CONCLUSION.
There was no mistaking the voice. It was Hezekiah Smith himself, beyond
a doubt. Stooping down so as to obtain a glimpse of his features, the
Irishman peered into his face for a moment, and then releasing him,
said:
"It's that long-legged chap as was killed, or else I ain't Pat
Mulroony!"
"Is it possible that that is you?" asked Waring, placing his hand upon
his shoulder, and feeling of his face and arms.
"I've a strong suspicion now that I'm the identical, and precisely the
same personage that you took so much pain to kiver up in that same
gorge," replied Hezekiah.
"Let us strike a fire, and sit down and have a talk," said Waring.
"This is too good fortune, indeed."
Branches and twigs were soon collected, and a fire started. Seating
themselves by it, the reunited friends gazed into each other's faces.
To the surprise of all, Hezekiah Smith was attired in the dress of a
Shawanoe Indian.
"What is the meaning of this?" asked Waring, pointing at his costume.
"A stroke of my genius," replied the New Englander; "considered as an
idea original with myself, I think it reflects credit upon me."
"But let us hear the particulars of your escape."
"They don't amount to much," said Hezekiah. "The p'int is just here.
You know I had an all-fired row on that precipice. Drat me, if that
wan't the greatest scrape I ever got into in all my life. I dug, and
kicked, and pulled, and twisted, and gouged, and bit, and rolled with
that last Injun, but it wan't no use. When he went over, I had to go
over, too. Well, there! it was _sublime_, spinning down through the
dizzy air with that Shawanoe fast to me! I had more ecstacy in them one
or two seconds, then I've had in all the rest of my life.
"As it happened, the Injin fell under me, and was knocked into a jelly,
though, for that matter, I had settled his hash for him before he went
over. I'd advise you to believe now that I was bruised slightly, and
for a few minutes I seen nothing but stars, and heard nothing but the
queerest kind of music in my head.
"When I came to myself somebody was drawing me along the ground.
Thinking as how it must be one of the dratted imps, I just kept my eyes
shet, and let him pull away. Bimeby he let me drap, and piled me over
with dirt and stones. I heard him mutter something, but I kept my eyes
closed up all the time; he never thought I was playing possum.
"Arter he'd been gone some time, it struck me all at once that that
had been you who had taken sich pains with me. You'd better believe I
opened my eyes then, and crawled out of that place in a hurry. The way
the stones and dirt flew, you'd have thought a barrel of powder had
been tetched off.
"But you'd been gone too long fur me to find you, though I tried hard
enough to do it. I follered you a good ways into the woods, and had to
give it up at last. I leaned up agin a tree, and was thinking about
it----"
"That was you, then, Pat and I saw, and he wanted to shoot so bad. You
had a narrow escape."
"I s'pose it was me. I soon found the redskins was too thick in them
parts, so I crept down by the river, and waited fur night. Some time
after dark, I heerd one of the scamps screech, followed by the crack of
their rifles. I knowed you must be in some scrape, so I hurried down
the river, but couldn't see anything of you. Walking down the bank some
minutes arter, I thought I heard somebody speak on the river, so I kept
going down the shore, and listenin' like.
"Opposite where that big fire was, I seen the canoe, but there was
three persons in it. I couldn't understand how that could be, and was
afraid to show myself."
"I saw you," said Virginia, smiling, "but I told no one of it."
"I kept along by you, howsumever, and at last seen you land."
"You must have known us, then, surely."
"Yes, I did; but just for a little fun, I thought I'd scare you a bit,
and, by thunder, I reckon it was me that got the most scart, when Pat
pounced upon me out there."
"But you have not told us about this Indian dress."
"I forgot that. It struck me that, being there was so many Injins
about, it would be a good idea to put on one of their dresses. It
might come handy, you know. One of the dead redskins was just my size,
and I changed costumes with him, leaving him, of course, to put the
clothes on for himself, as I did with them I got. I believe they have
kept me out of danger several times since I put them on. But how about
this fire burning here? Ain't there some danger of its being seen?"
"I took pains to screen it from observation, and I have no fears,"
replied Waring. "I tell you what I propose," he added. "The woods
are so dark, and as none of us know the way, it is more likely that
we shall be entirely lost if we keep on in this manner. Suppose,
therefore, we spend the night here?"
This proposal being agreed to by all, the preparations were made for
carrying it out. A couch of boughs and leaves were made near the fire
for Virginia, upon which a blanket or two were spread, and upon which,
a few minutes later, the wearied and exhausted girl was sound asleep.
The others seated themselves around the fire, to spend several hours in
chatting and conversation.
"A few hours ago," said Waring, addressing Pat Mulroony, "you were upon
the point of explaining something in regard to yourself, when you were
interrupted by the discovery of a new danger. Perhaps, while we are
seated here, you'll give us the reason that induced you to come into
this wild country."
