Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 131 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

| | ee ee —_ ~ —— —— Rolling over and over on the ground with its victim in its clutch, the brute at last came upon the top, when with a certain blow the unknown buried his weapon in its side. As the monster released his hold, the rescuer quickly dragged the miner away to a safe dis- tance, While the cougar spent its strength in its i dying struggles, Gil and Paul turned to their companion. Shelby Jack, though bruised and sore, had suffered no serious wound. ‘‘ Whar am Bill and Silver Dust?’ asked Gil Reynolds. “They were trying to run away from the savages when I fell down that cliff,” replied the young Texan. ‘From the sound of the Indians, I think the have cornered them,” cried Golden Han ‘Quick, if you would save them!” ohn Racy, or Shelby Jack, as his ‘‘ chums” called him, mounted one of the spare horses, and away darted the four. Just as True Bill and Dare found themselves surrounded by the Apaches, and felt that their last hope was gone, the shouts of their friends rung on the air. ‘*Hooray!+thar’s help fer us!” cried Bill, excitedly, and with Dare sprung from the water. Swinging his rifle over his head rather than discharging it, the Golden Hand dashed imto the midst of the savages. Close behind swept the others. Amazed by the sudden attack, the red-skins paused. | Then they shrieked: ‘*Golden Hand! Golden Hand!” and before a blow could be struck, fled in apparent terror. “Ho! that ye, Bill?” exclaimed Gil. ‘“T reckon. An’ may I be smoked ef we ain't hyar allalive an’ kickin’. Wal, that cooks me! “You are all right if you leave at once. You remember your promise?’ said the Golden Hand to Gil Rey. ‘Every time. Kem, Bill, I promised this old ’coon in gold that we would git out 0’ Black Pocket valler quicker’n a streak o’ buckshot a flyin’ down a cottonwood if he’d only help git ye and Dust out o’ yer scrape. He’s done his part es true es gospil, and we must keep ours.” ‘*Hev ye seen ennything o’ Rock?” ‘‘Nary a spot.” ‘‘Gil Reynolds, I don’t leave the kentry till Rock is found, ef he is living: or ef he is rubbed out, till my old shooter is kivered with skulps oO’ the smoky-skinned coyotes es turned up his toes! CHAPTER IX. THE PHANTOM HORSE. Git Rey started in surprise. The Golden Hand looked amazed. ‘‘But this is a ’tarnal bad ken sooner we git the better, True Wi clared the mountaineer. “fT know it, Gil; but Ihev tramped too long , and the )” de- with Rock Randel to go back on him now. ‘Sides it’s ag’in’ my nature Paar a a “Thet’s ye, every time, old ‘coon 6 ain been called True ‘Bill these thirty years fer nothing. I’m sorry_I promised the old gold- mounted Sag what I did, but I thought it war fer ther best. , “Ye ce’ on the square, old beaver, and ye and Big Paws can keep to yer bargain and go back to x city, while the rest o’ us will take Rock’s trail. a: a os but I spose I must; so good luck to ve. old chaps. “* Have you: Souci nothing of Rock Randel yet sho me eee oe. ‘ ‘Nary a spot, old ‘coon. “Don't you believe he has gone back to the settlement?’ **It wouldn’t be like him,” answered Silver Dust. ‘T think he is either dead or gone back to Mad River. In either case you cannot help him Ly neriling your lives here.” “* Very true. But we do not know what you we are anxious to relieve the uncer- Bay, an . I, for one, do not believe he tainty of his fate. has left the valley,” ‘‘ Well, as you are so determined to stay, I will give you leave to remain here and continue vour search for bim one day, though I risk my own life im doing it. You are at liberty to go where you will until to-morrow at sunset. If you are not out of the valley then J will not promise you a moment's life. Remember, no on’ will be allowea to spend another night in Linck Pocket hollow!” | The Golden Hand. “Sho!” ejaculated Gil oats “By what right, Sir Golden Hand, do you try to dictate terms with us?’ asked Dustin Dare, boldly. Starting up his yellow mustang nervously, he replied: “ By the best right in the world. Enough for you to know that [ am determined in what I say, and that I give it for your good. Look out for the Indians while you are here, and ro as I have requested and all will be well. Fail to do it and your doom is sealed!” While speaking he turned his animal, and had scarcely uttered the last word when he dashed away. “Strange!” muttered Shelby Jack; ‘‘ but we must discover more of him.” ‘‘ Look hyar,” exclaimed True Bill, “’twon’t do fer us to stand hyur like scart turkeys. Ef thar warn’t enny chance o’ the reds gobblin’ us up, we oughter to be at work.” ‘* You are right, Bill; and as you are leader, give us your plans.” “Thet’s bizness. In the fust place, let’s git ’way from hyar afore the varmants corral us. Ef thet Golden Hand hadn’t scart ’em like blazes they’d ’a’ had our skulps afore this. Wagh!” As there were but four animals, Silver Dust was forced to mount behind Williams. {In a few momertts they were riding once more for the valley. Shelby Jack had recovered his rifle after his fall into the panther’s den, and thus all were armed buf Dare. However, Bill’s der was all wet, and when they divided the little Gil Rey and Jack had they had only a few rounds apiece. But Dustin was given a revolver by ayes, and they were not disconcerted. The yells of the baffled savages were occasion- ally heard in the far distance: ‘Let ’em ky-vi ef they want to,” said Big Paws. “Guess they won’t ketch us so easy ag’in. ‘Yes. But what can be the object of that Golden Hand—” * Hist!” interrupted Jack; ‘“‘he is comin’ back.” A horseman was surely heard, and waiting in on for him to appear, the sounds suddenly ceased. ~ Queer, but I heard hoof-strokes es true es I live,” affirmed Shelby Jack. The others chorused an affirmative. Somewhat puzzled, they resumed their course with more caution. They had not gone far, however, when again the same sounds were ‘heard. Once more they gazed anxiously around and finally drew rein as the rider seemed to ap- proach near to them. Still as before the noise died away and silence ominous and oppressive followed. ‘* Beats me holler!” ejaculated True Bill. ‘* But we must keep on.” Their progress was then uninterrupted for some time, and they were nearing the valley when for the third time they were brought to a standstill by the apparent approach of ‘a horseman. “Tf he don’t show hisself this time I am go- in’ to scout round a leetle,” averred True Wil- liams. , ‘““Thet’s the talk, old ’coon,” said Gil Rey; but I reckon the creetur’ is goin’ to poke into sight. Hark! he is clus to thet cedar!’ e sounds indeed seemed near at hand, but before any ‘object came into view the hoof- strokes stopped. The miners looked from one to another in sur- prise. “Come, Gil, let’s hunt that animal out if it is ssible. The rest o’ ye keep quiet unless ye ear us call to ye, then kem like time.” Leaving their horses in the charge of the ethers, the two immediately hurried into the thicket ahead with cautious steps. Advancing directly to the cedar spoken of they could find no trace of any horse or rider. Not at all daunted they pressed still further on, and yet were unsuccessful. ~ Then the miners began to show their trepida- on, ‘*Blame me if I don’t believe the valler is haunted!” exclaimed Bill, under his breath. — ‘*Them’s my idee,” declared his companion. ‘‘ Howsumever, I reckon we'd better make the circuit o’ the boys afore we return.” After making the complete circle and joinin the others they had learned nothing to quie their misapprehensions, ‘‘] will tell you, boys,” said Shelby Jack, lowering his voice to a whisper. “It is that spirit rider. Golden Hand, following us!” —— -- ——— ; = = ’ a - = = ee ee SEES — — —_ — 7 Never before had his friends seen the stout- hearted Texan so nervous, and his fears made them tremble like aspens. Silver Dust alone was self-possessed. Not at all superstitious he scouted the idea of John Racy’s, and no ee that they move on. ith outspoken misgivings this last was con- — to, and again they were riding slowly ong. Strange as it seemed to them they had scarce- ly started when once more the hoof-strokes were plainly distinguished from those made by their own animals. ‘“‘Let’s go faster,” cried True Bill, and spur- a their horses into a gallop they sped away. ith the increase of their speed, their ponies thus making more noise with their feet, the sounds were not heard, until they finally drew rein. Then they heard them distinct enough. ‘“**'Tain’t any use!” declared Paul Hayes; ‘“‘it’s a ghost a-follerin’ us and we might as well eines tee a give up.” * Let’s once more to discover what it is,” suggested Silver Dust. ‘‘Are you ready to make a reconnoissance with me, Paul?” Expressing his willingness the big miner joined Dare, and as Bill and Gil Rey had done they made the entire circuit of the place with- out finding aught of the mysterious being, who had now thoroughly aroused their alarm. ““Which way now?’ asked Shelby Jack. It was light enough to see the surroundin country quite plainly, and Dustin Dare poin toward the mountain-side, saying: ‘* Let’s ride to the base and wait for daylight, when we must look for the lost trail of Rock.” Silently agreeing, the others followed him. Just as they were nearing the designated place acouple of men sprung trom the ground and rushed up the ascent. It took but a glance for our miners to see that they were a part of the League in Black! Watching them as they ran along the side of the mountain the impetuous Silver Dust ex- claimed: ‘* Let’s follow them. We may find aclew to Rock’s whereabouts!” Nothing loth his companions quickly con- sented. Leaving Shelby Jack to stand guard over the animals, the others started at once in pursuit of the masked leaguers on foot, for it was too broken to follow with a horse. Their course soon led them well up the moun- tain; and while hurrying swiftly along the brink of a precipitous descent, they came upon the clear white surface of what seemed the part of a huge Jedge. When midway upon this they were startled by a terrific crash, and felt the stone rushing from beneath them. Throwing out his arms wildly, Dustin Dare was fortunate ei to grasp the limb of an overhanging tree; but his companions, with cries of horror, were hurled down the precipice, and the enormous rock went crashing down upon em. In a moment it was all over, and as Silver Dust glanced downward he saw a deep, dark abyss yawning below! He shouted to his companions, but no answer came, They had been crushed to death by the fall- ing stone! e dared not loose his hold on the tree-branch and tried to draw himself upward, when it snapped and he dropped rapidly downward! 4 CHAPTER X. DANDY ROCK’S MARK. ‘* WHoorp—whoop-ee! I’m the roaring lion o’ ther Rockers! the hard-pan o’ ther Gila! Whar’s the goat es shins up to ther boss ay. 0’ the South-wes’? Jess show him to me. ck bim out ck!” and the burly speaker, whose wild and antics had collected quite a crowd in front of thé leading ‘‘shebang” of Mad River ‘City "—the ‘‘ Miner’s Home”— danced to and fro in frantic excitement. “Whar am he? They sed he war hyar, and I hev kem all the way frum Lone Pine to spot him! Jess trot him out!” and the giant removed his broad sombrero to — away the great oe of perspiration that had gathered on his row. The lookers-on watched him in silence. Some seemed awed by his braggartism; while others upon him in wonder. ** Who is he?” one at Jast ventured to ask. ‘* Dunno, ‘less he is Big Sandy, the bully o’ the lower lead,” answered another. **Who am I?’ snorted the stranger, catching ‘ the words. ‘‘ Ain’t [ tole ye? I’m the Gila comicbooks