REDLAW, THE HALF-BREED;
OR,
THE TANGLED TRAIL.
A TALE OF THE SETTLEMENTS.
BY JOS. E. BADGER, Jr.,
AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING POCKET NOVELS.
59. The Texas Hawks.
63. The Florida Scout.
98. Dusky Dick.
NEW YORK:
BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS,
98 WILLIAM STREET.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by
BEADLE AND COMPANY,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
CHAPTER I.
THE HIDDEN VOICE.
"Well, gentlemen, I propose we get to business. I for one have no timeto waste, and there are plenty of us present for a beginning," and thespeaker glanced approvingly around the room.
He was a tall, powerfully-built man, aged probably forty-five years, ofa rugged, yet intelligent and almost handsome cast of features; whilethe rough "home-made" garments that he wore disguised without hidingthe splendid contour of his form. There was the slightest possibletinge of the "brogue" to his speech, that would have told a closeobserver the land of his nativity.
"I second the motion," piped out a shrill, quavering voice, as atall, skeleton-like body abruptly shot up to its full hight, and thensunk down with a jar upon his stool, as all eyes were turned upon thespeaker, while he vehemently scrubbed at his face with an enormousyellow cotton handkerchief, to hide the confusion he felt at thus"speaking out in meeting."
"Thank you, friend Hannibal Hooker," bowed the first speaker. "Butfirst we will have something to—Landlord! Jim Henderson, I say!"roared out he who appeared to take the lead in the meeting, bringingdown his huge sun-embrowned, toil-hardened fist upon the table beforehim, with such force, that it seemed as if the deal would split, whileHannibal Hooker convulsively leaped from his stool with a faint squeak.
"Thunder 'n' lightnin', Cap'n Neil," uttered a deep, rumbling voice,as the door opened and a man thrust his head through the aperture, "amI deaf, thet you need to t'ar the house down? What d'ye want?" and heentered the room.
It was like a mouse with a lion's voice. Scarcely five feet and builtin proportion, the new-comer spoke with a voice such as we imagine thegiant Magog to have used, it was so full deep and sonorous. But, ifnot consistent with his body, it was with his heart, for "Honest JimHenderson" was a by-word, for use to typify truth and fidelity, amonghis neighbors.
"Bring us something hot and hearty, avic, for our throats will needwetting before we get through," responded he whom the landlord calledCaptain Neil.
"I protest, gentlemen! I protest most emphatically against thisproceeding!" exclaimed a short, rotund personage, bouncing upon hischair the better to be observed. "Must we depend upon intoxicatingliquors to enable us to form our plans? I say no, a thousand times no!With such supports, our downfall—"
What the conclusion of this worthy personage's speech was, is lost toposterity, for by some mischance—it was said, by the adroit tripof a neighbor's foot—the stool upon which he stood was overturned,and the little fat fellow plunged headlong beneath the table, givingutterance to a series of grunts and snorts that in no wise tended toquell the shouts of merriment at his mishap.
"There, brother Bacon," laughed the leader, "is a flat contradiction toyour argument. You fall by opposing it; we will stand with its aid.