Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 41 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

even when I should be the most determined and resolute.” Drawing one of the horns from its p Rosa- lind be to enlarge the hole in the box-lid. But. she soon found a hopeless task. The wood was hard almost as iron, and her feeble strength, and that of Mabel, were unable to complete the job before them. At least, it would uire hours of incessant labor. But, without a despairing murmur, she worked away, being relieved occasionally by Mabel. Thus, for hours, the sisters worked on, but they found their diligence had been poorly re- warded, for the hole had been enlar just sufficiently to enable Rosalind to put her hand and arm out. This the maiden did, and with the knife she shaved the dirt and sod away, until the hole was of uniform size to the surface of the ground or sod above them. They were enabled to see out now quite easily. They beheld a number of stars twink ling in the blue dome of heaven. They put their hands out and felt the cool evening wind upon them. It made them long for its freedom, and renewed their hopes. And so Rosalind began clipping away at their prison door, but in the midst of her labor, she gave the knife a sudden wrench, and snap the steel blade in two. With this accident faded all their hopes of escape, and both again sunk down in despair. They threw their arms about each other’s neck, and burst into an agony of tears. But in the midst of their bitter emotions, a sound sud- denly rushed athwart the darkness. It was a sound that caused them to start and choke down their sobs and listen. They recognized the sound as the tread of a horse’s hoofs, and the clink of a bit-ring. The fear of perishing in their retreat over- balanced all other fear and p pee) and at the top of her lungs Rosalind called for help. Then they listened for the result. They could still hear the iro of hoofs above them, movy- ing about apparently in a circle around them. ‘It must be a friend, Mabel,” said Rosalind, in a whisper. ‘It may be, but it is none of those that left 2 ae or —_ they iteeag! ape be groping about, apparently, searching for the spo A fae . y no en put out your to show him where we are,” replied Mabel. Rosalind called to the unknown horseman again, then she bravely thrust her hand and arm out at the opening, in hopes of attracting attention. , The next moment after she had withdrawn her | way they heard a soft footstep approach- em. en a dark shadow fell across their look-out overhead. Gazing out, Rosalind saw the of a man standing over their retreat, plainly outlined against the starry sky, and it was now that it occurred to her that it might be an Indian rior or prairie freebooter, and the thought sent the blood, in icy currents, back to her stout young heart. CHAPTER XIII. THEY ARE GONE. A BAND of some fifty horsemen broke camp on the San Saba, at daybreak, and pushed their course southward, at a y speed. They were all well mounted, armed alike, and wore the uniform of the United States soldiers. In fact, it was a detachment of soldiers, a part of Captain Louis Gray’s command, that had been sent out from Fort —— to punish a band of Comanches and freebooters, under the notori- ous Texan Terror, that had to south of them, and were raiding and murd pom ca and emigrants along the overlan trail. They had only been out one day’s ride from the fort, but now as they galloped onward over the plain, they expected any minute to bring them in sight of a party of the marauding foe. —— felt perfectly secure, even for the superiority of their horses and weapons would give them a decided advantage in an open a nap as eT e@ pa on, stopping only a few min- utes to noon, andas the nog was near its setting, Lieutonans Jourdan seseried a bars epee re distance e southw riding directly ward them, at a fearful Sela . The lieutenant at once ordered a halt, and his men into line, for he knew not but that it was a fugitive flying from a band of savages. But in this they were happily disappointed, for they soon discovered the horseman was entirely Lasso Jack. alone. They saw that he was mounted upon a spirited, snow-white horse, without sada or bridle, and seemed to have but little control over the animal’s movements. On he came, now so close, that the rangers could distinguish his form and features. It was the renowned youth, Lasso Jack, the young mustanger. A shout pealed from mg a for, of all others, the presence of Lasso J was most de- sirable. As he came still nearer, they saw that his horse, a beautiful white mustang, with flowing white mane and tail, was foaming with sweat, and unmanageable with fear and affright, the little dreaming it was the renowned wild s ; ae Lightning, with its first rider upon its When he discovered the Pay otk Lasso Jack exerted his utmost to check the flying steed; but he found it was a task likely to uire some trouble and exertion. He determined he would not lose the animal, for he found, by experience, that it was the fastest he had ever backed. Reaching forward, he passed his hands alon the animal’s neck, permitting them to exten gradually to his head, then down to his muzzle, when swt gop! grasped the beast by the nose and closed his nostrils. In this manner the noble beast was soon smoth- ered down, and came to a full stop, before he had uite reached the rangers. Then, with the lasso that was still looped around his nose, the young mustanger made a slip-noose, passed it inside the mouth, and over the lower jaw, and in a moment more, White Lightning was in the power of Lasso Jack. The youth now proceeded, in the true manner of the wild-horse: tamer, to conquer and bring its wild spirit into gentle submission. This he had, ina great measure accomplished, ere the rangers came up, for in the management of the wild horse, there were none in the South-west that could excel Lasso Jack. ‘*Hello, Jack Clarkson, what does all this mean?’ questioned Lieutenant Jourdan, as they galloped up. + Res t White Lightning, at last, lieuten- ant,” replied