Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 286 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

—— ‘*Now, durn my buekskins, don’t ’ee say it, roarm,” remonstrated Ben Bundy. ‘ You ain't no clog, no more nor a full-blown angel, with a tin horn an’ celluloid wings would be; not a bit en’t. We hontst men o’ Colerado think it’s an honor ter offer up our remains on ther gory battie field fur ther sake 0’ beauty an’ shivery!” ““That’s so, by gosh!” added the tenderfoot. Nera could say no more, and they went on as fast as was possible. Tre shouts of the pursuers arose in the rear, but it was a hap-hazard chase. Owing to the darkness, and the intervening space, the mob had not sighted them, and Ben Bundy had no fear. One thing, however, was against him. Every day sineo bis arrival at the Bar, Joshua had gazed admiringly on the rugged side of the mountain, and Ben had looked upon it before that day; but neither of them had ever been thero, persenally, and though caves were said to be a eommon thing, it might mot be so easy to find one, : They struck the base of the higher land at a point a livtie west of the Tiger Mine, and then the climb began in earnest. Of course the pursuers gained rapidly then, and the trio were not far up the rocky ascent when a shout from below told them they were seen, and the flash of a rifle was followed by the report, and the whiz of the bullet only a few feet wild. ah Fire away,” said Bundy, with a reckless h. “eB pom! they don’t want to be tew gener- eus wit their lend,” said the tenderfoot. ‘My dad always teld me economy was wealth, an’ in this case it may be tew our health, tew.’ There was ne immediate danger for the fugi- tives, and Ben Bundy burled back fresh defi- ance as he saw the rapidity and skill with which Nora climbed swat: She was deing wonderfully well, and the big miner took eare to help ber in order to preserve her strength. In this way half a mile was covered without any perceptible advantage te Thayer’s blood- hounds. They might at any time have been avoided by a slight deviation, for there bad been no sien that the fugitives were seen after that one manifestation; but Bundy expressed scorn for them all, and they went on toward pr peint where they had planned to seek re- e. he way w extremely rough, but they pressed on steadily until far above Buzzard Bar and the pursuers were lost to sight and hearing. On a weeded knoll they paused for breath and looked dewn on the mountain side and valley belew. All was quiet and a deceitful aspect of peace was over the vicinity. Pr aout think we nesd ter fear ae pientele CrItvers ten: ” . “Ther dark is teo thick night,” said Bundy y Yes, but it is also against us,” said Nora. ® cannet find a cave or other place of refuge under these circumstances. »” él » rhen we'll wait far daylight,” said Ben. But, yeung follor, what’r you a-lookin’ at?” Them above is all broken intew pieces,” said Josh, still using his eyes. “Maybe Wwe con't find a cave naow, but we can find some sert 0’ a hole tew hide in. Yeou two stay here an’ Ist me look.” ‘ter a few more words he crossed a ravine, and striking another ridge, found himself in one of the wildest places he had ever seen. Gulches cut the mountain side, chasms and cliffs alter- nated alemg the way, and thick and tangled bushes made rare places of retreat. ? He grew exultant at the prospect; even if no peep. Li te 4 found, it would be bard for the pur- suers scever them in such a place. He found a retreat which pleased bim, and tarned te ge back to his friends. Not far had he gone, however, before the sight of a moving object just ahead brought him te a sudden halt. His first thought was that it was a wild animal, but a closer survey showed the form of a man. On making this discovery, the tenderfoot nearly committed an indiscretion, He believed he was leoking upon Ben Bundy, and he was about te uncover bimself when caution pre- vailed and he stood still. It was well to make sure of his man before uncovering. The anew came straight ahead, and Joshua shrunk back as he neared his cover. He came closer yet, and the youth could have touched him his rifle. Up to this point the man, who plainly was not Ben Bundy, had seemed wholly occupied witb picking his way, but he suddenly wheeled Se ee ee ree re mee eee ee tee ee Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot. : ee and in a moment more his grasp was upon the tenderfoot’s arm, ‘So I've get ye at last, you little snake!” he hissed; and in the face thus hovering over him Joshua recognized Sile Barker. ‘ Vilsmash ye inter pewder, durn ye!” Joshua saw a knife raised above him, and then, though he had at first cowered, all his courage returned, and he resolved to make a bard fight for his life. He bad before drawn his revolver, and with this be made a hard upward stroke, luckily bit- ting the fellow’s arm as he had intended, and in & moment more the knife went flying through the air to fall ratt:ing on the recks below. It was in a double sense a lucky blow; for, though Joshua did not kvow it, it par. ially dis- ie wae bully’s arm in the struggle which fol- owed, Our young friend promptly followed up bis attack by attempting te push Sile from him down the bank; but he caught at Josh’s arm as he went, and the two went rolling down, ciash- ing over the bushes and getting more than one hard blow from the rocks. Barker, however, maintained his hold, and when they came toa stop the battle begun in earnest, pap for the ruffian’s injured arm it would soon have been ended, for he was a muscular man in pee ae of life; but as it was, Joshua twisted agilely from hold after hold, and several minutes passed without either gaining a per- ceptible advantage. CHAPTER XIV. