The Edward S. Ellis Megapack

by Edward S. Ellis

  With this parting admonition, the trapper withdrew.

  In going out, he made his exit by the same entrance by which all had come in. He proceeded with great caution, for none knew better than he the danger of a single misstep. He succeeded, after considerable time, in reaching a portion of the valley so shrouded in gloom that he was able to advance without fear of discovery.

  He thoroughly reconnoitered every part of the ravine in the immediate vicinity of the cave, but could discover nothing of the Indians, and he concluded that they were some distance away.

  Having assured himself of this, the trapper cautiously ascended the side of the ravine, until he reached the open prairie, when he lost no time in leaving the dangerous place behind him.

  He had no intention, however, of deserting his friends, but had simply gone in quest of the steam man. He comprehended the difficulty under which they all labored, so long as they were annoyed in this manner by the constant attacks of the savages, and he had an idea that the invention of the dwarfed Johnny Brainerd could be turned to a good account in driving the miscreants away so thoroughly that they would remain away for a long enough time for them to accomplish something in the way of gathering the wealth lying all about them.

  He recalled the direction which he had seen the puffing giant take, and he bent his steps accordingly, with only a faint hope of meeting him without searching the entire night for him. Baldy was shrewd enough to reason that as the boy would wish some water for his engine, he would remain in the immediate vicinity of the river until at least that want could be supplied.

  Acting on this supposition, he made his way to the river bank, and followed so closely to the water that its moonlit surface was constantly visible to him.

  The night was still, and, as he moved silently along, he often paused and listened, hoping to hear the familiar rattle of the wheels, as the youngster sped over the prairie.

  Without either party knowing it, he passed within a few yards of Duff McIntosh, the huge trapper, whom he had known so intimately years before.

  But had he been aware of the fact, he would only have turned further aside, to avoid him; for, when the two trappers, several years previous, separated, they had been engaged in a deadly quarrel, which came near resulting fatally to both.

  At length the faint rattle of the wheels caught his ear, and he bent his steps toward the point where he judged the steam man to be.

  CHAPTER XVI

  The Repulse

  A few minutes more satisfied the trapper that he was right. Gradually out from the darkness the approaching figure resolved itself into the steam man.

  Johnny Brainerd, after leaving the huge trapper so neatly, continued wandering aimlessly over the prairie at a moderate speed, so as to guard against the insidious approach of the Indians, or the hunter who had threatened to confiscate his property in so unjustifiable a manner.

  Fortunately he did not see Baldy until the latter cautiously hailed him, otherwise he would have fled before ascertaining his identity; but the moment he recognized his voice he hastened toward him, no less surprised than pleased at meeting him so unexpectedly.

  “Where are Mickey and Ethan?” he inquired, as he leaped alongside of him.

  “In the cave.”

  “How is it you are here?”

  The trapper briefly explained that he had crept out to hunt him up; but as there seemed no imminent danger, he deemed it best to leave his companions there, as if the Indians once gained possession of the golden ravine, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to displace them.

  Besides, in order to carry out the scheme which he had formed, it was necessary that two at least should remain in the cave, while the others were on the outside.

  Under the direction of the trapper, the steam man slowly approached the ravine, keeping at a respectful distance, but so near that if any sudden emergency should arise, they would be able to render assistance to their friends.

  The boy gave several whistles so as to inform the Irishman and Yankee of their whereabouts. A few seconds after, and while the noise of the instrument was echoing over the prairie, a fainter whistle reached their ears.

  “That’s the long-legged Yankee!” instantly remarked the trapper; “he knows how to make my kind of noise.”

  “What does it mean?”

  “It means that all is right.”

  “Where are the Indians?”

  “They ain’t fur off. I wish they war further, fur ef it warn’t fur them, we’d had half the yaller metal out of thar by this time.”

