Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 312 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

‘ 10 ——_ + = tors were arousing like angry hornets, and it would not be easy to gain the cave unharmed. Along the back-track they started on a run, but the rifles of the enemy began to crack, and only the friendly bowlders saved them from destruction, and as it was, a bullet now and then sung unpleasantly near their ears, or flattened on a rock close at hand, Lefferts was not long in seeing that some other means should be adopted, and then, at his com- mand, the Regulators came leaping along the rocks in fierce and noisy pursuit. The fugitives were soon brought to see that it was more difficult to ascend a rocky hill than to go down, especially when they were loaded and in such haste, but they were not men to falter, and they clambered steadily, the singing of a bullet now and then urging them on, if oay had felt inclined to pause. . ith the steepest part of the hill before them, the scene assumed a most interesting aspect— interesting to all except the Vigilantes. All the wey up the ascent men were to be seen leaping from rock to rock, drawing them- selves over ledges and taking risks before which a common man would bave hesitated. Rube surveyed the scene keenly, keeping well in the rear of his men, and resolved to show fight with a vengeance if the worst came. Outnumbered as they were, it would be a ey foe that could reach them by that rough patob. But, hurrah! the top of the ridge grows near at hand, the danger grows less as the distance shortens, and the triumph of the little party seems assured, when a rock upon which he had relied, gives way under the foot of Redtop Rube, and he reels, falls, and goes rolling down the ascent. As soon as possible he regained his feet, but brief as had been the delay, it was enough to ruin his chances. He was in the midst of his foes, and as he felt in his belt for the revolver — was no longer there, they piled upon im. He had drawn his knife, but the force of numbers dashed him to the ground, and the weapon flew from his bands, Still undismayed, he endeavored to shake off the weight upon him. Vain attempt! with the Regulators collecting around him like wolves on a wounded buffalo, he was held firmly and a at more than one point by sharp-edged nives. Too proud to make a useless struggle, he lay in the grasp of his enemies without motion, and the single glance he took up the hill, showed his band still making for the secret entrance. His misfortune had not been observed. Just then Sam Lefferts pppnaned and burst into a loud laugh at sight of bis helpless enemy. ‘* So you’ve got taken in, you venomous leetle reptyle!” be said, in high glee, ‘‘ Right after bragging so much, an’ lashin’ me with your tongue, you fall inter ther web jest like a fool fly. Ou! you’re a sharp boy, you be!” ‘“That’s right, Samuel,” was the cool reply, ‘‘ you’ve got the upper hold just now and I ad- vise you to free your mind.” ‘* Tl do more!” Lefferts declared. ‘‘Tll make you free yourn before I get through with you; ’ll make you how] like a painter in a trap. ‘‘That’s another matter; I was merely look- ing out for your pleasure.” ‘Don’t you worry about me. Here, give those fellows a dose of lead!” The Vigilantes, having reached the entrance to the cave, and being in a happy mood at what they thought their triumph over their enemies, had at last looked arourd and discovered the ™ absence of Captain Redtop. - i They could not fail to comprehend what meant the group half-way down the hill, and there were so many signs that they intended to move to his aid that he raised his voiceina clear shout: ‘Back to the cave! Back to cover, every man!” He would have said more, but Lefferts sprung forward and clused his band over bis mouth. ‘* Silence, or I’ll bu’st your head!” he snarled. **Let them fools come down byar ef they will; we'll make them welcome.” No doubt he would, in his way, but the chance was not given. Brave as the young Vigilantes were, they were not fools by an means and they saw the wisdom of their lead- er’s words, One by one they disappeared through the narrow entrance until all were inside the eave. Once Lefferts reached out and took a rifle from one of his followers, but he did not raise it. **So P gang has two doors,” he said, thoughtfully. ‘‘Pll see that both are kept Redtop Rube, the Vigilan eo - closed after this, an’ ef I can’t get inside any other way I’ll blow ther hull ridge inter pieces, Back ter ther gulch, men!” They obeyed, taking Rube with them. He had been bound so that he could not use his hands and was practically at the mercy of the roughs, Their mercy? The words seemed out of place, for the emotion was a stranger to them. Having reached the ravine, Lefferts looked at the few crumbs left of the former stock of pro- visions and expressed his views in his usual fashion. The besieged now had enough food for man and beast to last three or four days, and they had gained a very important point. Sam, however, was a persistent hater, and he had no sooner seen his prisoner firmly secured than he went on a tour of observation. The discovery of the second entrance had given him a hope that there might be more, or that be could in some new way reach and strike his enemies. He returned at the end of an hour, his move- ments hastened, perhaps, by the renewal of fir- ing before the cave, but when he saw it was un- important he sat down on arock, bis expression unusually sour. It was plain that he was thinking deeply, however, and at the end of half an hour he sprung to his feet and slapped himself congrat- ulatingly on the thigh. ‘*T have it!” he declared. ‘‘Git a flag of truce!” CHAPTER XII. SAM LEFFERTS'S LITTLE PLAN. THE manner of the young rough had under- gone a very “aipr ty ameres change, and where he had been surly, he was suddenly jubilant. It was plain that some idea had flashed upon his mind which, if not brillant, was for the time just as good—he believed in if. The flag of truce was brought and he waved it exultantly around his head. ‘‘ We're goin’ ter eend this affair right away,” he said confidently. ‘' You kin ease up on the shootin’ while | talk a bit with them crit- ters, an’ then, ef they choose ter be sarcy, we'll make them yell.” Some one remarked that all this would please them, and then, after thrusting the flag into Rube's face with brutal facetiousness, the young villain toiled up the ascent to a favorable place for an interview, sometbing be soon secured by means of the flag and Brown Ben came out to meet him. ‘‘ Hallo, Old Hundred!” was Sam’s swagger- ing greeting, “How d’ye find things in thar?” | “ Right peart,” Ben answered, coolly. ‘‘ Glad on’t. Is’pose ye know we've got yer cap’n?” ‘ Yes,” said the lieutenant, briefly, and long- ing to fling himself on his enemy and thus equalize matters. ’ ‘‘ What d’ye s’pose we're gwine ter do with him?’ ‘* Don’t know.” | ; “ Wal, ef you don’t trot out ther gal, Miss Zella, ['1l show you ther biggest circus you ever see’d cag soon.” ‘‘ We sha’n’t surrender ther girl,” Ben dog- gedly said. : “Then Mr. Redtop Rube goes up ther flume.” ‘¢ You wouldn’t do that, would ye?” Lefferts broke into a loud laugb. “Til tell ye what I’ll do. Tl place Redtop Rube over a keg o’ gunpowder an’ start a fuse that’ll blow him ter thunder ef you don’t trot out ther gal. I give ye fa’r warnin’, ther men o’ Torpedo Gulch are done with foolishin’; they don’t like ther idee o’ hevin’ strangers come in an’ run ther burg, an’ ez I am ther regularly app’inted boss o’ ther town, I’m goin’ ter see their views respected. We want Zella Halpine ‘cause she are a legal voter, but we don’t want Redtop Rube. I tell ye fa’r thet ef you don’t produce ther gal Ill blow Rube inter mince- meat,” : This long speech was delivered with the swaggering air of one who feels himself master of the situation, and as Brown Ben had become devoted to his leader he was accordingly de- pressed in spirits. . He made a little plea for mercy—something he would not have done for himself—but Sam remained unmoved. He had but one proposi- tion to make; if Zella was delivered to him he would free Rube; otherwise the latter would be blown to pieces in sight of all. Poor Ben was in a tight corner, but rough though he was it was a part of his creed to stand firm when fighting for the right, or for te Prince. EE rr A rh pe women, while if he had been tempted to give up Zella there arose in his face the positive be- lief that this would not save the Vigilante prince. Toward him Sam had an undying hatred, and he was not atall likely to abandon his re- venge for a lesser object. Believing thus, the lieutenant declined to make any such bargain, and they separated in a Venomous mood. “Jest you keep en 7 he open for a circus!” was the farewell Lefferts threw over his shoulder. Brown Ben returned to the cave, and was met near the entrance by Zella and Ellice Norton. He did not need to tell them what had occurred. ‘‘T am going out!” declared Zella. ‘*Sho! What for?” Ben inquired. ‘“‘T heard what Lefferts said, and I will not allow Mr. Redtop to suffer for me. Sam won’t kill me.” ‘‘She tried ter go out before, but I stopped her,” said the guard, who had, indeed, been put to considerable trouble to keep the brave girl from at once surrendering herself. Ben admired the spirit by which she was actuated; but as it would be a mere sacrifice, he hastened to present the case in its pir ee light. As well trust a rattlesnake as Sam Lefferts, In the meanwhile, that worthy had returned to his men, and was preparing for his grand scheme, Rube was taken to the top of the ravine where one of the few trees of the vicinity found root, growing near the verge, and looking weak and forlorn enough. The first move of the Regulators was to take a keg of powder, and digging a little hole beside the trunk of the tree, set it on end in such a way that it was immovable, and then Rube was directed to stand upon it, He was beginning to comprehend their plan, and bound as he was, he hesitated. Near at hand was the verge of the ravine, and just there the descent was forty or fifty feet sheer, but it looked more inviting than the powder-keg. His views were not consulted, however. ‘‘ Pick him up, ef he’s too weak ter stand !’’ sneered Lefferts. ‘‘ This hyar is bis first meetin’ with danger, an’ I’ll let you see him how] like a 1 dog. I say, Redtop, how do you like “Talk sense if you want an answer,” said Rube, with a coolness we confess he did not ] eel, . ‘*Oh! this is sense; red-hot sense, as Pll show you. That’s it, boyees, tie him tight.” Under Sam’s directions, the Vigilante was indeed tied tightly—so tight that at the end of five minutes be could not have moved body or legs an inch, while his feet rested on the powder- ae in such a way that they were equally help- ess. Attention was next given to his arms, which were drawn upward, crossed above a limb which happened to grow at just the right dis- tance, and tied in that position. Thus, when their work was done, he stood on the keg, immovubly bound to the tree, his arms stretched aloft at full length. ‘“‘T strongly suspect you ketch onto my little idee, Redtop,” said the young ruffian. “I am oin’ ter run a three-foot fuse from ther bung- ole o’ this keg out this-a-way, arter which it will be fired, an’ unless yer friends care enough about yer ter trot out ther gal in your place, ther instant ther fire teches ther powder you'll sail up skyward about two hundred feet, more nor less, Fine prospect, ain’t it?’ ‘*‘ Nothing extra.” The Vigilante prince was sorely troubled, but he would not give bis enemy the pleasure of see- ing him show fear. Pleading would certainly make nochange in the situation, and, if hé must die, it were better to die like a man, “Oh! you wait till ther fire gits about six inches from ther powder. I’ve fixed ye so you kin watch it, an’ I do vow it ’ll be better nora hotel fire.” é The young ruffian punched bis prisoner fa- cetiously under the ribs, enjoying the affair as a base nature will, and then gave fresh direc- tions to his men, Up to this time their movements had been hid from the view of those in the cave by a fringe of intervening bushes, but Sam knew the re- moval of these would afford an ample chance for the Vigilantes to watch, and the hour seemed fraught with triumpb. Allthe Regulators were now called up, and the two places of exit so guarded that a sally on the part of the besieged would be madness, while the gang sent to clear away the bushes per- com oe — JOOKS.cCOM.