Frank Reade, Jr., With His New Steam Horse Among The Cowboys; Or, The League Of The Plains — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

BOOTS BTO OUGHT SOLD & EXtun - D Nn. 18 YORK oy 6d 6TH. MELS, MARKEI SATURDAYS. Butthe cowboys did not seem to suffer -preatly ; at least they stood their ground mi y v4 4 * ’ . ¥ well, and made answer. . Frank dared not charge for fear of eetting into close quarters. The Steam Horse would be badly han- dicapped in a position like that, A fight at long range was best. But at this moment, dauntless little Juan Almado rode up, and cried: “ Follow me, senors, there isa path this way !” Krank saw the plucky Mexican lad ride away to the right, along a level stretch of ground between the mountain and the chaparral. At once the young inventor turned the Steam Horse in that direction. Very quickly the horse was galloping wway on a new course. Loud and baffled yells came from the cowboys. They came thundering in pursuit. But this was just what Frank wanted. He motioned to Barney. “ All roight, sor, I know!” cried the ready Celt. ‘We'll give it to the spalpeens !” Fire, destructive and rapid, was opened upon the pursuers. From the rear of the waggon it was an easy matter to pick them off. Arthur Bentley had entered into the spirit of the movement with great zest, and was doing his part. “Yye no compunction in shooting them down,” he cried; “they're a pack of murderers and thieves.” Juan Almado was leading the way far in advance, when suddenly the boy halted, and threw up his hands with a vesture of dismay. Then he suddenly vanished mto the ie ef é chaparral at the left. 6 > oa : “a al ; © bn "A . in a he 7 ' - hd i‘ : The Steam Horse came to a halt. It did not seem at this pomt as if # could go any further. A high rocky wall ~' shut down in front, and the chaparral to ' . , the left seemed too thick to penetrate. The cowboys seemed to realise this, and gave loud yells of triumph. Some of them dismounted, and began to block the passage in return. a It looked as if the Steam Horse was literally hemmed in. It was a desperate situation. No one realised this more than did Frank Reade, jun., himself. What was to be done ? | Of course there was the desperate ; — ¥ F - \ “te Ps : go 4 . 7 ; - ira . 4 . by . ,r 6 - rr - \ “ig - A ee ? of as a +, ee Ve >” of j D ; A ut 4 J Gra LOIRE ite F- : q Pao Aa pa i ¥ ® ex ph ‘ ae ‘ Mi + - 1 Rr UB oe ba + FAD. Y ws P be vo EN 3k Ub A NARROW ESCAPE, chance of attacking the foe, and fighting their way through to the prairie. But it seemed hardly likely to be | successful, even if attempted. The cowboys, however, did not venture to attack the Steam Horse. They held off at.a respectful distance. But Frank fathomed their plans very. quickly, for he caught sight of one of them riding down the path to the exit . through the chaparral. At once he guessed what this meant. They were going for reinforcements, when, no doubt, a successful attack would be mace. Frank smiled grimly, and he was not the one to lose heart. He had been in desperate predica- ments’ before, and none’ knew | better than he how to pull out. | But before he could make up his mind — as to the proper move to make an incident transpired. | One of the cowboys, bearing a white flac, rode forward. 7 ‘ Frank respected the flag of truce by opening the door of the waggon and stepping out. The outlaw, who was a burly, villainous-looking fellow, rode up quite near. | He dofied his sombrero and affected politeness, as he said: “ Ah, is this Mr. Reade P” “1+ is,” replied Frank. % / ! “ Waal, I’m Al Durgin, an’ I’m one of : ’ | : the boss cowboys over ther Star.” °, “All right. What; do you wantP” asked Frank, tersely. | “T want ter tell ye that ye are in tight Mt quarters.” | | “ Indeed P” “Tf ye don’t believe it now, ye will later.” “Perhaps so.” ’ * “T reckon we're all fair, square men. We will accept yer surrender on uncon=-_ ditional terms.” Frank laughed quietly. “That is most fair, I must say,’ he replied, with sarcasm. “Waal, what do ye say ?” “Do you want to know ?” “Yas.” : never surrenders.” Durgin sat motionless in his saddle for a few seconds. “Waal,” he muttered, that’s a reck- less way ter talk. get outen this place ?” ate Ve ‘ : he . ; ‘ : ~ - s 7 A + ‘ns i tera % ae ie = ‘ : . MN FES A LE es ‘ ‘ —- . - x “ on > » 7% “ “e . . : - ° - =, # o ; * “ * é * T 2On% “ << > * me ~ i> =) ScASE “7 Can an . aro ae SF ¥ ay .¥ J a a >» a “ d - , fs A. > « “ “ . - : my — * = ia . 4 he - é o —— .- — ~ " * re te a Ae 4 Pai . Ce. One 2 s : ~ ~ —_— ™ =e * ~* és — - ~~ - os = ° ai Sy < 2 ee S ose “ a=" S i ~ F Re ae rm OR * ara! ° t = t — ——a) = a . 4 1a < | wns " — — Ss ~ SS ee ch <a tt dvs & —_ “That Frank Reade, jun., dies, but Be : How do ye expect to > | oS Ga