  Young Brainerd had the reputation of possessing a remarkably keen vision; but, peer as much as he might, he could detect nothing unusual. The trapper, however, affirmed that numerous forms could be seen creeping along-the edge of the prairie, and that these same forms were more nor less than so many red-skins.

  “What are they trying to do?”

  “Duono.”

  “Hadn’t we better withdraw?” inquired Johnny, showing a little nervousness.

  “Not till we know they’re after us,” was the quiet reply.

  By and by the boy himself was able to get an occasional glimpse of the shadowy figures moving to and fro.

  “I think they are going to surround us,” he added, “and I feel as though we ought to get out while we can do so.”

  The only reply to this, was by the trapper suddenly bringing his gun to his shoulder and firing. An agonizing screech, as the savage threw himself in the air, showed that the shot had not been in vain.

  Rather curiously at the same moment the report of a gun in the ravine reached their ears, followed by the same death-shriek.

  “They ain’t sleepin’ very powerful down thar,” was the pleased remark of the trapper, as he leisurely reloaded his piece, while the boy remained in that nervous state, awaiting the permission of Baldy to go spinning away over the prairie at a rate that would very quickly carry him beyond all danger.

  But the trapper was in no hurry to give the ardently desired permission. He seemed to have a lingering affection for the place, which prevented his “tearing himself away.”

  The boy’s timidity was not in the least diminished, when several return shots were fired, the bullets pinging all around them.

  “My gracious, Baldy, let’s get out of this!” he instantly pleaded.

  “Go about fifty feet,” was the reply, “but not any further.”

  It may be said that the steam man fairly leaped over this space, and somewhat further, like a frightened kangaroo, and even then it would not have halted had not the trapper given peremptory orders for it to do so.

  The sky was now clear and the moon, riding high and nearly full, illumined the prairie for a considerable distance, and there was no fear but that they could detect the approach of the most treacherous savage, let him come in whatever disguise he chose.

  The night wore gradually away, without any particular demonstration upon the part of either the Indians or white men, although dropping shots were occasionally exchanged, without any particular result on either side.

  Now and then a red-skin, creeping cautiously along, made his appearance on the edge of the ravine; but there was too much light for him to expose himself to the deadly rifle of the trapper, who took a kind of savage pleasure in sending his leaden messengers after the aborigines.

  This species of sport was not without its attendant excitement and danger; for the last creature to take a shot quietly is an American Indian; and they kept popping away at the steam man and its train whenever a good opportunity offered.

  Owing to the size and peculiar appearance of the steamer, he was a fair target for his enemies; and, indeed, so uncomfortably close did some of the bullets come, that the boy almost continually kept his head lowered, so as to be protected by the sides of the wagon.

  Finally morning came, greatly to the relief of all our friends. As soon as it was fairly light the Irishman and Yankee were notified that a move was about to be made, by means of the steam-whistle. An
answering signal coming back to them, the steam man at once advanced to the very edge of the ravine.

  The trapper peering cautiously down the gulch, caught sight of several red-skins crouching near the cave, and, directing young Brainerd to discharge his piece at a certain one, the two fired nearly together. Scarce five seconds had elapsed, when both Ethan and Mickey did the same. All four, or rather three, as the boy gave his principal attention to the engine, began loading and firing as rapidly as possible.

  The red-skins returned a few scattering shots; but they were taken at such disadvantage, that they immediately began a precipitate retreat down the ravine.

  Ere they had withdrawn a hundred yards, Ethan and Mickey emerged from the cave, shouting and excited, firing at every red-skin they could see, the Irishman occasionally swinging his gun over his head, and daring the savages to a hand-to-hand encounter.

  While the two were thus engaged, the trapper was not idle. The steam man maintained his place but a short distance behind the enemies, and his deadly rifle scarcely ever failed of its mark.

  The moment an Indian was killed or helplessly wounded, his companions caught and dragged him away, there being a great fear upon the part of all that some of their number might fall into the hands of their enemies, and suffer the ineffaceable disgrace of being scalped.