The Irishman smiled:
"It's little I have to tell, as the deaf and dumb man said. It's thrue
I niver have been out in these parts before; but I've thraveled over
considerable of the wilderness in the last few years. You know there be
signs of another Injin war, and I've been sint here as a private agent
of Mad Anthony, to larn what is to be larned."
"_That's what I am!_" exclaimed Hezekiah Smith.
Seeing that his hearers appealed incredulous, Smith added:
"Such is the fact. I had a love adventure at home, which sent me out
here, and that's why I'm rather green. I was sent in these parts at my
special request."
"Begorrah, but we goes togither after this," said Pat Mulroony.
The two grasped hands.
"It strikes me," said Hezekiah Smith, "that while we've larned
considerable of these redskins, it ain't quite enough to suit the
General. I propose, therefore, we start out agin."
Despite Waring's protestations, these two eccentric individuals
insisted upon departing at once. Although much bruised, Hezekiah would
not consent to go to the settlement, until he could fully recover, nor
would he allow Virginia Lander to be awakened, in order to bid him
good-by. Assuring him whom they left behind, that he should hear from
them again, the two worthies arose, and passed out in the darkness
together.
At the earliest sign of day, our hero and heroine were again _en
route_, and in the course of an hour, came in sight of the settlement.
Their destination--the long wished and prayed for goal--was reached.
Painful and terrible had been their sufferings on the way, but they
had been rewarded at last. Arm-and-arm the two entered this village of
the wilderness, as hand-in-hand they entered upon the great journey of
life, and went up the hill-side, and, finally, down through the Dark
Valley into the eternal life beyond.
THE END.
DIME POCKET NOVELS.
PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY, AT TEN CENTS EACH.
1--Hawkeye Harry. By Oll Coomes.
2--Dead Shot. By Albert W. Aiken.
3--The Boy Miners. By Edward S. Ellis.
4--Blue Dick. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
5--Nat Wolfe. By Mrs. M.V. Victor.
6--The White Tracker. Edward S. Ellis.
7--The Outlaw's Wife. Mrs. Ann S. Stephens.
8--The Tall Trapper. By Albert W. Aiken.
9--Lightning Jo. By Capt. Adams.
10--The Island Pirate. By Capt. Mayne Reid.
11--The Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes.
12--Bess, the Trapper. By E.S. Ellis.
13--The French Spy. By W.J. Hamilton.
14--Long Shot. By Capt. Comstock.
15--The Gunmaker. By James L. Bowen.
16--Red Hand. By A.G. Piper.
17--Ben, the Trapper. By Lewis W. Carson.
18--Wild Raven. By Oll Coomes.
19--The Specter Chief. By Seelin Robins.
20--The B'ar-Killer. By Capt. Comstock.
21--Wild Nat. By Wm. R. Eyster.
22--Indian Jo. By Lewis W. Carson.
23--Old Kent, the Ranger. Edward S. Ellis.
24--The One-Eyed Trapper. Capt. Comstock.
25--Godbold, the Spy. By N.C. Iron.
26--The Black Ship. By John S. Warner.
27--Single Eye. By Warren St. John.
28--Indian Jim. By Edward S. Ellis.
29--The Scout. By Warren St. John.
30--Eagle Eye. By W.J. Hamilton.
31--The Mystic Canoe. By Edward S. Ellis.
32--The Golden Harpoon. By R. Starbuck.
33--The Scalp King. By Lieut. Ned Hunter.
34--Old Lute. By E.W. Archer.
35--Rainbolt, Ranger. By Oll Coomes.
36--The Boy Pioneer. By Edward S. Ellis.
37--Carson, the Guide. By J.H. Randolph.
38--The Heart Eater. By Harry Hazard.
39--Wetzel, the Scout. By Boynton Belknap.
40--The Huge Hunter. By Ed. S. Ellis.
41--Wild Nat, the Trapper. Paul Prescott.
42--Lynx-cap. By Paul Bibbs.
43--The White Outlaw. By Harry Hazard.
44--The Dog Trailer. By Frederick Dewey.
45--The Elk King. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
46--Adrian, the Pilot. By Col. P. Ingraham.
47--The Man-hunter. By Maro O. Rolfe.
48--The Phantom Tracker. By F. Dewey.
49--Moccasin Bill. By Paul Bibbs.
50--The Wolf Queen. By Charles Howard.
51--Tom Hawk, the Trailer.
52--The Mad Chief. By Chas. Howard.
53--The Black Wolf. By Edwin E. Ewing.
54--Arkansas Jack. By Harry Hazard.
55--Blackbeard. By Paul Bibbs.
56--The River Rifles. By Billex Muller.
57--Hunter Ham. By J. Edgar Iliff.
58--Cloudwood. By J.M. Merrill.
59--The Texas Hawks. By Jos. E. Bager, Jr.
60--Merciless Mat. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
61--Mad Anthony's Scouts. By E. Rodman.
