Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 279 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 ome - won’t be so flustrated when you an’ the gal git together one ov these days. But we must be nigh the ranch by this time. Ef we don’t find Ranch Rob at home, mebbe Red Star will take a notion to wait fur bim.” ‘We are on his ranch now,” answered the young miner, after surveying his surroundings a moment. ‘ A short, brisk gallop would take us to his dwelling. Ranch Rob is the king of herders in this country. He visits Eldorado frequently, and his revolver has done some deadly work there.” ‘*Ob, I know the rascal!” smiled Old Winch. ‘‘] was his hunter for six months, but that was long before he ever thought of comin’ hyar an’ settin’ up in a style which he knew so well how to carry out. He didn’t seem to recognize me when his horse knocked me down back in the ass, fur he didn’t git Modoc’s message, you now.” Old Winch was finishing his last sentence when Red Star, the Indian, leaped suddenly upright on his horse’s back and looked far abead, ‘‘ Weare near the ranchero’s big lodge,” the chief said, turning to the two white men as be settled back into bis old position again. ‘‘ Red Star saw the top of it and the trees that sur- round it.” The next moment the horses were urged into a brisk gaJlop, and not long afterward the en- tire parvy, at a signal from the chief, drew rein at the edge of a little belt of timber from which they could look out upon the picturesque buildings of a California estancia. The home of the ranchero stood in the midst of a valley well grassed and watered, and af- forded a J pore prospect to the eye. Beyond the distant herds of cattle, the num- ber of which approached thousands, and a score or more of horses that gall hither and thither up and down the bank of a silvery creek, no signs of life were visible. ** Nobody at home!” ejaculated Plumas Roy. ‘We shall see, boy,” replied Old Winch. ‘If vou should be a word for it that Ranch Rob will come sneakin’ back when he thinks we ain’t on his track. Thar goes one red-skin for- ward to reconnoiter.” . Well concealed in the belt of woodland from the view of anybody who might be on the look- out from the house, the enemies of the masked Mazeppa had sentaspy forward. The Indian was watched until he disappeared near the creek, and nothing more was seen of him until he suddenly and unexpectedly reappeared to the band among the trees. ‘* House empty,” was his report. ‘The white ranchero no come back yet.” “I’m not surprised,” said Old Winch. ‘‘ We kin watch hyar, er forward an’ catch ‘im when he comes back. What are ye goin’ to do, chief?” “The big lodge shall be a trap for the white man when he comes,” was the reply. ‘* Come, bear-bunter.” A short gallop carried the ranchero’s bunters across the ce that intervened between the timber and the buildings, and in a short time pe herder king’s house was tenanted by his oes, Their horses had been taken to the stables and stalled there, and ‘he trap was set. The sun approached the western horizon and oe shadows grew long; but the watch was not ven up. “Phe hunted fox always comes back to his cave, Plumas,” whispered Old Winch to the young miner who could not conceal the im- patience that almost devoured him. The sun sunk behind the distant mountains, the twilight deepened into night itself; the patient red-skins had not moved for three hours. hen Old Winch’s hand fell upon Roy’s s ‘* Do you hear it, boy?” he said in the lowest of tones. ‘“ What did I say about ther fox comin’ back to his hole?” Plumas Roy listened for a moment and then almost sprun erect. “A horse!” fell from bis lips. “ Yes, our Mazeppa!” The galloping of a steed was now distinctly heard, not only by Old Winch and Roy, but by the red watchers who cocked the revolvers they carried, and glided toward the porch that ran along the front of the arioo 2 Nearer and nearer came the horse as yet un- seen, ‘ Heavens!” suddenly exclaimed Roy, ‘‘ Ranch Rob is not alone.” ‘* A herd ov his hosses ar’ follewin’ him,” said Old Winch. : Old Winch, th Three minutes later a man’s voice was dis- tinctly heard, and the occupants of the house soe that a horse had stopped before the pore “ Hyar we ar’!” was the exclamation that followed the halt. ‘‘ The old grizzly bunter s id thet Gold Valley would be stirred up afore many days, an’ time sha’n’t prove ’im a liar.” he last word was still sounding when some- bods, wearing heavy boots, alighted on the porch. Plumas Roy darted forward with an ejacula- tion of eagerness. ‘‘T want to grasp the girl-stealer first! By Jove! V’ll make him—” He was jerked back by Old Winch, whose fingers seemed to cut into his flesh as he retained bis hold, ‘¢ Great God! thet man isn’t Ranch,” said the grizzly hunter. ‘‘ Let the Injuns find out who he is, The savages hod already cleared the thresh- hold and were on the porch. ‘*Tnjuns!” grated the man there, as he whip- ed out two revolvers. ‘‘ By thuuder! this isa trap, and baited with Injun liveratthet. Hurry up, boys! Hyar’s a chance fur a pic-nic.” He had retreated to the edge of the porch, where he faced the dozen Indians about to leap, panther-like, upon him. band of men were riding up at full gallop; they bad answered their comrade’s hail with loud shouts, All at once the porch was lit up with the flashes of revolvers that the man thrust for- ward. He had not waited for the red-skins to open the attack. The Indians stood up to the work with a cour- age that would have been a credit to white men. The man at the edge of the porch reeled away shot through the brain, and in return for his death twenty mounted men were sweeping the porch from end to end with their deadly ‘Clean ’em out, boys! no quarter!” was the cry constantly heard as the firing went on. re reddies hev finished Hanth, perhaps. We ar’ bis avengers!” Safe from the bullets of the herder