Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 168 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

, _--—- ee would insist upon giving it the proper attention, no matter what the risk incurred by so doing, and the safety of his young companion was of infinitely more importance to him than his own comfort, or even life. So, saying nothing of the wound, though the pain as the shattered bones ground together with every motion, was exquisite, the tough old fellow loosened his belt a hole or two, poked his arm through it, then drew it tight again, thus pinning his arm firmly to his side. Sweeping around as intended, after scattering the enemy. Deadly, Dash led his men at a swift trot until Seth Hovey and companions were overtaken, then resigned his temporary com- mand, falling back alongside his old friend. It was fortunate for the secret which the lat- ter was determined to keep, if it lay within the limits of human endurance, until the Retreat was reached, that Deadly Dash did not feel in the humor for conversation. The pain pro- duced by the grinding of the shattered bones was so great that he must have betrayed him- self were he forced to speak. As it was, the blood was flowing freely from the wound, thanks to the motion of the horse he bestrode, despite the handkerchief which he bad contrived to bind tightly around it, and as they ut mile after mile behind them, this loss of ose began to tell even upon his iron frame. He felt that he was growing preceptibly weak- er, turning faint and sick at the stomach from this and the intense pain. But he made no sign, gave no moan, until they reached the point where the creek was to be crossed. And then, but for the keen eyes of Deadly Dash, he would have lain as he sunk, upon the neck of his borse. Alarmed, Deadly Dash grasped at him, and felt that one side of his friend was literally satu- rated with blood. He instantly gave the alarm, and though Old Mythology, rousing himself as he heard the words, feebly declared that he was good for a ride of a thousand miles further, a halt was called, he was lifted from the saddle and gently deposited under a tree. ortunately there was one among the out- law band who had been a surgeon in good prac- tice before liquor degraded hu to the level he now occupied, and Seth Hovey bade him do the best he could for the wounded man. It was Old Mythology himsclf that urged Hovey to push on for the Retreat at full speed, lest the enemy should get ahead of and ambush them. There was sound sense in this observation, and all rode on save the surgeon, Joshua Bedell, two outiaws and the two friends. Though there might be danger in it, a fire was clearly a necessity before the wound could be properly attended to, and moving some dis- tance from the road, one was kindled in a se- cluded snot. Not a little to his gratification, since he was unprovided with instruments, the surgeon found that the bullet had passed entirely through the arm, and after being cleansed, there was noth- ing to do but bandage and put the broken metn- ter in. splints, until it could receive more careful treatment when the cave was reached. Still, this consumed more time than any, un- less it was the patient, realized; time that was far more precious than gold. For, just as the surgeon was putting the final touches to his work, with a complacency truly professional, the sharp crackling of a decayed stick came to their ears, causing them one and all to glance in tiat direction, intuitively feel- ing that there was trouble brewing of some sort. And a moment later these suspicions were fully verified, in a manner that was truly ap- palling! CHAPTER XI. WHAT AN EVIL MAN CAN DO. DEADLY Das# was quite right in concluding that Edwin Harcourt was endowed by nature with an uncommonly hard head, for in fact he was upon bis feet and looking out of the ruined window, a witness of the daring manner in which two of his enemies rescued other two out of the clutch of the settlers. Aud he saw their further retreat until the black shadows swal- lowed them up. A bitter curse broke from his lips, and that sound attracted the attention of the men who were gathered around the luckless wretch whom the powerful arms of Old Mythology had flung headlong through the window. The red glow from the crumbling buildings shone upon his face with sufficient strength for it to be instantly recognized, despite the blood which trickled over it from a scalp wound Deadly Dash. among his gray hairs, and one of their number called out in a rather uncertain tone of consola- tion: ‘* We've got one of ’em safe aig Oe anyhow —the one you knocked endlong through the window!” ‘Ye blind fools!” snarled Harcourt, fairly gnashing his teeth, so intense was his rage and disappointment. ‘‘ That is my son Horace. If you have done him any injury, by the hand that made me! I’ll hang every mother’s son of re!’ This outburst gave the men their first suspi- cion of the truth—that they had been expend- ing their blows upon a friend instead of an enemy—and before Edwin Harcourt could make his way out of the building, they had made the discovery and fled in hot haste. ———- ' ' So Edwin Harcourt found the body of his son | wholly deserted when he reached the spot, the bruised and battered face upturned in the red light, looking horrible enough. The first glance told him all, yet he knelt be- | side what had once been his son, and onl y ceased his unavailing efforts to detect some lingering trace of life, when the clear blast of the horn sounded by Deadly Dash told him that the stir- ring events of that night were not yet over. Then came the longing for revenge, and warned of the necessity for haste by the re- peated blasts of the horn, Edwin Harcourt only paused to drag the corpse of his son under a rosebush, where it would escape casual observa- tion, then entered the house, secured his weapons and set off to rally the villagers. He could effect little until after that headlong charge down and up the street by the reckless outlaws, for the villagers were too thoroughly alarmed for his undeniably great influence over them to make itself felt at once, but during the lull that followed, his efforts were better re- warded. Naturally the villagers had fled toward the lower end of their town, since there the shadows were deepest, affording them a better chance of eluding the enemy, and it was there that Edwin Harcourt put forth his greatest endeavors, while precious time was being lost by the enemy in vainly searching the house, under guidance of Deadly Dash. He told those whom he had collected together, that the odds