Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 240 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 | Cyclone Kit, the Young Gladiator. What then would follow? He had no time to conjecture—he felt well satisfied that the Mormons would raise the trap, and give him up to the mercy of the savage brutes. Not knowing what kind of a pit the stairway led to, the young adventurer was for the in- stant at loss what to do. Finally, he heard the patter of the dogs’ feet overhead, followed by another series of howls, and this awakened him to a full sense of his des- perate situation. Descending the stone stairs, as fast as was pos- sible, he soon came to the bottom of them, and found himself in a small cellar, where darkness was dense and the $e. ree wn stifling. Almost a-groan bifst from his lips, as he ran about the walls of the agin: 3 apartment, with- out finding any door or outlet from the place, except by the stairs. If the dogs were turned down upon him, what would be his fate? Death, certainly, should they be too many, in number, for him to handle. It was a moment of terrible suspense, as he stood in the center of the cellar, and listened for the lifting of the trap, while at the same time, he had a revolver in the grasp of either hand. The moment of suspense lengthened into several, and still the dogs continued to howl, above. Why was the trap not raised? That was something Kit could not quite un- derstand. Had Don Juan and the Mormons left the temple. and were the dogs alone in their dis- covery? It would seem so, for minute after minute glided by, with no change in the situation. The dogs howled savagely, and dug at the floor above, with their nails, while Kit stood below, firmly braced, momentarily expecting to see one of the fierce animals come plunging down the stairs. This idea vanished, finally, however, when he saw no apparent probability that he had been discovered by others than the bloodhounds. The Mormons must have let the dogs loose, and immediately departed thereafter,” Kit con- cluded, ‘‘and if that’s the case, there’s only one safe thing to do. I must kill the confounded brutes, and escape while I have a chance. I think I can get rid of the animals without se- rious trouble.” Accordingly, thrusting one revolver in his belt, he grasped the other in the right hand, and crept up the stairs to the trap-door. he dogs seemed to scent his approach, for they howled and tore around the harder, seem- ingly furious to get at their would-be victim. Getting directly beneath the crevice in the floor, Cyclone Kit peered up through it into the room above, while lying upon his back, with his revolver ready for use. He could see the dogs dashing to and fro di- rectly over him. To pick them off, one by one, as they passed over the crevice, was the easiest thing in the world, and he proceeded to do it. Thrusting the muzzle of his revolver into the crevice, he fired wh.n the head of one of the brutes became exposed to view. The next instant there were some terrible — and snarls, which ended in a dying wail. One man-hunter was done for, at least. Watching eagerly, Kit soon caught another in the same manner, and then a third. Listening imtently, he then became satisfied that but one remained, and that he heard trot- ting away, Le that the animal was retreat- ing, probably frightened at the fate of its com- panions., “Tf I don’t settle that one’s hash I may not get another chance!” was Kit’s instant decision, and pushing up the trap-door, he leaped out into the church. It was a fatal action, so far as liberty was concerned, for he was.instantly seized from be- hind by a number of strong hands, and forced to the floor. And though he struggled with the strength of a Hercules, he could not master the great odds against him. Twice he hurled them away from him, with a superhuman effort, but each time they sprung back upon him, half a dozen in number, and finally succeeded in binding him securely, and raising him to a standing position. He was then able to note the fact that his captors were all masked with thick crape vails —also that Juan Cordiz, the Mormon Prophet, Was perched on the top of the pulpit, where he had evidently been superintending the whole business, ‘‘Ha! ha! ha!” he laughed, leering evilly at Cyclone Kit. ‘‘ We esngst you, after all, didn’t we? ‘‘ At the cost of the lives of your blood- hounds, yes,” Kit responded, quietly. “Oh, they were of no account, or I shouldn’t have turned them loose for you tokill. Cyclone Christopher, you are what [ call a man-marvel —a man of extraordinary nerve. You are as brave as a lion, and quite as dangerous, if left at large. But for this fact of your bravery I should shoot you down without hesitation. As it is, I have some respect for you, and shall, for awhile, keep Yi imprisoned, until, for my own amusement, I can conceive some plan which, while you are struggling for your life, will thor- oughly test your skill and nerve. I shall ar- range a programme of almost impossibilities for you to perform, and if you carry it out you shall be given your liberty. Pepper, take him to the ‘nest,’ and give him a breakfast of raw meat. We want to get his brute blood up!” Cyclone Kit listened, his face passively calm in expression, but his eyes gleaming with a stern light. ‘“Very well. Though I don’t claim to be a man to accomplish impossibilities, 1 shall take advantage of any opportunities that may be offered me to escape from your infernal town. Feed me on raw meat or whatever you like, re- membering that according as I am treated I shall eventually retaliate, with compound in- terest.” “That ll risk,” the Don replied. ‘‘ Out with him, Pepper, and while you are about it, you may as well give him a march about the town, so that the folks may know him when they see him hereafter.” Acting upon these orders, the Danites—as Kit concluded they were—cut the bonds which held his feet, then two of the men ce ae him by either arm, and two walked ahead, while the others brought up the rear. And thus formed into a procession, the party left the church, Don Juan slightly in advance of the rest, and marched down the only street of the town. Cyclone Kit walked proudly