, Jim, taking the lamp,
motioned to Gordon to follow him and left the
room, going up to the second story, which was
nothing but the garret, and opening a door and
pointing out a straw bed to the boy.

Then leaving the lamp on a chair—there was
no- table in the miserable apartment—with a
gruff ‘“‘good-night,” he closed the door and
withdrew,

And Gordon began to ponder:

“This man is in bed, completely dressed and
is armed.

“Now these preparations cannot be for my
benefit as I came here unexpectedly.

“Tam naturally curious and I scent trouble
for some person or persons unknown.

** Pil see it out.”

And blowing out the light, he laid down on
the bed, and lay there, waiting.

' In ashort half-hour he heard the stairs creak,

as if some one were mounting them stealthily,

and immediately began to snore gently, while

the steps approached the door and then stopped,
. as if the person were listening.

Apparently satisfied that Gordon was asleep, .

the visitor descended the steps again and all be-
came quiet.

A half-mile away stood a farm-house, sur-
rounded by many acres of tilled land, while the
numerous out-buildings scattered about, the

: wots neatness of everything, gave proof that
be owner was well-to-do and atmply blessed
with this world’s goods, --

The day before he had sold a number of fine

cattle to a purchaser from Chicago and the
money was still in the house, where his wife
was alone, except a servant who slept in the
upper story, for the farmer had been suddenly
called to another farm he possessed some ten
miles off, leaving his foreman Jim Reynolds, in
ebarge until be should return,

But Reynolds had proven faithless and after
sending the farm-hands off in various directions

under différent pretexts, had sought out the
proprietor of the inn where Luke had stopped
_- and proposed to him that they should rob the
_ house, a proposition which was immediately
agreed to. j
he farmer’s wife was seated in her room,
reading, when suddenly the barking of a dog
_ was heard outside, and she recognized in it
Pluto, an enormous watch-dog which was loos-
ened every night, and the young woman, star-
tled, rose from her chair and listened, while the
rain beat against the window-panes and the
wind moaned down the chimney. ;
_ At the same moment she thought, she heard
voices in the garden, just below her window and
_ she trembled with fear as she thought of the
lawless population of Wichita and at the recol-
lection of the sum of money her husband had

ft in her charge. pee 5 pee
‘She went to the window, opened it and looked

 

out, but the darkness was intense and all was

silent, the dog having ceased his growls. s zie

: a aioe nothing,” she thought and again seated —
erself,

But a half-dozen minutes had scarcely passed
when again she rose and listened, for an un-
usual sound, one difficult to describe, a creaking
and a crackling, struck her ear, as if some one
were pressing bard against the front door,

Frightened, but determined to see what it
meant, she took the lamp from the table and
opening the door, stepped into the hall, but |
there she saw nothing, and then, going down-
stairs, stepped into the front hall, and there she
stopped with a cry of alarm, :

Two men, their faces daubed with soot so as
to be entirely unrecognizable, had just entered
the front door, one of them carrying a naked
knife the other holding a short but massive iron
bar in bis hand.

These two men had just broken open the front
door, and were about to go up-stairs when the
young woman had appeared before them, lamp
in hand, and they stood for a moment, hesitat--

ing.

‘Then one of them spoke: i 3

“Tf you remain quiet we will not harm you;
butif you call out or endeavor to escape, it
might result in injury to you.”

And as he spoke he turned the blade of his
knife until it shone in the lamp-light.

‘* What—what do you want?” stammered the
frightened woman,

‘ a say a word regarding your absent hus-
and,

“He made a sale of some cattle
and the money is now in the house.
; We do not wish to harm you—at ieast Ido —
not, . pis
‘ My friend here is a little impetuous, andif
he was alone I do not think that he would have
argued with you at all. Bis

“ He has a knack of cutting all disputes short
with a blow of his crow-bar”—here the poor
girl—for girl she was in years—shuddered, |
““which cuts all argument short, _ z

“Tt is a shoit way of settling difficulties if it —
is a little brutal.

““ But may be we can arrange matters ami-
eably,” continued the villain, who seemed to
take pleasure in tormenting the trembling wo-
Tan 5 ~

“But tell me what you want.
ae everything, anything,

ife! }

yesterday —

but spare my
And the young woman fell on her knees, set-

ting the lamp on the stair beside her, and, —
clasping her hands, looked up entreatingly in the

faces of the two robbers and assassins. e
‘Tt you care for life, you will show me where
your busband’s money is—all of it. a eS
‘We want—” : aes
_ He never finished the sentence, for a flash —
sprung out of the darkness, proceeding from
the half-opened door, a report was heard, a ball ©
whistled and the innkeeper, struck full in the
chest, uttered a horrible blasphemy, turned in
his tracks for a full minute and then fell to the
fléor, stond.deadsn. 7 ee
_ At thé same moment a slight figure
into the hall and, with leveled revolver,

 
Gordon Lillie,

9

 

the second robber, who, as cowardly as he was
cruel, trembled with fear as he saw his compan-
ion fall, and tried to escape.

But a ringing voice cried:

“*One step, and I fire!”

And he dared not move.

“Throw down. that crowbar! or—”

And the iron clanged to the floor.

Then turning to the young woman, Gordon,
for it was he, asked:

*¢ Where can I confine this wretcb?”

“The cellar bas no wiudow, and if he is,

tied—,stammered the girl, still half-stupefied,
and scarcely comprehending this sudden change
in affairs.

“Oh! Tl tie him fast enough. Come, you
unhung scoundrel, get!”

And he marched him to the cellar at the point
of bis pistol, being lighted by the young woman,
aud, following him down the steps, bound him
fast with a clothes-line brought to him,

. And then going up-stairs, he was about to ex-
plain his sudden appearance, when the dog
again barked, the sound of a horse’s hoofs was
heard, and in a moment more the farmer enter-
ed, having hurried home as he was uneasy
about his wife,

And seated before a bountifully spread table,
Gordon told how his suspicions had been arous-
ed, and how, dropping from the window, he
had followed the burglars, and arrived just in

me.
And he was thanked again and again by both
-pbusband and wife, and at length retired in the
best bedroom, the two vying with each other
to see which could do the most for him.
And the dead body having been carried out
- into the wood-shed, and the door of the cellar
securely fastened, the household sunk to slum-
ber, and was disturbed no more that night.

CHAPTER V.
A FIGHT WITH A PANTHER,

In the morning they were all astir bright and
early, and the man who had been confined in the
cellar all night was brought up-stairs, suffering
intensely from the dl 3 vigil of the night,.as he

Jay like a trussed fowl, unable to sleep, anda
cup of coffee being given to him he was allowed
‘to make a hearty meal, when, the farmer and
_ Gordon having mounted, he was marched off to
Wichita, there to be tried before Judge Lynch.

For, although the town was full of desperate
characters, stealing was frowned upon, and any

one caught in the act was more than once pun-

_ ished by the extreme penalty of the law.

When the news spread of the attempt of the
night before, the better class of citizens immedi-
ately assembled to judge the man, while

the rougher elements crowded to the spot from
curiosity, and when Gordon had told his story,
amid many expressions of praise and comments

on his nerve and coolness, which were remark-

able in one so young, sentence was passed; the
accused man not offering a word in extenuation,
and the wagon containing him was driven to
the edge of the town, halted under the spread-
ing branches of a large tree, and soon returned,
mpty, while a swinging body hanging to a
, and with a placard on its breast, swayed

to and fro as a warning to all evil-doers.

 

8.on tiring of the lawlessness of his associ-
ates, Gordon, in further pursuance of his first
intention, started on foot for the Indian Terri-
tory, a distance of fifty miles, and passed some
time in huvting and. fishing, for the country
was full of game, oe :

He bad not been long in, the country when
one day in the summer, while in search of game
on the banks of Camp creek, where black bear |
and small panther abounded, he was wander-
ing under the trees, when he suddenly caugbt
sight of a dark object stealing through the
undergrowth two or three hundred yards off to
the left, and thinking that it must be a bear he
cautiously hurried toward it, bringing his rifle
to a ready,and loosening his knife in its sheath.

Owing to his being compelled to pay some
attention to the path he was following, he lost
sight of the game he was pursuing; Lut soon
heard a ree Ve among the bushes not far
ahead, which warned him that he was rapidly
approaching his prey.

e yr doubled his caution, and soon caught
sight of the animal, when raising bis weapon,
he took a snap-shot, and the bear rolled over on .
the ground, tearing up the turf in his dying
agonies; while tbe boy, springing forward,
drew his knife, and coming alongside his quarry,
sunk the steel to the bilf in the wounded

} beast’s side, the point of the keen blade reaching”

his heart.

Avd as the fatal stab was given the bear —
rolled over, gave one convulsive struggle, and —
instantly lay dead at his feet, when he, leaning
his rifle against a tree near by, plucked out his
knife and set about skinning the animal.

But as he leaned to his work, a scream rung | -

through the woods that sounded almost like tLe —
death-cry of a buman being, and Gordon re-
ceived a shock on hisshoulders that sent bim
rolling over and over on the grass, while bis
knife flew out of bis hand and landed on the
turf a dozen paces away, while the sudden blow
dislodged his revolver from its resting-place on
his hip, and it fell on the ground as he tumbled,
just beyond his reach. _ ;

And as he lay face down upon the turf, be
realized, from the low growls, the tearing claws,
the gnashing teeth and the hot breath that
scorched his face as the white foam dropped -
from the crunching jaws, that he was in the
clutches of one of the panthers which roam
about the banks of Camp creek, and which, ©
crouched on the overhanging branch of some
tree, had leaped upon him as he bent over the
bear he had show. F

And then began a life and death struggle, for
the lad was wholly unarmed, and
ments was unable to use his hands, being pinned ©
to the earth; and all the time the curved claws
were tearing at his back, so that his buckskin
shirt soon bung in shreds about him, while the
long white fangs were crunching at bisshoulder, —
and the loss of blood, the hot, stifling breath of

the beast, made bim sick and faint. y

But at last, by a mighty effort, he succeeded

in rolling over on bis beck and grasping the

panther by the throat, and be sunk his small

but sinewy fingers deep into the velvet skin that

lay in folds about the animal’s neck, while he
‘nressed one knoe deep into his chest, and despi

 

forafewmo-
- Goréon Lillie Be

his struggles, held the brute firmly on the
ground; while all the time the rending claws
wero tearing his clothes into strips, and leaving
long, deep, cruel gashes in the white skin and
tender flesh.

And all the time the green eyes of the strug-
ling panther flashed fire, and low growls issu-
ing from his deep chest, the foam flew from his
jaws in every direction, covering them both,
while the green turf around was dyed crimson
by the blood which flowed so freely from the

 boy’s gaping wounds.

And Gordon, growing fainter and fainter,
suddenly was thrown to one side, as the brute
gave one convulsive struggle and a mighty
bound, and his hold on the panther’s throat was
shaken loose by the muscular effort. In a mo-
ment more he was lying on the turf, with the
grinding fangs of the animal ripping at his
shoulder and neck, and he closed his eyes,
piety worn out, and gave himself up for
lost,

But suddenly his outstretched hand encoun-
tered something cold lying on the grass, and
catching it he, with one last effort, cocked his
revolver, placed it close to the head of the rav-
ening brute and pulled trigger, when the pan-
ther, with an unearthly screech, leaped high in
the air and then fell with crashing weight full
on the boy’s body, crushing what remained of
life out of him, and leaving him lying there in-
sensible; while the tawny brute, stretching
‘out his massive limbs, fell over to one side—

ad.

And dyed as he was in the crimson fluid shed
by both the panther and himself in this mortal
struggle, the boy presented a ghastly sight, and
seemed to have won the victory only at the price
of his own life. ;

_ And the day waned, the sun set, the moon
rose and stil Gordon gave no sign of life, while
the beasts of prey that roamed the forest, scent-

. ing the carnage from afar, began to gather

from al! directions, with numerous howls and

- screeches, and the nocturnal birds of prey, their

shadowy forms flitting about the gloom cast by
_ the trees, seemed like ghosts or uneasy spirits,
hovering about the central figures in the moon-
‘lit glade. é
But as the night-winds arose and blew with
increasing freshness over tho stream and along
its banks, a long-drawn sight broke the momen-
tary ‘stillness, and Gordon, Ae his hands
across his forehead, wet with the dews of life
and of death, opened his eyes, and, looking
about him, strove to recall his scattered
senses, ne. i
For a moment all was vague and indistinct
- and dim to his mental vision and then as his
hand, thrown listlessly out by his side, encoun-
tered the yet warm body of the panther, recol-
lection flashed upon him, and he recalled in all
its vividness, the terrible encounter in which he
had shortly before taken so prominent a part.
_. And he, witir an effort, suddenly sat up,
_ whio the beasts of prey. emboldened by the si-
 Jence that encompassed him, which had drawn
their circle of glistening favgs closely about
him, startled by the movement, bounded back
under cover and crouched, waiting until their
yictim-should once more sink back, exhausted,

/

 

Sen cmhie

while their glaring eyeballs shone like blazing
stars as they crouched in their coverts, licking
their chops and uttering low growls of impa-
tience at the delay which interrupted their ex-
pected feast. ; i ;
Ina short time Gordon sprung to his feet,
feeling stiff and sore in every muscle and joint
and raising his revolver, aimed at one of thp
bails of fire that glared at him and let a bullet
fly in the direction of the greenish-hued target.
Instantly there was a yell of pain as the ani-
mal bounded into the air and then fell back
crashing into the bushes which rustled and
snapped as he rolled in his death-agoni@®, while —
the rest of the horde fled in every direction, ©
snapping and snarling, and the birds. hooted a
discordant accompaniment to the nocturnal
chorus, : : y
Feeling somewhat better from the fresh air,
Gordon staggered to the river and there, re--
moving his shreds of clothing, stepped into the
water and washed and bathed his wounds
thoroughly, although he was only able to use his
right arm, his left hanging almost useless at his
side from the severe wounds in his shoulder
where the panther had gnawed and crunched
it, and, feeling a hundred per cent. better after’
his bath, returned to the tree where his rifle —
was placed, after dressing himself, secured his
knife and then, gathering a quantity of dry
branches that strewed the ground in every di-
rection, he built a rousing fire, and, cutting off
a juicy bear-steak, toasted it over the embers —
on a forked stick and made a hearty meal,
washing it down with long draughts of water
from the creek, :
. And then he began his lonely vigil, keeping

the fire burning brightly for the double purpose

of driving away the wild beasts and protecting —
him from the chills of the night air, until finally
the sun rose, when}cooking another steak, he
made his breakfast and then, hanging the re-
mainder of the meat in the branches, but with
little expectation of finding it when he returned,
he skinned the panther, when, throwing the |
bide over his shoulders he set off for the ranch —
where he was staying for a few days, reaching
it after a. long and fatiguing walk, often being —
compelled to stop and rest. : ee
But at length he arrived and was warmly —
welcomed by such of the cowboys as were in —
camp, to whom he related his narrow escape,
and receiving their congratulations and praises —
with becoming modesty. ee
One of the boys possessing some rude skill in
surgery and medicine, dressed his numerous
scratches with some healing ointment, and,
after assuring himself that there were no bones
broken, bound up the wounded shoulder with
the assurance that in a few days there would be
no further trouble and that the boy would be
“all right” in less than a fortnight. Tes
And so it turned out, for within the time
specified, Gordon was completely restored, pass:
ing the interval about the camp and aiding th
cowboys by attending to such light duties as
was able to perform. j re ae
Soon after this, by the advice of his father be
applied for a position in the Government In-
Service, and shrouds ae influence of ex-

dian _
Senator David Dayis, o inois, was aij

 
 

i

¥

Gordon Lillie.

AW

 

pointed princi of the day-school at Pawnee
meeney ndian Territory.

- Senator Davis was an intimate friend of Gor-
don’s father and lost no opportunity of doing
all in his power to aid the lad, and he soon be-
came extremely popular amorg his associates
and made friends with all the Indians with
whom he came in contact, soon acquiring per-
fect command of their language, to which he
took naturally, and in a short time being called
* brother” by the young men and ‘‘son” by the
more aged Indians—terms of friendship they
only bestowed upon those whom they like and
who have their entire confidence.

CHAPTER VI.
LOST IN A SNOW STORM.