  The savages were followed a long distance, until their number had diminished down to a fraction of what it was originally, and the survivors had all they could do in taking care of their disabled comrades.

  Never was victory more complete. The Indians were thoroughly discomfited, and only too glad to get away after being so severely punished. During this singular running fight the steam man kept up a constant shrieking, which doubtless contributed in no slight degree to the rout of the red-skins. They fired continually at the fearful-looking monster, and, finding their shots produced no effect, invested the thing with a portion of the supernatural power which they had given it at first sight.

  When the last glimpse of the retreating Indians was seen, the trapper turned triumphantly toward the boy.

  “Warn’t that purty well done, younker?”

  “It was indeed.”

  “They’ll now stay away awhile.”

  “We would have failed if we had waited any longer.”

  “Why so, boy?”

  “Because the last stick is burned, and the steam man couldn’t be made to run a mile further without more fuel.”

  CHAPTER XVII

  Homeward Bound

  The punishment administered to the Indians who had so greatly annoyed the miners proved a very beneficial one.

  Nothing more was seen of them, except one or two glimpses of the red-skin upon his black horse. He, however, maintained a respectful distance, and at the end of a day or two disappeared altogether.

  These were golden moments indeed to the miners, and they improved them to the utmost. From earliest light until the darkness of night they toiled almost unceasingly. Half the time they went hungry rather than stop their work to procure that which was so much needed. When, however, the wants of nature could no longer be trifled with, Baldy took his rifle and started off on a hunt, which was sure to be brief and successful.

  Sometimes he caught sight of some game in the gulch, and sometimes something in the air drew the fire of his unerring rifle, and the miners feasted and worked as only such violently laboring men can do.

  Although the boy was unable to assist at the severe labor, yet he soon demonstrated his genius and usefulness. He not only constructed a dam, but made a “rocker,” or machine, of an original style, that did the work far more expeditiously and thoroughly than it had yet been done.

  While the men were getting the auriferous sand, he separated it from the particles of dirt and gravel, without any assistance from them, and without any severe labor for himself.

  There was some apprehension upon the part of all that the huge trapper, whom young Brainerd had met at night, would make his appearance. Should he do so, it would be certain to precipitate a difficulty of the worst kind, as he was morose, sullen, treacherous, envious and reckless of danger.

  Baldy Bicknell really feared him more than he did the Indians, and the constant watchfulness he exercised for several days showed how great was his apprehension.

  Fortunately, indeed, for all concerned, the giant hunter continued his travels in a different direction, and the miners were undisturbed by him.

  Two weeks passed, by the end of which time the ravine was about exhausted of its precious stuff, and the miners made their preparations for going home.

  It was impossible to do anything more than conjecture the amount of wealth they had obtained, but Baldy was sure that there was enough, when sold, to buy each of them a handsome farm.

  “Jerusalem! but naow ain’t that good?” exclaimed the delighted Ethan Hopkins, as he mopped off his perspiring forehead. “That ’ere encourages me to take a step that I’ve often contemplated.”

  “What might the same be?”

  “Git married: me and Seraphenia Pike hev been engaged for the last ten years, and now I’ll be hanged ef I don’t go home and get spliced.”

  “And it’s myself that’ll do the same,” added Mickey, as he executed an Irish jig on the barren earth in front of their cavern home, after they had concluded to leave the place.

  “Where does she reside?” inquired Ethan.

  “Ballyduff, Kings County, in the Oim of the Sea; it’s there that lives the lass that’s to have the honor of becoming Mrs. McSquizzle, and becomin’ the mither of her own children. Arrah, but isn’t the same a beauty?”

  “The same as my own, Michael,” ventured the Yankee, who deemed it his duty to correct this general remark of his friend.

