Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 263 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 ee ee EE sg ESO 6 LE EO EES LG Ge oe eee em mre ree AL LE ELL fn half an hour the six guards were too sound- ‘ty asleep to be easily awakened. Them the r uced a duplicate key, and opened the jail ‘*Calamity Jane!” he cried, “you bave your itbetty.” ' : CHAPTER XV. THE ISLAND SIEGE. ® Af first there was no auswer from within the jail. Evidently the prisoner did not feel as- /sured, but feared that some trao was set for her. When the Tiger repeated his declaration, how- ever, in a louder tone, she made her appearance in the doorway. ‘* What is the matter? What do you mean?” she demanded, staring first at him, and then at the drugged guards who lay strewn around. ‘““T mean that I have come to give you your liberty!” Wild Walt replied, bowing. ‘I’ve ebanged my views as concerns many matters within the last few hours, and have made up my mind to be a somewhat better man.” “* A very commendable resolution,” Calamity remarked, “if you mean what you say, which I doubt. Why should you come to release me though?” “Hor two reasons: You selected me as one of your confederates, firstly. Secondly, your husband, Deadwood Dick, is in deadly peril, and vith you, I propose to go to his assistance.” Calamity laughed. ‘‘T can’t bardly believe that. After his shoot- ing your ears off, you would not be likely to be 80 forgiving.” ‘‘Because you do not know me. I’ve a pile of humanity about me, and I’ve _ about made up my mind to brace up and do better bereafter without regard fer personal grievances. Ther’- tore, | reckon it will be on the safest side to jine dn wi’ Dick, an’ help his case through.” “Well, admitting what you say to be true, what is the matter with Deadwood Dick that we should go tuhis assistance?” Calamity asked, still doubtingly. , “ He is being set upon by the fellow Maguire, anda lot of the boys, who have gone into the ‘swamp to hunt bim down. If they find his ren- dezyous, they’ll make it warm for him.” Calamity looked anxious at this, showing her continued deep interest in the bandsome koight of the West. “Tf that is so, I must, indeed, go to his assist- ance,” she decided. “How did the expedition start out without boats?’ ‘They were cute enough for that, you bet!” the Tiger e ined. ‘* Maguire forked over six bundred, fer bavin’ six dug-outs made. But, I don’t keer for that; I jest happen to know whar thar’s an Indian birch canoe. So come along, and we’ll soon be on ther ragin’ deep in #arch of Richard the Rover.” Calamity was silenta moment, in meditation; then said: “Vv well, lead ahead; but look out that you don’t attempt any tricks, for I sball watch you like a hawk, and shoot you instanterif I catch you at any.” They then glided away from the vicinity of the jail, and followed along the lake shore for some distance. Finally they came t» a swail of rushes, which extended out into the water, and, hidden there- in, the Tiger found the light birchen canoe he had spoken about. Pulling it out into clear water by the edge of the bank, he and Calamity both entered, and he seized the paddle. ‘Soon they were gliding out upon the lake, to- ward the somber line of timber which contained he lair of Deadwood Dick. ‘““You will bave to nose along carefully, so as not to encounter any of the other canoes,” Ca- jamity cautioned, “for were we to encounter them they might make us trouble!” And so they moved along with great circum- spection and silence, Let us return to Kate Laurel, whom we left apon Deadwood Dick’s island. _ When she heard the voice of the man behind her, and heard him speak so authoritatively, his sp resting upon her shoulder, she uttered a ttle scream, and wheeled around. **T am your prisoner, did you say?’ she cried. “*When did you arrive at that conclusion, pray?” Just now,” the man . ed, merge 3 “You do not know where you are, perhaps “Oh, yes I do!” was the retort. “Pm at the end of my Cortes to Deadwood Dick’s island.” e was a d g looking person, of some eighi-and-twenty years, possessed of a strongly- wee eee eee oe _—— 2 © uf Deadwood Dick’s Divide. - *-* ee we ree ew ere sees eee ee + 4 wemqees © — oe oe me = ee eS eT ee ee Oe builé and graceful form, of commanding pres- ence, a a face Samia one much ~ . mire, especially as regard eyes which were dark, brilliant and e ve. Long hair, falling in ripples upon his shoulders, and a graceful mustache and goatee, yave him an aspect pleasing to the eye. Kate was surprised, as she had expected to see one of the typical border ruffans, such as peopled the little town of Doomsday. ‘* Yes, this is Deadwood. Dick's island, and whoever comes here, lose their liberty?” he an- swered. ‘*I am placed here to discharge the agreeable duty of seeing that whosoever peers here, esczupeth not. My name is 4aoya, ’ ‘* And mine is Kate Laurel, and I have come, here to see Deadwood Dick,” she said. ** Wil: you have the kindness to show me into bis pres- ence?’ Lioyd whistled. ‘*So, you are Miss Laurel, eh, whom I judged by his say, our captain has been rather soft on? Perhaps I may tell you something that will sur- prise you, ma’am?”’ ‘* What?” Kate queried, curiosity getting, for once, the best of her, ‘¢ Well—this.” Lloyd answered hesitatingly. ‘¢‘Deadwood Dick is married, but separated from his wife, Calamity Jane, who is lurking in this vicinity trying to catch him. If she were to catch you here, I fancy there’d be some hair- pulling.” “fam qvite well posted on the matter you speak of,” Kate returned—‘‘even am slightly acquainted with Calamity Jane. Concerning her, I come here to see Deadwood Dick—not to woo bim, as you seem to infer.” ‘* Well, in that case, of course I have nothing to say, more than this. You can have the rivilege of roaming about the basin, until eadwood Dick comes, but you are warned against attempting to escape.” “IT have no desire to do so until I see your captain. When will that be?” ‘I do not know exsctly when he will arrive home from a row on the lake. When he does, I will apprise bim of your presence in the basin.” Taking this fur a hint that she could bave the ort of entertaining herself, Kate strolled away, down into the bowl, in the sides of which miners were working. They eyed ber with much surprise, but said nothing. There was not much to be seen about the place, except the rough habitations of the miners, which were, bowever, clean and tidy. After becoming tired of roaming about, Kate returned to the bigh ground, where she had left Lioyd. Tho guard was now lying upon the ground, peering over the edge of the bluff, into cx: water, below. ‘‘What do you see?” Kate asked. leader coming?” ‘*No!l” Lloyd answered. ‘‘I hear the dip of addles—more than belong to one boat. ust that enemies are coming!” Kate also knelt and peered down through the canopy of leaves and limbs below, a half frightened expression upon her face, Suppose Calamity Jane sbould come and find ber bere, ab the retreat of Deadwood Dick— would she not fly into a terrible passion, and in some way seek to avenge her fancied wrongs. Kate was brave, in a mild way, but she bada fear of the dashing Calamity that she bardly felt for any one else. Down through the branches could here and there be seen a glimpse of water but nothing of boats although the dips of paddles were to be beard distinctly. ‘It’s prowlers of some sort,” Llovd remarked ‘‘an’ I reokon they’re a-searchin’ for the way here.” ‘‘ Perhaps it is Maguire, the deputy marshal, and some of his bought confederates?” was Kate’s suggestion. “It was be who was the cause of my coming bere. He has, ordid have, when I left Doousiny. Calamity Jane locked up in jail, hoping by holding ber a prisoner there, to entice Deadwood Dick into the town, so that his capture could be effected.” Lloyd laughed quietly at this. ‘“Why Deadwood Dick is in Doomsday every day, nighabouts, and has been right around amongst the folks. He may have gone there to-day. If so, he would likely hear that Calami- ty was jailed. Just you take one of my re- volvers and keep watch, while | look along further down the island and see if I can dis- cover any one. : He handed Kate one of the weapons, with the “Ts your ete ee ll Oe a te en ae eee _— = age row age arr . — mw ae ee ees - 0 > -2-—e ~~ — instructions to fire if she saw any of Maguire’s party. Then he crept along at the edge