THE time passed pleasantly enough at the
Agency and Gordon, as the days wore on, be-
came thoroughly familiar with the Indian man-
ners and customs, end extremely intimate with
the young men, hunting and fishing in their
company and traveling all over the Territory
with them. ] }

He was soon initiated into all their secret rites
and on more than one occasion assisted at their
scalp-dauces, when he was the only outsider in
the room, this. being a secret dance and white
persons not being admitted to wimess it.

He also attended their Doctor, Medicine,
Pony, Buffalo and Cow dances, after participa-
ting and dancing with the Indians as if he were
one of them, besides joining them in playing
Moccasin and other games of chance and skill.

He learned the sign language rapidly and
thoroughly and soon found no trouble in con-
versing with the different tribes, the result being
that be made many friends among them.

‘Spotted Horse,” who was shot and killed by
a United States Marshal shortly after Gordon
arrived in the Territory, or Nation, as it is
sometimes called, was a warm friend of young
Lillie, although their first meeting was a hostile
one, |

While seeeng on Bear creek, Gordon met
him. Spotted Horse came up to the boy and
gruffly accosting bim said:

‘Tam poor: the white boy is rich.

‘He must give that suit of clothes he wears
to my son, who is with me.” ‘ /

Gordon naturally demurred, for he did not
care to part with his outfit, and replied:

‘* No, I will not; for I need them myself.”

“ But my boy needs them more than you do,

‘You have money and can buy others; but
the Great Father, at Washington has given me
no money for two years. .

“Do you know who I am?”
' “T do not. :

_ Who are you?” .

“T am Spotted Horse, chief of the Kit-ka-

hocks” (one band of the Pawnees).

“ All white people know me and fear me.

_ “Tf you do not give me those clothes right,
away, I will kill you!” : ‘

‘*Spotted Horse,” replied Gordon, ‘I have
often heard the white people talk of you, and I
know that many persons fear you.

“But I donot. ee
I will not exe you these clothes, and I know
_ that you will not kill me.”

‘

aw

 

And turning on his heel the boy started to
walk off, and leave the chief, with whem he
did not wish to have any trouble or any further
conversation,

But Spotted Horse called him back, and as.
the Jad turned toward him the Indian spoke
again:

‘‘ No, you are brave, like the Pawnees and I —
will not harm you, but wiil be your friend.

“T want you to be my brother,

“ Will you?” ;

“Yes, I will always be your brother, and we
will never have any more trouble.”

And then, giving the chief a shirt and some
stockings and one OF two other articles of dress"
that he could dispense with, he added:

‘These are pledges of friendship.”

“Tittle Bear,” replied the chief of the Kit-
ka-hocks, ‘‘I will be glad to have you come te
my lodge. 4

“Tt shall always be your home.”

And the two cemented the friendship with .
warm grasp of the hand, and from possible
enemies became the closest intimates.

Gordon met him many. times afterward and
invariably found him pleased to see the boy,
always calling him his brother and treating
him as such, :

Whenever Gordon visited his lodge, which
was often, Spotted Horse never failed to give
him his best buffalo-robes to sit upou, while the
squaws hastened to set before the boy the best
they had in the way of provisions, which he
a not refuse without offending the sensitive
chief. 5

And although he was what is called a “‘ bad
Indian” andmany persons, both white and
Pawnee, as well as members of neighboring
tribes rejaicad at bis death, Gordon was very
much grieved to learn of it, for the Indian had
always been a true red brother to the lad, and,
despite his faults, the boy loved him. /

Through the influence of White Eagle, chief -
of the Skeedee band of Pawnees (upper cless}.
and others of his Indian friends, Gordon wa
induced to allow his hair to grow long.

‘Little Bear, my son,” said White Eagle to
him, one day while they were talking together,
‘*yvou are very much like the Pawnees.

“You talk their language, wear moccasins
and buckskin, and have many weys like theirs.

“Why is it you do not let your hair grow
long as mine and that of your otber brothers is?”

He replied that he would some time soon, and
the conversation dropped. —

But a day or two afterward Night Owl, an-
other intimate friend of Gordon, broached the
subject to him again. i ;

“Why do you not let your hair grow like
mine?” ’ :

His locks just swept his shoulders.

“Night Owl, I will not cut my hair fora year —
if you will agree to let yours grow for the same —
length of time.” . é ee

“It is agreed,” returned the Indian and they
struck bands on the bargain, since which time
Gordon’s bair has been allowed to grow as it
would, and now sweeps down over his shoulders ©
in a golden flood which is the admiration and ~
envy of all who see it, both youths and maidens.

And thus he became completely Indianized,

 
13

Gordon Lillie, .

 

resembling the Pawnoes in dress, in manner, in
customs and in language and becoming thor-
oughly identified with them,

He remained in cnarge of the school for about
two years and then resigned and went to the
State line for a short time, but soon returned
to the Agency and re-entered the Government
service, this time as assistant or secretary to the
agent and also acting as interpreter, a position
he could fill thoroughly as he had acted as
school interpreter during the last six months of
his connectiou with it. _

During the winter of 1880, Gordon, in com-
pany with a friend, started on a week’s visit to

is former home, and ia the early morning
set out from the Agency much against the advice
of all, for ib was bitter cold and the gray sky
above gave evidence of a coming snow-storm
should the weatber moderate.

And so it proved, for as noon approached the
white flikes began to drift down until finally
they were completely shut in by the whirling
mass as the wind rosa and blew the fleecy par-
ticles before it. te

And soon they lost their way, for the wind
shifted a dozen times and they were at a loss to
know intwhich direction their destination lay,
but were compelled to keep moving for fear of
succumbing to the intense drowsiness which
weighted down their eyelids like lead so great

was the cold,

And finally they became separated—how
neither of them ever knew, and Gordon, lead-
ing his horse, for the poor brute was utterly
exhausted, staggered on an on until the day
faded out and darkness settled down over the

_ white plain. :

__ But presently he came to a little gally, the
banks of which were high enough to shelter him
and his horse from the piercing blast, and re-
moving the saddle and bridle, he crouched low
- under the overhanging bank, wrapping himself
closely in the saddle-blanket, while the borse

_ stood with bowed head, shivering with cold as
he too sought the shelter of the bluff.

_ And as the darkness came on the wolves, ren-
dered furious by the long fast that they had

- undergone, gathered close and closer about him,

snapping and snarling at each other, while the

_ gaunt, gray forms stood out spectral against
: fhe wide background behind them made by the
sheet of snow which enveloped and ¢overed the
whole face of nature. _ ,

_ But as they drew closer and closer, Gordon’s
revolver flashed its red flame out on the dark-

- ness of the night and, as one of the wolves fell,
his companions leaped upon him, and before he

was yet dead tore buge mouthfuls from the yet

‘quivering flesn, as they growled and fought:

over the remains, \

And all through the night Gordon fought
against. the slumber which overpowered him
and against the pack of famished wolves, shoot-
ing again and again, with varying success, and

henever his aim was true, seeing the victim of

is bullets torn into a thousand morsels and in-

stantly devourel. 7
But at the first streak of dawn the gaunt
atures fled, and Gordon, catching the east by
int 6 which stole over it, mounted his

and goon came to

 

es fl
6 1
and rode in a southwesterly direction

through the piled up masses of fleecy whiten
for the snow had ceased, the wind had Tulled
and his progress was easy compared to thit of
the preceding evening, while all around was as
still as death, not a sound breaking the silence
while-the solitude was awful in its loneliness. ;

But soon his practiced eye caught sight of an
object outlined against the snow-covered land-
scapa, and as he drew near he recognized his
companion’s horse, while a little mound near by
showed where he had fallen while the white
ee had covered him as with a winding-
sheet,

In a moment he was alongside and, brushing
away the show had lifted his friend’s body from

| beneath it, and, placing the inanimate form —

across the other horse he remounted and set out
again across the prairie, far over which he saw
a thin, black streak arising, and knew it must be
smoke from some camp fire or dwelling,

And in a balf an bour orso he pulled up in
front of a stage-ranch, and carrying his frozen
burden inside, soon was applying restorations
to him, which in due time had their effect, and —
the young fellow opened his eyes to conscious-
ness and life. as

And then Gordon, taking a hot cup of coffee
which the man in charge of the ranch prepared
for him, learned that they had strayed nearly
twenty miles out of their way, and that, in- -
stead of being to the north and east of the
Agency, they were to the south and east, so
confused had they become and so aimlessly had
they drifted about on the prairie.

Profiting by their experience the two friends
remained at the station for several days, until
they snow had disappeared and then thanking
the man in chargs, who refused all pay, they
set out over the stage-road on their journey.

No further adventures befell them and in a
day or two Gordon was once more at his former
home, where he was made much of and warm-
ly greeted and welcomed by all who knew

ima ;

And he was met at the depot by his old friend
the driver, who seemed never to tire of looking
at him and asking him questions, while Ben
Wilson, his former chum, now grown to bea
perfect giant, nearly wrung his hand off, so
glad was he to see him again. Sri

CHAPTER VII,
STOPPING A RUNAWAY.

A PLEASANT visit was Gordon's at his old
home and be was urged to remain longer than
the week he had allotted for his absence; but

his heart was in the Indian country and he =

would not prolong his stay. 2 5
On the day before he left; Bloomington, he
walked out with Ben Wilson into the country

years before they had both had such a narrow
escape from drowning, and stood there looking
at the frozen stream, and talking of the da;

gone by, _ ; :
“Tf I had had this, Ben;” said Gordon,
ing in his hand a long hair rope with

| had been Jassoing various objects that |

to show the boys how it was used

 

“The Hole” where, a few —
ach

Gordon Lillie.

13

 

had not thought to leave at the house, “I
would have yanked myself out in a burry; that
is if I had one end and some one on the bank
the other.” :
“Why, Gord, I shouldn’t think that was

strong énough to bear any straiu.”

“Ob, you’res ’way wrong,” returned his
friend. ‘lve roped many a steer with it, and,
taking a. turn around my saddle-horn, stopped
him, foo.”

“T should think it would be awful hard.”
: ‘Much easier than to catch anything stand-

ing still, for you have only to throw the loop in
front of the animal, and he generally runs into

it, head first.”

And as Gordon spoke he skillfully tossed the
lasso over a stump standing in the field, thirty
feet away from them, and jerking the rope,
tightened the noose about the bark.

‘*Here, Ben, throw your weight against this,”
he said, handing the end he held to Wilson.

His companion took the rope as requested,
and holding it firmly, leaned back with all his
tremendous weight, but the horse hair lasso
stood the test nobly and did not yield an inch.

“Tt’s a beauty, Gord, and I believe it would
be a good thing for policemen to have to stop
runaway horses with.”

** Yes, if they were in practice.”
__ “Well, they could have a lasso
day, and all it needs is practice.”

Combined with a true eye and hand.”
~ “OF course.”

“Well, when you get to be mayor you can
suggest it to the police commissioners.”

‘Hanged if I don’t!” replied the young at-
torney so earnestly that Gordon burst out
ee

“Well, stranger things have happened.”

**-Yes, and doubtless will.”

**T wish your future honor all the good things
that be can wish!”

“Thank you, my Pawnee friend; by the way,
Gordon, I should think that youd be tired of

_ that life.”

“Tired? Never!”

‘* Well, we’ll see; but come on, we must get
_ back to the city, and the first policeman I meet
Vl) ask him what he thinks of my lariat scheme.

drill every

‘You must show bim how simple it is to

catch anything that you want totakein— But

what is that?’ he asked suddenly as a wild

sbriek came floating cver the air.
“Let's hurry and see.”
And the two boys, running as fast as they

_ could, sprung into the road, just as a maddened
horse, drawing a light cutter, dashed down the
road toward them, while a lady, seated in the
sleigh; and clasping a little cbild close in her
arms, uttered scream after scream. :

Just beyond where the boys were standing
was the creek, with high banks, and it was
more than probable that the horse would dash
into it, if he did not smash the light sleigh to
_ pieces against the sides of the bridge. :

_. He was completely beyond control, for the
head stall had given way and the bridle had
_ slipped off of his head and hung only by the

eck, “
__ As Ben saw the danger of the occupants of the
sleigh, he sprung to the middle of grat

 

and | the

braced himself for the shock, but sprung back
as Gordon cried out: :

“There’s nothing to catch him by—stand
away, Vil rope him!”

Ari leaping to the side of the road, the boy
stood until the flying steed v1s almost opposite
him, when he Sauched Lis lariat and the circling
noose, whirling in the air, settled down over
the borse’s head onto his shoulders, and then, in
phew to a quick pull, tightened about his
neck,

As he jerked the rope, Gordon passed the end
he held twice around the trunk of a small tree
just beside him, and held his end firmly, and as
the rope tautened, the horse was jerked clean
off his feet, and fell as if shot. :

His neck had been broken by the sudden
strain, and all danger to the occupants of tke
cutter was over, although ttey were thrown
out, but fell unhurt on the yielding snow.

The lady and child were assisted to rise by
the two young men, and found to be safe, with
the exception of the shock and a minor bruise
or two which were cf small importance, while
she, realizing bow narrow had been her escape,
as she shudderingly recalled the impetuous rush
of the horse and saw the steep banks that were
so short a-distance away, burst into a thousand
expressions of gratitude, thanking Gordon over
and over again. : é

And he endeavored in vain to check the tor-
rent of words ard told her that what be had
done was nothing, and only what any one elso
could bave accomplished.

But she stopped... : ‘

“We owe it to your skill and courage, and
coolness that we were not dashed to pieces. -

“Wor as I saw that we were approaching the
creek, I gave up and believed that only a
miracle could save us. Fe le

‘* What wonderful nerve you exhibited, when ~
you knew that. two human lives probably de- |
pended on your catching my horse.” © a

Gordon endeavored to laugh the matter away,
but during the entire walk back to town, the —
lady continued to riug his praises in his ears and
would only allow bim to leave ber when he had
given bis name and address that her husband ~
might call and thank bim. ~ 8 o

“Tell you what it is, Gord,” said Ben, as the
two walked away together. :

“Tm more than ever determined to push ign
project of equipping the police with Jassoes.”
And meeting the local reporter of the Hvening
Budget, he stepped him and gave him a vivid
and glowing account of the late adventure.

So, before Jong, the news was spread all over.
the city, and Gordon found himself once mora
the hero of the day; while many clothes lines:
were surreptitiously removed by numerous
small boys who spent the evening in practicing —
at all kinds of marks, : Sy Jae eae

And many an unfortunate pig, accidentally —
lassoéd, was yanked about by the hind-leg,
squealing, by his triumphant captors. ;

And that evening the husband of the lady
enlled to thank Gordon, and brought with bim

a magnificent gold watch and chain, which he

forced the boy to accept, despite his ur;
tests to the contrary, only begging 7
hair rope, which Gordon willingly

¥

 
44

him, and which, to day, forms one of the prin-
cipal ornaments of bis parlor and is one of his
most cherished treasures.

But the next day, despite the earnest requests
which he received from all sides, to remain
for a short time longer, after shaking hands
with his numerous friends, Gordon left Bloom-
_ ington and set out on his way to the Indian
Territory.

Reaching the Territorial line without further
adventure, he engaged a freighter to take him
the eighty miles which lay between him and the
_ Agency, and started off.

hey had gone but a short distance when the
teamster, turning to Gordon, said: :

“Suppose we cut across the country and

strike the trail; it will save us five miles.”

- “Te you think we can get through with the
wagon, go ahead!”

‘In course we kin git through.”

‘“* Are you sure?”

“Sure?”

“ce Yes,” ee

“Well, I done it a couple o’ weeks ago, an’
reckon I kin do it ay’in.” \

“Crack your whip and drive on your wagon
then; I’m game for anything.” :

~The creeks is froze, an’ we kin go through
all O. K., I'll bet a dollar.” ;

** Shoot ahead!”

And they started over the prairie without fur-
ther delay, it being then a little after seven
o’clock in the morning, and, the sky being
clouded, they. had no sun to guide them.

Within a couple of bours it began to snow so
hard that they could not see, and Gordon re-
called, with dismay, bis experience of a short
time before, and wondered if it was to be re-
peated. '

The snow came from the south, in which di-
rection they were traveling, and they guided
themselves by the wind; but it changed without
their being aware of it, and veering around
gradually, completely deceived them, so that
soon they were entirely bewildered, and came
to the conclusion that they were lost.

