Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 241 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

re it —— es ie Hyar we ar’,” said the grizzly king, halting after a mile had been traversed. ‘‘ Lead yer horse into that little pass between them rocks, an’ leave ’im thar for the present.” Nat obeyed and rejoined his companion, who was looking up the rather precipitous ascent that rose before him.” hi. “*'Yonder’s the home ov the Invincible Three,” he said, glancing at the youth. ‘‘One ov my pards is waitin’ for us, Dictionary. Rocky Dan made a doorkeeper OV himself when he was a baby.” About ea feet above the bed of the trail appeared the front of a small mountain cabin. Nat Grayscot could see no more of the struc- ture. The small doorway was almost entirely taken up with the head and four-quarters of a huge ly, whose eyes were fixed on Bravo and himself, He knew, of course, that this was the bear-tamer’s abode, but still his hand moved mechanically to his revolver, and Bill, who saw the movement, broke into a good-natured laugh, ** You’ll never hev to use yer droppers on any ov my b’ars. They know you a’ready, an’ they’re willin’ to shed ther last drop ov blood for you.” The two men went up the path that led to the bear-guarded home which they entered, and found themselves in a large cavern whose only light was that which entered at the little door. ill Bravo then explained that his home was a veritable cavern in the hillside, that he had erected the front of a cabin for the purpose of concealing the large original opening of the place, as well as to give his abode a somewhat civilized appearance. ‘You hévn’t seen the rest ov the family,” averred Bill, turning to Nat with a smile when he had kindled a fire on the floor of the cave, “*Go an’ bring in the little pards, Rocky,” he resumed, addressing one of the grizzlies, who immediately disappeared. A minute later a chorus of snaps and snarls greeted Dictionary Nat’s ears, and Rocky Dan, the grizzly, reappeared, followed by four young bears as large as good-sized pigs. The quartette were in playful mood, for they jostied each oth rin true bear style, and snapped playfully at Rocky Dan’s flanks as they came forward. At sound of Bravo’s voice the whole four rose instantly on their hind feet and walked into his presence where they extended their right. paws for a shake. : _ “Allow me to introduce you to the boys, Dictionary,” said the bear-tamer with a smile as he turned to Grayscot. ‘Touch the paws an’ make four more friends. You may need the boys one of these days.” Nat did not hesitate, but carried out the ludi- erous introduction in laughing mood, and the cubs dropped on all-fours again, ' ‘‘T wouldn’t sell them b’ars for the’r weight in gold,” declared Bill proudly. ‘‘ They guard the den when Rocky Dan an’ Dandy Dick ar’ off somewhar with me. They’d make a nasty fight ef they ar’ cubs. I’d hate to tackle ’em when they git the’r dander up.” Dictionary Nat coincided in Bill’s opinion, and watched the antics of the cubs who were wrestling like young atbletes in the firelight. Meanwhile, the fire blazing up had illuminated the entire cavern, or as far back as it seemed to extend. Nat sawon one of the whitish walls the inscription: ‘‘B’ar’s Retreat,” and below it the admonition that “strang-rs hed better keep outen hyar on account ov the’r health.” The same hand which had traced the rude letters on the wall had drawn there striking representa- tions of bowies and revolvers. - ‘*My pictures make yon think ov the guide- board, A ”’ exclaimed Bill Bravo, noticing Nat’s glance. ‘I’m a poor artist, Dictionary, but when it comes to usin’ them things—l’ll hev to refar you to the b’ars for particulars.” “za pone you'll not have to use them on this trip to Cinnamon,” replied Nat. ‘**Ov course you hope so, but we'll wait an’ see. Now, I’m goin’ to ask you to tell me what brought you into this kentry. You came from Virginia City. That’s all T know, Dictionary.” at Grayscot turned from the pictures on the wall and seated himself on a log in the light of the fire. Bill had already stretched himself on the ground, and was looking up into his face, while the family of bears sat around like veri- table human listeners. ‘You may laugh when I inform you that six months ago Iwas overseeing the studies of six Se cpenem ais a town east of the Mississippi at. “a thought you war a book-expounder oy some