Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1106 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

mu eee ee _——- —— said one of the men, and the man addressed kept silex:?. Ned was hungry, and ate heartily, sharing his breakfast with the dog to which he was chained, until one of the men told him to stop it, add- ing: ; ‘* Yer thinks yer kin git friendly with Tear ’Em, boy, by feedin’ him, so yer kin escape, but : it’s no use.” Ned saw that his motive was understood, so the dog got no more food then. Thus the day passed away, the boy captive be- ing allowed to wander about the canyon, still chained to Tear "Em, while Growler trotted by \ his side also. / Ned gave up hope of immediate escape, until he could win the friendship of the two douk: and he devoted his every energy tothis purpose, re i ting them, talking to them, and stealing food to give them. ‘*T guess we'll be friends in a week or so, and I can skip off,” he said, when he went to rest that night. The next day, however, the poor boy discover- ed that something was going wrong. One of the men had left camp early in the morning and returned before sunset, and he evi- dently brought some important news, for all the | band gathered about him and cast glances to- ward Ned as they talked. “Tis a shame, anyhow, and Ill not take a hand in it,” Ned heard the man they called Doc Sav. % Well, I’d a little rather he were a man, I ad- mits, but then orders o’ ther cap’n has ter be obeyed,” another remarked. ‘Well, if its got ter be did, let’s git over with it durned quick,” a third said. ‘‘ We'll see his ghost in this canyon ever af- ter.” ‘*'Waal, let’s git it done and say no more.” All these remarks Ned had overheard, and then Doc came toward Ned and said: “My boy, the cap’n sent you here to git even with yer, and we expected him here to-day to say what was to be done with you, ‘But one of the boys went to the camps, and he says he has his reasons for not coming just now, and that you is to be hanged!” ‘Oh, no!” cried Ned, and his face became very pale. ‘Tt’s a durned shame, boy, and I says so; but the boys is set on carrying out the cap’n’s or- ders, and I can do nothing, so I goes away into Bs the canyon yonder, where I can’t see ’em murder . you. ‘‘ Good-by, boy, and if a bad man does ask it, I hope God will bless you!” ie The man grasped Ned’s hand as he spoke, while ¥ the boy pleaded earnestly: el ‘Oh, don’t let them hang me, sir, please ; don’t!” i ‘*T wish I could help it, lad,” and Doc hasten- iY ed away, as though fearing to trust himself ‘ | further with the poor boy, as he would be if tempted to make some desperate attempt to save him, As for the rest of the band, they seemed not to suffer with any such compunctious of conscience, re and they came toward him in a body, the one . who seemed to be the leader, in the absence of | the captain saying abruptly: ips ‘Come, boy, we has orders to string you up!” ‘ * Oh, sir, what have 1 done that you should a kill me?” cried Ned, trying to be brave and firm. ‘* You and the cap’n fer that, kid; but we has orders to hang you, and we must do it!” Ned realized that they were not trying to frighten him, and he made up his mind, if he must die, he would die like a man. His experience of the past vear had taught im self-control, in a wonderful degree, ror one of his years, and he was determined that the wicked men about him should see that he was not a coward, so he suid: ‘You can hang me, for you are men, and I am but a boy, in your power; but my uncle and the miners, will make you suffer fér this.” ys » “Never mind your uncle, boy, for we hain’t 4 nfeerd o’ him; but we does have to mind the i capn, so up you goes,” and the leader. threw a noose about the boy’s neck, Then his hands were handeuffed behind his Ae te eens SO ee . . é ™ - or ae ~~~ 7 x wo © : . ¥ Bree: ‘ - oe ke ce) . Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger. murderers, and waited for the word to end his young life. Suddenly the men started, for they heard a sound down the canyon, The next moment a horseman appeared in view, coming along through the shallow stream and urging his horse hard. ‘*Tt’s Nick Sloan!” a man cried, and, as the horseman came near he waved his hands wildly and cried in stentorian tones: ‘* Hold on thar, pards! Don’t yer hang thet boy.” The men looked at each other, while the blood rushed back into Ned's face at the joy he felt. ‘* Pards, the cap’n’s in a hole, and ef thet boy hed been hanged up, I tell yer thar would hey been ther same leedle game played on Jack Hollis, and me too, ef ’d been fool enough ter go back. ‘‘Give me ther kid, fer I has come fer him, and maybe it won’t be long afore ther cay’n and me is back among yer ter stay.” Nick Sloan then told how matters were in the mines, and Ned being blindfolded, and bound, he was mounted on a horse and rode away with the one who had saved his life by coming just in the nick of time, CHAPTER X, NED’S STRATEGY. Nick SLOAN was anxious to arrive in the mining-camps after all the men had retired, sO did not hurry himself up in thereturn with Ned, who felt just a contrary desire, being most anxious to reach home, It was a couple of hours after midnight there- fore, when Nick Sloan rode up to the Wright House with his charge. Will Wright answered to his call, along with Fred Oddie, and they greeted Ned with a wel- come he had not expected. ‘* Now, pard, me and Jack kin skip, can’t we?” said Nick Sloan anxiously, addressing Will Wright. ‘* Yes, and if either of you are caught in these mining-camps again, | will put the Vigilantes on your trail, and you know what that means,”’ was the significant response. ‘Will yer brine Jack out, pard, and we'll git off suddint, I promises yer; but ver hasn’t fergot yer promise ter give me a stake?” ‘¢ No, and here it is, a hundred dollars, and you do not deserve it.” “Mr. Wright, I think I ought to have the horse I rode back, on account of the scare they gave me,” said Ned, ** You shall have him Ned, and I’d serve these fellows right if I made them walk,” ‘* But Jack hain’t got no horse, and he'll hev ter ride ther one you-rid back ag’in, sonny,” whined Nick Sloan. ‘““ Yes, Ned, let him take the horse, for he don’t seem to be of much use, and I'll give youa fine