Yet they struggled on until about two hours
after dark, when they reached the Salt Fork,
tired and hungry, for they had been run-
ning and walking all day to keep from freez-

ng. ;
They had no provisions, for they had expected
to have been able to get their meals at the stage
ranches, and had laid in no supply.
But they built a huge log fire, and camped
for the night, neither of them sleeping much,
and alternately watching the fire.
At length, however, the day broke, and try-
ing the ice, they found that it was something
_ over a foot thick, and through this they had to
break, in order to allow their horses to drink,
and then parching a littleof the grain carried
by the freighter for his team, they made a
scanty meal, after which they hitched up and
prepared to break camp. é ,

_ But suddenly Gordon, who had been watch-
ing a dark spot on the plain, which gradually
grew larger and larger, motioned to his com-

-panion to wait a moment. ae
_ “ What's the matter?” growled the freighter,

rendered ill-humored by the cold that pierced
- 1. ce a 7 » ;

Gordon Lillie.

 

him through and through, and the oe of buns
ger which now gnawed at his vita!
** Indians!” replied the lad,
“ Well, what of it? ;
“* Ain’t they all friendly?”
“Not always.”
- * When ain’t they?”
ic aes they are Osages, and have just lost a
chief. &
“That is an Osage ‘ Hair Party?!”

CHAPTER, VIIL.
THE HAIR-HUNTERS.

WueEN a chief of the Osage Indians dies, .
they form bands of horsemen, who start out in
different directions, scouring the country, north,
east, west and south, which bands are known
as ‘Hair Parties,” : :

These ‘‘ Hair Parties” ride about in search of
any one they may encounter, and, capturing
them, they cut their hair off with knives, not
scalping them but merely severing tbeir locks
close to their heads,

All is fish that comes to their nets, and they
treat every one, white or Indian, in the same
manner, and this arbitrary proceeding often
causes much trouble with the Pawnees, for they
are only forty miles to the northeast of the
Pawnee Agency.

By their dress Gordon could distinguish that
the band which was now approaching belonged
to the Osage tribe, while by various insignia and
trappings they wore he was enabled to judge
that they belonged to a ‘‘hair party,” and
realized that if they were not prevented both —
he and his companion would soon be shorn of
their flowing tresses. ‘

And although tbe boy had only worn his hair
long for a little over two years, yet he felt as
nouch pride in preserving it asif it had never
felt the edge of the shears, and so determined to
defend himself at all hazards from the attacks
of the band. ;

The horses were hastily unharnessed agai
and led back some distance into the wood, an
then Gordon, taking his rifle, advanced to the
edge of the stream, and as the band of warriors
rode up on the opposite bank, he using the sign
languacze, motioned to them to stop and asked
what they wanted.

The conversation that ensued, although car-
ried on entirely by signs, was easily understood
by both parties and was translatable as foliows.
, “What do you want?” was the first question
propounded by the boy. Pain

‘Leaping Pauther, our great chief, has gone
to the Happy Hunting-Grounds, and we seek
the flowing locks of the Pawnee. ae

‘““We have met none of that tribe and will
not return empty-handed.

“The white boy: and his friend must not
resist, for it will be all the worse for them.”

“You have no right to be off your reserva-
tion and will surely be punished.

“T will not, nor will my companion, submit
to this outrage, ‘ .

“T warp you to keep away, for we will de
fend ourselves.” t poe pete

‘‘The white boy is foolish}. we will come and
take what we want.” i te :

“Then come on!” :

 
 

Gordon Lillie.

16

 

The warrior who had been carrying on this
interview with Gordon, then turned to his com-
panions and said a few words to them, when
suddenly, with a wild yell, the whole band ap-
plied their stinging quirts to their horses, and
_urging them forward, leaped down upon the
snow and ice-covered surface of the frozen
stream, and came galloping toward them at a

_ furious pace.
“Aim only at their horses, Dick!” shouted
the boy to the freighter, and at his words, the
two rifles cracked in unison, and two of the mus-
tangs rolled over on the snow, while the rest of
band kept riding on in their impetuous course.

Barricaded behind the wagon, Gordon and
Dick repeated the fiery salutation and another
horse fell, pinning his red rider to the ground
beneath him, having fallen across the Indian’s
legs before the latter could throw himself to
on¢ side,

#nd in an instant more the savages were
up! n them, and they were in the midst of the
bov ‘ling mob, standing with clubbed rifles, and
des ‘ing blows right and left, and keeping the
Inc ians at bay for some time.

‘lhe savages did not try to injure them, for
their endeavor was to obtain the hair from their
heads without otherwise harming them, while
Gordon and Dick withheld their fire, not caring
to shed any blood. ee

The boy had leaped into the wagon-bed, and
from here hammered blows on all sides, and the
butt of his rifle, encountering more than one

. skull, bad brought several of the riders to the
ground, where they lay balf-stunned and com-
pietely out of the fight.

But just then a howl of rage uttered by Dick
fell on his ears, and turning, he could ‘not sup-
ress his laughter as he saw the freighter danc-
ng about like a madman, while the short bris-
tles standing up over bis head showed that his
hai had been shorn close to his scalp.

One of the men whose horses had been shot at
the first onslaught, had risen, and gliding
between the aeoaee mustangs, had slipped u
bebind Dick, gathered his long hair deftiy in his
left hand, and then, with a circular sweep of
his right, which held a knife, had cut the locks

_off as cleanly as if a first-class barber bad done
the job. :

But the Indian’s exultation was short-lived;
for, while the rest of the band were gazing with

_ stolid countenances and stoical satisfaction at
the trophy which the red-man waved in the air,
Gordon, who was far above the man on foot,
leaned from his position in the wagon, and
eatching the ravisher of Dick’s locks by the
scalp lock, sent the razor-like blade of his own
knife about the roots with a quick turn of the
wrist, and in a moment more the long black
braid, of a coarseness like a horse’s mane, was
lifted high in the air, while the discomfited say-

age roared with L
“ Diamond cut diamond!” laughed the boy;

and then, stuffing the hair into the bosom of bis '

hunting-shirt, he dropped his rifle into the bot-
tom of the wagon, and leaping astride of a mus-

ee tang near by, heclung to the waist of the aston-

ished rider; and then, gently touching the horse
in the flanks with the fora nt of his knife, sent
the affrighted steed bounding through the woods,

 

te the rest of the band looked on in astonish<
ment,

As the horse—a powerful animal, which
seemed scarce to feel the weight of bis double
burden—sped off up the bank of the Salt Fork,
Gordon kept kicking his heels into his flanks un-
til the terrified steed fairly flew over the ground;
and then, clinging by his legs, the lad grasped the
top-knot of the chief, and before he could do
anything to prevent, had added a second trophy
to his other prize, when the horse, suddenly
turning, threw the dismayed and demoralized
Indian far out onto the ice—which just bere was .
very thin—and he broke through without injur-
eee and escaped at the expense of a cold

ath.

Gordon’s escape from being swept off by the
overhanging branches of the trees, as the borse
dashed through them, was something wonder-
ful; but he at length succeeded in checking the
animal, and then turning his head, rode back to
where Dick was still battling with the Indians,
but now with only his clinched fists, for he bad
been disarmed and could have recourse to noth-
ing but nature’s weapons. \

But as Gordon, again increasing the speed of
his horse, rode down upon them, knocking them
right and left, his long, golden bair streaming
in the breeze, shaking aloft the black tresses of
the chief and yelling like a demon, they scat-
tered and fled, leaving the lad and his companion ©
in possession of the field. 7 F

The Osages only stopped long enough to pick
up their dismounted companions, and then sped
away over the prairie completely discomfited,
and soon disappeared. i

And while Gordon sat at bis ease on his cap-
tured steed, with one leg thrown carelessly over
the withers of the panting animal, gazing atthe
woe-begone countenance of Dick, a whistle rung —
out on the still air, and the horse, in obedience
to tbe well-known summons, flung his heels high,
throwing Gordon headlong onto the snow, and
then, galloping off, rejoined his master, -wlo
quickly mounted and sped away in the direc-
tion taken by his fleeing companions.

Picking himself up, Gordon submitted quietly
to the sarcasms showered on bim by the freight-
er, and acknowledged thet it was only fair thet
he should, in turu, be laughed at; but told Dick
that long before the Jatter’s hair had grown he —
would have forgotten all about Gordon’s mis:

hap. : 4 i
Then the team was once more harnessed up,
and, crossing the frozen Salt Fork, stopping for
a moment to secure the bridles from the dead —
mustangs, they being curiously plaited and in-

terwoven with many odd devices, they pro- ~

ceeded on their journey, and, by ten o’clock.
had found’ the trail from which the snow had
been blown in places, leaving it bare and easily ©
discernible, ; 3
About three o’clock that afternoon they haul--
ed up at Walker’s Ranch, on Big Greasy, and

there got all the food he had prepared, and be-

ing decidedly sharp-set after their long fast,
ate heartily and with the greatest relish.

After resting themselves and their horses for
a short time, they again set out and traveled
steadily until nine o’clock that night, when they
reached the Pawnee agency, which was only

ee z

 
   
 

  

i6

eighteen miles from Walker’s, but so heavy was
the hauling they had only been able to make
the distance in that time.

Gordon was warmly welcomed by the agent,
and, although he had only been gone a short
time, was very glad to get back among the
friends who loved him, and whom he liked so
well, and to the life which suited him far better
than any that he had ever experienced,

A good night’s rest completely restored him,
and the next day he felt entirely recovered,
and to an admiring crowd he related his ad-
venture in Bloomington, and his encounter with
the Osages on the Salt Fork. . :

During the evening he called at the lodge of
one of the old chiefs who gladly bade him enter
and who placed at his disposal his finest robes
and ordered the squaws to set before his son,
Little Bear, the best that the larder afforded.

And then, after they had supped, they drew
around the fire and story succeeded story, until
far into the night, when, as Gordon was about
to leave, the robs which bung before the en-
trance to the hut was dashed violently aside,
and a young warrior leaped into the lodge,
trembling like an aspen and his face of a ghastly
hue which denoted the terror that held him in
its thralls,

Speaking in Pawnee, without stopping to sa-

lute Gordon, and apparently without noticing
him, the young man spoke, addressing his
father: s

“T have seen the Wild Hunter!”

“Tmpossible—he has not been heard of for
many, many moons,” returned the old chief,
ineredulously.

“But I met him to-night, on Black Bear” (the
stream on which the Pawnee Agency is sit-
uated) “and was as close to him as you are to

e. a

“What happened?”

“J struck at him with my knife, but ‘the
blade turned aside, and with a hollow laugh, he
ae Sgr in the trunk of a tree near by.”

My son, you have been dreaming. Go to

sleep and try and dream better things.

“You come ”—to Gordon—‘.to-morrow; for
it is late now, and [ will tell you the legend of
the Wild Hunter. Good-night, my son.”

~ And Gordon, leaving the lodge, returned to
_ the Agency, his mind full of the legends he had
heard, and almost expecting to meet some spec-
tral apparition during his lonely walk. —

- But nothing appeared, and he was soon sleep-
_ ing a sound and dreamless sleep, that lasted up-
broken until daybreak. fags

CHAPTER IX. -

THE LEGEND OF THE WILD HUNTER.

THE next evening Gordon was again seated
in the lodge of White Eagle, where he found

Rigas Owl, the young Indian who had said that
_ he had seen the Wild Hunter the night before,

and the old chief, slowly
- gar to relate the legend he

native tongue: ee :
“Nearly a hundred snows ago, there roamed
these forests an Indian, who, although he was
not a chief, was acknowledged as a leader by

padas his pipe, be-
ad promised, in his

Gordon Lillie.

 

all the members of the tribe to which he be-
longed, e :

 

‘* He excelled in all matters of woodcraft and
was expert eae all of his companions in the
chase, in which he was always accompanied b
two enormous gray wolves that he had trained,
having captured them while they were yet very,
young.

“ And he was in high favor with the
head chief, who proclaimed his intention of
adopting him and bequeathing to him the chief-
tainship of the tribe; but at this the young
men naturally rebelled, and from admiring,
they gradually became jealous of, him, an
plotted together to ruin the young favorite, but
without avail, for all their efforts were useless
and rather resulted in his advantage. —_—

“But one day the chief, in company with
White Wolf, as he was called, was ee
when they came upon a huge stag with branch-
ing antlers, and to him they gave chase, and so
fast and furious was their speed that they soon
outstripped their companions and left them far
behind, only the chief and White Wolf continu-
ing the chase. - 4

* At length the deer, driven to desperation
stood at bay, and, lowering his antlers, gored
the chief’s horse so severely that it reared and
falling back, threw its rider to the ground, and
in another moment would have buried his horns
in the body of the dismounted Indian, when
White Wolf, flinging himself from bis horse,
received the stroke, and, although desperately
wounded, raised himself slightly, and plunged
his knife into the stag’s heart.

‘As he lay there, suffering, while the chief
gazed upon him with the utmost concern, their
companions rode up, and seeing in what sore
stress the favorite was, could scarce contain
their exultation, but they pretended the deepest
sympathy, yet offered no cousolation.

‘“*The wound is mortal,’ said they, ‘and
naught can save him!’ ,

‘But at these words a tall, fantastically-dress-
ed man, mounted on a powerful horse, rode
into their midst, sprung to the turf, and ad-.
vanced toward the wounded man,

“+ Who says naught can cure him? he asked:
in a harsh, imperious voice,

“¢T ean cure him and will, on one condition.”

«Name it,’ returned the chief, eagerly, ‘ and.
ae it took half my possessions it is yours!’

“*T ask no gifts; my condition is that you ask
DO questions, nor seek to follow me when I de- —

‘¢¢ Granted; and now show your skill.”

“ Without a further word the unknown knelt.
by the quarry, and taking a huge, keen-edged
bunting-knife from his belt, cut off the head of
the stag just at the base of the skull and then
cut a slit from lip to throat. :

‘And while the chief and the warriors looked

on in astonishment, wondering what all this
might mean, he turned to the wounded man
and said; ‘
“¢This must be bound on his head, and in a
month’s time he will be cured,’ i Seat

‘Despite his incredulity the chief ordered

that all should be done as the unknown wished, __
and the skull was firmly bound on White Wolfs _
head with buckskin thongs, when the unknown
litted him carefully in his arms, and bounding: ©
on his horse, eried to the Indians: ee Sede

wie

 

 

 

 

 

 
   
 
 

     
  
 

Gordon Lillie.

17

 

*€¢Tn a month’s time [ will return with him,

cured,’ and before they could stop him, he was
‘one. ‘

‘* But one of the young braves followed rapid-
ly after him, while the chief cried:

“‘¢Trace him to his lair, Moose-Deer, and
bring us word of his whereabouts.’

“And turning away the chief rode off to his
wigwam, followed by the others,

“Seeing that he was followed, the mysterious
interloper checked his steed and allowed the
other to approach, when Moose-Dear accosted

m.
*** What interest have you in this man?
‘¢* None,’ replied the other.
**«Then why do you take so much trouble?
‘¢* Wor my own ends,’ ~
‘* And they are? :
'“* What'will you give me to cause his down-
fall?
~“6T have but little.’
*«* Promise me to give me a sacrifice.
‘Promise to kill the first living thing you
imeet, after leaving here, as a sacrifice, and I
will so arrange matters that you shall take
White Wolf's place.’
**T promise,’ ;
— ‘“¢Hnough, I will keep faith with the chief,
sand this man will recover; but he will lose all
his craft and skill as a hunter. Begone!’
: -“ And Moose-Deer, returned on his solitary
_ ‘way, and riding along, soon saw, coming to-
ward him, a horse, walking slowly, but far
over the plain, and he congratulated himself
‘that here was the sacrifice that he was to of-
‘fer; but-at that moment the bushes alongside
were suddenly parted and a poune girl came
bounding toward him—his well-belcved daugh-

rs
__“ And, bis heart full of jealousy of White
Wolf, and full of fear of the mysterious stian-
_ ‘ger, he drew to the head the arrow he had al-
ready fitted to his bow, and the shaft, glancing
like a ray of light, buried itself deep in the
bosom of the fair child.
. “And ina moment she fell-dead, with a soft
pathetic look in her eyes like a stricken fawn,
while he, not turning back, hurried on to the
village, where he reported that White Wolf was
comfortably lodged and was well cared for.
“At the exact time promised White Wolf
resented himself alone to the chief, looking
Phin and haggard, but entirely out of danger,
-and was welcomed more warmly than ever by
the chief, who almost regarded him as one risen
_ from the dead. ‘
“But about a week after his return, White

- Wolf, having entirely recovered his strength,

accompanied the chief on another hunting

_ expedition, and they had hardly set out when

bis horse shied and threw bim. .

