Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 131 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ** Soon they were Xs by a strange horse- man, who was quickly joined by others. From what I have heard, the first was the Golden Hand. We had not gone far before we were so closely pressed by him and his companions that my captors were forced to separate, and in the confused flight 1 was rescued, and recaptured for the third time. ‘* My new captors proved the banditti of the cave, and thither I was borne. ‘*The rest you well know, and I feel that I owe my life to you. But, how my parents must be suffering over my fate. Help me reach my home in safety, and you shall berichly paid for your trouble.’ ‘‘T can ask no. higher pay than to know that I am pag you. t assured I will do all in my power for you.” ‘IT do not doubt it.” Before he could reply, a fearful concussion made the mountains and valley shake as if convulsed by an earthquake, and the air was filled with a mass of matter. Then, as they gazed in wonder upon the startling scene, they saw a huge body quiver- ing for a moment in mid-air, where it been thrown by a pomentyl ncy, to suddenl shoot downward with frightful velocity, ana, striking the ground a few rods distant, tear up a hill of dirt as it was buried half of its enor- mous size in the hard earth by the force of its fall. Approaching the spot with wonder they saw that. tt was a gi nh a bowider. ‘‘But look, Mr, Dare, what is that lying upon it?’ asked Real Greenwood, in greater surprise, as they saw a dark object resting on its top. Clinging to its rugged surface was a human form! CHAPTER XVI. A NARROW ESCAPE. “Sex!” exclaimed Real, in amazement, ‘it isa man! And he moves!’ The figure had indeed fallen from the rock. me peer | the spot in surprise Dustin bent over the form, to cry in a startled tone: “Tt is Rock Randel!” “Ts he hurt?’ ‘‘T fear he is dead,” said Silver Dust, as he carefully moved the limp and senseless one away to an easier resting-place. ‘‘ But how in the world did he come here in this way?” and he tried to restore the other. It did seem a miracle, but The-Man-from- Texas really lay before them. To all appear- ances he was unharmed, save several bruises and scratches that to a mountaineer ‘‘ war of no ’count ennyway.” “ Will— ! he moves!” A moment later Rock began to show signs of returning consciousness. . ‘“Jeems Stopple! whar am I?’ he cried starting with a look of wonder. ‘‘ Whew! but warn’t the stars thick! I jess—hookey, Silver Dust, may I be blown like a sky-rocket ef ye don’t s’prise me! No, hold mys wp ef *tain’t yer spook!” and he ap startl Dustin Dare, unable to credit his own senses, gazed upon him in silence. * Are youa spook?” asked Rock after a mo- ment, as he rubbed his eyes and looked wildly around. ‘“No, Rock; Iam flesh and blood. But 1 was never so surprised in my life. Tell me how you came here ” ‘‘ Gracious alive! seems to me that I don’t know myself! Let’s see; it’s pesky queer!” ‘* But are you hurt?’ ‘Not much I reckon, though my head feels a leetle queer and I’m stiff as a mountain sheep arter arace!’”’ and he gained his feet, starin wildly around him. ‘‘ Whar am we, ennyway ** In Black Pocket.” “Black Pocket? Did thet rock bring me hyar?” ‘‘ Yes; but tell me the mystery. The first we saw you were coming down from the region above lying upon that piece of rock tied hands and feet.” “Wal, I begin to tell. But I war never so completely winded before. Silver Dust, old beaver, may I be taken for a live Injun ef Tain’t been blown wey? ‘* Blown up?” ‘‘ Yes: I reckon, and down too.” Then Rock related his thrilling adventure. In making their enero the ae in Black had of een be drilled ’ throw e shattered rock toward the Lost Mine; and, Rock, carried into the air on the lar piece, remained own into the Black Pock- u it until it came a” Receiving the same momentum as the The Golden Hand, stone, he had suffered only a severe shock when it struck; and thus he was saved from further adventures.* “It was one chance in a thousand,” ejaculated Dustin Dare,as he listened to the thrilling recital. But we will not dwell upon the explanations that followed. ‘* Wal, we are in for it now,” exclaimed Rock at their conclusion. ‘“ That League in Black are clearing the and by to-morrow they will get in hyar. then kems fun!” vie you sure there is no other exit?” ** Sartin sure,” Yam we are prisoners until our foes let us ou ‘‘Egzactly. But, Silver Dust, you mustn’t think they’ll do that jess es we will want ’em to. They ain’t such fools as to kem in hyar without a guard at the and our chance of escape is pesky small. Howsumever, Rock Randel ain’t one to whine, and he’d a pesky sight ruther be hyar than go on that cruise ’mong the stars ‘in. Jeeman! won’t that be a big yarn to tell when we git back to camp?” ‘“* If we ever do,” added Dare, with a shake of the head. ‘‘But we can do no better than to make an exploration of the place.” The valley was divided by a considerable ridge of earth and rocks, extending about three- fourths of itslength. This eminence and a strip of the bottom alongside were covered with the remains of a thick bbery that the fire had not consumed. The remainder of Black Pocket, as far as could be seen, was a blackened waste, unrelieved by a growth, except a fringe on the outer edge. ‘*Look there!” exclaimed Real, as they turn- ed from the spot to explore their surroundings. Her companions were hardly less startled, as they beheld the bleached and charred remains of human beings. Further away were the bones of animals. be 4 tole ye,” 7 ge “Tis ‘em as i ere when Gasper Horn and the Apaches fired the valley.” ‘* Oh, it must have been awful!” declared Real, with a shudder. Half a dozen or more of the ghastly, grinning skeletons were found scattered here and there. ‘‘ Then the story of those who died here was no hoax,” said Dustin ' ‘** No,” affirmed