Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 118 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

that the were the cause of his abduction, and that he should meet them at the stronghold, if at all. ‘Hello! Who told you to come here?” the younger Tremaine cried, scowling, as if he had not expected such a thing. “I thought you were in jail over in Deadwood.” ‘You are a liar—you didn’t think anything of the kind!” Jack retorted, coolly. “What! You call me a liar?” the youn vil- lain cried, rising to his feet in a sudden passion, ** You look out, curse you, or Pil crack you one in the face!” ‘You dare not release my hands, and then try it!” Jack returned, defiantly. ‘‘Vll double- dare you to.” ‘Hurrah! that’s bizness,” the captain cried, excitedly, ‘‘ Let’s have some fun, to pass awa the time. Say, you young Tremaine cuss, if I cut the feller’s bonds, durst you waltz up and slap him in the chops? “‘Of course [dare but I ain’t a prize-fighter, and shan’t make an exhibition of myself.” ‘‘The devil! Ye ain’t a-goin’ to crawfish, jest fer a little thing like that?’ ‘‘T ain’t well enough to fight,” Tom protested, «wnuxious in some way to crawl out, ‘*You’re plenty well enough, only you hain’t t the courage,” Jack suggested, sarcastically. RS I doubt if you have courage enough to come and strike me, bound as I am.” F “‘Ha! ha! Oncourse he ain’t!” the road-agent cried, dancing around. ‘‘Go at him, youn lemons, or [’ll kick you out o’ camp. I won’t have no shysters around hayr.” “I ain’t ashyster, nor am I going to fight. My arm’s lame,” Tom still protested, looking sheepish and t enongy, ‘*Come! come! Tom; what are you afraid of you booby?” his father exclaimed, in assume anger. ‘' Step up and knock the whelp down and end the matter. You are surely not afraid of him?” ‘Tf you ain’t afraid, maybe you’d better step up and face the music, and give your son an ‘xample!” Jack said, coolly, ‘Td just as lief polish you off as your son.’ ‘Afraid of you? Certainly not!” the ex- broker exclaimed, haughtily. ‘‘ Were it not for soiling my hands on you, I’d teach you a lesson.” ‘* There! you see the style of timber they’re made of?’ Jack said, turning triumphantly to the road-agent. ‘‘If I had as cowardly a dog as they are men, I’d shoot him at once,” ‘‘That’s bizness, an’ ladmire yer grit, youn pilgrim,” the road-agent confessed. ‘‘I would- n’t own ’em, after this. But, bizness is bizness, an’ I ain’t goin’ to have no shenannigan in my camp. I’m goin’ ter cut yer ds loose, an’ both o’ them galoots has got ter get up an’ iwack ye one, or it’s them instead o’ you as will io inter ther anamile pit, an’ don’t ye fergit et.” And with a sweep of his knife he freed Jack of his bonds. ‘There, now: I’m ready £08 you—come and see me,” invited Jack, turning to the Tremaines. ‘‘T am confident that I can make it extremely interesting to you, one atatime.” _ ‘Yas, go ahead and show yer pedigree, or I’ll make it a job fer you,” the captain warned. ‘* Yo struck the wrong camp ter play crawfish in, I allow. Walk up, old ‘man, and let yer j’ints lay. It’s all easy enough, when ye cum to ow how.” ‘You'll have to excuse me, really, for I never boxed or dealt any one a blow, in my life, and he would surely get the upper hands of me,” Addison Tr @ protes white as a sheet, at the poepegie Can't elp that!” the captain demurred, with a chuckle, as he drew and cocked a revolv- er, ‘Ye can’tlearn any younger; so get up an’ o at it, or Tl sock a chunck of lead right Sino h your pulsometer, sure’s I’m a live sin- ner. In the meantime, you Junior Crawfish, you’d better be ring with some galoot, in order to git yer j'ints limbered up, fer calkylate ther rooster frum Deadwood can jest about make two mouthfuls of you. Git out, old pepe bn face ther music, if you don’t want me to salt ye. An’ mind, ye ain’t to use no weepons oe, those the A’mighty originally adarned ye with, Addison Tremaine arose from the table, and approached the young speculator. He knew that he had but two choices—to face the music, or get ‘‘salivated,” as the road-agent captain promised. Of the two evils he chose the least, for he hoped he could defend himself be- Cort stood with hi oung personage