[Illustration]

BEADLE'S HALF DIME LIBRARY

1877, BEADLE AND ADAMS. 

Vol. I. Single BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, Price, No. 1 Number. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 cents

=Deadwood Dick, = THE PRINCE OF THE ROAD;OR, THE BLACK RIDER of the BLACK HILLS. 

BY EDWARD L. WHEELER. 

CHAPTER I. 

FEARLESS FRANK TO THE RESCUE. 

On the plains, midway between Cheyenne and the Black Hills, a trainhad halted for a noonday feed. Not a railway train, mind you, but aline of those white-covered vehicles drawn by strong-limbed mules, which are most properly styled "prairie schooners. "

There were four wagons of this type, and they had been drawn in acircle about a camp-fire, over which was roasting a savory haunch ofvenison. Around the camp-fire were grouped half a score of men, allrough, bearded, and grizzled, with one exception. This being a youthwhose age one could have safely put at twenty, so perfectly developedof physique and intelligent of facial appearance was he. There wassomething about him that was not handsome, and yet you would have beenpuzzled to tell what it was, for his countenance was strikinglyhandsome, and surely no form in the crowd was more noticeable for itsgrace, symmetry, and proportionate development. It would have taken ascholar to have studied out the secret. 

He was of about medium stature, and as straight and square-shoulderedas an athlete. His complexion was nut-brown, from long exposure to thesun; hair of hue of the raven's wing, and hanging in long, straightstrands adown his back; eyes black and piercing as an eagle's;features well molded, with a firm, resolute mouth and prominent chin. He was an interesting specimen of young, healthy manhood, and, eventhough a youth in years, was one that could command respect, if notadmiration, wheresoever he might choose to go. 

One remarkable item about his personal appearance, apt to strike thebeholder as being exceedingly strange and eccentric, was hiscostume--buck-skin throughout, and that dyed to the brightest scarlethue. 

On being asked the cause of his odd freak of dress, when he had joinedthe train a few miles out from Cheyenne, the youth had laughinglyreplied:

"Why, you see, it is to attract bufflers, if we should meet any, outon the plains 'twixt this and the Hills. "

He gave his name as Fearless Frank, and said he was aiming for theHills; that if the party in question would furnish him a place amongthem, he would extend to them his assistance as a hunter, guide, orwhatever, until the destination was reached. 

Seeing that he was well armed, and judging from external appearancesthat he would prove a valuable accessory, the miners were nothing lothin accepting his services. 

Of the others grouped about the camp-fire only one is speciallynoticeable, for, as Mark Twain remarks, "the average of gold-diggerslook alike. " This person was a little, deformed old man; hump-backed, bow-legged, and white-haired, with cross eyes, a large mouth, a bighead, set upon a slim, crane-like neck; blue eyes, and an immensebrown beard, that flowed downward half-way to the belt about hiswaist, which contained a small arsenal of knives and revolvers. Hehobbled about with a heavy crutch constantly under his left arm, andwas certainly a pitiable sight to behold. 

He too had joined the caravan after it had quitted Cheyenne, hisadvent taking place about an hour subsequent to that of FearlessFrank. His name he asserted was Nix--Geoffrey Walsingham Nix--andwhere he came from, and what he sought in the Black Hills, was simplya matter of conjecture among the miners, as he refused to talk on thesubject of his past, present or future. 

The train was under the command of an irascible old plainsman who hadserved out his apprenticeship in the Kansas border war, and whose namewas Charity Joe, which, considering his avaricious disposition, wasthe wrong handle on the wrong man. Charity was the least of all oldJoe's redeeming characteristics; charity was the very thing he did notrecognize, yet some wag had facetiously branded him Charity Joe, andthe appellation had clung to him ever since. He was well advanced inyears, yet withal a good trailer and an expert guide, as the successof his many late expeditions into the Black Hills had evidenced. 

Those who had heard of Joe's skill as a guide, intrusted themselves inhis care, for, while the stages were stopped more or less on eachtrip, Charity Joe's train invariably went through all safe and sound. This was partly owing to his acquaintance with various bands ofIndians, who were the chief cause of annoyance on the trip. 

So far we see the train toward the land of gold, without their havingseen sight or sound of hostile red-skins, and Charity is justchuckling over his usual good luck:

"I tell ye what, fellers, we've hed a fa'r sort uv a shake, so fur, an' no mistake 'bout it. Barrin' thar ain't no Sittin' Bulls layin' inwait fer us, behead yander, in ther mounts, I'm of ther candid opinionwe'll get through wi'out scrapin' a ha'r. "

"I hope so, " said Fearless Frank, rolling over on the grass and gazingat the guide, thoughtfully, "but I doubt it. It seems to me that onehears of more butchering, lately, than there was a month ago--all onaccount of the influx of ruffianly characters into the Black Hills!"

"Not all owing to that, chippy, " interposed "General" Nix, as he hadimmediately been christened by the miners--"not all owing to that. Thar's them gol danged copper-colored guests uv ther government--they'rekickin' up three pints uv the'r rumpus, more or less--consider'bly lessof more than more o' less. Take a passel uv them barbarities an' shet'em up inter a prison for three or thirteen yeers, an' ye'd see w'atan impression et'd make, now. Thar'd be siveral less massycrees a week, an' ye wouldn't see a rufyan onc't a month. W'y, gentlefellows, thar'dnevyar been a ruffian, ef et hedn't been fer ther cussed Injun tribe--not_one!_ Ther infarnal critters ar' ther instignators uv more deviltrynor a cat wi' nine tails. "

"Yes, we will admit that the reds are not of saintly origin, " saidFearless Frank, with a quiet smile. "In fact I know of several who arefar from being angels, myself. There is old Sitting Bull, forinstance, and Lone Lion, Rain-in-the-Face, and Horse-with-the-Red-Eye, and so forth, and so forth!"

"Exactly. Every one o' 'em's a danged descendant o' ther old Satan, hisself. "

[Illustration: Ha! ha! ha! isn't that rich, now? Ha! ha! ha! arrestDeadwood Dick if you can!]

"Layin' aside ther Injun subjeck, " said Charity Joe, forking into theroasted venison, "I move thet we take up a silent debate on therpecooliarities uv a deer's hind legs; so heer goes!"

He cut out a huge slice with his bowie, sprinkled it over with salt, and began to devour it by very large mouthfuls. All hands proceeded tofollow his example, and the noonday meal was dispatched in silence. After each man had fully satisfied his appetite and the mules andFearless Frank's horse had grazed until they were full as ticks, theorder was given to hitch up, which was speedily done, and the caravanwas soon in motion, toiling along like a diminutive serpent across theplain. 

The afternoon was a mild, sunny one in early autumn, with a refreshingbreeze perfumed with the delicate scent of after-harvest flowerswafting down from the cool regions of the Northwest, where lay the newEl Dorado--the land of gold. 

Fearless Frank bestrode a noble bay steed of fire and nerve, while oldGeneral Nix rode an extra mule that he had purchased of Charity Joe. The remainder of the company rode in the wagons or "hoofed it, " asbest suited their mood--walking sometimes being preferable to therumbling and jolting of the heavy vehicles. 

Steadily along through the afternoon sunlight the train wended itsway, the teamsters alternately singing and cursing their mules, asthey jogged along. Fearless Frank and the "General" rode severalhundred yards in advance, both apparently engrossed in deepestthought, for neither spoke until, toward the close of the afternoon, Charity Joe called their attention to a series of low, faint criesbrought down upon their hearing by the stiff northerly wind. 

"'Pears to me as how them sound sorter human like, " said the oldguide, trotting along beside the young man's horse, as he made knownthe discovery. "Jes' listen, now, an' see if ye ain't uv ther sameopinion!"

The youth did listen, and at the same time swept the plain with hiseagle eyes, in search of the object from which the cries emanated. Butnothing of animal life was visible in any direction beyond the train, and more was the mystery, since the cries sounded but a little wayoff. 

"They _are_ human cries!" exclaimed Fearless Frank, excitedly, "andcome from some one in distress. Boys, we must investigate thismatter. "

"You can investigate all ye want, " grunted Charity Joe, "but I hain'ta-goin' ter stop ther train till dusk, squawk or no squawk. I jedge wewon't get inter their Hills any too soon, as it ar'. "

"You're an old fool!" retorted Frank, contemptuously. "I wouldn't beas mean as you for all the gold in the Black Hills country, saynothin' about that in California and Colorado. "

He turned his horse's head toward the north, and rode away, followed, to the wonder of all, by the "General. "

"Ha! ha!" laughed Charity Joe, grimly, "I wish you success. "

"You needn't; I do not want any of your wishes. I'm going to searchfor the person who makes them cries, an' ef you don't want to wait, why go to the deuce with your old train!"

"There ye err, " shouted the guide: "I'm goin' ter Deadwood, instead uvter the deuce. "

"_Maybe_ you will go to Deadwood, and then, again, maybe ye won't, "answered back Fearless Frank. 

"More or less!" chimed in the general--"consider'bly more of less thanless of more. Look out thet ther allies uv Sittin' Bull don't git ther_dead wood_ on ye. "

On marched the train--steadily on over the level, sandy plain, andFearless Frank and his strange companion turned their attention to thecries that had been the means of separating them from the train. Theyhad ceased now, altogether, and the two men were at a loss what to do. 

"Guv a whoop, like a Government Injun, " suggested "General" Nix; "an'thet'll let ther critter know thet we be friends a-comin'. Par'psshe'm g'in out ontirely, a-thinkin' as no one war a-comin' ter herresky!"

"She, you say?"

"Yas, she; fer I calkylate 'twern't no _he_ as made them squawks. Singout like a bellerin' bull, now, an' et ar' more or lesslikely--consider'bly more of less 'n less of more--that she willrespond!"

Fearless Frank laughed, and forming his hands into a trumpet he gavevent to a loud, ear-splitting "hello!" that made the prairies ring. 

"Great whale uv Joner!" gasped the "General, " holding his hands towardthe region of his organs of hearing. "Holy Mother o' Mercy! don't doet ag'in, b'yee--don' do et; ye've smashed my tinpanum all interflinders! Good heaven! ye hev got a bugle wus nor enny steam tooterfrum heer tew Lowell. "

"Hark!" said the youth, bending forward in a listening attitude. 

The next instant silence prevailed, and the twain anxiously listened. Wafted down across the plain came in faint piteous accents therepetition of the cry they had first heard, only it was now muchfainter. Evidently whoever was in distress, was weakening rapidly. Soon the cries would be inaudible. 

"It's straight ahead!" exclaimed Fearless Frank, at last. "Come along, and we'll soon see what the matter is!"

He put the spurs to his spirited animal, and the next instant wasdashing wildly off over the sunlit plain. Bent on emulation, the"General" also used his heels with considerable vim, but alas! whatdependence can be placed on a mule? The animal bolted, with a viciousnip back at the offending rider's legs, and refused to budge an inch. 

On--on dashed the fearless youth, mounted on his noble steed, his eyesbent forward, in a sharp scrutiny of the plain ahead, his mind filledwith wonder that the cries were now growing more distinct and yet nota first glimpse could he obtain of the source whence they emanated. 

On--on--on; then suddenly he reins his steed back upon its haunches, just in time to avert a frightful plunge into one of those remarkablefreaks of nature--the blind canal, or, in other words, a channelvalley washed out by heavy rains. These the tourist will frequentlyencounter in the regions contiguous to the Black Hills. 

Below him yawned an abrupt channel, a score or more of feet in depth, at the bottom of which was a dense chaparral thicket. The littlevalley thus nestled in the earth was about forty rods in width, andone would never have dreamed it existed, unless they chanced to rideto the brink, above. 

Fearless Frank took in the situation at a glance, and not hearing thecries, he rightly conjectured that the one in distress had againbecome exhausted. That that person was in the thicket below seemedmore than probable, and he immediately resolved to descend in search. Slipping from his saddle, he stepped forward to the very edge of theprecipice and looked over. The next second the ground crumbled beneathhis feet, and he was precipitated headlong into the valley. Fortunately he received no serious injuries, and in a moment was onhis feet again, all right. 

"A miss is as good as a mile, " he muttered, brushing the dirt from hisclothing. "Now, then, we will find out the secret of the racket inthis thicket. "

Glancing up to the brink above to see that his horse was standingquietly, he parted the shrubbery, and entered the thicket. 

It required considerable pushing and tugging to get through the denseundergrowth, but at last his efforts were rewarded, and he stood in asmall break or glade. 

Stood there, to behold a sight that made the blood boil in his veins. Securely bound with her face toward a stake, was a young girl--amaiden of perhaps seventeen summers, whom, at a single glance, onemight surmise was remarkably pretty. 

She was stripped to the waist, and upon her snow-white back werenumerous welts from which trickled diminutive rivulets of crimson. Herhead was dropped against the stake to which she was bound, and she wasevidently insensible. 

With a cry of astonishment and indignation Fearless Frank leapedforward to sever her bonds, when like so many grim phantoms therefiled out of the chaparral, and circled around him, a score ofhideously painted savages. One glance at the portly leader satisfiedFrank as to his identity. It was the fiend incarnate--Sitting Bull!

CHAPTER II. 

DEADWOOD DICK, THE ROAD-AGENT. 

 "=$500 Reward:= For the apprehension and arrest of a notorious young desperado who hails to the name of Deadwood Dick. His present whereabouts are somewhat contiguous to the Black Hills. For further information, and so forth, apply immediately to

 HUGH VANSEVERE, "At Metropolitan Saloon, Deadwood City. "

Thus read a notice posted up against a big pine tree, three milesabove Custer City, on the banks of French creek. It was a largeplacard tacked up in plain view of all passers-by who took the routenorth through Custer gulch in order to reach the infant city of theNorthwest--Deadwood. 

Deadwood! the scene of the most astonishing bustle and activity, thisyear (1877. ) The place where men are literally made rich and poor inone day and night. Prior to 1877 the Black Hills have been for agreater part undeveloped, but now, what a change! In Deadwooddistricts every foot of available ground has been "claimed" and stakedout; the population has increased from fifteen to more thantwenty-five hundred souls. 

The streets are swarming with constantly arriving new-comers; thestores and saloons are literally crammed at all hours; dance-housesand can-can dens exist; hundreds of eager, expectant, and hopefulminers are working in the mines, and the harvest reaped by them is notat all discouraging. All along the gulch are strung a profusion ofcabins, tents and shanties, making Deadwood in reality a town of adozen miles in length, though some enterprising individual has pairedoff a couple more infant cities above Deadwood proper, namedrespectively Elizabeth City and Ten Strike. The quartz formation inthese neighborhoods is something extraordinary, and from late reports, under vigorous and earnest development are yielding beyond the mostsanguine expectation. 

The placer mines west of Camp Crook are being opened to verysatisfactory results, and, in fact, from Custer City in the south, toDeadwood in the north, all is the scene of abundant enthusiasm andexcitement. 

A horseman riding north through Custer gulch, noticed the placard soprominently posted for public inspection, and with a low whistle, expressive of astonishment, wheeled his horse out of the stage road, and rode over to the foot of the tree in question, and ran his eyesover the few irregularly-written lines traced upon the notice. 

He was a youth of an age somewhere between sixteen and twenty, trimand compactly built, with a preponderance of muscular development andanimal spirits; broad and deep of chest, with square, iron-castshoulders; limbs small yet like bars of steel, and with a grace ofposition in the saddle rarely equaled; he made a fine picture for anartist's brush or a poet's pen. 

Only one thing marred the captivating beauty of the picture. 

His form was clothed in a tight-fitting habit of buck-skin, which wascolored a jetty black, and presented a striking contrast to anythingone sees as a garment in the wild far West. And this was not all, either. A broad black hat was slouched down over his eyes; he wore athick black vail over the upper portion of his face, through theeye-holes of which there gleamed a pair of orbs of piercing intensity, and his hands, large and knotted, were hidden in a pair of kid glovesof a light color. 

The "Black Rider" he might have been justly termed, for histhoroughbred steed was as black as coal, but we have not seen fit tocall him such--his name is Deadwood Dick, and let that suffice for thepresent. 

It was just at the edge of evening that he stopped before, andproceeded to read, the placard posted upon the tree in one of theloneliest portions of Custer's gulch. 

Above and on either side rose to a stupendous hight the tree-fringedmountains in all their majestic grandeur. 

In front and behind, running nearly north and south, lay the deep, dark chasm--a rift between mighty walls--Custer's gulch. 

And over all began to hover the cloak of night, for the sun hadalready imparted its dying kiss on the mountain craters, and below, the gloom was thickening with rapid strides. 

Slowly, over and over, Deadwood Dick, outlaw, road-agent and outcast, read the notice, and then a wild sardonic laugh burst from beneath hismask--a terrible, blood-curdling laugh, that made even the powerfulanimal he bestrode start and prick up its ears. 

"Five hundred dollars reward for the apprehension and arrest of anotorious young desperado who hails to the name of Deadwood Dick! Ha!ha! ha! isn't that rich, now? Ha! ha! ha! _arrest_ Deadwood Dick! Why, 'pon my word it is a sight for sore eyes. I was not aware that I hadattained such a desperate notoriety as that document implies. Theywill make me out a murderer before they get through, I expect. Can'tlet me alone--everlastingly they must be punching after me, as if Iwas some obnoxious pestilence on the face of the earth. Never mind, though--let 'em keep on! Let them just continue their hounding game, and see which comes up on top when the bag's shook. If more than oneof 'em don't get their fingers burned when they snatch Deadwood Dickbald-headed, why I'm a Spring creek sucker, that's all. Maybe I don'tknow who foots the bill in this reward business; oh, no; maybe I can'tride down to Deadwood and frighten three kind o' ideas out of this Mr. Hugh Vansevere, whoever he may be. Ha! ha! the fool that h'isted thatnotice didn't _know_ Deadwood Dick, or he would never have placed hislife in jeopardy by performing an act so uninteresting to the party inquestion. Hugh Vansevere; let me see--I don't think I've got thatregistered in my collection of appellatives. Perhaps he is a new toolin the employ of the old mechanic. "

Darker and thicker grew the night shadows. The after-harvest moon roseup to a sufficient hight to send a silvery bolt of powerful light downinto the silent gulch; like an image carved out of the night the horseand rider stood before the placard, motionless, silent. 

The head of Deadwood Dick was bent, and he was buried in a deepreverie. A reverie that engrossed his whole attention for a long, longwhile; then the impatient pawing of his horse aroused him, and he satonce more erect in his saddle. 

A last time his eyes wandered over the notice on the tree--a last timehis terrible laugh made the mountains ring, and he guided his horseback into the rough, uneven stage-road, and galloped off up the gulch. 

"I will go and see what this Hugh Vansevere looks like!" he said, applying the spurs to his horse. "I'll be dashed if I want him to beso numerous with my name, especially with five hundred dollars affixedthereto, as a reward. "

 * * * * *

Midnight. 

Camp Crook, nestling down in one of the wildest gulch pockets of theBlack Hills region--basking and sleeping in the flood of moonlightthat emanates from the glowing ball up afar in heaven's blue vault, issuddenly and rudely aroused from her dreams. 

There is a wild clatter of hoofs, a chorus of strange and variedvoices swelling out in a wild mountain song, and up through the veryheart of the diminutive city, where the gold-fever has dropped a fewsanguine souls, dash a cavalcade of masked horsemen, attired in thepicturesque garb of the mountaineer, and mounted on animals ofsuperior speed and endurance. 

At their head, looking weird and wonderful in his suit of black, rideshe whom all have heard of--he whom some have seen, and he whom no onedare raise a hand against, in single combat--Deadwood Dick, Road-AgentPrince, and the one person whose name is in everybody's mouth. 

Straight on through the single northerly street of the infant villageride the dauntless band, making weirdly beautiful music with theirrollicking song, some of the voices being cultivated, and clear as theclarion note. 

A few miners, wakened from their repose, jump out of bed, come to thedoor, and stare at the receding cavalcade in a dazed sort of way. Others, thinking that the noise is all resulting from an Indianattack, seize rifles or revolvers, as the case may be, and blaze awayout of windows and loopholes at whatever may be in the way to receivetheir bullets. 

But the road-agents only pause a moment in their song to send back awild, sarcastic laugh; then they resume it, and merrily dash along upthe gulch, the ringing of iron-shod hoofs beating a strange tatoo tothe sound of the music. 

Sleepily the miners crawl back to their respective couches; the moonsmiles down on mother earth, and nature once more fans itself to sleepwith the breath of a fragrant breeze. 

 * * * * *

Deadwood--magic city of the West!

Not dead, nor even sleeping, is this headquarters of the Black Hillspopulation at midnight, twenty-four hours subsequent to the rush ofthe daring road-agents through Camp Crook. 

Deadwood is just as lively and hilarious a place during the intervalbetween sunset and sunrise as during the day. Saloons, dance-houses, and gambling dens keep open all night, and stores do not close until alate hour. At one, two and three o'clock in the morning the streetspresent as lively an appearance as at any period earlier in theevening. Fighting, shooting, stabbing and hideous swearing arefeatures of the night; singing, drinking, dancing and gamblinganother. 

Nightly the majority of the miners come in from such claims as arewithin a radius of from six to ten miles, and seldom is it that theygo away without their "load. " To be sure, there are some men inDeadwood who do not drink, but they are so few and scattering as toseem almost entirely a nonentity. 

It was midnight, and Deadwood lay basking in a flood of mellowmoonlight that cast long shadows from the pine forest on the peaks, and glinted upon the rapid, muddy waters of Whitewood creek, whichrumbles noisily by the infant metropolis on its wild journey towardthe south. 

