Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1005 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VI. CACHING THE TREASURE. Deadwood Dick had to laugh. There was something about the situa- tion that struck him as being ridiculous. Why should he be talking terms and conditions to a man already in his power, and that man an outlaw? It was need- less, and yet— Well, Deadwood Dick had his moods. He was willing to give the fellow, ras- cal though he was, the benefit of a doubt, and now that his word had been given he would not recall it. That was not Deadwood Dick’s way. What he said, that had to stand; and yet, as said, he had to laugh. .* As if you are not as good as in prison already,” he said. “Still, I have given my word, and [’ll stick to it. Pace off the required number of steps backward, then draw .your guns, and at the word | from me open fire, and do your best to | dispose of me. If you miss the first shot | ' L warn you that you are not likely to get a second,” “ But, the money?” “Take it with you; I can pick it up after I have dropped you. If I happen to be the one to go down, you will not have to stop.” ‘No, no, we must not risk that, Dead- wood Dick. Recail what I said a moment ago. If you are going to give me a show at all, let it be a fair one all around.” “Then you are determined to cache it?” “I want to.” “That will mean a delay while you draw ‘two maps of the spot where it is cached, one for me and the other for you. If we both go down, others can then find and profit by it.” “Yes, I'll do that. I can’t expect to have it all my own way.” “All right. First of all, turn your back to me and remove your weapons, and lay them on the ground.” “ What for?” “ Because I will not risk a snap shot from you when you might possibly get a chance to fire it.” “ Well, I can’t kick. You are the fid- dler, just now, and I have got to dance to your tune. If the tables turn again, however, you will dance to mine, I warn you,” “ Should ‘the tables turn, you will have a chance to deal as honorably with me as I have done with you.” “And I’ll do it, too.” The outlaw turned the other way, Dick’s precaution against a snap shot, while he was removing his weapons, and in a moment was disarmed.. His rifl¢, a brace of revolvers, and a knife lay on the ground, “ These things are not to be left here,” he said. “Certainly not,” answered Dick: “I will bring them along with me. Go ahead, now, to ‘the place where you want to hide the money.” “ All right, follow me. I will take you to a place that is known only to myself.” He started off. Dick, having gathered up the weapons, followed. He held his man under cover, and it would have been impossible for him to escape. Straight up into the mountain fastness, for a mile, the outlaw led the way, and they left no trail that could possibly have been followed save possibly by a blood- hound. : If.it has seemed that Deadwood Dick was acting unwisely, and was assuming too great risks, it was not altogether Deadwood Dick, Jr., Branded. — ee a + eee Se without some compensating objects in view. He wanted to learn some of the secrets of this Red Rover who had be- come a terror in the State. Finally, on a plateau on the very sum- mit of a low peak, Captain Joaquin stopped. “Here we are,” he said. It was a scene of wildest grandeur. On every hand ‘higher peaks rose and overshadowed the one on which they stood. There was but one approach to the pla- teau, the way they had come. Every other side presented a sheer descent that could not be scaled. Just back from the place where ‘they had stepped up onto the rock table was a depression in which lay a boulder that was seemingly loose and possibly mova- ble. ‘And your cache is under that bould- er?” asked Dick, “Yes, there. You were quick to guess it— But, then, there is no other place possible.” “Hence it was not a guess, but a con- clusion. Well, deposit your plunder and let us settle our business.” “Yes, in short order.’’ The outlaw chieftain put his shoulder to the boulder, at a certain point, and began surging his weight against it, and || presently it. moved. He increased the force, it moved more and a little more, till presently it rolled over to another point of support, reveal- ing a hole in the table under. where it had rested, ‘Here we are,” he said. “Any treasure there Dick. “ No, not a bit; look and see for your- self.’’ “It does not matter.” “ All right.” Captain Joaquin took the bag from his shoulder and tossed it into the cavity, strap and all, and going around to the other side of the boulder, turned it back into place. “Now for the key-maps to the hiding- place,” said Dick. “That is going to a good deal of trouble.” “ All on your account.” The outlaw smiled, and took paper and pencil from his pocket. Spreading the paper upon the side of the boulder where a flat surface was pre- sented, ‘he began to sketch a map. It took him several minutes, and when it was done he proceeded to make a du- plicate of it. Both done, he held them up for Deadwood Dick’s inspection. “There you are,” he said. ‘“ You can see for yourself that I have made them correct. Here is the main trail, this is the way we came, and here is the little peak on which we are standing. Here I have made an index, and under it writ- ten—-Turn the boulder,” “That is good enough,” said Dick, “but just write—Here treasure is hid- den.” ‘“* All right, as you desire.” The words were written, and one of the maps was handed to Dick. Dick put it into his pocket, Captain Joaquin doing the same with ‘his copy, and they were ready. “Now for business,” Rover. “Yes, now to oblige you,” said Dick. ‘Where is the fight to. take place?” “Just down there where ‘the straight stretch of guich lies, where we can have a clear and fair range, with nothing in the way.” now?” asked said the Red 1) ote Oe ed a0 te Po eo, ‘ a - . ~_ . ——_ vert ry’ «= . “IT prefer to go out to the gulch from which this one branches,” said Dick. “T take it that one is traveled, while this one is seldom entered save by you your- self,” “ What’s your reason for that?” “ We want our bodies to be found, if we both get hit hard.” “ Well, I won’t quarrel with your plan. Come on and let’s have it over and done with.” Captain Joaquin led the way down from bhe little peak, Dick following close behind him, and through the first gulch mentioned out to the one Dick had pre- ferred. “ This will do,” said Dick. “TI do not want to have too far to walk back to get the treasure. Here are your weapons,” laying them on the ground as he spoke; “take them and back off the required distance, and we will begin to perforate each other. The man who strikes the ticker first, wins. Remember what I told you about the first shot.” “ Tll try to make it unnecessary to fire more than one,” said the outlaw, with a sardonic smile, as he picked up his weapons, CHAPTER VII. THE SECRET SHOT. Deadwood Dick smiled too, in a grim fashion. While fate might be against him, yet it was his intention to shoot Captain Joa- quin so dead that he would never kick again. ‘It was a trying moment for both men. With Dick it was like bantering Provi- dence, while with the Red Rover it was a last desperate chance, like one in a thousand. With both it was a moment to test their nerves. ® That neither was a coward needs no attesting. Captain Joaquin measured off twenty paces, walking with his back to Dick and trusting him fully. Perhaps he felt that the could trust to the honor of a man who would thus give him a chance for his life after having caught him and made him prisoner. Not only was Dick doing that, but he was running the risk of his own life by so doing. He was making it an even toss between right and wrong, between law and outlaw, between justice and iniquity. Captain Joaquin stopped and faced around, “Are you ready?” he coolly asked. “One moment,’’ said Dick. “What is it?” “I-do not want to take any advantage of you, nor do I mean to allow you to ae any advantage of me if I can help “ That is right.” “We must have a signal to fire by, and it must be one that neither of us can mistake.” ‘ “TIT agree with you there. What shall it e?” “Tf we ‘had some one here to count three for us, that would do, but seeing that we thave not, we cannot do it for ourselves.” “Why not?” “ The one who counted would have just the shade of an advantage over the other.” “He should not take it.” “Tf he hesitated, the other fellow would have it.” | ‘Tt don’t understand.” “Tf I count, I can say three and shoot at the same moment, while it would take a fraction of a second for you to hear and shoot,”’ “| .-* e i ve