kind when I first sot eyes on you,” smiled _ Bill. “But, drive abead. Pll not put my finger in the pie ag’in until it’s done.” Bill Bravo and His Bear Pards. : 3 **Six months ago J had no notion of crossin the Missouri. One day I received a letter whic bore the post-mark of Virginia City. An hour after reading it I had resigned and was foot- loose with six months’ salary in my pocket, You are wondering what the contents of that letter were. Here it is.” As he paused, Dictionary Nat from his pocket drew a letter which he unfolded in the light of the fire and extended to the king of the grizzlies, Bill took it and raising himself on an elbow bent forward for the purpose of mastering its contents. *“1’m a poor scholar,” he remarked. ‘‘ You’d hev kicked me out ov yer college, Dictionary, but] anybody ought to be able to read this let- ter because it’s short an’ in big print ez efit war written with a bowie.” Dictionary. Nat started, “The man who wrote it had a bowie on his rson. I am now certain of that,” he said. The letter was short and written in a large if not very legible hand. The letters seemed an index to the writer’s nature, rough and fearless and the paper was characteristic of the wild West, dingy and not at all clean. There was no heading to the communication, as though the writer had expected the post- mark on the envelope to answer that purpose, and as there was but one line scrawled across the sheet Bill Bravo mastered it in a short time. He read these words: ‘*] have run your game down. It is here in Vir- ginia City. Be quick if you are not afraid to corral the wildcat. PLACER.” ‘‘That is the letter that brought me to Vir- inia City,” continued Grayscot as the bear cine looked up from the signature. ‘‘Itisa mystery to you, I see. It contains one mys- tery for me, and that is the signature. Let me go back five years. Nathan Grayscot, m father, was a prosperous merchant in Illinois at that time. He dabbled some in western lands, and at times had a good deal of money in the house. One night owr house was burg- larized and father was shot at the head of the stairs as the thieves were decamping with their booty. . It was an atrocious murder. I was at school at the time, and took an oath to hunt his slayers down. But they had Gisa phates and the officials gave up the hunt almost before father was |buried. other was afraid that I would lose my life if I prosecuted the search, and LI listened to her and went back to school. But, I did not forget my oath. We never ob- tained a clew to the burglars, and as I was not able to procure first class detectives, I was com- pelled to nurse my revenge and see the years drift by without striking a blow for vengeance, I felt, however, that my time wouldcome. A thrill shot through me when I read that strange letter from Virginia City. 1 knew at once that it referred to the villain who killed my father on the stairs. Il resolved to go at once. I never thought who “ Placer” might be—I felt that he could not be an enemy—and a week afterward I landed in Virginia City eager to corral the wildcat mentioned by my strange correspondent. I had some money left, and I discovered that Virginia City is full of hands ready to rob and kill for an ounce of gold. had stepped from the teacher’s desk into a den of lions. My first move was to find Placer. In a city where almost every man has a nickname I found that a person—an old miner—called Placer Pandy who had frequented the rough re- sorts of Virginia City all winter—had taken his departure. From what I learned of the man | was satisfied that he was my unknown helper, but he was beyond my reach, I resolved to remain and await his return. I was told that he came and went at odd seasons, and I hoped that fortune would bring us together. But I waited in vain. My little wealth dwindled away, and I ame known as_ Dictionary Nat by the men who frequent the dens to which I went often in hopes of finding Placer Pandy. Ope night I was drawn into a quar- rel which was gotten up, as I thought, for the express purpose of robbing me. The insti- gator was Revelation Rube, but in the melee that followed I was forced to knock him down to save myself, when a stranger hurried me out of the den and whispered in my ears these words: ‘“‘The Wildcat came nigh corraling you to-night, A RY Be keerful.” I was then left alone. Was that man Placer Pandy? “The next day I found myself quite a