Old Shadow Shot — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

bea def THE AVENGING SHOT. 17 checked me when you did I might now be on _ the freshest trail I ever struck.” Violet Collyer opened her eyes and started. “That boy was a very young imp!” con- tinued the Apollo. “He rides where Cap- tain Dave rides; young as he is, and innocent looking, he has taken a part in the overthrow of more than one train.” Violet looked astounded. “Tt is that scamp who has upon several occasions kept his leader from my grasp. He has wit, courage, and scheming enough for a pack of robbers. I was not going to shoot him when you came up. - I would have captured him, and forced from him the where- abcuts of his master—not very far away at this moment. What did you think of him, gir ” “Not that he was a Vulture; he is too young!” was the reply. “If I thought of him at all, I regarded him as a boy who may have escaped from some plundered train.” “Boys do not escape when Captain Dave ‘ leads,” laughed the Apollo, and there was a meaning in the intonation which went to Viclet’s heart like an arrow of ice. “ But we wiu let the imp go for the present. He has ridden far away ere this. You will go back to the cave now?” “Were you going there?” “Yes. The time for you to step person- ally on the path of vengeance has not yet come,” “ When will it come ?” “T do not know—soon, I hope.” Walking side by side, the singular pair pushed through the forest in a south-easterly direction. “ Over there is the place where you told the young imp to wait for you,” Captain Dave seid, pointing to a place they were leaving to the right. “ But he will never wait.” “Perhaps not,” was the reply. “ We will not go over to see, anyhow.” But, seated on the outlaw’s horse, in the midst of a thick cluster of trees, Nightingale Nat saw the two walking side by side. The sight made the boy open his eyes, which were filled with genuine wonder. : “What on earth does that mean?” he ex- claimed. ‘Ten minutes ago she had a bead on Captain Dave’s head, and now she’s walk- ing at his side. It beatsthe Jews! Id give this horse to know the meaning of this, I wonder if the girl’s in love with that outlaw? No, she cannot be!” Nat watched the two until they had passed completely from his sight. “T’d soon know something if Shadow-Shot was here,” he said, gathering up the reins. “But I feel one thing: If that girl is Coll- yer's child, she doesn’t know who she is walking with,” CHAPTER X. THE AVENGING SHOT. “ “OME like a shadow; go like one— .Y that’s the reason, I s’pect.” At the edge of a stream whose banks, towering like precipices far above it, seemed to lose themselves among the stars, sat Shadow-Shot and Nightingale Nat. The gaunt ranger had a quiet smile on his face when his words, just written, fell upon the boy’s ears. They were an answer to a question as to how he had received the quaint name which he bore. For several days prior to the night now in question the two had been constant com- panions. Their meeting in the forest had been a source of pleasure to each, and they had exchanged narratives and’ compared notes of plans formed for the future. “Tl allow that I’ve been a shadow-shot to more’n one redskin,” continued the ranger. ‘“T’ve seen tough times in these parts durin’ the last five year. They hev stuck notices on trees givin’ me so much time to clear out; but I’m hyer yet, an’ hev got a hull scalp left. I don’t scare worth acent. I’m goin’ to leave these parts when I git ready, an’ not one minnit afore. Business is business, an’ I mean business by stayin’ hyer. What are you thinkin’ about, my leetle one?” “I was listening to you, sir.” “Not very painfully, I guess, or yer face wouldn’t hey got so red at my question,” said the ranger, smiling. “’Pears to me thet you've got it oncommon bad fur one so young. You war thinkin’ about the gal.” The blush on the boy’s face grew deeper. “If she likes that feller it is because she likes a lie!” said Shadow-Shot, clenching his big hand. “If she only knew him! Praps she would believe me, fur if she has any mem'ry left at all she would know how I used to honey around her, an’ make swings fur her all along the road to death.” ; “Then go and tell her this night!” cried Nightingale Nat, with much earnestness, as he iaid his hand on the rangers arm. ‘The cave is not far away. Yes, go and open her eyes. She does not— sie cannot know that that man is Captain Daye.” “Thet wouldn’t be bad,” mused Shadow- Shot, as he rose. ‘Come good or bad! Ill Oe With much anxiety and many inward prayers for the success of his mission, Nightingale Nat saw Shadow-Shot depart, and he clambered to the upland through a natural passage in the rocks, and took a station beneath the boughs of a tree. The noiseless ranget, crept along the (stream, flitting here and there like a real COnnicloOokxS. COM