Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 115 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

_ ings of the cave, Rock and his companion man- aged to keep clear from the range of the fire- arms of their pursuers. At last, however, they were forced to pause. The aperture had become so low that to continue further they must craw] along. Perhaps it did not continue much further! ‘* We are cornered!” said Rock. ‘Git out yer shooters. Hyar they kem!” “Here is a niche in the wall,” exclaimed Mark, as he made the discovery in the dark. ‘* Let’s hide in there and perhaps they will not see us.” They could certainly do no better, andina moment they crawled into the narrow and rug- ged crevice in the ledge, which was barely large enough to hold them. Swinging his torch before him, Buck Warner instantly led his followers into the defile, until he was forced to pause because of the lowness of the place. “Tt can’t be they came this way!” he mut- tered. ‘‘ Moro likely they kept to the left.” ‘‘But I am sure | saw one of them come this way just as our torch lit up the corner here.” ‘Then they have crawled into the passage ahead. But we should run into a pretty ye by following. We will set a enced here, an explore the passage back here.” But, cap’n, ain’t this the passway that kems out in the main cavern?” asked one just back of him. the Golden cave! you are right, Stock- ton Sharp! And if they have gone there they will escape into the valley, and we have lost them. Come, quick, and we will cut them off.” Quickly retracing their steps the outlaws rush- ed back for the principal apartment of the un- derground cell. : Though the leader had stood within three feet of the hiding fugitives he had not seen them, ‘* Mark,” said k, as they heard the bandits retreating, “‘let’s follow this outand ef it leads out whar them coyotes says, perhaps we can rescue Miss Lenore and levant afore ’em var- mints spot us!” ‘*Forward then, quick!” answered Mark. ‘I am with you.” ‘* Hyar I scoot. CHAPTER XVII. ROCK’S FATE. WitH great difficulty the hardy miners crept along the low and narrow wf ‘ eae Once Rock, who was ahead, paused and de- clared he could go no further, But repeating his efforts he at last succeeded, and a moment later he saw the glimmer of a light in the dis- Lance, ‘“TDon’t waste enny powder, but give it to the niggers hot. We are almost ’mong ’em!” A little after he came in full sight of the scene, He saw again Lenore Cassa, still bound, and now surrounded by three guards. “Two fer me and one fer ye, Mark. Are you ready like a trapped beaver?” ‘Yes; but there come the others!” “Tet em hop! We hev’ fooled long enough. Kem, ye dig the funeral o’ one ’em cusses and I will others: Then ye look arter the gal and + — pA AA a fer the Me . Now!” is e panthers springing on their prey, the two bounded into’ the’ Hebt, and before the frightene1 trio of outlaws could meet their at- tack they were hurled upon the rocks lifeless, At the same moment the cavern was filled by the report of firearms, and a volley of bullets, flew about the daring miners’ heads. Rock began to omy, his revolver with dead- ly effect, and the wild yells and shrieks fairly eafened the ears of all.” Mark, acting promptly, rushed to the rescue of Lenore, and quickly a oa the ligature that bound her, he lifted her in arms and bore her swiftly for the exit of the fearful place. Unharmed he reached the passage. In that flash of a moment the horde threw themselves upon Rock, but slowly retreating he kept them at a distance by the deadly shots from his pistols. Rock soon spent his last shot and drawing his knife he fought like a tiger to cut his way through the demoniac mass. Protecting Lenore as best he could, Mark was doing 7 as good work. In the midst of the wild melee, a shout came from the mouth of the cave. Friends and foes heard it, and emg t alike lest it should tee an winks: ong the passage came rushing feet, an an instant a sharp voice cried: ' “What's up?” : ’*T was the Miner! Now fer the fun!” meee see The Mad Miner. Before Mark or Rock could answer he under- stood it all, and closely followed by Leon Cassa he sprung into the combat. In a flash the lights were extin ished and no one was Visible in the darkness that succeeded, “This way, Rock,” cried Mark, as he blindly groped his way along the berenee “Hunt them down!” thundered Gold-dust Buck, ‘* You know every turn and they don’t. ef are ours yet if we only work sharp.” e-Man-from-Texas, guided by Mark’s words, was enabled to gain his companions, As they hurried along they could hear their pursuers close behind At last, to their joy, they reached the outer world. “Quick! We must flee while we can!’ cried Leon Cassa, in excitement. “ But look hyar!” The-Man-from Texas said; “T reckon we have treed the coyotes. Mark, ye and Mister Cassa jess git with Miss Lenore; and Wind and me will jess keep the varmints in their den ’til ye are safe. See how slick we can doit? I tell ye thar’ll be fun, sd scat!” As the aperture leading to the cave was little more than large enough to admit a man’s form, it would be an easy thing to hold the outlaws in their retreat as long as they desired. Quickly hastening down the hollow, Mark, with Leon Cassa and Lenore, disappeared. Wild Wind, with a cocked revolver in either hand, took a position before the cavern, opposite to that held by The-Man-from-Texas. Only a few moments passed, however, when they heard wild shouts down the ravine, then followed the report of firearms! “‘l’ll bet my top-knot they hev’ been ’tacked by the savages!” hissed Rock. The cries bore the unmistakable accent of the red-men. “Look out for the coyotes in there, Wind. Ye can doit, Iam going to their resky!” and Rock bounded down the valley, to reach a scene of wild fighting, Mark and his companions had been met by Evil-Eyes and his Indians, and the fugitives were fighting for life, Rock uttered a yell that startled the red-skins, and sprung madly into their midst. he chief, with half a dozen others, tore Lenore from her father’s protection, and was in the act of bearing her away, when Mark saw her peril and Jeaped forward to her rescue, but only to fall at her feet. ‘“*My God! that is too much!” cried Rock, and sent his deadly blows right and left, till he mowed a path to the spot. In a breath the horde closed about him, and, covered with wounds, while he fought as only a strong man at bay can fight, he at last was overpowered and dropped to the earth, to be instantly pinned by the demoniac foe. In the brief spell that the red-men turned upon their sonatas enemy, Leon Cassa _ seized Lenora and fled. When the savages started in pursuit they were suddenly terrified by a wild cry that awoke the valley and in an instant one of their number fell dead; then another, and still an- other, when they actually fled in terror, leaving the slain behind crying: “The Silent Slayer!’ As the oe disappeared, Mark Hanson staggered to his feet, and was about to turn to k, when he heard others coming, and ex- ting they were Buck Warner an gang e sought concealment. Discovering a moment later that his fears were true, he sought rg! in flight; and though weak from the loss of blood from his wound that was deep and painful he succeeded in over- taking Mr. Cassa and Lenore. Not daring to tarry there the three hastened away and escaped, Poor Rock and Wind Gray! They waited for them anxiously. But though days rolled into weeks they did not come; and at last they were counted with the dead! | | One more scene and we will draw the vail on that night’s work. |. Gold-dust Buck reached the scene of the fight to find The-Man-from-Texas among the fallen. Turning the body upon its side he found life was not extinct. No. He moved; he breathed; he Pe his eyes, and glared wildly around. “You are d ng, Rock Randel!” cried the desperado, exultantly. ‘*T know it!” faltered the stricken one. “And I have triumphed at_last as I said I would!” cried Warner, with fiendish satisfaction. The other started up, and while a wild light gleamed from his glassy eyes he cried: “Yes, Gold-dust Buck; ‘ye hev’ corraled me at last. But I ain’t conquered yet. Though Rock Randel won’t tramp the valley any more in flesh and blood, his spook shall haunt Silver- stone mine till ye and every coyote is drove oul and honest men hold the lead! D’ye hyar{ Rock Randel hes sed it, and he dies game!” There was something so awe-inspiring in the Texan’s looks that the spectators fell in dismay. ee oe CHAPTER XVIII. ROCK FULFILLS HIS VOW, A MONTH has passed. ‘ Mark Hanson has nearly recovered from his wounds, and at the home of the Cassas he has found the best of treatment, which has had much to do toward his rapid convalescence, Ay, in the company of the fair Lenore he has indeed seemed blessed. Long ere this the brave, generous-hearted miner has learned. to love her, and happy in the answer she has given him, he looks forward to a joyous future. As he listens again and again to her story of captivity—how she was abducted at dan’ ol night from the house of Tim Cotton’s and car- ried to the cave by Stockton Sharp, where she suffered most fearfully at the hands of the des- perado, Buck Warner—he feels thankful that; he should have been, through a kind Providence, instrumental in aiding her rescue, He has not been back to the mines nor will he now; since the untimely fate of poor Rock he has no interest there. But how has it gone at Silverstone? We will return to the ill-starred settlement. Perhaps not ‘‘ill-starred” now, though, for since the departure of The-Man-from-Texas affairs have gone along very quietly. Oregon Dick has the complete control of tho mine, and preparations have been made to work the ore in Golden Cave. ‘ Stockton Sam Sharp has become an overseer under him, and no longer fearing the hand of justice, he boasts of his assistance in driving the Texan from the valley. Ah, strange as it may seem, Gold-dust Buck, the dread edict of outlawry no longer hanging over his head, lords it over Gold-dust Hollow with all the pomposity of a king. Truly it would seem his triumph over The-Man-from- Texas had been complete. Wild Wind, the Mad Miner, hangs no more about Silverstone, nor has he been seen since the night Rock perished, Thus we find affairs at the city. A party of horsemen under the lead of Ore- gon Dick were nearing Silverstone after a journey to Gold-dust, a settlement half a dozen miles down the valley. The day was nearly spent, though the riders moved leisurely along under the base of Silver Mountain. The superintendent of the mines was in ad- vance, while another rode by his side, Suddenly a wild cry ringing through the val- ley caused the cavalcade to > in rein, and all turned to look for its solution. Though their gaze was turned away but a moment, judge of their dismay when they were about to start on to find one of their num- ber missing! The horse ridden by Oregon Dick’s compan- ion was riderless | _““ Where’s Dan?” exclaimed the first to notice his disappearance, in amazement, ‘‘Hyar’s yer pard, old coyotes!” cried a hoarse voice from above. ) & quickly upward they saw standins, on the cliff that reared its precipitous sidu over their heads, the giant form of Rock Ran- del holding before him in his strong grasp their strangling companion! __. With cries of terror their eyes became fixed upon the awe-inspiring spectacle. It was truly The- an-from-Texas, looking wane hee set His yeren myn seemed i wice its usual ength; His eyes gleamed anc flashed like coals of fire as they shone over the head of their helpless companion. Had he come back from the dead to haunt the valley as he had told? Surely, Lying or dead, it was his form! ‘Shoot him!” cried Lane; and a dozen rifles were leveled. But the form. of their companion shielded tho to discharge hi La other, and not one dared his weapon. Bie re m Orego n, VICK Was dea pale " - “Speak, for God’s sara Rock Randel! an’ tell us what you want!” Again the Texan laughed. i ayy The victim held in his viselike writhed and struggled aie _ , ‘ ‘one of the terrified “< Let’s git |” beholders; but in the narrow path it was impos: sible to pass those ahead. The leader gave utterance to a fearful oath. (E(@) O}OKO) im Cc SS (Eo)