were all on their side, if they only chose to think so. “The entire band does not number above twenty,” he cried, earnestly. ‘‘ Black Dan Boller told. me so, Then why do you let them scatter you, like a flock of timid sheep, when there are nearly fifty good, stout men and hon- est, within the sound of my voice? Bah! you can crush them at a single blow, if you only think so!” Much more to the same purport be seid, and one by one the village flocked around bro. Their courage and confidence, too, were rally- ing in a like ratio, and had the final charge led by Deadly Dash and Old Mythology been de- layed for a few minutes longer, the result would ore 3 have been more disastrous, and the | ccurt and him self. yand have encountered a more Vigorous | outlaw defense. As it was, the settlers scattered even while delivering their first and only volley, and with them went Edwin Harcourt. | a — ——————_—_—_ ; ' i ' were to follow the main road until at the ee gee a |e — vous before the enemy, for while we can ride direct thither, they are obliged to conceal their trail by following the winding bed of the creek and taking many other precautions that will consume much time. Thus we can get ahead of them, and placing ourselves in ambush, kill or capture the entire gang without giving them the chance to fire a single shot ere all is over,” and half an hour after that last charge, full a score anda half of well armed men were in the saddle, ready for the adventure. Edwin Harcourt led them out of town at a rapid trot, Tom Mason riding at bis side and acting as general adviser. By his advice they 0int where the creek was first struck, then take a bee-line for the hills in which the cave was situated. And it was his prudence that sent him, as scout, ahead of the party, on foot, when they neared the stream, lest the outlaws, sus- p.cting pursuit, should have laid an ambush at or near the crossing. His keen eye, unimpaired by his wound, and trained by many an encounter of skill with the wily red-skins during bis long career as trapper, quickly discovered a small fire kindled in a secluded spot, and stealing forward he took in the peculiar scene at a glance, then retreated as silently and hastened to report to Harcourt, “°Tain’t no trap or ambuscade,” he said, ositively, ‘or they wouldn’t hev started a fire. Whey’s only six, an’ one o’ them is wounded. ‘They’re a-dressin’ of bis arm.” “Who are they? Any one of importance among them?” “The cripple is the big gray feller that rid off with Josh Bedell, jest when we thought the rope was sure 0’ bim. Then the young feller that kep’ him comp’ny is thar. So is Josh Bedell himself—” A fierce snarl of exultation came from the parted ae of Edwin Harcourt at this informa- tion, and he started forward a pace as though about to rush single-handed upon his enemies, but Mason checked him. ; ‘*They ain’t no sech hurry, an’ ye may lose some on ’em onless you take it cool an’ easy. They’ve got a nasty hurt to do up—broken bones, I reckon—an’ it’ll take time.” By a violent effort Harcourt subdued his strong emotions, and became once more the ccol, clear-headed man of business. ‘* We must kill or capture them all, but there must be no mistakes,” he said, his manner in startling contrast to the excitement that he had so recently exhibited. ‘‘Joshua Bedell, the wounded man and the young fellow who calls himself Deadly Dash, are one and all murderers, Lut they must not be injured, if we can possibly take them alive. Asfor the others, they deserve death, and you will shoot them down without mercy. ‘*Remember, now, the three men whom I have named, must be captured, not shot; for the rope is their just portion.” A general assent was given, and a Cozen men were selected by Tom Mason, including Har Tom led the way, and in o few moments they were within sight of the tell- tale fire, where the surgeon was just putting the finishing touches to bis work. Stealthily they crept forward upon their un- suspecting prey and succeeded in gaining a It was his hand that discharged the bullet | position from whence they could command cach which crippled Old Mythology, but which had cre of the party with full certainty, before been intended for the heart of Deadly Dash, | 1 aking a sound that hinted of their presence, whom the old man quickly recognized. The outlaws had scarce! court was once more rallying his fellow towns. men, more determined than before to carry the war into the enemy’s country. “Tt is either they or us,” he cried, earnestly. ‘* One party or the other must perish. And un- less we turn upon them before long, we will have nothing left to fight for but our bare lives. ‘They have shown us a specimen of their work to-night. They have shot down our men and burned our houses. They have caused the death of my son—he lies murdered yonder in m door-yard. And if we meekly sit down beneat this sore infliction, before another week passes, there will not be a single family in our town but what will be called upon to mourn as | am mourning! ‘We must kill or be killed. There is no mid- dle course, Then look to your weapons and place yourselves under my guidance. I promise you both revenge and success. ‘*T could lead you direct to the cave where the assassins hide from justice. I can tell you their secret signals and passwords, for I learned them all from Black Dan Boller on promising to use my influence in saving him from the gallows. passed before Har- | Then a dried branch snapped under the pres- eure of Edwin Hsrcourt’s knee, as he sought thus to render his aim more certain, and as the eyes of the outlaws turned instinctively in that direction, Harcourt cried cut: ‘* Fire! death to the outlawed assassins!” And as though forgetful of his particuler charge to bis men, the villain with a steady aim, sent the contents of his shot-gun directly to the heart of Joshua Bedell! - CHAPTER XIL DEADLY DASH PLAYS A LONE HAND. Wiru only that brief warning—that one su-- picious sound as of a dried stick snapping be- neath the tread of an approaching enemy—then came the cruel voice, drowned by the united ex- losion of a dozen rifles or shotguns. And then eadly Dash found himself the only living per- son standing erect and unharmed beside that fatal fire! : Eager to make sure of their prey, the man hunters, as soon as their deadly volley was fired, rushed forward with loud shouts, to seize upon and overpower the survivors who were doomed to the rope, before they could recover from the terrible surprise sufficiently to make . a) ¢* “If we are prompt, we can reach the rendez- | any troublesome resistance. corm IOOVRKS . COM a