of the enw, with the purpose in view of touring the sland. He had not been gone long when Ka Laurel’s eyes, for the first, caught sight something which nearly froze the blood in veins. Just opposite her a tree rose higher from out the lake than did .ts companions, and through @ break in the foliage she saw a man’s face truding—the face of one of the roughest of al Doomsday rougbs. He was glaring straigkt past her down into the valley. She could also see that be held a cocked revolver. She pretended not to notice him, but knew well enough that it was his purpose to shoot ber as soon as he had completed observations, and then dodge down the tree again. All depended upon her quickness of action to save her life, and she did not hesitate. With a swift movement she cocked, leveled ber revolver and fired, her trained eye on the sight making her aim sure. Following the report of the pistol, there was a howl] of rage and pain. Crash! .crash! went a heavy body down through the branches of the trees, and fell with a loud splash into the water below. The next instant there were several reports of pistols, and balf a degen bullets whistled close about the spot where Kate was standing, With a cry of alarm, she turned and fled down into the basin, to escape being riddled, as she readily understood that there was more than one man ambushed in the tree-tops sur- rounding the island. Her cry ef alarm gave the signal to L'oyd and he, too, started on a run for the heart o the basin, yelling to the miners to do likewise. to which they responded in double-quick time, A few shots from the tree-tops followed, but owing to the distance fell short of their mark, and the miners reached the vicinity of their tents and cabins in safety. ‘*The deuce is to pay now!” Lloyd growled. ‘The island is surrounded, that’s patent; and, what’s more, they have us, despite the bluffs being an excellent defense. They’ve got their men in the tree-tops to keep us here, while they can send another gang up, by way of the path, to fight with us. It is a matter of time and ee ae then. I would that the captain were ere! ‘‘He may come soon!” Kate said, “If so, that will be one point better, at least. Do you anticipate an attack, direct, at once?” ‘‘ Hardly before it gets dark. Nevertheless, we must be prepared and ready for emergency. Granby, you gather all the arms and ammuni- tion in the camp. and bring tbem here, ready for use. Then, when it becomes dark, it may reasonabl M be expected that we shall have our hands full!”, And it was not long ere the shades of night began to creep over the earth, with the thunder muttering along the horizon. Another wild night was impending, and the little band in the basin awaited for it to fully settle down, with no particularly sanguine ex- pectations as to the general results, Despite of Lieut. Lloyd’s request for Kate te take to one of the cabins, as a for ber per- sonal safety, she persisted in rerraining ontside with the men, equipped with a rifle and a of revolvers, ‘Why, Iam not afraid,” she would protest, when urged to seek shelter. ‘ I don’t besitate a bit to fight against such a man as Maguire,” So the men allowed her to bave her own way, although Lloyd undertook tbe burden of entertaining her, which be accomplished so suc- cessfully, that they were soon pleasant ac- guaintsnces. When it was just sufficiently dark, as he thought, the lieutenant made an attempt te creep up toward the bluffs,on a prospecting tour; but be hadn’t got far, ere a lullet sung so close past his ear, that for a moment he thought he was struck, and made lively time back to camp. ‘‘They heve got sharp eyes!” he averred. ‘“So it won’t do to be off guard. Get your weapons ready, and keep ajl your ears and eyes open, without speaking!” The order was obeyed, tut the muttering of taunder soon disturbed the silence and the wind. began to sigh with motrnful sound over the cliff. Then there came a flash of lightning, aint Lloyd tp a sigh of relief. ‘* We sha ‘As soon as the lightning increar+s we can gee whether they are coming or vot. tae grass vow, with your rifles ready for use ] soon know the worst,” he obrerved, ' Down flat Fra —comichbooks ella LLC A