“Up to that time nothing of the sort had
ever bappened to him, for he was a perfect
rider, and be got up much discomfited, while
Moose-Deer looked at him maliciously, and
when they started a deer, and at length suc-
ceeded in killing it, Waite Wolf was left far
behind, although mounted better than even the
chief himself. : :

“And shortly Podge

buck scarce thirty yards

a fair shot

before when Night Owl had burst u

 

off, he pulled his

bow and let the arrow fly; but it missed its
mark, and the deer dashed off unharmed,

““*¥You are out of practice, my son,’ said the
chief; ‘but you shall have another trial.

+ ‘Bring me down yon eagle,’ pointing to a
bird not far off. :

“And as he spoke, the arrow sped, but it
quivered in the trunk of the tree, some distance
from the mark, and the unfortunate shooter
looked distracted, while the brow of the chief
clouded. *

“You must regain your skill, White Wolf,’
said_he, ‘or you never can hope to be chief of
the Pawnees.’ i

“*Moose-Deer kept his own counsel and did
not divulge his secret to any one, and having
buried the body of bis daughter, passed hours
in a pretended search for her, while tue village
rung with bis lamentations. :

“The next day White Wolf went out alone;
but, practice as he would, he found that he had
lost bis cunning with bow and arrow, while he
had no control over either his horse or his
trained wolves. .

‘“‘ And when he again hunted with the chief he
became the laughing-stock of all.

“The chief at length dismissed him, saying:

‘“*Take a week for practice and then we will
see; but if you ther do no better, some one else
must succeed you as future chief.’ -

“White Wolf answered not a word, but rode
off wildly, but returned at evening with ghastly
looks and strange appearance, for be bore, fixed
like a cap on his head, the antlered skull of the
stag he had killed, aud which had formerly
been bound about his bead.

“His every action showed that he was crazy,
and all but bis jealous companions pitied him, —
yet they only jeered and scoffed, and, after
committing the wildest extravagances, he burst
from all restraint, and, planging into the forest,
he disappeared. = ¢ é :

‘* And of all the young men who were install-
ed in his place, not one of them retained their
cunning—all their shafts went wide cf the
mark; all of their hounds lost their scent, all of
their horses their speed. s

“ And the seasons came and went and the old
chief died and none saw or heard of White
Wolf, save now and then a belated wanderer in
the woods, who claimed to have met a ‘tall, —
weird-looking figure with antlered skull, who
approached mysteriously and disappeared in _
the same way whenever any one drew near the
spot where Moose-Deer had slain his daughter, —

“For afflicted with remorse and a prey to a —
taysterious disease which tormented him, aud
baffled the skill of the medicine-man, he had
confessed all, and said that at night he was
forced to leave his couch and hunt in the forest
with White Wolf. Be ted
__“ And whenever they bad killed ‘a deer, the
Wild Hunter forced him to cut off its head and
then-look in its face, which invariably turned
into the much Joved and titterly mourned fea- —
tures of his murdered daughter. regres

‘But no one had seen or beard anything of
the Wild Hunter for years, until the oot ;

then
with the assertion that he had encountered him,

“And this is the legemé of the ‘ Wild Hunter,’

 
18

Gordon Lillie.

 

my son, and may you never meet him, for the
meeting always bodes ili.”

And then silence fell upon the lodge, and Gor:
don sat there, in the dim light of the fire, scarce
putting any faith in this tradition of the Paw-
nees, born of superstition, yet half-expecting to
see the anutlered helm peering through the
crevices in front of him.

And he made up his mind that when the
weather became settled he would iavestigate
this matter and see if there were anything in
the vision which Night Owl pretended to have
witnessed. :

So rising, he left the lodge, and proceeded
leisurely along the banks of Black Bear, when
suddenly without a sound, a dark form ap-
proached him from the wod, and as he drew
nearer he could distinguish a huge black horse,
bearing on its back a tall form.

And outlined against the sky he could dis
tinguish the branching antlers it wore on its
igead, when drawing his revolver, he was about
to challenge the intruder; but suddenly the
forse gave a loul snort, the apparition was lit
wp by a brilliant flash of blue flame and as a
wulphurous smoke filled his nostrils, the rider
vanished, while two ghostly forms, looking like
two gray wolves, dashed by Gordon’s feet and
followed the ghostly rider.

-» Then all was once more quiet, and the lad,
half-terrifisd and wholly puzzled, hastened to
the Agency and to bed, where he dreamed all
sorts of wonderful things about blue fire,
ghostly visitors, black hors2s and slaughtered
maidens,

CHAPTER X.
THE CREEK OUTBREAK, ir
On arising in the morniag, Gordon related
what he had seen to th» agent; but the latter
Jaughed at him, and persuaded him that he had
' been the victim of his overheated imagina-

tion, which had been wrought up to an intense |,

a by listening to the stories of old White
agle. —

“He was probably testing eee incredulity,
‘Gordon, and seeing how far he could go and
bow much you would swallow.” \
“But I saw him,” persisted Lillie, “and
coughed for an hour from-inhaling the sulphur-
ous smoke.” »

“More likely your lungs were affected by the
stifling atmosphere of the lodge, and when you
came out the fresh air irritated the air pas-
pages, :

“ Well, you may talk as you please, but what

Isaw I saw, and that muchI know.” =

But to make the thread of my story complete,
I must ask my readers to go back with me to
the summer of 1881, during the month of Au-
gust, when the outbreak of the Creek Indians
occurred, and during which time many whites
were massacred, :

Gordon was traveling in the Creek country,
_ about the middle of the month mentioned, and

with his companions had hauled camp on a
small creek, seven miles northwest of Ok-
 mulga. : :

They were preparing their diuner, when
“they saw five Indians in full war-paint and cos-
tume coming down the trail at a lope. Bein

es »

 

As soon as the Creeks—for they belonged to
that tribe—saw the party when they drew

near the camp, they drew rein, and Gordon —
thought that they intended to stop; but in-
kept riding on without saying a
observing the outfit of the Barty: :

stead, the
word, an
closely.
There were leaning against the wagon-wheel —
two Winchester rifles and a shot-gun, the latter
having been brought along to kill small game
with—the country being full of turkeys, coons,
‘possums and other small game—while each man
wore one or two six shooters. 3
There were eight in the party—seven horse-
men and the man who drove the wagon con-
taining the camp outfit, and cooked—they being
on.their way to Texas to drive up a herd of cattle.

The Indians rode on until they had gone a z y

hundred or a bundred and fifty. yards, and
then stopped and began talking together.

Ove of them, a young buck, was riding a
large, fine horse, and Gordon, being amxious) to

purchase a mount, told hiscompanions that he

would endeavor to buy this one, :

So saying, he walked out on the prairie to-
ward the Indians, and, using the sign langage,
addressed the young warrior, asking him how
much be would take for his animal. :

But the Indian made no reply, sitting stolidly
on his horse, and staring at Gordon without ex-
pressing the least intelligence on his impassive
countenance, and leading the boy to believe
that he was not understood. ‘ :

Lillie then addressed him in English, and ©
afterward in Pawnee, but with no better re-
sult; and Gordon, decidedly impatient, address-
ed some strong remark to the band in general
and to the young buck in particular, and turn-
ed to walk back to his friends, but had scarcely
gotten twenty paces away when a wild whoop
ru1g out on the air, followed instantly by the
ringing crack of a riffe. , :

And as the bullet sped, Gordon fell prone on |
his face, while the Indians galloped off at a —
break-neck pace; and so sudden and unex-
pected had been the attack that bis comrades
had not reached their weapons when the In-
dians were out of range and disappearing over
the prairie. : é :

Gordon was soon picked up, and found to be
only slightly stunned, as the bullet had jush_
creased his scalp, hardly tearing the skin, but
knocking him down with the shock. ; =

It was a very close call, and the party vowed
vengeance should they be able to overtake the.
Indians, and, leaving threa of their comrades
with the driver to protect the camp equipage
‘and team, the others, numbering four and in-—
cluding Gordon, started off ata hard gallop
down the trail in pursuit of the band of Creeks —
who-kad sought Gordon’s life. _ sepctee

They rode hard, and when nearing Okmulga,
met a large party of horsemen, well armed, —
who were about to start down the trail, and

drawing rein, the leader cf the strangers ap- —

proached and, saluting them, inquired: ==
“Have you seen a small band of Indians?” _
“Yes,” replied Gordon. ee
‘* When and where!” — poe re gags

_ “About an hour ago—may be less—

northwest.” pose

x

 
Gordon Lillie.

 

“ How many were there in the party?”

“ Five.”

Armed?” :

“ Armed and in full war-paint and dress.”

“ Boys,” said the other turning to his men
“ they are the ones we're after!

“These Indians,” he continued, again address-
‘ing Gordon, ‘ killed a Creek officer and wound-
ed one or two others while resisting arrest,
and we are trying to find them.

“Do you know which way they went?”

“They must bave sluded us in the broken
country, for we have seen nothing of them since
they tried to shoot me.”

Stercing back with his companions, Gordon
rode along with the new-comers, relating his
late experience, and soon after, meeting the

wagon which was slowly following, they separ- |,

ated and Gordon saw the posse no more.

He often tried to find out the fate of the band

of Indians, but without success, and at length

~ came to the conclusion that they had been ex-
terminated and the mafter kept quiet by the
avengers of the officer and his aids.

One beautiful moonlight night, ten days
afterward, Gordon and his friends were in
camp, when the boy, who was on watch, saw
sweeping over the plains, a large party of war-
riors, who seemed unaware of the presence of
the whites in the vicinity, and Gordon, calling

one of bis companions to take his place on
guard, and telling him that be was going to re-
connoiter, quietly mounted his horse and rode
away after the band without disturbing his
other friends. é
_Heknew that not far from where they camped,
about four miles away, lived an old minister
and his daughter, and fearing that it was the
intention of the Creeks—for such he supposed
the band of warriors to be—to massacre the old
man and the young girl, spurred hurriedly for-
ward in his endeavor to warn them.
But he was some fifteen minutes behind the
__-warriors, and as he drew near the lonely cabin,
he saw a bright light leap high in the air, and
heard the wild yells of the savages as they ex-
ulted in the success of their deadly schemes.

Urging his horse forward, he soon swept from
tbe gloom of the forest into the daylight bright-
ness of the glade, in which was situated the
home of the mivister, and there burst upon him
ascene of carnags and ruin such as he had
never before,witnessed in all of his varied ex-

perience.

_. The torch had been applied to the cabin, and

the flames leaping high, infolded it in their
tongues of fire, while at the doorway lay the

dead body of the old preacher, his white locks
dabbled with gore, while a small red spot on the
crown of bis‘head showed where the scalp-lock

_ had been torn away. Yee
_ And in the foreground, kneeling with uplifted
hands asin prayer for mercy, was his young
daughter, clad all in white, while behind her,
grasping ber Jong and flowing tresses in his left
end. stooda red demon with tomahawk up-

- lifted, ready to sink the keen blade crashing
into her brain. 2

But at that instant Gordon’s revolver cracked
and the Indian, shot through the head, reeled
and spun around, and then, utterly dazed and

set res zs

eed.
¢

_camp, w

 

came overspreac

ees turned and leaped headlong into the
ames, :

Gordon, eee spurs deep into the flanks
of his horse, sent him bounding forward like the
wind, and coming alongside the fainting girl,
checked his steed with a pull that sent him on
bis haunches, leaped to the ground, lifted the
girl in his arms, sprung iuto the saddle without
using the stirrups, and disappeared in the forest,
while a storm of arrows and of bullets whizzed
harmlessly after him from the astonished sav-
ages.

; sore a long detour he at length reached the

ere he warned his companions of the
proximity of the Indians, and advised them to
watch until morning, which they did, without,
however, being attacked.

The girl was tenderly cared for, and the next
morning was placed in safety, begging Gordon
to endeavor ‘to get word to her brother of the
fearful fate that had befallen her father, aud
of her whereabouts, that he might come to her.

And ‘although the boy endeavored by every
means in his power to find him, he could glean
no trace of the missing man, and was forced to
the conclusion that he must also have been mur-
dered on the same fearfui night. |

For the girl told him that when attacked, she
and her father were sitting up, awaiting bis ar-
rival, as he had promised to be with them that
evening. . x ;

And the girl went Hast, and the recollection
of ‘the tragedy faded from the boy’s mind as
other and newer incidents attracted kis atten- -
tion.

But the Indians who had figured in it were

punished severely and deservedly, for the old
«minister had lived in the country for years, and
had always been a kind friend to the Indians.
_ Many and many a time he had clothed and
fed the starving Indians, and none ever came to
his door to ask, who was turned away empty-
handed, :

And not satisfied with killing. and scalpin
him, the murderous Creeks so mutilated an
disfigured his body after death that it could not
have been recognized, had it not been known
that he lived there, and had not a few white
hairs been left ‘clustering about bis head to es-
tablish his identity beyond question.

And Gordon and his friends, preceeding on
their journey, eventually reached Texas, and,
taking charge of the herd, started todrive them
up through the Indian Territory to the Agency. |

CHAPTER XI. -

A STAMPEDE.

TRAVELING slowly, the herders weste well on
their way toward their destination, when one
day. they eee to allow the cattle to drink
and groze, and to rest, for the day was intensely

#

hot, and men and horses, as well as cattle, were
tired out. : ‘ ee
They were near the Pawnee reservation, being
some ten miles to the north of it, and nearin
the Oteos, who are located on a peccmmeastek

Red Rock, ‘ 3 . ;

The air was intensely still, and there was &
pervading feeling as if a thunder-storm were
about to burst en them, and soon the sky be-

‘with black clouds, and thelow

yh?

 
  

   

 

Gordon Lillie.

    

 

growling of heaven’s artillery could be heard;
approaching nearer and nearer to their camp.

he cattle moved about uneasily, and the men
were kept busy, riding about and rounding
them up, as they evinced a desire to stray, when
Gordon, who was far out on the plain, turning
back some stragglers, saw three persons running
over the plain toward him at full speed.

He stopped his horse, and then, turning, rode
toward the visitors, intending to stop them and
prevent a stampede, for the Texas cattle are
totally unaccustomed to the sight of a person
on foot, and easily take fright when a pedes-
trian approaches them, if, indeed, they do not
attack him.

Gordon soon drew rein alongside the new-
comers, and saw that they were three Indian
girls of varied types of savage beauty, and
who, at the first word he spoke, stopped short
as if for the first time realizing their impru-
dence, :

They told him that they were Oteos and that
their ponies had taken fright at something and
galloped off in a bunch, leaving them ten or
twelve miles from their village, and that seeing

the camp, they had hurried toward, it, fearing
the! approaching thunder-storm and seeking
shelter. ‘

And as they talked the curious cattle gradu-
ally drawing nearer and nearer, stood in a semi-
circle in front of them, at the air uneasily,
pawing the ground and shaking their heads,
while they occasionally uttered a low bellow as
they looked and wondered at the to them curi-
ous objects before them.

