Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 131 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

- —— a ne a he mentlba rer ip ter the departure of Big Sandy nothing was heard from the savages for sume time. “ Wonder what they are studying up? But Rock hasn’t fallen into their hands or he wouldn’t have spoken as he did,” ‘‘He may have escaped,” said Dustin, “ though it don’t seem possible.” “Look there!” cried Lewis Redmond, “what is that light down the valley?” A lurid glare had suddenly sprung up to the south, awl was sweeping far right and left. ‘* Merciful Heaven! the Indians have fired the vallgy !”’ Rg: and they are scaling the cliff!” cried Roy Redmond, with increased alarm. The flames were leaping high into the air, lehting up the surrounding country with dazzling b ney. Disclosed plainly in the vivid light was seen the forms of a score of savages rushing along the top of the rock-ridge that isolated Black Pocket. By some means they had ascended. the barrier, and had it not been for the fire would doubtless have succeeded in surprising the besieged miners, Finding that they were discovered the red-skins uttered a wild war-whoop just as the whites sent a ringing volley of bullets among them, CHAPTER XXT. ROCK TO THE RESCUE. THOSE encamped at the wagons passed an anxious time after the departure of Dimond Redmond and his companions, Hark Redmond was considered the leader of the party, and his first movement was to see that all was in readiness to meet an attack from the sav- ages, for he was not sanguine enough to think they shouid escape one. Placing the wagons in form of the letter V, he then ordered that the men should bring up what fallen trees they could Gnd in the vicinity, and plant- ing them outside the: vehicles, quite a strong barci- cade was speedily made. “*Now we can only watch and wait,” said Hark, as with the others he seated himself béhind the shelter. ‘ “ Hark!’ exclaimed a companion, “I hear them up the valley! They are coming!” At this moment they heard the outery above. The frightened women began to draw closer to- gether, as they listened to the appallinz sounds, ‘Keep up courage,” said Redmond, ‘‘ they may not discover us. If they do, we can stand quite a siege here. .You have corraled the animals as best you can?” he asked of the others. **"Yes,”” responded one, “But hear the firing! I fear Dimon and t’others have run into an ambush.” “Tt would seem like it. Ha! the eries are nearer! The red-skins are coming this way! See that your powder is dry, boys.” The horde was approaching, and with bated breath the whites listened, noting their dusky foes’ progress by their unearthly tumult. Nearer and nearer came the warning of danger, gradually decreasing in volume, The miners had extinguished their camp-fire, knowing that it would betray them tothe enemy. “Have they stopped?’’ asked one, anxiously, as the cries entirely ceased. “Ithinkso. Beready, boys; the crisis is coming!” Hark Redmond had barely uttered the wo ee a yell more terrible than any before startl them. “Here they come!”’ A furious crash succeeded, and the yelling demons hurled their forces upon them. As they burst through the line of timber, the rifles of the miners pealed forth their deadly warning, with such fearful result that the Indians were forced to flight. ‘*Hold them there, boys, and the victory is ours!” exclaimed Hark. Redmond. With fierce yells of defiance, the baffled savages drew back into the darkness of the forest. At this moment the besieged miners discovered a anne fire in the brushwood just to their right. ow the flames caught it was never kfown, but, beyond doubt, they started from a spark of one of their rifles. Be it as it would, they increased so ' Tapidly that when the red-skins preees a renewal of the fight the blaze illumined t tance. Without seeming to heed it, however, the Indians pegen to creep cautiously forward. Their defeat betore had learned them a bitter lesson. Hist! they are coming like painters!’ warned Hark. “ Look sharp, and fire when I give the word.” Then for a few moments the silence was un- broken, save by the crackling of the fire. A strong wind was spreading the flames right and ape one rapidly fanning the tiny sparks into a con- ation. rawling along in the snrubbery, the savages were ast approaching their in ended victims, and seemed certain of reaching a position that would make the struggle hand-to-hand. At this critical instant when the whites seemed on the eve of total destruction, the fire reached a larger ile of dry brushwood, and streaming far up into he air disclosed the crouching forms of the foes plainly to view. | Seeing that they were discovered, the horde leaped to their feet, and» hurled themselves en masse upon the miners. Quickly emptying their rifles, our hardy oand was forced to meet them face to face, haud to hand, to Sell their lives as dearly as possible. Overwhelming them in numbers, and fighting like eens pebe et the red assailants must have gained ody victory. e helpless women shouted in terror, e timber for some The foes answered with demoniac yells, and tore them from the wagons! In the midst of the wild scene a horseman dashed up to the spot. Plainly seen in the light of the conflagration it was the Golden Hand! Giving expression toa ringing cry he pinnged his horse in among the Apaches. As they beheld him, they paused in their bloody a a sae utterance to his name. Awed by the bold defiance of the mysterious rider, and frightened by the peril of the fire, the In- dians relinquished the fight. A.moment later they were gone. “Thank God, we are saved!"’ murmured Hark Redmond, and the others echoed his words, A new danger was upon them, however, from the fire. But the wind was blowing smartly from the mse and soon swept the mighty conflagration up e valley. Safe at last the party watched it sweeping furious- ly on. “It has done us a good turn,” said the Golden Hand, “‘but may God have mercy on our friends. They are lost!" Meanwhile, when Rock left Dustin Dare and Real Greenwood he crept slowly et the until he had reached the outer end, nothing had oc- curred to alarm him. Near the entrance to the place he could see the savages lying around their camp-fire, some appar- ently asleep, while others were smoking or lounging idly about. “Jess es I thought,” he muttered to himself. ‘**Reckon I shouldn’t hev to stir round much to kick up some ginuine fun!”’ Seeing a bowlder ahead where he could get a_ bet- ter view of his foesand still remain unseen, he began to crawl slowly toward it. He had spent much time in his progress thus far, but your true plainsman or mountaineer has an un- failing supply of tience, and, had it been neces- sary, Rock would have devoted an hour to the pur- pose of gaining that desired spot with as good grace as he did the fifteen minutes it took him. ** Dang my buttons!” he said to himself, * if Idon’t bet ann stop that guard jesses slick es sliding own Ms The Indians had watchers outside the pass, but, | ’ without dreaming of danger, they exercised but. lit- tle vigilance. Rock passed several minutes watching them, un- decided what course to pursue. Alone he could easily escape, but— In the midst of speculation he was aroused by hearing some one approaching him, He turned and saw that one of the League in Black had arisen and was coming toward him, Evidently the man ‘vas unconscious of. his pres- ence, as he approach’! «im carelessly enough. Rock was in a dilemina, Finding he could not escape he to over- power the leaguer as soon 1s " » should come nearer. Lying perfectly motionless, the Texan watched the other closely, until ne was almost upon him; and then he sprung up to seize him in strong gras and ee him to the earth before the victim eould cry out, A short struggle and The-Man-from-Texas had rid the world of one more des o; and in an instant he was carrying into effect a daring project. Quickly divesting himself of his outer garments, he hastily donned those of the other, even to his mask, At this juncture the Indians were startled by something in front, and fearing that a discovery was coming Rock gave his alarm, and sprung for- ward to join in the rabble. : He was in season to see the Black Riders leave the Savages, and resolved to out his 7vle he fol- lowed as soon as he could find the horse of the dead inan. We know how he effected the escape of Harris Greenwood, and the moment he was left with the two 7 penn over the ym ng digele wel he threw himself upon them so fiercely that, when the others returned he was master of the situation, and had freed his friends. Before they could recover enough to understand what had taken e, the three sent as many of the masked men to the earth. Fe Semget nad: we came geen ag, ale; sound of the shots, an e remnan e League in Black turned to flee. Three of them escaped, ‘Hooray, beys!’’ cried the now unmasked Rock Randel, ** warn’t that fun?” “May Heaven reward you, Rock Randel,” said Greenwood, grasping his baat. ‘You are the no- Dlest man in this eountry!”’ “Wal, Lreckon I hey kem to the rescue at last. But I want to know who these chaps in m are,” when the masks were torn away from the faces of the dead leaguers. nt had been supposed the leader was Gasper orn. 7 Only one other was recognized, and he was Shelby ack ** Wal, who'd ’a’ thought it?” ejaculated the Texan. Not long were met wed to ulate. An in- stant later they saw the fearful coulanration sweep- me SD the valley. re tching from side to side—mountain to moun- tain—there was no esca £. Roaring, leaping, rushing far up into the night dl deutboyan thing air, and destro hey owe in its course, the ee came sweeping s ftly veo ia nail “ We are a-gouer now!”’ c1 as they upon the invincible foe that knows no merey. . = — eee | —— | a ee + CHAPTER XXII. | THROUGH THE FIRE. “Qurox! Follow