All the saloons and dance-houses are in full blast; shouts and maudlinyells rend the air. In front of one insignificant board, "ten-by-twenty, " an old wretch is singing out lustily:

"Right this way ye cum, pilgrims, ter ther great Black Hills Thee'ter;only costs ye four bits ter go in an' see ther tender sex, alreadya-kickin' in their striped stockin's; only four bits, recollect, tersee ther greatest show on earth, so heer's yer straight chance!"

But, why the use of yelling? Already the shanty is packed, and judgingfrom the thundering screeches and clapping of hands, the entertainmentis such as suits the depraved tastes of the ruffianly "bums" who havepaid their "four bits, " and gone in. 

But look!

Madly out of Deadwood gulch, the abode of thousands of lurkingshadows, dashes a horseman. 

Straight through the main street of the noisy metropolis he spurs, with hat off, and hair blowing backward in a jetty cloud. 

On, on, followed by the eyes of scores curious to know the meaning ofhis haste--on, and at last he halts in front of a large board shanty, over whose doorway is the illuminated canvas sign: "MetropolitanSaloon, by Tom Young. "

Evidently his approach is heard, for instantly out of the"Metropolitan" there swarms a crowd of miners, gamblers and bummers tosee "what the row is. "

"Is there a man among you, gentlemen, who bears the name of HughVansevere?" asks the rider, who from his midnight dress we may judgeis no other than Deadwood Dick. 

"That is my handle, pilgrim!" and a tall, rough-looking customer ofthe Minnesotian order steps forward. "What mought yer lay be ag'inme?"

"A _sure_ lay!" hisses the masked road-agent, sternly. "You areadvertising for one Deadwood Dick, and he has come to pay you hisrespects!"

The next instant there is a flash, a pistol report, a fall and agroan, the clattering of iron-shod hoofs; and then, ere anyonescarcely dreams of it, _Deadwood Dick is gone!_

CHAPTER III. 

THE "CATTYMOUNT"--A QUARREL AND ITS RESULTS. 

The "Metropolitan" saloon in Deadwood, one week subsequent to theevents last narrated, was the scene of a larger "jamboree" than formany weeks before. 

It was Saturday night, and up from the mines of Gold Run, Bobtail, Poor Man's Pocket, and Spearfish, and down from the Deadwood inminiature, Crook City, poured a swarm of rugged, grisly gold-diggers, the blear-eyed, used-up-looking "pilgrim, " and the inevitable warysharp, ever on the alert for a new buck to fleece. 

The "Metropolitan" was then, as now, the headquarters of the BlackHills metropolis for arriving trains and stages, and as a naturalconsequence received a goodly share of the public patronage. 

A well-stocked bar of liquors in Deadwood was _non est_ yet the saloonin question boasted the best to be had. Every bar has its clerk at apair of tiny scales, and he is ever kept more than busy weighing outthe shining dust that the toiling miner has obtained by the sweat ofhis brow. And if the deft-fingered clerk cannot put six ounces of dustin his own pouch of a night, it clearly shows that he is not long inthe business. 

Saturday night!

The saloon is full to overflowing--full of brawny rough, and grislymen; full of ribald songs and maudlin curses; full of foulatmospheres, impregnated with the fumes of vile whisky, and worsetobacco, and full of sights and scenes, exciting and repulsive. 

As we enter and work our way toward the center of the apartment, ourattention is attracted by a coarse, brutal "tough, " evidently justfresh in from the diggings; who, mounted on the summit of an emptywhisky cask, is exhorting in rough language, and in the tones of abellowing bull, to an audience of admiring miners assembled at hisfeet, which, by the way, are not of the most diminutive patternimaginable. We will listen:

"Feller coots and liquidarians, behold before ye a real descendant uvCain and Abel. Ye'll reckolect, ef ye've ever bin ter camp-meetin', that Abel got knocked out o' time by his cuzzin Cain, an becawse Abelwar misproperly named, and warn't _able_ when the crysis arriv terdefen' himsel' in an able manner. 

"Hed he bin 'heeled' wi' a shipment uv Black Hills sixes, thet wouldhev _enabled_ him to distinguish hisself fer superyer ability. Now, asI sed before, I'm a lineal descendant uv ther notorious Ain and Cable, and I've lit down hyar among ye ter explain a few p'ints 'bout trueblessedness and true cussedness. 

"Oh! brethern, I tell ye I'm a snorter, I am, when I git a-goin'--awild screechin' cattymount, right down frum ther sublime spheres upStarkey--ar' a regular epizootic uv religyun, sent down frum clouddumand scattered permiscously ter ther forty winds uv ther earth. "

We pass the "cattymount, " and presently come to a table at which ayoung and handsome "pilgrim, " and a ferret-eyed sharp are engaged atcards. The first mentioned is a tall, robust fellow, somewhere in theneighborhood of twenty-three years of age, with clear-cut features, dark lustrous eyes, and teeth of pearly whiteness. His hair is longand curling, and a soft brown mustache, waxed at the ends, is almostperfection itself. 

Evidently he is of quick temperament, for he handles the cards with aswift, nervous dexterity that surprises even the professional sharphimself, who is a black, swarthy-looking customer, with "villain"plainly written in every lineament of his countenance; his eyes, hair, and a tremendous mustache that he occasionally strokes, are of a jettyblack; did you ever notice it?--dark hair and complexion predominateamong the gambling fraternity. 

Perhaps this is owing to the condition of the souls of some of thesecharacters. 

The professional sharp in our case was no exception to the rule. Hewas attired in the hight of fashion, and the diamond cluster, inevitably to be found there, was on his shirt front; a jewel ofwonderful size and brilliancy. 

"Ah! curse the luck!" exclaimed the sharp, slapping down the cards;"you have won again, pilgrim, and I am five hundred out. By the gods, your luck is something astonishing!"

"_Luck!_" laughed the other, coolly: "well, no. I do not call it luck, for I never have luck. We'll call it chance!"

"Just as you say, " growled the gambler, bringing forth a new pack. "Chance and luck are then twin companions. Will you continue longer, Mr. ----"

"Redburn, " finished the pilgrim. 

"Ah! yes--Mr. Redburn, will you continue?"

"I will play as long as there is anything to play for, " again finishedMr. R. , twisting the waxed ends of his mustache calmly. "Maybe youhave got your fill, eh?"

"No; I'll play all night to win back what I have lost. "

A youth, attired in buck-skin, and apparently a couple of yearsyounger than Redburn, came sauntering along at this juncture, andseeing an unoccupied chair at one end of the table (for Redburn andthe gambler sat at the sides, facing each other), he took possessionof it forthwith. 

"Hello!" and the sharp swore roundly. "Who told _you_ to mix in yourlip, pilgrim?"

"Nobody, as I know of. Thought I'd squat right here, and watch your_sleeves_!" was the significant retort, and the youth laid a cockedsix-shooter on the table in front of him. 

"Go on, gentlemen; don't let me be the means of spoiling your fun. "

The gambler uttered a curse, and dealt out the pasteboards. 

The youth was watching him intently, with his sharp black eyes. 

He was of medium hight, straight as an arrow, and clad in aloose-fitting costume. A broad sombrero was set jauntily upon the leftside of his head, the hair of which had been cut close down to thescalp. His face--a pleasant, handsome, youthful face--was devoid ofhirsute covering, he having evidently been recently handled by thebarber. 

The game between Mr. Redburn and the gambler progressed; the eyes ofhe whom we have just described were on the card sharp constantly. 

The cards went down on the table in vigorous slaps, and at last, Mr. Pilgrim Redburn raked in the stakes. 

"Thunder 'n' Moses!" ejaculated the sharp, pulling out his watch--anelegant affair, of pure gold, and studded with diamonds--and laying itforcibly down upon the table. 

"There! what will you plank on that!"

Redburn took up the time-piece, turned it over and over in his hands, opened and shut it, gave a glance at the works, and then handed itover to the youth, whom he instinctively felt was his friend. Redburnhad come from the East to dig gold, and therefore was a stranger inDeadwood. 

"What is its money value?" he asked, familiarizing his tone. "Good, Isuppose. "

"Yes, perfectly good, and cheap at two hundred, " was the unhesitatingreply. "Do you lack funds, stranger?"

"Oh! no. I am three hundred ahead of this cuss yet, and--"

"You'd better quit where you are!" said the other, decisively. "You'lllose the next round, mark my word. "

"Ha! ha!" laughed Redburn, who had begun to show symptoms ofrecklessness. "I'll take my chances. Here, you gamin, I'll cover thewatch with two hundred dollars. "

Without more ado the stakes were planked, the cards dealt, and thegame began. 

The youth, whom we will call Ned Harris, was not idle. 

He took the revolvers from the table, changed his position so that hisface was just in the opposite direction of what it had been, andcommenced to pare his finger nails. The fingers were as white and softas any girl's. In his hand he also held a strangely-angled little box, the sides of which were mirror-glass. Looking at his finger-nails healso looked into the mirror, which gave a complete view of thecard-sharp, as he sat at the table. 

Swiftly progressed the game, and no one could fail to see how it wasgoing by watching the cunning light in the gambler's eye. At last thegame-card went down, and next instant, after the sharp had raked inhis stakes, a cocked revolver in either hand of Ned Harris covered thehearts of the two players. 

"Hello!" gasped Redburn, quailing under the gaze of a cold steeltube--"what's the row, now?"

"Draw your revolver!" commanded Harris, sternly, having an eye on thecard-sharp at the same time, "Come! don't be all night about it!"

Redburn obeyed; he had no other choice. 

"Cock it and cover your man!"

"Who do you mean?"

"The cuss under my left-hand aim. "

Again the "pilgrim" felt that he could not afford to do otherwise thanobey. 

So he took "squint" at the gambler's left breast after which Harriswithdrew the siege of his left weapon, although he still covered theyoung Easterner, the same. Quietly he moved around to where thecard-sharp sat, white and trembling. 

"Gentlemen!" he yelled, in a clear, ringing voice, "will some of youstep this way a moment?"

A crowd gathered around in a moment: then the youth resumed:

"Feller-citizens, all of you know how to play cards, no doubt. What isthe penalty of cheating, out here in the Hills?"

For a few seconds the room was wrapt in silence; then a chorus ofvoices gave answer, using a single word:

"Death!"

"Exactly, " said Harris, calmly. "When a sharp hides cards in Chinamanfashion up his sleeve, I reckon that's what you call cheatin', don'tyou?"

"That's the size of it, " assented each bystander, grimly. 

Ned Harris pressed his pistol-muzzle against the gambler's forehead, inserted his fingers in each of the capacious sleeves, and a momentlater laid several high cards upon the table. 

A murmur of incredulity went through the crowd of spectators. Even"pilgrim" Redburn was astonished. 

After removing the cards, Ned Harris turned and leveled his revolverat the head of the young man from the East. 

"Your name?" he said, briefly, "is--"

"Harry Redburn. "

"Very well. Harry Redburn, that gambler under cover of your pistol isguilty of a crime, punishable in the Black Hills by death. As you arehis victim--or, rather, were to be--it only remains for you to aimstraight and rid your country of an A No. 1 dead-beat and swindler!"

"Oh! no!" gasped Redburn, horrified at the thought of taking the lifeof a fellow-creature--"I cannot, I cannot!"

"You _can!_" said Harris, sternly; "go on--_you must salt thatcard-sharp, or I'll certainly salt you!_"

A deathlike silence followed. 

"_One!_" said Harris, after a moment. 

Redburn grew very pale, but not paler was he than the card-sharp justopposite. Redburn was no coward; neither was he accustomed to thedesperate character of the population of the Hills. Should he shootthe tricky wretch before him, he knew he should be always callinghimself a murderer. On the contrary, in the natural laws of Deadwood, such a murder would be classed justice. 

"_Two!_" said Ned Harris, drawing his pistol-hammer back to full cock. "Come, pilgrim, are you going to shoot?"

Another silence; only the low breathing of the spectators could beheard. 

"_Three!_"

Redburn raised his pistol and fired--blindly and carelessly, notknowing or caring whither went the compulsory death-dealing bullet. 

There was a heavy fall, a groan of pain, as the gambler dropped overon the floor; then for the space of a few seconds all was the wildestconfusion throughout the mammoth saloon. 

Revolvers were in every hand, knives flashed in the glare of thelamplight, curses and threats were in scores of mouths, while some ofthe vast surging crowd cheered lustily. 

At the table Harry Redburn still sat, as motionless as a statue, therevolver still held in his hand, his face white, his eyes staring. 

There he remained, the center of general attraction, with a hundredpair of blazing eyes leveled at him from every side. 

"Come!" said Ned Harris, in a low tone, tapping him on theshoulder--"come, pardner; let's git out of this, for times will bebrisk soon. You've wounded one of the biggest card-devils in theHills, and he'll be rearin' pretty quick. Look! d'ye see that fellercomin' yonder, who was preachin' from on top of the barrel, a bit ago?Well, that is Catamount Cass, an' he's a pard of Chet Diamond, thefeller you salted, an' them fellers behind him are his gang. Come!follow me, Henry, and I'll nose our way out of here. "

Redburn signified his readiness, and with a cocked six-shooter ineither hand Ned Harris led the way. 

CHAPTER IV. 

SAD ANITA--THE MINE LOCATER--TROUBLE

Straight toward the door of the saloon he marched, the muzzles of thegrim sixes clearing a path to him; for Ned Harris had becomenotorious in Deadwood for his coolness, courage and audacity. It hadbeen said of him that he would "just es lief shute a man as ter lookat 'im, " and perhaps the speaker was not far from right. 

Anyway, he led off through the savage-faced audience with a composurethat was remarkable, and, strange to say, not a hand was raised tostop him until he came face to face with Catamount Cass and his gang;here was where the youth had expected molestation and hindrance, ifanywhere. 

Catamount Cass was a rough, illiterate "tough" of the mountainspecies, and possessed more brute courage than the general run of histype of men, and a bull-dog determination that made him all the moredangerous as an enemy. 

Harry Redburn kept close at Ned Harris' heels, a cocked "six" ineither hand ready for any emergency. 

It took but a few moments before the two parties met, the "Cattymount"throwing out his foot to block the path. 

"Hello!" roared the "tough, " folding his huge knotty arms across hispartially bared breast; "ho! ho! whoa up thar, pilgrims! Don' ye goter bein' so fast. Fo'kes harn't so much in a hurry now-'days as theyuster war. Ter be sure ther Lord manyfactered this futstool in sevendays; sum times I think he did, an' then, ag'in, my geological ijeesconvince me he didn't. "

"What has that to do with us?" demanded Ned, sternly. "I opine ye'dbetter spread, some of you, if you don't want me to run a canyonthrough your midst. Preach to some other pilgrim than me; I'm in ahurry!"

"Haw! haw! Yas, I obsarve ye be; but if ye're my meat, an' I thinkprob'ble ye be, I ain't a-goin' fer ter let yer off so nice and easy. P'arps ye kin tell who fired the popgun, a minnit ago, w'at basted myole pard?"

"I shall not take trouble to tell!" replied Ned, fingering the triggerof his left six uneasily. "Ef you want to know who salted ChetDiamond, the worst blackleg, trickster and card-player in Dakota, allyou've got to do is to go and ask him!"

"Hold!" cried Harry Redburn, stepping out from behind Harris; "I'llhide behind no man's shoulder. _I_ salted the gambler--if you callshooting salting--and I'm not afraid to repeat the action by salting adozen more just of his particular style. "

Ned Harris was surprised. 

He had set Redburn down as a faint-hearted, dubious-couragedcounter-jumper from the East; he saw now that there was something ofhim, after all. 

"Come on, young man!" and the young miner stepped forward a pace; "areyou with me?"

"To the ears!" replied Harris, grimly. 

The next instant the twain leaped forward and broke the barrier, andmid the crack of pistol-shots and shouts of rage, they cleared thesaloon. Once outside, Ned Harris led the way. 

"Come along!" he said, dodging along the shadowy side of the street;"we'll have to scratch gravel, for them up-range 'toughs' will followus, I reckon. They're a game gang, and 'hain't the most desirable kindof enemies one could wish for. I'll take you over to my coop, and youcan lay low there until this jamboree blows over. You'll have topromise me one thing, however, ere I can admit you as a member of myhousehold. "

"Certainly. What is it?" and Harry Redburn redoubled his efforts inorder to keep alongside his swift-footed guide. 

"Promise me that you will divulge nothing, no matter what you may seeor hear. Also that, should you fall in love with one who is a memberof my family, you will forbear and not speak of love to her. "

"It is a woman, then?"

"Yes--a young lady. "

"I will promise;--how can I afford to do otherwise, under the existingcircumstances. But, tell me, why did you force me to shoot thatgambler?"

"He was a rascal, and cheated you. "

"I know; but I did not want his life; I am averse to bloodshed. "

"So I perceived, and that made me all the more determined you shouldsalivate him. You'll find before you're in the Hills long that itwon't do to take lip or lead from any one. A green pilgrim is thefirst to get salted; I illustrated how to serve 'em!"

Redburn's eyes sparkled. He was just beginning to see into thedifferent phases of this wild exciting life. 

"Good!" he exclaimed, warmly. "I have much to thank you for. Did Ikill that card-sharp?"

"No; you simply perforated him in the right side. This way. "

They had been running straight up the main street. Now they turned acorner and darted down one that was dark and deserted. 

A moment later a trim boyish figure stepped before them, from out ofthe shadow of a new frame building; a hand of creamy whiteness waslaid upon the arm of Ned Harris. 

"This way, pilgrims, " said a low musical voice, and at the sameinstant a gust of wind lifted the jaunty sombrero from the speaker'shead, revealing a most wonderful wealth of long glossy hair; "the'toughs' are after you, and you cannot find a better place to coopthan in here. " The soft hand drew Ned Harris inside the building, which was finished, but unoccupied, and Redburn followed, nothing lothto get into a place of safety. So far, Deadwood had not impressed himfavorably as being the most peaceable city within the scope of acontinent. 

Into an inner room of the building they went, and the door was closedbehind them. The apartment was small and smelled of green lumber. Atable and a few chairs comprised the furniture; a dark lantern burnedsuspended from the ceiling by a wire. Redburn eyed the strange youthas he and Harris were handed seats. 

Of medium hight and symmetrically built; dressed in a carefully tannedcostume of buck-skin, the vest being fringed with the fur of the mink;wearing a jaunty Spanish sombrero; boots on the dainty feet of patentleather, with tops reaching to the knees; a face slightly sun-burned, yet showing the traces of beauty that even excessive dissipation couldnot obliterate; eyes black and piercing; mouth firm, resolute, anddevoid of sensual expression: hair of raven color and of remarkablelength;--such was the picture of the youth as beheld by Redburn andHarris. 

"You can remain here till you think it will be safe to again ventureforth, gentlemen, " and a smile--evidently a stranger there--broke outabout the speaker's lips. "Good-evening!" "Good-evening!" noddedHarris, with a quizzical stare. The next moment the youth was gone. 

"Who was that chap?" asked Redburn, not a little bewildered. 

"That?--why that's Calamity Jane!"

"Calamity Jane? _What_ a name. "

"Yes, she's an odd one. Can ride like the wind, shoot like asharp-shooter, and swear like a trooper. Is here, there andeverywhere, seemingly all at one time. Owns this coop and two or threeother lots in Deadwood; a herding ranch at Laramie, an interest in apaying placer claim near Elizabeth City, and the Lord only knows howmuch more. "

"But it is not a _woman_?"

"Reckon 'tain't nothin' else. "

"God forbid that a child of mine should ever become so debased and--"

"Hold! there are yet a few redeeming qualities about her. She was_ruined_--" and here a shade dark as a thunder-cloud passed over NedHarris' face--"and set adrift upon the world, homeless and friendless;yet she has bravely fought her way through the storm, without askinganybody's assistance. True, she may not now have a heart; that wastrampled upon, years ago, but her character has not suffered blemishsince the day a foul wretch stole away her honor!"

"What is her real name?"

"I do not know; few in Deadwood do. It is said, however, that shecomes of a Virginia City, Nevada, family of respectability andintelligence. "

At this juncture there was a great hubbub outside, and instinctivelythe twain drew their revolvers, expecting that Catamount Cass and histoughs had discovered their retreat, and were about to make an attack. But soon the gang were beard to tramp away, making the night hideouswith their hoarse yells. 

"They'll pay a visit to every shanty in Deadwood, " said Harris, with agrim smile, "and if they don't find us, which they won't, they'llh'ist more than a barrel of bug-juice over their defeat. Come, let'sbe going. "

They left the building and once more emerged onto the darkened street, Ned taking the lead. 

"Follow me, now, " he said, tightening his belt, "and we'll get homebefore sunrise, after all. "

He struck out up the gulch, or, rather, down it, for his course laysouthward. Redburn followed, and in fifteen minutes the lights ofDeadwood--magic city of the wilderness--were left behind. Harris ledthe way along the rugged mountain stage-road, that, after leavingDeadwood on its way to Camp Crook and Custer City in the south, runsalternately through deep, dark canyons and gorges, with an ease andrapidity that showed him to be well acquainted with the route. Aboutthree miles below Deadwood he struck a trail through a transversecanyon running north-west, through which flowed a small stream, knownas Brown's creek. The bottom was level and smooth, and a brisk walk ofa half-hour brought them to where a horse was tied to an aldersapling. 

"You mount and ride on ahead until you come to the end of the canyon, "said Harris, untying the horse. "I will follow on after you, and bethere almost as soon as you. "

Redburn would have offered some objections, but the other motioned forhim to mount and be off, so he concluded it best to obey. 

The animal was a fiery one, and soon carried him out of sight of Ned, whom he left standing in the yellow moonlight. Sooner than he expectedthe gorge came to an abrupt termination in the face of a stupendouswall of rock, and nothing remained to do but wait for young Harris. 

He soon came, trotting leisurely up, only a trifle flushed incountenance. 

