Beadle's New Dime Novels: Swiftwing, the Squaw

Catalog Note *Swiftwing, the Squaw: The Phantom Warrior* is a serialized dime novel by Edward Willett, serialized in this 1871 issue of Beadle and Adams' penny dreadful series. The narrative opens with Captain Harwell's trading caravan pausing near Red River en route to Santa Fe. Harwell dismisses young trapper Harry Lee for courting his daughter Ida, who protests her love. Delaware scout John Hawk leaves in solidarity with Lee. Moments later, both men are ambushed and killed by a large Comanche war party observed from the caravan—an attack the surviving teamster Will Markhead attributes partly to their exposed position. Lee and Hawk, however, reunite after dismissing their horses; Hawk (now calling himself Nen-ne-pah) guides Lee toward a hidden grotto in the river bluffs, promising escape from pursuing Comanches. The issue includes advertisements for numerous Beadle publications: speakers, dialogues, etiquette guides, recipe books, and other instructional works.