And Gordon, realizing in what danger the
girls’ thoughtlessness had placed them, slipped
to the ground as slowly and quietly as he could,

_ and told one of the girls to mount, to take one
of her companions behind her, while the third
could grasp the horse’s mane and run along-
side, while he would endeavor to conceal him-
self behind the horse and circle around the ever
slowly-advancing herd,

But before the girl could step forward to do
as be suggested a bright flash of lightning
sprung hissing through the air, the bolt tearirg
up the turf nota hundred yards away, while a
terrific crash of thunder just overhead shook
the earth and deafenei the hearers, while at the
same moment the flood-gates of heaven were

_ opened and the rain came down in torrents,

And the frightened horss, suldenly wheel-

ing, tore the bridle from Gordon’s hand and
bounded off over the prairie, while, as if the

. thunder-clap had been a signal, the whole herd
of cattle stampeded and came sweeping down

upon the quartette with a resistless force. _

Wild with terror, the thunder of their hoof-
beats on the quivering earth drowning the
thunder that rolled and crashed above, their
loud beiiowings adding to the. awful tumult,

_ while with lowered heads they tore along, the

fate of Gordon and of the three shrinking girls

seemed sealed; for the impetuous course of a

swollen river could more easily hava been
gegered than this awful tide stemmed and hurl-

But the boy sprang forward and raised his re-
volver, and almost as he felt the hot breath of
the leaders, scorching from their distended nos-

  

 

 

  

   
   
  
   
   
 
   
   
  
   
  
  
    
  
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
 

trils in bis face he pee the trigger, and the
foremost of the herd crashed to the ground at.
his feet, while the mad animals, opening as a
fan, divided and swept by this obstruction on
either side, while Gordon and his frail, com-
panions crovehed behind the shelter afforded by:
the body of the dead steer. t
And ina few moments his companions came
galloping up, and while two of them stopped to
see if the boy was alive, the rest hurried on in
pursuit of the stampeding herd, and soon oyer-
taking them, they turned them to the left, and
riding around kept driving them in a circle
until they finally stopped, exhausted by their
own fury. :
Gordon was found to be unburt, while the ©
Indian girls were also safe, and they were soon
in camp and sheltered from the rain, while the
rest of the boys stood guard over the cattle to
prevent their breaking away again. "eae
And while the cook was atm amused witness, —
the three girls made a perfect hero out of Gor-
don, using all of the extravagant and bigh: —
flown phrases with which their language
abounds, until he blushed like a peony with con-
fusion, Eos f a
Tbe storm ceased as suddenly as it nad arisen,
and Gordon furnishing the girls with horses
they set off for their village, promising to sen
the borrowed animals back in a short time, and as
it was now growing late, the cowboys decided
to remain where they were for the night, and
accordingly camped, 2 Z
Within the promised time the horses were re-
turned, and with them came a delegation from
the village, who invited Gordon and his friends
toa grand feast to be held that night in honor
of the three girls and their rescuer, for the res-
cued maidens were the daughters of three of the
leading chiefs, and their fathers desired to do
honor to their preserver. ee
After much coaxing the boy was persuaded
to go, and with him went three of his com-
panions, for the night promised to be clear, and
no fears of another stampede disturbed them, :
The dozen miles which intervened between —
their camp and the Oteo village were soon
traversed, and Gordon rods tp to the Medicive
lodge among’the yells of the warriors, the shrill
screams of the squaws, the screeching of the
children, and the yelling of dogs, and his ears
were well-nigh ruptured with the infernal d
The meal was set before them consisting prin-
cipally of a disb that looked sifspiciously like —
boiled, or rather stewed dog, but Gordon and his.
friends were not fastidious and ate heartily of
the mysterious dish, _ oon
At length they bad eaten snfficently and the
pipe being produced they smoked silently for
some time until at length, the skin that closed
the entrance of the lodge was raised and thé
three girls came in, each one bearing a gift for
Gordon, , S es
The first carried a beautifully embroided belt,
the work of her own dainty hands, and thi;
she presented to him with a littie speech, mille
embarrassed him more than it seemed to he:
The second gave hima pair of moccasins which
she herself had worked, while the gift of the third
was a hun‘ing-cap of deerskin, soft as velvet
embroidered in many colors aad ornament!

 

 

 

 
   
  

  
  
   
   
  
 

   
  
     
  
   
 

  
 
   
 
   

   
     
   
  
  
   
   
  
  
 
 

  
 

Gordon Lillie.

     

21

 

with a magnificent plume plucked from the
pinions of the war-eagle.
And then the girls stood back while the oldest
and principal chief of the tribe arose and de
-livered a long barangue,in which he drewa
~ flattering picture of Gordon’s skill as a bunter,
his bravery and his cooiness in danger,
concluding by asking bim to come and live
with, and be one of the tribe, and offering him
as his wife, either of the confused girls who
stood giggling and tittering in the darkest cor-
ner of the lodge. :

But Gordon, in return thanked him fer the
proposed honor, which he assured him it was
impossible to accept; and as for choosing a wife
from the trio of Indian beauties:

‘*They are each and all so lovely and so lov-
able that I could not choose among them.”

This conclusion had a double effect. On the
one hand it flattered tbe trio as such; but on
the other it rendered each of the dusky maidens

ealous of the other two, and their friendship
gan to grow weaker until at length they be-
came almost enemies,

But Gordon, escaping as quickly as he could
from the close atmosphere of the lodge, fol-
lowed by bis companions, rode away under the
bright starlight and was soon in camp, won-
_ dering that be had gotten off so easily.

_ But the hearts of the Indian girls were
_ sore, for it was they who had suggested the
proposition.of Gordon’s marrying one of them,
each being confident of her own superior at-
_ tractions, and when they found that they were
allrejected, hate and the fact that thev were

‘scorned drew them into an alliance, offensive
and defensive, when tbe bonds of friendsbip
would not bave induced either one to seek the
aid of the others.

So they began to plot and soon formed a
scheme whereby they hoped to win, or rather
_ fore’, Gordon’s consent to the proposed change
in his life and habits.
But he, all unconscious of all of these machi-
- nations against his peace and happiness, rode
away with the herd and was only ee
_ reminded of the incident when his eye bappene
to encounter one of the gifts presented to him
_ by the three girls,
They reached their journey’s end when Gor-
_ don bade farewell to his comrades and returned
to the Agency, reaching the Black Bear. as the
stream is called, on which the Pawnee
Agency is situated, late at night and riding
slowly down the stream, after crossing it. -
_ But suddenly bis horse stopped with a shiver
and neighed loudly, while an answering whin-
ny came from the woods near by, and turning
bis head Gordon, thought he could see a coal-
black steed standing uader a spreading tree
near by, and pressed his unwilling horse a little
nearer in order to investigate.
_ And he found be was not mistaken, for he
bebeld a wild-looking horse attached by the
rein to one of the lower branches of the tree,
and the eyes of the steed flamed like carbuncles
he glared at Gordon. =
ud Gordon, urging his horse forward by the
free use of the spur, drew near, when alarmed
approach the black steed neighed loudly,
dark figure, with branching antlers on

 

 

  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  

  

   

      

       
     
  
   
       
  
       
  

 

   
   

  

   
 

 
  
   
  
  

 

-and told him what he had seen and of this last

 

its head, dropped from the tree into the saddle
and loosening the fastenings darted among the
trees with incredible swiftness, sat

And Gordon gave chase, but although well
mounted, was soon left far bebind, and aband-
oned the pursuit, returning along the road he
had been folowing and, recognizing the tree
where the horse had heen tied cut a deep cross
in the bark that he might be able to distinguish
it when he next came that way, for he was
determined to solve this mystery, which, at
the present time, seemed wholly inexplicable.

  
   
     
     
       
       
   
     
       
   
     
     
     
       
     
         
     
     
     
      
      
 
         
    
   
    
       
 
      
       
   
     
       

 

CHAPTER XII.
THE WILD HUNTER TO THE RESCUE.

Wuen Gordon arose the next day he went to
the Agency and there met several of the Paw-
nees, who seemed to be very much excited, and
were talking and gesticulating rapidly, and,
mingling with them, he soon learned the cause
of their conversation. .

Some of the young men, who had gone out
very early that morning, bad ridden along
Black Bear, when they came to the spot where
the tradition that Gordon had heard placed the
abode of the Wild Hunter; but, as daylight had
banished their fears, they were talking and
laughing, when suddenly a sight met their eyes
which filled them with terror, awe and super-
‘stitious fancies. :

For laid out, side by side on the ground, were
the bodies of seven Creek warriors, each. one
stone dead, and bearing in the center of his
forehead a brand, burnt deeply into the flesh,
and the mark was a pair of antlers! Eon

They had not stopped to investigate, but had
‘turned and fled from the haunted spot asif they
feared that tlfe same fate might overtake them,
and had not ceased their headlong flight until
ey had reached the Agency.

here they acquainted their companions with . —
what they had seen, while the legend of the
Wild Hunter flew from lip to lip with many
and varied embellishments.

Gordon, recalling the vision that bad con-
fronted him the night before, was much im-
fe this new incident, but could not

elieve that there was anything supernatural
connected with it; but he went to the agent

éevelopment. |
“Well, Gordon, we'll settie it now. :
“Go and saddle two horses and we will ride
out and see if the Indians are mistaken or not.
“T have known them to mistake a swan for a
ghost and a limb of a tree for a corpse,” :
“ All right,” replied Gordon. ;
“Ym going to see this thing through if I have
to go to the place at midnight.”
They were soon mountec and riding along
the banks of Black Bear, but alone, for not one
of the superstitious savages would venture out ©
of the village, = ° .. i aoe
“Will you know the tree again?” asked the
agent, as they trotted along. = e
“Certainly.” ~ ‘
* And how?”
“Oh! didn’t I tell

 

 
   

yout I biazed itor rather

cut a cross in the bark, last night,
POON: & eects

  

A cross?

  
    

23

Gordon Lillie,

      

 

cs Yes. ”

“Weil, if it 1s a demon who is working all of
ee eta he’ll shun that spot.”
#

 

‘Because no first-class evil spirit will ever
venture near that holy symbol.”

“Well, demon or mortal, ’m going to track
“him to bis den!”

“TL hope you may; for if the mystery is not
soon solved the Indians will all. go crazy with
fear, and then we would have a lively time.”

“‘ Hore is the tree,” suddenly interrupted Gor-
don, as-he pointed to a huge monarch of the
forest a few rods away, in the trunk of which
eoue be seen the white cross cut deep in the

ark, ;

“ And there are the bodies!”

“The Pawnees were right, then.”

“Yes; for once.”

“Well, let us investigate,” i

But search as they would they could find no
trace of the presence of a human being save the
presence of the seven stark bodies.

Each man. had been killed by a deep cut in the
C back of the head, evidently inflicted a toma-
Be hawk or hatchet and burnt deep into the fore-
Y head of each was the brand the Indians had

spoken of—a pair of branching antlers.
“This tallies well with what their legend
is teaches them, and is certainly most curious.

s “‘But we can do nothing now. /

“Come, Gordon, we will go back to tho
Ageney and send a wagon for the bodies which
we will care for until we can communicate with
the Creeks,”

‘“T will stay here,” replied’ Gordon.

“Tf the antlered hunter returns I will give
him a warm welcome; send me wut some lunch
and I will remain until morning.”

_ Very well; you are not afraid?” .
~ “OF what?”
: “Of the Wild Hunter,” Jaughed the agent.
Bes *‘Not a bit, no more than of a tame one.”
-: “Well, good-by !”

**Good-by!” returned the lad cheerily and
then, leading his horse some distance off, he
hoppled him and returned to the tree, leaning
his rifle against it and seeing that his revolvers
were easy in their places, and then seated him-
self on the turf and leaned baek against the

_ huge trunk. ©

Not a sound disturbed the silence of the forest
except the occasional snorting of his horse as he
grazed, until the wagon sent by the agent ar-
rived and the bodies were placéd init, .

- The men in charge then departed, leaving
Gordon’s lunch with him, and he, after eating it,
and taking a drink from the stream near by,
‘seated himself in his former place and began to
think of a hundred different things, |

Z But from thoughts be gradually drifted off
into dreams, and, leaning back against the
narled: trunk of the tree, slept long and pro-
oundly, for he had been up late the night be-
fore and was fatigued from his long ride.

And go. slept on, unhe ding the light foot-
teps which barely stirred the grass over which
they swept; unaware of the slight figures that
cautiously approached him; unconscious of the
Be that was being unfoided to win, or lose,

aforever, gd

oe ae

   

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

  

 
 

 
 

omy

 

 
   
   
  
  
    
  
    
 
    
   
   
   
  
  
   
   
  
    
  
  
   
 
  
   

But suddenly he started! e

A light hand bad been laid upon his shoulder,
a soft voice had whispered in his ear: ;

“The maidens of the Oteos woo thee from
thy slumber! @

“Awake!”

At first he could searcely distinguish anything ~
about him, for it was growing dark and the
long shadows cast by the trees hightened the
gloom that surrounded him. et

But soon he saw’ standing in front of him
three indistinct figures, whom he recognized as
the three girls he had saved from the mad
cattle a short time before, and would have
stepped toward them to obtain an explanation -
of this mystery, when he suddenly realized that
he was bound fast to the trunk of the tree be-
hind him.

And he also saw that his arms had been deftly
taken from his belt and that he was without a
weapon. 5 Z

Approaching him as he sat there, the three
girls lifted him to his feet, after loosening the —
thongs which held him close to the tree, and —
then, with many an encircling fold, bound him —
upright to the trunk, wrapping the lariats they
carried around and about him in a hundred
coils, until he could not move a single muscle,

And then one of the girls spoke: :

‘‘Little Bear, you see before you three
mares who are rivals in love, but sisters in

ate, Besos ;

“You saved our lives not many days ago, and
won our gratitude; and this gratitude has
changed to love. ee

““We have vowed that you st'ould wed one of
us, and now: we await your choice, %

“Two of us will abide by your choice of the |
third, and, although sorrowing, will wish you
much happiness, j : ee
_ “ Refuse to take one of us, and you perish by
fire where you stand. eae

‘©Choose!”” ; he

And the three took up their. stations before
him and stood, with folded arms, awaiting his
P answer. : : "as CE aaa

“ But at least give me a little time to reflect!”
cried Gordon, whose situation seemed desperate —
and who wished to plan some mode of escape. —

“You shall have until the rising moon can be
seen over the topmost branch of yonder tree.

“Tf you have then decided we will ride away
‘to our village and bring our friends and relatives
here to celebrate the nuptials. - 6 eee
“Tf you have not chosen, then you perish by
re, = Re
‘Think well before you speak; for we are de-
fer plage’ and merciless when our love is scorn-
eae , :
Not for a moment did Gordon think of ac-
cepting their proposition and he well knew that
they would net pale witb him. - ete

e understood the Indian nature thoroughly
and realized that when scorned the love of a red
maiden turns to the most deadiy bate, and tha
the caressing hands of one moment often wi
the keen blade on their lover the next.

His position was a precarious one, for n ‘one
was near to aid him and he was powerl
help himself, and at length he t x

oh.

       
 

   
 
 

   
         
    
 
     
  
 
    
 

  
   
  
 

    

  

 
    
   
 
 
 

 

 

, and desperate, and after tugging vainl

  
 
Gordon Lillie,

bonds which held him, he called to the girls who
sat a little distance off, like statues of fate, and
ad eagerly approached.

he moon had not yet reached the point set
by the giris and they doubtless supposed that be
was tired of his constrained position and had
determined to accept their Paes

But if they believed this his first words quick-
ly undeceived them:

= Bring on your fagots, demons, rather than
women!” he cried. ‘‘ Better to perish in the

“slow-burning flames than to purchase freedom
at such a price!” :

“This is your determination?” fairly sbrieked
the three, mad with rage and disappointment;
for each had thought she would win him.

“My final determination—I shall speak no
word more!”

Tben the Indian blood boiled at what they
considered a deadly insult, and they began to
pile leaves, twigs, branches, and dead boughs in
a half-circle in front of him and some distance
away, that his torture might be greater from
the slowly increasing heat.

-. And then as the rays of the moon shot over
the top of the tree pointed out by the girl, the
trio stepped forward and ignited the pile of
brushwocd in three different places, and the
flames began to creep, with snap and sparkle,
in different directions, until the whole mass was
ablaze. r

_And soon the heat became unbearable, his
clothes began to smoke and scorch, while the
flames kept growing hotter and hotter, and

gradually crawling nearer, darted their red }.

tongues toward his face.

But suddenly-a loud neigh was heard, and an
immense black horse leaped into the circle of
light, a tall figure sprung from his back, wear-
ing un enormous pair of antlers ov his head, re-
leased Gordon with one sweep of his knife, and,
lifting the boy, with one bound was again in
the saddle, and with a wild laugh disappeared,
while the terrified girls, for one moment stupe-
fied by fright, the next fled from the place,
overcome by their superstitious terror of the
Wild Hunter. i ;

é

CHAPTER XIII.
A WILD RIDE,

“Tux intense pain he had suffered from the
‘scorching flames and the suffocating smoke that

he had inhaled from the green boughs that bad

_ had been scattered in the fire, had reduced Gor-
don to a state of insensibility, so that as he was
 eut loose from his bonds he was unconscious of
what had happened, and lay like a log across
his rescuer’s knees during the ride through the

forest.

