Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 131 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a — 5 . —— — good. Look to it, chief, that he don’t escape... I guess I will take the girl off your hands.” “Chief no let squaw go!” exclaimed the ean quickly. *Long Wind be hoppin’ ma ““T can’t help that. Just unfasten her from that animal and | will take charge of her. Young lady, come with me and you ‘have noth- ing to fear.” **Oh sir, save me, and you shall be liberally rewarded.’ As the strange person seemed bent 6n carry- ing out his p se the Indians began to show hostile intentions, though they looked upon thé mysterious gang in awe. ‘*Put down your weapons!” commanded No. 1. Turning to his followers, he said: -‘* Lads, present arms.” As the Swelve ominous muzzles stared them in the face, the red-skins cowed in terror. Rw ga out a huge knife, the masked man cut the ligatures that held the captive to the saddle. This was too much for the chief, and with a fierce yell he bounded upon his foe. As he moved, a whip-like crack was heard; and he fell dead! “The first warrior that moves dies, and none shall be spared!” thundered the stern leaguer. Awed by the sound of his voice, and his aw- ful appearance, the Indians allowed him to lift the maiden from the mule upon his own mid- night steed. ‘It is well,”he said, as he turned to leave. ‘I leave the others to you. But beware how you enter our domain again. Remember the Black Riders of the Lost Mine spare none who cross their way.” Saving which he turned to ride away, when the girl cried: : ‘‘ Will you not save my friends also?” ‘* No; they are in better hands! I ought not to have stopped to save you, but must take you to your friends as soon as possible,” and with an appeal of hers ringing on the air, the League in Black soon disappeared. After a short consultation the Apaches moved on toward their village, taking the body of their dead leader with them. The whites could see that they were madly excited, and knew they must receive the venge- ance of their disappointment. But could they have been certain the helpless maiden had fallen among friends, they would have felt easier. Somehow, they could but realize that a dark future hung over them all. CHAPTER VI. THE STAKE—GOLDEN HAND. IN silence the Indians hurried on their way. | Not far did they advance before coming into a piece of heavier growth than any before, and upon the further side where it reached to a val- ley of some extent they came upon their en- campment. | The village was all astir, and it took but a glance for the prisoners to see that the savages numbered several hun . : Straight to the center the captors led their victims. Their appearance was hailed with wild yells, and soon the motley horde began to gather around, making the night hideous with their cries and gibberish. Before the chief; Long Wind, the leader told his story, interrupted at intervals by fierce ex- clamations. Silver Dust and Big Paws were brought be- fore the old Apache, the act causing a new outbreak among the crowd. What followed, the old mountain man as- sured his companion was a council-of-war. One after another of the old, weather-beaten chiefs harangued the throng, and many of the younger ones addressed them with fierce ges- tures. | All of that was perfectly unintelligible to Dare, though Big Paws, who had witnessed such seenes before, and understood a’ part of their speech, whispered to him that it was going hard with them. ‘‘ Our trail is spotted, young beaver,” he said to Dustin. ‘‘But they hev another captive somewhere, which I don’t jess see into. t be they hev kaptered one of the boys?” BY ** Perhaps it’s Rock!” : ‘“Mebbe. But hark! Thet ar’ smoky-skin is jess givin’ it to us, hot and heavy. Our trap is sprung in spite o’ ginger!” . A young chief was addressing the excited mob, and from the wild applause they paid to his words, it was seen that he was not speaking for ~varh b. . Whe he had ended a battle-searred’ veteran r The Golden Hand. spoke to Long Wind, and a few moments later the captives were drag to the opening in front of the wigwams which were located in the form of a circle. In a few minutes a stake was driven firmly into the ground in the center of the place, and the doomed men knew only too well what the red skins had decreed their fate should be. “* Bear up like a man, Silver Dust,” said Big Paws, in an,undertone, “ and it will be all the better for us.” The busy savages soon heaped a pile of brush- wood and small saplings with branches of larger trees all dry around the spot in a circle, and when it was done they renewed their yells, and rushed about in frantic excitement. Then Big Paws was rudely borne forward, | and, the thongs removed from his ankles, he was made to stand upon his feet. This wasthe signal for the beginning of the prisoner’s ordeal. In an instant all the old hags and children, to say nothing of the innumerable squaws, be- gan to pelt him with stones and sticks, hooting and jeering at him in a most hideous manner. All this the giant hunter received with appar- ent indifference. Exasperated by their ineffectual attempts up- on him, the horde turned to inflict a similar punishment upon Silver Dust. Though a novice in the Indian method of war- fare, Dare summoned all the fortitude of his nature to his aid, and stood the test grimly. Failing in their efforts in that direction, the savages resorted to a harsher fate. His clothing nearly torn from his lacerated body, Dustin Bare was bound firmly to the stake, At this every throat in the mass of demons seemed to utter a wild, unearthly shriek, so fear- ful that the whites would fain have covered their ears had it been possible. When the tumult had somewhat subsided a torch was applied to the combustible wood, and the tiny spark