  “Arrah, now, get cut wid ye! she can’t begin wid Miss Bridget Moghlaghigbogh that resides wid her mither and two pigs on the outskirts of Ballyduff, in the wee cabin that has the one room and the one windy. Warrah, warrah, now isn’t she a jewel?”

  “And so is Seraphenia.”

  “But has she the rid hair, that makes it onnecessary for them to have the candle lit at night? and has she the same beautiful freckles, the size of a ha’penny, on the face and the nose, that has such an iligant turn up at the end, that she used to hang her bonnet on it? Arrah, now, and didn’t she have the swate teeth, six of the same that were so broad that they filled her mouth, and it was none of yer gimblet holes that was her mouth, but a beautiful one, that, when she smiled went round to her ears, did the same. And her shoes! but you orter seen them.”

  “Why so?”

  “What was the matter with her shoes?”

  “Nothing was the same. They was the shoes that the little pigs went to slaap in, afore they got so big that they couldn’t git in them, and then it was her brother that used one of them same for a trunk when he emigrated to Amenity. Arrah, now, but wasn’t me own Bridget a jewel?”

  “Jehosephat! I should think she was!” exclaimed Hopkins, who had listened in amazement to this enumeration of the beauties of the gentle Irish lass, who had won the affections of Mickey McSquizzle. “No doubt she had a sweet disposition.”

  “Indeed she had, had she; it was that of an angel, was the same. It was niver that I staid there a night coorting the same that she didn’t smash her shillaleh to smithereens over me head. Do yees obsarve that?” asked Mickey, removing his hat, and displaying a scar that extended half way across his head.

  “I don’t see how any one can help seeing that.”

  “Well, that was the parting salute of Bridget, as I started for Ameriky. Arrah, now, but she did the same in style.”

  “That was her parting memento, was it?”

  “Yes; I gave her the black eye, and she did the same fur me, and I niver takes off me hat to scratch me head that I don’t think of the swate gal that I left at home.”

  And thereupon the Irishman began whistling “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” accompanying it with a sort of waltzing dance, kept with remarkably g
ood time.

  “And so you intend to marry her?” inquired Hopkins, with no little amazement.

  “It’s that I do, ef I finds her heart fraa when I return to Ballyduff, You know, that the loikes of her is sought by all the lads in Kings County, and to save braaking their hearts, she may share the shanty of some of ’em.”

  “Jerusalem! but she is the all-firedest critter I ever heard tell on.”

  “What does ye maan by that?” demanded the Irishman, instantly flaring up; “does ye maan to insinooate that she isn’t the most charming craater in the whole counthry?”

  “You’ll allow me to except my own Seraphenia?”

  “Niver a once.”

  “Then I’ll do it whether you like it or not Your gal can’t begin with mine, and never could.”

  “That I don’t allow any man to say.”

  And the Irishman immediately began divesting himself of his coat, preparatory to settling the difference in the characteristic Irish manner. Nothing loth, the Yankee put himself in attitude, determined to stand up for the rights of his fair one, no matter by whom assailed.

  Matters having progressed so far, there undoubtedly would have been a set-to between them, had not the trapper interfered. He and the boy were engaged in preparing the steam man and wagon for starting, when the excited words drew their attention, and seeing that a fight was imminent, Baldy advanced to where they stood and said:

  “Not another word, or skulpme ef I don’t hammer both of you till thar’s nothin left o’ you.”

  This was unequivocal language, and neither of the combatants misunderstood it. All belligerent manifestations ceased at once, and they turned to in assisting in the preparations for moving.

  When all four were seated in the wagon, with their necessary baggage about them, it was found that there was comparatively little room for the wood. When they had stored all that they could well carry, it was found that there was hardly enough to last them twelve hours, so that there was considerable risk run from this single fact.

  The steam man, however, stepped off with as much ease as when drawing the wagon with a single occupant. The boy let on enough of steam to keep up a rattling pace, and to give the assurance that they were progressing home ward in the fastest manner possible.