The Red River Half-Breed

ad Indian for the need of warmth. These he was glad to cast off, donning in th

e young lady, he returned towards the friends awaiting Garrod's report. They had come to a halt halfway down the abrupt slope. As soon as he beheld them, Ranald waved Sol's

uld not descry the features of the horseman; "thar's Sol be

o quick," objected

cayuse kick at so little an added load as the young gal?

r shook his h

sure th

g in my boots? What n

n that Garrod bulks up

sp'iling for. Let out your pony-don't you s

come back all

n't want to have car'fulness as pepper and salt and sugar in all your messes, morn, noon and night; and Thanksgiving, and New Year's, and Independence Day! Why, old father, you're getting skeered o' y

us this morning! And that's not Sol Garrod drawing us into a trap. He's a bad

p off with the young gal, in whose ransom I have my share as the fellow finder,

march. The cavalier moved on away

Cormick, triumphantl

keep the way clear? He know's the picket's du

raska Pete taunted his elder to press on. At a third of

way altogether now, th

on to tell cook to

had the first mouthful down," said the

n a good spot for defence; the rising ground over a bu

ell and it is no bogus Sol," said he. "Her

nd tell the captain you are up to some trick as regards the young lady. Don't you fear, though, miss, the captain will stew hi

st cleft, and the snowy crust ceased

of the sunbeams and springing up gaily. All the beasts were hibernating or asleep; all the birds gone south except the Arcti

him to check it. Within a few seconds, the horse of Niobraska Pete came back to its companion, with no thought but refuge from some startling horror. Pete had not raised an alarm; consequently that smear of blood on the mane denoted that he had been

n of the low sort of white men, who soon equal the reds in such

longer, but there

y to 'part co.' I shall shoot you with my first shot. It strikes me, from the way that we have been beset, it is because of you,

e alarming taint on the air, and set up so furious a kicking that the headgear was detached, and left in the astonished bandit's grasp. T

ins!" muttered Cormick. "But why did I hear no who

at their elbows-a war whoop of which Cormick had never heard the like. It was so provocatory in tone that, irresis

e old scoundrel, aghast, and only mech

faced the paralysed scout. The clothes were of Sol Garrod; but at the cry of "Oh, Mr. Dearborn! You! Help,

e, "now I know why

ll sway of his homicidal acquirements, and his gun and that Rana

t fire!" cried a louder and manly voice, as an additional personage fo

above Dearborn's head, that of the latter buried itself in his groin, after scarring the horse's neck. The ne

id you fire for?" d

as perfectly resembled a full-blooded Indian when animated with ferocity. Besides, his buffalo r

ll beg no more powder and ball at the Agency to shoot the two legged bu

have believed she was saved on ascertaining that Dearborn had never relaxed his endeavours to come up with her and her captors. She laughed and sobbed hyster

d was laid upon the English

cantered into the gold seekers' ca

seek

for you that way. On the other hand, there are the Crows-four score at least. I have b

we do?" ejacula

epeated the half-breed sarcastically, eye

way throu

them are crowding in off the plain now. You and I may trust these horses as far as horses can travel

said Ull

n shuddered

ger though you are, in all senses of the word; and

own roasting pieces

regarding the Cherokee steadily as he bore himself nobly erect and unaffected,

risk for the present, whilst I guarantee this man's sa

into the power of disreputab

e could despise you for. Hark! They come on both sides-stealthily, but I hear them! The young woman

me if you are slain?" in a voice

verheard her, and

gs! But now, on the soul of my fathers! Supposed to be chasing the phantom buffalo in the aerial realm which thos

smile through tears. "But our enemies come! Hasten away, in Heaven's name!

of playfulness, and bounded away in

t is only a woma

end low to elude thorns and missiles, and heedless of his reproaches. In their rapid course, it seemed to the latter that he saw groups and pairs of grappling men plyin

for still?" queried the

utes more at thi

hich we must cleave our way. Do no l

my aid, I s

way by a miracle of knowled

ptly, as half a dozen arrows and a light spear or two

down! Now

his gun in his frenzy at the row of dark faces tha

d bade him fire "low and fast." They had passed through the ambuscade at the cost of the two horses, and the ten shots they poured forth enabled them to have a start in their retreat on foot. They were speedily in a hollow of the rocky bluffs, where no sane Indian would follow an armed foe. The ground was sandy, now mingled with dry snow as har

d not have accompanied us i

had to proceed with their backs to the wall, or face to it, in the case of the inexperienced Englishman. (He feared vertigo if he looked out or down on th

, cling where you are till I bring a friend and a lasso that we may swing you over here. It

tion to show this strange hybrid that he had, at least the brave

d crevice, let his body hang at the end of his arms with no o

doned in this horrific site by a deluding demon. He looked up: a thousand feet of granite seemed bowing out to fall and entomb him; he looked outward-miles of ether intervened betwixt him and th

esignedly emotionless that he might

y swung himself over the chasm by his eight fingers alone; the thumbs seemed useless; the cliff fell

ith the loop of a counterbalanced rope in his hand, which he lowered over the young man and drew up so as to engirdle him. More than his pair of arms were not needed, considering the size of the boulder which we

herokee Bill presented his protégé

ome rare tussles, right soon and right here; but this friend o' ours