of fire soon fanned into a flame by the wind it swept along the encircling pile at a startling rate, while huge volumes of smoke nearly suffocated the helpless victim. Big Paws groaned aloud as he beheld his com- panion’s awful sufferings. Higher and higher leaped the fiery furnace, while, shrieking out his agony, the doomed SBil- ver Dust staggered back against the stake. Let us return to the fortunes of True Bill and his companions. Finding they could not be of any assistance to pg er they sought safety for themselves in flight. With a horde of the red-skins upon their heels they plunged through the forest. Choosing their course where the growth was thickest, and soon gaining the bottom of the valley, they succeeded at last in eludin pe pursuers. When satisfied their foes had given up the chase, they cautiously returned to the old camp- ing-place. % This is rough and tumble,” declared Gil Rey. “TI reckon the varmints hev toted off Pail and Silver Dust with thet gal.” ‘* Jess so I opine. Shall we take the trail?” asked True Bill. “That am this ‘eoon’s vardict. What do ye say, Shelby Jack?” ‘I move we follow the savages and rescue our friends if possible.” on Them ig my sentiments. Lead the way, il. _“‘Let’s cache our things es the reds hev so kindly left them. They may change their minds ye know and kem back fer ’em.” Acting upon the mountaineer’s suggestion, the utensils were soon carefully hidden away, and the little party started on their perilous work. The direction of the Indian encampment was well known, and thus they were able to push on without hesitation. It was while thus hurrying on that they were admonished of danger by the sound of a horse approaching. Drawing back into the shade they soon saw the rider of the yellow mustang come into sight. “Tt must be Golden Hand) said Bill under his breath. “Yes,” answered Gil Rey. ‘‘ Will it do for us to make ourselves known?” Before the others could reply, however, the stranger paused and glancing quickly around finally fixed his eyes on their covert, say ing: “You need not fear me. I am friendly to the peaceful.” ding they were discovered, though through what agency they could not tell, the three cau- tiousty left their concealment. _ | clared ““T saw you some time ago,” said the horse- man. “ ou the men who had the fight with the Apaches?” ‘*T reckon we are a part o’’em. The rest o’ us, two boys and a gal, hev been tukin captives we fear by the varmints.” - girl did you say? Pray have you seen a lady riding a mustang near your camp?” “That war jess the one we meant. She kem to us chased a gang o’ smoky-skins. We pitched in to help her and got kerwalloped most awfully!” ‘* And she has been captured?” “Sure es shootin’ beaver by starlight!” “And two of your friends have been taken with her?” “Yes; Silver Dust and Paul Hayes, or Big Paws es we call him fer fun.” ““Then we must rescue them. Do you know where the Indians are camping now?” “‘T reckon. We was going there straight’ es a fall wind.” sec ) The noise of a party of horsemen approaching caused him to : In a moment the League in Black rode into “Dog my pony ef ye ain’t a sharp ’un,” de- Gil Rey. To their still greater surprise the watchers saw a woman’s form on the horse witb the lead- er. ‘Tis she!” cried the Golden Hand, and spur- ring his mustang forward he dashed into the path of the amazed ye ‘* Hold on!” thundered he, but unheeding his command the P| kept slowly ahead. ‘*Stop or I will shoot you!” cried Golden Hand. ‘“Oh, save me! save me!” implored the maiden as she saw the speaker. Still the strange cavalcade moved away, un- noticing the cries. Excited to frenzy the unknown raised his rifle to fire at the foremost, but the weapon hung fire! Plunging his steed forward the baffled marks- man dashed madly upon the nearest rider, and striking a furious blow with his knife, felled the masked man back upon the haunches of his horse. Before Golden Hand could repeat the stroke the whole cavalcade into a gallop and quickly disappeared. The excited rider of the yellow mustang followed. CHAPTER VII. SHOTS FOR A LIFE. ‘*Tt’s no use for us to foller,” said Gil Rey. ‘‘But ef that ain’t queer doin’s I don’t know a stump from a rattler!” “Wal, it am sum!” chimed in Bill. ._* Who in mercy’s name is that Golden Hand?’ exclaimed Shelby Jack. ‘*Dunno enny more’n I know who ’em ’tarnal coyotes in black are!” answered Gil. ‘They claim to be the spirits of the murdered owners of the Lost Mine.” ““Sho-o-o! Reckon I don’t savor much o’ sich creetur’s!” “This won't save our friends,” cried True Bill, and, heeding the words, they once more hurried ahead. It was not long before they came within hear- ing of the savages, as they carried on their wild carousal, ‘‘Thar they are!” exclaimed True Bill. * Now. ees, kems the tug 0’ war.” Moving by stealth through the timber, they slowly approached the Incian village. “They ar’ up to sum o’ their works or ’'m a p’izen snake!” gritted Gil Rey. Without wget Bill kept straight ahead, while Shelby Jack followed close behind the mountain yeteran. At last they reached the édge of the growth, and were in full sight of the red-men’s home. “Look!” hissed Bill, as the glare of the fire lit the surroundings with startling brilliancy, ‘‘ we are too late!” ‘* My teeth!” answered his companion, ‘ they are burnin’ ’em to the stake, or my name ain’t Gilman Reynolds?” “Yes; “tis Silver Dust!” exclaimed Jack. “See, there is Paul Hayes bound near at hand!”’ “We must save "em or go under!” exclaimed Bill, excitedly. “How?” asked Shelby Jack. “I fear we cannot rescue Dare, or couldn’t if we had a score to help us! See! he falls back against the pokes The poor fellow’s sufferings are almost over ‘* Boyees!” said Gil Rey, i ouslv, “I see Yht's wipe chance, and that 3s | like one In a Gomicbooks (E()