JUST AS EXPECTED.
But little remains for us to tell.
The body of the old trapper was taken to the bottom of the chasm, and buried. After they had returned to the fire—for they all accompanied the old man to his last resting-place—the scout called Snowdrop to him, and said:
"Will you go to the top of the cliff, and bring your father down here? I must see him!"
"Snowdrop will go," replied the girl.
The scout led the way to the main entrance, and showed her the pass up which she was to climb, and in a short time he saw her enter the cavern accompanied by her father.
Kelly led the way to the inner cave, and then addressed the old chief:
"Does Gray Eagle remember his promise?"
"Yes: Gray Eagle never forgets! It was that if the White Panther should take his daughter from Red Pine, and bring him the scalp of the chief, there should be peace between the Blackfeet and the pale-face forever!"
"Your memory is pretty good, chief," replied Kelly. "Now you have your daughter—here is Red Pine, scalp and all! Are you satisfied?"
"It is well! Gray Eagle will do as he has promised; but he will take the Sioux dog to the village of the Blackfeet, and torture him to death."
"Well, take him and go! And I warn you never to come near this place again—a sudden and fearful death awaits you if you do. Now go!"
The old chief removed the cord which bound the feet of Red Pine, never doubting but that he could keep possession so long as his hands were tied.
Red Pine rose to his feet and said:
"A chief of the Sioux does not fear to die! Let the Blackfoot lead the way!"
Gray Eagle was about to reply when Red Pine broke from his grasp, and sprung in the direction of the rear entrance.
All was darkness there, and he seemed to have forgotten the existence of the chasm.
He made the discovery too late!
The yell of defiance changed to one of terror as the Sioux went whirling down to the bottom of the chasm, and the pursuers were only in time to hear the echoes of the dull thud as he struck the rocky bottom, a shapeless mass of flesh.
Gray Eagle recoiled in horror from the brink of the chasm and the party returned to the fire.
"Come," said the old chief to his daughter—but she did not stir.
"Snowdrop loves the White Panther, and will never leave him again!"
Gray Eagle did not know what to say or do, neither did the scout; but he saw that something must be done, and he dreaded a scene. He approached the Indian girl, and taking her hand said:
"It may be a disappointment to you, Snowdrop, but it is one you will live through. You must obey your father! In the morning I shall start for my home, and you can not go along! I shall probably never see you again—so you may as well give up this love notion of yours. I would rather be a brother to you, and will always be your friend—nothing more. Now go with your father!"
The Blackfoot queen bowed her head, and sobbed aloud.
So rude a repulse—so decided a refusal, kindly spoken, it is true, but firmly—such a wealth of tender soul-love to be cast aside—was more than she could bear.
"Look a-here," said Jehiel, once more taking hope, "you know I love you, desput bad, Snowdrop. Hain't I rescued you from the durned Indians half a dozen times? S'posen you take me? You can't git Lew, that's sartin! We'll stay right here—I'll buy the old man's traps, and we'll jest be as happy as any two kittens!"
What a strange revulsion of feeling!
Snowdrop put her hand in Jehiel's and said:
"Snowdrop will stay, and be the wife of Long Hunter!"
What need to recount the homeward journey—unless the reader may wish to know what became of the other characters?
Captain Curtiss and the lovely Nulela were married immediately upon their arrival in Yankton—the nearest place where a minister could be found.
Lew Kelly made happy the heart of his little wife by his return. He gave up scouting, for the gift of Bear-Paw had placed him beyond the need of work. He is one of our living heroes, and could, undoubtedly, have told this story much better than I have done.
As neither Snowdrop nor Jehiel had any conscientious scruples about marriage, they remained where they were. Jehiel still inhabits the cave in the Black Hills, happy as mortal can well be, in the love of the Blackfoot Queen.
THE END.
DIME POCKET NOVELS.
PUBLISHED SEMI-MONTHLY.
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. Badger, Jr.
60—Merciless Mat. By Capt. Chas. Howard.
61—Mad Anthony's Scouts. By E. Rodman.
62—The Luckless Trapper. Wm. 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 Robins.
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. E. 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.
The following will be issued in the order and on the dates indicated:
139—The Scioto Scouts. By Edward Willett. Ready October 21st.
140—The Border Renegade. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready Nov. 4th.
141—The Mute Chief. By C. D. Clark. Ready November 18th.
142—Boone, the Hunter. By Frederick Whittaker. Ready December 2d.
143—Mountain Kate. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready December 16th.
144—The Red Scalper. By W. J. Hamilton. Ready December 30th.
145—The Lone Chief. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready January 13th.
146—The Silver Bugle. By Lieut. Col. Hazleton. Ready January 27th.
Beadle's Dime Pocket Novels are always in print and for sale by all newsdealers; or will be sent post-paid, to any address; single numbers, ten cents; six months (13 Nos.) $1.25; one year (26 Nos.) $2.50.
Address, BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.