"This way!" he said, and seizing the animal by the bit he led horseand rider into a black, gaping fissure in one side of the canyon, thathad hitherto escaped Redburn's notice. It was a large, narrow, subterranean passage, barely large enough to admit the horse andrider. Redburn soon was forced to dismount and bring up the rear. 

"How far do we journey in this shape?" he demanded, after what seemedto him a long while. 

"No further, " replied Ned, and the next instant they emerged into asmall, circular pocket in the midst of the mountains--one of thosebeauteous flower-strewn valleys which are often found in the BlackHills. 

This "pocket, " as they are called, consisted of perhaps fifty acres, walled in on every side by rugged mountains as steep, and steeper, insome places, than a house-roof. On the western side Brown's creek hadits source, and leaped merrily down from ledge to ledge into thevalley, across which it flowed, sinking into the earth on the easternside, only to bubble up again, in the canyon, with renewed strength. 

The valley was one vast, indiscriminate bed of wild, fragrant flowers, whose volume of perfume was almost sickening when first greeting thenostrils. Every color and variety imaginable was here, all in the mostperfect bloom. In the center of the valley stood a log-cabin, overgrown with clinging vines. There was a light in the window, andHarris pointed toward it, as, with young Redburn, he emerged from thefissure. 

"There's my coop, pilgrim. There you will be safe for a time, atleast. " He unsaddled the horse and set it free to graze. 

Then they set off down across the slope, arriving at the cabin in duetime. 

The door was open; a young woman, sweet, yet sad-faced, was seatedupon the steps, fast asleep. 

Redburn gave an involuntary cry of incredulity and admiration as hiseyes rested upon the picture--upon the pure, sweet face, surrounded bya wealth of golden, glossy hair, and the sylph-like form, so perfectin every contour. But a charge of silence from Harris, made him mute. 

The young man knelt by the side of the sleeping girl and imprinted akiss upon the fresh, unpolluted lips, which caused the sleeping beautyto smile in her dreams. 

A moment later, however, she opened her eyes and sprung to her feetwith a startled scream. 

"Oh, Ned!" she gasped, trembling, as she saw him, "how you frightenedme. I had a dream--oh, such a sweet dream! and I thought _he_ came andkissed--"

Suddenly did she stop as, for the first time, her penetrating blueeyes rested upon Harry Blackburn. 

A moment she gazed at him as in a sort of fascination; then, with alow cry, began to retreat, growing deathly pale. Ned Harris steppedquickly forward and supported her on his arm. 

"Be calm, Anita, " he said, in a gentle, reassuring tone. "This is ayoung gentleman whom I have brought here to our home for a few daysuntil it will be safe for him to be seen in Deadwood. Mr. Redburn, Imake you acquainted with Anita. "

A courteous bow from Redburn, a slight inclination of Anita's head, and the introduction was made. A moment later the three entered thecabin, a model of neatness and primitive luxury. 

"How is it that you are up so early, dear?" young Harris asked, as heunbuckled his belt and hung it upon a peg in the wall. "You are rarelyas spry, eh?"

"Indeed! I have not been to bed at all, " replied the girl, a wearysmile wreathing her lips. "I was nervous, and feared something wasgoing to happen, so I staid up. "

"Your old plea--the presentiment of coming danger, I suppose, " and theyouth laughed, gayly. "But you need not fear. No one will invade ourlittle Paradise, right away. What is your opinion of it, Redburn?"

"I should say not. I think this little mountain retreat is withoutequal, " replied Harry, with enthusiasm. "The only wonder is, how didyou ever stumble into such a delightful place. "

"Of that I will perhaps tell you, another time, " said Harris, musingly. 

Day soon dawned over the mountains, and the early morning sunlightfell with charming effect into the little "pocket, " with its countlessthousands of odorous flowers, and the little ivy-clad cabin nestlingdown among them all. 

Sweet, sad-faced Anita prepared a sumptuous morning repast out ofantelope-steak and the eggs of wild birds, with dainty side dishes oflate summer berries, and a large luscious melon which had been grownon a cultivated patch, contiguous to the cabin. 

Both Harris and his guest did ample justice to the meal, for they hadneither eaten anything since the preceding noon. When they hadfinished, Ned arose from the table, saying: "Pardner, I shall leaveyou here for a few days, during which time I shall probably be mostlyaway on business. Make yourself at home and see that Anita is properlyprotected; I will return in a week at the furthest;--perhaps in a dayor two. "

He took down his rifle and belt from the wall, buckled on the latter, and half an hour later left the "pocket. " That was a day of days toHarry Redburn. He rambled about the picturesque little valley, rompedon the luxuriant grass and gathered wild flowers, alternately. Atnight he sat in the cabin door and listened to the cries of the nightbirds and the incessant hooting of the mountain owls (which by theway, are very abundant throughout the Black Hills. )

All efforts to engage Anita in conversation proved fruitless. 

On the following day both were considerably astonished to perceivethat there was a stranger in their Paradise;--a bow-legged, hump-backed, grisly little old fellow, who walked with a staff. Heapproached the cabin, and Redburn went out to find who he was. 

"Gude-mornin'!" nodded General Nix, (for it was he) with a grin. "Ijes' kim over inter this deestrict ter prospect fer gold. Don' seemter recognize yer unkle, eh? boy; I'm Nix Walsingham Nix, Esquire, geological surveyor an' mine-locater. I've located more nor fortythousan' mines in my day, more or less--ginerally a consider'ble moreof less than less of more. I perdict frum ther geological formation o'this nest an' a dream I hed last night, thet thar's sum uv therbiggest veins right in this yere valley as ye'll find in ther Hills!"

"Humph! no gold here, " replied Redburn, who had already learned fromstudy and experience how to guess a fat strike. "It is out of thechannel. "

"No; et's right in the channel. "

"Well, I'll not dispute you. How did you get into the valley?"

"Through ther pass, " and the General chuckled approvingly. "See'd afeller kim down ther canyon, yesterday, so I nosed about ter findwhar he kim from, that's how I got here; 'sides, I hed a dream aboutthis place. "

"Indeed!" Redburn was puzzled how to act under the circumstances. Justthen there came a piercing scream from the direction of the cabin. 

What could it mean? Was Nix an enemy, and was some one else of hisgang attacking Anita?

Certainly she _was_ in trouble!

CHAPTER V. 

SITTING BULL--THE FAIR CAPTIVE. 

Fearless Frank stepped back aghast, as he saw the inhuman chief of theSioux--the cruel, grim-faced warrior, Sitting Bull; shrunk back, andlaid his hand upon the butt of a revolver. 

"Ha!" he articulated, "is that you, chief? You, and at such work asthis?" there was stern reproach in the youth's tone, and certain it isthat the Sioux warrior heard the words spoken. 

"My friend, Scarlet Boy, is keen with the tongue, " he said, frowning. "Let him put shackles upon it, before it leaps over the bounds ofreason. "

"I see no reason why I should not speak in behalf of yon sufferinggirl!" retorted the youth, fearlessly, "on whom you have beeninflicting one of the most inhuman tortures Indian cunning couldconceive. For shame, chief, that you should ever assent to such anact--lower yourself to the grade of a dog by such a dastard deed. Forshame, I say!"

Instantly the form of the great warrior straightened up like an arrow, and his painted hand flew toward the pistols in his belt. 

But the succeeding second he seemed to change his intention; his handwent out toward the youth in greeting:

"The Scarlet Boy is right, " he said, with as much graveness as ared-skin can conceive. "Sitting Bull listens to his words as he wouldto those of a brother. Scarlet Boy is no stranger in the land of theSioux; he is the friend of the great chief and his warriors. Once whenthe storm-gods were at war over the pine forests and picture rocks ofthe Hills; when the Great Spirit was sending fiery messengers down invivid streaks from the skies, the Big Chief cast a thunderbolt inplayfulness at the feet of Sitting Bull. The shock of the hand of theGreat Spirit did not escape me; for hours I lay like one slain inbattle. My warriors were in consternation; they ran hither and thitherin affright, calling on the Manitou to preserve their chief. You came, Scarlet Boy, in the midst of all the panic;--came, and though then buta stripling, you applied simple remedies that restored Sitting Bull tothe arms of his warriors. [A]

"From that hour Sitting Bull was your friend--is your friend, now, andwill be as long as the red-men exist as a tribe. "

"Thank you, chief;" and Fearless Frank grasped the Indian's hand andwrung it warmly. "I believe you mean all you say. But I am surprisedto find you engaged at such work as this. I have been told thatSitting Bull made war only on warriors--not on women. "

An ugly frown darkened the savage's face--a frown wherein was depicteda number of slumbering passions. 

"The pale-face girl is the last survivor of a train that the warriorsof Sitting Bull attacked in Red Canyon. Sitting Bull lost manywarriors; yon pale squaw shot down full a half-score before she couldbe captured; she belongs to the warriors of Sitting Bull, and not tothe great chief himself. "

"Yet you have the power to free her--to yield her up to me. Consider, chief; are you not enough my friend that you can afford to give me thepale-face girl? Surely, she has been tortured sufficiently to satisfyyour braves' thirst for vengeance. "

Sitting Bull was silent. 

"What will the Scarlet Boy do with the fair maiden of his tribe?"

"Bear her to a place of safety, chief, and care for her until I canfind her friends--probably she has friends in the East. "

"It shall be as he says. Sitting Bull will withdraw his braves andScarlet Boy can have the red-man's prize. "

A friendly hand-shake between the youth and the Sioux chieftain, aword from the latter to the grim painted warriors, and the nextinstant the glade was cleared of the savages. 

Fearless Frank then hastened to approach the insensible captive, and, with a couple sweeps of his knife, cut the bonds that held her to thetorture-stake. Gently he laid her on the grass, and arranged about herhalf-nude form the garments Sitting Bull's warriors had torn off, andsoon he had the satisfaction of seeing her once more clothed properly. It still remained for him to restore her to consciousness, and thispromised to be no easy task, for she was in a dead swoon. She was evenmore beautiful of face and figure than one would have imagined at afirst glance. Of a delicate blonde complexion, with pink-tingedcheeks, she made a very pretty picture, her face framed as it was in awild disheveled cloud of auburn hair. 

A hatful of cold water from a neighboring spring dashed into herupturned face; a continued chafing of the pure white soft hands; thenthere was a convulsive twitching of the features, a low moan, and theeyes opened and darted a glance of affright into the face of theScarlet Boy. 

"Fear not, miss;" and the youth gently supported her to a sittingposture. "I am a friend, and your cruel captors have vamosed. Lucky Icame along just as I did, or it's likely they'd have killed you. "

"Oh! sir, how can I ever thank you for rescuing me from thosemerciless fiends!" and the maiden gave him a grateful glance. "Theywhipped me, terribly!"

"I know, lady--all because you defended yourself in Red Canyon. "

"I suppose so: but how did you find out so much, and, also, effect myrelease from the savages?"

Fearless Frank leaned up against the tree which had been used as thetorture-stake, and related what is already known to the reader. 

When he had finished, the rescued captive seized his hand between bothher own, and thanked him warmly. 

"Had it not been for you, sir, no one but our God knows what wouldhave been my fate. Oh! sir, what can I do, more than to thank you athousand times, to repay you for the great service you have renderedme?"

"Nothing, lady; nothing that I think of at present. Was it not myduty, while I had the power, to free you from the hands of thosebarbarians? Certainly it was, and I deserve no thanks. But tell me, what is your name, and were your friends all killed in the train fromwhich you were taken?"

"I had no friends, sir, save a lady whose acquaintance I made on thejourney out from Cheyenne. As to my name--you can call me Miss Terry. "

"Mystery!" in blank amazement. 

"Yes;" with a gay laugh--"Mystery, if you choose. My name is AliceTerry. "

"Oh!" and the youth began to brighten. "Miss Terry, to be sure;Mystery! ha! ha! good joke. I shall call you the latter. Have youfriends and relatives East?"

"No. I came West to meet my father, who is somewhere in the BlackHills. "

"Do you know at what place?"

"I do not. "

"I fear it will be a hard matter to find him, then. The Hills now havea floating population of about twenty-five thousand souls. Your fatherwould be one to find out of that lot. "

A faint smile came over the girl's face. "I should know papa amongfifty thousand, if necessary;" she said, "although I have not seen himfor years. "

She failed to mention how many, or what peculiarities she wouldrecognize him by. Was he blind, deaf or dumb?

Fearless Frank glanced around him, and saw that a path rugged andsteep led up to the prairie above. 

"Come, " he said, offering his arm, "we will get up to the plains andgo. "

"Where to?" asked Miss Terry, rising with an effort. The welts acrossher back were swollen and painful. 

"Deadwood is my destination. I can deviate my course, however, if itwill accommodate you. "

"Oh! no; you must not inconvenience yourself on my account. I am oflittle or no consequence, you know. "

She leaned upon his arm, and they ascended the path to the plainabove. 

Frank's horse was grazing near by where the scarlet youth had takenhis unceremonious tumble. 

Off to the north-west a cloud of dust rose heavenward, and he rightlyconjectured that it hid from view the chieftain, Sitting Bull, and hiswarriors. 

His thoughts reverting to his companion, "General" Nix, and the trainof Charity Joe, he glanced toward where he had last seen them. 

Neither were to be seen, now. Probably Nix had rejoined the train, andit was out of eye-shot behind a swell in the plains. 

"Were you looking for some one?" Alice asked, looking into herrescuer's face. 

"Yes, I was with a train when I first heard your cries; I left theboys, and came to investigate. I guess they have gone on without me. "

"How mean of them! Will we have to make the journey to the Hillsalone?"

"Yes, unless we should providentially fall in with a train or beovertaken by a stage. "

"Are you not afraid?"

"My cognomen is Fearless Frank, lady; you can draw conclusions fromthat. "

He went and caught the horse, arranged a blanket in the saddle so thatshe could ride side-fashion, and assisted her to mount. 

The sun was touching the lips of the horizon with a golden kiss; moretime than Frank had supposed' had elapsed since he left the train. 

Far off toward the east shadows were hugging close behind the lastlingering rays of sunlight; a couple of coyotes were sneaking intoview a few rods away; birds were winging homeward; a perfume-ladenbreeze swept down from the Black Hills, and fanned the pink cheeks ofAlice Terry into a vivid glow. 

"We cannot go far, " said Frank, thoughtfully, "before darkness willovertake us. Perhaps we had better remain in the canal, here, wherethere is both grass and water. In the morning we will take a freshstart. "

The plan was adopted; they camped in the break, or "canal, " near whereAlice had been tortured. 

Out of his saddle-bags Frank brought forth crackers, biscuit and driedvenison; these, with clear sparkling water from the spring in thechaparral, made a meal good enough for anybody. 

The night was warm; no fire was needed. 

A blanket spread on the grass served as a resting-place for Alice; thestrange youth in scarlet lay with his head resting against the side ofhis horse. The least movement of the animal, he said, would arousehim; he was keen of scent and quick to detect danger--meaning thehorse. 

The night passed away without incident; as early as four o'clock--whenit is daylight on the plains--Fearless Frank was astir. 

Be found the rivulet flowing from the spring to abound with trout, andcaught and dressed the morning meal. 

Alice was awake by the time breakfast was ready. She bathed her faceand hands in the stream, combed her long auburn hair through herfingers, and looked sweeter than on the previous night--at least, sothought Fearless Frank. 

"The day promises to be delightful, does it not?" she remarked, as sheseated herself to partake of the repast. 

"Exactly. Autumn months are ever enjoyable in the West. "

The meal dispatched, no delay was made in leaving the place. 

Fearless Frank strode along beside his horse and its fair rider, chatting pleasantly, and at the same time making a close observationof his surroundings. He knew he was in parts frequented by both redand white savages, and it would do no harm to keep on one's guard. 

They traveled all day and reached Sage creek at sunset. 

Here they remained over night, taking an early start on the succeedingmorning. 

That day they made good progress, in consequence of Frank's purchaseof a horse at Sage creek from some friendly Crow Indians, and darknessovertook them at the mouth of Red Canyon, where they went into camp. 

By steady pushing they reached Rapid creek the next night, for no haltwas made at Custer City, and for the first time since leaving thetorture-ground, camped with a miner's family. As yet no cabins orshanties had been erected here, canvas tents serving in the stead;to-day there are between fifty and a hundred wooden structures. 

Alice was charmed with the wild grandeur of the mountain scenery--withthe countless acres of blossoms and flowering shrubs--with theromantic and picturesque surroundings in general, and was veryemphatic in her praises. 

One day of rest was taken at Rapid Creek; then the twain pushed on, and when night again overtook them, they rode into the bustling, noisy, homely metropolis--Deadwood, magic city of the North-west. 

CHAPTER VI. 

ONLY A SNAKE--LOCATING A MINE. 

Harry Redburn hurried off toward the cabin, which was some steps away. In Anita's scream there were both terror and affright. 

Walsingham Nix, the hump-backed, bow-legged explorer and prospecterhobbled after him, using his staff for support. 

He had heard the scream, but years' experience among the "gals" taughthim that a feminine shriek rarely, if ever, meant anything. 

Redburn arrived at the cabin in a few flying bounds, and leaped intothe kitchen. 

There, crouched upon the floor in one corner, all in a little heap, pale, tumbling and terrified, was Anita. Before her, squirming alongover the sand-scrubbed floor, evidently disabled by a blow, was anenormous black-snake. 

It was creeping away instead of toward Anita, leaving a faint trail ofcrimson in its wake; yet the young girl's face was blanched with fear. 

"You screamed at that?" demanded Redburn, pointing to the coilingserpent. 

"Ugh! yes; it is horrible. "

"But, it is harmless. See: some one has given it a blow across theback, and it is disabled for harm. "

Anita looked up into his handsome face, wonderingly. 

"I guv et a rap across the spinal column, when I kim into the valley, "said General Nix, thrusting his head in at the door, a ludicrous grinelongating his grisly features. "'Twar a-goin' ter guv me a yard or souv et's tongue, more or less--consider'bly less of more than more ofless--so I jest salivated it across ther back, kerwhack!"

Anita screamed again as she saw the General, he was so rough andhomely. 

"Who are you?" she managed to articulate as Redburn assisted her torise from the floor. "What are you doing here, where you were notinvited?"

There was a degree of haughtiness in her tone that Redburn did notdream she possessed. 

The "General" rubbed the end of his nose, chuckled audibly, thenlaughed, outright. 

"I opine this ar' a free country, ain't it, marm, more or less? When afeller kerflummuxes rite down onter a payin' streek I opine he's goin'ter roost that till he gits reddy to vamoose, ain't he?"

"But, sir, my brother was the first to discover this spot and build usa home here, and he claims that all belongs to him. "

"He do? more or less--consider'bly less of more than more uv less, eh?Yas, I kno' yer brother--leastways hev seen him an' heerd heeps abouthim. Letters uv his name spell Ned Harris, not?"

"Yes, sir; but how can you know him? Few do, in Deadwood. "

"Nevyer mind that, my puss. Ole Walsingham Nix do kno' a few thingsyet, ef he ar' a hard old nut fer w'ich thar is not cra'kin'. "

Anita looked at Redburn, doubtfully. 

"Brother would be very angry if he were to return and find this manhere, what would you advise?"

"I am of the opinion that he will have to vacate, " replied Harry, decidedly. 

"_Nix_ cum-a-rouse!" disagreed the old prospecter. "I'm hayr, an'thar's no yearthly use o' denyin _that_. Barrin' ye ar' a rightpeart-lookin' kid, stranger, allow me ter speculate thet it would takea dozen, more or less--consider'bly less uv more than more o'less--ter put me out. "

Redburn laughed heartily. The old fellow's bravado amused him. Anitahowever, was silent; she put dependence in her protector to arrangematters satisfactorily. 

"That savors strongly of rebellion, " Redburn observed, sitting downupon a lounge that stood hard by. "Besides, you have an advantage; Iwould not attack you; you are old and unfitted for combat; deformedand unable to do battle. "

"Exactly!" the "General" confidently announced. 

"What good can come of your remaining here?" demanded Anita. 

"Sit down, marm, sit down, an I'll perceed ter divest myself uv w'atlittle information I've got stored up in my noddle. Ye see, mum, myname's Walsingham Nix, at yer sarvice--Walsingham bein' my great, great grandad's fronticepiece, while Nix war ther hind-wheeler, likenor w'at a he-mule ar' w'en hitched ter a 'schooner. ' Ther Nix familywere a great one, bet yer false teeth; originated about ther timeJoner swallered the whale, down nigh Long Branch, and 've bin handeddown frum time ter time till ye behold in me ther last surrivin'pilgrim frum ther ancestral block. Thar was one remarkablepecooliarity about ther Nix family, frum root ter stump, an' ther war, they war nevyer known ter refuse a gift or an advantageous offer; inthis respeck they bore a striking resemblance ter the immortell G'orgeWashington. G'orge war innercent; he ked never tell a lie. So war ourfamily; they never hed it in their hearts to say _Nix_ to an offer uva good feed or a decoction o' brandy. 

"It war a disease--a hereditary affection uv ther hull combinedsystem. The terrible malady attacked me w'en I war an infant prodigy, an' I've nevyer yit see'd thet time when I c'u'd resist the temptationan' coldly say 'nix' w'en a brother pilgrim volunteered ter make aliberal dispensation uv grub, terbarker, or bug-juice. Nix ar' a wordthet causes sorrer an' suffering ter scores 'n' scores o' people, moreor less--generally more uv less than less o' more--an' tharfore Inevyer feel it my duty, as a Christyun, ter set a bad example w'ichothers may foller. "

Redburn glanced toward Anita, a quizzical expression upon his genialface. 

"I fail to see how that has any reference as to the cause of your stayamong us, " he observed, amused at the quaint lingo of the prospector. 

