Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 32 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

His features were mainly hidden beneath a thick, heavy beard, and very.little of his eyes could. be seen for the enormous shaggy eye- brows; yet Cap. Woodchuck, who, counted himself an excellent judge, of character, saw in the ex-robber a man who would undoubted, y prove a valuable aceessory, in the coming journey against the outlaws of Cherry Run. In the course of ten moments they reached the Pawnee camp, and found that Grinning Moon had all his warriors mounted in. rea ii- ness, for the start, and was mounted himsel{, Cap. soon explained the presence of ‘ speci- men brick,” and it was. finally arranged that one of the Pawnees should remain at Dwight’s, to keep an “eye out,” as it were, while his horse was turned over to Uriaher, Then the little band dashed away, headed by the stalwart Woodchuck, toward the Gro- ver mansion. Cecil had equipped himself, and was waiting on the back of Hurricane, when they dashed up. i Good!” said Cap., as the young lawyer joined in alongside, and they galloped on with- out. making a halt; ‘“‘now we’re got er toler’- ble start, an’ kin fetch ther Valley by ter-mor- rer noon, ’thout skeercely sweatin’ our any- miles, Holy Polekats! don’ I wish I war thar now, tho’! I feel jis’ like gougin’ ther eyes outen a passel o’ them warmints!” es Cecil nodded his approval, but said little or nothing for several hours. He was distressed and worried about her whom he loved so truly, and did not feel like conversirg. What fate would be hers if any delay was experienced in rescuing her? He shuddered to think of her helplessness. For years she had been a terrible scourge to the ruffian band—a mortal enemy, unconquerable and merciless. Were they the men, then, to have compassion on her, now that they had her so surely in their power! No! they could invent no torture too good for her—they would treat her to the most fien dish device of suffering within their grasp. During the first hour of the journey Ceci, was introduced to the ex-robber, but he did not like his appearance, There was something familiar about him, yet the young lawyer could not remember of any former meeting between them. ‘‘Specimen Brick,” however, seemed to manifest a singular interest in Cecil, and when not observed, as he thought, eyed him almost savagely from beneath his shaggy brows. On dashed the cavalcade through the morn- ing sunlight, the shod hoofs of their steeds ever and anon producing a sharp musical ring, while the thud, thud upon the green- carpeted earth sounded like the beating of so many ponderous drum-sticks. But there was not one in the band who was aware that they were followed—followed far away, then side-circled in a neat manner, and finally headed off, until they saw a horseman infront of them, near the edge of a prairie motte. Not ten moments after Cap. Woodchutk and ‘Specimen Brick” had left the tavern another man left the saloon by a side door, and mount- ed a horse tethered close by. ’ Skirmishing dextrously around to a thicke on the upper side of the Pawnee camp, this horseman watched the cavalcade ride off, down to the Grover mansion; saw Cecil join them, and then saw the whole party pass along the western side of the grove to the prairie be- yr ebaninid his fist after them, he wheeled his spirited animal into the ravine rear at hand, and spurred rapidly off to the south-west. The cavalcade was proceeding very slightly east of south, and were not urging their ani- mals beyond an easy gallop. Consequently, at the mad speed to which the single horseman put his animal, he soon was far in advance of’ the other party. The ravine or little valley was about ten miles in length, but by taking a cross cut the lone rider reached the great plains fully half an bour before the cavalcade, at which he bore off directly east and struck a: little motte’ al- ‘most on a line with Woodchuck’s route, All this was done without. being observed, as the sun partly glared in the eyes of the rangers, thus preventing their noticing the lone horse- man, The first knowledge they had of his presence was when they reached the edge of the motte, and beheld him sitting easily upon his foam- flecked steed, calmly awaiting their approach. ‘¢ Perciffic Pellerkans an’ North Amerykan Polekats!” ejaculated Cap., reining in his steed, as the band rode up, and staring hard at the stranger, through the eye-holes in his mask. ‘Who d’ye purtend to say you ar’, eh?” ‘My name is Guaymo Hidaglo, senor!” was the reply, in a low, musical voice. “Er Greaser, hey?’ ‘A Mexican—yes, senor.” **Don’t like ’m!”’ said Cap., wrth a gesture calculated to express his disgust. ‘‘ Bad eggs —phew! I’d’s leve be forced ter live all ther natteral days o’ my existence wi’ a hull kit o’ rattlesnakes, as ter keep company wi’ er Greaser for twenty-four ’ours, Holy Pole- kats, yes. They’re bad decockshuns 0’ compy- sishun |” ** Cospital” replied Hidaglo, with a grimace, ‘opinions differ, somewhat, senor. I argue that Mexicans are just as good as Yankees.” In the meantime Cecil had been eying the stranger, furtively. , He was just a trifle above the medium hight, with an elegantly proportioned form, small yet handsome features, and eyes of peculiar grayish luster. His complexion was nearly as dark as an Indian’s, and he sported a pair of luxuriant ‘‘Burnsides” and a little curling mustache. Taken altogether, from his personal appearance to his wild Mexican garb, he was a strange character to encounter, so far from his native country; still in those great mining regions, one need not be surprised to meet a man from the antipodes, as it were, for one, all, and everybody flocked to the golden fields. Another among those in the cavalcade than Cecil, eyed the Mexican with interest, watched him from under a pair of shaggy eyebrows, as if he was distrustful and suspicious. He was the ex-robber, ‘‘Specimen Brick.” “‘Humph!” ejaculated Woodchuck, in answer to the stranger’s fearlessly expressed opinion, ‘don’ ye git sassy, now, or, Holy Polekats! I'll de’cent onter ye like ér sham-scrougin’ ava- lanche, I opine I c’u’d chaw ye up in erbouta flee-skip, by ther town-clock.” ‘“‘T do not think necessity will require you to exert yourself, senor,” laughed Hidaglo, seemingly taking it all in good part. ‘But, aside with jesting, senors; may I be so bold as to inquire if you propose making your destina- tion Cherry Valley?’ This question was directed more to Cecil than to Woodchuck, and the young lawyer took it upon himslf to answer it: ‘‘ Yes; we are on our way to Cherry Valley. Why do you ask?” “ Oospita! then I am glad; perhaps I can enlist you in my cause. Listen, I will explain. “While hunting the buffalo yesterday, near this nest of outlaws, a band of them pounced down upon me, and my fair companion, Se- norita Gasconai, was captured. I fit like el demonio, and only escaped the hot pursuit the devils gave me an hour since. Seeing your approach, I spurred over to this motte, to in- tercept you, and beg your assistance in secur ing my betrothed wife!” ** Which shall be granted,” said Cecil. ‘‘We are even now upon the war-path, against the border-ruffians; ‘so fall in, and you sball share such as we have, for the senorita’s sake.” * Y-a-8, fall in,” accorded Cap., rather dubi- ously, ‘‘but jes’ keep back ’mung ther Injuns, Ef ye were to ride too cluss to me, I mought get marvous, an’ there’s no tellin’ w’at ther consyquences ‘d be. Yas, jine in—an’ gee up, fellers an ’g’lang! We’ve alreddy lost preshus time.” | And the cavalcade moved on, ee 15 CHAPTER XV. THE FAIR PRISONER'S HORRIBLE, DOOM, Cap. WoopcHUCK’s dream: had’ come true, Hurricane Nell, the beautiful sharp-shooter, was captured, as he had seen pictured in his remarkable nocturnal vision. It happened something after this fashion: On the same night that had witnessed the flight of Woolf and his gang from the saloon at Dwight’s, the Girl Deadshot might have been seen riding along a well-beaten trail, lead- ing from the mountains toward the mining set- tlement. She was well mounted and armed, and sat her spirited steed like a queen cavalier. As the animal she rode was well acquainted with the route before him, she allowed him to take his own course, while she gave herself up. to reflection. It was now three days since the shooting tournament at Dwight’s, and therefore, a like period since she had seen Cecil Burnett, or Grover, as we shall henceforth call him. Three long weary days to the wild young flower of the frontier, during which time she had been restless and impatient, and longing to see him, to whom her heart had gone out, as it were, with its great wealth of love, during their eventful journey across the plains. And now! She could not—would not remain in seclu- sion, any longer. She would venture forth from her mountain home, she would risk every- thing, if need be, to obtain one glimpse of the handsome young Philadelphian. Not that she had the least thought of allowing him to recog- nize her, for she was well aware that such an action would only cause pain to both, so long as her role of vengeance was unfulfilled, But, unknown to him, she would enter his presence, and maybe talk to him, and listen to the music of his rich, deep voice. With this object in view, she had left her mountain retreat, mounting her noble steed, had sallied forth on her mission. The night was one of heavy darkness, as the sky was overcast with ominous, somber clouds, and only a faint breeze was stirring. Nature seemed wrapped in deepest slumber, as the fearless girl. rode on, and a strange, moody silence pervaded the earth—a silence according well with her lonely, silent life and her present spirits. . When about a mile distant from the little glade, which we have previously described, she drew rein, and dismounted. Let us now watch her closely, and here make a discovery, Taking from her saddle-bags a small bundle, she arrayed her faultless form in the garments contained therein, and in five moments, with the aid of false beard, wig, and a trifle of paint, she stood transformed into the “‘son of an Earl,” in straitened circumstances, Yes, she was an exact copy of the old va- grant whom we have met on several occasions | at Dwight’s—indeed, she was the same, for in order to visit the tavern unbeknown to the out- laws, she had assumed this disguise, merely keeping up the farce of begging to ward off any suspicions that might arise in the minds of her enemies. How cleverly she managed, the reader has already seen. As soon as she had completed her change, she remounted her horse, and galloped on to- ward the settlement, her pure young heart thrilling as she thought of once more meeting Cecil—Cecil who was now dearer to her than life itself. On, over the green-carpeted turf, on through the somber still night, she dashed, and at last the low mesquit bushes loomed up before her, and her horse plunged through them into the little glade beyond. roe Then, all at once, she became aware of the presence of others. Her animal was seized by the bit, and hurled back upon his haunches; there was a fierce, exultant cry, as a horde of dusky forms leaped from the covert and swarmed around her; and | the next instant she felt herself borne from the (E| 00 \(6) e€oMm cs (E(o)