Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 32 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

. B of him. ~ Had he been at home, in the court of justice, and been confronted with the scowls of twice as many civilized rascals, he would not. have felt at all alarmed. The trained arms of his beautiful and eccentric companion lowered him safely to the ground. A few moments ater she glided like a squirrel down the trunk of the tree. Now listening again, and hearing no suspicious sounds, with the stealth of a pan- ther she led the way toward the northern end of the motte. When within fifty yards of the edge, she bade Cecil remain behind, in the shadows, while she crept further on to reconnoiter. Fully half an hour passed, and the lawyer was growing impatient, when, suddenly, she rejoined him. “Come!” she said, with a low laugh, “I’ve cleared the path.” They hurried swiftly, noiselessly on, and soon emerged upon the edge of the woodland, and stopped. Cecil gave a low cry as he saw two savages leaning up against a tree, as if engaged in a close conversation, not ten feet from where they they had halted. “Quick!” he gasped, grasping Hurricane Nell by the arm. ‘There are Indians! This way!” The border beauty uttered a low, chuckling laugh, andi drew back. “They won’t hurt you,” she replied. *“Whyt—see! They’re in plain view!” **So I perceive. But they are harmless fel- lows, just at present, and not addicted to rais- ing har! I reasoned with them, a short time ago, and they concluded not to take up arms against us.” ‘** What do you mean? You don’t mean to tell me that they are—?’ : ** Yes, I do—dead as smoked herrings!” ** And you killed them?’ **T had that honor.” Cecil Burnett shuddered. **T am inclined,” he said, peering forward at the corpses that stood up so na y, “to believe that you are a trifle bloodthirsty.” “Hem! yes: I’m sometimes of the same opinion, Mr. Burnett. But it is a thirst I can- not quench, sir. When you know that I have sworn a feurful oath to avenge the burning of my parents’ dead bodies, and that yet half of the two score of ruffians still roam in freedom, you will not wonder at my unhesitancy in tak- ing the life of a member of Cap’n Bob Woolf’s accursed band. Come!” Without another word she threw herself flat upon the ground, and crept out over the dus- ky plain, the young lawyer following her ex- ample. In five moments they had reached the spot where the horses were lying, in a natural indenture of the plain, the tall grass hitherto concealing them from view. To Cecil’s surprise and wonder, he saw that the big roan, whom Nell had lassoed, was ly- ing contentedly by the side of the other ani- mals, “Humph!” he muttered. “This is the strangest of all!” “Think so?’ queried the maiden, with a flush of pride. ‘* Well, he is to be yours! But come! let’s mount and be off as quickly as pos- sible!” Quickly they were in the saddles, and then Hurricane Nell led the way rapidly off toward the southeast, through the spectral gloom of the approaching morn. The roan stallion gal- loped along on one side of her and Cecil on the other. | The night was very clear and still, and th clink of the horses’ hoofs soon reached the ears of the Dakotahs in the motte, who at once set up a vindictive howl and whoop of rage. But; ere they could reach and mount their own mus which had been tethered in the southern ‘portion of the motte, the Hurricane and Cecil were far, far away toward the dis- tant Cherry Valley. ° On they sped over the wide, level plain at the rate of eight miles an hour, for their horses were refreshed, and could stand the long gal- Morning presently dawned, bright and glo- rious, and then, as the hazy sun rose up, over the crest of the horizon, almost, in front of them, the maiden announced that they had. only about fifteen miles yet to ride, About nine o’clock they came to a stretch of undulating prairie, and in another hour struck into a narrow, yet fertile valley, which ran back for five miles between a range of hills. Several cabins were passed, from the win- dows of which several blear-eyed, bloated wretches peered out. ‘Keep your shooting-iron in readiness!” said Hurricane Nell in a low tone, ‘‘for all of these cabins we are passing are robber dens. Yonder big ranch is the general rendezvous of the worst of Cap n Bob’s ruffians!” Cecil grasped his rifle, which was now his only weapon, with a firm hand, and they dashed on up the valley. Fortunately no one offered to molest them, and in half an hour they rounded an abrupt turn in the valley, anc came into view of a single cabin by the road- side. Here the girl drew rein and said: ‘* There is where Luke Rice lives. I will remain outside here while you transact your business with him. How long will it take you? It is better that we should get out of Cherry Valley ere dark- ness sets in, or we may have trouble!” ‘““T can rejoin you inside of an hour,” re- plied Cecil, dismounting and going to the cabin. Here, after rapping several times, he was admitted by an old, scar-cheeked, dwarfish- looking man, who nodded pleasantly to the heroine guide as he saw her. ~ After Cecil had disappeared she unbridled the animals, and allowed them to graze along over the knolls; then she sat down on a bowl- der and petted the big roan, who approached her fearlessly and allowed her to stroke his im- mense mane and rub her soft hand up and down his nose. Instead of one hour, three of them dragged by ere Cecil Burnett emerged from the border- er’s cabin and rejoined Nell, There were tears in his eyes as he prepared