Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 168 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

a er - i Deadly Dash. 13 But in this they counted without their host, Two of the enemies were alive, the oldest and oungest of the party, and both were men who Ee: yw not the meaning of personal fear. he instant that the enemy showed them- selyes, Old Mythology, who lay, his back ap parted against a tree-trunk, and Deadly Das who stood erect in the full glow of the small fire, opened fire upon them with their revolvers. Sudden and terrible as the ambuscade had been, it had not affected the nerves of those two dauntiless spirits, for swift as were their mo- tions, shot following shot in rapid succession, each bullet was billeted and went straight home to its mark. The surprisers were surprised now, and their charge was checked momentarily. That brief ot ager 4 space gave Old Mythol- time to realize what had occurred, and the fact that his young master was still upon his feet, to all appearance unharmed. The rare strength of his affection was made manifest then. “Make a break fer it, lad!” he whispered hoarsely. ‘‘ Be lively an’ you kip git away onder kiver o’ the darkness. Make haste to the cave, an’ fetch back help—go—quick!” The last words were added witha cunning that was almost pathetic, for none could know better than the speaker that long before such a race could be made, he would be far beyond human aid. But he also knew thet no purely rsonal consideration would induce Deadly h to abandon his side in that crisis of peril. The enemy recoiled, but it was only for a mo- ment. ** Rush in and take them alive if you can—if not, kill them!” shouted a fierce voice which Deadly Dash had no difficulty in recognizing as that of Edwin Harcourt. It was this rather than the cunning appeal of his old friend that influenced the youth. He tried to catch a glimpse of the speaker, but at that moment a bush intervened, and he failed. Then, despite the command, several shots were hastily discharged by the enemy, one grazing the temple of the young man, while others cut his garments, but as if he bore a charmed life, blood was not drawn nor skin broken, as he made a swift, cat-like leap and passed beyond the limited circle of light. Old Mythology believed Deadly Dash was ac- ting on his advice, and holding his own life as of no value in comparison, he did all he could to insure the supposed fugitive a fair start. As the enemy broke cover, he raised his re- volver and sent a bullet through the breast of the foremost man, and would have added an- other victim to the price demanded for his life, bad not Tom Mason swiftly swung around his rifle and shattered its stock over the dauntless fellow’s head, doubling him over sideways, ap- parently dead. But Deadly Dash had not taken to flight. He only sought to more nearly way the odds by taking advantage of the darkness, and he saw the stroke that ended the stabborn resistance of Did Mythology. Quick as thought his revolver was leveled, but was a moment too late to check the blow, gnd his bullet, striking a stout twig in its course, was diverted from its aim, whistling harmless- 2y past the pe ge ear. “Scatter and surround him!” howled rather than shouted Edwin Harcourt, then he uttered a low cry that he knew would bring on the re- mainder of his men, and listened eagerly. Deadly Dash heard all, asrecorded above. Hoe fully realized his peril, and knew that little short of a miracle could carry him safely through. Bringing all his skill into play, he lay flat up- on his stomach and crawled along like a human serpent, not in retreat, but seeking to gain a view of his enemy, Edwin Harcourt. In a few moments he made out the posi- tion of Edwin Harcourt, when the latter, as the horsemen came up, called out his order, bid- ding them dismount and form a wide circle around the fire, then a mc pe contract their lines, beating every b and covert until their game was found. The plan was one that seemed to promise al- most certain ‘success, but Deadly Dash was nothing daunted; he knew that he could have his revenge, long ere the cordon was drawn closely about him. Foot by foot, yard by yard he crept around, not the faintest noise or rustle betraying his pro- gress, until finally he gained a point from whence he could obtain a clear view of his bitter ere against the faint glow of the & . Steadily his revolver was raised until the Sights drew full upon the head vf Edwin Har- court, who was kneeling at the foot of a tree, his gun tightly grasped ready for use when the game should break cover. His right elbow be- came clearly defined against the fire-light, Dead- ly Dash quickly shifted his aim and fired, crying out: ‘* Limb by limb—a thousand deaths in one!” A wild yell of bitter agony burst from the wounded man, and was answered by a general rush on the part of the enemy toward the spot. But Deadly Dash was prepared for this, and striking down Tom Mason, who cbanced to be the man nearest him, leavin oapen upon one of the horses, and sped away. or nearly a mile he rode at full speed, then, knowing that he was followed, he alighted, struck his confiscated horse a fierce blow that sent it at a mad gallop along the road, then plunged into the woods. that has been detailed here with great rapidity, not more than ten minutes elaps- ing between the first and last shot around that fatal fire, and so *: came to pass that Deadly Dash, having shaken off his pursuers, was far on his way to the cave when he beard sounds that told him the outlaws were to the rescue, In fact, the band had nearly reached the cave when they heard the sounds of that deadly volley, and Seth Hovey, divining the truth, only paused to send Sally Bedell on in charge of two trusty men, then turned, and took the back trail. Deadly Dash intercepted them, and quickly made known the terrible truth. The tidings were received with fierce curses of rage, and the men demanded to be led upon the enemy, that they might avenge their comrades. Deadly Dash pushed ahead on foot, to guard against their running into an ambush, or of giv- ing the alarm prematurely. With Edwin Harcourt wounded and Tom Mason dead, the settlers had no one to take com- mand in whom they could place full confidence, and so had beaten a retreat, but not without leaving their work behind them. A piercing cry from their scout called the outlaws on, and as they rode up to the dying fire, they looked upon a blood-curdling sight. Four blood-stained bodies hung dangling from the branches above, and beside them the sever- ed end of a fifth