Frank Reade Library No. 12: Frank Reade and His Steam Man of the Plains — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

16 At a sign from Captain Slasher, the old Sioux arose to his feet and the circles became deathly still. ‘* Brethren,” began Sholum Alarkum, “‘ we need | ’ you. assistance. Our common enemy, the in- vading white men, who wrest our most prized bunting-grounds from us, rides over the plains. My brother here”—pointing to Captain Slasher— *“‘who has a white skin and an Indian breast, bales nen fully as Rat ng be we do. im “ wagon nov pasaing over the rast pains en with many valuable things we could use. There is also much fire-water in this train, and we like that as much as do the white men. “One sun ago, we, my white brother and me, ewept down upon the train, thinking to kill them and take the wagons. “We were met bva heavy fire, our followers were thrown into disorder, and an immense man with a voice like a buffalo and two eyes of fire rushed upon us from the darkness, and we were driven away, leaving sone of our best and bravest men, red and white, dead or d on the plains. “Now we come to you to ask you to help sweep these men from the plains before they can settle on our best lands, kill our deer and buffalo, and | regard h trap our otter and mink. Wo are not strong enough to attack them slone, but with the braves of the tribe we can sweep them from our es. My white brother will now talk tw you.” The worthy Sholum Alarkum sat down amid a prolonged murmur of applause, for he had cun- ningly spoken in such a manner as to arouse the most bitter and rankling feelings of hatred within the breas’s of his heurers. the captain arose to his feet he noted with | tribe two white men could conspire with 'eathenish | This was said with a paveges to take the lives h’of their fellow-men? *Orrible—moat ’orrible. H’if h’l ‘ad the power, ow y would h’I travel to Three h’lslands. But h’I may yet be h’enabled to save these poor people from these ’orrid brutes !” 80 he was! CHAPTER XIX. GEORGE AUGUSTUS WALES OFF. THERE was one beneficial result from all the excitement and hubbub which had taken place nin oonseqa f the ver: important nh consequence o very many affairs claiming their attention, the Jedakins had failed to ke<p a very strict watch over George A us Fitznoodle, Esq. © latter individual had been impressed with the idea that his every movement was watched by a pair of keen eyes, for the very lovely Widow Shoffuaguy bad told him that he could not leave the village without her knowledge. ‘* But b’it seems to me that the very h’import- ant h’events h’ot the day ‘ave distracted the close ofthese red’ en,” soliloquized George Augustus, seating himself upon the rude door- step of his wigwum. ‘‘ H’I would like.to be h’on the safe side; but, then, for liberty h’I must be willing to run h’all the risks, h'and h’encounter h’all the dangers. H’I certainly shall h’endeavor to cut my lucky ‘alfan hour from now, h’if my dark-skinned wife don’t return.” His wife had gone off to asort of Indian political caucus, & primary sffair, where the affairs of the were dealt with by the female members satisfaction the gleaming eyes and compreseed | thereof. lips ui the 7 Rie knew that it now needed but the offer of reward to win their support, for in their Indian oharacter hatred is only equalied by love or . **T love my red b rs,” he cried, stretching forth his hand impressively, ‘“‘and I hate the peeple of my own race. would protect the rights of my red brothers, and if they will aid me I will scourge these white People from the plains. I do not want one simple article of value from the train. All the blankets, all the fire-water, all the s that belong t to wigwams, I willing to ice ve warriors who are ollow me. ahalft have your aid?” He sat down, and Motzer-Ponum immediately sprang to his feet, and in emphatic terms sai that he pledged himself and of his best braves and warriors to the support of the white captain. The Indians all applauded this, and then the council] broke up. ‘Is it settled, captain?” inquired the deserter. ‘* Yes, they will come to my banner with a half hundred men.” * And when will you start?” “To- if you know where to go to,” said the oa **T know where,” said Beales, ‘‘ but darn me if I know