now wi is arms folded across his breast, a cool, cynical smile upon his handsome features. Not a move did he make, until Tremaine —— Jack Hoyle. eee = -—— made a lunge forward, and endeavored to sla him in the face; then his arms unfolded wit lightning-like celerity, and one knotted fist came in contact with the ex-broker’s nose, while the other dealt him a blow in the stom- ach that doubled him up like a jack-knife, and sent him howling around the room. ‘“Hurra! hip! hip! hurra!” the road-agent chief yelled in delight, ‘ Thet’s ther bony-fide way to tork it. Thet’s ther way ter give a ee an appetite fer his rations, I tell ye! Sum ag’in, old man, an’ git anuther chunk o’ ther same article!” ‘*No! Pve got enough! Curse the whelp—kill him—shoot him! he’s ruined my nose and my stomach forever!” the ex-broker howled, drop- ping into a chair, and groaning and rocking ike a wounded lunatic. ‘“Not much we don’t shute thet race-hoss, yet awhile,” the captain declared. ‘‘ Hayr’s anuther pilgrim ter initiate inter ther new order of knockemstiffs. Step out here, young Craw- fish, and don’t be all day about it, nuther, ef ye don’t want an ounce o’ cold lead gocked inter yer system.” Tom Tremaine obeyed, his form trembling, and his face as white as a sheet, One or two faint passes did he make; then Jack’s fist caught him right between the eyes, and down he went to the floor with a crash. “'That’s the checker!” the road-agent said, admiringly; ‘“‘ ye did yer part nobly, my boy, an’ when ye’ll be so kind as to tell me whar your money is concealed, so that I can appro- priate it to my own use, you'll be set at liberty, immegetly |” x en I tell where my money is concealed, may I be kicked to death by mules!” was Jack’s defiant nse, ** What! do you a to be obstinate?” . cat probably learn that, ere you have won ‘* But, Pll bet I can fetch ye ter terms!” ‘Pll bet an equal amount that my oath holds ood; I swore not to 7 up the secret of the iding-place of my gold!” ‘* Bah! talk is cheap, an’ when we cum ter ap- ply a leetle torture, ye’ll find how quick ye’'ll chonge yer mind, my lark!” ‘*Never! You may shoot me, roast me by inches, hang me, boil me, skin me down, scalp me or freeze, but you will never learn from me that which you to know.” ** But we'll do even worse than that. I’vea pen of hungry bears, wolves and bloodhounds, out here, and into that you shall be thrown, un- less you tell me where you have hid yer or F Jack shuddered; he could not well do less, at the a rg but he was resolved that he would die ere he would surrender a penny to his enemies. ‘*'You can go into the next room and stay, if you don’t like our company,” the road-agent continued, pointing to a door opening into an inner apartment. ‘ You'll find cheers there, mae ter cer. I shell cum fer an ans’er ter- night. ack accordingly entered the room, and closed the door behind him, ss his own com- pany to that of his captors. The room was a small one, *urnished with chairs and table, and a rude cot-bed made up of leaves stuffed between a ticking of panther skins. There was but one small window, and this was ed by caf aa of iron. No earthly chance was there to get out except by the door he had closed behind him, without the aid of proper tools, | n Fafowlry Boon situation, Jack heartily wished himself back in the East, and resolved to make for it, as soon as he could escape, if he was lucky enough to get out with life. Enough of rough life he had. The day passed slowly. Out in the adjoining room, loud voices and the clinking of glasses proclaimed that the inmates of the cabin were having a “high old” spree. As night lant aie apoo the sounds of revelry began F ewe y to cease, and finally died out altogether. On listening at the door Jack could hear no sounds at all, which for a time puzzled him. What was the cause of ihe strange silence? Had they all quitted the cabin, or were they all so intoxicated that they had fallen asleep? After some deliberation, he resolved to learn the truth; so, opening the door he peered in- to the adjoining room. A scene of confusion was presented. Bottles and glasses lay strewn upon the floor—the fur- niture was upset and scattered about—the two