Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

ee oe But neither the boy or the dogs moved. % The two forms crept up to the bend in the S yy: Say canyon, one glided across to the other and they ~*~. whispered together, their faces being turned to- ieee ward the camp-fire. Yee Joe remembered that ene of the red-skin visi- Saga tors to his cam) that day at noon, had a rifle, ANG and the other had a revolver and bow and ea arrows. ae Tie two forms, now visible in the firelight glare, he recognized as the same he had before a seen, ab Land he was relieved, for he had Reet feared t) vere nore than those two about. enue After a pe ring a moment together, the two a a: Indiaus move closer to the camp. ; The horses saw them, one gave a snort, and the three stood watching them earnestly. Then the ladians crept nearer, and nalting, one of them raised his bow, took a deliberate sight and sent the arrow fly’ ing, as he believed RO , ne into the boy of the youth. 2 ens The thnd of the striking arrow was heard br ltmy by Joe, ‘the bianket nioved under the blow, and 1 ae quickly two other arrows were sent in quick >) suceession, hitting fairly as had the first. The Indians seemed to be surprised, and put their beads together in confab once more, Ch hey Had fired arrows to cause no alarm, if possible, to tue dogs, and the latter rem: 1ined quit. Tbe one who had the rifle stood ready to P~ fire, should the do zs, whom they seemed to fear, bs dart out upon them, and his comrade who had vt a revolver kept it in his band for instant use. As though to draw the dogs from their lair, so that they would not be sudd lealy sprung u pon, and believing that they had kille ] the youth, one Se) ef thom gave a suppressed w.r-cry. | Bat no dogs came, and in dismay the Indians Se @urned and looked at each other. ' *Then bots yelled together, one of them firing ~ashol iro ss his revolver at the blanket dummy. Stiilnosound, and they started to g0 away ) but, suddenly, a form confronted them back in a the shadow, while they were in the glare of the firelight. 5) JA shot flashed from Joe's rifle, two fierce ) yelps were heard, and as one red-skin went down witha bullet through his brain, the other " was drage-d to the youth by Grip and Grab. '—) thhorror at the sight of bis dogs springing on the ether red-sicin, Joe rushed forward to | Yi them off, but tee sharp teeth of Grip had mee. met in the throat of the Indian, and he had al- ) > Yeady gone with his comrade to the happy hunt- a Seamt ds of bis people. CHAPTER XVII. THE SILVER KINGS. nS, To say that Joe was elated at his escape from his intended assas-ins, would be to ‘' draw it milly ;” be was over joyed, but he regretted that he had to takeNife, Indian life though 1t was. i, Fhe horrible: death of one of the Indians, at be the teeth of the dogs, haunted him, and it was ‘i > pome little time before he could feel at ease ins art _ again; then, with his hatchet and knife he dug ae ~ agrave large enough for the two bodies, and, : _ when it was filled in, dragged brus : over it, as . Tegas Jack do, to prevent the > i a Sedekies from dizgimg up the bodies, ie ‘ Leaving Grip and Grab on watch, for though vat >» the dozs slept, it was ‘“‘ with one eye open,” he day dow) upon his biankets, removing, however, 3 beyond tlie giars of the camp-fire, which he now a ge ahi fo die down. 7 It was some time before he fell asleep, but at F inst he di! so,and toeund the sun looking down into the canyou when he awoke. | Pressing on his way, avoiding bere and there a Indians which he saw at a great distance, Joe Be ates! arrived within the silver region. fh, | He was riding along one evening, looking for ney: a place to canp, when suddenly two men rode Be, out in the trail before him. fy, 30° elanced hastily behind him. Rol ae There he bebeld three horsemen. ts All five wore masks, and were well mounted and myst thor. ughly armed. * fie 7g Silver Kings { guess,” muttered Joe. ~~ What tose lie ai not know, for to fight five jee was Off of the question, of a ‘Then Puere