Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 13 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

The Dumb. Spy. *‘ Whew!’ exclaimed Dick, when the captain had concinded, — that war a ticklish situashun, but, if | eithe: of them comes out clear with a sound scalp, it'll be Old Hurricane, now mind.” ‘“*T hope so, Dick, if my wife’s rescue depends on his assistance.”’ ‘No, no, captain. It don’t depend on him. Thar’s Noisy Nat—he can help me but I thought Hurri- cane, being a dozen common men in one, would be the best could select. For that matter, I know every man here would foller me to Spain. But it ‘d do no good, captain. The outlaws are too strong to effect anything by force. All will have to be done by stratagem, But rest assured, captain, your wife shal! be rescued.” ‘*l‘,ank you, thank you, Dick, for this assurance, and may God aid you in your work,” ‘*A horseman! A horseman!” The cry rung suddenly out from the lips of the sentinel. The attention of every one within the fort was at once directed to a horseman approachin across the plain from the woods. He was riding a a furious speed, and shouting in a wild, defiant tone at the same time waving something above his head in an excited, furious manner. “What did I tell you, captain?’ Wild Dick sud- denly exelaimed. ‘Thar he comes now—that’s him —Old Hurricane!” A shout of joy burst from the claim-stakers’ lips, for, by this time, the horseman had come near eno for all to see that Dick was right. It was Old Hurricane. He was riding the identical horse upon which he and Big-Foot had been carried away, and the object that he was swinging above his h was ae gw Bs scalp! ati ad th te, ne of the party hastened and open e ga and a minute later the hunter rode into the little fort, amid the wildest shouts of joy. His face was scarcely recognizable, it be bruised and swollen from many ugly wounds and blows, ** Ho, boys!” burst from his lips as he drew rein in the inclosure. ‘‘I see you and them girls are all safe and sound! And you must excuse me, friends, for my hasty departure last night. I war wanted across the plain yonder, and didn’t take time to tell you whar I war goin’.”” “Yes, Hurricane, we saw you and Big-Foot ride away in ahurry,” said Dudley. ‘* Ho! ho! ho!” roared the old borderman; “ wer’n’t that a comical situation, tho’? I sw’ar Id as lief be skulped as to gy two hundred and fifty pounds by the ha’r of the head. But, boys, that ole score atwixt me and Big-Foot is settled. [wa it tothe varlet, and thar is his scalp to testify to the fact.” “Good for you, Hurricane!’’ shouted the claim- stakers. *““You see, boys," the old hunter continued, “ I’ve got a om hoss free gratis along with Big-Foot’s scalp. [t’s asplendid hoss, too; but, boys, I’arnt it.’ “Hurricane,”’ said Rossgrove, with an impatient gesture, “‘I would like to speak with you a mo- ment.” ‘*Sartainly, John, sartainly,” replied the hunter, giving his animal into the care of Ranson: Kendall. The two step aside and conversed a few minutes in an undertone, then Wild Dick was called to them. The three conversed several minutes lon- ger, then rejoined the rest of the party. The next hour was passed in listening to Hurricane narrate his adventures with Big-Foot. The maidens prepared the old hunter a sumptuous breakfast, of which he partook with a keen relish, . The day passed slowly, with no excitement of an unusual character. As the shades of night began to gather, Wild Dick took his departure for Spain, accompanied by Old Hurricane. Captain ve apenes the gate for them, and, as they passed out, Dick said: a oe when we return we will bring your wife us.”’ “We will, John, by the shades of the old prophets,” added Hurricane. ‘*May Heaven speed you, boys,’ responded the captain. CHAPTER XVIIL. ‘*nIGH’’ TIMES AT SPAIN. Niaut had long since enveloped the land in dark- ness when the Dumb Spy and Old Hurricane drew near the outlaw village. Having approached as near as they dare without encountering some of the settlers, they came to a halt and listened. The first sound they eard was the rumble of wagon-wheels in the village, and this at once led to the inference that some new movement was on foot among the outlaws, “Tl tell you, Hurricane,” said Wild Dick, “ sup- pose you remain yight here while I run down and see what's up, and what our prospect is. If I’m locked up to arp Missus John, I'll give you a signal from the winder.”’ “ All right, Dick, all right,”’ replied the hunter. Dick at once took his departure, and entered the village. Hesaw there was a light in the court-room, and gaining his own apartment in the rear, his ears were greeted by the sound of voices pitched in Jones of anger. one iscovered that a number of the leading sp®its of Spain were assembled in council, and from their conversation he soon learned what they had met or. Tt ay red that their treasure cave had been dis- cove and robbed of some of its valuables, either by the claim-stakers or the Moles; and that, during that day, Reckless Ralph and Thoms had been at the cave and had packed up a large box full of articles of great value, and during that night they intended to transfer them from the cave to the village. Four trusty confederates had been selected to bring | | them, and their wagon already stood in waiting at the door for the trip. One of the men had entered the court-room for instructions, which Reckless Ralph proceeded to give. ‘“ Bring the large box,” he said, ‘‘marked with an X cut on the upper side. This you will find very heavy, but then four, or éven three of you, will have no trouble in handling it. There are, also, two small boxes marked as the large one, which you will point : x ere are they to be delivered, or rather, de- | posited, captain?” asked one of the men, | ‘*The two small ones will be placed in this room,’ and the large one in my daughter's prison-room, where her guard can also guard the box.”’ Without further talk the man left the room and joined his three friends in the wagon at the door, vont they took their departure for the treasure- vault. Gliding from his room, the Dumb SPY crept away to where Old Hurrieane was concealed. In a few words he acquainted the hunter with what was go- ing on among the outlaws, and after discussing the matter a few minutes, both turned and proceeded at a rapid pace toward the robbers’ treasure-vault. Leaving them we will return to the court-room, where Reckless Ralph and Thoms remained in con- versation; for, of late, most of their time was spent in counsel. ? “The raft will be completed and the cannon mounted by to-morrow noon; then we will in the ascent of the river, and by the following morn we will be ready to demolish Fort Defiance, unless they accede to an unconditional surrender. Ido not in- tend to trifle with them longer. We have already lost a number of men at their hands, and the Indians - can scarcely compute their loss. Why, these claim- stakers have got so devilish impudent as to raise an American flag over their works, and my greatest wish is to tear it to shreds before their eyes, for I tell you, Thoms, I always despised that flag, and I have a reason for it, too,’’. “Ha! ha!” laughed Thoms. ‘I suppose certain incidents in your ge life won't justify your livin’ in ey under the Stars and Stripes.” “No difference about the past, Thoms; the future is what will tell with youand me. However, I hope, if our plans worked out all right, Old Black-Hawk pe neers eg cere ——. this for his yey core n granting Rossgrove and party a permit to locate claims on the Reserve without ri Bass, t his tribes.”’ “* Black-Hawk is a singular Indian, Judge, and his- tory will call him a great chief for his acts, whether he merits it or not. But, where’s Witless Seth, Judge? Ihav’n’t seen him sence mornin’.”’ “He left on one of his usual daily rambles this morning, and I'll guarantee he'll bring some news from the claim-stakers’ movements when he comes; and I hope he will come soon, for I have work for They talked on. Something like two hours had been thus passed, when a footstep was heard in the mute’s room, and still a short time later, a man came to the door and said: . ‘“‘Oaptain, the boys have come with the boxes.” “Indeed? & Ges trip they made,”’ replied the robber-chief, and followed by Thoms, he went out to where the wagon was drawn up at the foot of the stairs leading up to the door of Camilla’s prison- room. Reckless Ralph examined the boxes to see that they were the right ones, and finding they were, he ordered the largest one removed from the vehicle and carried up-stairs. This box was about four feet square, securely nailed up, and it was with great difficulty the men scrambled up the stairs with it, and deposited it in one corner of Camilla’s room, Ralph having prece- ded them and unlocked the door. When the men had left the room, the robber-chief said to his prisoner: “My dear madam, permit me to say that there are jewels in that box worth a king’s ransom; and they will all be ours, together, some day. Just think of it; there are silks and satins in that box, and nearly every fold is laid between with jewels and silver seen Ay, there are diamonds of the first water in hat box, my dear, so guard them for youand me; and when I come back in a few minutes, I will show them all to you,” With these mocking, hateful words the villain left the room; and when the prisoner heard the door closed and locked upon her again, she sunk into a chair and burst into a deep paroxysm of tears. She wept long and bitterly, wept until she fell into a kind of mental stupor. But she was suddenly aroused from this mood of mind by a low, noise in the room, and starting to her feet, she gaz around her in apparent bewilderment. She could still hear that steady crashing noise. But her mind was so confused that she could not locate the point from whence sound came. At length, however, her eyes happened to fall upon the large treasure-box in t Hg te: - e starts, a low cry of terror esca her a ae She sees the top of ‘the box being pressed slowly upward. Something possessed of life is with- a aah Me is burst off, naman head, follow- road, massive shoulders, appears to her view—teaps, with scarce an effort, trots out the great box. Camilla sunk speechless in her chair. She could not cry out, she could not speak, nor could she re- move her transfixed gaze from the great, rough, bearded face before her. The mysterious s er saw at once the effect his pees had upon her, and in a low, husky tone, in- nded for a whisper, he said: “Don’t fear me, don’t take on, lady; I’m here to save you—I’m Old Hurricane, I am.”’ 15 There was something in the man’s very words and looks that removed the chill of terror from Camilla’s heart and mind, and again sent a warm thrill through her form. ‘What other evidence,” she gained composure to oe. : have you to give me of your being my riend?” ' y, lady, I've no writings of any kind,” replied our hero, “ but, if I should just say John Rossgrove sent me here, would—”’ “That is sufficient!” cried Camilla; “‘youare my friend; but your presence here in that box caused me to doubt you.”’ The old hunter smiled and replied: “ That was a ticklish situashun, Missus John Ross- ove, fur the knaves had me standin’ on my head f the time, and it took a heap of nerve to keep an equilibrium. But all’s well that ends well, they say. You no doubt wonder how I came in that box, so I'll tell you. Wild Dick, a friend of ours, Missus John, found out that the outlaws war goin’ to bring that box into this room, filled with jewels and diamonds. So we hurried to their treasure cave, broke open the box and emptied out enough of the t s to make room for my figure, and you may bet thar wer'n’t many things left. Wal, 1 got into the box, and Dick nailed it up, and concealed all traces of our work, A few minutes later the outlaws came and packed me right straight from the cave to your room. I'll ad- mit I’m not a jewel of the first water, Missus John, for all that robber bragged heaply of the jewels in that box; nor am La very han’some man, either, but I can boast an honest heart, and, as 1 mean you well, Missus John, it will not be well to talk here too long. I’m here to rescue ro and take you to your John, who’s not a hundred milés away; so, if you have a hat and shawl, put them on, for the air is damp and chilly. Thatrobber ‘llsoon be here, then, if you are not used to sights of violence, cover your eyes and refuse to listen. Camilla, with a light heart, went to her bedroom, and, whileshe was getting ready for her departure with the hunter, the latter was busy in the other room preparing bonds for the robber chief. en ready for her flight, Camilla knelt down and invoked the blessing and aid of the Divine Fa- need Ame the dangers before her; then she rejoined the unter. A few minutes later footsteps were heard ascend- ing the stairs. ' ‘Be ready to leave the room, Missus John; the in- stant I throttle the villain. The Dumb Spy will meet you at the foot of the stairs and conduct you toap of safety.” As he concluded, the old hunter sprung behind the door, where he would be at the robber’s back when he entered. The rattle of sliding bolts was at once succeeded by the creak of the opening door, and Reckless Ralph strode into the room, Camilla stood before him, prepared for departure. ‘**Heigh, ho!” exclaimed the villain; ‘‘ you must be going out, my dear!” ‘**Tam,”’’ Camilla replied, calmly. “'Well,”’ retorted the irate robber, ‘‘ this is cool, but I have something to say about your going out.”’ “‘And so have J,” said a voice behind him, and the next instant his throat was clutched within the rigid grasp of Old Hurricane’s great iron fingers. The villain gasped and struggled, but his efforts were as futile as an infant's would have been. Camilla shot out at the door, ran down the stairs, at the foot of which she was met by the Dumb Spy, who made himself known, then conducted her has- tily away northward. When they had gained a point of safety on the outskirts of the village, they stopped to wait for Old Hurricane. ey had not long to tarry. The old hunter soon came. **Tt’s a success, is it, Dick?’’ he asked. “Tt is, so far as I know.” “Wal, I left that knave bound and gagged and locked in the m. He may and he may not get the use of his lungs inside of to-night, but, for fear, we will have to move with dispatch from here.” With Camilla at his side, the old hunter hur- ried away northward, while Wild Dick returned to Spain. crvicke the inability of Camilla to journey on foot to the fort, Old Hurricane headed toward a certain point on the river, where the Dumb Spy had concealed a canoe for them, They moved with as much haste as possible, and in less than an hour reached the river. The hun- ter found the canoe, and at ence embarked with his fair charge up the stream, and, under his per erful strokes, the little craft went skimming like a bird over the water. They conversed but little. The old hunter was too intent on his labor at the paddle and look-out for dangers to talk, while Camilla was me, dm her mind the joys of the promised meeting with her young husband. : Thus the minutes wore away and lengthened into hours, and at last Old Hurricane announced to his fair charge the pleasing intelligence that - were but a few minutes’ paddling from the ort. Boaroety & moment later, his ced ears caught the plash of paddles above them, and, peer- ing forward into the gloom, he discovered a canoe, with several occupants, descending the river. Turning to Camilla, he said, in a tone devoid of uneasiness or fear: F “We'll be detained a moment, Missus John, but don’t take on. We'll have to drop in shoreward for thar’s a canoe coming down the river, and it may contain enemies. Leastwise, it'll not be pru- dent, with my knowledge of the dangers of this land, to go on.”’ EOMiIEboo <S 5° TSS = c 2 4a ce —az2ea —- ss - 3am - ————— — =~ = = =I cs — Soa