erect, an expres- sion of cool defiance upon his handsome face. People rushed from the houses along the line of march to get a peep at the daring stranger who had had the audacity to insult their ruler, the Prophet. Some of them vented hisses, curses and exe- crations at Kit, and shook their fists at him threateningly, while others did not manifest any particular dislike for him, even though they dared not, did they choose, exhibit any sympa- thy for him. it received all the glances sent at him with the greatest indifference, though memorizing neurly every face that was particularly notice- able, and allowing a faint smile to wreathe his lips when he saw a face wherein pity was ex- pressed. ‘ Thus they passed down the street until they arrived at Don Juan’s mansion, a pretentious and imposing structure of stone. This was entered at the front, and the march continued, not only through a long hallway, but into a passage which ran back into the mountain. While passing through the hall Kit caught a glimpse of a pretty, girlish face, looking out of a side door; but it was only a glimpse, for Don Juan uttered a curse and tooka step toward the door, which was a ae closed. “7 wonder if that is Bertie Bird?’ was the thought that flashed across Kit’smind. “If so, she’s a beauty, and no mistake.” They soon paused in front of a door of iron grating at one side of the mountain passage which opened into a dungeon, which the han of man had hewn and blasted out, probably for the same purpose for which it was used. The door was unlocked, and Kit ushered in, after which the portal was locked on the outside. ‘‘There! I wish you merry times in your snug cell,” Juan said, sneeringly, as he peered through the gratings. ‘‘ WhenI have devised some suitable plan to test your bravery, Ill drop in to see you.” Then he retired, the Danites following, and Kit was left to muke the best of his situation. ‘‘Tt’s better than I expected at first,” he said to himself. ‘When they rised me, in the church, I reckoned they’d do for me at once. As it is ’ve a chance for oo) life yet.” The dungeon was hewn from the solid rock, and the iron door was of sufficient strength to resist the attack of even a battering-ram. What chance was there, then, for escape? Kit looked the situation over as best he was able in the semi-gloom, and concluded that the chances were decidedly poor. Still he was not a man to despair, and threw himself down upon a bundle of dried grass in one corner, to take his ease, while matters de- veloped. No one came to disturb his thoughts until after a long while, when he concluded that it must be growing close to-night, as it was quite dark in the passage without. Then one of the Danites came and poked a couple of pieces of raw deer-meat.in between the slats. “Thar!” he growled. ‘“ Ef that ain’t good enough for you, I opine ye kin go without.’ ‘‘ Much obleeged!” Kit replied, sarcastically. ‘‘T’ve eaten raw meat before, and 1 opine I can do it again. Suppose you can’t turn on the gas, eh?” ‘‘T reckon not!” was the response. ‘‘ You'll get light enuff when the kag acl, ge at you.” ‘*- Your Prophet be hanged!” Kit said coolly, ‘‘T’ve seen better men than he is used to clean street-crossings out East.” The Danite stalked off without replying. A smell of the meat satisfied him that it was fresh, and palatable, Lut how was he to eat it without the use of his hands, which were still securely fastened behind bis back. He was considering the matter when some- thing struck him in the back, and fell to the rocky floor with a metallic ring. Turning in surprise he peered sharply about the dungeon. But he Jooked in vain. He could discover no aperture or crevice, through which the missile, oiith proved to be an ivory-handled dirk knife, could have been dropped or thrown. ‘Well, I’m shot if.I ain’t much obliged for the favor,” he said aloud, as he gazed at the knife. ‘You needn’t be bashful about enter- ing, whoever sent in this visiting-card.” But there was no answer. The donator of the knife, where’er he or she might be cgncealed, evidently preferred to hide from sight and keep silent. Lying down upon his back, over the knife, he succeeded in cutting the bonds which confined his wrists, giving him the use of all his limbs. To attack the deer meat, was ajob he was quite willing to perform. Though raw, it was sweet, and he bad no difficulty in making a good square meal. He then lay down, to ponder over the mys- tery of how the knife found its way into the dungeon, but, giving it up, he dropped off into a restless sleep. When he awoke it was with a start. He opened his eyes, and uttered a ery! A face was bending close to his, the eyes peering at him, searchingly! He remembered the face instantly—he had seen it when coming through the hall;—it was the pretty girl! . CHAPTER VI. QUEEN. He beheld a young woman of some nineteen years, evidently, who, though rather short of stature, was well formed, and neatly attired. In face she was very pretty, having finely chiseled features, a tempting moutb and mag- netic brown eyes that sparkled, brilliantly. Her heir was long and heavy, flowing in a flossy brown wave over her shoulders. Comparing her face with that of Old Meg the witch, Kit was wondering if this fair girl could be the ogre’s own flesh and blood, when she suddenly spoke: ‘‘ You arenot frightened are you?” ‘Oh! no—I am simply startled,” he replied. ‘*T certainly was not vanes you,” ‘‘Of course you were not. Had you been ex- pecting me, ten to one I shouldn’t have come.” ‘‘TIndeed! I suppose I have you to thank for the loan of the knife. Will you relieve me of being mystified, by telling me where you hurled the knife from?” ‘‘ Hardly; I must first know who you are, and what brings you to Gold-Flake. I may be able to help you, or I may not, as the case happens. to be. ‘“Well—my name is Cyclone Kit,” the prisoner responded. ‘I am an adventurer, with, little other object in life, than to wander about, and enjoy myself.” A ae? : “You deny that you had an object in coming: to this place?’ **Oh! no. thing I do.” ‘Then, what was the purpose of your coming; here?” ‘“T decline to tell.” I have a purpose in most every OK ONO) ECO MMUCE cS P ee (E(@)