Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 312 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 9 evident they were being shaken off. Both the young people were lighter than they, and these hings tell in a race. Thus they gradually neared the cave, and just as day was breaking the guard was amazed to see his captain appear from the outer air with a young lady in charge. He made no comments, but when once more alone could not avoid thinking that it would be very pleasant to act “* Vigilante ” if the cave was to be stocked with young ladies. Redtop Rube had a painful duty to perform; Zella must know that her father was dead. She bore the news better than he had ex- pected, but her assertion that she was ‘left alone” touched his heart deeper than ever and he vowed she should never want for brotherly care while he lived. Ellice Norton was mentioned, but Zella had never seen her, nor had she known that another girl was kept prisoner at Beldick’s, so the proof of Ellice’s real character must come in the fu- ture. Once at the cave fatigue and sleepiness had so assailed the young leader that he could scarce- ly keep his eyes open and, calling Brown Ben, he directed him to manage affairs and himself sought a bed. ‘ He soon fell asleep, and when he awoke it was from a dream in which he was a boy again and firing particalarly gigantic fire-crackers; and when fairly awake the dull reports were still borne to his ears. Instantly he bounded to his feet as he realized that fighting was going on, and as he left his niche saw Zella and Ellice, Toe latter swooped down upon him at once, ‘* Oh, captain!” she exclaimed, ‘‘ those ter- rible men are trying to enter the caye—” **So 1 see!” Rube spoke curtly and strode past her. ‘*Well, | must say he isn’t very polite,” she observed, evidently disconcerted, and then she mons slowly added: ‘‘He wasn’t that way last night. ‘* He must attend to his duties first of all.” * sg you well acquainted with him?’ 4s 0.’ ‘‘ Do you suppose he is a worthy young man?” ‘* 1] really don’t know.” | ‘IT would like to know,” said Ellice, with seeming ingenuousness, ‘‘for he seemed to take a great fancy to me last night, and [ don’t want to give any encouragement to a man I can’t trust.” Zella smiled faintly, for as Miss Norton had confessed that she never saw Rube until the previous night, it looked as though she was somewhat hasty in getting such business-like views into her mind. Rube soon reappeared, accompanied by Jack Silver, but Zella saw no anxiety in their faces. On the contrary, the Vigilante prince had found his men eee the entrance well under Brown Ben, and be and Silver were merely making a tour of the interior to make sure there were no other entrances, The besiegers felt tolerably secure on the whole, though their feelings would bave been more pleasant had they possessed a better stock of provisions both for themselves and their horses. Outside the voice of Sam Lefferts was plainly heard giving orders to his men, but he took good care to keep himself out of sight of the zealous and close-shooting cowboys. Redtop Rube made a careful survey of the whole interior—a work requiring some time, since there were many branches of the main room, running here and there, One other open- ing was found, and this of a nature which Jack ‘Silver unclosed his taciturn mouth to term a “ skylight.” At the very top of the ridge a small opening led to the outer air, one through which the ex- plorers passed only by some squeezing, but through they went, resolved to get a view of the scene around them. Nothing could have been more successful, for, looking down to the gulch, they saw the besiegers at their post, and their horses not far away, the latter eating the fodder that had been brought for them. All this gave Rube an idea. His party, as we have before said, was weak chiefly in the scar- city of food for both man and beast, and it oc- curred to him that it would be an excellent idea to secure whatever was in the enemy’s Camp, Jack Silver, being a man of deeds rather than of words, was not made a confidant, but they returned to the cave, secured the entrance as well as possible, and hurried back to the main room. They had come just in time, for the besiegers had ceased firing, and a white flag was flutter- ing from a large bowlder, rown Ben, after some delay, was about to notice it, when Rube’s return relieved him of the responsibility. The latter at once put out a responsive signal, after which Sam Lefferts appeared, and the two met on the level space in front of the cave. __. ‘Glad ter see yer,” said Sam, abruptly. ‘I didn’t knew but what you would feel so peart in your six-by-seven cave that you wouldn’t come out.” ‘“*f believe it was you who took the first steps,” said the Vigilante, coolly. ‘‘I have come to hear what you have to say.” ‘* That’s easily done, an’ I'l] come right down to ther p’int. I’m byar as a friend.” ‘* Just the impression I received when you began firing on the cave.” ‘**Oh! that was only playfulness, We took keer not to hurt anybody.” His audacity was refreshing, but Rube re- mained as unmoved as ever. ‘* Well, sound your bugle.” ‘*T will that, an’ 1 want ter say right here that my friends are dre’ff’ly worried by all this fightin’. Torpeder Gulch an’ its citizens are men 0’ peace, an’ this trouble bas teched them sensitive. ‘They want ther hatchet ter be buried an’ that’s why I’m here.” ‘‘In order to secure their end, they have only to march back to the village and leave us alone.” ** Yas, but they object ter an armed force on their s’ile,” ‘‘Had they behaved themselves, the armed force would not have been here.” ‘*Mebbe they was a leetle hasty, but they mean walnow. Do you agree ter ther propo- sition?” ‘*T’ve heard but little of it so far.. What do you want?’ ‘‘ First, that ther armed force go away; sec- ondly, that you go away an’ sw’ar never ter return; an’ thirdly, that you surrender Zella Halpine inter our custody.” Rube laughed lightly. ‘*Now you begin to talk. Why didn’t you say at once that you wanted Zella? Foraplain, blunt man like you there has been a waste of breath, Well, in answer, let me say that both myself and the ‘armed force’ are willing to go away as soon as the path is clear, but as for Zella Halpine—you can’t have her!” ‘*1’m her lawful guardeen!” cried Sam. ‘Lawful grandfather! What do you mean?” ** Halpine app'inted me.” 2 Oh! did he? Before or after you murdered m+ ‘*T murdered him?” ‘*That’s what I said.” **'You’re crazy, Rube! Why, poor Mose com- mitted suicide, he did. Sez he: ‘I have a pre- sentment o’ evil, a feelin’ that my eend is mgh. I wouldn’t keer only fur Zella. Sam, if any- thing does happen ter me, will you keer fur her? I said yes, an’ then he made me sw’ar, an’ no sooner had 1 did it than he killed his- self.” “That'll do, sir. You not only make a fool of yourself, but assume me to beone, Yéur game won’t work. ‘You killed Moses Ralpine— you murdered him—and for that I bave sworn to kill you. Ishall not strike you in the back, and become an assassin in turn, but the ven- geance of the law shall fall upon you. As for Zella, I would as soon deliver her to a wolf; let that end the discussion, You are both impu- dent and idiotic to pour such a mess of rubbish in my ears expecting me to believe it. Take this as a final answer,” A savage look crossed Sam’s face and a curse fell from his l'ps. Some one had suggested that he try stratagem on Redtop Rube, and this transparent series of faisehoods had been the result. He saw that it was labor thrown away, and his anger burst all bonds. ‘‘’'m an idiot, be I?—an’a wolf, an’ a mur- derer, an’ so on, you said. Oh! you’re a high- flier, you be, ter come from nobody knows whar an’ try ter ’arn me! Wal,ef you want war, warit is, an’ I sw’ar yer old rat-trap shall be blowed higher nor a kite. Ill killev’ry man on y° thet resists an’ bang ther others higher than Hamann.” ‘* Hold a bit,” said Rube, placidly. ‘* Remem- ber it requires at least two to make a bargain. When you get us you can make Rome how! if you really thirst for gore.” ‘‘f can at Jeast starve ye out,” said Sam, with a viciousness which showed he had not failed to discover the weak point of his enemies. “ Anything else in the line of rolling thunder? If you starve us it would be a one-borse pleasure to hang us after the style of the lamented Haman, whose history 1 am glad to say you have investigated.” CHAPTER XI. A FRESH MISFORTUNE, THE interview was not protracted a great deal longer. Both men saw the folly of further conver- sation, and though Sam Lefferts eased his mind by binting at the terrible revenge be would have in the future, the interests of history ao not require their presence on paper. Redtop Rube returned to the cave, but he did not go with the intention of remaining quiet. His rival had spoken only too truly when be mentioned the danger of starvation which men- aced the little party, and Rube resolved to at once makea stroke to better the condition of their larder. He had seen enough when at the upper entrance to show bim that the Regulators had a supply of provisions, and he hoped to secure them by a bold stroke. He explained his views to Brown Ben and asked him how many men he would require to hold the main entrance during the attempt. ‘Give me Jack Silver,” was the grim reply. ‘* Who else?” ** Nobody.” ‘‘But you may be bard pressed.” ‘‘ With our sbooters all ready, we can block the way with corpuses so they can’t get at us,” Rube said no more, He saw the pluck of the ex-cowboy and had faith in bis ability. The two were stationed at the entrance and then the leader explained to the others what was required of them, but gave each men a chance to choose for himself and go or stay. The response was prompt—every one was ready for the venture, No further time was wasted, They went to the upper entrance and silently passed outside, A few steps further they secured a full view of the besiegers, They lay in a ravine, which was a mass of piled-up rocks, and though the coveted supplies were dangerously near their midst it was Clear that all were thinking of the besieged and looking only at the main entrance, Rube gave bis directions clearly and the ad- vance was commenced, The movement was to be irregular, and very much like the “ each man for himself” order, but all were to act with a common object. It was not hard to reach the head of the ravine, but there the real difficulty began, Sooner or later they would be seen by the roughs; it was madness to hope otherwise; but the success of the undertaking depended on de- laying discovery as long as possible, At that moment fire was reopened on the cave, and Rube smiled as be heard Brown Ben and his ally make a good deal of show with their repeating rifles. he young leader waved his hand to bis men. Each one dropped on his hands and knees, and and pie began a slow, laborious, but resolute crawl, It was a pleasure for the cowboys, for it re- minded them of some of the events they had seen in Texas, and from rock to rock they went like Indians. Bowlders were numerous, as we bave said be- fore, but it was not always easy to pass from one to another, and the men were often com- pelled to craw] flat on their stomachs; the crisis must only be reached when their hands were on the provisions, In the last respect they were successful, but just as they reached the point where they must necessarily uncover, a horse which was standing not far away uttered a loud snort of alarm. e Now )? ' Rube needed to say no more, and as one Man his gallant allies sprung forward, their hands outstretched to seize the provisions. Of course the Regulators bad looked around at the snort from the tows but what they saw was so surprising that for a moment they were incap- able of motion. The sight of a dozen young fellows briskly gathering up their eatables was not according to their expectations or wishes, Sam Lefferts was the first to recover bis wits. ‘It’s that infernal Redtop Rube!” he howled in a wild voice. ‘* Shoot him! shoot’ the blamed critter!” And up came his rifle and down came the hammer, its owner forgetful of the fact that he had but just discharged it. Quick!” exclaimed Rube; ‘‘back to the cave!” It was easier to say than do this, They had secured the food they coveted, but the Regula- | JOCKS COM