When he recovered consciousness he found
himself lying on the turf near the Agencyy while
all around him was still, nota living thing being
: + meet, while far above him the moon sailed on
_ placidly. :

He recalled with an effort the narrow escape
_ that he had made, but could not understand bow
it had been effected but came to the conélusion
that the three maidens had relented and releas-

ter trying his courage to the utmost,

rs Sef
eon

 

> sigs

He determined, therefore, to keep his own
counsel, and not to say anything to any one re-
garding his late adventure; so crawling to bed,
be remained there, suffering, but enabied to re-
duce the pain of his burns by some simple oint-
ment tbat he had, and, evading all-questions,
ta sickness and kept his room for several

ays.

When he reappeared he was completely re-
covered, and in answer to the agent’s ques- —
tious, assured him that he had seen nothing
of the Wild Hunter, and that he had fallen
asleep at the foot of the tree.

The matter was finally dropped, and Gordon,
going to the place where he bad so narrowly
escaped a terrible death, found his weapons
hanging to a branch of the tree to which he
had been tied; they not baving been disturbed,
as no Indian, since the late discovery of the
bodies beneath it, cculd be induced to venture
anywhere in its vicinity.

he charred branches scattered about and
the scorched bark on the tree, however, gave
witness of the recent attempt on bis life, and
Gordon determined that he would not again be
caught napping beneath the shadow of that
tree, at least. ge

But on reaching the Agency again, other
thoughts took the place of those which bad puz-
led him; for he found that it was necessary
that he should be the bearer of certain dis-
patches that it was extremely important
should be delivered without delay at another
Agency.

And to carry them Gordon was requested
and readily consented, wishing for a agnor
scene and a more active life than he had been
leading tor the past few days,

When the news spread that Gordon was to
make the attempt, his brother—who was
known as ‘‘ Bare-back Al, on account of bis
once having ridden ninety miles in a day, bare-
back—and his uncle, known as Pawnee Jobn,
decided to accompany him. ~

The dispatches were most important, and
Gordon was cautioned, time and time again, to
en with, and to deliver them at all haz-
ards, ; Soa

Tbe road they were to take lay through a
wild country, swarming with Indians, borse-
thieves and desperadoes of every description,
and it was well known that the enterprise was
one of difficulty and danger;"but the boy did
not hesitate for an instant, but prepared for bis
wild ride as gayly as if dressing for a ball.

And as the sun reached noon-mark they set
forth, spurring through the streets of the vil-
lage amid the well-wishes of all, and the shout-
‘ing and yelling of the Indians, who had assem-
bled in full force to sée their young friend off.

Their objective point lay three hundred miles
away, and this distance was to be traversed, ac-
cording to Gordon’s calculations, in four days—
a task that required iron endurance and much

ood fortune in the way of procuring fresh
orses on the road, , .

They rode on and on through the heat of the
afternoon, pushing their horses at a steady gal-
lop, and crossing stream after stream until the
sun was getting low in the west, when, reach-
ing the banks of the Simeroon river, thirty-five

 
24

miles from the agency, they stopped to let their
horses rest and to eat 2 mouthful of lunch,

But as they sat around the camp-fire which
they bad kindled to make a cup of of coffee,
Gordon suddenly rose to his feet as a horseman
rode over the brow of a rise on the prairie, and,
seizing his rifie called out to know what the
stranger wanted, tor in every approaching ob-
ject an enemy was to be feared. ~

“T hav lost my way, pardner,” replied the
unknown, ‘‘an’ seein’ the smoke of yer fire,
eame up to ask ef you could d’rekt me,”

‘« Where are you going?”

“To ther Agency,” :

“The Pawnee Agency?”

“cr K’rect.”

“Straight north, about thirty five miles.”

“ Whevrl” whistled the other, ‘‘ too fur ter go
to-night.

“Say, young feller, kin a lonely wand’rer
camp with yer tonight?”

“Weare going to break camp. in about an
hour.” kee

~“Goin’ ter take a moonlight
sneered the stranger.

‘Well, don’t let me detain yer!” and wheel-
ing his horse the stranger galloped off south, in-
stea 1 of taking the direction pointed out to him
by Gordon.

*“Some fellow sizing us up,” quietly remarked
Bareback Al, who sat quietly and unconcernedly
munching his supper.

“Tf his pals are in the neighborhood, we'll
have to look out, that’s all.”

But nothing happened to interrapt their re-
past, and they chatted on a thousand different
subjects until Gordon suddenly said:

‘““My instructions are to acquaint you with
the contents of.my dispatches, so that in case
anything happens to me and either of you gets
through he can deliver the message,

“Word has been received—how I do not
know—that a large-band of horse-thieves is be-
ing organized, to make a raid down through
the territory and into Texas, and theso dis-

atches are sent to wara the commander of
Fort Blank to be on the lookout,
~ That is all there is in them. ;

“But I have noticed, hanging sround the
Agency for several days, a tough-looking cus-
tomer, whom I suspect of being connected with
this same band; andif Iam not mistaken he is
the identical gentleman who accosted us a

_ while ago. © s

“ They evidently suspect something and want

to get hold of the papers to obtain proof.
- “TE we are attacked, you, uncle John, act
as if the documents were in your possession to
draw attention from me, and Ill try and get
- through with them.”
* All right, Gordon, we'll focl ’ena!””
And the horses being by this time somewhat
rested, the “three arose and, saddling their
steads, mounted and again rode south.
’ As they drew out on the prairie, a little
‘elump of trees loomed up on the plain not far
ah and in the shadow cast by the branches,

ride, be yer?’

_* the three riders could distinguish several horse- |

en; but Gordon whispered: -

Ride straight on, and don’t spur until they |

Gordon Lillie,

“Ail right,” was the quiet answer aud the:
three galloped steadily on without increasing.
their speed until noarly opposite the grove,
when a dozen mounted men burst from their’
hiding-place and swept out over the: plain to--
ward them, :

Then tho trio put spurs to their horses and
the noble animals, much rested by their late —
halt, ieaped out in a stretching run and fairly
flew over the prairie, ' :

On, on, they sped until the pursuers, whose
horses were of blooded stock and much fresher
than the others, began to gain on them, inch by
inch, and the boy, looking over his shoulder,
saw that the chaso could only last a sbert time
longer, when they would be overtaken, ;

ot a shot was fired, for the pursuers evident-
ly were certain of their victims and did not
wish to shed blood, knowing that the killing of
a Government messenger would entail serious
consequences, : f
¥ But at length Gordon whispered to Pawnee

ohn; 5

‘« Make a break tor the bluffs at the left, and
answer me when I ¢all to you!” es

The other nodded understandingly and, bear- ©
ing on the reins, suddenly swerved and bent off
toward the broken country on his left, while
Gordon cried out:

“Take care of the dispatches!”

while the band of pursuers, thinking Pawnee
John had the important documents, swept off
after him, all but one man, who, fearing a ruse,
galloped on after Gordon, and, coming along- —
side, grasped his horse by the bridle, Pie

But the boy, drawing and clubbing his revol- |
ver, dealt him a fair blow with the butt, be- —
tween the eyes, and the man, loosening his
grasp on the rein,'fell heavily to the ground, —
while Gordon, the horses ruaning alongside —
each other at full speed, leaped from his saddle
onto the other steed and swept away at re-
doubled gallop. ;

And he and Bareback Al, rode along together, ©
‘and were soon lost sight of the horse-thieves, —
who, overtaking Pawnee John, quickly strip-
pel him, and finding nothing, were mad on ©
discovering how they had been.tricked, and
kicking and cuffing their victim, left him for
dead on the plain, j f 5 é

And Gordon and his brother pursued their
way, stopping now and then to rest, until Al’s
horse succumbed to the terrible strain and fel!
dead, while Gordon pressed on alone, riding but
slowly until at length his borse also gave ou
and he was compelled to traverse the remaining
ten miles on foot. eres Pace

And as he drew near his destination. be we
again attacked and ran a race for life and
| death, through the thick chaparral, taking to
the kroken ground where the horsemen could
not follow, cutting his feet on the sbarp rocks,
tearing his clothes and his flesh in a thousand
places on the sharp thorns, until, at length he
staggered up to the fort, asked for the officer in
command and wasadmitted,,

And stumbling into the room, bleeding, dirty,
haggard, he saluted the colonel, and gasping ;
_‘* Dispatches from Pawnee Agency, sir,”
fell heavily to the floor, completely

 

 

Po

* Pll not lose them!” came ack the answer,
Gordon Lillie.

 

CHAPTER XIV.

WARNING,

Tus return to the Agency was unmarked br any
interruption, as most of the distance was traveled
in company with the United Siaies treeps, who were
Sent out in search of the threatening band of horse-
thi-ves; but with no success.

Knowing of Gorden’s mission and that. he had
carried it through, despite the efforts made by them
to prevent, they had taken fright and left the coun-
try; while the young tellow was warmly praised for
his daring and strategy. :

At the aecney he found both Pawnee John and

reback ; who had succeeded in reaching it

without any further encounters, although Pawnee
John still bore the traces of his encounter with the
band which had pursued him.

Gordon determined that he would unearth the
mystery that hedged the Wild Hunter about, and
determined, also, that he would solve the onigma,
alone and unaided, So, soon after arriving at the
Agency, he set out, one dark night, well-mounted
and prepared to give a pressing chase to the weird
stranger.

He was weli armed: but as he had an indistinct
idea that he had been saved'trom the flames by the

_ Wild Hunter, he determined not to use bis weapons
: feet him, but only to resort to them in case of

's encountering some unexpected danger.

Arriving at the mysterious tree which seemed to
be the haunt of the apparition, he withdrew into
the deeper shadows of the wood and there sat motion-
less, his well-trained horse betraying by neither
sound nor movement that he was there. i

And after a somewhat prolonged vigil, his patience
was rewarded by hearing a noise, as if some one
were crashing through the undergrowth, and soon a
tall igure came toward him through the darkness,
barely discernible through the shades of the night,

, and rapidly approached, while his horse broke the
stillness for the first time by a whinny of fear, and
trembled in every limb.

At the sound the unknown stopped and peered in
the direction where Gor!on was and at the same

- moment the lad urged his frightened horse forward
and neared the weird-looking stranger, who stood,
drawn up to his full hight, which looked gigantic
to Gordon, with folded arms, awaiting the approach
of the intruder,

But as Gordon approached, the figure circled the
huge tree near which he was standing, and disap-
peared as completely as if the earth had yawned
wide and swallowed him in the opening, and nearing
the monarch of ths forest, he sprung from his pant-

‘ing steed and, taking the br‘dle-rein in his hand,
walked in the direction where he had last seen the

_ apparition standing. eae

Ever and anon a eoealine in the grass warned him

that the spot abounded in snakes, and he as

carefully, to avoid treading on one of the reptiles
and, possibly receiving a fatal wound from the pois

_ _oned fangs of the serpents.

His horse, which, until a short time before, had
been all fire and impetuosity now exhibited the great-

_ est alarm, trembled and quivered, snorted and drew
back and had to be dragged along by main strength.

When he approached close to the tree its gnarled

and twisted trunk rose before him like some huge
tower and as he passed around it, he perceived in its
side a huge rift, which appeared as if caused by the

_ lightning’s stroke; but no one was in sight, and,

_stopping, Gordon called out:

eee or Spirit, whichever you are—appear!”’

_ And at the summons a loud, mani laugh was

;.adim sulphurous flame burst from the open-

. ingin the tree and while the same suffocating smoke,
that he had experienced before assailed his nostrils,

tall, gaunt figure burst into view, w an enor-

- mous pair of antlers on its head and grinned and
: eae the boy whose courage held firm during

 

But his horse, rearing and plunging, broke awa:
and galloping off through the ‘torest, was in a shor
time lost to view while tao sound of ‘hit hoof-beats
gradually died away in the distance.

_’* You havo 2alled mo, coraon Lillie,” the speke
viv apparition in deep tones.

“Yam here, What do you desire?’ :

“Knowing my name, you sbould also know my
orrand,” curtly respcaded the bor

“ Your errand is doubtless to solve the mystery oz
the Wild Hunter—iys you cav.; is it not so?”

“Your judgment is correct.

“1 do not partake of the superstition o: the
Indians, and, whatever mystery may be connected
with you, i do not believe that it is supernaturai.”

“* An idle curiosity infiuences you, then?”

“No; a wish to aid the unfortunate veature who
is thus compelled to play upon the ‘ears of the
credulous savages for seme purpose of nis own.

“Is it for vengeance that you thus masquerade”

“Tam the spirit of the Wild Hunter, and my ven-
Sante is directed against the whole of the auman
race!" .

“ And why?”

‘Give me your hand that you will not unfold ny
history until I give you permission, and I will te
you all.”

Gordon stretched out bis hand and placed it in the
palm of the stranger, and instantly his fingers were
squeezed asit in a vise, and he was drawn toward
the tree by a strength that seemed almost super-
human, while he was blinded and suffocated by a
thick sulphurous vapor that arose about ‘is heaa.

At the same momenta blanket was thrown over
his head, and before he could extricate himself from
its folds, his arms were pinned to his body by an en-
circling cord, and he was dragged into the aollow
tree, and then. before he was fully able to realize
what had happened, he became unconscious, and.
knew nothing of what followed.

When his senses returned to him Gordon found
himself lying on the-turf, near the edge of the forest
a most intolerable headache racking his temples and
the recollection of past events vague and indistinct;
but with an effort he recalled the adventures of the
preceding night—for it was now broad daylight—
and his interview witl the Wild Hunter. :

Despite bis doubts he could scarcely refrain from
attributing something supernatural to tne strange
“being, and this was hightened by his weak and ex-
hausted condition, for the overpowering smoke he
had inhaled, and which had caused his insensibility,
ee left its effects lingering in his heated imagina-

Aon.

The eerie of a bit and the stamping of a
horse aroused him somewhat, and looking off a
little distance, he saw his horse fastened by the
reins to & low-hangin branch near by. and rising, he
approached him, and was about to mount when a
small piece of white paper, scorched around the
edges as if it had been near the fire, pinned to the
trunk of the tree attracted his attention, and
taking it down he saw that it borea brand and some
written characters, which were flame-hued in color,
On the document thus stamped, was written:

“Seek not to solve the mystery which environs the

ild Hunter; or do so at your peril.

“Twice you have escaped; but the third adven+ ;
ture may be fatal to you!

“ Beware! ; ‘

“His vengeance demands sacrifice; and he will
immolate all on the altar of his wrath.

Be warned and venture no more near this fatal =

spo!
vi Respect his secret and you are safe; endeavor
= penetrate it and the consequences will surely be —
Tue Witp HunTer.”
missive, Gordon ca
Ageroys wondering —
adventure to

Pathe
rful!,
“Again, BEWARE!
Carefully reading the
mounted and rode back to
| whe or no he should tell”

 
  

26

 

-Gordon Lillie.

   

tows mea,

 

the agent; but at length decided to keep his own
counsel and to pursue the adventure alone; for he
was detert..ned not to abandon it, despite the warn-
ing he had received

Arriving, he was accosted by the agent:_

“Well, Gordon,. buen out on another hunt after
the aces demon of the woods?”

“Yes. ‘

“Did you find him?”
“‘Yes; or rather, he found me.”
us - ‘And what was the result?”
ee “On, my horse got frightened and broke away
A from me, the ‘demon,’ as you call him, disappeared
and I did not see him again; and when I recovered
my horse it was daylight.” 2

“$5 you have no clew as to who he is?”

“None at all.”

“Well, I don’t believe in the existence of any
ghosts, and don’t think any person ever saw one.

“Capture the Wild Hunter and bring him in, and
perhaps you'll convert me.”

“Oh, I’m making no converts.”*

“T thought you were.

“The next time, though, you want to go on a mid-
night chase, let me know, and I'll join you.
ee, * What do you say? :
os “Tf there is to be any capturing done, I want to do
ees ‘it siugle-handed. :

- “¢MNo9 the victor belongs the spoils,’ you know.”

“ You'd better be sure of victory before you count
on any spoils.”” ie

“That’s so; but I don’t want to brag; just you
wait auisee.” j

“T can’t sxe without waiting, so will have to be
patient. Z

“But come in here and see what this old Indian
Leet can’t make head or tail out of his gesticu-

‘ lations.”’ {

Entering, Gordon found an old chief standing
inside, and the conversation that followed made
Gordon yet more determined to continue his hunt.