animal,” said Will Wright. ‘* No, sir, that horse just suits me, and he can take another in its place,” and Ned touched Will Wright slyly in @way that made him feel that the boy had some purpose in view, so he said: ** All right, Ned, (ll give Hollis an old beast in his stead, and you shall have this one.” Jack Hollis was then led out of the room in which he had been imprisoned, and an inferior animal being gotten for him from the hotel sta- ble, he was told to mount, which he did quickly. ‘* Now you two men turn your backs on these camps, and woe be unto you if you ever return, “Go!” said Will Wright sternly, and they started off at a gallop, Jack Hollis silent and re- vengeful. ‘*Pard, we might as well take away some good horseflesh with us,” suggested Nick Sloan, as they got out of sight of the hotel. ‘You are right, Nick; we kin strike old Oliv- er’s camp, and then make a circuit round to our retreat by the North Pass, and get almost there by sun-up,” was the answer, and they wheeled off to the left and made for the Oliver camp, near which the captain’s horses were corraled. In the meantime Ned had turned to Will Wright and said: ‘Mr. Wright, do you know why I wanted this horse?” ‘* No, Ned, but I thought you had a good rea- son when you touched me as you did.” ‘* This horse knows the way to the camp of '. back, and the end of the pope was thrown over | Jack Hollis.” e. a limb, and four men took hold of it. ** Well?” i “Now, boy, you better say your leedle prayer, ‘*T was blindfolded going there, and coming So for the cap’n bas said it and you has got to | back, but we came by the Silver trail, I know, by hang,” said the leader. and if we start in that direction, the horse will a. Ned made no reply, and though his face was | take us to the retreat,” Ri livid, he showed no sign of fear, and his form ‘* Do you wish to go back there, Ned?” ae | did not quiver. ‘Yes, sir, but I want about twenty good a) ae + He stood there, facing death, a boy before his ' miuers with me, for there are eight men there, A a) eee ; =k as . and Jack and Nick, who have gone there, will make ten.” ‘* Ab! I understand you now, | think.” ‘*T wish to capture the horse-thieves, sir, and get the animals they have tbhere—and more, there is a good deal of booty in their camp, for they are road-agents as well.” ‘* Ned, you are a brick, and I will get a dozen good men together, while you go over to your uncle’s camp, report your com ng back in safe- ty,and tell him to come here with a: many more miners as I have, and we will start. **He shall be our captain, and you shall be our guide, and ride this horse your strategy caused us to hold on to,” Ned was delighted, and hastened over to his uncle’s camp, awakening him from a sound sleep. But he got a glad welcome, and quickly told his story, wheu Tom was called up and ordered to run to a dozen cabins and request the miners to come, mounted and armed, at once to their captain’s camp. This Tom dia, but when he went to get his master’s horse for him, he found that the corral had been visited and four fine animals had been run off, But another horse was secured, and Captain Oliver, accompanied by Ned, and followed by fifteen brave miners, rode over to the log house hotel, where Will Wright with twelve more men awaited them, Ned was greeted upon all sides, as though from the dead, and taking the lead, mounted upon the horse he had ridden from the outiaws’ retreat, the whole party set off upon the raid upon the horse-‘ hieves. They pushed on at a rapid pace, and just at da vn the horse ridden by the young guide turn- ed into the stream coming down the canyon, instead of crossing it. All followed closely, now riding four abreast, and the sun was just rising and lighting up the canyon when they came in view of the camp. A few men were standing about, having just arisen, and hearing the horses approaching through the water, evidently thought that it was Nick Sloan and the captain coming, for, having taken the long way round, they had not put in an appearance yet. But a yell of terror went up from the out- laws, as they beheld the cavaleade emerge from the stream, and they rushed for their weapons, at the same time shouting to their still sleeping comrades, ‘* Charge!” The word rung out from the leader of the miners, and with yells the horsemen charged the camp. Then followed rapid shots, caths, cries, and the firing ceased, for three of the horse-thieves were prisoners, while the others were slain, though not until several of the miners had fallen, one killed and half a dozen wounded. Gathering up the stolen horses from the val- ley, and the booty, the triumphant miners started upon their return, carrying their pris- oners with them. The dead they had buried where they fell, but these three men were reserved for the rope. Sending a man in ahead to call the camps to- gether, the miners were greeted with wild shouts from hundreds of throats as they return- ed to the Wright Hotel, and Ned was made a hero of and praised for his part in the valuable capture. in those davs trials of horse-thieves were dis- a with, and the three prisoners were quick- y strung up to a tree, and left hanging as a warning to others who might be inclined to go wrong, while a general holiday was declared through the camps. In the excitement, the loss of Captain Oliver’s four horses was forgotten, and the escape of Jack Hollis and Nick Sloan, who had evidently become aware of the attack on their camp and made good their flight to other parts where they were unknown, In the following spring a train of miners came into the camp, and Spitfire Pete was their guide; and it did not require much urging on his part to cause Ned to decide to accompany him on his next trail eastward and back again, especially as the old man said: ‘*T tells yer, boy pard, I is goin’ ter take a train out ter ther Colorado gold-mines, whar yaller metal is far more plenty than silver is here, ‘Pil take keer o’ yer, Neddie, and yer’ll hev a chance ter see ther kentry; and I sh’u'dn’t wonder ef yer c’u’d strike it rich thar yerself.” Ned was not long in securing his uncle’s per- mission, and when old Spitfire Pete started upon his return, the boy accompanied him, 3D ¥ YD : ‘ - co >é * a rr S— — ee : ; ‘books.com - - a