how to lle Do you know the place called Three Islands?” “Oh, yeu,” said Oaptain Slasher. “ The name has been given to three groves connected. They are about ten miles south of here,a matter of about one hour's ride with fresh horses.” ‘“‘Then you know where to go,” said Jack Beales, ‘‘ for by this time the train has come to a halt at Three Islands.” “Then their goose is just about as as oooked,” confidently remarked the amiabje Cap- tain Slasher. ‘‘ Three Islands is just about as George Augustus waited for some time—his wife returned not. The village was now very quiet, with the ox- ception that boisterous sounds ‘requently came from. the big lodge where the serene Motzer- Ponum was entertaining Captain Slasher and his red and white friends in good style. Liquor was flowing freely around the feative where all the red and white thieves sa and the jollity of the occasion was indeed great. Fitznoodle looked around him. The night was not very light; nothing but the faint giimm of the eternal stars lit up the gloom of the vil All Indians of any note whatever were taking in the grand testimonial feast tendered to tain Slasher, and the awful Sholum Alarkum. Augustus crept inside of the wigwar, and familiar with its construction, hv man- top his hands upon a long knife which rested upon two pegs driven into the wall. Armed with weapon, the property of his wife, George A tus crawled forth to door die, pean Oeewo 8, to make his escape or be re- en. He crept stealthily away from the door of his iba fear and then, after going about ten steps, suddenly pulled u ‘“* What a bl fool h’I h’am,” muttered the Englishman. ‘’Ow h’am h’l to get b’away from ’ere when h’I don't know the way h’out? Never mind, h’]’l) go h’in b’any direction, and hit’s a blessed sure thing that b’it’ll bring h’out some- wheres. Now for ti h’or—no, not death, for h’I really think h’I’ er h’embrace Shoffusguy than d —very much rather.” Having arrived at this conclusion, the very brave George Augustus Fitznoodle, speculator in undiscovered and iron mines, very cautiously crawled along toward the door of Motzer- nice a place for us to pop down upon as I could | Ponum’s big wigwam. ask fox. There’s room there for both sides, ard| He had chosen to po that way because he knew they can’t stand behind trees and shoot down my | that it would brin somewhere near the path boys who stand on the prairie. There’s trees | he had been trav when first surprised by the enough there for both parties, and we shall fight them on even ground.’ He got safely past the feasting place, and was “That is,” said Jack, “if we cannot surprise | congratulating himself them.” ‘‘ Just so,” said the captain. ‘‘There’s Motzer- Ponum calling to us. I suppose he wants our presence at a lay-out.” course this conversation had all taken in good English, as Jack Beales understood noth- of the Indian tongue. the two villains walked away from the spot @ face was thrust through the thick-leaved branches of the tree. Then a head and shoulders came into view and the beaming features of our most esteemed Oockney, George Augustus Fitznoodle, could now be distinguished in a frame of green. The Londoner carefully removed himself from Be Sey ant wan eRay ul grunt dropped to the “Bless my ’eart h’and soul,” muttered this excitable individual, looking after the two rascals ression of ind pn and contempt. possibility that with an exp f ¥ His b’lt b’in the bounds h’of on: his sure and eas escape, when a tall form arose from the ground and confronted him. The Cockney saw at a glance that it was one of the Osage tribe who s before him, very effec- place | tually barring his : Tho geared closely at him, and said some- in native tongue. Of course the Englishman hadn't the least idea what he said. The Indian reached out his hand, and pointed : the direction of the lovely Widow Shoffusguy’s “Oh, yes, thank you,” said Fitznoodle. “ You would like me to travel back to the fireside h’of my darker-colored ‘alf, but h’allow me to h’assure ou that h’I don’t h’intend to do h’any such thing. ’in fact, sir, we were married h’in ‘aste, but we h’are not partners for life, H’I shall rever go back to that ’orrid ’ole thing again while h’I ’ave breath left h’in my mortal corporosity, h’and h’I don't think you can make