Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 184 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ar hoofs come to their ears from the mouth of the narrow defile near the middle of which their insane flight had come to an end. eco ae eee rr ———— | | | ihe Boy Trailers. ow wow = ——__ -—— _—_ _ 7 me saw his mates brought forth to die, and patient- | my claim now, will taste powder and lead, with ly waiting until darkness set in, lest he should | a bit of cold steel thrown in by way of dessert,” be discovered by the enemy, he dragged him- ‘Take cover and fight for your life!” grated | self through the rapidly deepening snow, found | Weeninx, leapin rock would afford him a tolerable breastwork. ‘* Make every bullet count!” to where a tallen fragment of | the outlaws, now half dead with cold and fear, cut their bonds and rubbed the life back into | their benumbed limbs. ‘Together they retreated His example was instantly followed. They | to their den, and there remained for several both believed they were followed by those | days, recruiting whose deadly rifles had so terribly reduced their force. ; their assailants ten-fold, yet their eyesigut had strength and nursing their wounds. Then, as the storm gave signs of trail being obliterated by the heavily falling been clear enough to recognize both Dainty | snow. Lance and Hardy Zeph, and they knew that were they overtaken by the young trappers, it could set be a stern, relentless fight to the very death. In another secure covert the trio of rascals lay perdu, only venturing forth when the want of food rendered such exposure imperative, biding their time and nursing their wounds and ‘Make sure of the boys!” was all that Dirk | schemes of revenge together. Ignorant of the Weeninx had time to mutter in addition, be- | strange complications which had arisen among fore the cause of their alarm came sweeping | into open view—a riderless horse, one of those which they bad stampeded to keep from falling into the hauds of their pursuers. In their mad flight they had soon lost control of the unmounted animals, and this was one of those they bad passed by. At first glance they recognized the creature, and as there came no other sounds from beyond to alarm them, the Mountain Vultures quickly recovered a portion of their wonted coolness. Acting in concert they quickly managed to secure the horse, and Dirk Weeninx speedily mounted it ‘Take the horse I rode,” he said to Toplong, *“You’ve crippled vour own with your crazy riding. Lively! let’s get out of this trap as soon as the devil ll let us!” With some difficulty the disabled horse was overpassed and left where it lay, to die a lin- gering death of starvation unless its tortures were cut short by beasts of 1 . Dirk Wee- ninx led the way, riding reck aay and casting frequent glances of apprehension over bis shoulder, until many miles from the spot where a long-merited retribution had overtaken his comrades in evil. To those of our readers who may have fol- lowed the fortunes of our boy heroes through the preceding volume of this series, a brief ex- planation is due at this point, in order to clear up this seeming resurrection of men supposed to be both dead and buried, In that volume [Hatr Dime Liprary, No. 160] Dirk Weeninx and Ham Toplong figured ot ‘gat ay as the head villains of a rascally gang of Mountain Vultures. Among other crimes, they surprised Dainty Lance and Hardy Zeph while out hunting, disarmed and bound them back to back, then left them with many taunts to die a lingering death in the terrible snow-storm which was then just beginning. When nearly dead, the young trappers were rescued by Sibyl the Snow Sprite and her giant body-guard, the negro, Hercules, taken to the ice-chambers in the bowels of the mighty glacier, and there fully restored to life and health. The Mountain Vultures believed that the mad hermit possessed a wonderful store of hidden wealth, and this belief was nourished by Dirk Weeninx, who felt a burning passion for Sibyl. In the struggle which followed, both of the outlaw leaders were captured, and being tried, were condemned to er the same doom they had pronounced upon the young trappers ony, a short time before. e sentence was Prony. put into execu- tion. Bound and gagged, the two wretches were removed from the ice palace and planted waist deep in the snow. Night was setting in. Snow-flakes filled the air. fivéey moment the storm was growing more