Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 184 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

6 ee ee er ee ee eee ———— — - ——— ——— os -_ _ - — -_—_-o oe -- -—— = + = ee. —- --——~ _ she - >= —- ~~ ——~ ~— Sas see ir --—. —— rw™ s oa al lt at aad ee te te —_ s* _———— - — -— - - —_— ee oe - —— o< * = ~ e - —_—~ o- —=s —_ } | | ! | | he strikes a horse, all’s up with us both! || was such that no horse could pass over it at full ppees without disaster following soon or later. he pursuers, one and all, were in fine condi- tion for a race, and favored by the thickly strewn bowlders, were slowly but steadily gain- ing upon the outlaws. ‘“* Powder and lead is the only thing that can save our scalps now,” grimly said Weeninx, after the mad race had lasted for a few min- utes. ‘* Drop to the rear, mate, and try if you can’t pick off that black devil.” Now as ever Toplong obeyed his superior, though he would far rather have trusted to the speed of his good horse for safety. Twice he fired at Hercules, without percepti- ble effect, unless it was that the whistling of the grooved bullets so near his head urged the negro to increased exertions: certain it is that foot by foot he lessened the distance between them, and was whirling his huge club around his head, preparatory to hurling it at Toplong, when that worthy fired his third shot. At the report, the black giant stumbled and fell, his roar of angry pain being greeted with loud yells of exultation by the Mountain Vul- tures. They believed that their most dreaded enemy was effectually disposed of. But they laughed too soon. Almost immedi- ately the negro scrambled to his feet, and once more rushed on. Still he limped perceptibly, and no longer gained upon the fugitives. He ran with the utmost gameness, but at each foot- step he left bloody traces behind him, his tre- mendonus exertions only causing the life-tide to flow more profusely. ‘The Injun next!” growled Weeninx. ‘ He’s coming up, and getting his arrows RESO os - Cc him off, mate!” Encouraged by the success he had already met with, Toplong opened fire upon Shooting Star, but his good fortune now deserted him. Perforce he let his horse pick its own way, and the animal trod upon a loose stone which gave way beneath its weight, wrenching its ankle severely and almost hurling Toplong from the _ saddle, just as he pares trigger. The lead missed its intended mark, but still was billeted, for the mad hermit flung up his arms and staggered as though hard bit. A curse of mingled rage and fear broke from Aone as he saw that his horse was hopelessly ‘Down and try it afoot!” cried Weeninx, sharply. ‘‘ You are not winded, and can out- <p <pee now.” pad 8% * oplong instantly obeyed, running as 0 a SS Saget 8 who "knows that to Be venta en means certain death. Sullonly Dirk Weeninx glanced over his shoulder. He saw that the young chief was just passing Hercules, that he was fitting an arrow to hisbow. Hesaw no more, for at that moment Sibyl made a desperate effort to free herself from his close grasp, preferring to take the chances of a fall upon the rocky ground to remaining longer in such loathsome custody. So sudden and unexpected was her movement that it came very near being successful. She slipped from the horse’s withers and hung sus- nded by one arm, upon which the desperado’s ny fingers closed with terrible force. Gathering all his energies, Weeninx drew the maiden up to his level again, and no doubt would have swung her into her former position, but just then he heard a peculiar, hissing thud, and his horse plunged forward with a snort of ain. The young chicf had sent an arrow eather deer into its right flank. The end was close at hand now. Weeniux knew that his horse could not long keep its feet, and with death staring him in the face, an in- sane rage took possession of him. “Curse you!” he snarled, drawing a knife from his belt. ‘“‘If I can’t have you, nobody else shail!” Sibyl read his terrible purpose, and with a shrill scream, again strove to free herself. Dirk Weeninx felt his grasp being torn away, and bent on a bloody revenge, made a wicked thrust at the maiden’s heart. He felt the blade enter clear to its hilt, the force of the blow tearing Sibyl free of his grasp. Then his horse reeled, on the point of oe He leaped clear and fled at top speed, brandish- ing a blood-dripping knife with a demoniac ye CHAPTER V. A FRIGHTFUL ORDEAL, Down through the darkness, lighted only by the red glow of the blazing