Lasso Jack, ‘‘and I tell you he came in good play at a good time, too.” ‘““Why, what is the matter, Jack? Anything wron - Wrong!” exclaimed Jack; ‘“‘ yes, the whole Comanche nation is an accursed wrong! Itisa God-send that I have met you here. The red devils have been doing their worst.” ‘* What have they been doing, Jack?” 4 Have a a all but on of a ew and-twenty persons, an ptain is Gray was one of the killed.” ‘Great God! is this possible, Jack?’ cried Lieutenant Jourdan, while exclamations of sur- prise and sorrow passed from lip to lip of the men. Jack briefly narrated the adventures of the pry upon the plain, the terrible siege of the and death of most of its noble defenders, and how their escape was finally effected, after nav J had concealed the captain’s nieces in a box under ground. The rangers received the terrible news with sad hearts, for they dearly loved Captain Gray. After he had concluded his story, Lieutenant J 55 oe asked: ave you any hopes of the girls’ esca discovery?” = ping ‘“*T have, lieutenant. But, they mer. only es- cape discovery by the sav to perish in a liv- ing tomb. I was to have been back this morn- ing at furth to relieve them. I hope, for heaven’s sake, Jourdan, you will take your men and go with me to their rescue.” ‘*Of course I will, Jack; mount your horse and lead the way. cs “Thank God!” exclaimed Jack; then with but little difficulty he mounted his Far con- quered steed, and heading him southwar . loped sharply away, with Lieutenant Jo “rit iy side, and his rangers following close be- When they were fairly under way, Jourdan asked: ‘Where are the rest of your friends that es- caped ?” ‘I cannot say. I left them all far behind after we esca from our breastwork of wagons. Old Dan Dorne was among them.” ‘*Old Dan Dorne! As brave a man as ever pulled trigger. I hope we will meet them all.” “Tam afraid the chances are inst them,” said Jack, ‘‘ for a score of Comanche devils were after them.” _‘* And how came you aboard of White Light- ning?” ~~ “* After our escape from the w rode on until my horse fell d under me. Then I took it on foot. While thus journeying I saw a band of Comanches riding = eet to- ward me; and to escape pom if not been already, I threw myself in tall grass. The savages proved to be a party in pursuit of wild horses, and one of them, the notorious Big Bear, succeeded in lassoing this horse, just as he came up to where I lay. The horse was thrown within three feet of me. I knew I would be discovered if I remained there, so I sprung to my feet. I knocked Big Bear down, cut the lasso that held White Lightning, and as he rose to his feet, I sprung upon his back, and away we shot like a meteor over the plain, in exactly the direction I wanted to go.” ‘*By heavens! you ran a woustertul risk of your life, Jack!” ‘* Yes, lieutenant, and all for those two fair girls buried on the plain, miles from here.” ‘** Ah, Lasso ee see you are—” ** Look ee ahead! A horseman!” broke in one of the rangers, in a stentorian voice. True enough, a horseman was observed riding toward them, swinging his hat in a manner to attract attention from the rangers. The party rode on until they met him. To their joy and rise it was old Dan Dorne. He was flushed with excitement, and his horse about exhausted with hard riding. ‘“* Hullo, Jack, lieutenant and friends! Glad to meet you, by heavens I am!” the old hunter- guide exclaimed, nearly out of of breath, before either of the others could “Why, Dan? Whatisit? What's up?’ “The devil’s to pay, Jack. Sir George Rich- ardson is a willin’ prisoner—has turned traitor to us, and at this holy minute he and Texan Terror are goin’ back to git the gals we left con- cealed in the box on the plain I ““Great God!” exclaimed Jack, in accents of despair, ‘‘ then the girls are lost, lost! But, Dan, I can. hardly believe Sir George is such a vil- **T could hardly b’lieve it either, fur awhile, but it’s so, Jack. SS: evidence have you to substantiate the ‘‘ The evidence of my own eyes and ears,” re- turned Dan. ¥! There could be no doubt of his story now, for Dan Dorne was known to be a man of truth, and to never circulate reports that he could not rove. ‘** Then let us ride ar, for heaven’s sake,” said Jack; ‘‘I wish I could discredit Dan’s story, but who ever knew him to be at fault in such matters?” “ Forw men, forward!” exclaimed Lieu- tenant Jo and the next instant the whole band went sweeping away at a gallop over the p Old Dan Dorne accompanied them. The emotions of Lasso Jack now were any- thing but pleasant. The thought of Sir George t traitor and going back with the inhu- man Texan Terror to recover the maidens, filled his heart with bitter anguish and agonizing im- — He knew there were grounds for Sir rge’s conduct—that he had been very atten- tive to ind, and that attention amounted to more than mere try. Yet, he never dreamed that his , open manh and mor- al courage could descend so low in the scale of manliness as to turn traitor and take sides with such an inhuman foe as Texan Terror, in order to obtain by force, that which he could not ob- tain by a free, open course of h and right. The party rode sharply on and at dark struck the wagon-trail about ten miles from where the maidens had been concealed. T the trail they oped on by twos, Jack and Lieutenant J ce om keeping the Jead. The moon was just up when the party came in sight of the a thrown from the pit mets where the te res concealed. ey did note d the wagons there, for Dan had po a te miles from there in a little grove, where the freebooters had concealed them. With a heart beating with all the agony of fear and nse, Lasso Jack turned from the trail and rode toward the mound of yellow dirt. Dismounting, he — his horse in care of one of the rangers and hurried forward toward the place where he had left the maidens. But, as he neared the spot, a cry of agony burst from his lips and he staggered back as if from a ghost. Before him he saw the excavation that had been made for the girls. It was open and the maidens were gone! ‘* Are they gone?” com GDOOKS