"Sart'in not, sart'in not! I had just begun ter git thar. I've onlybin gi'in' ye a geological ijee uv ther Nix family's formation; I'llnow perceed to illustrate more clearly, thr'u' veins an' channelshitherto unexplored, endin' up wi' a reg'lar hoss-car proposal. "

Then the old fellow proceeded with a rambling "yarn, " giving moreguesses than actual information and continued on in this strain:

"So thar _war_ gold. I went ter work an' swallered a pill o' opium, w'ich made me sleep, an' while I whar snoozin' I dreampt about therperzact place whar thet gold war secreted. It war in a little pocketbeneath the bed of a spring frum which flowed a little creeklet. 

"Next mornin', bright an' early, I shouldered pick, shuvyel an' pan, an' went for thet identical spring. To-day thet pocket, havin' beentraced into a rich vein, is payin' as big or bigger nor any claim onSpring creek. "[B]

Both Redburn and Anita were unconsciously becoming interested. 

"And do you think there is gold here, in this flower-strewnpocket-valley?"

"I don't think it--I know it. I hed a dreem et war hayr in bigquantities, so I h'isted my carcass this direction. Ter-nite I'll hevernuther nighthoss, an' thet'll tell me precisely where ther strikear'. "

Redburn drummed a tattoo on the arm of the lounge his fingers; he wasreflecting on what he had heard. 

"You are willing to make terms, I suppose, " he said, after a while, glancing at Anita to see if he was right. "You are aware, I believe, that we still hold possession above any one else. "

"True enuff. Ye war first ter diskiver this place ye orter hev yer sayabout it. "

"Well, then, perhaps we can come to a bargain. You can state yourprices for locating and opening up this mine, and we will consider. "

"Wal, let me see. Ef the mine proves to be ekal ter the one thet Ilocated on Spring creek, I'll take in a third fer my share uv thedivys. Ef 'tain't good's I expect, I'll take a quarter. "

Redburn turned to Anita. 

"From what little experience I have had, I think it is a fair offer. What is your view of the matter and do you believe your brother willbe satisfied?"

"Oh! yes, sir. It will surprise and please him, to return and find hisParadise has been turned into a gold-mine. "

"All right; then, we will go ahead and get things to shape. We willhave to get tools, though, before we can accomplish much of anything. "

"My brother has a miner's outfit here, " said Anita. "That will saveyou a trip to Deadwood, for the present. "

And so it was all satisfactorily arranged. During the remainder of theday the old "General" and Redburn wandered about through theflower-meadows of the pocket, here and there examining a little soilnow chipping rock among the rugged foothills, then "feeling" in thebed of the creek. But, not a sign of anything like gold was to befound, and when night called them to shelter, Redburn was prettythoroughly convinced that Nix was an enormous "sell, " and that hecould put all the gold they would find in his eye. The "General, "however, was confident of success, and told many doubtful yarns offormer discoveries and exploits. 

Anita prepared an evening meal that was both tempting and sumptuous, and all satisfied their appetites after which Harry took down theguitar, suspended from the wall, tuned it up, and sung in a clearmellow voice a number of ballads, to which the "General, " much to thesurprise of both Redburn and Anita, lent a rich deep bass--a voice ofsuperior culture. 

The closing piece was a weird melody--the lament of a heart that wasbroken, love-blasted--and was rendered in a style worthy of aprofessional vocalist. The last mournful strains filled the cabin justas the last lingering rays of sunlight disappeared from the mountaintop, and shadows came creeping down the rugged walls of rock toconcentrate in the Flower Pocket, as Anita had named her valley home. Redburn rose from his seat at the window, and reached the instrumentto its accustomed shelf, darting a glance toward sad Anita, a momentlater. To his surprise he perceived that her head was bowed upon herarm that lay along the window-ledge--that she was weeping, softly, toherself. 

Acting the gentlemanly part, the young miner motioned for Nix tofollow him, and they both retired to the outside of the cabin tolounge on the grass and smoke, and thus Anita was left alone with hergrief and such troubles as were the causes thereof. 

Certain it was that she had a secret, but what it was Redburn couldnot guess. 

About ten o'clock he and Nix re-entered the cabin and went to bed in aroom allotted to them, off from the little parlor. Both went to sleepat once, and it was well along toward morning when Redburn was arousedby being rudely shaken by "General" Nix, who was up and dressed, andheld a torch in his hand. 

"Come! come!" he said in a husky whisper, and a glance convinced Harrythat he was still asleep, although his eyes were wide open andstaring. 

Without a word the young man leaped from bed, donned his garments, andthe old man then led the way out of the cabin. 

In passing through the kitchen, Redburn saw that Anita was up andwaiting. 

"Come!" he said, seizing a hatchet and stake, "we are about todiscover the gold-mine, and our fortunes;" with a merry laugh. 

Then both followed in the wake of the sleep walker, and were led tonear the center of the valley, which was but a few steps in the rearof the cabin. Here was a bed of sand washed there from an overflow ofthe stream, and at this the "General" pointed, as he came to a halt. 

"There! _there_ is the gold--millions of it deep down--twenty orthirty feet--in sand--easy to get! dig! DIG! DIG!"

Redburn marked the spot by driving the stake in the ground. 

It now only remained to dig in the soil to verify the truth of the oldman's fancy. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote A: A fact. ]

CHAPTER VII. 

DEADWOOD DICK ON THE ROAD. 

Rumbling noisily through the black canyon road to Deadwood, at an hourlong past midnight, came the stage from Cheyenne, loaded down withpassengers, and full five hours late, on account of a broken shaft, which had to be replaced on the road. There were six plunging, snarling horses attached, whom the veteran Jehu on the box, managedwith the skill of a circusman, and all the time the crack! snap! ofhis long-lashed gad made the night resound as like so many pistolreports. 

The road was through a wild tortuous canyon, fringed with tallspectral pines, which occasionally admitted a bar of ghostly moonlightacross the rough road over which the stage tore with wildrecklessness. 

Inside, the vehicle was crammed full to its utmost capacity, andtherefrom emanated the strong fumes of whisky and tobacco smoke, andstronger language, over the delay and the terrible jolting of theconveyance. 

In addition to those penned up inside, there were two passengerspositioned on top, to the rear of the driver, where they clung to thetrunk railings to keep from being jostled off. 

One was an elderly man, tall in stature and noticeably portly, with aflorid countenance, cold gray eyes, and hair and beard of brown, freely mixed with silvery threads. He was elegantly attired, hiscostume being of the finest cloth and of the very latest cut: bootspatent leathers, and hat glossy as a mirror; diamonds gleamed andsparkled on his immaculate shirt-bosom, on his fingers and from theseal of a heavy gold chain across his vest front. 

The other personage was a counterpart of the first to everyparticular, save that while one was more than a semi-centenarian toyears, the other was barely twenty. The same faultless elegance indress, the same elaborate display of jewels, and the same haughty, aristocratic bearing produced in one was mirrored to the other. 

They were father and son. 

"Confound such a road!" growled the younger man, as the stage bouncedhim about like a rubber ball. "For my part I wish I had remained athome, instead of coming out into this outlandish region. It isperfectly awful. "

"Y-y-y-e-s!" chattered the elder between the jolts and jerks--"it isnot what it should be, that's true. But have patience; ere long wewill reach our destination, and--"

"Get shot like poor Vansevere did!" sneered the other. "I tell you, governor, this is a desperate game you are playing. "

The old man smiled, grimly. 

"Desperate or not, we must carry it through to the end. Vansevere wasnot the right kind of a man to set after the young scamp. "

"How do you mean?"

"He was too rash--entirely too rash. Deadwood Dick is a daring whelp, and Vansevere's open offer of a reward for his apprehension only putthe young tiger on his guard, and he will be more wary and watchful inthe future. "

This in a positive tone. 

"Yes; he will be harder to trap than a fox who has lost a foot betweenjaws of steel. He will be revengeful, too!"

"Bah! I fear him not, old as I am. He is but a boy in years, youremember, and will be easily managed. "

"I hope so; I don't want my brains blown out, at least. "

The stage rumbled on; the Jehu cursed and lashed his horses; thecanyon grew deeper, narrower and darker, the grade slightlydescending. 

The moon seemed resting on the summit of a peak, hundreds of feetabove, and staring down in surprise at the noisy stage. 

Alexander Filmore (the elder passenger) succeeded in steadying himselflong enough to ignite the end of a cigar to the bowl of Jehu's grimypipe; then he watched the trees that flitted by. Clarence, his son, had smoked incessantly since leaving Camp Crook, and now threw awayhis half-used cheroot, and listened to the sighing of the spectralpines. 

"The girl--what about her?" he asked, after some moments had elapsed. 

"She will be as much to the way as the boy will. "

"She? Well, we'll attend to her after we git him out of the way. He isthe worst obstacle to our path, at present. Maybe when you see thegirl you will take a fancy to her. "

"Pish! I want no petticoats clinging to me--much less an ignorantbackwoods clodhopper. She is probably a fit mate for an Indian chief. "

"You are too rough on the tender sex, boy, " and the elder Filmore gavevent to a disconnected laugh. "You must remember that your mother wasa woman. "

"Was she?" Clarence bit the end of his waxed mustache, and mused overhis sire's startling announcement. "_You_ recollect that I never sawher. "

"D'ye carry poppin'-jays, pilgrims?" demanded Jehu, turning sosuddenly upon the two passengers as to frighten them out of theirwits. 

"Popping-jays?" echoed Filmore, senior. 

"Yas--shutin'-irons--rewolvers--patent perforatin' masheens. "

"Yes, we are armed, if that is what you mean. "

On dashed the stage through the echoing canyon--on plunged thesnorting horses, excited to greater efforts by the frequentapplication of the cracking lash. The pines grew thicker, and themoonlight less often darted its rays down athwart the road. 

"Hey!" yelled a rough voice from within the stage "w'at d'ye drive sofast fer? Ye've jonced the senses clean out uv a score o' us. "

"Go to blazes!" shouts back Jehu, giving an extra crack to his whip. "Who'n the name o' John Rodgers ar' drivin' this omnybust, pilgrim?--you or I?"

"You'll floor a hoss ef ye don' mind sharp!"

"Who'n thunder wants ye to pay fer et, ef I do?" rings back, tauntingly. "Reckon w'en Bill McGucken can't drive therthru-ter-Deadwood stage as gude as ther average, he'll suspendbizness, or hire _you_ ter steer to his place. "

On, on rumbles the stage, down through a lower grade of the canyon, where no moonlight penetrates, and all is of Stygian darkness. 

The two passengers on top of the stage shiver with dread, and even oldBill McGucken peers around him, a trifle suspiciously. 

It is a wild spot, with the mountains rising on each side of the roadto a stupendous hight, the towering pines moaning their sad, eternalrequiem; the roar of the great wheels over the hardpan bottom; thesnorting of the fractious lead-horses; the curses and the cracking ofJehu's whip; the ring of iron-shod hoofs--it is a place and momentconducive to fear, mute wonder, admiration. 

"_Halt!_"

High above all other sounds now rings this cry, borne toward theadvancing stage from the impenetrable space of gloom ahead, broughtdown in clear commanding tone whereto there is neither fear norhesitation. 

That one word has marvelous effect. It brings a gripe of iron into thehands of Jehu, and he jerks his snorting steeds back upon theirhaunches; it is instrumental in stopping the stage. (Who ever knew aBlack Hills driver to offer to press on when challenged to halt to awild dismal place?)

It sends a thrill of lonely horror through the vein of those to whoseears the cry is borne; it causes hands to fly to the butts of weapons, and hearts to beat faster. 

"Halt!" Again the cry rings forth, reverberating in a hundreddissimilar echoes up the rugged mountain side. 

The horses quiet down: Jehu sits like a carved statue on his box; thesilence becomes painful to those within the stage--those who aretrembling in a fever of excitement, and peering from the open windowswith revolvers cocked for instant use. 

The moon suddenly thrusts her golden head over the pinnacle of a hoarypeak a thousand feet above and lights up the gorge with a ghastlydistinctness that enables the watchers to behold a black horsemanblocking the path a few rods ahead. 

"Silence! Listen!" Two words this time, in the same clear, commandingvoice. A pause of a moment, then the stillness is broken by theominous click! click! of a score of rifles; this alone announces thatthe stage is "covered. "

Then the lone horseman rides leisurely down toward the stage, and Jehurecognizes him. It is Deadwood Dick, Prince of the Road!

Mounted upon his midnight steed, and clad in his weird suit of black, he makes an imposing spectacle, as he comes fearlessly up. Well mayhe be bold and fearless, for no one dares to raise a hand against him, when the glistening barrels of twelve rifles protruding from eachthicket that fringes the road threaten those within and without thestage. 

Close up to the side of the coach rides the daring young outlaw, hispiercing orbs peering out from the eye-holes in his black mask, onehand clasping the bridle-reins the other a nickel-plated seven-shooterdrawn back at full cock. 

"You do well to stop, Bill McGucken!" the road-agent, observes, reining in his steed. "I expected you hours ago, on time. "

"Twarn't my fault, yer honor!" replies Jehu, meek as a lamb under thegaze of the other's popgun. "Ye see, we broke a pole this side o'Custer City, an' that set us behind several p'ints o' ther compass. "

"What have you aboard to-night worth examining!"

"Nothin', yer honor. Only a stageful uv passengers, this trip. "

"Bah! you are getting poor. Get down from off the box, there!"

The driver trembled, and hesitated. 

"_Get_ down!" again commanded the road-agent, leveling his revolver, "before I drop you. "

In terror McGucken made haste to scramble to the ground, where hestood with his teeth chattering and knees knocking together in amanner pitiable to see. "Ha, ha, ha!" That wild laugh of DeadwoodDick's made the welkin ring out a weird chorus. "Bill McGucken, youshould join the regular army, you are so brave. Ha, ha, ha!"

And the laugh was taken up by the road-knights, concealed in thethicket, and swelled into a wild, boisterous shout. 

Poor McGucken trembled in his boots in abject terror, while thoseinside the coach were pretty well scared. 

"Driver!" said the Prince of the Road, coolly, after the laugh, "goyou to the passengers who grace this rickety shebang and take up acollection. You needn't cum to me wi' less'n five hundred ef ye don'twant me to salt ye!"

Bowing humble obeisance, McGucken took off his hat, and made for thestage door. 

"Gentlemen!" he plead, "there is need o' yer dutchin' out yer dudadsright liberal ef ye've enny purtic'lar anticypation an' desire ter gitter Deadwood ter-night. Dick, the Road-Agent, are law an' gospelheerabouts, I spec'late!"

"Durned a cent'll I fork!" growled one old fellow, loud enough to beheard. "I ain't afeerd o' all the robber Dicks from here terJerusalum. "

But when he saw the muzzle of the young road-agent's revolver gazingin through the window, he suddenly changed his mind, and laid aplethoric pocketbook into McGucken's already well-filled hat. 

The time occupied in making the collection was short, and in a fewmoments the Jehu handed up his battered "plug" to the Prince of theRoad for inspection. 

Coolly Deadwood Dick went over the treasure, as if it were allrightfully his own; then he chucked hat and all into one of hissaddle-bags, after which he turned his attention toward the stage. Ashe did so he saw for the first time the two passengers on top, and ashe gazed at them a gleam of fire shot into his eyes and his handsnervously griped at his weapon. 

"Alexander Filmore, you here!" he ejaculated, his voice betraying hissurprise. 

"Yes, " replied the elder Filmore, coldly--"here to shoot you, youdastardly dog, " and quickly raising a pistol, he took rapid and deadlyaim, and fired. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote B: A fact. ]

CHAPTER VIII. 

NOT YET!

With a groan Deadwood Dick fell to the ground, blood spurting from awound in his breast. The bullet of the elder Filmore had indeed struckhome. 

Loud then were the cries of rage and vengeance, as a score of maskedmen poured out from the thickets, and surrounded the stage. 

"Shoot the accursed nigger!" cried one. "He's killed our leader, an'by all the saints in ther calendur he shall pay the penalty!"

"No! no!" yelled another, "well do no such a thing. He shall swing inmid-air!"

"Hey!" cried a third, rising from the side of the prostrateload-agent, "don' ye be so fast, boys. The capt'in still lives. He isnot seriously wounded even!"

A loud huzza went up from the score of throats, that caused a thousandechoing reverberations along the mountain side. 

"Better let ther capt'in say what we shall do wi' yon cuss o'creashun!" suggested one who was apparently a leading spirit; "it's_his_ funeral, ain't it?"

"Yas, yas, it's his funeral!"

"Then let him do ther undertakin'. "

Robber Dick was accordingly supported to a sitting posture, and theblood that flowed freely from his wound was stanched. In the operationhis mask became loosened and slipped to the ground, but so quickly didhe snatch it up and replace it, that no one caught even a glimpse ofhis face. 

In the meantime Clarence Filmore had discharged every load in his twosix-shooters into the air. He had an object in doing this; he thoughtthat the reports of fire-arms would reach Deadwood (which was only ashort mile distant, around the bend), and arouse the military, whowould come to his rescue. 

Dick's wound dressed, he stood once more upon his feet, and glared upat the two men on the box. They were plainly revealed in the ghostlymoonlight, and their features easily studied. 

"Alexander Filmore!" the young road-agent said, a terrible depth ofmeaning in his voice, that the cowering wretch could but understand. 

"Alexander Filmore, you have at last come out and shown your truecolors. What a treacherous, double-dyed villain you are! Better so;better that you should take the matter into your own hands and facethe music, than to employ _tools_, as you have done heretofore. I canfight a dozen enemies face to face better than one or two lurking inthe bushes. "

The elder Filmore uttered a savage curse. 

"You triumph _now!_" he growled, biting his nether lip in vexation;"but it will not always be thus. "

"Eh? think not? I think I shall have to _adopt_ you for awhile. Boys, haul down the two, and bind them securely. "

Accordingly, a rush was made upon the stage, and the two outsidepassengers. Down they were hauled, head over heels, and quicklysecured by strong cords about the wrists and ankles. 

This done, Deadwood Dick turned to Bill McGucken, who had ventured toclamber to the seat of the coach. 

"Drive on, you cowardly lout--drive on. We've done with you for thepresent. But, remember, not a word of this to the population ofDeadwood, if you intend to ever make another trip over this route. Now, go!"

Jehu needed not the second invitation. He never was tardy in gettingout of the way of danger: so he picked up the reins, gave an extrahard crack of the long whip, and away rolled the jolting stage throughthe black canyon, disappearing a moment later around the bend, beyondwhich lay Deadwood--magic city of the wilderness. 

Then, out from the thicket the road-agents led their horses; the twoprisoners were secured in the saddles in front of two brawny outlaws, and without delay the cavalcade moved down the gorge, weirdlyilluminated by the mellow rays of the soaring moon. 

 * * * * *

Clarence Filmore had hoped that the report of his pistol-shots wouldreach Deadwood. If so, his wishes were fulfilled. The reports reachedthe barracks above Deadwood just as a horseman galloped up thehill--Major R----, just in from a carouse down at the "Met. "

"Halloo!" he shouted, loudly. "To horse! there is trouble in thegorge. The Sioux, under Sitting Bull, are upon us!"

As the major's word was law at the barracks, in very short order thegarrison was aroused, and headed by the major in person, a cavalcadeof sleepy soldiers swept down the gorge toward the place whence hadcome the firing. 

Wildly around the abrupt bend they dashed with yells of anticipatedvictory: then there was a frightful collision between the incomingstage and the outgoing cavalry; the shrieks and screams of horses, thecurses and yells of wounded men; and a general pandemonium ensued. 

The coach, passengers, horses and all was upset, and went rolling downa steep embankment. 

Major R---- was precipitated headlong over the embankment, and in hisdownward flight probably saw more than one soaring comet. He struckhead-first in a muddy run, and a sorrier-looking officer of the U. S. A. Was never before seen in the Black Hills as he emerged from his bath, than the major. His ridiculous appearance went so far as to stay thegeneral torrent of blasphemy and turn it into a channel of boisterouslaughter. 

No delay was made in putting things ship-shape again, and ere morningdawned Deadwood beheld the returned soldiers and wrecked stage withits sullen passengers within its precincts. 

Dick and his men rode rapidly down the canyon, the two prisonersbringing up the rear under the escort of two masked guards. 

These guards were brothers and Spanish-Mexicans at that. 

The elder Filmore, a keen student of character, was not long in makingout these Spaniards' true character, nor did their greedy glancestoward his and his son's diamonds escape him. 

"We want to get free!" he at last whispered, when none of those aheadwere glancing back. "You will each receive a cool five hundred apieceif you will set us at liberty. "

The two road-agents exchanged glances. 

"It's a bargain!" returned one. "Stop your horses, and let the othersgo on!"

The main party were at this juncture riding swiftly down a steepgrade. 

The four horses were quietly reined in, and when the others were outof hearing, their noses were turned back up the canyon in thedirection of Deadwood. 

"This will be an unhealthy job for us!" said one of the brothers, "should we ever meet Dick again. "

"Fear him not!" replied Alexander Filmore, with an oath. "If he evercrosses your path shoot him down like a dog, and I'll give you athousand dollars for the work. The sooner he dies the better I'll besuited. "

He spoke in a tone of strongest hate--deepest rancor. 

CHAPTER IX. 

AT THE "MET. "

A few nights subsequent to the events related in our last chapter, itbecomes our duty to again visit the notorious "Metropolitan" saloon ofDeadwood, to see what is going on there. 

As usual everything around the place and in it is literally "red hot. "The bars are constantly crowded, the gaming-tables are never empty, and the floor is so full of surging humanity that the dance, formerlya chief attraction, has necessarily been suspended. 

The influx of "pilgrims" into the Black Hills for the last few dayshas been something more than wonderful, every stage coming inovercharged with feverish passengers, and from two to a dozen trainsarriving daily. 