torch held by the Indian witch and the greenish glitter of the gE — down, as it seemed to his overwrought brain, down through an almost fathomless depth, Dainty Lance felt himself hurled to meet a death horrible beyond imagination. Twice he felt himself revolve in midair, then struck heavily upon his feet, the shock doubling him up until his chin struck upon his knees and his tongue was nearly bitten through. And from above, rising even higher than the fierce yells and snarls of the wild beasts in the den, the Indian witch laughed and mocked and danced upon the verge in mad ecstasy, swing- ing the crackling torch around her head until its ruddy rays penetrated the blackness below, and revealed to the young trapper the full horror of his situation. Before him stood a huge grizzly bear, bal- anced upon its haunches, swaying gently from side to side in unison with the weaving motion of its massive forearms, like an experienced boxer seeking an opening in the guard of his antagonist. In and out from their sheaths shot the long, curved claws. White teeth powerful enough to grind the largest bones to powder, grinned in the face of the young trap- per. On either side of the mountain monarch crouched a long, lithe panther, nervously sweep- ing the rocky floor with their tails, red lips parting from white fang, terrible claws rattling upon the stones—two monstrous cats sharpen- ing their talons preparatory to leaping upon their prey. And from beyond, other eyes gleamed phosphorescently, other sounds were added to the diabolical chorus which suddenly burst forth in answer to the shrill invocation of the demoniac hag above. The roar of the grizzly—the wailing cry of the panthers—how]s and snarls of wolves, with the threatening voices of still other wild beasts more or less ferocious. ‘*At him, my pets!” screamed the witch now in reality a mad-woman, as she dancec furiously upon the very verge of the platform. “Seize him, my darlings—pounce “pos him beauties—tear his flesh—drink his blood—crack his bones—but not too soon. Make him suffer— make him scream and groan with anguish! Let his cries for help and mercy ring in my ears— the most delicious music! Begin the death- dance, my darlings!” All this Dainty Lance saw and heard in the few moments which succeeded his being hurled into the den of wild beasts. Death seemed inevitable. [ven if well- armed, and in the full possession of his bodily powers, he could not hope to successfully con- tend with so many ferocious beasts. One rush and he would be beaten down, never to rise again of his own accord. Yet it is human nature to struggle against violent death, no matter in what shape it comes, and the young trapper made a mighty effort to throw off the baleful spell that fettered his limbs while it left his senses free. Whether it was the heavy shock of his fall, or the natural dread of the frightful doom which stared him full in the face, Dainty Lance conquered the evil influence that had rendered him helpless, and staggered to his feet, nerved to fight the ferocious beasts to the last. In one hand was a heavy bone, in the other a frag- ment of rock which he had sae apy grasped while rising erect. Poor weapons wit which to confront such antagonists in that dread battle for life! A screech of fierce rage burst from the lips of the beldame above as she saw this, but then came another change. ‘** Good! so much the better! Fight for your life, accursed pale-face! Scream and shriek as your flesh is torn to ribbons—cry for mercy as you leap and dart about in the mad dance of death! On, my darlings! At him, sweet loves! Let the rare sport begin! Iam hungry for the sight of blood—my throat is parching, my brain is on fire—ha! that is it!” and her eldritch laugh rung out shriller than ever as a long, dark shape shot through the air over the head of the mon- strous grizzly and alighted at the very feet of Dainty Lance. Growing cooler and more composed with the pws e of each second, Dainty Lance struck eavily at the crouching animal with both bone and stone, The dancing light deceived him, or else the beast made a movement at that precise juncture, for the missiles failed to reach their mark, Dainty Lance was overthrown by the force of his double stroke, and fairly fell upon the shaggy monster! Instinctively he grappled with the beast, while the mad witch screamed and gibbered on the ledge above, but the animal wrested itself free without even essaying to use either tooth twin eyeballs that flashed