Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 115 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

a — — eee —— ‘“Bob Cracklesnapper!” cried Rock, as he jound himself free, ‘‘ gin us yer paw,old ’coon—” ‘t Hist!” admonished the other, ‘‘ you may bring the whole lot of villains upon us! Are you hurt?” ‘* No,” replied The-Man-from-Texas, accepting the caution; ‘‘but who are ye?” ‘* Don’t you know Wild Wind?’ ‘* Gosh!’ It was the Mad Miner. ‘*Come, quick!” he whispered, ‘‘ we want to find him Gold-dust Sharp,” and closely followed by Rock he hurried after Warner. After going a short distance, however, he paused, ‘*T have lost him,” he said. ‘‘Jeems Stopple! we can’t spot ther trail in this hyar darkness!” ‘‘Can you give any idea of the course he has gone?” “ Nary a chip! Ar’ ye arter the gal, Miss Lenore?” ‘* Yes; I overheard Warner say he was going after her. I think he has her secreted in a eave above here, and intends to remove her somewhere else.” ‘‘ Jess so Ll reckon. Gi’n us the lead and hyar’s the ’coon es will chip in quick!” ‘‘Good! I have others above here who are waiting for me, and I guess we had better go to them.” Wondering who they could be, Rock kept by his companion in silence. Seeming perfectly familiar with the land, the lunatic advanced at a pace that puzzled The- Man-from-Texas to equal, hunter as he was. Finally the other paused, and gave a low chirp, sounding like a cricket. This was instantly answered, and in a mo- ment a couple of persons appeared, rising out of a clump of stunted oaks near at hand. To Rock’s joy he recognized one of them as Mark Hanson! When the two had expressed their joy at meeting again, the Texan turned to the other and saw in the dim starlight a tall, middle-aged man of rather commanding form. ‘*‘ Jeems Hoppers!” cried he, in surprise. ‘Do my peepers look blind, or is this Leon Cassa?” ‘You are not mistaken, Mr. Randel,” said the other, extending his hand and grasping the hardy miner’s with a cordial gripe; ‘‘ I am Leon Cassa. But have you found aught of Lenore?’ Receiving in reply all the others had learned, he became despondent. ‘*Qh, my child!” he groaned, ‘‘ shall we save yas ow you must be suffering! We must nd her, or I shall gofrantic. I can not go back to her mother without her!” ‘* Pardon me,” interrupted Mark; ‘‘I think I see a way to find her. You say, Rock and Wind, that Warner has gone to a cave to get her. Now since you left us, Wind Gray, to go in search of the outlaw, 7 have done a little work myself, and [I am pretty certain I have discovered that cavern, which seems to be their rendezvous. It’s only a few rods above here. Let’s go there and see what we can find.” Quickly eing to the proposition, the oth- ers followed him Sores the p without de- ay. Allow us to digress here with a few words of ex ation. n Cassa, when attacked at Silverstone Ledge by Warner’s Valley Guard, as coming from Peura to the ‘“‘ Lower Claim,” which lay a few miles below, saw Lenore torn away and carried off captive. With his attendants, he succeeded in beating off his assailants after a fierce fight, and gain- ing the valley below, managed to escape by fleeing for life. As soon as possible, after leaving his wife ata safe place, he started to rescue his daughter. In going to Silverstone for assistance he met Mark Hanson, who told him how useless it would be for him to look for aid there, but heartily offered to do #11 he could himself. Soon after they ran across the Mad Miner, who fell in with them, and who proved a valua- ble friend. After going a short distance Mark paused. ‘‘That dark place yonder is the entrance to the cave,” he said, pointing to an opening that was seen in the bank above the creek that flowed here. ‘All is quiet now, and perhaps we had better lie in wait here awhile.” This locality was where Seth and Charles Harlow had been surprised by the outlaws, as we remember. Acting — the suggestion of Mark, they drew back into deeper shade and waited. They were not kept in suspense long before they heard some one coming toward them. te eee eee pete ewe! FT Th ckemeneeeee The Mad Miner. He proved to be Flying Ned. ‘*Randel Rock! jess let me dig his funeral!” hissed the The-Man-from-Texas. ‘oTwon’t do,” warned Mark. But while the words lingered on his lips, the outlaw was seen to reel to and fro, and with a low cry sunk down upon the rocks that were piled on the stream’s shore. ‘“‘He’s dead!” whispered the Mad Miner, while his eyes flashed in the darkness with un- usual fire. Leon Cassa was perhaps the most startled. Not one of them had moved hand or foot, as far as he had seen. Who had done the deed? He asked the question of the others; but Rock attempted the only reply, if his could be called such. ‘**Tis some spook or other es don’t rest easy. Ef *twa’n’t fer Miss Lenore I’d git. My skulp feels queer, I tell ye!” alf an hour passed and nothing had oc- curred to awaken interest. ‘‘We shall do no good by lying here,” said Leon Cassa, getting impatient at their inactivi- y: . “T chip with ye,” replied Rock. “Boys,” Mark said, ‘‘I propose we explore that cave. I see no other way to proceed. Tis folly to fool away our time here.” ““T chip ag’in,” exclaimed the Texan, “ and hyar’s the beaver es is ready fer the fun.” ‘* Very well, Rock; you and I will hazard the unde ing, while Mr. Cassa and Wind con- tinue the watch here. After some protestations on the part of the others Mark and Rock prepared to carry out their purpose. Leaving their rifles with the others, as they would do better to depend on their revolvers in such work, the twain slowly approached the cavern’s mouth. Nothing was heard from within, and cau- tiously parting the bushes that nearly hid the entrance they entered the Oimmerian way. How far they had progressed it