Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 41 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

—— A —— ee —_ -— His screams created a momentary excitement among Sir George’s friends, but he soon explain- ed the whole matter, adding—as he re dagge r to the hollow staff of his eane: That counts the first red-skin forme. Alt his decidedly wondrous what hamount of serpent like cunning these red-men hof hAmerica pos- sess, decidedly wondrous.” So saying, he resumed his work of removing the boxes, while his friends returned to theirs. He soon reached the large box, which he at once broke open and emptied of its contents. When this was accomplished, he rolled the box from the wagon, and with the assistance of one of his friends, carried it to where the trader was making the excavation in the ground. The box was then measured and the hole dug - sufficient length, depth and breadth to receive "Tt required but a few minutes to fit the box in the ground, the top about six inches below the surface of the ground. This done, the English- man covered the bottom and lined the sides of the box with some of the traders’ cloths. The horse with the lifeless body of Captain Gray upon it, was now led around a wagon where it could not be seen by the maidens, who Were now taken from their wagon and conduct- ed to the buried box. ‘“* There, girls,” said Lasso Jack, pointing to the neatly fu Firntshed box, “is your only resort for escape. In that box we hope to cover you so that you will escape the savages until I can brin assistance to your release.” hope,” said label, sorrowfully, ‘it will rove a living tomb.” | am sure it ey be preferable to Indian captivity, ” said Rosalind, ‘No, no, Miss Garfield,” said Jack; “‘ you need have no fears. We will arrange it so you will experience no inconvenience for want of fresh air, We will supply you with water and food | to last you until I come back, which may be to- night; if not, by to-morrow noon at furthest.” : But, suppose you should never return—not one of you?” said ind, sadly. “When sufficient time for our return has elapsed and none of us appear, then you can make your own escape from the box. We will Sate it so that you can release yourselves. We will place a thin layer of sod and turf over you, and ff you should be compelled to release your- selves, take the and follow it westward. About mite gf Bonne from here you will come upon an old Mexican ranchero, who will un- doubtedly assist you. There is scarcely a doubt but that I will be back within the time stipu- lated. Lf you could only stand the ride, I would take you along now, but then you could not. This box retreat, girls, is your salvation. rl ‘Oh, Jack!” exclaimed Rosalind, u have been more than a friend to us, and if ever we escape, we will forever owe you a debt of grati- tude.” ‘‘'No, no, Rosalind, you need never feel under obligations tome. It is a duty that I owe to my fellow-beings to aid them in time of need, But time, my dear young ladies, is precious, and we must improve it.” He took Rosalind by the and assisted her down into the box. Then, as he was about to withdraw his hand, she tated her head and their eyes met in one last, lingerin , that told of the silent communion of their youn hearts, Jack pressed her little, soft han gently, and then, as he withdrew. it, he deftly slipped a gold ring upon one of her tapering fingers, saying Will you ait it, and wear it?” ‘For fe: sake, Jack, ” and tears that told of a new-born hope, gathered i in the maiden’s eyes. not Mabel was assisted to te side. Their retreat was quite Sood eee Boel found they would not be cram They could sit or lie comfortab Sart F the ape of the box would not admit of heir standing. Water was given them in a jug, with an ample supply of provision to gy several days how came the work of ne, the top. The covering was of heavy board in these, sev- eral round holes were cut, ‘and powder-horns with both ends open inserted therein, with the small ends pointing upward, These were to be ventilators to the maidens’ retreat, With sad and heavy hearts, Lasso Jack and Sir George carefully placed the covering over the box; then, wi Fae greatest precision the sod and turf were placed upon this; great care being taken that the mouth of the powder-horns were not closed up, oe concealed from the closest observation by tangling grass over them. In digging the pit, the diggér had made such calouiations that the box would be let in the a a Lasse J ack. wi | eect’ low tetiectaie bok the vidios ot) below the surface just the thickness of the sod, so that when it was replaced there would be no irregularities on the outer surface. When the job was completed, J. placed his lips to the mouth of one of the horns that pro- truded half an inch above the surface of the ground, and asked: “Have you san of air, down there girls?” **Yes, sir,” Rosalind’s voice responded, ‘“‘ it is | dark, bay very comfortable. We can see of da light through the horns,” ow are you gong to conceal this dirt, Jack?” asked one of the traders; ‘“‘ the savages will know it was brought here, and will nose around till they find the hole it came out of.” ‘We can easily remedy that,” said Jack; ‘‘ dig | another hole and throw the dirt upon this pile. The savages will never dream but that it came out of the same hole.” a By St. George Jack!” exclaimed Sir George, for hits horiginality, you ’ave.” The hole was at once dug as Jack roan then the young mustanger Aiand to Old Dan | and said: ‘‘ Now let the horse out, Dan, and give him a keen cut with the whip, to start him away. The yells of the savages will soon rise and keep him going.” The next moment the fine, Captain Gray, with its grim, outside of the ‘circle of wagons, and flying over the plain at a wild, break-neck ** Now, boys, mount your horses and prepare | = a ered him? or were the _ friends that he had left ‘be ei —— a slight noise like the far-off roll of thunder. But he knew it was not thunder, for the sky was cloudless. He turned and swept the horizon. He start- = ~ ae an exclamation of surprise burst from Vas away upon the plain, to the southward of him, he saw a band of horsemen, galloping | down toward him, a dark cloud of dust hang- in over them. ey were over two miles away, yet it was | easy for one accustomed to the prairies as was Lasso Jack, to see that it was a band of savages. _And now arose the er had they discov- ie rep some of his n He could arrive at no definite conclusion on | either question, and