Of course Deadwood receives a larger share of all thisimmigration--nothing is more natural, for the young metropolis of thehills is _the_ miner's rendezvous, being in the center of the bestyielding locates. 

Every person in Deadwood can tell you where the "Met" is, as it isgeneral head-quarters. 

We mount the mud-splashed steps and disappear behind the screen thatstands in front of the door. Then the merry clink of glasses, snatchesof ribald song, and loud curses from the polluted lips of some wretchwho has lost heavily at the gaming-table, reach our hearing, while ourgaze wanders over as motley a crowd as it has ever been our fortune tobehold. 

Men from the States--lawyers, doctors, speculators, adventurers, pilgrims, and dead-beats; men from the western side of the Missouri;grisly miners from Colorado; hunters and trappers from Idaho andWyoming; card sharps from Denver and Fr'isco; pickpockets from St. Joeand bummers from Omaha--all are here, each one a part of a strange andon the whole a very undesirable community. 

Although the dance has been suspended, that does not necessitate thedischarge of the brazen-faced girls, and they may yet be seen herewith the rest mingling freely among the crowd. 

Seated at a table in a somewhat retired corner, were two personsengaged at cards. One was a beardless youth attired in buck-skin, andarmed with knife and pistols; the other a big, burly tough from theupper chain--grisly, bloated and repulsive. He, too, was nothing shortof a walking arsenal, and it was plain to see that he was a desperatecharacter. 

The game was poker. The youth had won three straight games and nowlaid down the cards that ended the fourth in his favor. 

"You're flaxed ag'in, pardner!" he said, with a light laugh, as heraked in the stakes. "This takes your all, eh?"

"Every darned bit!" said the "Cattymount"--for it was he--with anoath. "You've peeled me to ther hide, an' no mistake. Salivated me'way out o' time, sure's thar ar' modesty in a bar-girl's tongue!"

The youth laughed. "You are not in luck to-night. Maybe your luck willreturn, if you keep on. Haven't you another V?"

"Nary another!"

"Where's your pard, that got salted the other night?"

"Who--Chet Diamond? Wal, hee's around heer, sum'ars, but I can't borrynone off o' him. No; I've gotter quit straight off. "

"I'll lend you ten to begin on, " said the youth, and he laid an X inthe ruffian's hands. "There, now, go ahead with your funeral. It'syour deal. "

The cards were dealt, and the game played, resulting in the favor ofthe "Cattymount. " Another and another was played, and the tough wonevery time. Still the youth kept on, a quiet smile resting on hispleasant features, a twinkle in his coal-black eye. The youth, dearreader, you have met before. 

_He_ is not he, but instead--Calamity Jane. On goes the game, theburly "tough" winning all the time, his pile of tens steadilyincreasing in hight. 

"Talk about Joner an' the ark, an' Noar an' ther whale!" he cries, slapping another X onto the pile with great enthusiasm; "I hed agrate, grate muther-in-law w'at played keerds wi' Noar inside o' theteyedentical whale's stummick--played poker wi' w'alebones fer pokers. They were afterward landed at Plymouth rock, or sum uther big rock, an' fit together, side by side, in the rebellyuns. "

"Indeed!"--with an amused laugh--"then you must have descended from along line of respected ancestors. "

"Auntsisters? Wa'al, I jest about reckon I do. I hev got ther blood o'Cain and Abel in my veins, boyee, an' ef I ken't raise the biggestkind o' Cain tain't because I ain't _able_--oh! no. Pace anutherpilgrim?"

"I reckon. How much have ye got piled up thar in that heap!"

"Squar' ninety tens, my huckleberry, an' all won fa'r, you bet. "

"Then it's the first time you ever won anything fair, Cass Diamond!"exclaimed a voice close hand, and the two players looked up to see NedHarris standing near by, with his hands clasped across his breast. 

Calamity Jane nodded, indifferently. She had seen the young miner onseveral occasions; once she had been rendered an invaluable servicewhen he rescued her from a brawl in which a dozen toughs had attackedher. 

"Cattymount" Cass, brother of Chet Diamond, the Deadwood card-king, recognized him also, and with an oath, sprung to his feet. 

"By all the Celestyals!" he ejaculated, jerking forth asix-shooter--"by all the roarin', screechin, shriekin', yowlin', squawkin, ' ring-tailed, flat-futted cattymounts thet ever did therforest aisles o' old Alaska traverse! _you_ here, ye infernalsmooth-faced varmint? _You_ heer, arter all ye've did to ride thercittyzens o' Deadwood inter rebellyun, ye leetle pigminian deputy uvther devil? Hurra! hurra! boys; let's string him up ter ther nearestsapling!"

"Hal ha!" laughed Harris, coolly, "hear the coward squeal for hispard's assistance. Dassen't stand on his own leather fer fear ofgettin' salted fer all he's worth. "

"You're a liar!" roared the "Cattymount" spreading himself aboutpromiscuously, but the two words had scarcely left his lips when ablow from the fist of Ned Harris reached him under the left eye, andhe went sprawling on the ground in a heap. 

"Here! here!" roared a stranger, rushing in upon the scene, andhurling the crowd aside with a dexterity something wonderful. "What isthe meaning of all this? Who knocked Cass Diamond down?"

"I had that honor!" coolly remarked Ned Harris, stepping boldly up andconfronting the Deadwood card-king, for it was the notorious ChetDiamond who had asked the question. "I smacked him in the gob, ChetDiamond, for calling me a liar, and am ready to accommodate a fewmore, if there are any who wish to prefer the same charge!"

"Bully, Ned! and here's what will back you!" cried Calamity Jane, leaping to the miner's side, a cocked six in either white, shapelyhand; "so sail in, pilgrims!"

Diamond cowered back, and swore furiously. The wound in his breast wasyet sore and rankling, and he knew he owed it to the cool andcalculating young miner whose name was an omen of terror among toe"toughs" of Deadwood. 

"Come on, you black-hearted ace thief!" shouted Calamity Jane, thrusting the muzzle of one of her plated revolvers forcibly under thegambler's prominent nose--"come on! slide in if you are after squar'up-an'-down fun. We'll greet you, best we know how, an' not charge youanything, either. See! I've got a couple full hands o' sixes--everyone's a trump! Ain't ye got no aces hid up yer sleeves?"

The card sharp still cursed furiously, and backed away. He dare notreach for a weapon lest the dare-devil girl or young Harris (who nowheld a cocked pill-box in each hand), -"should salt him on a full lay. "

"Ha! ha! ha!" and the laugh of Calamity rung wildly through the greatsaloon--"Ha! ha! ha! here's a go! Who wants to buy a cupped-wingedsharp?"

"Sold out right cheap!" added Ned, facetiously. "Clear the track andwe'll take him out and boost him to a limb. "

At this juncture some half a dozen of the gambler's gang came rushingup, headed by Catamount Cass, who had recovered from the effects ofthe blow from Harris' fist. 

"At them! at 'em!" roared the "screechin' cattymount frum up nor'. ""Rip, dig an' gouge 'em. Ho! ho! we'll see now who'll swing, _we_will! We'll l'arn who'll display his agility in mid-air, we will. At'em, b'yees, at 'em. We'll hang 'em like they do hoss-thieves down atCheyenne!"

Then followed a pitched battle in the bar-room of the "Metropolitan"saloon, such as probably never occurred there before, and never hassince. 

Revolvers flashed on every hand, knives clashed in deadly conflict;yells, wild, savage, and awful made a perfect pandemonium, to whichwas added a second edition in the shape of oaths, curses, and groans. Crack! whiz! bang! the bullets flew about like hailstones, and menfell to the reeking floor each terrible moment. 

The two friends were not alone in the affray. 

No sooner had Catamount Cass and his gang of "toughs" showed fight, than a company of miners sprung to Harris' side, and showed theirwillingness to fight it out on the square line. 

Therefore, once the first shot was fired, it needed not a word topitch the battle. 

Fiercely waged the contest--now hand to hand--loud rose the savageyells on the still night air. 

One by one men fell on either side, their life-blood crimsoning thefloor, their dying groans unheeded in the fearful melee. 

Still unharmed, and fighting among the first, we see Ned Harris andhis remarkable companion, Calamity Jane; both are black, and scarcelyrecognizable in the cloud of smoke that fills the bar-room. Harris iswounded in a dozen places and weak from loss of blood; yet he standsup bravely and fights mechanically. 

Calamity Jane if she is wounded shows it not, but faces the music withas little apparent fear as any of those around her. 

On wages the battle, even as furiously as in its beginning; the lastshot has been fired; it is now knife to knife, and face to face. 

Full as many of one side as the other have fallen, and lay strewnabout under foot, unthought of, uncared for in the excitement of thedesperate moment. Gallons of blood have made the floor slippery andreeking, so that it is difficult to retain one's footing. 

At the head of the ruffians the Diamond brothers[C] still hold sway, fighting like madmen in their endeavors to win a victory. They cannotdo less, for to back off in this critical moment means sure death tothe weakening party. 

But hark! what are these sounds?

The thunder of hoofs is heard outside; the rattle of musketry andsabers, and the next instant a company of soldiery, headed by MajorR----, ride straight up into the saloon, firing right and left. 

"Come!" cried Calamity Jane, grasping Harris by the arm, and pullinghim toward a side door, "it's time for us to slope now. It's every manfor himself. "

And only under her guidance was Ned able to escape, and save beingtailed and captured with the rest. 

 * * * * *

About noon of the succeeding day, two persons on horseback were comingalong the north gulch leading into Deadwood, at an easy canter. Theywere the fearless Scarlet Boy, or as he is better known, FearlessFrank, and his lovely protege, Miss Terry. They had been for a morningride over to a neighboring claim, and were just returning. 

Since their arrival in Deadwood the youth had devoted a part of histime in a search for Alice's father, but all to no avail. None of thecitizens of Deadwood or its surroundings had ever heard of such aperson as Captain Walter Terry. 

The young couple had become fast friends from their association, andAlice was improving in looks every day she stayed in the mountains. 

"I feel hungry, " observed Frank, as they rode along. "This life in thehills gives me a keen appetite. How is it with you, lady?"

"The same as with you, I guess. But look! Yonder comes a horsemantoward us!"

It was even so. A horseman was galloping up the gulch--no other thanour young friend, Ned Harris. 

As the two parties approach, the faces of each of the youths growdeadly pale; there comes into their eyes an ominous glitter; theirhands each clasp the butt of a revolver, and they gradually draw rein. 

That they are enemies of old--that the fire of rancor burns in theirhearts, and that this meeting is unexpected, is plain to see. 

Now, that they have met, probably for the first time in months oryears, it remains not to be doubted but a settlement must come betweenthem--that their hate must result in satisfaction, whether in blood ornot. 

CHAPTER X. 

THE DUEL AND ITS RESULT. 

Belligerent were the glances exchanged between the two, as they satthere facing each other, each with a hand closed over the butt of apistol; each as motionless as a carved statue. 

Alice Terry had grown pale, too. She saw that friend and protector andthe stranger were enemies, --that this meeting though purely accidentalwas not to end without trouble. Her lips grew set, her eyes flashed, and she reined her horse closer to that of the Scarlet Boy. 

Ned Harris let a faint smile, of contempt and pity combined, come intorelief on his lips, as he saw this action. Better ten male enemiesthan one female, he thought; but, then, women must not stand in theway, now. No! nothing must block the path intervening between enmityand vengeance. 

Harris was, if anything, the coolest of the three; but, after all, whyshould he not be? He had spent several years in society that seemedcallous to fear, --that knew not what it was to be a Christian; wherethe utmost coolness was necessary to the preservation of life; wherebravery was all and education a dead letter. Fearless Frank, too, hadseen all phases of rough western life, probably, but his temperamentwas more nervous and excitable, his passions tenfold harder torestrain. Still, he managed to exercise a cool exterior now, thatequaled that of his opposite--his hated enemy. Mystery, as Frankhabitually called the girl, did not offer to conceal her feelings. Itwas but natural that she should side with him to whom she owed herlife, and the glances of scorn and indignation she shot at the youngminer might have driven another man than him into a retreat. 

Fearless Frank made no motion toward speech; he was determined thatthe young miner should open the quarrel, if a quarrel it was to be. But beneath his firm-set lips were clenched two rows of teeth, tightly, fiercely; while every nerve in the youth's body was drawn toits utmost tension. 

Harris was wonderfully calm and at ease; only a gray pallor on hishandsome face and a menacing fire in his piercing eyes told that hewas in the least agitated. 

"Justin McKenzie!"

Sternly rung out the words on the clear mountain air. Ned Harris hadspoken, and the grayish pallor deepened on his countenance while thefire of rancor burned with stronger gleam in his eagle eye. 

The effect on the scarlet youth was scarcely noticeable, more thanthat the lips grew more rigid and compressed, and the right handclutched the pistol-butt more tightly. But no answer to the other'ssummons. 

"Justin McKenzie!" again said the young miner, calmly, "do yourecognize me?"

The Scarlet Boy bows his head slowly, his eyes watchful lest the othershall catch the drop on him. 

"Justin McKenzie, you _do_ recognize me, even after the elapse of twolong weary years, during which I have sought for you faithfully, butfailed to find you until this hour. We have at last met, and the timefor settlement between you and me, Justin McKenzie, has arrived. Herein this out-of-the-way gorge, we will settle the grudge I hold againstyou--we will see who shall live and who shall die!"

Alice Terry uttered a terrified cry. 

"Oh! no! no! you must not fight--you _must_ not. It is bad--oh! soawful wicked!"

"Excuse me, lady, but you will have no voice in this matter;" and theminer's tone grew a trifle more severe. "Knew you the bitter wrongdone me by this young devil with the smooth face and oily tongue--ifyou knew what a righteous cause I have to defend, you would say 'letthe battle proceed. ' I am not one to thirst for the blood of myfellow-men, but I _am_ one that is ever ready to raise my hand andstrike in the defense of women!"

Alice Terry secretly admired the stalwart young miner for this gallantspeech. 

Fearless Frank, his face paler than before, an expression of remorsecombined with anguish about his countenance, and moisture standing ineither eye, assumed his quasi-erect attitude as he answered:

"Edward Harris, if you will listen, I will say all I have to say in avery few words. You hate me because of a wrong I did you and yours, and you want my life for the forfeit. I shall not hinder you longer toyour purpose. For two long years you have trailed and tracked me withthe determination of a bloodhound, and I have evaded you, not that Iwas at all afraid of you, but because I did not wish to make you amurderer. I have come across your path at last; here let us settle, asyou have said. See! I fold my arms across my breast. Take out yourpistol, aim steadily, and fire twice at my breast. I have heard enoughconcerning your skill as a marksman to feel confident that you cankill me in two shots!"

Ned Harris flushed, angrily. He was surprised at the cool indifferenceand recklessness of the youth; he was angered that McKenzie shouldthink _him_ mean enough to take such a preposterous advantage. 

"You are a fool!" he sneered, biting his lip with vexation. "Do youcalculate I am a _murderer_?"

"I have no proof that you are or that you are _not_!" replied FearlessFrank, controlling his temper by a master effort. "You remember I havenot kept a watch upon your actions. "

"Be that as it may, I would be an accursed dog to take advantage ofyour insulting proposal. You must fight me the same as I shall fightyou!"

"No, Ned Harris, I will do nothing of the kind. It is I who havewronged you and yours; you must take the offensive; I will play asilent hand. "

"You refuse to fight me?"

"I _do_ refuse to fight you, but do _not_ refuse to give yousatisfaction for what wrong you have suffered. Take my life, if youchoose; it is yours. Take it, or forever after this consider our debtof hatred canceled, and let us be--"

"Friends? Never, Justin McKenzie, _never_! You forget the stain dyedby your hand that will never washout!"

"No! no! God knows I do not forget!" and the youth's voice was hoarsewith anguish. "Could it be undone, I would gladly undo the deed. But, tell me, Harris about _her_. Does she still live?"

"_Live_? We-l-l, yes, if you can call staying living. Life is but ablank; better she had died ere she ever met you!"

"You speak truly; better she had died ere she met me. "

Unconsciously the two had ridden closer to each other; had theyforgotten themselves in recalling the past?

"She lives--may live on her lonely life for years to come, " Harrisresumed, thoughtfully, "but her life will be merely endurance. "

"Will you tell me where--where I can go in secret and take but onelook at her? If you will do this, I will agree to meet you and giveyou your chance for satis--"

"No!" thundered Harris, growing suddenly furious, "_no_! a thousandtimes! I'd sooner see her in the burning depths of the bottomless pitthan have you get within a hundred miles of her with yourcontaminating presence. She is safely hidden away, and that forever, from the companionship of our sex. So let her be till death claimsher!"

"You are too hard on her!"

"And not hard enough on you, base villain that your are! Who is thisyoung lady you have to your company--another of your victims?"

"Hold! Edward Harris; enough of your vile insinuations. This lady isone whom I rescued from Sitting Bull, the Sioux, and I am helping herto hunt a father who she says is somewhere in the Black Hills. Yourlanguage should at least be respectful!"

The rebuke stung young Harris to the quick, but he reined in hispassion to a moment, and doffed his hat. 

"Pardon me; miss, pardon me. It was ungentlemanly for me to speak as Idid, but I was surprised at seeing one of your sex in company withthis accomplished scamp, Justin McKenzie. "

"My presence with him is, as he said, for the purpose of finding myfather. He rescued me from the Indians, and has volunteered hisservices, for which I am very thankful. So far, sir, he has acted in acourteous and gentlemanly manner toward me!" said Alice Terry. "Whathe may have been heretofore concerns me not, as you must know. "

"He is always that--smooth-tongued, until he has lured his victim toruin!" retorted Ned, bitterly. "Beware of him, lady, for he is arattlesnake in the disguise of a bright-winged butterfly. "

Fearless Frank grew livid at this last thrust. Forbearance is virtue, sometimes, but not always. In his case the Scarlet Boy felt that hecould bear the taunts of the miner no longer. 

"You are a liar and a dastard!" he cried, fiercely. "Come on if youwish satisfaction, and I'll give it to you!"

"I am ready, always, sir. I challenged you first; you have thechoice!" retorted Ned, as cool as ever, while his enemy was alltrembling with excitement. 

"Pistols, at fifty yards; to be fired until one or the other is dead!"was the prompt decision. 

"Good! Young lady, you will necessarily have to act as second for bothof us. If I drop, leave my body where I fall, and it will be picked upby friends. If he falls, I will ride on to Deadwood, and send you outhelp to carry him in. "

Without delay the distance was guessed at, and each of the young menrode to position. Miss Terry, the beautiful second, took her place atone side of the gulch, midway between the antagonists, and when allwas to readiness she counted:

"One!"

The right hands of the two youths were raised on a level, and thegleaming barrel of a pistol shone from each. 

"Two!"

There was a sharp click! click! as the hammers of the weapons werepulled back at full cock. Each click meant danger or death. 

Harris was very white; so was Fearless Frank, but not so much so asthe young woman who was to give the signal. 

"Three! _Fire!_" cried Alice, quickly; then, there was a flash, thereport of two pistols, and Ned Harris fell to the ground without agroan. 

McKenzie ran to his side, and bent over him. 

"Poor fellow!" he murmured, rising, a few moments later--"poor Ned. _He is dead!_"

It was Harris' request to be left where he fell. Accordingly he waslaid on the grass by the roadside, his horse tethered near by, andthen, accompanied by Alice, Justin McKenzie set out to Deadwood. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote C: Living characters]

CHAPTER XI. 

THE POCKET GULCH MINES--INVADERS OF THEM. 

We see fit to change the scene once more back to the pocket gulch--thehome of the sweet, sad-faced Anita. The date is one month later--onelong, eventful month since Justin McKenzie shot down Ned Harris underthe noonday sun, a short distance above Deadwood. 

Returning to the Flower Pocket by the route to the rugged transversegulch, and thence through the gaping fissure, we find before us ascene--not of slumbering beauty, but of active industry and labor, such as was not here when we last looked into the flower-strewnparadise of the Hills. 

The flowers are for the most part still intact, though occasionallyyou will come across a spot where the hand of man hath blighted theirgrowth. 

Where stood the little vine-wreathed cabin now may be seen a largerand more commodious log structure, which is but a continuation of theoriginal. 

A busy scene greets our gaze all around. Men are hurrying here andthere through the valley--men not of the pale-face race, but of thered race; men, clad only to the waist, with remarkable musculardevelopments, and fleetness of foot. 

Over the little creek which dashes far adown from pine-dressedmountain peaks, and trails its shining waters through the floweringland, is built another structure--of logs, strongly and carefullyerected, and thatched by a master hand with bark and grass. From theroof projects a small smoke-stack, from which emanates a steady cloudof smoke, curling lazily upward toward heaven's blue vault, and insideis heard the grinding, crushing rumble of ponderous machinery, and werightly conjecture that it is a crusher in full operation. Across fromthe northern side of the gulch comes a steady string of mules in line, each pulling behind him a jack-sled (or, what is better known to thegeneral reader as a stone-boat) heavily laden with huge quartz rocks. These are dumped in front of one of the large doorways of the crusher, and the "empties" return mechanically and disappear within a gapingfissure in the very mountain side--a sort of tunnel, which the hand ofman, aided by that great and stronger arm--powder--has burrowed andblasted out. 

All this is under the Immediate management of the swarthy-skinnedred-men, whose faces declare them to be a remnant of the once greatUte tribe--now utilized to a better occupation than in the dark andbloody days of the past. 

Near the crusher building is a large, stoutly-constructed windlass, worked by mule power, and every few moments there comes up to thesurface from the depths of a shaft, a bucketful of rock and sand, which is dumped into a push-car, and from thence transferred to theline of sluice-boxes in the stream, where more half-clothed Utes arebusily engaged in sifting golden particles from the rich sand. 

