Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 121 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ee ee eS oe 288 eeu: me —e - 2 a “T reckon we can the Sport replied, confidently. ‘“On course we can!” Chip assured, with a flourish. ‘‘Sech lights as Wild Bill, Rosebud Rob, Fritzy, heer, an’ my humble self, ain’t no less’n a hull hoss brigade, when ye git our mad up. “Ye ain’t no sarcumstance ter ther great disaster composed o’ Cap. Mayburn, ther great skyrocket, Jerusalem Bundy, ther crape-tinted shadder o’ destruckshun, Pigtail Peter, ther roaring equinoxyull thunderstarm o’ Chiner, an’ Old Hardpan—thet’s me—ther great frog- faced prickly cactus stalk o’ ther Peruvian desert. ‘* Forward march!” Mayburn ordered. ‘‘ Hark! don’t you hear the devils yell? It’s time we were to the front, now!” A hasty departure for the southern border of the motte, was the next action of Rosebud Rob and Mayburn at the head of their respective nds. The distance was short, and they soon arrived at the edge of the timber, where a strange and unrelishable scene was presented to their view. The night was a beautiful one, with a full moon soaring in the dome of the blue sky, rivaling the brightness of the stars. Out upon the prairie, about a half a mile from the motte, was a long line of Indian horse- men, just now at a standstill, the moonlight glistening upon their weapons, which consisted of rifles and lances. A great number of them there were—probably 4 hundred, al] told, and they looked grim and fierce as they beheld the motte. ‘What do you suppose is the cause of their halt?’ Mayburn asked, stepping through be- tween the trees, to where Rosebud and his party Aad taken a stand. ‘‘ Rather guess they are debating on the feasi- bility of making an attack, or else they’ve sent out spies, whose return they are awaiting,” the Sport suggested. ‘‘T opine thet the last is about the fit!” Wild Bill said. ‘‘ Hither they’re waitin’ ter find out our forces, or are layin’ sum Injun trap with \. hich to capture us.” ‘‘Mebbe my eyes ar’ sharpest,” Chip cried, $31 eh ‘* Don’t ye notice two empty saddles - o.ek o’ ther main body o’ savages?” ‘* Sure enough, there are two emptiy saddles, ‘mt how do you account for that?’ Mayburn .1eried, ‘*T’ll show you pretty quick, as soon as I find 4 red nigger’s head peepin’ out o’ the grass,” was bua q Ther hint caused the others to watch with more alertness, If eign were creeping toward the motte through the tall prairie ss, it remained for them to ver and silence them, to insure vheir own cen For an hour they remained silent and watchful .nd the line of savages maintained their posi- tion, as motionless and grim, as though station- a May late t, suddenly, when the watching was grow- ing exceedingly monotonous, Cinnamon Chip - vaised her rifle and fired. Crack! went the weapon, and a moment later . terrific death yell was heard, and a savage ‘vas seen to spring into the air and fall back, nota hundred yards from the motte. “Thet’s ther way ter pull their eye teeth, I tell ye!” the girl guide chuckled, replacing a ivesh cartridge in the magazine of her hand- s9me Winchester. ‘‘- Yes, and you have set the ball a-rolling!” ™o7ebud Rob replied, pointing toward the main iody of savages. “See! here they come, lick- puny scoot!” ' It was even so. — No sooner had the leath of the spy been an- ;,0unced by his wild yell, than a chorus of wilder -alls arose from the throats of tne halted red- e<ins, and simultaneously they spurred their ‘orses forward toward the motte. Wildly they rode, a full hundred, making an \nposing spectacle, for with military precision ! 