to mount, which Nell could not account for, and thenceforth concluded that some mystery connected the two men, Ere they were ready to start, old Luke Rice came out to the trail, carrying a salverful of the most savory venison, already cooked, which he urged upon the guide, “Take et!” he said, with a grin. “I opine ye kin chaw grizzly, or buffaler, or deer meat yet, ‘less ye’ve lost yer teeth since I see’d ye last.” She accepted it, and both being hungry, she and Cecil devoured it on the spot. ** An’ ye, younker,” said Rice, addressing the young lawyer: “ef I conclude ter let ye kno’ afore my oath “‘T'll send ye a lettir, sir. I don’t reckon ’s ye’ll heer from me, tho’, till arter the 8th uv August. I[ hain’t ther most lenient cuss ye kin dream uv in these ere leetle fusses! W’enI do write ye, tho’, Ill guv ye ther hull ijee, from J ter Jez- zeybel, see ’f I don’t? Now, good-by to ye.” “‘Good-day, sir,” replied Burnett, coldly, as they rode away. . “Will you stay in Dwight’s long, now?’ Hurricane Nell asked, half-dreamingly, as they galloped on. Burnett gave her a quick glance, and a wild throb in his heart made him flush a trifle; for there was something in the tone of the ques- tion which seemed to express regret. “‘T shall be compelled to stay in the West until the 8th of August, if not longer,” he re- plied, slowly. “Probably at Dwight’s, if it don’t get too hot for me there. Would you care, Miss Nellie, if I were to leave at once?” The question came so suddenly, and was so earnest, that she, in turn, was startled, and a deep blush stole over her beautiful face, “IT don’t see that I have given you occasion to ask so pointed a question, sir,” she replied, half haughtily, turning her head away to con- ceal the tell-tale expression in her hazel eyes. ‘*My answer would be, that of course I'd care - That is all.” a ob Woolf, the Border Ruffian. 7 settle upon Cecil’s heart, and he did not broach the subject again, for many hours, ~ On, they gailoped, and as they dashed by the cabins of the border outlaws, the eyes of the girl scout scanned each one, like those of a lynx, and she whispered to Burnett, eagerly: “‘See! the trampled ground about here? And there are no faces at the cabin windows?’ “Well, what of that?’ asked her companion. “Very much. Cap’n Bob has secretly fol- lowed us from Dwight’s, and while we were at Luke’s has been here, ordered out his men, and they’ve gone on abead to ambush us.”. Here she extended Cecil her holster pistols, and then they sped on, accompanied closely by the big roan, Soon they came to a gully or intersecting .valley, and into this the guide wheeled the animals, “We wil cut across,” she explained, in an- swer to Cecil’s inquiring look, ‘‘ and reach the plains by a shorter route.” In ten moments they skurried out across a rolling prairie, and on glancing to the east, they saw ascore of mounted horsemen bear- ing down toward them. Cap’n Bob and his ruffians. “Now for it!’ exclaimed Hurricane Nell, putting the spurs to her horse, “Follow, close, Mr. Burnett. It is going to be a race for life,” He obeyed, with alacrity, and from that in- stant the wild and exciting race commenced. CHAPTER VIIL THE DEAD SHOT—CECIL’S PRESENT. _ ON—on they dashed, out across the undulat- ing prairie—on, out upon the level plain, where they were in plain view of the p suers, Captain Bob and his gang were about a mile in the rear, and were urging their long-winded mustangs down to their level-best speed. . Hurricane Nell took the lead, for her clean- limbed horse was the fastest of the three, and Cecil and the big roan kept close behind her. She well knew that the ruffians must triumph in the long run, as their animals were fresh, and possessed of great endurance. Therefore, she resolved to hold out as long as possible, and then, if it came to the worst—/fight! . . She examined her superbly-mounted rifle, and saw that a fresh cartridge was in its place, as they dashed on, Cecil doing likewise. On— ° like the veritable hurricane they swépt, the animals panting, from their tremendous exer- tions, the yells of the outlaws growing more distinct each moment, On—on—on, and mile after mile was trav- ersed—wildly, swiftly. ] Ahead and on either side, not a tree, brush, or shrub offered the fugitives protection. - Naught but a vast expanse of glowing plain stretched on and off for twenty miles. Their horses were already beginning to show signs. of exhaustion, more particularly Cecil’s, who was not accustomed to long races upon the level plain, Nearer—steadily nearer came the pursuers, until at last they were within long-range rifle- shot, and their triumphant yells proclaimed their expected victory. Still they did not offer to fire, and it became evident that their purpose was to capture the two fugitives. Cap’n Bob was ahead, and a horrible, tri umphant leer dwelt upon his bloated counte nance, as he came on, — On—on—on, and. Hurricane Nell perceived that Cecil’s beast was failing rapidly, while her own was still in the lead, and the big roan galloping easily at her right. The wild stal lion did not show a sign of fatigue, A sudden resolute light entered the desper- ate girl’s eyes. : ‘Lash your animal up to my left side, here!” she suddenly cried, to the young lawyer, who was pale and silent. He obeyed, mechanically, and for a second all three animals dashed on, abreast. “ Seize your rifle, and when I lift you, sp as a friend to see you depart. _ lop at such a speed, All! A heavy weight suddenly seemed to | from your stirrups,” she next commanded, GOMINIEDOOKS: (E@)