What a transformation is all this since we left the Flower Pocket alittle over a month ago! Now, everywhere within those majesticmountain-locked walls is bustle and excitement; then, the valley wassleeping away the calm, perfume-laden autumnal days, unconscious ofthe mines of wealth lying nestling in its bosom, and content and happyin its quietude and the adornments of nature's beauties. 

Now, shouts, ringing halloos, angry curses at the obstinate mules, therumbling of ponderous machinery, the clink of picks and reports offrequent blasts, the deadened sound of escaping steam, the barking ofdogs, the whining of horses--all these sounds are now to be heard. 

Then, the valley was peacefully at rest; the birds chimed in theirexquisite music to the Æolian harp-like music of the breeze throughthe branches of the mountain pines; the waters pouring adown from thestupendous peaks created an everlasting song of love and constancy;bees and humming-birds drank delicious draughts from the blushing lipsof a million nodding flowers; the sun was more hazy anddrowsy-looking; everything had an appearance of ethereal peace andhappiness. 

But, like a drama on the stage, a grand transformation had takenplace; a beautiful dream had been changed into stern reality; quietudeand slumber had fled at the bold approach of bustling industry andlife. And all this transformation is due to whom?

The noonday sun shone down on all the busy scene with a glance ofwarmth and affection, and particularly did its rays center about twomen, who, standing on the southern side of the valley, up in among therugged foothills, were watching the living panorama with the keenestinterest. 

They were Harry Redburn and the queer old hump-backed, bow-leggedlittle locator, "General" Walsingham Nix. 

Redburn was now looking nearly as rough, unkempt and grizzled as anyveteran miner, and for a bet, he actually had not waxed the ends ofhis fine mustache for over a week. But there was more of a healthyglow upon his face, a robustness about his form, and a light ofsatisfaction in his eye which told that the rough miner's life agreedwith him exceedingly well. 

The old "General" was all dirt, life and animation, and as full of hiseccentricities as ever. He was a character seldom met with--ever fullof a quaint humor and sociability, but never known to get mad, nomatter how great the provocation might be. 

His chance strike upon the spot where lay the gold of Flower Pocketimbedded--if it could be called a chance, considering his dream--wasthe prelude to the opening up of one of the richest mining districtssouth of Deadwood. 

We left them after Harry had driven a stake to mark the place whichthe somnambulist had pointed out as indicating the concealed mine. 

On the succeeding day the two men set to work, and dug long anddesperately to uncover the treasure, and after three days of incessanttoil they were rewarded with success. A rich vein of gold, or, rather, a deposit of the valuable metal was found, it being formed in a deep, natural pocket and mixed alternately with sand and rock. 

During the remaining four days of that week the two lucky miners tookout enough gold to evidence their supposition that they had struck oneof the richest fields in all the Black Hills country. Indeed, itseemed that there was no end to the depth of sand in the shaft, and aslong as the sand held out the gold was likely to. 

When, just in the flush of their early triumph, the old humpback wasvisited by another somnambulistic fit, and this time he discoveredgold down in the northern mountain side, and prophesied that thequartz rock which could be mined therefrom would more than repay thecost and trouble of opening up the vein and of transporting machineryto the gulch. 

We need not go into detail of what followed; suffice it to say thatimmediate arrangements were made and executed toward developing thisas yet unknown territory. 

While Redburn set to work with two Ute Indians (transported to thegulch from Deadwood, under oath of secrecy by the "General") to blastinto the mountain-side, and get at the gold-bearing quartz, the oldlocater in person set out for Cheyenne on the secret mission ofprocuring a portable crusher, boiler and engine, and such otherimplements as would be needed, and getting them safely into the gulchunknown to the roving population of the Hills country. And mostwonderful to relate, he succeeded. 

Two weeks after his departure, he returned with the machinery and twoscore of Ute Indians, whom he had sworn into his service, for, as aUte rarely breaks his word, they were likely to prove valuableaccessories to the plans of our two friends. Redburn had in themeantime blasted in until he came upon the quartz rock. Here he had tostop until the arrival of the machinery. He however busied himself inenlarging the cabin and building a curb to the shaft, which occupiedhis time until at last the "General" and his army returned. [D]

Now, we see these two successful men standing and gazing at the resultof their joint labors, each financially happy; each growing rich asthe day rolls away. 

The miners are in a prosperous condition, and everything moves offwith that ease and order that speaks of shrewd management and constantattention to business. 

The gold taken from the shaft is much finer than that extracted fromthe quartz. 

The quartz yielded about eighteen dollars to the ton, which the"General" declared to be as well as "a feller c'u'd expect, considerin' things, more or less!"

Therefore, it will be seen by those who have any knowledge whatever ofgold mining that, after paying off the expenses, our friends were notdoing so badly, after all. 

"Yes, yes!" the "General" was remarking, as he gazed at the string ofmules that alternately issued from and re-entered the fissure on theopposite side of the valley; "yes, yes, boyee, things ar' workin' as Ilike ter see 'em at last. The shaft'll more'n pay expenses if sheholds her head 'bove water, as I opine she will, an' w'at ar' squeezedout uv the quartz ar' cleer 'intment fer us. "

"True; the shaft is more than paying off the hands, " replied Redburn, seating himself upon a bowlder, and staring vacantly at the densecolumn of smoke ejected from the smoke-stack in the roof of thecrusher building. 

"I was looking up accounts last evening, and after deducting what youpaid for the machinery, and what wages are due the Utes, we have abouta thousand dollars clear of all, to be divided between three of us. "

"Exactly. Now, that's w'at I call fair to middling. Of course thar'llbe more or less expense, heerafter, but et'll be a consider'ble lesso' more than more o' less. Another munth'll tell a larger finanshelltale, I opine"

"Right again, unless something happens more than we think for now. Ifwe get through another month, however, without being nosed out, why wemay consider ourselves all-fired lucky. "

"Jes' so! Jes' so! but we'll hev ter take our chances. One natteraladvantage, we kin shute 'em as fast as they come--"

"Ho!" Redburn interrupted, suddenly, leaping to his feet; "they saythe devil's couriers are ever around when you are talking of them. Look! invaders already. "

He pointed toward the east, where the passage led out of the valleyinto the gorge beyond. 

Out of this passage two persons on horseback had just issued, and nowthey came to a halt, evidently surprised at the scene which lay spreadout before them. 

No sooner did the "General" clap his eyes on the pair than he uttereda cry of astonishment, mingled with joy. 

"It's thet scarlet chap, Fearless Frank!" he announced, hopping aboutlike a pig on a hot griddle "w'at I war tellin' ye about; the samecuss w'at desarted Charity Joe's train, ter look fer sum critter w'atwar screechin' fer help. I went wi' the lad fer a ways, but my jackassharpened to be more or less indispositioned--consider'bly more o' lessthan less o' more--an' so I made up my mind not ter continny hisroute. Ther last I see'd o' the lad he disappeared over sum kind o' aprecypice, an' calkylatin' as how he war done fer, I rej'ined CharityJoseph, ar' kim on. "

"He has a female in his company!" said Redburn, watching the new-comerkeenly. 

"Yas, peers to me he has, an' et's more or less likely that et's thesame critter he went to resky w'en he left Charity Joe's train!"

"What about him? We do not want him here; to let him return toDeadwood after what he has seen would be certain death to ourinterests. "

"Yas, thar's more or less truth in them words o' yours, b'yee--consider'bly more o' less than less o' more. He ken't go backnow, nohow we kin fix et. He's a right peart sort o' a kid, an' Ithink ef we was ter guv him a job, or talk reeson'ble ter him, thethe'd consent to do the squar' thing by us. "

Redburn frowned. 

"He'll have to remain for a certain time, whether he wants to or not, "he muttered, more savage than usual. It looked to him as if this wasto be the signal of a general invasion. "Come! let's go and see whatwe can do. "

They left the foothills, clambered down into the valley and workedtheir way toward where Fearless Frank and his companion sat inwaiting. 

As they did so, headed by a figure in black, who wore a mask as didall the rest, a band of horsemen rode out of the fissure into thevalley. One glance and we recognize Deadwood Dick, Prince of the Road, and his band of road-agents!

CHAPTER XII. 

MAKING TERMS ALL AROUND. 

Old General Nix was the first to discover the new invasion. 

"Gorra'mighty!" he ejaculated, flourishing his staff about excitedly, "d'je mind them same w'at's tuk et inter the'r heads to invade oursancty sanctorum, up yander? Howly saints frum ther cullender! Weshall be built up inter an entire city 'twixt this an' sunset, ef therpopulation n' sect becum enny more numersome. Thars a full fifty o'them sharks, more or less--consider'bly more o' less than less o'more--an' ef we hain't got ter hold a full hand in order ta clean 'emout, why, ye can call me a cross-eyed, hair lipped hyeeny, that'sall. "

Redburn uttered an ejaculation as he saw the swarm of invaders thatwas perhaps more forcible than polite. 

He did not like the looks of things at all. If Ned Harris were onlyhere, he thought, he could throw the responsibility all off on hisshoulders. But he was not; neither had he been seen or heard of sincehe had quitted the valley over a month ago. Where he was staying allthis time was a problem that no one could solve--no one among ourthree friends. 

The "General" had made inquiries in Deadwood, but elicited noinformation concerning the young miner. He had dropped entirely out ofthe magic city's notice, and might be dead or dying in some foreignclime, for all they knew. Anita worried and grew sadder each day athis non-return; it seemed to her that he was in distress, or worse, perhaps--dead. He had never stayed away so long before, she said, always returning from his trips every few days. What, then, could nowbe the reason of his prolonged absence?

Redburn foresaw trouble in the intrusion of the road-agents andFearless Frank, although he knew not the character or calling of theformer, and he resolved to make one bold stroke in defense of themines. 

"Go to the quartz mines as quickly as you can!" he said, addressingNix, "and call every man to his arms. Then rally them out here, whereI will be waiting with the remainder of our forces, and we will seewhat can be done. If it is to be a fight for our rights, a desperatefight it shall be. "

The "General" hurried off with as much alacrity as was possible, withhim, toward the quartz mine, while Redburn likewise made haste tovisit the shaft and collect together his handful of men. 

He passed the cabin on the way, and, seeing Anita seated in thedoorway, he came to a momentary halt. 

"You had better go inside and lock the doors and windows behind you, "he said, advisingly. "There are invaders in the gulch, and we must tryand effect a settlement with them; so it is not desirable that theyshould see you. "

"You are not going to fight them?"

"Yes, if they will not come to reasonable terms which I shall name. Why?"

"Oh! don't fight. You will get killed. "

"Humph! what of that? Who would care if I were killed?"

"I would, for one, Mr. Redburn. "

The miner's heart gave a great bound, and he gazed into the pure whiteface of the girl, passionately. Was it possible that she had in herheart anything akin to love, for _him_? Already be had conceived apassing fancy for her, which might ripen into love, in time. 

"Thanks!" he said, catching up her hand and pressing it to his lips. "Those words, few as they are, make me happy, Miss Anita. But, stop! Imust away. Go inside, and keep shady until you see me again;" and sosaying he hurried on. 

In ten minutes' time two score of brawny, half-dressed Utes wererallied in the valley, and Redburn was at their head, accompanied bythe "General. "

"I will now go forward and hold parley, " said Harry, as he wrapped akerchief about the muzzle of his rifle-barrel. "If you see me fall, you can calculate that it's about time for you to sling in a chunk ofyour lip. "

He had fallen into the habit of talking in an illiterate fashion, since his association with the "General. "

"All right, " assented the old locater; "ef they try ter salt ye, jes'giv' a squawk, an' we'll cum a-tearin' down ter yer resky at ther rateo' forty hours a mile, more or less--consider'bly more o' less thanless o' more. "

Redburn buckled his belt a hole tighter, looked to his two revolvers, and set out on his mission. 

The road-agents had, in the mean time, circled off to the right of thefissure, and formed into a compact body, where they halted and watchedthe rallying of the savages in the valley. 

Fearless Frank and his lovely companion remained where they had firsthalted, awaiting developments. They had stumbled into Paradise andwere both surprised and bewildered. 

Redburn approached them first. He was at loss how to open the confab, but the Scarlet Boy saved him the trouble. 

"I presume I see in you one of the representatives of this concern, "he said, doffing his hat and showing his pearly teeth in a littlesmile, as the miner came up. 

"You do, " replied Redburn, bowing stiffly. "I am an owner or partnerin this mining enterprise, which, until your sudden advent, has been asecret to the outside world. "

"I believe you, pilgrim; for, though I am pretty thoroughly acquaintedwith the topography of the Black Hills country, I had not the leastidea that such an enterprise existed in this part of the territory. "

"No, I dare say not. But how is it that we are indebted to you forthis intrusion?--for such we feel justified in calling it, under theexisting circumstances. "

"I did not intend to intrude, sir, nor do I now. In riding through themountains we accidentally stumbled into the fissure passage that leadsto this gulch, and as there was nothing to hinder us, we came onthrough. "

"True; I should have posted a strong guard in the pass. You have afemale companion, I perceive; not your wife?"

"Oh, no! nor my sister, either. This is Miss Terry--an estimable younglady, who has come to the Black Hills in search of her father. Yourname is--"

"Redburn--Harry Redburn; and yours, I am told, is Fearless Frank. "

"Yes, that is the title I sail under. But how do you know aught ofme?"

"I was told your name by a partner of mine. Now, then, concerning thepresent matter; what do you propose to do?"

"To do? Why, turn back, I suppose; I see nothing else to do. "

Redburn leaned on his rifle and considered. 

"Do you belong to that other crowd?"

"No, indeed;" Frank's face flushed, half angrily. "I thank my stars Iam not quite so low down as that, yet. Do you know them? That'sDeadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road, and his band of outlaws!"

"What--is it possible? The same gang whom the _Pioneer_ is making sucha splurge over, every week. "

"The same. That fellow clad in black is Deadwood Dick, the leader. "

"Humph! He in black; you in scarlet. Two contrasting colors. "

"That is so. I had not thought of it before. But no significance isattached thereto. "

"Perhaps not. Have you the least idea what brought them here?"

"The road-agents? I reckon I do. The military has been chasing themfor the last two days. Probably they have come here for protection. "

"Maybe so; or for plunder. Give me your decision, and I will go andsee what they want. "

"There is nothing for me to decide more than to take the back track. "

Redburn shook his head, decidedly. 

"You cannot go back!" he said, using positiveness in his argument;"that is, not for awhile. You'd have all Deadwood down on us in ajiffy. I'll give you work in the shaft, at three dollars a day. Youcan accept that offer, or submit to confinement until I see fit to setyou at liberty. "

"And my companion, here--?"

"I will place under the charge of Miss Anita for the present, whereshe will receive hospitable treatment. "

Fearless Frank started as though he had been struck a violent blow;his face grew very white; his eyes dilated; he trembled in everyjoint. 

"_Anita!_" he gasped--"_Anita!_"

"I believe that is what I said!" Redburn could not understand theyouth's agitation. He knew that the sister of Ned Harris had a secret;was this Fearless Frank in any way connected with it, and if so, how?"Do you know her?"

"Her other name is--"

"Harris--Anita Harris, in full. Do you know her, or aught of her?"

"I--I--I did, once!" was the slow reply. "Where is she; I want to seeher?"

Redburn took a moment to consider. 

Would it be best to permit a meeting between the two until he shouldbe able to learn something more definite concerning the secret? If NedHarris were here would he sanction such a meeting? No! something toldthe young miner that he would not; something warned him that it couldresult in no good to allow the scarlet youth an interview with sad, sweet-faced Anita. 

"You cannot see her!" he at last said, decidedly. "There is a reasonwhy you two should never meet again, and if you remain in the gulch, as you will be obliged to, for the present, you must give me your wordof honor that you will not go near yonder cabin. "

Fearless Frank had expected this; therefore he was not surprised. Neither did Redburn know how close he had shied his stone at the realtruth. 

"I promise, " McKenzie said, after a moment's deliberation, "on myhonor, that I will not approach the cabin, providing you will furnishme my meals and lodgings elsewhere. If Anita comes to me, what then?"

"I will see that she does not, " Redburn answered, positively. Gradually he was assuming full control of things, in the absence ofHarris, himself. "Miss Terry, you may ride down to yonder cabin, andtell Anita I sent you. Pilgrim, you can come along with me. "

"No; I will accompany Alice as far as where your forces arestationed, " said Frank, and then they rode down the slope, Redburnturning toward where the road-agents sat upon their horses in acompact body, with Deadwood Dick at their head. 

As the miner drew nigh and came to a standstill, the Prince of theroad rode forward to his side. 

"Well--?" he said, interrogatively, his voice heavy yet pleasant; "Isuppose you desire to know what bizness we've got in your cornfield, eh, stranger?"

"That's about the dimensions of it, yes, " replied Redburn, at onceconceiving a liking for the young road-agent, in whom he thought hesaw a true gentleman, in the disguise of a devil. "I came over tolearn the object you have in view, in invading our little valley, ifyou have no objections in telling. "

"Certainly not. As you may have guessed already, we are a band ofroad-agents, whose field of action we have lately confined to theBlack Hills country. I have the honor of being the leader, and youhave doubtless heard of me--Deadwood Dick, the 'Road-Agent Prince, ' asthe _Pioneer_ persists in terming me. Just at present, things arerather sultry in the immediate vicinity of Deadwood, so far as we areconcerned, and we sought this locality to escape a small army of theDeadwood military, who have been nosing around after us for the pastweek. "

"Well--?"

"Well, we happened to see a man and woman come this way, and believingthat it must lead to somewhere or other, we followed, and here we are, out of the reach of the blue-coats, but, I take it, _in_ the way of aparty of secret miners. Is it not so?"

"No, not necessarily so, unless you put yourselves in the way. Youwish to remain quartered here for the present?"

"If not contrary to your wishes, we should like to, yes. "

"I have no objections to offer, providing you will agree to twopoints. "

"And what are they, may I ask?"

"These. That you will camp at the mouth of the passage, and thus keepout any other intruders that may come; second, that you will keep yourmen to this side or the valley, and not interfere with any of ourlaborers. "

"To which I eagerly agree. You shall experience no inconvenience fromour presence here; you furnish us a haven of safety from the pursuingsoldiers; we in return will extend you our aid in repelling a host offortune-seekers who may any moment come down this way in swarms. "

"Very well; that settles it, then. You keep your promise, and all willgo well. "

The two shook hands: then Redburn turned and strode back to dismisshis forces, while Dick and his men took up their position at the placewhere the fissure opened into the gulch. Here they made preparationsto camp. Redburn, while returning to his men, heard a shout of joy, and looking up, saw, to his surprise, that the old "General" and AliceTerry were locked in each other's arms, in a loving embrace. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote D: This crusher is said to have been the first introducedinto the Black Hills]

CHAPTER XIII. 

AT THE CABIN. 

What did it mean?

Had the old hump-backed, bow-legged mine-locater gone crazy, or was hepurposely insulting the beautiful maiden? Fearless Frank stood aside, apparently offering no objections to the hugging, and the Indians didlikewise. 

At least Miss Terry made no serious attempts to free herself from the"General's" bear-like embrace. 

A few bounds brought Redburn to the spot, panting, breathless, perspiring. "What is the meaning of this disgraceful scene?" hedemanded, angrily. 

"Disgraceful!" The old "General" set Miss Terry down on her feet, after giving her a resounding smack, and turned to stare at the youngminer, in astonishment. "Disgraceful! Waal, young man, ter tell thesolid Old Testament truth, more or less--consider'bly less o' more 'nmore o' less--I admire yer cheek, hard an' unblushin' as et ar'. Yecall my givin' this pretty piece o' feminine gander a squar', fatherlysort o' a hug, _disgraceful_, do ye? Think et's all out o' ther boundso' propriety, do ye?"

"I look at it in that light, yes, " Redburn replied. 

"Haw! haw! haw!" and the General shook his fat sides with immoderatelaughter. "Why, pilgrim-tender-fut, this 'ere hundred an' twenty-sixpounds o' feminine gender b'longs to me--ter yours, truly, WalsinghamNix--an' I have a parfec' indervidual right ter hug an' kiss her asmuch as I please, wi'out brookin' enny interference frum you. Alice, dear, this ar' Harry Redburn, ginerall sup'intendent o' ther FlowerPocket gold-mines, an' 'bout as fair specimen as they make, nowadays. Mr. Redburn, I'll formally present you to Miss Alice Terry, _mydarter!_"

Redburn colored, and was not a little disconcerted on account of hisblunder; but he rallied in a moment, and acknowledged the introductionwith becoming grace and dignity. 

"You must excuse my interference, " he said, earnestly. "I saw the old'General' here taking liberties that no stranger should take, andknowing nothing of the relationship existing between you, I wasnaturally inclined to think that he was either drunk or crazy;therefore I deemed it necessary to investigate. No offense, I hope. "

"Of course not. " and Alice smiled one of her sweetest smiles. "You didperfectly right and are deserving of no censure, whatever. "

After a few moments of desultory conversation, Redburn took the"General" to one side, and spoke on the subject of Fearless Frank andAnita Harris--of his action in the matter, and so forth. Nix--orTerry, as the latter was evidently his real name--heartily coincidedwith his views, and both agreed that it was best not to let theScarlet Boy come within range of Anita, or, at least, not till NedHarris should return, when he could do as he chose. 

Accordingly it was decided that Fearless Frank should be set to workin the quartz mine, that being the furthest from the cabin, and hecould eat and sleep either in the mine or in the crusher building, whichever he liked best. 

After settling this point the two men rejoined the others, and Frankwas apprised of their decision. He made no remarks upon it, but it wasplain to see that he was anything but satisfied. His wild spirityearned for constant freedom. 