3ey rode abreast. ‘Look sharp now!” Rosebud Rob cried, ina ‘urill tone. ‘Fire as soon as you can reach 0, and don’t waste a bullet, or your goose is ery member of the Sport’s party gras ‘aeir rifles, firmly, and watted ter the red re “ouins to come into range, _ Not long were they in doing this, and then as i! by agreement the eight repeating rifles of the L ete spoke simultaneously in a volley of eath, The effect was immediately made apparent uy eight riderless horses dashing aneed in ad- ht our share, anyhow!” | Cinnamon Chip. ee 11 vance of the main band, and by ear-splitting screeches on the part of the uninjured savages, as they came on. Agaiv and again did the rifles ees ten times in succession, and hardly a bullet failed to score a death or a disabling injury. Three quarters, at least, of the savage horde had wilted before the terrible fire of the plucky adventurers. The effect upon the rest can bet- ter be imagined than described. Panic-stricken, they wheeled their horses and lashed them back from the hotbed of death, until they were out of rifle range. Then they halted for an instant to gaze back over the corse-strewn battle-field, after which they gal- loped away in a due southerly course. ‘* That’s the end of our danger from those varmints!” Old Hardpan exclaimed, as, with Mayburn and the others of his party he crossed over to where the Sport’s party were stationed; “but didn’t we sock et to them, my geelorious pilgrims? Waal, now, I ruther reckon we did. A straight hundred ter eight war thar, ef I ain’t a liar, an’ we jest annihilated ’em till thar warn’t skeercely enuff left ter make a decent shadder. Ye did yerselves honor, but greatest of all ther Romans were me, ther Great Frog Face of the North!” On returning to the camp in the center of the motte, the adventurers were surprised to find that the two stragglers had in some mysterious way cut their bonds, and were gone! ow they had made their escape, or where they had gone was an enigma that investiga. tion failed to solve, and so they soon dropped out of the minds of the party. A guard was again stationed, but no renewal of the attack occurred, and the adventurers were permitted to sleep undisturbed until morn- ing—all except Cinnamon Chip. She retired to her tent, and was in a first drowse, when she was suddenly awakened by something cold touching her forehead, O ning her eyes she beheld a man in a black cloak and mask, bending over her, and per- ceived tbat he held the muzzle of a cocked re- volver pressed against her cheek, “Sh!” he cautioned, ina low tone—‘ make the least noise and Pll blow your brains out.” ‘What do you want?’ Chip fearlessly de- manded. ‘I reckon you've got the wrong pig Fe ea nemver. ot ‘Oh! no e : answe softly. “You are Cinnamon Chip. ‘‘ What I want know of you is: what was your mother’s maid- en name?” “*T don’t know!” “* Look out! don’t lie to me, or you'll be cheat- ing ourself. Was not her first name Mary?’ ‘It was!” Chip replied, in astonishment. rs Osborne?” “I do not know. My mother died when quite young. ” ‘“Very well. Keep my visit quiet, and you will see me again. Lam trying to aid you in recovering lost rights.” Then turning suddenly, the masked stranger darted from the tent. Chip sprung after him, but too late! He had already vanished in the darkness. Early in the morning a mount was made, and the trail resumed. Wild Bill remained behind at the motte, promising to join the cavalcade about noon, which he did, His remaining behind was a mystery, but all su ted that his object was obtain and cape ths scalps of the slaughtered Apaches, _ All day, steadily, the party rode on until, when the sun was setting, Cinnamon Chip ut- tered an exclamation, and pointed ahead: ‘*Look! look!” she cried; ‘‘ yonder is Mount Rosa, and Spirit Lake, not a mile away!” CHAPTER X. AN UNEARTHLY MYSTERY. ‘“HurrRAH! hurrah! Mount Rosa!’ echoed paptans Mayburn, joyfully, swinging his hat in e air For ahead loomed up the long-looked-for sight, a large round mountain, hundreds of feet in hight, tapering from a monster rugged base to a narrow peak, which was obscured in a cloud of fog, and the whole rising out of a silve body of water, to whose very edge the prairie extended. And, most remarkable of all, the prairie encircled around the lake, and stretched on in an unbroken expanse, no other mountain connecting with the natural wonder in Spirit e. _ “ Hayr wear’!” old Hardpan exclaimed, ‘ wi’- in eershot o’ ther consarned place, an’ now whar’s yer speerits an’ hoggobblins?”’ ss SSS SSS eee eer eer LL LBL BLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL OL ‘* You'll see them soon enough!” Cinnamon Chip averred, as they rode on at a op toward the goal. ‘‘ Ye won't git a peep at ther consarned anymiles ontilit cums night, an’ then ef yer ha’r don’t stand on end, I'll buy the wet groceries fer ther crowd, Oh! ye needn’t grin, an’ purtend yo ain’t afeart, fer ye’ll see sights over yonder thet’ll fairly make ye jingle!” ‘* Well, that is precisely what we are after, calculate,” Mayburn Bae one “The more ghosts, the merrier. here is the best place to camp, Chip?’ ‘1 dunno that, until I explorate a little,” the Girl Guide answered. ‘I reckon, tho’, thet one place is about as good as t’other.’ A short ride brought the party upon the southern shore of the lake, where they were en- abled to make closer observations. The lake from the shore to the mountain was a half a mile wide, and to all appearances vey deep. The water was clear as crystal, and could be seen swimming around in it in large numbers. From the base, the mountain rose nearly per- pendicularly to an enormous hight, the taper so gradual as to scarcely be noticeable, yet narrow- ing down to less than half the size of the base by pres it met the fog which enveloped the peak, ‘What is the cause of that fog?’ Captain May burn asked, zs he gazed upward, “It ap- pears to hide the peak. “The cause I ain’t enuff 0’ a philosopher to explain,” Chip replied, ‘‘ but in daytime the fo is allus thar, from sunrise till sunset, That’s what makes it so difficult to find Mount Rosa, Kf it warn’t fer ther fog ther top o’ ther could be seen fifty miles away, it is, a per- son kin pass wi’in six miles o’ heer, wi’out notic- in’ ther mountain.” “ Thet’s a fac’,” Old Hardpan affirmed. ‘“ EY it weren't for ther fog, ther ked be seem more ner fifty miles away. But I'll be teeto tally cussed fer a frog-faced fright, ef I evyer hev see’d a ghost, an’ I’m anxious ter git a peep at one o’ ther consarned critters.” “Wait!” Clip said, curtly. ‘ I'll bet six aces an’ a jack ag’in’ the board, thet ye’ll see one skeart Hardpan, ose A dismount followed, and a reconnoissancé was made for a suitable camping oh, A few rods up the lake-shore the ge of tim ber began, but on consultation it was decided not advisable to camp under cover, but to re- main upon the open shore, where all was clear, and it was easier to observe what was going on. _ The tents were pitched, and the horses staked out, near by, to graze; then several camp-fires were built, and the party were installed in their new camp. By this time it was growing dusk, and with it the expectations of the adventurers were aroused, for what would be the issue it was hard to conceive. A close watch was kept upon the mountain and the lake, but no sign of life was geen. As the sun went down the fog gradually dis appeared, and the k of Mount Rosa became visible, far, far up toward the starlit heavens, w/pon the extreme top appeared the ruins of what had evidently been, in some past age, a stone temple—a i sir roof supported u stone pillars. e roof, now, however, partly caved in, and some of the pillars remain. ed standing like grim sentinels, the ruins of the dead city. | Altogether it was an imposing aad and the eight adventurers sat and viewed i with silent awe, after an evening meal had been prepared aud aken of" ‘“Oum! cum! I’m waitin’ fer ther music ter strike up, so I kin dance wi’ a full-blowed speerit!” Old Hardpan said, with a chuckle. “Ef I ain’t mistaken, I kin wrassle wi’ ther best speerit in thet mount’in. I’m a reg’lar hoses fer dancin’, an’ I’d as lief dance wi’ a speerit ag ary other mortal, so long as et keeps step.” ‘Ye won’t hev long to wait,” Cinnamon Chip answered, keeping her eyes fixed upon the mountain. ‘‘The moon’s coming up, and Pll allow ye’ll see sights pretty quick.” ‘*Correct, and it behooves us all not to scared, at whatever we may see,” Captain May- burn said, earnestly. ‘I am not superstitious, and I believe that though we may see things that appear unearthly, it is all a humbug, man- ed by parties that are alive as we ourselves, e have come here to investigate this thing, and if we calculate to succeed he pit pe to keep a stiff upper lip, and laugh at apparent spiritual manifestations.” | ‘“That’s the ticket, exactly!” Rosebud Rob coincided. ‘It must bea very bad ghost that frightens us away. And I opine there won’t be EoOmiecbooks (G(@)