Vol. V.] [No. 56. AUGUST 19, 1876. JOE NAPYANK; OR, THE RIVER RIFLES. BY BILLEX MULLER. NEW YORK: BEADLE AND ADAMS, PUBLISHERS, 98 WILLIAM STREET. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by FRANK STARR & CO., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. CONTENTS I. On the Ohio 9 II. Night on the Ohio.—A Visitor.—An Original Character.—Premonitions of Danger 19 III. Teddy O’Donnell and His Love Adventure. Startling Catastrophe 28 IV. On the Island.—Environed by Peril.—Sad Forebodings.—Young Smith’s Desperate Adventure 33 V. Sad News.—Recovery of a Rifle 45 VI. A Reckless Adventure.—Capture of Teddy.—A Visit to the Flat-boat.—Thoughts of Rescue 52 VII. Death and Capture.—The Companions in Captivity 59 VIII. A Night Voyage Down the River.—Singular Appearance.—The Departure 65 IX. In the Dark and Bloody Ground.—The Separation 74 X. A Vain Hunt.—The Indian Camp.—Discovery.—Pursuit.—Desperate Conflict.—A Meeting 81 XI. Teddy O’Donnell and Ruth McGowan—Irish Shrewdness—A Pugilistic Triumph—The Indian Fight—Liberation 90 XII. The End 98 JOE NAPYANK. CHAPTER I. ON THE OHIO. “I’ve had a pretty good tramp to-day, that’s sartin!” Such was the exclamation of a tall, gaunt, ungainly hunter,—Joe Napyank, as he dropped the butt of his rifle upon the ground, and folding his arms over the muzzle, looked out upon the broad Ohio, rolling by in quiet grandeur. “I’ve tramped nigh unto twenty miles without once stopping; and, when a fellow goes that distance through woods, cane-brakes, and thickets, dodging the redskins and varmints, it’s no wonder if he’s a _leetle_ blowed. Can’t be I’m too late after all.” The thought seemed to bring him some discomfort for a moment. “No; it can’t be, no need of thinking that. I’ve made pretty good time, and have struck the river low ’nough down.”