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. SUDDENLY the Boy Tenderfoot became aware aes a new danger menaced one or beth of em. As he was whirled over in their rapid evolu- tions, he saw a vacant space beyond them and knew they were fighting on the brink of 7 pe pice or, at least, of some sort of a cliff over which it was not wise to go. He made a sudden rally, but just then Sile forced him forward and, for a moment, he felt his legs dangling in space. He was banging partially over the precipice! The discovery aroused him, and catching at a bush which grew near the brink he made a great effort and drew himself back from the new @ P The lull had given Barker a chance, however, and be threw his weight upon his young adver- sary with a fierce curse, ‘*T have you now!” be hissingly added. Joshua was filled with consternation; but he thered bis strength for one more effort, and ealt the ruffian a stinging blow in the face. lnstinctively the fellow recoiled from the stroke, and it gave the tenderfoot the chance he wanted, Like a flash his knees came up almost to his chin, and in a moment more his feet were dashed into the stomach of his enemy. He beard a muffled rear of rage, and then Bile went over backward and disappeared; but it was not until a wild cry of terror arose— seemingly far below—that Joshua realized what he bad done. ‘*Good heavens! he has gone ever the preci- pice!” exclaimed the panting victor. Then he crept to where the rocks abruptly ended in a chasm and looked over, but no sound arose from the black abyss and, in the darkness, he could not tell how far he had fallen. For a moment the tenderfoot was filled with horror and no one could have envied him as he lay shivering on the brink of the unbnown space, but as he remembered what Sile Barker had been, and what he was trying to do, bis nerve returned and he arose ands back toward his friends. He bad no longer a thought of taking them to the place he had just left, but, fortunately, there was no need of it. By a lucky chance, Bundy had found a small cave, and in this the trio were soon collected. On the whole, the place was very favorable, in more ways than one, and Bundy proceeded to light a torch he had brought in from outside. By its light, the three sat down to consult on the future. ‘‘['m in favor o’ active war,” said Bundy. “Thar will never be safety at ther Bar fur either on you-’uns until Thayer’s crowd is wiped out, an’ I know thar is enough decent men about town ter start a counter revival; so, when we git settled down hyer ter housekeepin’, back ter ther Bar I’m a-goin’ an’ we'll see who runs the cireus.” “Ob! sir, what do you think has become of 1i em ee ee ee ee ee my poor Nemo? Do you suppose he is really dead?” asked Nora, “I’m afeerd be is, mum. You say ther var. mivts shot at him at clost quarters an’ he fell. That makes et look bad fur Nemer.” ‘*Poor Nemo! And be was so faithful and brave,” ** Lord! mum: we'll jest w’ar our buckskins off a-tryin’ ter fill ther gap!” said Bundy, with energy. ‘ We'll do it, too, or bu’st our patent leathers.” ' ‘* That’s so, by gosh!” said Joshua, He did not think it necessary to tell Nora that. Amanda Thayer bad said that the unfortunate black had been threwn into the eanyon—a place into which no creature could thus go and ive through the fall. A long consultation followed. It was clear that Nora and Joshua could not at present show themselves with safety. Leaving the “Lightning Kate” excitement entirely out of the neato, the assassins hired by Jared Thayer would be pumerous, and. as Joshua was ae yam identified with Nora’s cause, he would be in as much danger as she. Consequently, it was plain that they must keep out of sight for a while and allow Ben Bundy to act as scout, ‘** ’m goin’ down inter ther to an’ preace ter ther boyees, an’ ef I find ther pot ready ter bile, pte may look fur a split in ther Buzzard Bar p’litical party right away.” ** You shall never be sorry for if Ican obtain my rights,” said Nora. “‘ Bless your purty face! I sba’n’t be sorry, anyhew. Why, my ole marm aillays told me ter stand up fur ther right, an’ I’m a-goin’ ter do it ef ajl ther Gunnison stands en its hind legs an’ howls for ba’r!” There could be no doubt as to the sincerity of the rough miner, and even in ber sorrow, Nora Barr gave bim a PY he smile, Not that she meant to turn his head, but such a smile came natural to her. Only one event of importance occurred dur. ing the night. Once, as Bundy lay at the mouth of the cave, he saw a party of searchers not far away, but they failed to find the cavé entrance, The astute miner did not forget, however. that his young friends were os anything to eat, and after a conversation with them, he took his rifle and went out just at daybreak. It was dangerous business to do any shooting = ~ time, but food must in some way be ad, A long time passed before his return and they had grown very anxious when, at last, he ap. peared with a huge package under his arm. e spread it out on the floor and showed then» not only meat but bread, and a suspicious look. ing black bottle. ‘Ive been at ther Bar,” he said, “ an’ all is: lovely thar. Jed Thayer ain’t got ther grip he had, an’ ther boyees are g& ter hate theirselves for what they did last night. Jed can’t muster nobody oni what works in bis nine, an’ they report Sile Barker as strangely missin’, That reminds me, I found out that ter-morrer, Nemer, yer darky, are alive an’ not likely ter. turn up his toes. Old Job Briggs has got bins in his cabin, an’ though ther blacky are full of lead, he is meine ter pull through.” Z oe eaven |” said Pls sc 9 ‘New, you two just easy, fur [m gwine ter ther Bar this oe De “4 he current—see ef I don't. Mebbe we'll see fit ter lynch Thayer.” Bondy stroked his beard benevolently, and Nora again thanked him warmly. — He Riched up the black bottle and, informing them that it contai- ed whisky, prevailed upon them to take a littleto overcome any injurious effect the cave air might have apon them. Noon came and passed and, scon after, st ged took his rifle and started for Burzard Bar. Hoe left with words of cheer, but, despite this, Joshua was ill at, ease. All through the day the valley in front of the cave had been quiet and there had been no sign from Thayer's men. . From Joshua’s point of view this very fact was suspicious in itself. Bundy had acknowl- edged that they were still abroad in the moun-- in, and, his was so, why did they not search the locality where they were pretty sure the fugitives bad once been? | the tenderfoot asked himself” pn and again | the question, but no satisfactory answer came. . Bondy went for the last time, Joshua lay down at the entrance and remained witb bis eyes fixed upon the valley. Perhsps an hour bad passed when he sudden) y became impressed by what looked to be a wild start a counter-. Eomilecbooks (E()