For the old chief graphically told how he and a

_ few companions, who were hunting, had suddenly
come upon the bodies of two Creek warriors, laid
out side by side, each one killed by a stab in the
back, and bearing on their foreheads the same mys-
terious brand which ornamented the document that
the boy had found pinned to the tree by a pointed
stick that morning. ;

_ And relating this to the agent, the latter, in spite
of his incredulity, admitted that there was some:
thing strange in the whole proceeding.

CHAPTER XV.
OGAPTURING THE WILD HUNTER.

Tue gaunt trunk of the huge tree, whence Gordon
had seen the apparition appear, loomed huge and
shadowy in the darkness as the hour of twelve
drew near, on the succeeding night; and hidden
in its branches, crouching along a large limb
ee overhung the Tift in’ the trunk, lay the boy in
waiting.

He had waited until all about the Agency were
buried ir. slumber, and had then ridden out alone
and without notifying any one of his intention.

- Lying quietly, his form could not be distinguished
in the gloom, and he ‘patiently waited for the ap-
pearance of the Wild Hunter; while despite his
ee he felt awed bv the darkness and silenc>,

‘et determine 1 to brave all dangers to pierce through
he depths of the mystery which enveloped the
weird stranger. :

 

 

‘

 

 

 

  

 

peering cautiously down, saw issue from the trunk
of tho trev through the opening in its side two huge
gray wolves, which wext sniffing about the tree and
soon fonnd his trail apparently, for they snarled
suspiciously and, following the scent, came close up
fo the where he had climbed up, clawed the
as high as they could reach, and then bayed

   
    
 
  

     

At length he heard a slighy sound below him, and

 

ion drew a little further back on the limb and

 
  
   
  
  
    
   
 
    
    
  
   
   

holding in his hands the noose of his lariat, waned
out over the rift and at that moment saw the stran-
ger set a dim biu* phosphorescent light pla. ing
about his head and adding to his ghastly and ghost-
like appearance. ; i #

In an instant the noose fell noiselessly from above,
and before the Wild Hunter realized what had hap-
pened, it tightened about his arms and he was
drawn up, swinging into the air, powerless to release
himself and uttering not a word. ;

As Gordon drew the antlered head close up to the
limb on which he was now sitting astride, he fastened
the end of the lariat which he held and then, draw:
ing his knife, leaned down and severed the
thongs which fastened the deer’s antlers to the head —__
of the Wild Hunter, and lifted the horns highinthe =
air.

Then he spoke, : i Be

“You are now in my Eoeers aud you see that your
warning was of no avail. :

“Silence your four-footed companions,”—for the
two wolves were howling tremendously, and leaping
high in the air with guashing teeth, endeavoring to —
reach the two above. ;

“ Satan!—Dragon!—lie down!’ commanded the
hoarse voice of the captured stranger, and in an in- ©
stant the two brutes crouched whimpering to the
ground and lay quiet. Uj

Then Gordon, taking a thong be had provided in
case his plan was successful, leaned over again and —
tied the hands of the other firmly, after which he
lifted him on the branch, close to the trunk and
bound him to the tree,

For although the stranger was of an immense
hight, yet he was very slightly built, and his weight
was as nothing in the strong arms of the young boy,
although it could be plainly discerned on grasping
him, that muscles of iron and sinews of steel lurked
beneath his skin. ?

_ His face was drawn and haggard, and there lurked

in his deep set eyes a baleful glare that was,
maniacal in its fury, while his unkempt hair and’ —
beard, floating in wild disorder, now that their fast-
enings were undone, added to his weird appearance.

“Now,” said Gordon, ‘that I have you firmly se-
cured I will return to the Agency and soon have you
under arrest; unless indeed you will relate your
history to me and what this Jisguise means.” i

“T owe it to you to inform you, for what you —
have done for my family—or rather attempted to da
for them.” ‘

‘What do you mean?”

“Listen, and I will tell you. 5

“T am the son of the old minister who was massa-
cred by the Creek Indians not long since. }

“T was returning home for a short visit on that
fatal night, when, just as I was nearing the cabin I
was,felled from my horse by a crushing blow on the ~
head, and for a moment lay insensiblein the woods _
near the edge of the clearing or glade in which our
little home was situated. : ae

“T returned to consciousness just as you rode into
the circle of light, cast by the burning building, and
saw your face clearly.

* At that moment I also saw my father stretched.
out on the ground and an Indian, with uplifted tom-
ahawk, about to brain my innocent sister.” Faz

And, his face bent down, be shuddered at the re-
collection of that fearful night. a pon y

But as Gordon was about to ee he raised his
pti that were wet with tears and continued his nar-
rative: :

“T could not bear the awful sight—I sunk to the —
earth powerless to prevent the blow, for my rifle —
was gone and my pistols had been taken from me
after I had been sealped. : ie

a Yes,” as an exclamation of horror sprung to his —
listener’s lips while the lad, drawing his knife, cut
the bonds which held the stranger: ee

“ Thave been scalped, and live to tell the tale! _

“But the awful scene that was tran bef
my very eyes, the terrible blow I had

< A * bi .

 
         
     
       
       
      
 

  
      
       
     
     

 
   

      
     
   
 
        
       
   
         
   
     
         
        
    
       
      
  

    
   
  
  
  
 
  
 
  

 
 

  
  
 

     

    
Gordon Lillie.

r

a?

 

pain of my wounds and the loss of blood were too
much for me and I gee sunk back, unconscious.

“When | returned to my senses, the glade was de-
serted and nothing living remained in it. and crawl-
ing cautiously out I approached carefully and found

dead body of my father, scorching near the yet
smoldering embers of our former home.

“Of my sister there was no trace, yet, searchin,
in the ashes, I found a few charred bones, which
am sure were hers, as the savages undoubtedly flung
her yet warm body into the flames.

“For I know you were not in time— No! do no
speak yet—and then what could you do alone
against that howling mob of red demons?

“ And, after burying them in one common grave,
I knelt beside the mound and lifting my hand to high
heaven, swore that I would devote my life to ven-
geance, and that all my future days should be
passed in wreaking my revenge on the Creeks.

“Thad heard the story or legend of the Wild
Hurter and determined to adopt this disguise, the

j pal to further my schemes—and it has worked
w

“Their superstitious fears are instantly aroused
whenever Lappear, and they do not stop to defend
themselves, but invariably seek safety in flight, my
good horse easily overtaking them—while a little
sulphur and phosphorus adds to their fears and a
woven vest of steel-links turns their knife-thrusts
and leaves me unburt.

“Now, that I have told youall, you will not betray.

me—and I am not ‘now at your mercy—I am un-
bound ope free, and live only for vengeance! ven-
geance!”” -

But as be fairly shrieked out the last words with
a yell that would have chilled the blood of a less
courageous hearer, Gordon spoke:

“You have something else to live for! ‘

“Your sister is alive and well, and demands your

care. :
_ “She did not perish on that fatal night; but was
rescued by me, unhurt.”

_ “What!” screamed the maniac, for such Gordon
now realized he was.

“My sister alive! oh! where is she?—where is
she?—tell me, I ae : :

And he broke into a storm of tears, the reaction
being so great, but was calmed and peewee ina
few moments and able to listen to Gordon.

And in a short time the Jad had explained how he
had been able to rescue the girl and how the bones
the other had found must be those of the Indian
who was ab \ut to tomahawk her, and which were
80 charred as to leave but a few fragments.

And the stranger—the Wild Hunter no Jonger—
almost fell on Gordon’s neck and kissed him, so
grateful was he for the daring rescue he had suc-
ceeded in making. ’

And then they descended from the tree, the sup-
posed wolves growling menacingly at Gordon as he
approached, but being quickly quieted by their
- master, who. cutting sundry fastenings, relieved
them of their covering of wolf-skins and left them
: ae there, two large, powerful deer-hounds,

which had been thus disguised to aid in the decep-

ion. oe
Entering the rift in the trunk, the stranger stoop-
ed and pulled ona huge root which seemed firmly
: ae ns the cue 4 eee to aie os
_ prise, it raised up easily, leaving an opening thro
which they boris des into a sort Bf acell below
hewn out of the earth, and where was a rude couch
and sundry other evidences of habitation.
Gathering up a few traps, the ex-hunter caught
hold of a chain hanging from above, and clambered
- once more into the trunk of the tree, followed by
Gordon, and, closing the opening which led below,

out into the open air and were soon on |

Phos:

eir Pe to the Agency, reaching it before day-
k and entering Gordon’s quarters unseen.

e apair of scissors and a razor soon produced

change in the wild appearance of th

 

| Territory.

visitor, yet the glare did not entirely leave his eyes
and Gordon realized that he was insane.

The toy then hunted up the surgeon of the Agency
and he, coming, administered a soothing draught.to
Robie. for such was the visitor’s name, and he soon
fell into a deep slumber, during which the surgeon
examined him and found that a small piece of his
skull, crushed in by the blow of the tomahawk,
pfessed against his brain, ;

Calling his assistant and procuring a ec: se of his
instruments, he deftly performed an operation, lift-
ing the piece of bone up and bandaging it, so that
when, in a few hours, Robie awoke, his mind was
clear, and his head gave him no 1nore trouble.

And in a few days more, completely restored to
health, he set out for the East where his sister was,
clothed and in his right mind, 3 :

And not long after Gordon received a long letter
from him in which he renewed his thanks, jomed
those of his sister, whom he had found, to his own,
and stated that he intended to study for the minis-
try and return among the Indians to take the place
his father had occupied before him.

And as time wore on the legend of the Wild Hun-
ter became only a legend; but the superstition of
the Indians kept them away from the fatal tree, to
which Gordon often rode, accompanied by the two
hounds Robie had presented to him before ete a

He told the whole story to the agent, and he
turn repeated it so that Gordon was praised on all
sides for his courage.

But the Indians placed no faith in his statement,
and adhered firmly to their former belief.

CHAPTER XVI.
ADOPTING A DISGUISE,

Dourinc the famous Creek outbreak, when somany
inoffensive persons were massacred in cold blood ue
the Indians, Gordon was actively engaged in dif-
ferent capacities; acting now as scout; now as cou-
rier and again as messenger to the tribe.

‘Learning of the prese’ce of some of the tribe in
the neighborhood, he, with two of his young Indian
companions, left the Agency one bright morning,
and started out to recounoiter in the direction of the
supposed camp. :

The snow lay deep on the ground and they started
on foot, thinking that they could proceed with more
précaution and with less likelibood of discovery than
if they took their horses with them, and traveled all
that day at a pace which would not seem possible te
a dweller in the city.

About sunset they reached a tall bluff which over

hung a swift running stream, the rapid waters oz

which had remained unfrozen, Z )
A vast plain lay before them, on the other side of
the stream, and as they*stood and looked, the dark:
ness came down ie them, and as the landscape
became indistinct in the gloom, the sparkle of a
camp-fire on the cther side of the river, broke out
on the night, and seemed so close that it armost ap
peared possible to pitch a stone into it; yet it was
nearly a mile away. : x
Drawing his belt closer about bim Gordon started
down the least precipitous side of the vluff, in order
to cross the river and, approaching as near the
camp-fire as he could, learn what. manner of person
it was who had thus bivouacked for the night. —
Followed by the Indians he stealthily approached
the sparkling light, crawling through a growth of
undérbrush as carefully as the panther steals on his —
prey, until, finally, they lay close to the grouped ©
band of Indians and coul
word they uttered. j
And there they lay and listened to the talk of the
Indians. gathering information which, spread far
and wide, preverted a massacre which would have
bathed many a home in blood and caused a peeping Ry
and a sorrow through the length and breadth of the

Seite ds aires

 

distinci\ly hear every a
g8 Gordon Lillie.

 

After lying quiet for some time, scarcely daring to
_breathe for fear of being overheard, the three with-
drew as cautiously as they had come and, circling
around the camp, started off over the plain again, to
gee if any other bands were in the vicinity, and wan-
dering far from the river, found that a half-dozen
other fires dotted the prairie, and beiokened the
presence of many warriors.

And suddenly day broke upon them, before they
wer aware of its approach, and they realized that
they were in deadly peril, and must trust to their
swiftness of limb. as well as their cunning, to escape
from the toils which encompassed them.

So they hurried off on their return, and, rapidly
approaching the river, ran plump into a band of a
‘half dozen savages, who were wandering about with
no definite purpose. :

The surprise was miz‘ual, and they stood gazing
at each other for a moment, and then Gordon, turn-
ing sharply to the right, plunged into a. thicket that
stretched far toward the river, and, tollowed by his
two companions, disappeared, while the mounted
band skurried after them, howling like a pack of
demons.

And so the chase swept on, until finally, the ee
guers arriving within gun-shot. fired. and one of the
Indians fell headlong to the ground, shot through
the hip, while Gordon and his remaining companion
turnin, blazed back defiance at their pursuers with
two shots that brought death to one of the Creeks
and sen! another tumbling to the ground, his horse
having been shot beneath him.

A short run across an open plain, and then, as
they were about to plunge into the woods which
lined the banks of the stream, another volley hissed
after them from the following horsemen, and the
other Indian stumbled and fell, sorely wounded,
while Gordon, as by a miracle, remained unhurt.

Stopping an instant, he turned and lifted his
friend, throwing the body across his shoulders with
& marvelous strength, and then, plunging into the
Frove, realized that, for the moment, he was safe;

‘or the Indians would not cpeneeos the timber and

expose themselves to his fire, preferring to wait
tntil he should start to swim the stream and then
riddle him at their leisure,

Dodging from trunk to trunk of the huge trees
which lined the bank, and still carrying his compan-
fon, Gordon at length reached the edge of the grove
ana stoed upon the bank of the stream,

A sma'l log lay on the eeeee near by, and, rolling
this down into the water, three feet below, he ee
down, placed the Indian on the log, laid his revolvers
* on the trunk of the small tree he was thus utilizing
as a raff, and pushed off, drifting down the river
with the current and being hidden from their pursu-
ers by tle steep bank, so that, before the Creeks
suspectel it, Gordon and his rescued companion
mere a mile away, and nearing the bank on the other
shore,

But they did not land there, for they were drifting
in the diréction of the Agency, and although chilled
to the bone, Gordon determined to stick to the river
as long as he could, until finally they were forced to
abandon it; and land, when Gordon built a small
shelter for the Indian with boughs and twigs, and
then lighting a fire, made him as comfortable as

ossible, when he started off for the Agency on foot

search of help,

It was a long tramp, and he was well-nigh tired
out, but l»3 pushed on and reached the villaze some
time before dark, and immediately informed the
wounded Indian’s brothers of his condition; upon
which they, taking ponies and blankets, set. out to
his relief, while the unwearying lad began his prep:
arations fur another journey, the object being to
rescue*his Indian brother, who was a prisoner in the
hands of the Creeks,

Robie hid left with him not only his dogs but also
the miagnificent black horse he had always ridden

3 well is the costume he had assumed when set-
tut on his errands of vengeance, and leading

 

his own animal, riding the black and followed by
the hounds, Gordon started off in the direction of the
Cree camp, carrying a large bundle on the saddle
before him,

He rode fast and furiously, and knowing exactly
where he was going, shortened the distance con:
siderably by taking a straizht course, crossing the
river scme distance beiow the camp, and, as he
drew near, stopping and dismounting and fastening
the two horses to a tree near by.

The night was well advanced and he feared that
he might be too late, yet be hastened his prepara-
tions as much as possiple, hoping that he might ar-
rive in time and save his friend’s life, and his ar-
rangements being fully completed, he rode boldly
toward the Creek camp, leaving the led horse tied
to the tree where he had first stopped.

When Night Cwi fell, he was rapidly reached by
the band of pursving Creeks and, two cf them stop.
ping, he was soon made prisoner and firmly secured

yy thongs fastened about hands and feet, and car:
ried back to the camp, where the arrival of big
eapters was hailed with enthusiasm, all rejoicing
over the capmure of the spy.

The wound he had received had not disabled him
much, although the shock had sent him headlong to
the turf, and the bleeding once stopped. he was
comparatively a well man, and able to undergo any
tortures inflic‘ed upon him with the stoical endur-
ance charactevistic of the Indian who disdains to

 
  

- give way to ary exhibition of pain.