might be others near, and doubt- ~The Peeanke x6 horsemen did not give him long a eee or, for one called out in a voice not to fox mistaken in its deadly meaning: oS) “Hands un! or we riddle you with bullets!” , Joe's experience bad taught him not to delay urgent matters, and he thought this was an xent one. 2 is : “, » 4 7 ‘hte < 4 a ae ay at * < Py -% r OF ot \ ay | re tl 2 Li 5 by T ra ~ & + a, - aes » be held’ ag to a halt, his hands, at the same time two led horses and the dogs Arizona Joe. —_—- + —_—— ——— ee ee ee stopping close on the heels of the animal he | was riding. Instantly the five men came riding toward him. He examined tnem closely as they came for- ward, —_—_— re ee CHAPTER XVIIL A DEED THAT WAS REMEMBERED. Tuer two horsemen who had Joe in charge, turned off from the trail with him, following a wild and narrow ravine that ran back into the | recesses of the hills. As I have said, they were well mounted, one | riding a large horse with a military sadale and bridle, two of them having Mexican gear, and the remaining two,Texan rigs on their tangs. | they ‘had gone very far; mus- | ' ahe They wore revolvers iu their belts, a knife | also, and swung at their backs were rifies, one of them a r peater, They were dressed in various styles, from buc «skin and a uniform, to a miner’s costume, wore large-brimmed slouch hats, and their masks were simply red cloth coverings for the , face, in which two eye-holes were cut. ‘* Well, sir, you are the game of the Silver Kings,” said the leader of the strange horsemen to Joe. ‘*You’ve got me, youth’s cool response. ‘* You've got pluck, my boy.” “Thank you, | need it when I have to face such fellows as you.’ ‘* Who are you?” ‘Joe Bruce.” ‘* Where from?” ‘¢ Toxas, I eucss. ‘* it takes Texas to turn out such lads as you are; but where are you going?” ** To the mines.” What for?” “ Fortun -hunting.” ‘Which mine in particular?” “Do youknow a camp known 4s Silver Star?” +6 Vos. bb] ‘* 1 was going there.” “Are you not going there, now?” That ce ypends ul on whether you’ ve got con- science enough to let a poor boy go.’ ‘* A poor poy?’ sneered the Silver King. “Three horses, two dogs, a fut pack and well armed; you don’ look very poor.’ ** But [ am,” that’s certain,” was the | ”? ** T can tell you how you can get rich, then, if it is riches you want.” ‘* Let me know, if you please, how.” * Join our band.” ‘*['m no thief,” was the indignant reply. “Go slow, boy, with vour hard names,’ ‘1 beg p urdo: 1, gentlemen of the road.” “Don't be smart, for you are in trouble now.” **So [ see.” * Yow ll not join us?” ‘* No,” with decision. ‘Then you can seek the Silver Star on foot, unarmed, and minus what valuables you have about you.” **T told you that you were thieves,” hotly | said Joe. ‘“‘ T guess we better keep bim as he is, until the cap’n arrives, pard,” said one of the masked men, addressing the one who had been spokes- man. ‘‘Why not rob him and let him go now?” asked the other, ‘** Because it’s my opinion ther cap’n can get more out of him than we kin.” ‘/That’s my way o’ thinkin’,” said another of the band, “What makes you think so?” leader, ‘* Waal, I kinder thinks [ has seen him afore, and he is more than he says he is. ‘** He’s from Texas, and he may be a friend o ther can’n, and if not, I guess he’d know him.” ‘But the captain won’t be here until to- morrow morning,” ‘* We kin keep him safe, and I’4 hate to make a mistake, for he’s only a by and you knows ther car’n are friendly with Texans.” “That's so. Well, if you will guard him, while the rest of us keep on the trail you can do so,” ‘All right, but Pd like my pard to help me, for he hain’t goin’ ter be no gentile kitten to watch.” ‘*Very well; disarm him now and take him back to camp with you. ‘‘ We will wait here for the stage, and if you hear the bugle-call, we will reed. help, 80 keep | the bey tied so that you can come to our aid.” “All right, pard,” was the. answer, and dis-'| arming Joe, the two men rede away with him in the cathering twilight, one riding by his side, and the other leading his horses, while Grip and Grab, seemingiv in sullen humor, trotted after the party, seeming to fear that. their young master had gotten into a scrape there was no asked the ’ getting out of.. iis iid iy ds Ne 4, So % L. « ] ; ? 