Yellowstone Jack: Trappers of the Enchanted Ground — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tS ea trappers, who had not moved a muscle - Since their appearance. _. The eldest being grasped the bow held by her companion, and notched an arrow, as she uttered a few words in a shrill, -eracked voice. Though -evidently ad- _ dressed to them, the trappers made no reply. Indeed, had not they been so _ bewildered, they would not have known what to say, since the words were strange to their ears. ‘“‘Go—leave this place—the Queen of the Boiling Springs warns you—beware how you anger her !” uttered the younger being, in the clear, musical voice they had ~ heard befcre. “The devil, more likely!” muttered Chavez, too much ofa daredevil for aught to cow him long. “I have one silver button left. Ll try her with that.” “Hold! don’t fire, man—they’re wimmen!” cried Yellowstone Jack, ‘striking up the levelled rifle, though not In time to save the shot, though the _ silver button whistled far above the head - of the witch. 3 His hand was still grasping the rifle, when a flash of hght seemed to blind his eyes, and he started back. Chavez flung up his hands and fell back, without a groan, a feathered shaft transfixing his throat. “My God! look yender!” gasped Brindle Joe. With a shrill eldritch scream oflaughter the hagraised herhands and then plunged headforemost into the boiling, bubbling cauldron. And the next moment the younger being followed her example. A sudden splash—nothing more. Then all was still. CHAPTER IV. A FRIENDLY ENEMY. yea CRY of horror broke from the lips WAS of Frank Maynard as the faith- less pistol missed. A cloud seemed to pass before his eyes. For a moment it seemed as though he would have fallen from the saddle as his tortured horse plunged blindly forward. Theterrified animals that were attached to the democrat still dashed on, each bound ocurrying them stijl nearer the frich.ful death that now seemed inavit- YELLOWSIONE JACEK. - With an effort of will almost super. human, Maynard crushed down the terror that well-nigh paralyzed both — hand and brain, and once more levelled | his revolver. The chance was a faint one. — A wound, unless instantaneously fatal, — would only precipitate the catastrophe, — Yet ifi was the only chance. ath, eae ‘‘ Heaven have mercy on them now!” ‘ a, ; These words burst from the young © man’s lips, as the hammer fell, for the second time, with a sullen click upon the - 4 tube. He knew now that his weapon}al been rendered useless by the driving raia that had heralded the terrible pouderec. — ; And, knowing that he was powerless to aid, he covered his eyes with his trembling hands. oe) The sharp, spiteful crack of a rifle saluted his ear, even above the howling a of the tempest, and, amazed, he uncovered his eyes. At first he could distinguish nothing save a confused, struggling mass, rendered indistinct by a flurry of snow, ~ ‘borne upon the wing of an eddying whirl- wind. Then, with an arm of iron, ho checked the mad career of his ariimal, — just in time to keep it from stumbling zi: headlong over the upset democrat. What had happened? ee 2 When the maddened horses wereseem- _ ingly just about to plunge down the ~ canyon—when less than a dozen yardsof level ground divided them from the abyss, _ a single rifle-ball whistled from behind a boulder hard by, and tore its way e re through the near horse’s brain. Withone spasmodic bound it fell dead, dragging with it its mate, whose hoofs slipped up — es on the carpet of snow andice. 2” The light waggon was whirled sideways, _ and over-turned. The occupants were cast out with violence. _ rant. The off horse scrambled to its feet, and, madly plunging, sought to free itself, — The traces held firm. The light waggon — was jerked along. The dead horse was — moved a few feet. One of the insensible women was rudely twitched around, so° that her head pointed toward the abyss. h It was Minnie. She had managed to _ secure the reins, and, winding them around her arms, had tried to check the runaways. Hven now, while unconscious, _ her fingers closed tightly upon the leath- _ ern lines. And the terrified plunging of the shrieking animal threatened to drag her over the escarpment to death. Lis | Thos matters were when Fran Mays "Te are J comirebooksic ig . - 7 : . t , Livi S