Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 44 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

do it. Either he was gifted waie-ene after the style of a cat’s, or else there is really something in what is said about a reckless man escaping what a careful one would fall into, for certainly he fahren without any serious mishap. uch was his haste to reach the camp of the Re tors, that he did not wonder long at the or’s absence from the rock where he had left him, but concluding that, grown tired of wait- i uke had gone below, he hastened to do likewise. It happened that he descended into the main canon some distance above the place they had used before. This was unintentional on his part. He made a noise in his haste that attracted the attention of the fellow whom Big Mouth had left in the pass, while he went to the ranch for something, tobacco or brandy we will say and hit it every time. The discharge of firearms in the direction of the stronghold, had attracted this fellow’sattention, and made him suspicious of every forei sound; so what did he do but blaze away in the direction of the noise. Rattling Rube felt the wind raised by the ball as it hissed past, within an inch of his face. He was a man who had never been known to take an insult, and this was deemed such in his way of lookingatit. Whipping out his revolver he returned the shot. He had seen the flash, and governed his aim amy A low but hearty curse declared that his bul- let had found a lodging somewhere in the corpo- rosity of the sentinel, and satisfied with his work, Rube did not shoot again, but hastened down the mountain as rapidly as the circumstances permitted. The Kentucky Regulators, under the hunter’s orders, had pitched their camp in a secluded heir presence would not be even suspected until the person coming upon the lace, was almost on its borders. ttling ube knew just where to find them, and twenty minutes after making such a hasty exit from a eeermanist ranch, he stalked into camp, rifle What he had to tell, created quite a commo- tion in the camp. Wildcat Turner turned as red as a turkey cock, full of importance at the thought that he led the expedition that cleaned out these border vipers, for of course Rube would not care to claim any of the honor. Rube was troubled a little when he found that the major had not come in, but the very worst he attributed to his absence, was that the soldier had lost himself upon the mountain side. That Duke had in the literal meaning of the word, fallen into the hands of the horse-thieves, none of them suspected for an instant. Now that there was a good prospect of work before them, the rs proved themselves to be men of energy. Rube gave his orders clearly and concisely, and before three minutes had elapsed, the camp in the gulch was deserted, save by a prowling wolf or two that fought over the bones found beside the dying embers of the fire. Like a troop of dark phantoms the Regulators made their way up the canon, with Wildcat Turner at their head. Rube had gone on some little distance in advance, in order to play the — of scout, for it would be such an easy thing run into an ambuscade. Nothing of this hap- pened, however; even the guard had been called in, and their pemage was entirely undisputed. At length they saw the black outlines of the mountain ranch. Not a light showed itself. Nearer they went. The door stood open as when the hunter had seen it. Even with the windows, no attempt seemed to have been made toward defense. ‘‘ Deserted!” ejaculated Wildcat Turner, with a of disgust in his voice. ‘Well, boys, we might as well turn back and go home, for once these rascals Are on the wing, with our best horses, there’s no luck for us.” Rattling Rube smiled queerly. It was not his way to give up any cherished object, until it had feon roved worthless. v1 (ea y to the ranch,” came his quick order. Another m3 and the ps ely Majoc standing upon the very spot where or pers it abbas through the roof, only the d not know it. Several of the men anall stable lanterns with them, something like the one used by the three farmers who met Dare- Devil Dick while on their way through the forest. These were now of their surro view that met their eyes. ue there were the chair, table and Seok used by the horse-thieves, even the sadly thumbed glen, where ced, and a survey taken - It was not a very en- 9 Rattling Rube. deck of cards lay scattered upon the floor, but | the keg; now it has the powder that has been as to human beings, not a sign of one besides illed; the fearful instant has come; there isa themselves could they see. flash of flame that blinds the Regulator’s ey ‘*T thought as much,” growled Turner; ‘‘ now, —— outlying powder catches, and then—to ess where have they gone?’ and he turned to the . hunter, who stood beside him. The Regulators do not know whether they are in the other world or not; their e “Into yonder hole I reckon. Boys, your lanterns. Follow me; we'll clean out this nest doom has made such a deep impression upon of vipers now or never,” and as he spoke, Rat- | their minds that they can hardly collect them- tling Rube sprung forward to the entrance of | selves, the sage. What had happened? is was quite undefended. The outlaws had No one could ve extinguished the fire, for it had reached the keg of powder, when all the force of the world could not have saved them. Wildcat Turner had actually turned purple in the face when this horrible fate ica threat- ening them, but he was the first to recover his wits ‘“*Forward witb the lights!” he roared. The men followed close behind him with their lanterns. A dozen long strides sufficed to bring them to the spot where the object of their late terror stood. Wildcat Turner stooped over the keg and looked at the powder. Then he gave it a contemptuous kick. ‘* Black