Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 119 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

14 — -— — ae ae eH ee The Apaches once more rushed headlong to their death, believing that their desperate enem had fallen, for that their shot had taken effect, they could not doubt. But the first brave who showed himself at the point tottered back into the canyon with a bullet in his heart, anda second received a shattered arm. The survivors sullenly retreated, confirmed in their belief that more than one enemy defended the pass, and re- solved that nothing should drive them from their former intention; they would starve the pale- faces into submission. If slower, it was by far the safest plan. Just before the sun went down, Arthur made a discovery that for a moment curdled his blood. Almost directly opposite his position, he noticed a considerable crevice in the wall of rock. The manner in which the rays of the setting sun shone through this, told him plainly that it was the end of a passage eras ke h the rocks probably to the open ground ond. Had the Apaches noticed this? If so, they could easily securé their game, with but little danger. By ining the opposite side of the canyon and fol- owing this passage, they would hold the pale- faces completely at their mercy. A single flight of arrows would end the matter. With this new fear totrouble him, Arthur did not close an eyelid that night, Ella sleeping soundly at his side. Nothing occurred to dis- turb his vigil except once; the sound of fire- arms once more came from beyond the rock- wall. Could it be possible that Tom Day still lived—was still defending himself against the savages? The idea was banished as one of ee Eaty | The firing must proceed from the es. But then a sickening terror crept upon him, The night was still, not a breath of air stirring. Yet stealthy sounds came to his ears from across the canyon. He believed his worst fears about to come true; that the Apaches had gained the crevice opposite, and were only awaiting the coming dawn to riddle his body with their prows. It was an hour of terrible, soul-sickening sus- wnse, such as might well blanch a stout man’s Mair from black to white. Yet Arthur had one \Wrangely soothing thought. Ifhe died it would not be alone, He remembered the pledge Ella had exacted from him: that he would kill her with his own hand rather than suffer her to fall alive into the clutches of those demons. And he resolved to do his duty. I[f not in life, at least they would be united in death. Gently he roused Ella, and whispered to her his fears. For a moment she quailed; then twining her arms round him she repeated the request. Jn silence he cocked his revolvers and ee the black muzzle against her temple. hus they waited. The first arrow shot would be the signal for their death. As the gray light softened, Hamilton could disti sh several shadowy figures upon the ledge beyond, and heard the subdued murmur of voices. A moment later, he heard a slight noise upon the ledge around the point, and with stern despair, turned that way, resolved to deal one more death before giving up life. He heard the twanging of bows, and then a slight commotion upon the other side of the canyon, followed by a fierce, sonorous curse. Petrified with astonishment he could scarce be- lieve his ears. No red-skin could ever utter such a full, deep-chested oath! ‘Scatter, boys—we’ve run into a nest 0’ ho’nets!” All doubt was now dissipated. The figures in the crevice beyond were white men, and enemies to the Apaches, who had fired upon them. ‘Knowing that they must be his friends, from that, Hamilton cried aloud: ‘‘For God’s sake do not desert us, if ye be men! A lady here asks your aid—do not leave her to die by the hands of these accursed Apaches nm ‘Who are you—who is with you?’ eagerly cried a tremulous voice. “ Arthur Hamilton—and Miss Heflin is with me. A cry of heartfelt joy—a groan of sickening apprehension gree this announcement; the ene from Thomas Heflin, the other from Ed- ward Bland. Ella recognized her father’s voice as she awoke from her sleep, and with one glad cry— believing with all a daughter’s beautiful faith, that he would assuredly save her from death— overtasked nature gave way and she fainted. “Back, man—be ye crazy?” cried M Bam, as.the Apaches’ arrows to cross the a ert ~ -guecession. ‘**We must ’*tend to * ‘eritters fust. Look te your rifles— hand "em ‘to meas fast as‘ I fire.” ne ___—_—— _ Eee TSN — --0O3#hOOODESE SS OOS Mustang Sam. —-———_ ——— His rifle spoke, and a wild yell told how truly. Another weapon was handed him, and was discharged with like result. But that was all. The Apaches could not stand such deadly compliments, and hastily retreated deeper into the shadows, their bows silenced. There was now sufficient light