hero, and the people said that Revelation Rube had fled, disgusted at having been knocked down by ‘a boy.” I resolved follow him, for the words whispered in my ears after the fight had, as I believed, thrown me on the right trail at : — + —<—w last. When a rumor reached my ears that Revelation Rube was in the vicinity of Cinna- mon City I started in pursuit. Iam here, You know the rest.” The story had been told, and Bill Bravo and his bears had listened to every word. “Then revenge brought you into these dig- gin’s?” the young bear-tamer said. “Revenge and that only. In our quarrel Revelation Rube said that he would post me for a white-livered Yankee school-teacher wherever he went,” ‘‘That’s no disgrace,” ejaculated Bill. “I wish you could l’arn me an’ my b’ars one-half what you know. Now,I kin go down to Cin- namon with my eyes open. You hev no idea who Placer Pandy is?” ‘* Not the slightest. I never hired anybody to hunt father’s assassin down. If Placer has helped me he must have played detective on his own hook, But why?” “That’s what time will tell, mebbe. I know Placer Pandy. He is one of them old miners what wants to be doin’ suthin’ mysterious all the time. They would call him a detective in some places, but, hyarabouts, nobody takes much notice of him. The next time you tackle Revelation Rube, boy, I’ll be hangin’ round, an’ Dandy Dick an’ his pard will not be far off.” The two huge grizzlies raised their heads, and each displayed a crimson cavern edged with horrid teeth. ‘‘T am ready now,” sajd Bill Bravo rising. “To-night we will find the one wild-cat you want, at Cinnamon. The young b’ars kin stay at home an’ keep house. We’ll take the big ’uns down for amusement.” eae pAeshacis gh Nat did not besitule, and ‘a few’ moments later the dert'on the hillside was de- serted, and two men and two grizzlies went down the mountain trail in the starlight. Cinnamon. City was scarcely four miles from Bravo’s home, and, that distance soon travel the two pards halted in the darkened shadows the shanties at the western limits of the town. All at once a light flashed above the town, and then the sharp report of a revolver was heard and the flame disappeared. | “ At their old tricks!” ge bese Bill. ‘* They run a candle in a bottle to the top of a hundred foot pole an’ then shoot at it, an’,” he added in an impressive tone, ‘‘they say thet not a man an ae hez ever failed to put out the ight! Dictionary Nat did not reply, but allowed his lips to meet firmly. ‘*Kin you shoot like thet, Dictionary?’ sud- denly asked Bill. ‘**1 don’t know,” was the modest reply. ‘ But I have practiced a good deal, although I never tried to shoot out a candle one hundred feet from the ground,” “Thar’s a kind ov slight in candle winkin’ Pve always tnought,” answered the grizzly | king. ‘‘ Look! up whirls another! Crack! out she goes ag’in. @ boys ar’ hevin’ a holiday.” As Bill finished, the third spark of fire ran skyward, but at another report it suddedly dis- appeared. ictionary Nat looked on and said nothing. CHAPTER III, NAT INTRODUCES HIMSELF. ** MEBBE,” remarked Bill Bravo after a mo- ment’s silence, ‘‘mebbe we’d better jine the party down thar without the b’ars. They’ll come whenever I give the signal. Arter all, woe mayn’t want ’em to-night.” at did not object to this arrangement anil — when be and his new friend ‘moved forward once more, Dandy Dick and Rocky Dan were crouching in the dark shadows of the shanties. “'Thar’s nothin’ like hevin’ the two big pards nigh,” said the grizzly king as they went on. Sinda MoE City boasted of a public square not very large, but large enough, however, to con- tain the entire oe sci of the town. It had been the scene of many desperate encounters between the lawless denizens of the mountain city, and the life blood of more than one man had stained its hard-tramped soil. In the center of this plat rose a pole whose top was one hundred feet above ground. It had not been erected for the purpose of flying a flag, for the men of Cinnamon were not pa- triotic enough to fly a flag to the breeze: they had reared the pole for an entirely different purpose. | On the night, and at the hour of Nat Gray- scot’s arrival in the suburbs of the town, the pole was being put to the uses for which it had n erected. motley crowd almost filled the square, throughout which flared mining lamps — from poles stuck into the ground. These threw com books.com