Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 185 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

Se ————— — 7 = —S ee oo I heard voices in the vault, Beis Evil Eye, King of Cattle Thieves. _ rr — ——- -——— Some one was trying the door and vainly endeavoring to force it open, ““Someboddies is going to open dot door,” cried Jacob, in tones of alarm. ‘Unt you unt I vill be cotched unt scooped in again. Holt on, I guess I got me a knife yet.” "T'was a fruitless search, however, for Jacob suddenly remembered that it was another man’s garments which now graced his form, consequently his knife was left with his cast- off clothing at the time of exchange. The noise at the door and confused hum of voices warned him that a few moments yet re- mained to act or all would be lost. Jacob seized the ropes binding the limbs of the youth and tore at them wildly, until he cast the fragments upon the floor, and Powell stood erect, free from his ligatures. Not a moment too soon, for a key was in- serted into the lock. “This vay; come!” cried Jacob excitedly, and he forced Powell into the aperture and quickly followed the disappearing figure. Just as the German entered tbe opening in the wall, the door of the vault opened and San- ders, followed by a dozen fierce-looking ban- dits, leaped into the cell. Sanders held his torch in such a manner that the entire cham- ber was revealed to his gaze. The prisoner was gone! Sanders gave vent to an unearthly yell of fury. “‘ Just as I thought!” he cried, vehemently. ‘‘ Evil Eye wouldn’t listen tome. I told him See! the tarantu- las are crushed and there is— Ha! what’s this?’ The villain’s eyes rested upon the broken wall and the passage forced by the German. ‘‘That’s it! Some one’s helped him to es- cape! Into that passage, boys! They can’t es- cape. We’ve got them ina trap, after all.” With diabolical yells, the Mexicans dashed toward the aperture and the foremost ruffian had scarcely peered into the opening when a pistol cracked from the gloom beyond, and the bandit fell backward into the vault with a stream of blood flowing upon his swarthy fea- tures, Another howl from the group of ruffians rung through the vault, and ere the cry had ceased to echo, the form of Evil Eye leaped into the ceil. Comprehending the situation he appeared more like a wild beast thana human being. His cry resembled the screech of the panther, and even his followers quailed before the towering passion of their leader. ‘* Why do you stand here?’ he yelled. ‘ Fol- low upon the track of the American and bring him back, dead or alive.” It needed but the voice of their leader to in- still courage into their hearts. The next mo- ment they swarmed through the narrow open- ing, and followed upon the track of the fugi- tives. Sanders followed, with his torch, but Evil Eye remained in the vault, peering through the opening, and shouting after the bandits, ever and anon rising and pacing to and fro like an imprisoned tiger in its cage. He trod upon the tarantulas, and crushed the creeping centipedes that had escaped Ja- cob’s heels. He crushed them viciously for failing to perform the deadly work allotted to them, Suddenly he remembered that the fugitives might distance the bandits, and reach the exit of the lower passages. He remembered the ishoot, although it had never been called into ‘use by bis followers. Evil Eye had explored every nook and cornerof the old Aztec ruins, and he knew that the shoot led to the lower passages. In a frenzied manner he bounded up the steps, out of the vault, and into the rocky corridor, signaling as he ran until his banditti appeared and gath+red around him. In a few hurried words Evil Eye explained the situation to his followers, and the outlaw group dashed into various passages, arming themselves hastily, and rejoined their leader. The howling pack sped away after their chief- — ——— LS ~—— ed ee ee ee ee tain down the winding roadway, echoing his shouts, and doing all in their power to make the occasion a pandemonium of unearthly cries. The foremost ruffian brandished a torch, and led the way over the broken flight of long natural steps. Meanwhile Jacob and Harry sped downward in their precipitate flight; only once did the German pause and that was to send a bullet into the group he saw at the opening in the barrier. ‘*Come along quick, lefftenant!” he cried. “Jump down like acat. Don’ mind if you broke your neck;—dot’s nottings; better broke your neck as get once more a pris’ner by dem loafers. Jump! Dot’s right make right avay haste. I know vere | think ve can got outof dis tuyvil’s nest.” Jacob having extinguished his taper, leaped here and there in the gloom at a frightful rate of speed, while Powell kept close behind his guide, listening to his rapid instructions and totally guided by his voice. The sound of the pursuing bandits came from above and large stones dislodged by the pursuers came rattling down the shoot, fortunately doing no harm to the fugitives, but only serving to accelerate their speed. ‘Here veare in der pit vere I first fell into. I knows der places by der planks. Now it ain’t high to climb and ve must try it. I vill yust strike a match unt den blow it out quick. Look out now! VenI strike der match look mit your eyes for a goot places to climb, and den, go for it like a goot feller!” Jacob struck the match upon his clothing and a momentary gleam disclosed the pit and both men hastily noted the only mode of emerging from the cavity. Again the place was plunged into profound gloom. Far up the shoot a red light arose and fell. It was the bandits coming down care- fully, and