Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 131 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

mcr rr “You forget you have not a friend within miles. And there are none save us present who know where you are!” ‘Your boasts do not frighten me.” ‘Bah! I will find something that shall. You shall suffer for all your stubbornness! You need not think to bluff me.” “Sir, I have friends ef whom you little dream. Beware how you treat me, or this day’s work shall prove a dear one to you.” As she spoke the captive drew her regal form toits full hight and gazed with flashing eyes upon the trembling wretches standing around. With an oath the leader seized her rudely by the shoulder and hissed venomously: “T give you your last chance. mystery of the Lost Mine, or we will force the secret from you by the harshest treatment our i prvn§ can invent!” slight inclination of her shapely head was the only answer. “ Kill her!” cried a voice from the crowd, and the mob seemed about to spring upon her. Tell us the | Dustin Dare started in dismay. How could | he save her? His mind filled with a vague dread, he tried to devise some way to rescue , men!” commanded the desperado chief. ‘‘I will show you how to tame her. Bring me a rope.” Silver Dust came near betraying his presence with a groan. In an instant one of the horde brought for- ward a stout piece of cord. Seizing the maiden fiercely by the wrists, the leader began to fasten the thong around her thumbs! Dare could stand no more, but began to crawl cautiously forward. sabcad peeved Ba rect the nearest “ip ev unno , if possible, and, overpowering him get possession of his weapons and make a bold ght, hoping to escape with the prisoner by the aid of the darkness. He had barely moved, however, when he heard a slight noise behind him, and turned just as a smart blow was dealt upon his head. Before he could recover enough to offer any opposition, he was hurled upon the rocks and eey bound, then dragged into the center of the meee ‘**Oho!” cried the chief, with surprise, ‘‘ found him prowling in the passage to the rear? How in the world did he come there? Well, never mind, we will cook his venison as soon as we get through with the girl Perhaps her sufferings will sharpen his appetite. Up with her till I tell you to stop.” _ Quickly placing the ro ner of the ledge, a few feet above their heads, the chief’s willing followers slowly plied their strength to the line, till the captive was nearly lifted from her feet. “Steady where you are, boys. Well, Miss Impudence, are you ready to tell what you know of the Lost Mine?” Bearing her awful sufferings with remark- able fortitude, she answered firmly : ‘*T have nothing to tell.” ‘*Curses upon her!” yelled the brute. ‘‘ Draw her up, men, till she can’t touch the rock, and then she shall hang there until she is glad to =~ ‘ Her sufferings shall eath! over a jut on the cor- CHAPTER XII. TRAPPED. - TURNING in wonder, the spectators saw the Golden Hand riding away from them. ‘“* Whar in the world did he cum frum?’ some ' one asked, in amazement. nt ‘‘Jeems Bung-Gum! ef he didn’t riz out o’ the ound, may I be used for a wipin’-stick to my shooter!” exclaimed Rock, as he watched the rider of the yellow mustang. ‘‘T don’t reckon I foller,” declared a by- stander. “Let him go,” muttered The-Man-from- Texas; ‘“‘I hev got other meat to cook. Say, boys, whar’s the chaps as goes to Black Pocket valler with me? Thar’s a pile o’ fun up thar!” Notwithstanding Rock’s promise of ‘ fun,” no oue seemed inclined to accept. ‘‘Rocker Mountain catamount!” ejaculated Big Sandy, ‘“‘ef thar ain’t another goat hyar as dares to risk his gente up thar, here am the lion as goes every pop, Randel!” ‘‘Good!” declared Dandy Rock. “I reckon we two can do a heap.” ; ‘« And hyar’s a hand es’ll score his beat every time!” med a_ broad-shouldered miner, pushing his way through the excited crowd. ‘Giv us yer paw, old Texas.” be worse than | the risky o’ Shelby Jack. ee — oe The Golden Hand. As no more volunteered to go, Randel said: ‘““ It’s our lead—we three. hen are ye ready to start?’ ** Now,” answered both. “Thet's my hand. We must pi k up sum animals and git off as soon as possible.” An hour later the trio were riding away from Mad River City at a smart canter. ‘It’s the last we shall see on ’em!” affirmed one of the miners in the crowd, as the little cavalcade disa ey ‘*Rock’s getting reck- less; but I alli ate he won’t be so very long!” “Ts for ye to lead,” said Big Sandy, as they got fairly started on their way. ‘““Wal, byar’s the spot then. But I tell ye, Big Sandy and Pete Clark, we must keep our peepers wide open, fer this is the wussest ken- try lever put uff in!” An hour and a half’s sharp riding brought them within the range of the Lost Mine. They had slackened the pace of their horses somewhat, and were riding leisurely along, when they heard a party approaching them at a moderate gait. Reining up under the overhanging branches of a huge pine, they silently waited for the horseman to come in sight. They did not have to wait long, thceugh, for Rock soon conghs sight of three riders. As he saw them he moved uneasily, but ap- parently without fear. ** Jeems Sag !” he muttered, ‘‘ef it should be him!” and he started forward. The three discovered him, and paused in amazement. Then = she lasripnlh rato P ace cry, and spurred the anim ckly to the spot. ** Randel Rock!” b : ‘* Do my old eyes deceive me, or is that ye, True Bill: ‘“*Tt’s me every time, Rock; and I’m powerful glad ye ain’t gone under yit.” ‘**] reckon we are a pair o’ glad beavers! An’ hyar’s Gil Rey es true es I hail from old Texas!” When the first erecting had passed, Rock saw that his friends were in a sorry plight; and in answer to‘his questions was told of their adventures. ‘* Poor Silver Dust was all crushed to pieces by the ledge. We could see him under it jammed right into the hard earth. O’ course we had to leave the body. We barely escaped with our lives. Paul hes a broken arm and leg. Gil is a’most smashed to pieces; and I am awfully bruised and hey got a broken leg. *“We waited thar and hollered fer Jack; but he didn’t kem, so Gil hobbled out whar we had left him, and couldn’t find nary trace o’ him though he had left our hosses. ‘‘Takin’ ’em Gil got back to us and artera hard time o’ it he got us mounted, and hyar we are on our way fer the city, a lot o’ sorry chaps es ye ever see’d.” **D’ye think we had better go back with ye? or can ye go it alone?” “We are all right now. But, old beaver, ye had better keep away from thet place. Go back with us.” ** But Jack?’ ‘“‘'He’s got his pony and I reckon Shelby ’ll look out for hisself.” ‘“What do ye say, boys?” asked Rock, turn- ing to his companions. ‘I say, ef ’em chaps don’t need us, to go to Who knows but the reds hev gobbled him up?” answered Big Sandy. ‘I chip with ’em!” declared Pete Clark. ‘Ye sha’n’t say The-Man-from-Texas went back on a friend. I am with ye on Jack’s trail.” ‘* Look hyar, old ’coon,” cried True Bill, **ain’t I alwus stood by ’em es stood by me?” ‘*Every shoot, old pard ; true es a *possum shinnin’ a cottonwood!” ** Ain’t I hed sum long trails and alwus kem out straight?” ‘Ye hov; old beaver; and no side show!” affirmed Rock, while wondering what his friend was driving at. “ Wagh! I reckon a dog’s tail don’t wag fer nothin’! Now look hyar. Don’t ye go any nearer Black Pocket than ye are now!” “Ye are a slick one, old boy. I know ye hev hind sights on yer tongue, but this ’coon is half froze for ha’r! He smells fun in ther air! He won’t rest easy till he knows Jack is all square, so go on es best ye ken to Mad River. Look out for ’em burts o’ yourn, and be ready to hear sum tall yarns when this ’coon kems back. Dye hyar?”’ ‘Every chip! Giv’ us yer paw, and don’t fergit whatI hev sed. Ef yegit rubbed out, and this old man has life enough to shoulder his _ — ae eee eee yee he'll kiver yer grave with Apasb s ! EP “a the hand fer ye. Now git!” Without further delay the parties separated. The one to go safely on to the settlement below; and the other—well, let us see. Riding fearlessly forward, the three soon reached the valley, where they discovered the gigantic rock described by True Bill. i oe Rock gazed under one side that was partially lifted from the ground as it lay against the bluff that rose perpendicularly above. ‘My gracious!” he cried, “‘ Bill war right I can see a man’s form under thar, and o’ course it must be poor Silver Dust! Wal, he war a good boy, and I am powerful sorry. I—” A terrific noise sounded just above, fairly making the mountain-side tremble. ‘‘ Jeehoosafat! what was that?’ exclaimed Pete, in alarm. ‘Dunno, "less *twar an ’arthquake!” averred Bandy, quickly. “No ’arthquake "bout that!” affirmed Rock. “Hark a moment; we may hear it ag’in.” Though they listened for some time it was not nara heard. ‘‘T move we ride up a leetle furder and see ef we can’t find out what it war.” “Greed,” supplemented Clark. ‘*Boyees!” exclaimed The-Man-from-Texas, in a tragical tone, ‘‘thet kem from the Lost Mine!” ‘‘All the better, then,” answered the giant. ‘“‘T reckon this goat ain’t afeered o’ the critters as stop thar.” ‘* Nor me,” chimed in Pete again. Rock was fain to put on a bold face, nei to the truth, in his own thoughts he didn’t ‘‘savor much o’ stirrin’ u ks,” and joined his com ons as they rode forward. They had not gone far, however, before half a dozen men bounded from the growth and in- tercepted their course. used without a word, Sandy and Clark while exclaimed, in a startled tone: ‘Tis the Black Riders!” and he half-raised po ag. when the foremost of the leaguers cried: ‘“*Hold! Stand quiet and offer no resistance.” ‘* Not ef this coon knows it,” thundered The- Man-from-Texas, and quick as a flash he leveled his weapon at the er, and the sharp click of the lock instantly followed, but no report! His rifle had missed as those of the Golden Hand and Silver Dust had done when pointed at the masked men ! Nothing daunted, Rock repeated the attempt, fail — ‘“‘Aha!” laughed the leader of the others. “You can fool in that way as much as you to choose, but you are our e. You have done well to get him here, mond,” he continued, addressing Big Sandy. ‘‘ But, why didn’t you 4 give him acold hand, and save us the trouble?” **T’ve did the best I e’u’d; didn’t I, Pete?” “That ye hev, old pard,” answered Clark. ‘* Never mind. Do you surrender, Rock Ran- del, without any further resistance?” Rock was dumbfounded. He had been the victim of a shrewd scheme, but it was so unex- pected and sudden that for a moment he could only stare upon his confederates, and attempted no reply. CHAPTER XIII. A RACE UNDERGROUND. ONCE more the ruffian band applied their strength to the rope, and a wild, agonizing cry rent the air as the poor girl was lifted slowly upward, until her whole weight was suspended from her delicate thumbs! Meanwhile in Dare was not inactive. As every member of the fiendish horde was watching with satisfaction the inhuman treat- a rendered the maiden, he wrestled with his nD They had been hastily fastened, and he soon worked them loose. Joy! one hand was free. Tn an instant he had torn the other from the alling ligature; and before any one had turned om the scene in front he had cleared his feet. “Will you tell as the secret of the Golden Hand?” cried the monster. ‘Never! though you torture me with untold pain!” | “* Fire—!” Ere the d o could end his exclamation Dustin Dare bounded forward and dealt him a gles that oe bim to te —_ while he seized e despe o’s knife, en springing to the re ete side, cut the thongs that suspended her in ; (ECON MICE] OOO) “S (E(O)