for the parties to dimly distinguish each other, and a hasty explanation ensued. Though Hamilton be- lieved in his heart that Tom Day and Edith Bland were both dead, he could not say as much in the face of the father, and alluded to the recent firing beyond the hill as though it proceeded from them. ‘‘It was that brung us here,” said Mustang Sam. ‘‘ That an’ some shootin’ we heard afore. But now, how to git across this cussed ditch? It’s no use tryin’ to go around; we did try that last night, when we found the way blocked, an’ both eends lead to the devil an’ back ag’in. Let me think a bit.” “Tf you have any water and food with you, for mercy sake try and get it across, for we are almost starved!” Some bits of dried meat were promptly flung across, and Sweatman, emptying the little re- maining whisky from his leathern flask, filled it from a canteen, and tossed it to Arthur. The next minute thirst was appeased. ‘‘Say, young man, look around ye. Is thar any stout point of rock you could tie a rope to?” suddenly called the Mustang. ‘* Yes—here is one that will do.” ‘‘Then we'll fix it! Boys, you keep the red- skins quiet. Don’t let ’em slip a arrer into me, ef ye kin belp it. Now!” hile speaking Mustang Sam unwound the horse-hair lasso round his body, and flung the noosed end to Arthur, who, padding the rock with his coat, firmly noosed the around the spur. Its stren was then tested by several of the emigrants tugging with all their power, but the noose and rock resisted the strain, and Mustang Sam tied the he in like manner upon his side of the canyon. Then renewing his caution to the emigrants, he bold- ly advanced and d the taut rope, swinging himself over the ledge, dangling above the canyon, crossing it hand over hand. An arrow hissed viciously past his face, grazin the muscle of his left arm, numbing it so tha his fingers relaxed and the member dropped helplessly by his side. A cry of horror broke from the whites at this, and they expected to see their bold leader dashed to death upon the rocks below; allbut Sweetman. His rifle spoke, and the exultant yells of the Apaches turned to dismay, as their boldest brave fell dead into the abyss. u Bully fer you, Beauty!” cried Mustang, coolly swinging by one hand. “ But shoot a little quicker next time. The varmint ’most did fer me that ” A moment later he was crossing, the mo- mentary numbness gone from his arm. Ar- thur assisted him to climb upon the ledge and then they yaad ay the others to follow. The feat was more dangerous tothe imagination than in reality, only for the Apaches, the dis- tance was so short. In a very short time all but two men had crossed in safety, and Mustang Sam bade them wait there with their rifies in readiness, until he cleared the pass of the Apaches. Then with ie pe ct ka ra » ‘i igrants Se his around the poin elr passa ing un- disputed, for the vetkekiha knew that it would be fatal to expose themselves to the aim of the rifles acrossthe canyon. Buta rattlin i ana ing sound echoed frou the pass, though the authors were hidden from view. Mustang Sam uttered a bitter curse. “Follow me—they’re blockin’ up the pass! Quick! or we’re trapped for sure!” With a wild cheer the emigrants followed his Jead. But at the second leap, Mustang Sam paused and glanced around. A significant sound came to their ears. CHAPTER X. THE SOLDIER ON GUARD. In the mountain, how fared it with Tom Day and Edith Bland? Our last at, of them left them in @ situation of imminent a , Panting, almost breathless with his terrible exer- tions, the soldier followed Edith Bland to the top of the rock, With yells of angry chagrin, the A es continued their shower of arrows, charging madl up to the foot of the mesa, upon their fiery little ponies. Tom Day realized his peril—he saw that the sav- meant to overcome him in one stern rush, and while pushing Edith down upon the rock, to guard her against the hissing arrows, he drew a revolver, Grouching down upon the e of the mesa, he opened a rapid, telling fire upen the savagos.as crowded around the base, striving to scale the. al- most perpendicular side of the rock. In their ex- citement the savages did not appear to notice this, until two of their number had fallen, one dead, the other mortally wounded. But then as the vicious reports continued, their chief uttered a peculiar yell, and the savages darted back beyond pistol range, or else seeking cover beneath the numerous bowlders strewn around. The respite was most opportune, since it gave the soldier time to look around and take in his situation. And as an arrow hurtled past his ear, he drew back beside Edith, who crouched low upon the rock, an and trembli But the brief glance had gtven Tom a tolerably fair idea of his ee Ngee. There was no ground or point of rocks within rifle range that was