shouting at every step. . “Up ve go!” cried Jacob, and the next mo- ment the German was clutching at the rocks and climbing up out of the pit. “Powell reached the top first, and extending his hand aided Jacob to the verge and landed safe. **Goot!” grunted Jacob, ‘‘I vas yust out of breethe unt didn’t got a snoot full of wind. Hello! Listen! ‘By jimminy, dere’s a crowd coming down from anudder stairs. Quick, come dis vay! I didn’t forgot der door yet.” Again the two men dashed forward, Jacob leading the way. He reached the door in the cliff wall and had just laid his hand upon the lever used to swing the mass of rock when he gave vent to alow cry of astonishment and he flung himself upon the lever ina frenzied manner. Evil Eye and his group of bandits were just coming into view and their torch dis- closed the fugitives to the outlaws’ gaze. Slowly the rock swung around and a dozen weapons cracked from the robber group, the leaden missiles spattering upon the moving rock close beside the escaping men. A mo- ment later, Powell glided through the narrow opening and Jacob squeezed through also. Evil Eye howled like a wounded hyena and dashed in a blind fury toward the spot. CHAPTER &X. THE VULTURE LOSES HIS PREY. WINona remained within the little adobe but and gave vent to a fload of tears. The old Mexican crone sat in the low doorway, watch- ing the fair captive from beneath her shaggy eyebrows. A form suddenly darkened the doorway and motioned the old creature aside. Winona glanced up and beheld the personage known as Don Costa. He was attired in rich velveteen garments, and it was evident that he had made his toilet with great care. Before he could utter a word, the young girl had bent a keen searching glance upon the vil- lain. ‘** Don Costa. why do I find you here, in the ey —— owe — eo ee ee SC; - outlaws’ stronghold? Are you in league with Evil Eye, or have you come here to mock me?” demanded the girl. “You judge me harshly—I am on friendly terms with Evil Eye, ’tis true, but I have not sought you to add to your sorrow. Nay, Miss Walters, I come to offer you liberty and a speedy return to your home. When I ascertamed that Evil Eye and his followers had stolen you from your home, I became indignant and sought the powerful chieftain to obtain your release. I have visited your father also, and he is now anxious to recognize my efforts and acknowl- edge my friendship in its true light. I lave arranged toransom you from the hands of Evil Eye. Everything is ready for your return home. I only wait your reply—for you are to decide whether you remain here or depart.” ‘‘Am I to infer, sir, that you are to ransom me from this outlaw?’ ‘‘T am to ransom you from the power of Evil Eye,” he responded, quickly, while a shade of anger crossed his dark face. ‘‘1do not know why the term outlaw should be applied to him, but we will not waste words over that matter. You hold the balance of power by speaking the words that give you freedom.” ‘‘ What is it, sir, that I am expected to say in order to regain my liberty?” ‘‘ Winona, I have previously spoken to you of my love, and yousecast it beneath your feet. You were then safe under your own roof, with- out an atom of care or sorrow. The scene is changed. You are in the hands of a powerful league who rule this part of Mexico. Youcan not hope to evade their vigilance, much less ex- pect to be rescued from this mountain strong- hold.” He grew impatient as he noted the calm ex- pression resting upon Winona’s face. “Did you fully understand me?’ he demand- ed, after a short pause. ‘‘T understood every word, Don Costa; and I have weighed their meaning also. True, I am not now under my father’s roof. I have been torn from his side—perhaps through your machinations. You threatened a visitation from that fiend in human form, Evil Eye, and the blow fell. It is strange how you resemble that man. Your voice is almost the same, The features are those of that infamous wretch. Ay, you resemble him all save the terrible eye.” ‘‘ We are not speaking of Evil Eye, at pres- ent,” admonished the villain hotly; ‘“‘ we are speaking of the situation in which you now find yourself. You have not replied to my question. You evade it by comparing and noting my resemblance to the mountain leader, but let that pass. Winona Walters, I again tender the love that would save you.” “And I again reject it!” cried Winona, im- petuously. ‘‘ You have worn the mask long enough. You are hand in glove with the wretches that plunder and kill the inhabitants of our frontier. If such is not the case, then why do you associate with them? You offer me liberty in return for the love I can never give you. Nay, Don Costa, since ] know that you are responsible for the indignities which I have borne, I detest you. Speak not of love to me, sir! Do not profane that sacred word. Leave me, sir! Your mission is a fruitless one. You can return to Evil Eye and tell him that the little Texas girl does not fear to remain a captive surrounded by the dogs who follow at his beck and call.” ‘‘ There is one in this retreat who even now is enduring the torments of a hundred deaths. The young American who interfered in your behalf is in a gloomy vault, surrounded by tarantulas and centipedes. You can well im- agine the horrible fate he must endure. You know as well as I do the deadly effects of these insects—” “No more! Do not torture me with a de- scription of his sufferings. Monster, you know that he is doomed to this death and yet you seem to gloat over it!” Her flashing eyes almost struck terror to the villain’s hardened soul, and he instinctively Gomicbooks (EO)