Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 263 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Gow me eee FO mee oe toe " oe -_- Ten minutes pamed; then there came a vivid @ash of lightning and instantly a crash of thun- der. A moment later the cabin nearest them burst i flames. It had been struck! And sbortly after, the party under Magu were seen pouring down the slope into ————n -- —- i NE eee ire, the CHAPTER XVI. 4 GENERAL SMASH. MAURICE MaGuirE had worked his plans fairly well. First, he had stationed his men in the tree- tops to make a reconnoisagyce; then, on their re- ing back again, he Sint them once more the trees with directions to keep the island- ers down in the valley by firing at them. This gave him an Sppostanty to get his re- serve force upon the isiand by way of the path- way which ran up the face of the bluff. This prone ed to do just as soon as it became dark, gaining the top of the bluffs overlooking the basin without trouble. As soon as the storm broke out he rallied his men and made a rush down into the bowl—the other men still being positioned in the tree-tops, with orders to remain there till called for. Into the basin rushed the man-bunter and his band of roughs, bent on capturing the coveted character, whose name was almost a legion wherever he went. ‘Fire at tbe next flash!” were the orders of Lieutenant Lloyd to his meu as they beheld the oncoming of the Vigilantes. ‘* Tuey do not ex- ceed us in numbers, an’ we orter break "em up pe easy.” A few minutes later there came a vivid glare, and on the instant they poured 1 volley into where they saw the enemy rushing toward tbem., But, as there followed a yell of derision, it was evident that the bullets bad not stayed the assault. On came the foe, with fierce cries, and a mo- ment later they fired upon the island party in retura for their salute. It was a deadly volley, for five of the miners received their death wounds. ‘Stand your ground!” Lloyd yelled above the din of the battle and storm. ‘“‘ Never say die! Fire!" And iy Gate fire with a vengeance, after which all me dire confusion, as the two ‘ties met and attacked each other with elu r'fles. From that moment the battle was fierce, but quick and decisive, and wound up in the defeat of the islanders under Leyd, not one of whom except Lloyd and Ka mained standing. The latter was but little hurt, but Lloyd had suffered considerably, having received one wéand in his side and the other grazing him above the temple, to say nothing of a rap he bee received de the head with a clubbed After he saw the last man but himself fall, he ccumewrad pon be P peaguo panies to resist any fur- ner, or quarter, w ; i ct oe ned q hereupon the con cabin was now beginning to give consid- erable light, making the soon. of battle dimly perceptible, . _ Maguire advanced, an expression of diabolical a upon his face, ‘Well, you see what you got by not surren- dering!” be cried. ‘' The death of all these men you are responsible for!” \ ‘““By no means!” Lioyd retorted, with spirit. ‘“* You were the assailants—we the defenders, I am not responsible for your sins. I only cried quarter for the sake of the young lady here'” ‘“Maybe you want another whirl at self-de- fenset If so, Maguire is the man that can ae- tommodate you!” he sneered. ‘‘Thank you. I do not wish to abuse your liberality,” Lioyd retorted. ‘What do you ropose to do with us?” a Hold you prisoners, just at present, until | form further plans of action. Where is Dead- wood Dick?” ‘Fortunately out of your reaeh. I hope where he can work against you.” “Bak! Pil have him ere long, rest assured, and then, baving already secured ong pa f Jane, the ringleaders of this outlaw band will be mine. Then I may make terms satisfactory to all. If not, I can make a spec by handing ou all over to the law, which will summarily ou in good shape.”, *"Bo why to ey off, do you?” ct ee Deadwood Dick’s Divide. Se ee + ee wee eee eee eee ee - ee —o ee oe Ree ee ‘** You bet I do, if I can make a fortune by it!” Maguire confessed. ‘‘ Resides, it shall be un- derstood that I have the choice between this young woman and Calamity Jane for a wife.” ** I guess you will fail, so faras I am con- cerned!” Kate Laurel cried, independently. “When I want to ally a Page to a rattlesnake, Pll search through the hills for one that’s pos- sessed of a better nose than yours, or else no nose at all!” See 8 me — terme om | 13 ee ee ee ee ee ee ‘What about her not being with you now?” ‘*? do not know, ed into the tree- tops to see what was going on on the island, and was busy quite awhile oy | a parcel of Maguire’s sentinels, whom he bad there. I did this job for your sake, to help ye long. When I dropped back here, Calamity war gone, an’ ye war comin’.” adwood Dick was silent fora few moments; De then he threw off his ghostly garb of white and Maguire fairly boiled with rage at this retort, | removed a white phosphorescent mask, at the and a string of violent curses escaped bis lips, “Il soon show you who is boss!” he growled, savagely. ‘‘Ef I take a notion, [ll have the both of you!” ; * You are blatant for a man of so little im- portance!” Lieutenant Lloyd interposed. ‘* Just reruember that Deadwood Dick owes you some- thing in the way of a grudge, and if I am not mistaken, you'll need a shroud when be gets through with you.” ‘* Bah! it will be him who will get the worst of it!” was the gruff reply. ‘‘ Boys, remove this precious pair to the cabin, there, and see that they do not escape.” Although the party under Maguire had not fared so badly, the same could hardly be said of the men in the tree-tops. Hardly had the party on the island com- menced their assault, when one of the six guards in the trees was heard to go splashing down into the water from among the branches. Not long afterward there was a yell, and a terrible thrashing ainong the branches, when splash went another body into the water. The otber guards became terrified, and