Frank in the Mountains , livre ebook

The Floating Press - Harry Castlemon

Découvre YouScribe en t'inscrivant gratuitement

Je m'inscris

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

93 pages

English

Vous pourrez modifier la taille du texte de cet ouvrage

Obtenez un accès à la bibliothèque pour le consulter en ligne
En savoir plus

A propos
Informations
Extrait

Description

After acquitting himself on the battlefield in multiple volumes of Castlemon's beloved juvenile fiction collection The Gunboat Series, protagonist Frank Nelson sets off for another adventure -- this time in the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Through brutal storms, run-ins with friendly and not-so-friendly inhabitants of the region, and several other setbacks and challenges, Frank and his loyal sidekick Archie strive bravely to make it back home.

Sujets

Children's

Informations

Publié par	The Floating Press
Date de parution	01 février 2013
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781775562429
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0134€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

Extrait

FRANK IN THE MOUNTAINS
* * *
HARRY CASTLEMON

*
Frank in the Mountains First published in 1864 ISBN 978-1-77556-242-9 © 2013 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
*
Chapter I - The Foot-Race Chapter II - What Came of It Chapter III - Frank Learns Something Chapter IV - The Trapper a Prisoner Chapter V - Archie Finds a New Uncle Chapter VI - The Medicine-Man Chapter VII - In the Mountains Chapter VIII - Frank's Friend, the Grizzly Chapter IX - Adam Brent's Story Chapter X - Turning Out a Panther Chapter XI - Frank in Search of His Supper Chapter XII - Adam Besieged Chapter XIII - Dick in a New Character Chapter XIV - A Ride for Life Chapter XV - Conclusion
Chapter I - The Foot-Race
*
One sultry afternoon in September, about four weeks after the occurrenceof the events we have attempted to describe in the second volume of thisseries, Frank and Archie found themselves comfortably settled in newquarters, hundreds of miles from the scene of their recent exploits.According to arrangement, they accompanied Captain Porter on hisexpedition, and in due time encamped a short distance from an old Indiantrading-post, in the very heart of the Rocky Mountains.
The journey across the plains, from Fort Yuma on the Colorado to thehead-waters of the Missouri, was accomplished without danger ordifficulty. The expedition traveled rapidly, and the only incidents thatoccurred to relieve the monotony of the ride were a buffalo hunt and achase after a drove of wild horses. On these occasions the cousinsgained hearty applause from the trappers—Frank by his skill with therifle, and Archie by his persevering but unsuccessful efforts to captureone of the wild steeds.
Had a stranger been dropped suddenly into the midst of the scenes withwhich the boys were now surrounded, he could scarcely have realized thathe was miles and miles outside of a fence, and in the heart of awilderness which but a few years before had been in undisputedpossession of savages. The boys could hardly believe it themselves. Ifthe fort, the trappers, and the Indian camp had been removed, Frank andArchie could easily have imagined that they were in the midst of athriving farming region, and that they had only to cross to the otherside of the mountains to find themselves in the streets of a prosperousand growing city. The country looked civilized. There were well-filledbarns, rich fields of grain waiting to be harvested, and a herd ofcattle standing under the shade of the trees on the banks of the cleardancing trout brook, which flowed by within a stone's throw of thehouse. There were wagons moving to and fro, between the barns and thefields, flocks of noisy ducks and hens wandering about, and Archie saidhe was every moment expecting to see a company of school-children cometrooping by, with their dinner-baskets on their arms.
There was one thing that did not look exactly right, and that was thefarm-house. It was built of sun-dried bricks, its walls were thick, andprovided with loop-holes, and around it were the ruins of the palisadethat had once served it as a protection against the Indians.
The farm-house was situated in the center of a delightful valley, whichwas surrounded on all sides by lofty mountains. In one corner of thevalley, and in plain view of the house, was Fort Stockton, thetrading-post of which we have spoken. Outside the walls a band ofIndians, about a hundred in number, was encamped. They had come there todispose of their furs, and were now having a glorious time amongthemselves, being engaged in various sports, such as running, wrestling,jumping, riding, and shooting at a mark. In a little grove between thehouse and the fort the trappers belonging to Captain Porter's expeditionhad made their camp, and the Captain himself sat on the porch, smokinghis long Indian pipe, and conversing with Mr. Brent, the owner of therancho. These gentlemen were old acquaintances and friends, havingformerly been engaged in the fur trade together; and when the expeditionmade its appearance in the valley, Mr. Brent insisted that the Captainand his young friends should make their headquarters at his house, untilthey were ready to resume their journey. The boys willingly accepted theinvitation—Frank for the reason that there was a well-filled library inthe house, and Archie because he wanted to be near a new acquaintance hehad made.
