Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 24 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 ——— — —_ —— - OE cunning, deep-set, and full of restless fire, the other features good, yet stamped with a look of fierce d ir. Altogether he was a magnificent specimen of manhood—yet his brain was gone—he was mad. Suddenly from his li shriek, half howl, and his eyes became fixed Yo an object moving through a thicket near A moment after the object came in view—a bear of thedargest size. With an angry growl the man strode forward to meet the beast—it was his nature to kill, and he knew no fear. stained mouth ceased its fierce growls, the eyes of fire dimmed and the savage beast was dead. The brute dead, and the madman, more me- chanically than with strength and thought, still raising his bloody knife, and endeavoring to burst a wild yell—half | drive it into his enemy. ‘*The bear is dead—come, unloose your hold, _and let me care for you—you need it badly.” The bear at once prepared to meet his human | foe half-way—raised upon his hind feet, and | with a fierce howl of rage extended his huge paws. But the madman was as cunning as was the brute—he evaded the rough embrace, sprung nimbly into the air, and came down with ter- rific force upon the bear’s head. . Down went bruin, ahd as he fell the keen blade of the madman crunched into his side. Then the two clutched in the death-grapple— the bear wounding the man with his sharp claws, the man driving his knife again and again into the brute. At length the bear weakened—the blood flowed in streams from his wounds, and the madman staggered to his feet, his triumphant breaking forth and ringing through the val- p " But he reeled like a drunken man—the blood streamed from innumerable cuts in face, arms, and breast—he had meta monster brute, and fee he had subdued him, bitter had the tri- um ‘ For a moment he seemed as if about to swoon | to fall and die: but he recovered | away—perha himself, and bent his ear to listen. There was a sound of crashing twigs, angry wls, and then came from the thicket a she Peak tie mate of the slain monster. At her feet trotted two cubs—too small to be dangerous, large enough to do mischief. e eyes of the new-comers fell upon the crimson-stained body of the dead brute—then turned upon the slayer, and cries broke from her the getting jaws of the mother and cubs. But the madman moved not—his was not a nature to fly, though he was as swift of foot al- most as a deer. An unearthly met his foes half-way—he had slain one brute, he would meet those that remained. Maddened with rage and sorrow, the bear rushed upon her fos, and as she seized him in her er ged at his feet. But, with a strength that was marvelous, the madman seized her by the throat, and held her at arm’s length, while his cruel knife ‘was buried savagely into her hairy hide. Py ea bite than usual upon his leg caused the giant to raise his foot, and with telling force it fell upon one of the cubs. A stifled howl, a crushing of bones, a burst of blood from mouth and nostrils and that little bear died young. But the mother was not as easily conquered— the gleaming knife had dealt her savage blows, It was the girl guide who spoke. But her words fell upon deaf ears—the mad- man had swooned away—or, was dead, which, the maiden did not know. CHAPTER XIX. THE DEVIL AND THE ANGEL. WirtH a strength that one would not believe. possible, the girl guide dragged the form of the giant madman into a comfortable position, plac- ing his head and shoulders upon the body of his late brute foe. Then, with the skill of a surgeon, she set about dressing his numerous wounds, binding them u with bandages torn from her own clothing, an bathing them with water, brought in a skin pouch that hung to her saddle, from a brook not ten paces distant. hen the bleeding was stopped, and the wounds dressed, the girl guide bathed the hag- gard face, and head of the madman, and then poured water between the tightly closed teeth. For the first time the madman now began to show signs of returning consciousness—his frame _quivered, his lips twitched, and a kind of growl | Came | ; ’ ell broke from his lips, and he | | ' arms, the two cubs gnawed and tug- | from between his shut tecth. A few moments more and his eyes opened—at first with a wild savage stare—then they soft- ened, while he said in his hoarse voice. ** Who are you!” ‘*One who has aided you —I found mo 2 a bear and ended the fight. ‘Yes, [ remember—you saved my life?” sé Yes. ” ‘You have done wrong—it had been better had I died—J am mad.” This was said with an inexpressible sadness of tone, and it touched the maiden’s heart, for she said softly: ‘* No—it is better as it is: but you are sorel hurt—you need rest and care: my pony is small but strong, he will bear you to your home—” ‘*Home—I have no home—the valleys, the mountains, the crevices of the rocks, the sunny Sear are my home—the birds only are my riends, they sing me to sleep, they waken me to the world—once I had a home: but that was er ae ago—” “ But you havesome place of abode—I have seen you often go toward the boiling springs.” A look of cunning came over the man’s face— he would not trust even her. After awhile he said. ‘‘T have seen you too—you are an angel and I you strug- would not disturb you—nor yours—I have but not yet had it reached a vital part, while | the remaining cub still tugged at the muscular legs of his foe, until he was knocked out of breath and time by a savage kick of the huge foot of the giant. Then the madman clutched more closely his brute antagonist, and, as if to end the struggle, | tter- by a gigantic effort, hurled her to the Over and over upon the greensward, sca ing the earth, shee up furrows, ae the grass, growling, shrie giving and re- ceiving blows the man and brute struggled, fought, writhed on—each growing weaker, but the ron str h failing him more rapidly than the bear’s; but he was human, though a t and a madman—he had just had one terri- | le combat and conquored—could he be victor in _ second encounter equally as terrible? er