me and Ill show you a way to escape,” cried one of the miners, and he headed his horse up the valley toward the Lost Mine. Rock and the others instantly followed, Phainging their animals through the tangled growth the four rode wildly forward, with the flames gan ing upon them at every gust of the strong wind. k had not forgotten his friends, but flight he had presence of mind enough to know that they were safe-from the conflagration. Suddenly the leader of the fugitives reined up. ‘**We are to the entrance to Black Pocket,” he said, hurriedly, and drove his horse through the thick shrubbery, to ride into a considerable strezm. Following it for a few rods they suddealy came upon an opening in the bluff, and a little later they were inside the Pocket. “This entrance has never been discovered,” sai‘! the leader; ‘“‘and it. was by. this way that we al! escaped at the time of the fire,a year ago, when it was supposed that we had perished. But we hav- no more to fear from the flames. I hope our friends below with the teams have escaped.” “The wind is favorable for them. We will trust that they were,” said Harris Greenwood, hopefully. “T wonder where the boys are? We left four Redmond brothers here when we went down to mect the train.” ** Look hyar,” exclaimed Rock, “couldn’t we ect round to the from ar I left a couple.o’ the mad friends thar who Pm pesky skittish about. They war Silver Dust and a gal called Real Greenwood.”’ “Real Greenwood! My daughter!’ cried Harris Greenwood. ‘‘Isshe alive and unhurt?” “She war less'n two hours ago.” “Then let’s go to them at once,” exclaimed the anxious father. ‘** We can, and.look for the boys as we go alone.” With nothing to impede their course now, they rode hurriedly forward, soon reaching a few rude camps and evidence of mining. "Tis where we have been working the claim," said the foremostin explanation. ‘‘ Yousee we have worked here most of the time, for a year.” Seeing nothing of their companions they kept on around the ridge, to finally reach the othér side and in hearing of the fight going on at the pass. ** Our friends are in <i and they spurred tor- ward to mingle in the strife. eir arrival was opportune. Dustin Dare and the four Redmonds were in a ahh PCS but re-enforcements quickly turned (he tide of battle, and the savages sought safety in fight, to fall before the flames. ith nothing to fear from it, the miners turned to watch the conflagration, as it devastated the valley. The reunton of the father and daughter was joy- ous. In fact all had reason to rejoice over their escape from the many perils which had encompassed them. “God be thatT find you again unharmed,” murmured Harris Greenwood, as he folded Reai to his breast “TI, too, am happy, dear papa. But I owe my life to my dear friend here, Mr. Dare.” The remainder of the time till dayliglit was de- voted to story-telling and congratulations. The fire raged for about an hour, and when the party left Black Pocket it had long since died away. mone malts Bigs probably a perished an the mes, , they were no er dread The davaleade Yous doun the valley to find their friends and relatives around the wagons, who hailed them as from a -grere “Though -I t there is not more to fear from our foes, we will return with the teams to the settlement,” said the Golden Hand, now addressed = a nwood, who was really a brother of arris. Upon consultation, however, it was decided that a part of them should go on with the teams and the rest return to the mine and Ye Leon Redmond led one the number back to the Pocket, while Russel Greenwood guarded ibe others and the women toward their home. After being driven from Black Pocket the year be- fore Leon Redmond had returned and commenced working the mine with his brothersand companions. ‘Russel Greenwood had. acted we pert of the Goki- en Hand to carry provisions to nds, and also sec that they were not surprised by foes... . arn ie orn had pet aie" Black, oping gain possession o Lost Mine. s often as one of their number had been killed he had filled the vacancy The failure of the rifles used by their foes was due with a new man. to the fact that the traitor Shelby Jack had plugged the pipple of each rifle, ae sxpegs e ful owners of the Pocket mined the ore ees ut molestation until they iad satisfied most greedy cravings for the precious treas- ure, , ook and Silver Dust received a good share, tov. n was more happy, however, over the hig her rize that fell to him—the Real gem that became With the beautiful Real for his wife he considered himself the happiest in the South-west! Pos- her unbound | for inthis lites love, what more could he ask True Gil Rey and Paul Hayes soon recovered from their wounds and lived many years to hear the sto companion. Rock Randei— oer Cant Gp the trail into the Black Rock, noble unlettered but generous almost to a fault, we will bi hm, hot effin, but au revoir. END, com Ebooks. Go