like glow-worms— | or claw upon the young trapper! , t ee Instead, it uttered a long, piercing wail, that found a full score of answers from the darkness beyond. Like shadowy phantoms, as many lithe shapes darted past the larger beasts and ranged themselves before the bewildered youth growling fiercely and snapping their armed jaws savagely—but not at the human sacrifice flung them by the Indian witch! Their tails were turned toward Dainty Lance, and their regular front threatened the huge bear and the panthers! No less amazed than ber intended victim, the hag bent far over the pit, swinging the blazing torch above her head in order to light up the thrilling tableau below. A gasping cry of erstge ie joy burst from the lips of Dainty Lance. The beast with which he had desperately grappled was bold Tarkio, the jet black leader of the Wolf Queen’s body- guard, and those ranged on each side of the superb creature were his mates, all wolves! “They will fight in your defense as though fighting for me,” Netawaka had said, and here was living evidence that her confidence in her strange pets was not misplaced. One and all were boldly facing their most dreadful rivals. Ordinarily a wolf will no more face a grizzly or a pauther than would a sheep. <A single growl from either is quite sufficient to put the largest pack to flight. But now, even with death staring him in the face Dainty Lance could see that the trained band meant business—that they would fight des- perately in his defense until the last one was torn to pieces. The Indian witch apparently reached the same conclusion, for a torrent of horrible impreca- tions burst from her lips, and she flung her blazing torch into the mideh of the wolves. Instinctively they broke ranks, but the other animals feil back as well, intimidated by the glowing missile. Hope sprung up in the heart of Dainty Lance, and starting out from the rock wall, he snatch- ed up the nearly extinguished brand, waving it in the air above his head until it burst anew into brilliant flame, at the same time loudly calling the name of his heart brother. Fairly foaming at the mouth with insane fury, the beldame groped around until her hands closed upon fragments of rock which had fallen from the wall, then craned far over the ledge as she hurled ber missiles at the head of the young trapper. The first one grazed his temple. The second, as he turned to look up- ward struck him on the shoulder and knocked the torch from his grasp. An eldritch screech of diatolical triumph burst from the lips of the Indian witch as sbe noted the result of her cast, tut it was— abruptly changed toa gasping cry of terrified pain as she was dealt a heavy blow upon the small of her back, so powerful that she was shot forward and downward as if cast froma catapult. Hardy Zeph had slept soundly all through the drugging and removal of his friend, nor did he arouse until the maniacal laugh of Kangewock as she hurled Dainty Lance into the den of wild beasts echoed wildly through the rock passages. At this, he started up and stared around him sleepy amazement. This was changed to a sickening dread, not for himself, as he saw that his friend was goiie. Jn an instant he was upon his feet, icy cool in nerve, though his blood was literally boiling as he realized that his heart brother had been treacherously dealt with. The belt of weapons lying upon the floor was ample proof of this, and snatching them up drawing his own revolver as he ran, he rushed to the rescue, guided ty the diabolical laughter of the insane beldame. None too soon did he reach the scene of the impending tragedy. He saw the crouching form of the hag. A dim light from beyond and below told ‘iti that she was kneeling on the verge of some sort of pit. And then came the cry of Dainty Lance as he called upon him for aid, mingling with the snarling howls of the momently intimidated animals. A terrible rage took possession of him as he realized the truth, and darting forward, he dealt the ferocious hag a terrible kick in the rear that hurled her into the pit, midway be- tween the cordon of wolves and the trio of fiercer beasts. ‘Hyar I be, pet, he shouted, preparing to leap into the den. ‘‘One or both, we live or die together !”’ A warning cry came from behind the faith- ful lad, but he 7 leap he lighted beside his heart brother, thrust- ing the belt of weapons into his hand. _ ‘*Keep the light a-burning, but pump the \ -ecomichbooks, : eard it not. With a cat-like co “. ~ s~ ,