me. THE STEAM MAN OF THE PLAINS. dence and bluster, for the brave George Augustus, be it known to the reader, was gripping a knife ve aie he the while. e-In did not understand George A tns any more than George Augustus und him; but he could guees from the ene manner that the latter emphatically re to go back to the wigwam he had deserted. He again lifted his hand and sternly pointed to the lonely lodge of the lovely Widow Shoff 7 “ H’it’e no use,” said Fitsn e. ‘You co etand there h’all night, h’old stoughton bottle, but you couldn’t budge me.” Then the Indian waxed bably made up his mind that the very Engl mao ought to be waxed also, so he took him by the shoulders, turned the rather sur ° ney around with a quick twist, and ed him, the end of his number nine moccasin landing upon the person of Mr. Fitznocdle about two inches below the buttons on the back of his coat. George didn't holler. He was sent apinning by the force of the k and went rolling Over and over on the ground, he retained his hold on the knife. He had made up his mind to encape; he had screwed up his wavering co eto ‘sticking point; he had armed and equippet himself for the battle, so to speak, and ho was not guing to be subdued bys mere kick—not but what a dozen hearty ones might have taken all the grit out of him in five minutes. He picked himself up, and found that he was in a desperate state of mind. His blood wus insulted and he was now at bo point, and he resolved to strike back blow for kick. To be sure he had the best of it, seeing that the Osage had no idea of being attacked; byt then you — - was . red Indian, and ugustus was a Cocxney. He. gripped his rate, ‘army, threw back his hand, and rushed upon the Osage. The latter was taken unawares. Not suspecting resistance, he had taken no notice of the Englishman after kick him, and thus the insulted Londoner had the advantage of catching his enemy off his guard. He made a desperate stab at the startled Osage, the latter threw up his hands ina vain effort to ward off the blow, but the heavy blade crashed through bone and flesh, and sank to the hilt in ‘rhe red-skio dropped, and George Augustus © “6 ropped, an rge . after pu the stained knife out from the wound and wiping it on the dreas of the defunct Indian, continued on his pathway to liberty. ‘‘H’I’m a very desperate man !” muttered the valliant Englishman as he trumped away from the village, keeping the knife in his hand peter although at the risk of wounding himself sho he stumble and fall. ‘H'I h’am not to be trifled with, and woe be h’unto that man who bars my ht to the dome h’ of liberty. H’I shall styike— h'I shall stab—h’I shall murder! Ha—ha!” By which it may be seen that the excitable George Augustus worked himself up to the heroic pitch over killing an Indian whom he had en unawares. taking on , and _ He was soon clear of the village, and the north star for his guide managed to Pp a straight course. He walked along mile after mile with the sole com onship of the stars and his own thoughts, until he to feel decidedly fatigued. Then he saw the faint glimmer of a fire Sashing indistinctly some distance away on his route, an concluded to approach the place v cautiously and see whether the builders of the fire were white men or red-skins. He moderated his pace and cautiously advanced towards the fire, which could now be seen through the trunks of trees; so the Englishman knew that he was approaching a grove. He drew near to the trees, and could hear the murmur of voices. ‘‘H’I must get closer,” said Fiten and was advancing when the click of a trigger saluted his ears, and a voice rang out from the grove: ‘‘Halt! White or red?” ‘*‘ White—white!” yelled Fitenoodle, dan up and down in front of the tree from w the challenge came, expecting every moment te feel the deadly bullet tearing through his body; ‘* for ’eavens sake, my dear sir, don’t shoot!” A merry laugh was excited by the poor Cock- ney’s terror, and a tall man came forth into the ht, carrying a rifle in hie hands. He looked at the trembling with amusement and contem ‘* What’s your name?” **George A tus Fitznoodle, sir, of Londo b’England. ’m a speculator h’in coal h’ h’iron mines.” “‘ Where are you going?” ‘* H’anywheres,” said oodle. “HI was e COmiIcoooe GC SS o(CO)