the brute recognized that her foe was | } failing, for her blows became more savage, and — her growls of rage fiercer. A few more moments and she would be the | victor—and_ still more, the stunned cub was | a cavern entrance. rallying and coming back to life. | But a clatter of hoofs was heard, a slender form sprung to the ground from the back of a snow-white mustang, a pisto a the cub tumbled over dead. batants and a chance soon of lead pierced the brain of the brute. The hairy arms relaxed at once, the blood 1 cracked, and with | dim obscuri Then the form glided up to the writhing com- | shelf—it looked down upon the boilin offered and a bullet | looked down upon the cavern which Diamond never trailed you—l have seen you flit along the valley and over the hills by night and by day: others are my game—cruel men who have ever been my foes—-they maddened me—red and white alike: but I have been avenged—ay, I have been avenged—” ‘“T am but a simple girl—you will do as I wish--come, snow-cloud.” The white mustang trotted up to the side of his mistress, obedient to her call. ‘*Come, you are not able to walk—mount Snow-cloud, and he will bear you—will you do as I wish?” ee Yes. ” ¥ With difficulty the man arose, placed his knife in his belt, and then mounted the mustang, who _ seemed impatient at his heavy load. _ With slow step the m moved away, the Girl Guide following, and the madman direct- ing the way. mile was thus gone over, and the rider turn- ed up the side of a high hill, dotted with great rocky bowlders. Near the summit the madman drew rein— er slowly to the ground, and said simply: ** Come.” “Stay here now, Snow-Cloud, I will soon_re- turn,” and with a caress the maiden followed, The giant glided between two large rocks, as- cended a number of artificial steps, and came to Behind and below them was a grand view of valley, hill, river and distant lake, but the mad- man entered, and the Girl Guide followed in the A moment after they came out on a rey lakes—it Dirk had found; but it was far above all, At the other end of this rocky shelf was a cave, Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. TT * and without a word, and staggering from weak- ness, the giant entered it. Then the Girl Guide found herself in a rocky castle—corridors led hither and thither, and chambers of various size were upon either hand, while, by some means, a quiet light fell into the beautiful cavern, doubtless through apertures in the rocky sides. One of these chambers was the abode of the madman—it was his mountain home. Clubs, a few knives of various sizes. a rifle, bows and arrows, bear, elk and wolf-skins adorned the walls, while a bed of furs occupied one corner. A rudely-madé@ box, contained a quantity of dried meat and fish—his only food. This was the madman’s home—the fit abode for one almost as wild as the wild beasts who roamed the forests. But the young girl showed no surprise—she said stmply: | ‘*Lie down on your bed, and I will return ere long and bring you something that will make you more comfortable; now keep quiet.” The man silently obeyed, and the Girl Guide left the cavern. Two hours she was gone, and then she re- urned, bearing with her a heavy bundle. She quickly unrolled it, and from its contents at once set to work to redress the man’s wounds, after which she gave him some food she had brought with her. ‘* Now there -is water for you,and you have food within reach, so do not move from here. “To-morrow I will return and see you again —now I must leave you.” ‘You have been good to me—no one has been rood to me for long years; but there is one other would have you care for—one who is wounded and must not die until the moon is full.” ‘‘One other! have you a companion?’ asked the maiden, in surprise. ““T have one whom I brought here—here to my home; sometimes I think Iam the devil and that this place is hell—my home, but it cannot be hell, for angels do not go to hell, do they? and you are here.” ‘No, this is your home—you have had sor- rows that have driven you from your fellow- men—think no more of it; but who is this other one that you speak of?” “Go on through that rocky passage, keep to the ent, and you will find the one of whom | speak.” The fearless maiden at once obeyed. She fol- lowed the rocky passage-way until she came to a large and pleasant chamber. It had two openings, and by the light that streamed in, she saw a form lying upon a bed of skins. ‘‘ Have you come to save me?” said a faint voice. ‘Yes: the madman said I would find a hu man being here who needed aid.” *T do—I am wounded—almost dying; I have © to die. But where is the madman?” ‘In his cave, and badly wounded. He had a terrible fight with savage bears; but how came you here, and who are you?’ ‘‘The madman seized me near my camp, some days ago. I did not see him until he was upon me, and in trying to fire upon him I wounded myself. I came here, with others, to see a man whom I will track to the ends of the earth. I feel now that I will not die until 1 have met that man face to face.” | ‘* Who are you?” again asked the girl. “My name is Burt Belford, and the madman has said I shall die See, 1am bound hand and foot, and the madman has said that I chall die when the moon is full.” ‘You shall not die; I will save you: keep up good heart, for I will soon return with one who will take you from here.” So saying, the maiden retraced her way to the other cavern chamber. The madman was asleep, and she glided softly out of the cave, sought her steed, and mounti in haste s away like the wind, her face aglow with excitement. CHAPTER, SEEKING AN ALLY. WHEN the Girl Guide rode away from the madman’s cavern, she wended her course to- ward the encampment in the canyon. As she drew near the camp, she rode more slowly, and her eyes were earnestly bent upon the timber ahead of her. She had barely entered the woodland when a tall form senped out from behind a tree and c ted her. now-Cloud bounded quickly away; but a strong pull upon the rein and a word from the maiden restrained him, and once more she faced Gomicdooks