rope. Beneath this lay Old Mythology, with Deadly Dash pouring forth a fearful vow of vengeance upon the destroyers. Before leaving, the settlers had hung both their dead and living enemies! CHAPTER XITL ““NO QUARTER!” AT their approach, Deadly Dash arose, his face pale as that of a corpse, but with a fire in his ca eyes such as no man ever beheld there be- ore, He stood quietly aside while the other bodies were being cut down. but then, as though actu- ated by a sudden thought, he nimbly climbed up the tree and unfastened the rope which had been used to suspend Old Mythology by the neck, This he coiled methodically around the horn of his saddle. The hot rage of the outlaws did not easily cool. The brutal outrage—for it was plain that the majorly of the victims had been butchered before being hanged—was regarded as a taunt- ing challenge which they were eager to accept, regardless of the odds being against them. ‘They are right,” cried Deadly Dash, his voice sounding strangely cold and hard, coming so soon after the terribly strong burst of emotion which the body of his old friend had drawn forth. ‘‘Eye for eye, tooth for tooth! The struggle has begun, and can only end in the ut- ter extermination of one side or the other. If we bow meekly under this bitter blow, they will be encouraged to deal us another and another. ‘Let us charge in and pay them back in their own coin. Let us burn every building in the place. We can do it.” A guarded but hearty cheer eted these words, Deadly Dash saw that his words had taken effect, and knew that he would have stout aid in avenging the death of his old friend, but the reflection only served to render his brain clearer, and he addressed the company briefly: ‘To two persons, even more than the men whose hands applied these ropes, we owe the murder of our friends, and those are Black Dan ler and Edwin Harcourt. The first may have escaped us, since we failed to find him when we searched Harcourt’s house, but the other and greater criminal, we can easily put our hands on. ‘He is badly wounded. I puta bullet through | | his knife sheathed | have sworn bY in the trapper’s heart, he broke through the line, | ents—for mur | | | a his right elbow. I could haveslain him, but he had wronged me and mine too deepiy for such a merciful death. ‘* He was the head oneof the gang. Nodoubt his fall discouraged them, and his wound would afford a good excuse for a retreat to the village, where his arm could be attended to. ‘They will not dream of our daring to make another attack this night. We may find them on guard, though, and for this reason we must take certain precautions. “‘Edwin Harcourt must be taken prisoner. I y the grave of my murdered par- ered they were, and their death » lies at his door!—that I will hang him by the same rope he hung my old friend, In order to keep this oath, I must make sure of him before the general alarm is raised.” ‘* That will not be difficult, if we are prudent,” said Seth Hovey. ‘‘ Naturally they will look for us, if at all, Scie this side of the village, but we can make a circuit and approach by the south side. “You and I, with one or two more, © can steal ahead, and see if Harcourt is at his own house. If yes, we can make a dash, sur- round the building, take him prisoner, then burn down the cursed town!” This was the general plan finally agreed to, though, of course, subject to certain modifica- tions according to circumstances. The dead were first to be disposed of for the time being. It was now quite midnight, and time was precious. For that reason they could not take them on to the Retreat. ** They ain’t much resk o’ the hogs findin’ ’em afore we git back, an’ them’s the only crit'ers plenty enough fer us to be afeard of,” said our grizzled veteran, bluntly. ‘‘ Leave ’em in the bushes yender, an’ le’s git down to business!” No better plan could be devised, under the circumstances, and the five bodies were ranged side by side under cover, and a blanket spread above them. This was kept in place by a small quantity of brush, and then, with hearts that were on fire with a fierce lust for vengeance, the party took up the route with no quarter for their watchword, Deadly Dash was mounted now, one of the outlaws, a good scout and woodsman, being dis- mounted to eve him place, and sent on in ad- vance to make sure the way was open. Before they drew dangerously near the vil- lage, the guide led them by another road around so they could enter the place from the south, as less liable to discovery from that quarter. The night was dark, but they could see from the lights in nearly every house that the vil- lagers had been too greatly excited and alarmed to readily cc ote themselves to sleep. ‘“*So much the better,” uttered Deadly Dash, with a short, hard Jaugh. ‘‘If we should be seen as we enter town on foot, we will be taken for some of the townsmen, keeping our anxious Vigils.” The horsemen were halted, and Seth Hovey briefly gave them their instructions. They were to patiently await the signal, tha the majority of them were to charge througt the streets, shooting any and all who gotin theig way or attempted to interfere with the others, who were to use the blazing brands furnished in abundance by the glowing ruins, to set other buildings afire. They were to make a clean sweep. The village was to be obliterated. This understood, he, with Deadly Dash and two trusty men, stole forward in single file, and soon reached the fence which surrounded the Harcourt mansion, All was utter silence around the place. The lower story of the building was in darkness, and above, light streamed forth from only one win- dow in the south side of the house, ‘No doubt our bird is up there,” muttered Hovey, in a guarded tone of voice. ‘‘ We can take a look around, and if there is not a guard stationed here, we can burst in the door, rush up- stairs, and make him prisoner before help can come.” ‘* Look for the guard, first,” was all that Dead- ly Dash replied. The glowing light had given bim an idea, ) vided it could be put into execution, and gliding eon Sp that side of the house, he nimbly clim up a broad-spreading white elm tree, that grew opposite the window. From among the branches of this tree, he be- lieved he could look in at the open window and find out who were inmates of the chamber. Though he felt tolerably confident that he would see Edwin Harcourt there, there was just a pPos- sibility of his having stopped elsewhere—per- haps at the house of a doctor or surgeon. where his wound could be more speedily attendee to. (G| OX exo) <eom cS (E(e)