The Utes were dismissed and sent back to their work; the "General"strolled off with McKenzie toward the quartz mine; it devolved uponRedburn to escort Alice to the cabin, which he did with pleasure, andgave her an introduction to sweet, sad-faced Anita, who awaited theircoming in the open doorway. 

The two girls greeted each other with warmth; it was apparent thatthey would become fast friends when they learned more of each other. 

As for Redburn, he was secretly enamored with the "General's" prettydaughter; she was beautiful, and evidently accomplished, and herprogenitor was financially well-to-do. What then was lacking to makeher a fitting mate for any man? Redburn pondered deeply on thissubject, as he left the girls together, and went out to see to hisduties in the mines. 

He found Terry and Fearless Frank in the quartz mine, looking at theswarthy-skinned miners; examining new projected slopes; suggestingeasier methods for working out different lumps of gold-bearing rock. While the former's knowledge of practical mining was extended, thelatter's was limited. 

"I think thet thar ar' bigger prospects yet, in further, " the oldlocater was saying. "I ain't much varsed on jeeological an'toppygraffical formation, myself, ye see; but then, it kinder 'peersto me thet this quartz vein ar' a-goin' to hold out fer a consider'bletime yet. "

"Doubtless. More straight digging an' less slopes I should think wouldbe practicable, " McKenzie observed. 

"I don't see it!" said Redburn, joining them. "Sloping andtransversing discovers new veins, while line work soon plays out. Ithink things are working in excellent order at present. "

They all made a tour of the mine which had been dug a considerabledistance into the mountain. The quartz was ordinarily productive, andbeing rather loosely thrown together was blasted down without anyextra trouble. After a short consultation, Redburn and the "General"concluded to place Frank over the Utes as superintendent andmine-boss, as they saw that he was not used to digging, blasting orany of the rough work connected with the mine, although he wasclear-headed and inventive. 

When tendered the position it was gratefully accepted by him, heexpressing it his intention to work for the interest of his employersas long as he should stay in the gulch. 

Night at last fell over the Flower Pocket gold-mines, and work ceased. 

The Utes procured their own food--mainly consisting of fish from thelittle creek and deer and mountain birds that could be brought down atalmost any hour from the neighboring crags--and slept in the open air. Redburn had McKenzie a comfortable bed made in the crusher-house, andsent him out a meal fit for a prince. 

As yet, Anita knew nothing of the scarlet youth's identity;--scarcelyknew, in fact, that he was in the valley. 

At the cabin, the evening meal was dispatched with a generalexpression of cheerfulness about the board. Anita seemed less downcastthan usual, and the vivacious Alice made life and merriment for all. She was witty where wit was proper, and sensible in an unusual degree. 

Redburn was infatuated with her. He watched her with an expression offondness in his eyes; he admired her every gesture and action; he sawsomething new to admire in her, each moment he was in her society. 

When the evening meal was cleared away, he took down the guitar, andsung several ballads, the old "General" accompanying him with his richdeep bass, and Alice with her clear birdlike alto; and the sweetmelody of the trio's voices called forth round after round ofrapturous applause from the road-agents camped upon the slope, andfrom the Utes who were lounging here and there among the flower-bedsof the valley. But of the lot, Deadwood Dick was the only one boldenough to approach the cabin, he came sauntering along and halted onthe threshold, nodding to the occupants of the little apartment with anonchalance which was not assumed. 

"Good-evening!" he said, tipping his sombrero, but taking care not tolet the mask slip from his face. "I hope mine is not an intrusion. Hearing music, I was loth to stay away, for I am a great lover ofmusic;--it is the one passion that appeals to my better nature. "

He seated himself on the little stone step, and motioned for Redburnto proceed. 

One of those inside the cabin had been strangely affected at the sightof Dick, and that person was Anita. She turned deathly pale, her eyesassumed an expression of affright, and she trembled violently, as shefirst saw him. The Prince of the Road, however, if he saw her, noticednot her agitation; in fact, he took not the second glance at her whilehe remained at the cabin. His eyes were almost constantly fasteningupon the lovely face and form of Alice. 

Thinking it best to humor one who might become either a powerful enemyor an influential friend, Redburn accordingly struck up a lively air, _a la banjo_, and in exact imitation of a minstrel, rendered "Gwine toGet a Home, Bymeby. " And the thunders of _encore_ that came from theoutside listeners, showed how surely he had touched upon a pleasantchord. He followed that with several modern serio-comic songs, all ofwhich were received well and heartily applauded. 

"That recalls memories of good old times, " said the road-agent, as heleaned back against the door-sill, and gazed at the mountains, grand, majestic, stupendous, and the starlit sky, azure, calm and serene. "Recalls the days of early boyhood, that were gay, pure, and happy. Ah! ho!"

He heaved a deep sign, and his head dropped upon his breast. 

A deathlike silence pervaded the cabin; that one heartfelt sigharoused a sensation of pity in each of the four hearts that beatwithin the cabin walls. 

That the road-agent was a gentleman in disguise, was not to begainsayed; all felt that, despite his outlawed calling, he wasdeserving of a place among them, in his better moods. 

As if to accord with his mood, Alice began a sweet birdlike song, fullof tender pathos, and of quieting sympathy. 

It was a quaint Scottish melody, --rich in its honeyed meaning, sweetlyweird and pitiful; wonderfully soothing and nourishing to a weepingspirit. 

Clear and flute-like the maiden's cultured voice swelled out on thestill night air, and the mountain echoes caught up the strains andlent a wild peculiar accompaniment. 

Deadwood Dick listened, with his head still bowed, and his handsclasped about one knee;--listened in a kind of fascination, until thelast reverberations of the song had died out in a wailing echo; thenhe sprung abruptly to his feet, drew one hand wearily across themasked brow; raised his sombrero with a deft movement, and bowedhimself out--out into the night, where the moon and stars looked downat him, perhaps with more lenience than on some. 

Alice Terry rose from her seat, crossed over to the door, and gazedafter the straight handsome form, until it had mingled with the otherroad-agents, who had camped upon the slope. Then she turned about, andsat down on the couch beside Anita. 

"You are still, dear, " she said, stroking the other's long, unconfinedhair. "Are you lonely? If not why don't you say something?"

"I have nothing to say, " replied Anita, a sad, sweet smile playingover her features. "I have been too much taken up with the music tothink of talking. "

"But, you are seldom talkative. "

"So brother used to tell me. He said I had lost my heart, and tongue. "

Redburn was drumming on the window-casing with his fingers;--a sort oflonely tattoo it was. 

"You seemed to be much interested in the outlaw. Miss Terry, " heobserved, as if by chance the thought had just occurred to him, when, in reality, he was downright jealous. "Had you two ever met--"

"Certainly not, sir, " and Alice flashed him an inquiring glance. "Whydo you ask?"

"Oh! for no reason, in particular, only I fancied that song was meantespecially for him. "

Redburn, afterward, would have given a hundred dollars to haverecalled those words, for the haughty, half-indignant look Alice gavehim instantly showed him he was on the wrong track. 

If he wished to court her favor, it must be in a different way, and hemust not again give her a glimpse of his jealous nature. 

"You spoke of a brother, " said Alice, turning to Anita. "Does he livehere with you?"

"Yes, when not away on business. He has now been absent for over amonth. "

"Indeed! Is he as sweet, sad, and silent as yourself?"

"Oh! no; Ned is unlike me; he is buoyant, cheerful, pleasant. "

"Ned? What is his full name, dear?"

"Edward Harris. "

Alice grew suddenly pale and speechless, as she remembered thehandsome young miner whom Fearless Frank had slain in the duel, justoutside of Deadwood. This, then, was his sister; and evidently she asyet knew nothing of his sad fate. 

"Do you know aught concerning Edward Harris?" Redburn asked, seeingher agitation. Alice considered a moment. 

"I do, " she answered, at last. "This Fearless Frank, whom I came herewith, had a duel with a man, just above Deadwood, whose name wasEdward Harris!"

"My God;--and his fate--?"

"He was instantly killed, and left lying where he dropped!"

There was a scream of agony, just here, and a heavy fall. 

Anita had fainted!

CHAPTER XIV. 

THE TRANSIENT TRIUMPH. 

Redburn sprung from his seat, ran over to her side, and raised hertenderly in his arms. 

"Poor thing!" he murmured, gazing into her pale, still face, "theshock was too much for her. No wonder she fainted. " He laid her on thecouch, and kept off the others who crowded around. 

"Bring cold water!" he ordered, "and I will soon have her out of thisfit. "

Alice hastened to obey, and Anita's face and hands were bathed in thecooling liquid until she began to show signs of returningconsciousness. 

"You may now give me the particulars of the affair, " Redburn said, rising and closing the door, for a chilly breeze was sweeping into thecabin. 

Alice proceeded to comply with his request by narrating what hadoccurred and, as nearly as possible, what had been said. When she hadconcluded, he gazed down for several moments thoughtfully into theface of Anita. There was much yet that was beyond his powers ofcomprehension--a knotty problem for which he saw no immediatesolution. 

"What do you think about it, "General"?" he asked, turning to themine-locater. "Have we sufficient evidence to hang this devil inscarlet?"

"Hardly, boyee, hardly. 'Peers te me, 'cordin' to ther gal's tell, thet thar war a fair shake all around, an' as duelin' ar' more or lessther fashun 'round these parts, --considera'bly more o' less 'n less o'more--et ain't law-fell ter yank a critter up by ther throat!"

"I know it is not, according to the customs of this country of theBlack Hills; but, look at it. That fellow, who I am satisfied is ablack-hearted knave, has not only taken the life of poor Harris, but, very probably, has given his sister her death-blow. The question is:should he go unpunished in the face of all this evidence?"

"Yes. Let him go; _I_ will be the one to punish him!"

It was Anita who spoke. She had partly arisen on the couch; her facewas streaked with water and slightly haggard; her hair blew unconfinedabout her neck and shoulders; her eyes blazed with a wild, almostsavage fire. 

 * * * * *

"Let him go!" she repeated, more of fierceness in her voice thanRedburn had ever heard there, before. "He shall not escape myvengeance. Oh, my poor, poor dead brother!"

She flung herself back upon the couch, and gave herself up to a wild, passionate, uncontrollable outburst of tears and sobs--the wailings ofa sorrowing heart. For a long time she continued to weep and sobviolently; then came a lull, during which she fell asleep, fromexhaustion--a deep sleep. Redburn and Alice then carried her into anadjoining room, where she was left under the latter's skillful care. Awhile later the cabin was wrapped in silence. 

When morning sunlight next peeped down into the Flower Pocket, itfound everything generally astir. Anita was up and pursuing herhousehold duties, but she was calm, now, even sadder than before, making a strange contrast to blithe, gaysome Alice, who flitted about, here and there, like some bright-winged butterfly surrounded by a haloof perpetual sunshine. 

 * * * * *

Unknown to any one save themselves, two men were within the valley ofthe Flower Pocket gold-mines--there on business, and that businessmeant bloodshed. They were secreted in among the foothills on thewestern side of the flowering paradise, at a point where they were notobserved, and at the same time were the observers of all that wasgoing on in front of them. 

How came they here, when the hand of Deadwood Dick guarded the onlyaccessible entrance there was to the valley? The answer was: they camesecretly through the pass on the night preceding the arrival of theroad-agents, and had been lying in close concealment ever since. 

The one was an elderly man of portly figure, and the other a young, dandyish fellow, evidently the elder's son, for they resembled eachother in every feature. We make no difficulty to recognizing them asthe same precious pair whom Outlaw Dick captured from the stage, onlyto lose them again through the treachery of two of his own band. 

Both looked considerably the worse for wear, and the gaunt, hungryexpression on their features, as the morning sunlight shone down uponthem, declared in a language more adequate than words, that they werebeginning to suffer the first pangs of starvation. 

"We cannot hold out at this rate much longer!" the elder Filmorecried, as he watched the bustle in the valley below. "I'm as empty asa collapsed balloon, and what's more, we're in no prospects ofimmediate relief. "

Filmore, the younger, groaned aloud in agony of spirit. 

"Curse the Black Hills and all who have been fools enough to inhabitthem, anyhow!" he growled, savagely; "just let me get back in the landof civilization again, and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll knowenough to stay there. "

"Bah! this little rough experience will do you good. If we only had asquare meal or two and a basket of sherry, I should feel quite athome. Nothing but a fair prospect of increasing our individualfinances would ever have lured me into this outlandish place. Butmoney, you know, is the root of all--"

"Evil!" broke in the other, "and after three months' wild-goose-chaseyou are just as destitute of the desired root as you were at first. "

"True, but we have at least discovered one of the shrubs at the bottomof which grows the root. "

"You refer to Deadwood Dick?"

"I do. He is here in the valley, and he must never leave it alive. While we have the chance we must strike the blow that will foreversilence his tongue. "

"Yes; but what about the girl? She will be just as much in the way, ifnot a good deal more so. "

"We can manage her all right when the proper time arrives. Dick is ourgame, now. "

"He may prove altogether too much game. But, now that we are countingeggs, how much of the 'lay' is to be mine, when this boy and girl arefinished?" he queried. 

"How much? Well, that depends upon circumstances. The girl _may_ fallto you. "

"The girl? Bah! I'd rather be excused. "

 * * * * *

The day passed without incident in the mines. The work went steadilyon, the sounds of the crusher making strange music for the mountainechoes to mock. 

Occasionally the crack of a rifle announced that either a road-agentor a Ute miner had risked a shot at a mountain sheep, bird, or deer. Generally their aim was attended with success, though sometimes theywere unable to procure the slaughtered game. 

Redburn, on account of his clear-headedness and business tact, hadfull charge of both mines, the "General" working under him in theshaft, and Fearless Frank in the quartz mine. 

When questioned about his duel with Harris by Redburn, McKenzie hadvery little to say; he seemed pained when approached on the subject;would answer no questions concerning the past; was reserved and attimes singularly haughty. 

During the day Anita and Alice took a stroll through the valley, butthe latter had been warned, and fought shy of the quartz mine; sothere was no encounter between Anita and Fearless Frank. 

Deadwood Dick joined them as they were returning to the cabin, loadeddown with flowers--flowers of almost every color and perfume. 

"This is a beautiful day, " he remarked, pulling up a daisy, as hewalked gracefully along. "One rarely sees so many beauties centered inone little valley like this--beautiful landscape and mountain scenery, beautiful flowers beneath smiling skies, and lovely women, the chiefcenter of attraction among all. "

"Indeed!" and Alice gave him a coquettish smile; "you are flattering, sir road-agent. You, at least, are not beautiful, in that horribleblack suit and villainous mask. You remind me of a picture I have seensomewhere of the devil in disguise; all that is lacking is the horns, tail and cloven-foot. "

Dick broke out into a burst of laughter--it was one of those wild, terrible laughs of his, so peculiar to hear from one who was evidentlyyoung in years. 

Both of the girls were terrified, and would have fled had he notdetained them. 

"Ha, ha!" he said, stepping in front of them, "do not be frightened;don't go, ladies. That's only the way I express my amusement atanything. "

"Then, for mercy's sake, don't get amused again, " said Alice, deprecatingly. "Why, dear me, I thought the Old Nick and all hiscouriers had pounced down upon us. "

"Well, how do you know but what he has? _I_ may be his Satanicmajesty, or one of his envoys. "

"I hardly think so; you are too much an earthly being for that. Come, now, take off that detestable mask and let me see what you look like. "

"No, indeed! I would not remove this mask, except on conditions, forall the gold yon toiling miners are finding, which, I am satisfied, isno small amount. "

"You spoke of conditions. What are they?"

"Some time, perhaps, I will tell you, lady, but not now. See! my menare signaling to me, and I must go. Adieu, ladies;" and in anothermoment he had wheeled, and was striding back toward camp. 

In their concealment the two Filmores witnessed this meeting betweenDick and the two girls. 

"So there are females here, eh?" grunted the elder, musingly. "Fromobservation I should say that Prince Dick was a comparative strangerhere. "

"That is my opinion, " groaned Clarence, his thoughts reverting to hisempty stomach. "Did you hear that laugh a moment ago? It was more likethe screech of a lunatic than anything else. "

"Yes; he is a young tiger. There is no doubt of that to my mind. "

"And we shall have to keep on the alert to take him. He came to thecabin last night. If he does to-night we can mount him!"

Before night the elder Filmore succeeded in capturing a wild goosethat had strayed down with the stream from somewhere above. This waskilled, dressed and half cooked by a brushwood fire which theyhazarded in a fissure in the hillside whereto they had hidden. Thisfowl they almost ravenously devoured, and thus thoroughly satisfiedtheir appetites. They now felt a great deal better, ready for the workin hand--of capturing and slaying the dare-devil Deadwood Dick. 

As soon as it was dark they crept, like the prowling wolves they were, down into the valley, and positioned themselves midway between thecabin and the road-agent's camp, but several yards apart, with a lassoheld above the grass between them, to serve as a "trip-up. "

The sky had become overcast with dense black clouds, and the gloom tothe valley was quite impenetrable. From their concealment the twoFilmores could hear Redburn, Alice and the "General" singing up atthe cabin, and it told them to be on their guard, as Dick might nowcome along at any moment. 

Slowly the minutes dragged by, and both were growing impatient, whenthe firm tread of "the Prince" was heard swiftly approaching. Quicklythe lasso was drawn taut. Dick, not dreaming of the trap, came boldlyalong, tripped, and went sprawling to the ground. The next instant hisenemies were on him, each with a long murderous knife in hand. 

CHAPTER XV. 

TO THE RESCUE!

The suddenness of the onslaught prevented Deadwood Dick from raising ahand to defend himself, and the two strong men piling their combinedweights upon him, had the effect to render him utterly helpless. Hewould have yelled to apprise his comrades of his fate, but AlexanderFilmore, ready for the emergency, quickly thrust a cob of wood intohis mouth, and bound it there with strong strings. 

The young road-agent was a prisoner. 

"Hal ha!" leered the elder Filmore, peering down into the maskedface--"ha! ha! my young eaglet; so I have you at last, have I? Afterrepeated efforts to get you in my power, I have at last been rewardedwith success, eh? Ha! ha! the terrible scourge of the Black Hills lieshere at my feet, mine to do with as I shall see fit. "

"Shall we settle him, and leave him lying here, where his gang canfind him?" interrupted the younger Filmore, who, now that his bloodwas up, cared little what he did. "You give him one jab, and I willguarantee to finish him with the second!"

"No! no! boy; you are too hasty. Before we silence him, forever, wemust ascertain, if possible, where the girl is. "

"But, he'll never tell us. "

"We have that yet to find out. It is my opinion that we can bring himto terms, somehow. Take hold, and we will carry him back to our holein the hill. "

Deadwood Dick was accordingly seized by the neck and heels, and borneswiftly and silently toward the western side of the gulch, up amongthe foothills, into the rift, where the plotters had lain concealedsince their arrival. Here he was placed upon the ground in a sittingposture, and his two enemies crouched on either side of him, likebeasts ready to spring upon their prey. 

Below in the valley, the Utes had kindled one solitary fire, and thiswith a starlike gleam of light from the cabin window, was the onlysign of life to be seen through the night's black shroud. The trio inthe foothills were evidently quite alone. 

Alexander Filmore broke the silence. 

"Well, my gay Deadwood Dick, Prince of the Road, I suppose you wish tohave the matter over with, as soon as possible"

The road-agent nodded. 

"Better let him loose in the jaws, " suggested Filmore the younger; "orhow else shall we get from him what we must know? Take out his gag. I'll hold my six against his pulsometer. If he squawks, I'll silencehim, sure as there is virtue in powder and ball!"

The elder, after some deliberation, acquiesced, and Dick was placed inpossession of his speaking power, while the muzzle of young Filmore'srevolver pressed against his breast, warned him to silence andobedience. 

"Now, " said the elder Filmore, "just you keep mum. If you try anytrickery, it will only hasten your destruction, which is inevitable!"

Deadwood Dick gave a little laugh. 

"You talk as if you were going to do something toward making me thecenter of funeralistic attraction. "

"You'll find out, soon enough, young man. I have not pursued you solong, all for nothing, you may rest assured. Your death will be theonly event that can atone for all the trouble you have given me, inthe past. "

"_Is_ that so? Well, you seem to hold all the _trump_ cards, and Ireckon you ought to win, though I can't see into your inordinatethirst for _diamonds_, when _spades_ will eventually triumph. Had I a_full hand_ of _clubs_, I am not so sure but what I could _raise_ you, _knaves_ though you are!"

"I think not; when kings win, the game is virtually up. We holdaltogether to high cards for you, at present, and _beg_ as you may, weshall not _pass_ you. "

"Don't be too sure of it. The best trout often slips from the hook, when you are sanguine that you have at last been immoderatelysuccessful. But, enough of this cheap talk. Go on and say your say, inas few words as possible, for I am in a hurry. "

Both Filmore, Sr. , and Filmore, Jr. , laughed at this--it sounded soridiculously funny to hear a helpless prisoner talk of being in ahurry. 

"Business must be pressing!" leered the elder, savagely. "Don't be atall scared. We'll start you humming along the road to Jordan soonenough, if that's what you want. First, however, we desire you toinform us where we can find the girl, as we wish to make a cleansweep, while we are about it. "

"Do you bathe your face in alum-water?" abruptly asked the road-agent, staring at his captor, quizzically. "Do you?"

"Bathe in _alum_-water? Certainly not, sir. Why do you ask?"

"Because the hardness of you cheek is highly suggestive of the use ofsome similar application. "

Alexander Filmore stared at his son a moment, at loss to comprehend;but, as it began to dawn upon him that he was the butt of a hard hit, he uttered a frightful curse. 

"My cheek and your character bear a close resemblance, then!" heretorted, hotly. "Again I ask you, will you tell me where the girlis?"

