Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by
FRANK STARR & CO.,
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

CONTENTS

I Old Pegs 9

II Old Pegs’ Treasure 15

III Dave Farrell. Bruin Scouting 23

IV Whirlwind 31

V A Coward’s Deed 38

VI A Great Surprise 46

VII Catching a Tartar 53

VIII A Border Battle 60

IX Unbidden Guests 67

X On the Trail. A Treacherous Act 72

XI The Heroine a Captive 82

XII Dropping the Mask 88

XIII A Dreadful Ordeal—Finis 94

THE RIVAL TRAPPERS;
OR,
OLD PEGS, THE MOUNTAINEER.

CHAPTER I.
OLD PEGS.

Hush! Is that a footstep coming up the canon? It camenearer and nearer, and a man of strange appearance suddenlystepped into view, rounding a bend in the canon. At the firstglance it seemed that he was a dwarf in stature, but as he advanced,it was plainly to be seen that this was a mistake, forthose broad shoulders and herculean arms never belonged to adwarf. In hight he would scarcely have reached five feet, buthis girth of shoulder and hip was something wonderful. Inshort, he had the body of a giant, set upon a pair of legs socrooked and misshapen that it seemed as if he had borrowedthose limbs from some one else.

He came on with a peculiar, sidelong, hitching gait, swingingout his left leg and throwing forward the shoulder uponthat side in an irresistibly ludicrous way, but getting over theground at a very fair pace.

His dress was that of the mountainman, of greasy buck-skin,yet showing the careful hand of woman in the mannerin which it was made. He wore fringed leggins, moccasinsof ponderous size, and a high bear-skin cap, which added considerablyto his ludicrous “make-up.” His weapons were acarefully-polished rifle, a pair of splendid revolvers, a knifeand a hatchet.

His face was broad, ruddy and good-natured, fringed by arusset-brown hair and beard, slightly sprinkled with gray. Asingle look at the high forehead, merry brown eyes and smiling...