Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 184 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

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Theold fellow has a whole gold mine hidden away somewhere, and once let us gef that dainty girl fairly in our hands, and he will come down heavy with the ranson money.” Ham Toplong made no reply, but there was a peculiar glitter in his wolfish eyes that told his brain was not idle. Weeninx did not notice this, and even if he had, it would have caused him little uneasiness. His word was law to Toplong. Whatever he said was right. reed of gold was not the only sentiment that occupied the thoughts of Dirk Weeninx. His animal passions were strong, and they grew un- controllable when he first set eyes upon Neta- waka, the Wolf Queen. He swore then that she should be his, and promptly insulted the amazon by paking ber to become his squaw. Nothing daunted by the rebuff she gave him, he tried bolder measures, only to fail, as has already been shown. Each failure only made him the more determined to succeed, though he finally concluded to make sure of Sibyl and the ran- som money first. By cautious scouting and spying, he learned where Sibyl was lodged, and on this night he and his comrade in evil, Ham Toplong, on their uired horses, rode as near the village as they deemed prudent, then dismounted, se- cured their animals and stole forward through the darkness on foot. Long practice had made them almost perfect as scouts and spies. Not the faintest sound be- trayed their passage over the frozen ground and they drew near to the lodge which they had any suspicion. Dirk Weeninx was in the lead, and he sud- denly paused, flattening his form close to the ound. The door of the lodge opened and a tall form emerged, the red light from within falling for a moment upon his handsome form and face. Both of theMountain Vultures recognized him, with a look and muttered curse of hate. It was the young chief, Shooting Star. Waiting until his tall form vanished in the darkness, the outlaws crept silently around the lodge, though still at a goodly distance, mean- a, approach it from the rear. ere another surprise awaited them. They saw a human shape crawling into the lodge, through a hole cut in the skins, “Ten to one it’s that cursed boy!” grated Dirk Weeninx, his eves flashing venomously. ‘* He’s trying to steal away the girl! If it is— durned if Tt don’t send a bullet through his brain, even if we have to run for it!” His blood on fire with hate and the lust of re- venge, he crawled toward the lodge, placing his olf ueen seated herself beside the sobbing mai- nh. The Mountain Vulture’s surprise was only equaled by his joy as he recognized the forest amazon. Only by gripping his throat firmly with one hand while the other was pressed over his lips, could he smother the cry of grim de- tent that would surely have betrayed him else. At a glance he recognized his advantage. The stealthy manner in which Netawaka had gained admission to the lodge plainly showed that she desired her visit to remain unsuspected by all save the maiden. Naturally she would make her retreat in the same manner when she had accomplished the object of her call. And if so, Dirk Weeninx was resolved to take her captive, even if by so doing he must abandon his former purpose, Eagerly he listened to their words, and when he learned the reason why Netawaka had taken such a course, he drew back and told Toplong what he had determined upon. A little to his _ surprise, that worthy did not raise a single ob- jection, only saying: “We kin take her, then come back for the other one.” cert I ee The Boy Trailers. Removing the heavy blanket from bis shoul- ders, and motioning Toplong to imitate his ex- ample, Weeninx crouched close against the lodge and waited for toe Wolf Queen to come forth. Fortune seemed to favor them at every point. They heard Netawaka declare that she wouid assist Sibyl to escape, and add that she would venture forth in advance to make sure that the coast was clear and no persons prowling incon- veniently near. The moment she was fairly clear of the lodge, Weeninx flung his blanket over her head, bis hands tighly clasping her throat, his whole weight resting upon her body as she was forced flat to the ground, Toplong secured ber lower limbs and held them motionless until his com- rade had choked the Wolf Queen into a state of semi-insensibility. 4 When satisfied that Netawaka was unable to utter a sound by way of alarm, the Mountain Vultures raised her between them and bore her rapidly but silently away to the spot where they had lett their horses. ** You stay by her, here, Toplong,” said Dirk. * T’ll tie her hands behind her to make sure, or you might think a young earthquake had kicked you on end—so! keep the blanket around her head. Don’t let her yell out, or we'll have the whole tribe on our backs.” ‘Better tie an’ gag her, then I kin go ’long. at need help with the other gal,” suggested oplong. ; She's only a baby alongside this beauty; I can manage it easily enough. But mind, use her as easy as youcan. That’s the future Mrs. Dirk Weeninx!” Chuckling in high glee, the Mountain Vulture stole back to complete his dastardly work. He crept up to the lodge and tapped gently, when he had thus attracted Sibyl’s attention, he imitated the voice of the Wolf Queen, whisper- ng: = Come—the coast is clear—there is no time to ose. peer ang 3 Sibyl crept through the open- ing, only to into the hands of the worst enemy the world contained for her. A relent- less grasp was fastened upon her throat, cutting short the mechanical cry of alarm that arose to her lips. Strong arms man peer her form, raising her from the ground, and then her senses fled as she was borne swiftly away through the darkness. ‘“You’ve killed her—durn ye!” grated 5p long, as he bent over the form carelessly dropped at his feet. ere was an unusual fierceness in his tone that unconsciously startled Weeninx for the