Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 119 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 —— ———— a a their places, plying bow and arrows, or the long, vicious spear, with fatal dexterity. Rushing their animals fairly against the bar- ricade, the Apaches leaped upon the wagon- tops, seeking to carry the co thus. At first the adventurous braves fell as rapidly as the gained the top, but then as the withering fusil- ade began to slacken, several succeeded in gain- ing the inside; only to be felled with rifle or | pistol-butts, or the blood-dripping bowie-knife. Jt was a horrible, soul-sickening scene—one that my pen is powerless to describe. Words are too cold and meaningless for such a subject. Nor can one imagine its terrible, thrilling in- tensity, unless one has witnessed or been a par- ticipant in a similar tragedy. Slowly but surely the Apaches gained ground, as the defenders grew less and more feeble. Two-thirds of their number dead, the remainder wounded, the emigrants still fought stoutly, desperately. It was now hand-to-hand. The Apaches had gained entrance in numbers that would not be denied. The pale-faces were pressed back by mere weight of numbers, until the face of the mesa prevented further retreat. And. here, their backs guarded by the rocks, half a dozen men faced two score of savages, who were eagerly pressing them to the death. For a full minute the Apaches were held at bay. Then—oneirresistible rush—and the fight was ended. The last of the heroic band was down. The wagon-train was captured. And wild, shrill, triumphant rose the yells of the savages at this; for the moment they forgot the fearful loss they had sustained, in the intoxicat- ing sense of victory. he red rays of the — sun shone vividly over the vast expanse of the desert sands and rock-hills beyond. But the captured train was cast in the deep, somber shadow of the mesa. It seemed as though the sight was too horrible, too sickening for the sun to look upon. Then the yells ceased. The living Apaches forced their way out from the corral, dragging with them three bodies—or rather captives. One was Jack Wilson. It was not by his own will that he was taken alive—that he had not shared the fate of his brave comrades. He had fought desperately to the last—until the Apa- ches flung themselves bodily upon him, and crushed him helpless to the earth. This was from no sentiment of merey, No; the three white men were doomed to suffer a thousand deaths in one. The Apaches quickly plundered the wagons, strewing tne sands for y around with penees useful and useless; the former was hen pitched into the corral, on top of the scalp- less whites. The three captives were strip of their clothing, and then securely bound to the rear ends of as many wagons. Then, yell- ing, screeching, brandishing their blood-stained weapons and gory scalps, the Apaches danced before them. A brave clutched each captive by the hair. A knife-blade glittered in the twilight. Agonizing shrieks b the air. Thes of the prison- ers drip blood. They are scalpless. Again the dusky-skinned demons dance around, in mad glee. But the captives are almost past noticing them now. Then a torch flashes upon the dusk. A mo- ment later, the blaze deepens as the wagon- covers catch. Slowly the wood ignites. The bonfire oe fresh strength with every mo- ment, The wagons were fairly ignited. And once more the demons resume their mad dance! CHAPTER VIII. THE CUL-DE-SAC. WHERE was Ella Heflin and Arthur Hamil- ton? What had happened to them? Could it be that. the Apaches had ridden them down, either slaying or taking them prisoners, while the majority pressed on in hot pursuit of Day and Edith? This was the sickening fear that assailed the last two, even in the face of their own extreme ril. And indeed that seemed the only plausi- le sojution, Yet there was another solution: the correct one. ‘. The canyon was a broad and deep one. Along the right-hand side of this canyon extended a narrow, level shelf or ledge of rock. Over this course the race for life or death led, and as be- fore stated, an abrupt curve in the trail led Tom Day and Edith Bland out into the circu- lar, basin-like valley. But only enemies fol- lowed them. Ella Heflin clung convulsively to the saddle but she was almost insensible with fear an horror. With every movement it seemed as “hough she must be hurled over the ledge, down ee i Mustang Sam. upon the cruel rocks below, to inevitable death, and, woman-like, she closed her eyes not to wit- ness her own death. Close behind her rode Hamilton, with drawn revolver. The yells sounded louder and more distinct, and he instinctively turned his head to glance back. In that moment the division was effected. A fragment of rock, frost-eaten and crumb- ling, shaken from its porta K renee by the clat- ter of hoofs, fell with a rattling sound to the trail, directly before Ella’s horse. With a uick snort the mustang shied, and instead of ollowing after the animal ridden by Edith, oe straight ahead. thur was just in time to see the animal dis- appear around the curve, and naturally sup- posing that Day had chosen that trail, followed on. moment later, and he too was hidden from view around the curve, and for several hundred yards he did not notice the mistake, so great was his excitement. Then Ella’s mustang slackened its pace, bend- ing its head low down, snorting tremulously. Arthur parted bis lips to urge Ella forward, when a faint cry of horror broke from his lips. Quivering in every limb, the mustang sunk back upon its haunches, closely pressing against the rock-wall. The frost-eaten rock beneath its feet was crumbling, rolling significantl down the side of the canyon. Already the left fore-foot of the mustang could obtain no secure support, but pawed frantically against the crumbling mass, unconsciously precipitating the end. ‘* Arthur—save me—oh God! have mercy!” gasped Ella, as her drooping lids raised and the full extent of her peril was realized. “T will—clear your feet of the stirrup— quick!” hurriedly said Hamilton, thrusting the pistol into his breast. His hands thus at liberty, he rose in the sad- die and made a quick leap forward. It was a bold deed, for he could not see the footing that awaited him, and there was scarce room to pass between the head and haunches of the frightened horses. A kick, a plunge of either, would al- most inevitably dash the bold man from the ae to his death below. et, had he used more prudence, he would