Rock; ‘“‘thar war a dozen 0’ ’em ’sides the wimmin folks and some Injuns, and they war all rubbed out. But hark! d’ye hear thet?” ‘Ah, they are blasting away the obstruction from the pass,” declared Silver Dust, as the see chek of a drill and the sound of the strik- er’s er was heard. “You are right. They mean bizness, old ‘coon. Ha! look thar!” A loud report had suddenly broke upon the valley, and a cloud of dust and pieces of stone filled the air. “°Twon’t take ’em —- to kem through at thet rate,” exclaimed Rock. ‘‘ What are your plans?” asked Dare. ** Wal, I reckon as we had better look round for a hiding-place. Ef ’em coyotes see us when they git in hyar, it will be our funerals. We ain’t got nary weepon ’cept thet knife o’ yourn, and nothing to eat; and all we can do is to keep shady till the varmints cl’ar the pass, and then make a strike for freedom.” ‘*I don’t know as we can do better than fol- low Yh suggestions,” admitted Dustin. **So I reckon; and ’ to me we can find no better cache than under that bluff.” Acting under Rock’s lead, in Dare and Real Greenwood followed him toward the place indicated. In reality they were all too much exhausted from the hardships and adventures they had ex- perienced to go far. aa we FOC and ae pe of the once thick undergrowth, they found partial protection: and were fain to remain there and wait for fur- ther developments. A few hours d thus; the sun had disap- peared behind the mountains, and the shadows were warning them of the close approach of night, when a sharp, clinking noise was borne to their ears. It seemed to come from the earth near at hand, and sounded like the regular strokes of a ‘* Jeems prope !’ exclaimed The-Man-from- Texas, as they listened to the sounds so sudden- ly arousing them, ‘‘’tis the spirit miners of this *tarnal place?” * To many this incident may seem too incredible for — but we are knowing to its actual occurrences. UTHOR. “gee ---— ‘‘Nonsense, Rock! But, what are. those sounds? They do seem like pickers at work,” ‘“‘ They ar’, and ’tis as I tell e! Spooks are— Jeeman! look thar! The Blacks are tearing the mountain all to pieces!” aloe League in Black had made another Again the air was filled with splintered rocks, Mountain and valley shook as if by an earth quake. Quickly following the deafening report was 4 wild, triumphant shout. It hardly died away when a series of unearth ly yells, such as only the red-men of the West can utter, followed, prolonged into a soul-sick- ening shriek. ' Rock started nervously, and his companions listened in breathless silence. ‘‘ The Apaches are with ’em like mad bufflers!” ejaculated the Texan. ‘‘Thet yell tells, too, that they hev done their work. It won’t be long afore we shall see their pesky pictures!” The confusion at the pass hardly lulled. Other blasts were speedily made by the horde trying to force their way into the Lost Mine. An hour of anxious waiting passed, when they were again startled by renewed yells from the ag ‘* They’ll belong ’fore many spells!” declared Rock. ‘‘Look sharp fer yerself then. I’m madder than a stung rattler to think ’m hyar in Black Pocket without even a toothpick to show for my independence!” The sounds that had so surprised them had suddenly stopped, and a stillness of death hung over the place, save the cries of the mad rabble at the cut. ‘Here, men, clear away that bowlder in the front and our way is open tothe Black Pocket,” said the leader of the masked horsemen, exult- antly. ‘‘ At last we are within the reach of our treasure. But, Big Sandy, you are to see that your reds do not come inside the mine.” **T reckon I know,” was the rather sullen re- sponse, though under his breath he muttered - way ye don’t fool me out o’ the lion’s share.’ he way was clear and the strange riders dashed forward. The three saw the League in black ride boldly into the valley, and they started in wonder as they saw that their number was unbroken! CHAPTER XVIL. FOES AND FRIENDS. TOWARD the close of the same day that the League in Black rode into Black Pocket, two heavy, covered wagons, drawn by three mules each, might have been seen moving slowly up the valley which lay below the Lost Mine. Besides the drivers, half a dozen coarsely- dressed men, mounted upon small, hardy horses, rode in the train, while occasionally a woman’s head was seen at the wagon’s front. ‘Can we reach there to-night?” asked one at last of a large-framed man, who seemed to be the leader. ‘*] fear not. We shall soon find the way more broken. However, we will not think of stopping for the night until we find it impossi- ble to reach there. ‘‘Hurry up, then, boys,” said the other, and the train quickened its pace for a few moments, to relapse into its former slow pace after a few They h d ogressed far, h bef ey had not pr , however, before the sound of hoof-strokes caused them to pause. ‘‘It may be one of the boys coming to meet us,’’ said the leader, as ordering a halt. 4 e next moment the Golden Hand came into sight. Drawing rein in front of them with evident surprise, he exclaimed: ‘‘TIn mercy’s name! why did you not stay at home as I sent word to you?” ‘Sent to us? what has happened?” cried the other in amazement. ‘‘Happened? The whole Apache nation, I should judge by their numbers, has swarmed into the valley! ‘‘ But they will not. molest us?” _ ‘‘T am not so sure. Long Wind is dead and they are led now by a renegade white. They are on the war-path and mean mischief!” ‘* How are the boys?” et ‘* All right as far as I know. But it is im- possible to enter the Pocket. And, worse still, a party of twelve men styling themselves the League in Black have blown the rock out of East Pass and by this time are in the mine!” ‘‘Then we are booked for war!” ‘* Worse than that I fear! 1 have just barely escaped with my life and to go back to the Pocket will be like courting death!” } COmiIchooks.co (E