was at a loss to know what | course to pursue. Heknew flight would be use- | less, so he threw himself down in the tall prai- ‘*-vou ’ave an ’ead, hon you that is remarkable | rie-grass, and tangled it carefully over him. | In this position, with his ear pressed closely uested, | to the ground, the young mustanger could plain- ly hear the clatter and feel the vibratory shock of the horses’ hoofs; and now a new fear took ee of him—a fear that he would be pled to death beneath the pounding hoofs. But we must now leave our hero, and change pee, steed of ' the scene of our story for a short time. less rider, was | Far away to the southward a band of some eaey Comanche Indians were halted in a little of cottonwood trees, gazing out upon the rairie that stretched its unbroken length to leave, "said Lasso J ack; then he turned, and | a eagues to the northward. going back to where the maidens were, he dropped u to one of the horns, sai “The plan works well. girls. are, The savages ursuing the lifeless horseman, and now we hall attempt our escape. een easy, you shall be released soon. Good-b He lingered long eno h to hear Rosalind’s then he arose, and s you, Jack,’ going to where his horse was in waitin , mount- ed it, rode from the wagon-corral, an ae away toward the west, closely fo pad gal Dan, Sir George, and ithe two traders. They saw before they started the savages were all in hot pursuit of the lifeless fugitive, and felt in BORE that they would escape unob- served, but in this they were disappoin They had not ridden over five. miles, when they discovered they were being followed by a score of ye Comanches. “Boys,” said Lasso Jack, ‘‘our only ho now lays in the of our horses, and let every one of you ride, ride for your lives!” CHAPTER XI. BIG BEAR LOSES HIS GAME, Ir was the day following that of our friends’ escape from the wagon corral on the plain. Across the great Texan prairie, to the North- ward of the scene of Captain Gray’s disaster, a solitary individual was making his way on foot. Across his shoulder he carri of pistols were in his girdle, alongside of his hunt- ing-knife. collar was thrown open 1g a a massive chest, that was 7" Perdis thentbieg the pent-up emotions of fear a aaieigey, “ais cap was pushed back from a fine, in ectual brow, that was ca with perspiration, for it was a hot, mi r day. He was a youn mea eee pomeated of inexhaustible endurance, and the elasticity of an antelope. The youthful pecan, was our ‘ hero, Lasso Jack, the young mustange As before sta was the day ay_foliowi that of his m the wagon-corral, tha we find him journeying on foot over the plain, = yet he had not exnecion to find aid for the rescue of Rosalind bel. His horse had fallen dead under him from a oe riding, but, never faltering, he pressed on, on foot. But the brave youth was soon doomed to meet with another disappointment. He was discov- ered by a party of 9 and made a narrow escape from capture, by taking to a little grove where he was compelled to remain conceal for hours, each of which seemed an , 80 great was his anxiety for the rescue. of the maidens that he had left buried on the plain, At length he managed to escape, under cover of darkness, and pursue his onward course: but his detention by the savages, and loss of his horse, had thrown him several hours behind, which it would require superhuman exertions to regain. It was yet st noon, and he was some ten miles from his destination, when he suddenly detected abel n his knees, and applying his mouth | lim d_| hundred times before, _ horses that were grazing upon it about a quar- | ter of a mile vate 4 a rifle. A brace | | been to the fort where he | were all well mounted upon fine, clean- and spirited mustang ponies. They were | armed with rifles, tomahaw race knives, yet it was evident they were not a war-party. eir lariats, lassoes and other trappings told that ——— were a party of hunters in pursuit of wild er: es ithe stood in the edge of the grove and gazed away to the northward of them, it was not the prairie and its romantic beauty that at- tracted their attention, for they had seen it al but it was a herd of wild ‘* Look! a pisces see the herd of wild horses whose leader is White Lightning?’ asked the leader of the party who was known as Big Bear, a name very suggestive from his short, burly appearance, in which the animal propensi- ties were fully developed. His companions responded in the affirmative as, with eyes, they gazed upon the herd grazing upon the plain before them. There were over a hundred in the herd, of all ages and colors, Standing a little to one side was a white stud, that seemed to be performing the duties of sentinel : for his head was erect his massive neck arched, and his ears pricked up as though in the attitude of extreme Vigi- lance. He was a report animal—a per- fect wae with mane and tail sweeping to he mec e was known by the savages as hite Lightning, a name suggested by his won- derful swiftness and instinct in detecting ap- ome danger. A hundred. ae perhaps, manches endeavored to capture him, but the found no horse in their corrals ciently fleet to accomplish it. But, finally, Bi Bear had the luck to steal, f from a ba band of Apaches, a horse that had long been noted for its speed, and upon this animal he seteout, accompanied by a party of his braves, deter- mined to capture ite Lightning. For days they been in search of the herd with which he ran, and not until the present hour had they been able to get sight of him. They were to the leeward of the herd, yet despite this advantage, the noble beast seemed tot Sees eae of danger. my warriors mount and a ha “or the ee ” said Big Bear. ‘“‘I purstie White Li ghtning with the lasso, while ou can keep to the right and left to head the herd off if it should turn either way. The way to the northward is long, and un roken by hills and creeks. If the herd pon in that direction, the race will be long, and ere darkness falls, Big Bear will ride into the Comanche village on White ightnin There is none on the p better the asso, althou gh the fame of the white soanatenr Lasso Jack, is great. But he has tried to:catch White Lightning and failed, and yet he bets his scalp against mine that he’ will — the wild steed first. If he is honest, as Big Bear is, to-morrow he will come into my ge and give me his scal gorips for I am as certain of capturing the white d as lam that my eyes see him now. Big Bear has spoken. Let my braves follow.” (EO) 0)(0\(6) (e cS