And soon thei rest of the band returned, mad with
rage and disap.ocointment at the escape of the other
two who had sneceeded in eluding them, and with
wild cries they demanded that Night Owl should be
put to the torture.

And this proposition was hailed with delight on a¥
sides, while preparations were quickly made for the
final tragedy in the captured man’s life,

The body of the dead Indian was placed before
him as he stood bound to a tree, and the Tudian ora:
tors began their high-flown speeches, alluding to the
bravery of the é2ad man, and endeavoring by all the
means in their power to arouse the wrath of the
captured man, but without suecess; for he realized
that the utmost gratification he could afford them
would be to give way to an outburst of rage—this
being the ent for which they were striving.

But at jJeagth they exbausted their insulting vo-
cabulary, end, his feet and hands being unbound,
while he was closely guarded that he might not es-
cape, he was led toward the camp-fire which burned
brightly ia the center of the glade and there again
fastened to a huge tree, while the Creek warriors
begas their fiendish.tortures,

To speak of the various. means they resorted to,
in order to wring from him an exclamation of pain
would be useless repetition; the story has been told
over and over again until it has become a _ too-
farciliar one,

fsuffice it to say that in a short time his body pre-
seated a terrible appearance, so gashed, so scarred,
so burned and blistered was it, although he had
not as yet received any fatal wound.

At eae, as his courage remained unshaken, and
despite thé most excruciating gee inflicted on him,
he had not given one sign of weakne ~8, but_con-
tinued to gaze sneeringly and contemptuously on
his tormentors, they it pce to exercise their
shill in throwing the tomah:
mark; the object being to come as close as possible
to him without inflicting a wound.

rawing lots for precedence, the Indians formed
themselves in a line, and Nicht Owl, seeing that a
brother of the dead man stood third, made up pis
mind that he would soon cnase to suffer, as this
relative would surely seize this opportunity for ven-
zeance, and crush out his life by a skillful throw of.
his keen-bladed hatchet,

Biopring forward, the first of the Creeks drew
back his arm and sent his tomahawk twisting and
whizzing through the air until the blade struck the

   

s

awk with the Indian asa ‘

 

¥,

 
Gordon Lillie.

 

unk witha thud that shook it and buried itself
deep, while a ay of approbation arose—the edge had
grazed Night Owl's ear, barely scratching it, and
proving the skill of the warrior.

‘he second thrower’s ox went wide of the mark,
and he retired discomfited amid the jeers of his
ecempanions; when the third, he who would surel;
«ill the prisoner, stepped out, poised his tomahaw
lightly in his hand, surveyed his victim—who looked
scornfully at him—with a sneering smile, and leap-
ing forward, sent the deadly missile whizzing to-
ward the tree.

But at the moment he lanched it a wild yell dis-
concerted his aim, and the ax flew harmlessly by
Night Owl, while a thundering tread was heard, and
a tall, weird horseman, breathing fire and smoke,
and bearing on his head a huge pair of antlers, sped
into the glade. while, amid a ery of—

“The Wild Hunter!” :
the Creeks scattered and fled in every direction,

_ while the rider, cutting the bonds that bound the
risoner, drew bim up behind him, and in a moment
moore disappeared.

Gordon had saved his friend.

CHAPTER XVII.
_ A WHOLESALE THEFT. :

Wuen they rode into the Agency the Indian was
so weak that he could scarcely sit his horse, and
Gordon to support him and aid him to dis-
mount, but he was soon made comfortable, and re-
lated the story of the boy’s courage and daring, so
*hat Gordon soon became a greater hero than ever.

By his request the rescued man did not go into
particulars regarding the disguise that had proven
so offective, as Gordon, did not wish the story to be-
com too widely circulated, preferring rather to let
*he Creeks remain in ignorance of the true solution
of the problem; for he knew that t:e story would
spread and ee interfere with any plans he
might conceive in the future.

So he carefully locked away the different articles
he had received from Robie and kept his own coun-
sel, while the Night Owl promised strict silence on
his part, and as pone of the Creeks ventured near
the Agency, the tale of the night’s rescue was, for a
time at least, thoroughly believed.

Kept up by various cuties during all the next day,
when night came Gordon was completely tired out,
and seeking his quarters was soon sound asleep,
buried in a profound and dreamless slumber that
lasted for hours.

But suddenly his rest became disturbed as with a
nightmare and, after ee and tossing about for

some time he awakened and sprung up in bed arid
_ listened intentiy. mas

There was a choking sensation in his throat and
he noticed a queer smell like smoke from a burning
building, while the sound of cries and exclamations
came to his ears. _

pirneine to his feet, he eng. dressed and
hastened outside, when a bright glare burst out
over the entire scene spread before him and a
volume of smoke and sparks drove him back from
where he was standing, the wind blowing directly

toward him from the] burning mass.

_ Not far from where he stood was a large corral.
or pen for horses, and cn one side of this stood
a huge stack of hay. The corral contained two
or three hundred head of horses, belonging to
the Agency, and was built of stout logs set into
-s ee and supporting cross-pieces of lighter
_ timber,
But now, in the full glare of the blazing hay,
_ Gordon could see that there remained not one
; Bore ine the pee pnd thes oe =
_ yvapidly increasing, the sparks driving toward the
“ieee and Diteateulas to set fire to the houses.
_ And a thundering, rolling sound of hoof-beats
came to him from over the prairie, as the frightened
2 ; re

 

herd swept away, urged on %& their mad flight
by yells aud cries and the crackitig of whips; while
he realized that a raid had been made by the horse-
thieves, and that every animal in the Village had
been stolen, leaving nO means of pursuit, and that
the raiders had fired the stack that the flan-es might
threaten the village and occupy the attention of all
persons about the Agency.

They could thus get well on their way to the
north, and then dividing up into smaller bands, seat-
ter to east and west and dispose of their beoty to
any one who might wish to buy and who was not too
particular with his questions relating to the seller’s.
antecedents. ¢

Instantly comprehending the situation, Gordon
raised his fingers to his lips and blew a long, shrill.
whistle which might have been heard a mile away,.
over the praiie, and at the same moment an an-
swering neigh came back to bim and shortly his
horse—the black one given him by Robie, came gai-
ioping to his side.

astily mounting and entirely unarmed as he was,
he hurried away on a dead run, after the fleeing
herd, and rapidly overtaking them joined in the
chase, yelling as loudly as any of the others and,
the darkness being intense, evidently mistaken by
them for one of the band. : :

And so they swept on until the glare in the sky
from the burning corral lay far behind them, and
Gordon was still unrecognized; but came to the con-
elusion that if anything was to be done, it must be
accomplished soon, as day woule soon break and
his Sdentity and non-membership of the band be ex-

osed.

But how to proceed he knew not. for there were
at léast twenty of the men who would surely shoot
him without a moment’s notice if they discovered
that he wasa stranger; so riding up alongside of one
of them, he endeavored to learn, without betraying —
himself, where they were going, and how soon they
would stop.

And in this he was successful, for the other, ap- ©
parently not familiar with the lay of the country
where they were, and mistaking Gordon for one of ©
his friends, addressed him: _ Ee .

= Curt,” he began, ‘‘ how fur is it ter Little
Greasy, anyhow?”

“Whar from?” rejoined Gordon, making his voice
as gruff as possible, and using the Western dialect
as well as he could. ;

“*Whar frum,’ ye blessed ijut? whar d’ye sup-

e from?” Z ms

“Hanged ef I know.” £

“Wy frum Pawnee, in course.’ x

‘“*Wal, why didn’t yer say so?”

“ Buffler prings air seventeen mile from Pawnee,
e Little Greasy air three mile from Buffler

prings.

‘Does yer know enuff ‘rithmetik ter kalkerlate —
a little problem in mathermatiks?”’

“Cert! twenty mile; an’ we’ve come about five.

“ Ef ther Cap don’ stop bs soon Pl—” ;

What was to follow this last remark is forever |
lost to history, for Gordon, ee ster wore
well separated from the rest of the band, leaned
over as if to fix his boot, and riding close to the
other caught him suddenly by the leg and tossed
him far over on the other side of his horse before
the desperado realized what he was about to do, and
the man lay stunned while the rest swept on unno- —
ticing this little by-play. ; es

And still riding close to the other horse, Gordon _
removed the saddle and bridle and placed them on
his own steed—a matter of no little difficulty at full
a he had been riding bare-back and with
no 18. “<i 2

But in his difficult task he was aided by the intel- ;
ligence of the noble animal which carried him and
was soon seated in a handsome saddle and holding
the lines of a plated bridle that was profusely
adorned with silver ornaments. | .

He soon saw that his horse was far speedier tha»

# <
4/3

 
*~

Gordon Lillie.

 

¢ny of the others and, knowing how a herd will fol-
pw the bell, determined to put an idea he had con-
seived into execution,

His other horse, which was galloping along with
‘he herd, had a bell, fastened by a strap to his neck;
out it was deadened by having a cloth tied about
she clapper, for when the horses were in the corral
the bell was not needed and was only used when
they were turned out to graze over the prairie; for,
m the broken country a man might pass near them,
when looking for the herd, and not be aware that
shey were in the vicinity.

And the herd will always follow their leader as a
flock of sheep does the bell-wether, so accus:omed
are they to this usage.

Urging his horse, therefore, into the midst of the
erd, he, as the animals scattered and allowed him
© pass, u'tered, at intervals, a low cry of a peculiar

rature, with which he was accustomed to call his
horse to him, and was soon rewarded by hearin;
low whinny of recognition in answer, and, drawing
near the sound, he saw his favorite, distinguished
from the rest by his silvery mane an‘ tail, »

Urging his horse close to the galloping animal, he
bent over, and in a moment, unbuckled the ‘strap
“thich held the bell, ant fastening if around the

.cck of the horse he was ridinz, he again spurred
9%n until he was alittle ahead of the herd. when he
anmuffied the clapper and the tinkling chime rung
out loud and clear in the direction of the sound.

And then he urged his horse on to a more furious

“pac, and as the bell rung its signal the herd,
sweeping onward like the wind, gra‘lually converg sd
toward the point where he was riding and followed
as one animal. .

Swerving off to the left he drew the band of horses
after bim and despite the shouts, the oaths and the

 eries of the horse-thieves, tiey followed steadily
on and des¢éribing a huge circle, at length struck of
straight toward the camp rapidly drawing away
from the thieves whose horses, tired and bearing the
weight of their owners, coulu not keep up with the
rideriess steeds,

And so they faded away from the sigh of their
ursuers who gradually abandoned the chase; all
ut one, their leader, believing that there was no

advantage to be gained in following the herd any
further.

But their leader, magnificently mounted, and

 

boiling with see at thus seeing his magnificent
booty snatched from his very hands by some mys-
terious agency, spurred on and on, finally being re-
warded by hearing the roll of the horses’ hoofs sound
less rapidly on the frozen ground, as Gordon, believ-
ing that he had left the band of horse-thieves far in
the rear, gradually drew rein and _slackened his
pace.

But the quick ear of the lad soon caught sound of
the rattling of a curb-chain, and realized that one of
the men was still in pursuit, so galloping quiet
along, he slid down alongside his horse, and with’
one hand grasping the bell, to silence it. ran alovg-
side his horse tor a couple of hundred yards. ;

And as the pursuer approached, the boy could see
his form outlined against the sky, while the other,
seeing that the horse alongside which Fe was, was
saddled, drew his revolver and fired straight at the
head of the black. .

But at that moment his horse threw his head high
in the air, and received the bullet thhovgh one of bis —
ears, and, snorting with pain, he beunded violently.
iu the air, and, unseating his rider. threw him to the
ground, where he was speedily crushed into an un-
poe ee mass by the hecfs of the gallcping

erd,

And Gordon, as the other horses. frightened Ly the
report of the revolver. came madly on, agein leaped
into the s¢ddle, and allowed tle bell to ring azain,
and soon rode inte the Agency, follcwed by all cf the
stolen horses, wbich were soon safely corraled, the
fire having been ¢xtinguished b-fore it had mxteri-
ally injured the fence. i ‘

CONCLUSION,

Gordon remained fer some little time longer mn ti-€
Nation and continued to occupy, the post of inter:
reter until the summer of 1*8? when he left 1) e
ndian Territory and joined Hen. eh CGee
“Buffalo Bill Wild West * Combination and is still
with them.

‘He is the same quiet, retiring, unassuming man |

that he always has been, and makes friends wher
ever he goes among all with whom he becomes as-
sociated. ;

He is still young, and is destined to make his mark

“in the world in whatever line of life he may be found

and if good wishes caw bring him success, he wi
surely achieve it, Ears

THE END.

 
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THE

Deadwood Dick
o Library ©

LATEST AND BEST.

HANDSOME TRI-GOLORED COVERS,

82 Pages. Issued Every Wednesday.
Price 5 Cents.
Buy One and You Will Buy the Rest!

 

 

€xtracts from the New York Evening Sun.

TWO REMARKABLE HBPROES.

In only one sense of the word can it be regarded asa
novel statement when the fact is here recorded that litera-
ture has given many heroes to the world, and perhaps
more than one reader will have to think a moment over
this remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit
strikes home.

But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement
that will be news to many when It is added that litera-
ture, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam
was a mere child down to the present day, would show
Dut few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be
even judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest
heroes known to American literature, or, to promptly re-
veal them, Deadwood Dick and Deadwood Dick, Jr.

* * * The modern heroes of fiction for young America,
who are now as countless as the sands of the sea, and of
whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important

* * it is but natural that their * * * should bear
ime the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left
far behind in the race.

It can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks

‘© 80 firmly engrafted on the tree of popular literature
for boys and young men, that their position is assured

and that they stand to-day head and shoulders

 

above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which they
have lived, and for which one of them has died,

American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor in
the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a good beal bet-
ter than it knows its catechism, and millfons of young
minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in his
everlasting warfare against crime and his never-ending
solving of impenetrable mysteries.

Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracks
his vicious victims to their undoing, and then, when the
victims are thoroughly undone, the millions wait hungrily
for the next volume, which on every Wednesday appears
with the certainty of the Wednesday itself, and a new set
oF see heul thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Call-
ornia,

There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills and
heart-tugs that it were madness to hope to do justice to
them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be-
tween them,

To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes in-
finite pain, but if once a start were made in that direc-
tion, it would be cruel to The Evening Sun's readers to
stop, and it is therefore better not to relate one single
adventure. Suffice it to say that the stories are clean and
well written,

 

DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY.

1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road
8 The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance
8 The Buffalo Demon; or. The Border Vultures
4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol
§ Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval
6 Death-Face, the Detective
¥ The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick’s Bonanza
8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild
Edna, the Girl Brigand
9 Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian
#@ Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick
in Danger
‘4 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to

Death
12 Oe Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood

ar
18 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team
14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter

15 Deadwood Dick on Deck: or, Calamity Jane

16 Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo

7 oe Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the
ulc

18 Idyl, the Girl Miner; or, Rosebud Rob on Hand

18 Photograph Phil: or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance

20 Watch-Eye, the Shadow

1 Pees Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double
ross

2 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief

9% Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke

for Liberty

% Deadwood Dick as Detective

% Gilt-Edge Dick

26 Bonanza Bill. the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve

27 Chip, the Girl Sport

88 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune

29 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks

80 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon’s

Guleh i
81 Bionde Bill; or. Deadwood Dick’s Home Base
Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent

 

33 Tony Fox, the Ferret: or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job

34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike

35 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party

86 New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective

87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierras

38 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo

89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last
Adventure

40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road

41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel

42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp

43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues

44 Uae Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's

ame

45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme

46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado

47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam’s Claim

48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the
Road- Agent

49 Sierra Sam, the Detective

50 sagen Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect-

51 Sierra Sam’s Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough

52 The Girl "3 ort: or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise

58 Denver Doll’s Device: or, The Detective Queen

54 Denver Doll as Detective

55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport

56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss

57 Deadwood Dick Trappe!

58 Buck Hawk, Detective;
Fortune

59 Deadwood Dick's Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport

60 Dumb Dick’s Pard: or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner

61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission

62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Deco

63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa-

or, The Messenger Boy’s

fras City
64 Colorado Charlie's Detective Dash; or, The Cattle
Kings

 

M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor),
379 Pearl Street, NEW YORK.