and more severe. No human being could live through along night of such exposure. And not only that night, but for days afterward the raging storm continued without pause or abating its fury. When the sun shone forth again, search was made for the criminals, but in vain. There were many deep hollows and abysses on every hand, now par- tially or wholly filled with snow that would only yield to the warm breath of the midsum- mer sun, and all supposed that at the bottom of one of these lay the bodies of the Mountain Vultures. But such wasnot the case. Luckily for Wee- ninx and Toplong, one of their men who had been wounded—killed, as they believed at the time—in the attack upon the ice cave, revived sufficiently to creep away and reach the den in which they had made their headquarters. And this.man, true to his evil brotherhood, having tound up his hurts, crawled forth to learn if uny save himself had survived the bitter fight. From his hiding-place near the ice cave, he those living together in the cave of ice, they suffered the golden opportunity to pass them by unimproved. At length, when ready for work, in recon- noitering the cave, they found a fresh trail leading tothe north. It wasvbat left by Dainty Lance and Hardy Zeph, baving broken the spe if Fear had magnified the number of | breaking away, they stole off in the night, their | In his eagerness Weeninx did not pause to see whether Toplong understood his silent signal to close up with the borses, but prostrating him- self flat upon his belly, crawled like some cun- ning serpent toward the unsuspecting maiden, taking advantage of the excellent cover afforded by the thickly scattered rocks and bowlders, Thus until nearly within arm’s-length of the maiden, when his eagerness came near defeat- ing his purpose of capture. n making his leap, a stone turned beneath his foot, and an involuntary cry rad na his ae af -as he was thrown forward, fa ling partial upon Sibyl. One hand closed upon the skirt of her tunic, but terror, as Sibyl recognized her of living death put upon them by the treacherous | hermit, and now setting forth upon their almost hopeless search for the fair girl whom the young trapper loved so ardently. ' The Mountain Vultures lost some time in cautious scouting around before they ventured to enter the ice cave, only to find it utterly de- serted. In vain they searched for the supposed zolden board of the mad hermit. Tither it had ot existed, or else had been borne away with im. Dirk Weeninx found the unfinished note written by Sibyl to Lance, and this gave him the desired clew. He knew where to look for his game now, and at once struck out for the land of the Plain Crees, reaching there some time ahead of the young trappers, thanks to his better knowledge of the past life of the mad hermit. This was not his first visit to that region; in fact, it was here that he first heard of the mad hermit and his beautiful daughter. Here, too, he heard of the great riches accumulated by the strange being, and thus had his avarice awatkened, For some time Dirk Weeninx and Ham Top- long rode at rapid gait, then, assured that they were no longer pursued, they began lookin around for a suitable spot in which to spen the night and consult over their future course. But the adventures of that eventful day were not yetatanend. Faintand indistinct, coming from far away, a buman cry reached their ears, and caused them to cease their preparations for encamping. They rat age, doubting glances; but then Weeninx spoke: ‘*There’s trouble of some kind over there. It may be nothing that concerns us, but ’m going to get at the bottom of it.” As he spoke, he mounted bis horse and set out in the direction from whence sounded the alarm. Wherever he led Toplong always fol- lowed, rarely disputing the will of his mate, even by a question. He followed now, though grumbling to himself. They had had trouble enough for one day, without seeking for more, Weeninx rode on until he judged he must be somewhere near near the spot from whence the signal of trouble or danger had come, then dis- mounted and resigned his horse to Ham. ‘*Keep a look-out on my motions and guide patireeld accordingly,” he said tersely. ‘I de- nd on you in case of need. If you fail me, ook out for the after-clap.” Crawling forward, keenly scrutinizing each foot of the ground before him as he advanced the Mountain Vulture was at length rewarded by catching a glimpse of a human