have been too late. The mustang was growing frantic with terror, each moment still further overbalancing itself. Only the rapid, swift ae of the fore feet upon the powdered edge ra rock kept it from toppling over into the abyss. Aer alighted safe between the two ani- mals, and then flung bis arms around Ella’s waist. In doing so, he was forced to lean heavily against the mustang’s haunches, and that completed the work. With an almost hu- man shriek of terror, the animal flung up its bead and plunged madly out from the broken ledge, furiously pawing the unresisting air. Down—down! then a dull, sickening thud came up from the gloomy depths below. For a moment it seemed as though Ella and Arthur must follow the mustang. With a stre lent him by the frightful peril Hamil- ton lifted the maiden clear of the saddle, just as.the horse plunged down to death, but the ef- fort over nced him. They tottered upon the narrow ledge. The cruel abyss seemed drawing them into its embrace of death. Ella fairly overhung the oe By “fe em gripe in the least, hur would have been saved. Alone, unincumbered, he could easily have regained his balance. But that thought never once occurred to him. Together they would live—or else find a grave in common up- on the Jagged bowlders below. But such was not to be the ending. As Hamil- ton flung out his free hand, seeking thus to re- ain his balance, it touched the reins of his orse, and closed upon them with the tenacity of d ir. Snorting, trembling in every fiber, the animal flung back its head, though fearing to retreat an inch. And that saved the couple. Aided by the sudden jor, Hamilton drew back from the abyss, and with Ella tight clas ed to his breast, leaned against the rock wall, faint and sick. Though so brief, it had been a killing strug- le, such as rarely comes more than once ina ifetime. His brain remy the young man anted for breath. And Ella lay passive upon is breast, for she had fainted, as the frightful death stared her in the face. To his dazed éyes she looked like one dead, and that terrible thought roused him, Mur- muring her name, he pressed his lips to hers re- y, passionately calling her to look up, to five for his sake. How much longer he might have continued ~~ — a this lover-like but,not remarkably sensible pro- ceeding, had not an interruption come, Is a matter of conjecture. Several quickly suc- ceeding reports came distinctly to his ear, min- end with shrill, vindictive yells—the Apache e-cry. Claspiny Ella’s form still tighter to his breast, Arthur _ owen quickly around, drawing a re- volver. But the expected sight did not meet his gaze. Not an Indian was to be seen; only the crouching, trembling horse, pressing tight- ly against the wall, unable to advance further, afraid to retreat, since it was impossible to turn around upon that narrow point. Then the truth flashed upon Hamilton, like a revelation. He remembered the side passage but a few score yards away, and knew that Day and Edith had taken that, followed by all the Apaches; else the savages would have put in an appearance before this. The rifle-shots plainly told that Day had been overtaken and was a ade his life dearly. Had Arthur been alone, he would not have hesitated a single moment. He would have braved all danger to lend his friend a helping hand. But he held a helpless woman in his arms, who must die unless he could save her. **T can’t desert you, my darling!” he breath- ed, pressing his lips to hers. ‘‘I will save you or we will die together—and then you will know how dearly I love you!” With a single glance he took in the situation. It was impossible to pass by the trembling horse, bearing Ella. The ledge made another abrupt bend, but did not seem to entirely run out. If he could pass the spot where the frost- eaten rock had given way beneath the mustang, all might yet be well. The venture would be risky; the rock was shaky and infirm, but that was the only course left for him. Breathing a silent prayer, the young man cautiously made the venture. Once a frag- ment of rock gave way beneath his foot, clat- tering down the side of the canyon, almost destroying his balance, but catching upon a int of rock, Arthur saved himself and precious urden, though his blood stained the ragged pS sepa en, drawing a long breath, he ound himself safely past the worst. A quick, tremulous whicker broke the air, and Ella uttered a faint cry of alarm, as her eyes once more opened. The sound seemed to break the stupor that bad chained her brain. “Thank God! I began to fear you were dead!” ‘‘That noise—the Indians—where are we?” ‘*' We are safeas yet—do not be alarmed. M horse does not ag AS ge left alone, and must go see tohim. You are not afraid to be alone for a moment?” in ‘Not—not if you will return soon,” faltered a. Arthur cautiously retraced his steps, and the next moment st before the trembling horse. It was a hard task that Hamilton had set him- self, but he believed that both Ella’s and his own safety depended upon it. The frightened animal would continue its whickerings until it guided the Apaches along the trail they had reorpoterdly lost; and that thought nerved Ar- thur’s hand. Firmly clutching the bridle-reins, he plunged his knife deep into the animal’s throat. Start- ing back with the pain, a quick wrench upon the reins completed the work. The horse, after a vain struggle, fell from the ledge, into the abyss. x Poor devil! It seemed like murder—but it had to be done. Then, it must have fallen, sooner or later, anyhow,” muttered Hamiiton hastily wiping the hot blood from his hand, and then arwhgar, his steps to where Ella stood trembling with a vague fear, for she had heard the dull, heavy thud upon the rocks below, and a vie that the young man had fallen from the edge. A little ery of joy broke from her lips as Arthur returned, and his cheek flushed hotly, for he could no longer mistake the shh t that burned in Ella’seyes. But the words that trembled upon his lips were driven back by the renewed sounds of firing, mingled with savage yells and whoops. ‘*‘Come—we must flee. Close your eyes and lean upon me. I will guide you safe,” he hur- meaty muttered, passing an arm around the trembling form. They had advanced scarce a dozen yards, when Arthur paused, with a bitter curse. The assage was barred by a perpendicular wall. he ledge ran oprnnt out. : ‘*We must go back, and trust to the point unseen by the Apaches. Once , we may— or Too late!” gasped Ella. despairingly. colm 4 OOKS, com