62--The Luckless Trapper. W.R. Eyster.
63--The Florida Scout. Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
64--The Island Trapper. Chas. Howard.
65--Wolf-Cap. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
66--Rattling Dick. By Harry Hazard.
67--Sharp-Eye. By Major Max Martine.
68--Iron-Hand. By Frederick Forest.
69--The Yellow Hunter. By Chas. Howard.
70--The Phantom Rider. By Maro O. Rolfe.
71--Delaware Tom. By Harry Hazard.
72--Silver Rifle. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
73--The Skeleton Scout. Maj. L.W. Carson.
74--Little Rifle. By Capt. "Bruin" Adams.
75--The Wood Witch. By Edwin Emerson.
76--Old Ruff, the Trapper. "Bruin" Adams.
77--The Scarlet Shoulders. Harry Hazard.
78--The Border Rifleman. L.W. Carson.
79--Outlaw Jack. By Harry Hazard.
80--Tiger-Tail, the Seminole. R. Ringwood.
81--Death-Dealer. By Arthur L. Meserve.
82--Kenton, the Ranger. By Chas. Howard.
83--The Specter Horseman. Frank Dewey.
84--The Three Trappers. Seelin Robbins.
85--Kaleolah. By T. Benton Shields, U.S.N.
86--The Hunter Hercules. Harry St. George.
87--Phil Hunter. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
88--The Indian Scout. By Harry Hazard.
89--The Girl Avenger. By Chas. Howard.
90--The Red Hermitess. By Paul Bibbs.
91--Star-Face, the Slayer.
92--The Antelope Boy. By Geo. L. Aiken.
93--The Phantom Hunter. By E. Emerson.
94--Tom Pintle, the Pilot. By M. Klapp.
95--The Red Wizard. By Ned Hunter.
96--The Rival Trappers. By L.W. Carson.
97--The Squaw Spy. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
98--Dusky Dick. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
99--Colonel Crockett. By Chas. E. Lasalle.
100--Old Bear Paw. By Major Max Martine.
101--Redlaw. By Jos. F. Badger, Jr.
102--Wild Rube. By W.J. Hamilton.
103--The Indian Hunters. By J.L. Bowen.
104--Scarred Eagle. By Andrew Dearborn.
105--Nick Doyle. By P. Hamilton Myers.
106--The Indian Spy. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
107--Job Dean. By Ingoldsby North.
108--The Wood King. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
109--The Scalped Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
110--Nick, the Scout. By W.J. Hamilton.
111--The Texas Tiger. By Edward Willett.
112--The Crossed Knives. By Hamilton.
113--Tiger-Heart, the Tracker. By Howard.
114--The Masked Avenger. By Ingraham.
115--The Pearl Pirates. By Starbuck.
116--Black Panther. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
117--Abdiel the Avenger. By Ed. Willett.
118--Cato, the Creeper. By Fred. Dewey.
119--Two-Handed Mat. By Jos. E. Badger.
120--Mad Trail Hunter. By Harry Hazard.
121--Black Nick. By Frederick Whittaker.
122--Kit Bird. By W.J. Hamilton.
123--The Specter Riders. By Geo. Gleason.
124--Giant Pete. By W.J. Hamilton.
125--The Girl Captain. By Jos. E. Badger.
126--Yankee Eph. By J.R. Worcester.
127--Silverspur. By Edward Willett.
128--Squatter Dick. By Jos. E. Badger.
129--The Child Spy. By George Gleason.
130--Mink Coat. By Jos. E. Badger.
131--Red Plume. By J. Stanley Henderson.
132--Clyde, the Trailer. By Maro O. Rolfe.
133--The Lost Cache. J. Stanley Henderson.
134--The Cannibal Chief. Paul J. Prescott.
135--Karaibo. By J. Stanley Henderson.
136--Scarlet Moccasin. By Paul Bibbs.
137--Kidnapped. By J. Stanley Henderson.
138--Maid of the Mountain. By Hamilton.
139--The Scioto Scouts. By Ed. Willett.
140--The Border Renegade. By Badger.
141--The Mute Chief. By C.D. Clark.
142--Boone, the Hunter. By Whittaker.
143--Mountain Kate. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
144--The Red Scalper. By W.J. Hamilton.
145--The Lone Chief. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
146--The Silver Bugle. Lieut. Col. Hazleton.
147--Chinga, the Cheyenne. By Edward S. Ellis. Ready
148--The Tangled Trail. By Major Max Martine. Ready
149--The Unseen Hand. By J. Stanley Henderson. Ready
150--The Lone Indian. By Capt. Chas. Howard. Ready
151--The Branded Brave. By Paul Bibbs. Ready
152--Billy Bowlegs, the Seminole Chief. Ready April 20th.
153--The Valley Scout. By Seelin Robins. Ready May 4.
154--Red Jacket, the Huron. By Paul Bibbs. Ready May 18th.
BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York