Close beside the stairs which led to the porch, Dick and old Bob laystretched out on their blankets, listening to the yells of the Indians,and watching all that was going on in the camp; and, if one might judgeby their looks and actions, they were not at all pleased with the stateof affairs. Indeed, they had kept up a constant grumbling ever sincethey came into the valley, and had repeatedly declared that they hadnever expected to see the day that Indians would be permitted to comeinto a white settlement and carry things with so high a hand.
"Times aint as they used to be, Bob," said Dick, knocking the ashes fromhis pipe, and filling up for a fresh smoke. "When me an' ole Bill Lawsontrapped in this yere valley, years ago, I never thought that I shouldset here, as I do now, an' let a hul tribe of screechin' varlets jumpabout afore my very eyes, without drawin' a bead on some of 'em. Thiscountry is ruined; I can see that easy enough."
"Dick is growling again," said Archie. "If he could have his own way,there wouldn't be an Indian in the world by this time to-morrow."
The cousins occupied an elevated position on the porch, from which theycould observe the proceedings in the Indian camp. Near them stood theson of the owner of the rancho, Adam Brent. He was about Archie's ageand size, only a little more thick-set and muscular; and with his brown,almost copper-colored complexion, dark eyes, and long black hair, mighteasily have passed for an Indian. His dress consisted of a hunting shirtof heavy cloth, buckskin leggins and moccasins, and a fur cap, which hewore both summer and winter.
Our heroes had made some alterations in their costumes since we last sawthem. They had worn the Mexican dress while in California, because itwas particularly adapted to the warm climate; but now they had discardedtheir wide pants for buckskin trowsers and leggins, although they stillheld to their sombreros, light shoes, and jackets.
The boys had spent but three days at Mr. Brent's rancho, but they werealready famous, for Dick and Bob had never neglected an opportunity torelate the story of their adventures and exploits in California. Whenthey visited the fort, the officers and soldiers looked at them asthough they had been some curious wild animals; the trappers belongingto the expedition treated them with a great deal of respect; and theirnew acquaintance, Adam Brent, acknowledged that he had been greatlymistaken in the opinions he had formed concerning boys from the States.They arose still higher in his estimation before he bade them good-by.
When Archie spoke, Bob and Dick raised themselves on their elbows andlooked at him.
"Yes, little un, I am growlin' agin," said the latter; "an' I reckonyou'd growl too, if you knowed as much about them Injuns as I do. I'llallow that if I could have my way thar wouldn't be as many of 'em bythis time to-morrow as thar are now, but I wouldn't like to sweep 'emout of the world by any onnateral means. I'll tell you what I'd do," headded, pointing to the grove in which the trappers were encamped. "Tharare twenty fine fellers layin' around under them trees, an' I like 'em,'cause they're honest men, an' hate Injuns as bad as I do. I'd say to'em: 'Boys, get up an' show them ar' red skins what sort of stuff you'remade of!' They'd do it in a minit, an' be glad of the chance; an'thar'd be a thinnin' out of them Injun's ranks that would do your eyesgood to look at."
"Perhaps some of you would get thinned out too," said Frank. "ThoseIndians are all well armed."
"I know that; but I, fur one, would be willin' to run the risk. I don'tlike to see 'em playin' about that ar way. When I walk through theircamp, it is as hard fur me to keep from pitchin' into one of 'em as itis for a duck to keep out of the water."
"Let's go down there," said Archie. "I'd like to see what is going on."
Frank replied by picking up his hat; while Adam looked toward hisfather, who shook his head very decidedly. The cousins were a good dealsurprised at this, and they had been surprised at the same thing morethan once during their short stay at the rancho. Adam was never allowedto go anywhere, unless his father went with him. Mr. Brent kept watch ofhim night and day, and never appeared to be at ease if his son was outof his sight. He seemed to be afraid that some mischief would befall himunless he kept him constantly under his eye.
"You will have to go without me," said Adam, with some disappointment inhis tone.
"Don't you get tired of staying about the house all the time?" askedArchie. "I'd dry up like a mummy, for want of some jolly exercise tostir up my blood."
"I do get very tired of it," replied Adam, "but I can't help it. Itwould be as much as my life is worth to go out of sight of this house.If I should go down to that camp, I might never come back again. I'lltell you a story before you leave us."
Frank and Archie would have been glad to postpone their visit to thecamp, and to listen to the story then and there; but Adam left them, andentered the house. Dick and Bob accompanied them to