was soon an ble to tell in the darkness before they heard the sound of voices. Pausing, they heard footsteps approaching them. a! not only from their front but from behind, au must git one side or we’re a goner!” ock. Upon either side they were met by the solid wall! In the blinding darkness of the place they were hemmed in! Suddenly the glare of a torch shone in the space beyond. One word fell from the lips of Mark Hanson, and that told all: “< Lost f CHAPTER XVI. “HYAR I SCOOT!” Xe, eseape seemed possible for Rock and rk. Nearer and I pat shone the light ahead, and louder grew the footsteps behind. " Down!” whispered Rock, ‘‘close to the side. Crouching in the darkness with bated breath they watched the approach of their foes in front. ener a sharp scream rung through the place. "T'was a woman’s voice! Again the startling cry echeed and re-echoed through the cavern. t? Miss Lenore! and she’s in peril!” ex- claimed The-Man-from- Texas, aloud, **Kem on; thar’s fun ahead! Nothing loth, Mark followed. The light in front had stopped. Ay, as they started forward it disap : ** Quick!” cried Hanson, as another appeal eal help was heard, “quick, or we shall be too te! The next moment Rock fell headlong over a huge bowlder, which, unseen in the darkness, oie his course. icking himself up as quick as possible, though he had received some severe bruises, he again pressed forward. as Still they heard those behind rapidly gaining upon them. Once more the wild appeal rung in their ears, this time seeming further away. They tried to advance faster, but inthe black- ness it was impossible. Their foes, better acquainted with the place, were able to move much more swiftly. ‘“We are corraled!” ejaculated Rock, as he ran against an angle of the wall. a 2 ee See $$. _—— —————— Again they heard the imploring shriek, and this time near by. Then came the words in a coarse voice: ‘Stop that girl’s noise or blow her brains out!” “We are running the varmints to their hole,” said the Texan. ‘Ha! look, Mark! Hyar the coyotes are!” As they turned the corner of the ledge, a flood of light suddenly flashed upon them, nearly blinding their eyes. As soon as they recovered their sight they saw before them a sort of chamber in the cavern, which, illuminated by a row of torches stuck in the crevices of the wall, was seen to be of considerable size. Sitting here and there in groups of two and three, were a dozen or more of coarse-featured, roughly dressed men, pon one side, securely bound, our adven- turers saw Lenore, looking wan and haggard after what she had undergone. ‘Why in the world don’t the cap’en come?” growled one of the lot, arising with a yawn. ‘* If he thinks of starting for Drytown to-night it is time for us to be moving.” “Oh, sir, take me to my parents! Have mercy for me, and father will pay you well,” cried the suffering captive, starting up with im- ploring gaze. ‘‘A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!” laughed the desperado. se But—” ‘Enough said. Hark! I thought I heard the ms coming.” he others arose and with the speaker listened for the coming of their chief, Rock and Mark could hear their enemy close upon them, “It won’t do for us to be caught here,” whispered Hanson. ‘‘Isn’t there a chance to turn aside, so as to let them pass?” ‘“*T think not; but we can go a little further.” Though they could see the outlaws plainly the others had not discovered them yet. Very cautiously they crawled along the pas- ripe earful lest every movement should betray em. They were now in a narrow passway that led directly into the main room where the bandits were. Rock saw that there was no retreat. They had either got to go ahead or meet their foes where they were then. ‘It’s sartin destruction!” he said; ‘‘ but, let’s chalk our checks and pitch the game high. Ha! hyar they come! Now for the fun!” ** Look!” exclaimed Mark, in a tone more earnest than prudent; ‘“‘ there seems to be a ssage leading from the other side. Sha’n’t we o better to make a rush for it than to remain pee up here?’ ere was no time for speculation. ‘Josh Cricket! I guess ye are level!” replied the Texan. ‘“‘Kem on like a mad buffler, and we'll tear ’em like an ’arthquake in a pig-pen!”’ Just as the throng behind ed the angle of the wall, the two miners sprung to their feet di- rectly in front of them. Then, with a whoop that would have done Rock credit in his younger days, he dashed wild- ly forward into the midst of the outlawed horde, closely followed by Mark. Terrified, the bandits sprung to their feet, and leaped back against the cavern side, where they cowered for a moment in mad affright. The onset of our adventurers had been sosud- den that they were for the moment yzed with awe; and in that brief interval the twain reached the further side and plunged into the darkness beyond. Quickly arousing, the outlaws filled the place with cries of alarm; and then those approaching joined the others. Buck Warner was at the head of the first, ‘What is it?’ he demanded furiously, as he witnessed his followers’ consternation, © When told what had happened, he cried fierce- ly: Yi Are you fools or cowards? Some one nq gained entrance here and we are lost, unless w can capture and put them out of the way. Come; we must hunt them down.” At the lead of the disconcerted horde he dash- ed into the passage in hot pursuit of the fugi- tives, his torch lighting up the place far in ad- vance, disclosing their retreating forms in the distance ahead. “There they go!” cried Gold-dust Buck, hoarsely. ‘‘Come on, and they are ou.s!” ‘* Whoop—hooray !” yelled The-Man-from-Tex- asin defiant response, and darting with Mark into a side passage suddenly disappeared. ‘‘ Furies!” thundered Warner, “ ’tis that Tex~ an dog, and they’ll escape!” Corr “a books-com