"No! you must take me for an ornery mule, or some other kind of ananimal, if you think I would deliver her into _your_ clutches. No! no!my scheming knaves, I will not. Kill me if you like, but it will notaccomplish your villainous ends. She has all of the papers, and cannot only put herself forward at the right time, but can have youarrested for my murder!"

"Bah! we can find her, as we have found you; so we will not trifle. Clarence, get ready; and when I count one--two--three--pull thetrigger, and I'll finish him with my knife!"

"All right; go ahead; I'm ready!" replied the dutiful son. 

Fearless Frank sat upon a bowlder in the mouth of the quartz mine, listening to the strains of music that floated up to him from thecabin out in the valley, and puffing moodily away at a grimy old pipehe had purchased, together with some tobacco, from one of the Utes, with whom he worked. 

He had not gone down to the crusher-house for his supper; he did notfeel hungry, and was more contented here, in the mouth of the mine, where he could command a view of all that was going on in the valley. With his pipe for a companion he was as happy as he could be, deprivedas he was from association with the others of his color, who hadbarred him out in the cold. 

Once or twice during the day, on coming from within, to get a breathof pure air, he had caught a glimpse of Anita as she flitted about thecabin engaged at her household duties, and the yearning expressionthat unconsciously stole into his dark eyes, spoke of a passion withinhis heart, that, though it might be slumbering, was not extinct--wasthere all the same, in all its strength and ardor. Had he been grantedthe privilege of meeting her, he might have displaced the barrier thatrose between them; but now, nothing remained for him but to toil awayuntil Redburn should see fit to send him away, back into the worldfrom which he came. 

Would he want to go, when that time came? Hardly, he thought, as hesat there and gazed into the quiet vale below him, so beautiful evenin darkness. There was no reason why he should go back again adriftupon the bustling world. 

He had no relatives--no claims that pointed him to go thither; he wasas free and unfettered as the wildest mountain eagle. He had no one tosay where he should and where he should not go; he liked one placeequally as well as another, providing there was plenty of provenderand work within easy range; he had never thought of settling down, until now, when he had come to the Flower Pocket valley, and caught aglimpse of Anita--Anita whom he had not seen for years; on whom he hadbrought censure, reproach and--

A step among the rocks close at hand startled him from a reverie intowhich he had fallen, and caused him to spill the tobacco from hispipe. 

A slight trim figure stood a few yards away, and he perceived that twoextended hands clasped objects, whose glistening surface suggestedthat they were "sixes" or "sevens. "

"Silence!" came in a clear, authoritative voice. "One word more than Iask you, and I'll blow your brains out. Now, what's your name?"

"Justin McKenzie's my name. Fearless Frank generally answers me thepurpose of a nom de plume, " was the reply. 

"Very good, " and the stranger drew near enough for the Scarlet Boy toperceive that he was clad in buck-skin; well armed; wore a Spanishsombrero, and hair long, down over the square shoulders. "I'm CalamityJane. "

If McKenzie uttered an ejaculation of surprise, it was not to bewondered at, for he had heard many stories, in Deadwood, concerningthe "dare-devil gal dressed up in men's toggery. "

"Calamity Jane?" he echoed, picking up his pipe. "Where in the worlddid _you_ come from, and how did you get here, and what do you want, and--"

"One at a time, please. I came from Deadwood with Road-Agent Dick'sparty--unknown to them, understand you. That answers two questions. The third is, I want to be around when there's any fun going on; andit's lucky I'm here now. I guess Dick has just got layed out by twofellows in the valley below here, and they've slid off with him overamong the foot-hills yonder. I want you to stub along after me, andlend the voices of your sixes, if need be. I'm going to set him atliberty!"

"I'm at your service, " Frank quickly replied. Excitement was one ofhis passions; adventure was another. 

"Are you well heeled?"

"I reckon. Always make it a point to be prepared for wild beasts andthe like, you know. "

"A good idea. Well, if you are ready, we'll slide. I don't want themtoughs to get the drop on Dick if I can help it. "

"Who are they?"

"Who--the toughs?"

"Yes; they that took the road-agent"

"I don't know 'm. Guess they're tender-foots--some former enemies ofhis, without doubt. They propose to quiz a secret about some girl outof him, and then knife him. We'll have to hurry or they'll get theirwork in ahead of us. "

They left the mouth of the mine, and skurried down into the valley, through the dense shroud of gloom. 

Calamity Jane led the way; she was both fleet of foot and cautious. 

Let us look down on the foot-hill camp, and the two Fillmores who arestationed on either side of their prisoner. 

The younger presses the muzzle of his revolver against Deadwood Dick'sheart; the elder holds a long gleaming knife upheld in his right hand. 

"One!" he counts, savagely. 

"Two!"--after a momentary pause. Another lapse of time, and then--

"Hold! gentlemen; that will do!" cries a clear ringing voice; andCalamity Jane and McKenzie, stepping out of the darkness, with fourgleaming "sixes" in hand, confirm the pleasant assertion!

CHAPTER XVI. 

THE ROAD-AGENT'S MERCY--CONCLUSION. 

Nevertheless, the gleaming blade of Alexander Filmore descended, andwas buried in the fleshy part of Deadwood Dick's neck, making a wound, painful but not necessarily dangerous. 

"You vile varmint, " cried Calamity Jane, pulling the hammer of one ofher revolvers back to full cock; "you cursed fool; don't you know thatthat only seals yer own miserable fate?"

She took deliberate aim, but Dick interrupted her. 

"Don't shoot, Jennie!" he gasped, the blood spurting from his wound;"this ain't none o' your funeral. Give three shrill whistles for mymen, and they'll take care o' these hounds until I'm able to attend to'em. Take me to the cab--"

He could not finish the sentence; a sickening stream of blood gushedfrom his mouth, and he fell back upon the ground insensible. 

Fearless Frank gave the three shrill whistles, while Calamity Janecovered the two cowering wretches with her revolvers. 

The distress signal was answered by a yell, and in a few seconds fiveroad-agents came bounding up. 

"Seize these two cusses, and guard 'em well!" Calamity said, grimly. "They are a precious pair, and in a few days, no doubt, you'll havethe pleasure of attending their funerals. Your captain is wounded, butnot dangerously, I hope. We will take him to the cabin, where thereare light and skillful hands to dress his wounds. When he wants you, we will let you know. Be sure and guard these knaves well, now. "

The men growled an assent, and after binding the captives' arms, hustled them off toward camp, in double quick time, muttering threatsof vengeance. Fearless Frank and Calamity then carefully raised thestricken road-agent, and bore him to the cabin, where he was laid uponthe couch. Of course, all was now excitement. 

Redburn and Alice set to work to dress the bleeding wound, with Janeand the "General" looking on to see that nothing was left undone. Fearless Frank stood apart from the rest, his arms folded across hisbreast, a grave, half-doubtful expression upon his handsome, sun-browned features. 

Anita was not in the room at the time, but she came in a moment later, and stood gazing about her in wondering surprise. Then, her eyesrested upon Fearless Frank for the first, and she grew deathly white;she trembled in every limb; a half-frightened, half-pitiful look cameinto her eyes. 

The young man in scarlet was similarly effected. His cheeks blanched;his lips became firmly compressed; a mastering expression fell fromhis dark magnetic orbs. 

There they stood, face to face, a picture of doubt; of indifferentrespect, of opposite strong passions, subdued to control by a heavyhand. 

None of the others noticed them; they were alone, confronting eachother; trying to read the other's thoughts; the one penitent andcraving forgiveness, the other cold almost to sternness, and yet notunwilling to forgive and forget. 

Deadwood Dick's wound was quickly and skillfully dressed; it was notdangerous, but was so exceedingly painful that the pangs soon broughthim back to consciousness. 

The moment he opened his eyes he saw Fearless Frank andAnita--perceived their position toward each other, and that it wouldrequire only a single word to bridge the chasm between them. A hardlook came into his eyes as they gazed through the holes in the mask, then he gazed at Alice--sweet piquant Alice--and the hardness meltedlike snow before the spring sunshine. 

"Thank God it was no deeper, " he said, sitting upright, and rubbingthe tips of his black-glove fingers over the patches that covered thegash, "Although deucedly bothersome, it is not of much account. "

To the surprise of all he sprung to his feet, and strode to the door. Here he stopped, and looked around for a few moments, sniffing at thecool mountain breeze, as a dog would. A single cedar tree stood by thecabin, its branches, bare and naked, stretching out like huge armsabove the doorway. And it was at these the road-agent gazed, a savagegleam in his piercing black eyes. 

After a few careful observations, he turned his face within the cabin. 

"Justin McKenzie, " he said, gazing at the young man, steadily, "I wantyou to do me a service. Go to my camp, and say to my men that I desiretheir presence here, together with the two prisoners, and a couple ofstout lariats, with nooses at the end of them. Hurry, now!"

Fearless Frank started a trifle, for he seemed to recognize the voice;but the next instant he bowed assent, and left the cabin. When he wasgone, Dick turned to Redburn. 

"Have you a glass of water handy, Cap? This jab in the gullet makes mesomewhat thirsty, " he said. 

Redburn nodded, and procured the drink; then a strange silencepervaded the cabin--a silence that no one seemed willing to break. 

At last the tramp of many feet was heard, and a moment later theroad-agents, with Fearless Frank at their head, reached the doorway, where they halted. The moment Deadwood Dick came forward, there was awild, deafening cheer. 

"Hurra! hurra! Deadwood Dick, Prince of the Road, still lives. Threelong hearty cheers, lads, and a hummer!" cried Fearless Frank, andthen the mountain echoes reverberated with a thousand discordant yellsof hurrah. 

The young road-agent responded with a nod, and then said:

"The prisoners; have you them there?"

"Here they are, Cap!" cried a score of voices, and the two Filmoreswere trotted out to the front, with ropes already about their necks. "Shall we h'ist 'em?"

"Not jest yet, boys: I have a few words to say, first. "

Then turning half-about in the doorway, Deadwood Dick continued:

"Ladies and gentlemen, a little tragedy is about to take place heresoon, and it becomes necessary that I should say a few wordsexplaining what cause I have for hanging these two wretches whom yousee here. 

"Therefore, I will tell you a short story, and you will see that mycause is just, as we look at these things here in this delectablecountry of the Black Hills. To begin with:

"My name is, to you, _Edward Harris!_" and here the road-agent flungaside the black mask, revealing the smiling face of the youngcard-sharp. "I have another--my family name--but I do not use it, preferring Harris to it. Anita, yonder; is my sister. 

"Several years ago, when we were children, living in one of theEastern States, we were made orphans by the death of our parents, whowere drowned while driving upon a frozen lake in company with myuncle, Alexander Filmore, and his son, Clarence--those are the partiesyonder, and as God is my judge, I believe they are answerable for thedeath of our father and mother. 

"Alexander Filmore was appointed guardian over us, and executor of ourproperty, which amounted to somewhere in the neighborhood of fiftythousand dollars, my father having been for years extensively engagedin speculation, at which he was most always successful. 

"From the day of their death we began to receive the most tyrannicaltreatment. We were whipped, kicked about, and kept in a half-starvedcondition. Twice when we were in bed, and, as he supposed, asleep, Alexander Filmore came to us and attempted to assassinate us, but mywatchfulness was a match for his villainy, and we escaped death at hishands. 

"Finding that this kind of life was unbearable, I appealed to ourneighbors and even to the courts for protection, but my enemy was aman of great influence, and after many vain attempts, I found that Icould not obtain a hearing; that nothing remained for me to do but tofight my own way. And I did fight it. 

"Out of my father's safe I purloined a sum of money sufficient todefray our expenses for a while, and then, taking Anita with me, Ifled from the home of my youth. I came first to Fort Laramie, where Ispent a year in the service of a fur-trader. 

"My guardian, during that year, sent three men out to kill me, butthey had the tables turned on them, and their bones lay bleaching evennow on Laramie plains. 

"During that year my sister met a gay, dashing young ranger, whohailed to the name of Justin McKenzie, and of course she fell in lovewith him. That was natural, as he was handsome, suave and gallant, and, more than all, reported tolerably well to-do. 

"I made inquiries, and found that there was nothing against his moralcharacter, so I made no objections to his paying his attentions toAnita. 

"But one day a great surprise came. 

"On returning from a buffalo-hunt of several days' duration I found myhome deserted, and a letter from Anita stating that she had gone withMcKenzie to Cheyenne to live; they were not married yet, but would be, soon. 

"That aroused the hellish part of my passionate nature. I believedthat McKenzie was leading her a life of dishonor, and it made my bloodboil to even think of it. Death, I swore, should be his reward forthis infidelity, and mounting my horse I set out in hot haste forCheyenne. 

"But I arrived there too late to accomplish my mission of vengeance. 

"I found Anita and took her back to my home, a sad and sorrowingmaiden; McKenzie I could not find; he had heard of my coming, and fledto escape my avenging hand. But over the head of my weeping sister, Iswore a fearful oath of vengeance, and I have it yet to keep. Ibelieve there had been some kind of a sham marriage; Anita would neverspeak on the subject, so I had to guess at the terrible truth. 

"And there's where you made an accursed mess of the whole affair!"cried McKenzie, stepping into the cabin, and leading Anita forward, bythe hand. "Before-God and man _I acknowledge Anita Harris to be mylegally wedded wife_. Listen, Edward Harris, and I will explain. Thatday that you came to Cheyenne in pursuit of me, I'll acknowledge Icommitted an error--one that has caused me much trouble since. Thecase was this:

"I was the nearest of kin to a rich old fur-trader, who proposed toleave me all his property at his death: but he was a desperatewoman-hater, and bound me to a promise that I would never marry. 

"Tempted by the lust for gold, I yielded, and he drew up a will in myfavor. This was before I met Anita here. 

"When we went to Cheyenne, the old man was lying at the point ofdeath; so I told Anita that we would not be married for a few days, until we saw how matters were going to shape. If he died, we would bemarried secretly, and she would return to your roof until I could getpossession of my inheritance, when we would go to some other part ofthe country to live. If he recovered, I would marry her anyway, andlet the old man go to Tophet with his money-bags. I see now how I wasin the wrong. 

"Well, that very day, before your arrival, the old man himself pounceddown upon us, and cursed me up hill and down, for my treachery, andforthwith struck me out from his will. I immediately sent for achaplain, and was married to Anita. I then went up to see the old manand find if I could not effect a compromise with him. 

"He told me if I would go with him before Anita and swear that she wasnot legally my wife, and that I would never live with her, he wouldagain alter his will in my favor. 

"Knowing that that would make no difference, so far as the law wasconcerned, I sent Anita a note apprising her of what was coming, andstating that she had best return to you until the old man should die, when I would come for her. Subsequently I went before her in companywith the old man and swore as I had promised to do, and when Ideparted she was weeping bitterly, but I naturally supposed it wassham grief. A month later, on his death-bed, the old trader showed methe letter I had sent her, and I realized that not only was my littlegame up, but that I had cheated myself out of a love that was true. Iwas left entirely out of the will, and ever since I have bitterlycursed the day that tempted me to try to win gold and love at the sametime. Here, Edward Harris, " and the young man drew a packet of papersfrom inside his pocket, "are two certificates of my marriage, one forAnita, and one for myself. You see now, that, although mine has been agrievous error, no dishonor is coupled with your sister's name. "

Ned Harris took one of the documents and glanced over it, theexpression on his face softening. A moment later he turned and graspedMcKenzie's hand. 

"God bless you, old boy!" he said, huskily. "I am the one who haserred, and if you have it in your heart to forgive me, try and do so. I do not expect much quarter in this world, you know. There is Anita;take her, if she will come to you, and may God shower his eternalblessings upon you both!"

McKenzie turned around with open arms, and Anita flew to his embracewith a low glad cry. There was not a dry eye in the room. 

There was an impatient surging of the crowd outside; Dick saw that hismen were longing for the sport ahead; so he resumed his story:

"There is not much more to add, " he said, after a moment's thought. "Ifled into the Black Hills when the first whispers of gold got afloat, and chancing upon this valley, I built us a home here, wherein to liveaway the rest of our lives. 

"In time I organized the band of men you see around me, and took tothe road. Of this my sister knew nothing. The Hills have been my hauntever since, and during all this time yon scheming knaves"--pointing tothe prisoners--"have been constantly sending out men to murder me. Thelast tool, Hugh Vansevere by name, boldly posted up reward papers inthe most frequented routes, and he went the same way as hispredecessors. Seeing that nothing could be accomplished through aids, my enemies have at last come out to superintend my butchery in person;and but for the timely interference of Calamity Jane and JustinMcKenzie, a short time since, I should have ere this been numberedwith the dead. Now, I am inclined to be merciful to only those whohave been merciful to me; therefore, I have decided that Alexander andClarence Filmore shall pay the penalty of hanging, for their attemptedcrimes. Boys, _string 'em up!_"

So saying, Deadwood Dick stepped without the cabin, and closed thedoor behind him. 

Redburn also shut down and curtained the windows, to keep out thehorrible sight and sounds. 

But, for all this, those inside could not help but hear the pleadingcries of the doomed wretches, the tramp of heavy feet, the hushedbabble of voices, and at last the terrible shout of, "Heave 'o! upthey go!" which signaled the commencement of the victims' journey intomid-air. 

Then there was a long blank pause; not a sound was heard, not a voicespoke, nor a foot moved. This silence was speedily broken, however, bytwo heavy falls, followed almost immediately by the tramp of feet. 

Not till all was again quiet did Redburn venture to open the door andlook out. All was dark and still. 

The road-agents had gone, and left no sign of their work behind. 

When morning dawned, they were seen to have re-camped on the easternslope, where the smoke of their camp-fires rose in graceful whitecolumns through the clear transparent atmosphere. 

During the day Dick met Alice Terry, as she was gathering flowers, ashort distance from the cabin. 

"Alice--Miss Terry, " he said, gravely, "I have come to ask you to bemy wife. I love you, and want you for my own darling. Be mine, Alice, and I will mend my ways, and settle down to an honest, straightforwardlife. "

The beautiful girl looked up pityingly. 

"No, " she said, shaking her head, her tone kind and respectful, "Icannot love you, and never can be your wife, Mr. Harris. "

"You love another?" he interrogated. 

She did not answer, but the tell-tale blush that suffused her cheekdid, for her. 

"It is Redburn!" he said, positively. "Very well; give him mycongratulations. See, Alice;" here the young road-agent took the crapemask from his bosom; "I now resume the wearing of this mask. Yourrefusal has decided my future. A merry road-agent I have been, and amerry road-agent I shall die. Now, good-by forever. "

 * * * * *

On the following morning it was discovered that the road-agents andtheir daring leader, together with the no less heroic Calamity Jane, had left the valley--gone; whither, no one knew. 

About a month later, one day when Calamity Jane was watering her horseat the stream, two miles above Deadwood, the road-agent chief rode outof the chaparral and joined her. 

He was still masked, well armed, and looking every inch a Prince ofthe Road. 

"Jennie, " he said, reining in his steed, "I am lonely and want acompanion to keep me company through life. You have no one butyourself; our spirits and general temperament agree. Will you marry meand become my queen?"

"No!" said the girl, haughtily, sternly. "I have had all the _man_ Icare for. We can be friends, Dick; more we can never be!"

"Very well, Jennie; I rec'on it is destined that I shall live single. At any rate, I'll never take a refusal from another woman. Yes, gal, we'll be friends, if nothing more. "

 * * * * *

There is little more to add. 

We might write at length, but choose a few words to end this o'er trueromance of life in the Black Hills. 

McKenzie and Anita were remarried in Deadwood, and at the same timeRedburn led Alice Terry to the altar, which consummation the "General"avowed was "more or less of a good thing--consider'bly less o' more'n' more o' less. "

Through eastern lawyers, a settlement of the Harris affairs waseffected, the whole of the property being turned over to Anita, thereby placing her and Fearless Frank above want for a lifetime. 

Therefore they gave up their interest in the Flower Pocket mines toRedburn and the "General. "

Calamity Jane is still in the Hills. 

And grim and uncommunicative, there roams through the country of golda youth in black, at the head of a bold lawless gang of road-riders, who, from his unequaled daring, has won and rightly deserves thename--Deadwood Dick, Prince of the Road. 

THE END. 

 * * * * *

=Edward L. Wheeler's=

=Deadwood Dick Novels=

IN

=Beadle's Half-Dime Library. =

 * * * * *

1. Deadwood Dick; or, The Black Rider of the Black Hills. 

20. The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick's Defiance. 

28. Buffalo Ben; or, Deadwood Dick in Disguise. 

35. Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval; or, The Brotherhood of Death. 

42. The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza. 

49. Omaha Oll; or, Deadwood Dick in Danger. 

75. Deadwood Dick's Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 

73. Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity Jane, the Heroine of Whoop-Up. 

77. Corduroy Charlie; or, The Last Act of Deadwood Dick. 

100. Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke for Liberty. 

104. Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Sign of the Double Cross. 

109. Deadwood Dick as Detective. 

121. Cinnamon Chip, the Girl Sport; or, The Golden Idol of Mount Rosa. 

129. Deadwood Dick's Double; or, The Ghost of Gordon's Gulch. 

138. Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick's Home Base. 

149. A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick's Big Strike. 

156. Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party. 

195. Deadwood Dick's Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road. 

201. The Black Hills Jezebel; or, Deadwood Dick's Ward. 

205. Deadwood Dick's Doom; or, Calamity-Jane's Last Adventure. 

217. Captain Crack-Shot, the Girl Brigand; or, Gypsy Jack from Jimtown. 

221. Sugar Coated Sam; or, The Black Gowns of Grim Gulch. 

The above are for sale by all newsdealers, five cents a copy, or sentby mail on receipt of six cents each. 

BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, 98 William street, New York.