in- stant, but then he attributed it to the fear that the golden ransom would be lost if the girl was dead. ‘‘ She’s only fainted. Good enough, too. It'll save us some trouble in getting away. Helpme lift this beauty into the saddle—so! A glorious armful—and all mine from this time on! Bet- ter than a gold mine, if I do say it!” The Mountain Vulture seemed almost teside himself with brutal exultation as he and Top- long raised the Wolf Queen to the saddle and bound her in position by a re passed around her waist and the pommel. She was conscious, but the blanket was still wound around her head, her hands were bound behind her, and great as was her strength, she knew that any attempt to escape at present would only render her situation worse. Weeninx handed Sibyl, still unconscious, up to Toplong, then mounted bebind the Wolf Queen and rode away from the dangerous proximity to the village. For nearly an hour they gg Pe in silence, forced to ride slowly by the intense darkness, then Toplong called a halt in a curiously dogged tone: ‘‘ We've got out o’ hearin’ o’ the Injuns now, an’ I reckon afore we go any furder we mought as well come to a sort o’ onderstandin’, old man.” Weeninx drew rein in astonishment. Never before had Toplong ventured to assert himself thus. Under any other circumstances, he would hardly have yielded as far as he did now, but the possession of his coveted prize rendered him unustially amiable. “Tf I hadn’t drank the last drop of whisky myself, ’'d think you was drunk, Toplong. What settlement? And why now? Why not wait until we reach the den?’ ‘“ Beca’se I don’t choose,” surlily retorted the mutineer. ‘I want the thing settled now, where you cain’t play no tricks onto me. We're all the same color in the dark, an’ I’m just as good aman as you be. In the light, whar | kin see your eyes, somehow I don’t hardly dast to say my soul’s my own, It’s different now.” “‘ Spit it out, old man,” said Weeninx lightly but at the same time drawing a revolver and holding it in readiness for instant use. ‘* What are you growling about?” “You got that Injun gal, an’ you say you're goin’ to make her your squaw?”’ blurted out Ham Toplong. ‘‘ Yes: what is that to you?’ sharply demand- ed Weeninx. ‘‘Not adurned thing. She’s too hefty fer me, an’ then my fancy never didn’t run to sech as her. Lick thunder out of a feller, fust thing. But we got another gal. That makes one fer each, don’t it?’ Dirk Weeninx uttered a long, low whistle of unmitigated surprise. He had been rapidly re- volving in his mind all possible causes of discon- tent which Toplong could he dwelling upon, but his thoughts never once turned in this direc- tion. ‘“You know what we took her for,” he said, gravely. ‘She is worth her weight in gold to us, if we play the game right. But much as he thinks of her, the old man wouldn’t buy her back in a damaged condition.” ‘We kin play bugs onto him, somehow,” dog- gedly responded Toplong. ‘I don’t say I won’t give her up, after a time. Mebbe I won’t like married life ag well as I think I will, Then we kin pass her off on the old coon. He won’t hev time to know, fer of course we’ve got to finger the ding-bats afore we let go our grip on her. ‘‘ But let that be as it may—I don’t keera tinker’s cuss! I’m goin’ to hev the gal as long as my fancy fer her lasts, an’ you_cain’t git around it. Ef you say no, whar I say yes, then thar’s only one sn to settle it. Git down off o’ your hoss, an’ we'll fight it out, the best man takin’ the hull caboodle!” ‘Slow an’ easy, old man!” laughed Weeninx, ood-humerediy. ‘‘ We’ve used together too ong for us to quarrel now overa girl. Let it be as you say. Do what you will with her, No doubt we can bamboozle the old man just the same, when the time comes. Shake hands and let the thing drop.” He pressed his horse forward and bent over in the saddle, extending his hand. Toplong asped it without suspecting treachery, so onest sounded the voice of the Vulture. But even while pressing his hand warmly, Dirk Weeninx thrust forward his other hand, armed with a revolver, and discharged the weapon when its muzzle fairly touched the temple of his comrade in evil. A flash—a muffled report—and the dispute was ended forever! CHAPTER X. THE TABLES TURNED. Nor a sound came from the lips of the mur- dered outlaw so suddenly was he slain. His skull was terribly shattered and his brain left bare by the treacherous shot. A sharp cry of horror broke from Sibyl, whose senses had returned during the ride. Clotted blood and brains were sprinkled over her face as Dirk Weeninx sought to steady the dead man in his saddle and control the startled horse at the same time. His own animal was frightened, and as the body of the assassinated Vulture reeled in that direction, the creature sprung aside. The dead man fell headlong to the ground, and with it fell the Snow Sprite. Quick as thought she was upon her feet again and seeking safety in flight. A frightful curse broke from the lips of Dirk Weeninx as he leaped to the ground. Swiftly he knotted both bridle reins together, then darted away in rapid pursuit of the fleeing maiden. He could just catch a glimpse of her white dress as she fled through the darkness. She had flung aside the heavy blanket in which Ham Toplong bad enveloped her, as an incum- brance, little thinking that she was thus insur- ing her recapture. One brief minute of torturing suspense, then the evil talons of the Mountain Vulture closed upon her shoulder, and bis hot breath scorched her neck. “Try another trick like that, my heauty, and I'll slit your dainty throat from ear to ear! You’ve given me trouble enough, besides mak- ing me rub out my old side partner. Don’t make the reckoning any heavier. ’ Dye The Snow Sprite made no reply. That evil rasp seemed to crush her energies and blot out cay courage. Dirk Weeninx raised her in his arms and strode rapidly back to where he had left his horses. They were near the spot, being unable com Ebooks —————— = (E(@) » ; ~—_