king’s self-constituted avengers, Old Winch and Plumas Roy kept in the room where they had acne themselves upon entering the build- “Tt isn’t our mix yet, boy,” the grizzly- hunter said, noticing how eager Roy was to help the Indians re ess of consequences. ‘‘Tbar can’t be an Injun left by this time. Ho! what war that?” The old man’s last words were called forth b the rush of a figure past them, and on throug the room. ‘‘ Roller ’im! let none escape!” cried a loud voice, and the next minute the room swarmed does of Gold Valley, all in pur- living Indian who had he house in order to make with the d suit of the solitar sprung back into sure his escape. ‘“‘Sarch the room first!” said a voice so near Roy and his friend tbat they started. ‘‘Foller me, boy,” whispered the bear-hun- e, The twain crept along the wall toward the door that led to the porch; of course it stood wide open. Old Winch was the first to put his foot across the threshold. As he did so, a snap like the explosion of a a lucifer flashed in bis ‘Hello! the old man an’ Roy, his kid!” was the exclamation that fell from the giant in buckskin wh” held the match over his head, ‘* Yes, it’s Old Winch!” The grizzly hunter sprung forward like a tiger, and struck by the stock of his uplifted rifle the man with the match staggered back. ‘** Now, Roy, for ther hosses.” The short ‘ife of the little torch had revealed the steeds standing before the porch. Old Winch bounded toward them, and Roy was at his heels when a hand fell upon his shoulder, whirled him around, and a voice hiss- ed madly: ‘* A word—a move, an’ yer brains ‘ll glisten in ther starlight, Plumas!” : ** Not to-night, pard!” P With the four words rung out the thunderous report of arifie fired by a man not ten feet away, and although biinded for a moment by ¢ , Roy knew that his captor would never hiss his threat again. - cap greeted his ear an face. » The young miner did not lose a moment, but awe | Old Winch, his preserver, ie - e Rifle King. le err enema rea aOR, Cae a Le a TS | " SS a i es ces SO CTD. es and was soon seated in a saddle belonging to one of the tigerish citizens of Eldorado, “It war a ticklish shot, Roy, fur I hed to shoot over yer shoulder,” said Old Winch. “TI reckon my eyes know their bizness when it comes to shootin’. Now we’re off!” The two horses dashed away, and the commo- tion behind tuem told the two men that they were not out of danger. CHAPTER VIII. THE SHADOW OF THE NOOSE. ‘‘ We ar’ follered—don’t you bear ’em?”’ Ola Winch need not to have spoken thus, for the youth riding at his side knew that the roughs of Gold Valley were following them at the utmost limit of their horses’ speed. It was a night chase through one of the most beautiful valleys of the Golden State. Myriads of stars lit up the deep azure vault of the skies, and the horses bounded over the well-defined trail like the swift-limbed steeds of the gods. Ar’ they gainin’, Roy?” ‘“‘T can’t tell.” ‘** T think they ar’.” “Then let us leave the trail.” ** Not jes’ yet ” A moment’s silence followed. ‘““Do you know whol shot back thar on the Pe ?” suddenly asked Old Winch, ia rs) ‘‘Tt war Calaveras Nat, one ov the hounds thet left me in Starvation Camp. Jes’ give me time,” and the old man grated his teeth, ‘ an’ I'll settle the score with every last devil ov ’em. I’ve got to do it soon, Roy, fur I’ve already got my passport to eternity. Don’t I owe ’em 4 grudge?” and the mad laugh that supplemented the grizzly hunter’s sentence sent a shudder to his companion’s heart, Meanwhile the pursuers had not lost ground. Swift as comets the horses flew over the wild road. Not a nerve was lefc unstrained, and every spur was covered with hot blood. ‘‘Now’s the time!” suddenly exclaimed Old Winch, guiding bis horse to the left as his right hand clutched Roy’s bridle, ‘‘ We may hev to fight ’em ag’in, but I want to choose my ground,” They were in no path now, but were dashin across the valley, whose grass almost reach their steeds’ knees. A wild shout from the desperadoes of Eldorado told that the new departure bad been discoy- ered, and a few revoly.rs were fired just to tell the hunted men that the chase would not be re- linquished. ** This doesn’t look like Bndtihg Gold Georgie,” muttered Plumas Roy to himself, as his thonghts reverted to the girl even at that fate- ful hour. ‘‘ My opinion is that the Rifie Bing trusted too much to Red Star in this hunt for- the masked Mazeppa, and not enough in his own judgment. 1 wonder if we are to continue this flight until somebody’s horses break down! Winch?” There was no reply. . All at once a wild exclamation pealed from Roy’s throat. . be horse plunging along at his side was riderless! Where was the old man? During the youth’s inattention for a moment, he had disappeared as quickly and effectually as if he had been shot upward among the stars. Instinctively Roy reined in his s while, Old Winch’s horse plunged on. He could not think of deserting the old grizzl bunter, who. bad bably fainted because his wound, and fallen headlong from his saddle, “ He saved me awhile ago,” said Roy, to him- self. ‘‘He wouldn’t desert me now if I had fallen instead of him. No! I will stay with him, come wi at may!” Spite of the bloodthirsty men thundering down upon bim, the courageous young miner turned his horse’s head and confronted them, ‘‘ Halt!” he cried, as they came up and twent revolvers shot toward him with twenty dar fingers at. the triggers. “Tam your prisoner gentlemen, but I want it understood that [ surrender because I want to help my com- panion. ‘‘ Whar is he?” ‘‘Back yonder somewhere in the grass.” “‘Then he’s beyond help, fur hev’n’t we jes’ thundered over the spot?” Roy lost color. He had not thought of that. ‘You may have missed him,” he said, recov- ering hope.‘ Let,us go back and see,” __ one ee raRiie bowl cxdbangee suspicions f glances. é GEomicbooks (E(©)