kept a close watch upon the sur: oundings. But to no avail. Soon another man fell—then another, his: yell being something borrible to bear. In no case did those who dropped struggle lon in the water. Silence almost immediately fol- lowed each fall. And the battle was not yet over, in the valley when the last of the six men whom Maguire had rched in the trees, went crashing down into he forest-covered lake. In a little while, the figure of a man glided down one of the trees into a canoe upon the water, wherein sat—no one! The man was Wild Walt, the Tiger! When he discovered that the canoe was empty he uttered a curse, and red about in the darkness, with a furious glitter in bis eyes. ‘“*She has fooled me, an nga “ape !” he growled, shutting his teeth together witha click. ‘ But how, and wheref I do not see how she could have escaped from this boat, without swim- ming?” He saw something, a moment later, however, which caused him to blanch with terror, and set his teeth a chattering. Not fifty yards away was dimly discernible some white, ghostly-shaped object, moving toward him, between the trees. It needed no more than one glance to assure bim that it was the same thing that he bad seen more than once before—the apparition of Dead- wood Dick, or the lively repre-entative of that notability, whichever it might be; for the Tiger was hardly certain on the matter, although ae Mig eh peppcted, (Pe discoloration caused adw ick’s "Neater and nearer, and Wild Walt glared at the seeming specter with a face nearly as white as that coming toward him. Once be endeavored to raise his revolver. but a demoviac juugh from the a proaching thing caused his hand to drop nerveless to bis side. Nearer—nearer came. the capee tbat bore the man or spirit of Deadwood Dick, until it was not two yards away from the spot where the Tiger’s canoe was drifting. Then the right hand left the paddle, to bring : shining revolver to a level with the Tiger’s eart, ** Don’t! don’t shoot!” tbe latter gasped, his very soul filled with supreme terror, when he noted that a halo of light surrounded the specter, ‘‘T have been punished sufficiently for all wrong I have done to you.” ‘You bave, eh?” came back in tones that sounded unearthly, to say the least. ‘‘ That remains to be told, I saw my wife in your company not long ago. How was this?” The braggart and coward felt just a trifle easier al this, , ‘I think you wili do me justice in believing me, when I say I was with her for no other a than your mutual benefit!” he replied. ‘Maguire, the Sake te’ imprisoned her, and set forth for and te ca Poke yee I aided her to escape, and we both to your rescue!” a a EE See eee eee EE il same time pulling nearer. * ‘What you have told is true!” he said, his voice once more natural. ‘I know it, or else I should not believe it. It is probable that Ca- lamity has swum to the path leading up the cliff. in order to reach Maguire.” “No! If any thing, it is to meet you to seek a reconciliation f” * You think go” ‘I know it. Why, didn’t the gal te!] me she saw ye and the Laurel gal a-makin’ love the other night, and that she shouldn’t give you up, for all that?” “Perhaps [ am wrong!” Deadwood Dick said, “‘ but my Heavens, I believed her unfaith- ful, when I saw her crying before the rascal Maguire, But, let that drop, Do you bear the rifle reports on the island! There’s trouble there!” ‘Yes, and having made up my mind to live a better life, ef ye want me ter sail into the fight with ye jest say the word!” the Tiger d, with a good deal of vim. “That is at your own option!” Dick replied. “At any rate, it behooves us not to be too hasty in seeking the island. There may bea trap awaiting for whosoever climbs up the ee . How many roughs did this Maguire ring with bim?”’ : ‘'Kighteen!” ‘* And you dispatched three of them?” **No! six.” ‘Then there are twelve on the island, If F were there I’d clean them out in about no time, because I’d lead, and my twenty odd follow where I direct or go,” “Listen! the firing is slowing up! Some one is gettin wenk!” Wild Walt said. . ag it hould it be m “T'll make thing to do!” Dick returned. warn for this man, Maguire, should he be de- the feated.” He then listened, with glowing eyes, until last shot was heard; then he turned to the Tiger, something terrible in his piercing glance: ‘lam afraid my crowd is defeated! Comet let us make amove. Follow me, and mind!—I am putting confidence in you. If you betray it, ll see that you never do so in another im- stance.” ‘Never fear!” the Tiger protested. as solid to de Deadwood Dick then propelled bis canoe back in the direction whence he hed come. In ten minutes they reached a littl wooded island, and disembarked. In ashort while, Dick prodaced a number of disguises, and both he and the Tiger were so made up as to accurately resemble two of the an ed whom Maguire bad brought to the isl- an Entering the Tiger’s canoe, then, Dick pulled back for the main island where was his eaten vous. ‘We will now soon know the worst,” Dick remarked, “ and al! I look for is the worst.” “We will hope for the best, at any rate!” the Tiger responded, with a meekness that seemed strange for one of his former character. They were soon at the foot of the rugged path, where the rude canoes of Maguire’s party were tied, ‘* We'll set them adrift, and see who wins!” Dick gritted. The action followed the word, whereupon they secured their own canoe, and clambered SP ayy bluff, eager to learn the results of the attle. men, we shall have ed “ I am nd upon as the pilgrim rock!” CHAPTER XVII. TTME’S REVENGES—CGNCLUBION, Jost on top of the cliff they came face te face with Calamity Jane, who had evidently een peering down at them as they came up the path. Dick turned away bis as the accusing for ST akent, Wiss Ss te deena ete oe n re- imself and faced her 43 Ate ‘Well?’ he said, in tively. | “ Are you sure it is well?” she “ Are ds dere We ill ike wo Uboe wie ees maget com OOKS ¢GCOMmM