Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 328 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 The Sky Detectives. Jack Slasher fought with all the vim and welish of a man who loves fighting as well as he dover eating, and disdaining either revolver or knife, used a big club with terrible effect, strik- ink terrific blows witb his long, powerful arms. Ben Bradley was doing his share, and had already tumb ‘trying to evade a thrust of a spear, he fell. nstantly the Aztec who had thrust at bim ‘was upon the boy, and once again the deadly was raised aloft, to be sunk into brave n’s heart, But Harry Brown, whose eyes seemed to be all over, whose aim was sure, sent a bullet crashing through the barbarian’s brain, just. as ‘Captain Dyer made a brave but unnecessary dasb to the rescue, The Az6e2cs sas gf were good soldiers, and fought along with the cool apd determined courage of trained §-oops. But they could not hold out against the su- perior arms of the attacking party, and were s00n forced to succumb. A peculiar order rung out from one who ap- peared to be the leader, and they made a ‘united dash for the temple in which the priests had taken refuge. So sudden was the movement made, and with ‘such unity of action, that they were half-way to the edifice before the astonished Americans had time to understand the dodge. “ After them,” yelled Captain Dyer, and led the attack, The entire body of men dashed after him with cheer following the flash of his sword, but they were too late to cut off the retreat of the flying troops. The last man pot into the temple, and the door, constructed of iron, and fitted into solid Stone, was closed. Then as the Americans halted they saw that the temple was solidly constructed of stone, “They're solidly fixed in there,” said Captain Dyer. ‘‘ Boys, I guess we’ll have to let the rascals alone, for the simple reason that we can’t get at them.” . “So it seems,” said Brown. ‘‘ We can’t batter down that door, and the building looks fe a big lump of stone, the way they’ve built i Jack Slasher stood by and looked at the ‘temple with longing eyes, “Tt's a tarnal shame,” he declared. “What is?’ asked Brown. ** Oh, it doesn’t really matter,” said the de- tective, ‘' We’ve rescued the girl and punished her abductors.” “* Pard, yer talkin’, but yer not on the tack I am. Yersee, pard, I knows something about them 'ere Aztecs—seen 'em in Mexico more’n a bundred times, an’ I kin bet you as how there’s on Q plunder to be skinned out o’ them tem- ples, ‘* Plunder?” ny 6 7? ‘‘ What kind?” ‘Wh gold and silver gods, some of the crit- ‘ters with diamond eyes big enough to make yer head swim,” ‘Prue aspreachin’, Why, pard, you'd find ‘* True as preachin’, y , you’d finda fortune in that temple, or alt We a Digger, by wie ‘* We can’t leave all this treasnre behind us, ane Dyer,” said Brown. ‘‘We are the vic and to us belong the spoils. Your men will not object to a sbare of the prize xponey. ~ That's true,” Dyer exclaimed. “ But how are we to get in?” said Ben Brad- . “We might stay here and starve the | —— out, but that would be a mighty long “This temple is built as a place of retreat ‘and refuge in time of danger,” spoke up Harley Willis, ‘and the work has been solidly done, but if you will all wait here until I can go to { the balloon and return, I think I shall be able to open that iron door for you.” ‘We'll stand “Go it,” said Captain Dyer. guard until you return,” Away went the scientific lad toward the Sky Traveler, and then Captain Dyer improved the chance to look after his men, some of whom had fallen in the rattling ght, | He found one of his men killed, pierced through the heart by the long spear of an Aztec ‘warrior. Six more were wounded, two of them quite seriously, while the other four were wounded in @ manner that was painful, yet not sufficiently Dad to prevent them from fighting. Half a dozen Aztecs, pierced by the bullets of over two of his foes, when, in the attacking party, lay dead upon the und, while nearly Foublo that number Ban haan wounded, and were now crawling away to a place of safety. In a short time wk 3 Willis, divested of his armor, returned to the spot, and brought the small cannon with bim. Behind him came Annie Bradley, carrying a couple of packages, ith great care Annie placed the parcels on the ground, and then shook hands with her friends and kissed her brother Ben. Then all bands watched Harley with con- siderable siphons J The young genius opened one of the packages, and brought forth a canof powder. He took the tissue paper surrounding the can, and looked about him, ‘* Who can make a slow fuse?” he asked, and one of the sailors touched his hat and stepped forward, **T can make a time fuse,” he said, confident- ly. ‘‘How long does your honor want it to burn?” “Three minutes, at least.” ‘* All right, sir.” He took the paper and some powder, and be- gan manufacturing the fuse Harley needed. Then the yonng, cents took the bulk of the wder and carefully loaded the cannon, plac- ng three or four large stones on top of the pow- der to serve the place of a ball, Then he opened the other package and ex- posed something that looked like a can of can- ned fruit. What is it?” asked Brown ‘‘Oh, a trifling thing,” smiled Harley. ‘‘I hold here a powder great enough to blow us all to eternity.” ‘* Nitro-glycerine?” és Yes.” They all n to move off, while the young balloonist laughed heartily at their uneasiness, ‘Don't fear,” be said. ‘“‘I’min no hurry to dig. I'll be careful.” be can was placed against the door of the temple and the mouth of the cannon directed against it at a distance of two feet. ' ‘‘ Now, my man, how about the fuse?” said Harley to the sailor, ** Done, yogE honor,” answered the sailor, giving ita last twist. ‘‘Tll warrant it burns no less than three minutes.” ‘‘ That will give me all the time [ want,” said Harley. ‘‘ My friends, I advise you all to take a walk, Ican assure you that it will be for the benefit of your health to do so,” They didn’t need a second request but got away at alively pace; nor did they pause until they had put a safe distance between them- selves and the dreaded explosive. ; Very quietly Harley completed all his ar- rangements. e kept talking in a loud tone all the time, in order that the imprisoned folks within the tem- ple might not think the spot was deserted and eome forth, The long fuse was securely attached to the cannon, the end was set light to, and then Har- ley started away from the dangerous locality on a very wi run. He reached the safe location where his friends had taken up their stand, and then all with eager interest awaited the result of the experi- ment, With a uniform action the fuse burned down to the cannon. The heavily-loaded cannon went off within three minutes after Harley reached his friends, but its report was drowned in the mighty roar that seemed to shake heaven and earth. A cloud of dust, a shower of stones, and a series of startled cries followed, but for a few minutes our friends were unable to see the re- sult of the tremendous explosion, Then the smoke and dust cleared away and they saw that half of the massive temple had been shattered to fragments, Avhile the other half was demolished in a degree that told how far-reaching had been the effects of the nitro- glvceriue, ot a soul was to be seen. - Come on!” said Harley. ‘‘The temple is ours! With a cheer they dashed down upon the ruined temple. Four dead men within the ruins was all that could be seen of the many who had taken “plane there. The rest had disappeared from view. ‘* Where are they all?” asked Captain Dyer. ‘* Blown to the four winds, as such inhuman brutes deserved to be,” said Harley. ‘“‘Had they been like other members of the human family I could not have done it, but heartless brutes who could make a sacrifice of a beautiful girl—ob, I could blow them all into eternity and laugh at it.” ‘“Yes, they are no more than the brutes of the fleld,” said Harry Brown. A shout from Jack Slasher at this moment at- tracted attention. The former bully of Golden Gulch had picked up an overthrown image, and was bolding it aloft. It was about the size of a ten- pound baby, and had diamond eyes that gave forth a bewildering light “There's a prize,” cried Captain Dyer. ** Hurrah!” bir the crew of the Corrigan, t and A Arne eir hats. “sé Harry Brown. at’s that worth?” asked Ben, turning to “On a rough estimate,” said the detective, taking the ima in his hands, ‘‘! should that it was worth at least fifty thousand lars.” ‘* Hurrah!” a in yelled the crew. dol- Then a half-dozen made a dive among the debris of the ruined temple, Several more images of abi ¢ brass, and iron were found some of them gilded in parts supplied with eyes of diamonds, exposed, and all t length the patron god of the Aztecs Huitzilopochtli, was found, face, wide mouth, and terrible eyes, He bad a He was covered with gold, pearls, and precious stones, and was girt about with golden serpents. On his neck were the faces of men wrought in sil- ver, and their hearts in gold. Everything in gold, silver, or precious stones was hacked c ff or shyt out by the cote party ) and an immense ruined temple. : Then Captain Dyer, Ha young balloonist were electe mittee for dividin eap was made outs Brown, and the to act as a com- the spoils of war, and so fairly was the division made that everybod was satisfied, and it was estimated that the sale of tbe stuff under fair circumstances would make all hands the possessor of quite a snug little fortune. . Then, with many yer latte Meant gael adieu to Harley meet again, Captain Dyer bade to Willis and his party, and with his wounded borne on Jitters, marched off at the head of bis victorious crew, while Harley and his friends, bearing their share of the booty, regained the Sky Traveler. The prizes were safely stowed away in the bottom of the car, the reunited aboard, the drag-rope was cast off, arty got the gas in- flated by heat, and up into the thin air they arose, ‘‘Once more afloat,” said Harley, with an ad- miring glance at Annie Bradley, who looked very charming in the costume the Aztec women had put upon ber. ‘And now, the question of the moment is: where do you want to go?” ‘*Back to Golden Gulch,” spoke up “With what we all ope ‘il his resolute manner. Ican expose Dick Crowell and Simpson. show up their guilt, even if I don’t prove m own innocence, Ben, in Iam determined to ,0 bac there with my bead erect, and if they plot against me again Ican do what I’ve done fore: fight for life and honor!” CHAPTER XIII AN ARREST. LATE the next day after the fight of the Americans with the Aztecs quite an exciting scene took place in Golden Gulch. Finding, by careful inquiry, that no news of his villainy had been sprea Dick Crowell unhesitatingly left bis haunt. He and a number of his men we about the town, re seated in the Diggers’ Delight, in company with a mis- cellaneous crowd of miners, tradespeople, pros- as and others, when the thunder of many oofs was heard, and a body of mounted men dashed up to the door. They ismounted and passed into the bar- room just as the occupants sprung to their feet to ses what was afoot. A score of people recognized Sheriff Hays, and a number shouted: : “What's up, Jack?” The eagle eye of the little sheriff ran the room, and be advanced upon Crowell. ““Di¢ék Crowell,” he said, ‘‘I] want you, d over I arrest you as an outlaw, a robber, and the leader of robbers. Cave in, or you'll never see ” But what he was never going to see remained a mystery, for at that very instant Crowell acte Geom Cc OOK e) upon the defensive with lightning-like Sj (Glo)