being as it cast itself to the ground beside a huge, moss- grown bowlder. Only a glimpse, yet Dirk Weeninx gave a gasp of joy that was almost delirious in its intensity, for he recognized Siby] the Snow Sprite! His long and arduous search had ended—his coveted prize was before him! ‘*Tt was her voice I heard, then,” he mut- tered to himself as soon as he could master the mad triumph that caused his brain to whirl and row dizzy. ‘‘Who was she calling to, and for what? If that infernal nigger isn’t around!” Cresting his head, the Mountain Vulture gazed intently around. So far as he could see, there was no one near who could or would dis- pute with him for the ee of the glorious prize of flesh and blood. **So much the better for them!” he growled with a grim significance. ‘*She’s my game by the right of discovery, and those who dispute cc tr a a ee a ae — owe : ’ assailant, enabled her to break bis hold and dart aside with a shrill scream that echoed far over the rocky waste. ~ With a fierce curse Weeninx scrambled to — his feet and darted after her. Unfortunately for her hopes of escape, Sibyl unwittingly en- tered a narrow pass between two high rocks, which came abruptly to an end, forming a per- pect cul-de-sac. She turned to retrace her steps, but Dirk Weeninx was already at the mouth of the go, ” and her retreat was ef- fectually cut off. ‘* No use, my dainty bird!” he cried in fero- cious joy as he barred her passage with ex- tended arms. ‘‘ You are my game—devils nor angels can save you now!” * Back!” cried the maiden, her spirit risin equal to the emergency. ‘ Back, I sav! the firs step forward will Jead to your grave!” espite his brutish courage, Dirk Weeninx hesitated and even shrunk away, for the dark muzzle of a cocked and leveled revolver stared him full in the face, It needed not a second glance to show him that Sibyl meant all her threat implied. There was a steady light in her eyes that boded danger. Her finger was upon the trigger. would bore its way into his brain. But only for a moment did the Mountain Vul- ture hesitate. A cry of warning came from Ham Toplong. ‘* Quick! skin out, mate! A bull gang is com- HN a that cursed nigger at thar head, hot 00 It is barely possible that, could he have felt assured Sibyl would not have balted him by a bullet in the back as he tried to escape by mae t that the Mountain Vulture would have awaited a more favorable opportunity for capturing his coveted prize. As it was, he abruptly crouched low down and leaped swiftly forwar Sibyl was startled both by the cry of Toplon and this sudden assault. She drew trigger wi A little more pressure and a b et, arapid change of aim, and though her bullet — found its mark, the lead only tore through the whiskered cheek of the ruffian. She was given time forno more. Uttering a hoarse cry of mingled pain and rage, Ween was upon her, knocking the weapon from her pras and dealing her acruel blow upon the ead at one and the same time. Momentarily stunned, Sibyl would have fallen heavily only for his quick grasp. Swinging her Pe form across his shoulder, the Mountain ulture bounded away to where Ham Toplong was urging his horses through the thick-lying bowlders. : From behind came a loud, angry roar that, once heard, could never be forgotten: the war- cry of Hercules the black giant. And higher, shriller, rung out the yell of Shooting Star. ‘*Drap the gal, or we’re gone suckers!” gasped Toplong, his weather-beaten countenance changed to a sickly yellow. ‘Don’t bea fool! they won’t dare to shoot while we have her with us. Once out of these cursed rocks and we can laugh at them. Steady with the horse, now!” While speaking, Dirk Weeninx, still clinging. to Sibyl, who was beginning to recover from the dastard blow he had dealt her, climbed into. the saddle, then turned one glance backward as he gathered up the reins. He saw the black giant rapidly approaching, not a hundred yards away, covering the broken ground with enormous bounds, brandishing his mighty club, and uttering his angry roar at every leap. Beyond came the young chief, straining every nerve, and close at his heels followed the mad hermit—three terrible foe- men. ‘Keep together,” hoarsely growled Wee-.- ninx, as he urged his horse to a reckless speed over the rock-strewn ground. ‘If you try to leave me, you'll catch a bit 0’ lead in the back.” The race was more even than might be sup- posed at first glance. The nature o the ground - \