1 Fae ; we Pe | | | Oe a , ' | uw mh hy Ss . P : 4 vy - . ar Ri i ‘of *. y aaah oa "ue by 2 ager, | ; a beg uae ' Night was upon them in that wild place, before but the then seemed to know the way well, and after a rideof half a mile the glimmer of a camp-fire appeared ad. As they rode up to it Joe saw that it was a mountain camp, and there were two fires, some brush shelters, and the gl tad ance that it had been but lately oe¢upied. A couple of horses, with pack-saddles near them, were staked out in an open space, and near the fire was a tin bucket of water, a frying- pan and coffee-pot, ‘This is our camp, youngster,” said one of the men, as they drew reip. ‘*Tt’s a poor camp for Silver Kings,” replied Joe, determined to take his captivity as coolly as he could, ‘You is plucky, sich danger.” ‘* Tt wou dn’t help me to ery, would it? ‘ Tf so, Pll start in.” ‘You needn’t; but just dismount thar,” Joe obeyed. ‘““Pard, vive them horses a bite o’ thet grass youder, and a leetle water from the brook, while I gitsa bite for the young gent and them ugly dogs.” “* You call wv dogs ugly?” ‘Waal, they isn’t handsor ne. ¢ **T think they are beaut.es. ‘Waal, L bain’t goin’ ter quarrel with yer about them brutes. ‘* They looks savage enough to eat me up.” “ And would if [ gave them the wink. ‘*Lo dy! but my pard has yet weopons and horses, and yer c’a’cn’t git away. . But jist sit thar, and PU find yer some sup- per.” | Joe sat down as directed, the dogs crouching on either side of him, and tlhe man bustled about and soon had some coffee on the fire, a tin plate of crackers, and in the frying-pan a rasher of bacon, while a venison sieak was. put upon the coals. The other man now came up, having staked the horses wt ere they would get a good feed, and the two outlaws held a talk apart toge ther: then they approached the fire, and one of them said: ‘« Your supper is ready, lad, so fall to.” * And you?” ‘‘We had our grub afore we went on ther trail.” Joe was hungry and be “* fell to” with a will, eating a hearty supper, end not forgetting his dogs, “whic h the two men also tried to feed. hut were surprised to see that neither Grip nor Grab would touch a tbing they gave them. ‘““Them’s cur’us dogs,” remarked one of the men, * They look as though they’d chew us, ef they got the chance,” remarked the other, Joe laughed. Then one of the men said: ‘* Boy, yer don’t know us, does yer™ ** No, and [ don’t care to. " . Wl, now, don’t be sharp, fer we means yer ell. Come, Pete. let’s do it.” hey put their hands to their faces and re- moved the red cloth which served as masks, ‘Mustang Mose and Parson Pete!” cried Joe, in the greatest surprise, and his excited manner caused his dogs to show their teeth viciously. ‘* You/is right, pard, we is them,” said tang Mose, ‘And you are Silver Kings?” * We is.” ** Robbers?” ‘¢ Well, we is, I guess.” ‘‘ Then I os pi it’s all up with me,” and Joe dropped a band on each dog. to be funny when you is in The men looked at each other, and then Mus- . tang Mose said: “You talk, Pete.” ‘Well, leetle pard, the fact is we knew you just as our iatenkns halted, you, but both of us said nothing, and Mose, after a while, suggested leavi ng you here in camp until the captain comes in the morning. » The stage is expected along to-night, and the other boys have got to lay for it, so we came back in camp with vou, for we wanted to help you.” | ‘Help me?” ‘*'Yes, for we have not forgotten how you saved us both from han af Mab 22. pao at the wae ress camp, and bs Daighs tag np ees iio “= f a nf % ‘ : a hears . ® i ey dan iy ht Be icboo he ris Reicon® _— ewe ee } Je ‘Be ‘ i ol } \ PS ~~ ’ a 7 I . a ; r! ° * 1 * "4 "aa - ‘e4' ’ rh * rere AA ve ae OP _ | dé . a! v tee, : RY} & wat . > es Ss +, Ae ee ee ” *) « * f, WE ay ye 4 oT Tee 4 ra yt, :