high enough to command the top of the mesa, Thus nothing but a direct assault could conquer him, and the face of the rock was so near- ly perpendicular that Tom believed not more than two or three savages could scale it at a time, and then be so difficult that he stood a fair chance of icking them off one after another with his revolver fore they could gain a foothold. Resolved to know every point, the soldier crept og the edges and carefully examined every side e mesa, though while thus occupied he ran no small risk of being picked off by the Apache marks- men who lay behind the adjacent Ra as A few minutes sufficed for this, and his heart was con- siderably lightened as he found that only one side of the mesa could be scaled byman. The defense promised to be an easier task than he had at first su i ss ou Edith,’ said the soldier, regaining the maiden’s side, * courage—allis not lost yet.” “They have not—not run away for good?”’ ‘*No—they haven’t sense ps es for that, They’re all around us, hidden among the rocks and holes, waiting for us to fall ay ey A into their clutches, no doubt. Ionly hope they’ll know it when we do, the greasy, painted, cowardly varmints!” half laugh- ed Tom, yet with an ill-concealed uneasiness in his manner that did not escape the quick-witted girl. “You need not try to hide your thoughts from me, dear Tom,” Edith said, faintly smiling as her tiny sates hand sought his broad, firm palm. ‘I am no onger a silly child—I do not feel like the same per- son—these few hours have greatly altered me, I can face the worst—if worst. must come. At least, we will not be separated.” The soldier was deeply affected by these words, so uietly, simply spoken, and as he attempted areply, the words stuck in his throat, and he could only draw the lithe, yielding form closer to his heart, a sicken- ing pain raorene ie his heart-strings as he felt what a faint hope re was of their escape with life. It seemed doubly hard to die now; but even his natur- ally buoyant Ape could wrest no gleam of hope for the future from their dark surroundings, ** Hist!” cory! uttered Edith, drawing back her head, “ what is that—that sound—do you hear it?” For a moment the soldier seemed dazed and be- wildered, and glared around with an unsteady gaze, Edith’s exclamation had roused him from a momen- tary oblivion of the surroundings. With her yield- ing form tightly clasped to his breast, her soft, silky r ngeting across his face and shoulder, her fra- mingling with his own, his senses oating awayin a dreamy, deli- her sudden start grant brea seemed gradually cious forgetfulness, from whic and words drew him, ‘*That sound—what does it mean?” quickly re- ted Edith, one hand pointing toward the edge of the mesa. ‘Ha! the devils think to catch us napping!’ and the soldier’s eyes lighted up with the stern, deadly fire that a foeman might well dread. “ Lie down close behind me, darling—-I will keep them from you. Shut your eyes and pray that the varmints may be defeated! ‘Together in life or death!” Edith murmured, just touching her lips to his, then crouching low down upon the flat rock. Resolutel choline down the swelling lump that rose in his throat, Tom Day cocked his revolver and directed his entire attention to the edge of the mesa. A faint, almost imperceptible rustling sound came to hisear. He knew now what it meant, The Apa- ches, burning with vengeance for the number of their braves that death had claimed, had crept from their rocky coverts and were now attempting to seale the stone fort. Knowing this, a less prudent man than the soldier would have rushed forward to repulse them, while they were so busied with clinging to the almost per- endicular face of the rock, as to be unable to use heir weapons for self-defense. But Day, knew that the atta g party were uot acting b nly that their motions were covered by others of the Apa- ches, ready to send a bullet or arrow cloud to sw clear the face of the mesa, should he act thus, And, feeling this, he sternly awaited the result, knowing that even more than life depended upon his exer- tions during the coming moments, A faint, tremulous cry sounded upon the almost deathlike stillness; for the faint rustling noise had now ceased. As though in reply to an agreed-upon signal, a horrible, deafening clamor arose. - ild, piercing yells rent the air, broken by an regret volley of rifles. Leaden bullets.and feath- e shafts hissed and hurtled viciously over the oe oe the mesa, though the crouching figures were unharmed The soldier smiled grimly. He knew well that this was but a blind to cover the more deadly assault to follow. The Apaches must know that, arged at such an angle, their missiles could do no,more than sear the of the rock, or disturb the air.some feet above the heads of the eged, com (S| OOO) <<