Tremaines and the captain lay sprawled upon the slabs, dead drunk, suming the disguise ot Tom — — — ee ee . — ——— ew Gluttons by nature, they had drank and ca roused until wholly overcome. ‘‘ As I thought,” Jack muttered, elated at ths discovery. ‘ A chance is now open for escape, and I am an idiot if I do not grasp it. by as- Tremaine, I can make good my escape—or, can try, at least.” Spurning the ex-broker’s son with his foot, he found that he was too far gome to recover imme- diately; accordingly Jack stripped him of bis | garments, and donned them over his own, after which he appropriated and donned the young villain’s false beard and wig, and also his hat. Properly arming hiniself out of hedibetién of weapous he found on the walls and in the belts, he thea left the cabin. Outside he met several men lounging in the inclosure, but they paid him no particular no- tice, more than to nod, which proved to Jack that the Tremaines were not strangers in the stronghold. Going to the corral he ordered the hostler to bridle and saddle his horse, and the old outlaw obeyed by fitting out a handsome mare, who looked as if she might be capable of good speed. ‘Goin’ fur?” he queried, as Jack climbed into the saddle. “Yes, to Deadwood,” was Jack’s reply. *‘ Ain’t agoin’ ter ride around ther mountain, aire Span ‘“* As far as I can, and then lead the horse till I reach the other valley.” ‘* Comin’ back ter see ther send-off?’ ‘*Of course,” and then putting spurs to his new animal, he dashed out of the inclosure, and away around the base of the mountain as fast as he could, leaving the stronghold rapidly behind But he bad not gained a mile hina oh when the deep bay of a bloodhound broke upon his hearing, and he knew that he was pursued! CHAPTER X. A RACE FOR LIFE—THE GOLDEN GULCH. It was to be a race for life or death! Jack pen realized this, and urged the little mare on at the top of her es resolving that he would race and fight to the last. He luckily had three revolvers with him, and Pe a rifle of the unapproachable Win- chester pattern, besides a sufficient quantity of cartridges which he had found in the cabin. With these, even if his horse failed, he calcu- lated he could ward off the grim monster, for a time, at least. The route was _e and rocky; great bowl- ders, clumps of shrubbery, and yawning seams and gullies obstructed the way, but the mare cleared them all, in flying pe h each moment she threatened to stumble and break her legs, if not her neck. **On, ‘Beauty—on ” Jack cried, patting her, as they dashed along. ‘At this rate we bid fair to outwit the devils, yet, for I doubt if another horse can follow where you lead!” The bay of one or more bloodhounds con- stantly grew louder, however, and nearer, and there could be but little doubt that they were rapidly gaining. Loud voices, too, were audi- ble, in the distance, which proclaimed that the outlaws were following in the wake of the hounds. “Hang them!” Jack muttered. ‘‘I wonder how they ever discovered my escape? [imagine the old hostler smelt a rat, for he looked at me sharply. He probably went at once to the raed after I left, and discovered the state of On—on went the little mare, faithfully, as if aware of the danger that menaced her rider, and resolved to c him out if within her power. On—on, with flying leaps where no other animal would have attempted leaping— on, on, at the very top of her speed. At last Hey escended a sharp pitch, an Nugget gulch lay stretching out before them— Deateaoed ten miles in the distance, But, the hounds’ deep bays now sounded with startling distinctness, and looking around, Jack saw a pair of them leaping down the mountain trail in hot pursuit. It was a moment fraught with great peril. In a minute more they would be upon him: he must stop where he was and kill them, or he could never hope to reach a place of safety. A single ‘‘ Whoa!” served $i check the horse, showing that she had been well broken. Then Jack’s rifle flew to his shoulder, and he sighted for the nearest hound, which was not more than two hundred yards distant. Taking quick aim, he fred! With a yelp the foremost brute keeled over on the gr and after a few struggles, was <S EOMIEDOO com