sand!” he exclaimed, in derision. The puzzle looks so simple after it has been explained. So the envious courtiers thought when Columbus returned from his eventful voyage. Now that the mystery was solved, it would have been hard to have found a man among the Regulators who had not suspected the truth from the first. To be candid, however, there was one of them who was well aware of the fact that his last mo- ment on this footstool had not yet arrived, and this individual was Joel Whittlesey. The Regulators were allowed but little time for reflection. Sounds came to their ears very like those that would emanate from a fight be- tween men, whose worst passions were aroused. passage, when upon turning a bend they came | Following this the sharp detonation of deadly suddenly upon a blazing torch. <A placard was | revolvers rung out, echoing along the long un- pasted toa stick that stood upright from a cir- | derground passage. | cle in the floor. Upon this was roughly printed ‘‘ Forward! it is our friend!” shouted Wildcat the following: Turner, as a yell such as only a wild western “ Come a step beyond this line, and ranger could give birth to, pealed forth. ‘the whole of you will be blown to atoms. Cowards are scarce articles among the Ken- ** It is connected with a mine of gunpowder.” ee te aa Laine vt | as they ak ‘““Ror God's sake let us get out!” ejaculated : —— OE: SOF eer | ' hi Regulators rushed along. AL cee eee ner oe sat e sight that met their eyes upon rounding are the next bend was one they would never forget. As for the men they were perfectly willin , F to go. Not #0 Rattling Rube, He heard lo ‘6 Rube was battling against five men. A sixth : ; lay upon the rocky floor of the cavern, motion- voices further on; this told him that the horse- ball thieves were atill in the cavern. Common sense less, for “ from the hunter's revolver had informed him that they would not be peer to through his brain re- blow themselves up merely for the sake o Fe... ~ ’ cage ees Road ‘ ap oe ae venge. ’ : , ‘ . He | broke away from Turner, and rushed for- have thrown himself into the midst of an o So ward. ing army without the slightest hesitation. Those whom he had left were horrified to see the object worth his while, and nothing but pail | flame of fire run along in advance it. ) death could prevent his gaining m. His passing the given point had in He was wounded in several places; the blood some mysterious way fired the train. trickled Fiagely’ his face from a ey i By the light of the burning powder, the Reg- | 8'V™8 a fearful appearance. With a smok- Giatois Could dese. inall’ Meg Tying ny eg lying on its side. | revolver in one hand, and a bloody knife It was a keg of pope, deemed themselves secure inst intrusion at all times, and had not gone to the trouble of throwing up fortifications, so now, in their time of need it seemed as though they would have cause to regret it. ‘*Curse the fellow; he means business. [I’m afraid the boys are gone this time,” muttered one of the most zealous among the pursuers. oan 3 J on Ager ig <8 more pene oe nto the depths of the ey plun Even Rube was beginning to Elens that the outlaws had forsaken the place that had been their refuge so long. If not, why could they not see some signs of fortifications? It seemed easy enough at , but a little reflection would have served to show what a difficult job this would have been. The ge was clear of any loose rocks such as might have been used to make a rampart. True, small stones were abundant, but these would not have proved aoe oo Gee Rattling Rube boldly k the lead, with Wildcat Turner and a lantern close behind him. In their rear came the rest, and before many seconds had gone by, these valiant Regulators were destined to see what a Western ranger could do, besides being considerably electri themselves. They had gone perhaps ee rere into the a held in the other, he leaped about among the human agency could stop partly spilled. No | horse-thieves like a panther, such was his agil- he running fire. In | ; re just four seconds they would be blown to at- at and avoiding them in re- y in dealing blo aed turn. One foe ae already been di As if they were petrified the Regulators stood, frozen to the spot. CHAPTER XV. A BATTLE TO THE DEATH. Four seconds, and then the old mountain would be shaken by a tremendous explosion. One fifteenth part of a minute, and their bodies would be blown into a thousand pieces. It was the most exciting period of their lives. The Regulators stood like so many statues, frozen with horror, and had it been possible for them to have saved their lives by a simple rais- ing of the hand, not one of them would have been able to do it. And yet they were brave men, who, oh ordinary occasions, could show an astonishing amount self-possession. They were simply paralyzed with the extreme horror of the situation. True, Rattling Rube was the exception. He ad seen the running fire and the keg of powder, but did not come to a halt. There was not the slightest chance in his reaching the spot in less than double the time required for the flame to gain the keg. There had been giv- of while a second had crawled away with a ball somewhere in his body. Probably Rube would have been killed in the end, had there been no assistance at hand, for one man can hardly hold out successfully against seven, but at the rate he was going when the tors hove in sight, he was getting away with them preny. lively. . Wildcat Turner uttered a war-cry in so hoarse a tone that it resembled the croaking of a bull- frog more than anything else. In another in- stant the Kentucky y ome Tone were upon those whom they had hated so long, and yet who had managed to elude their utmost vigilance. It was a terrible s le, but exceedingly short. From the first it was evident that the horse- thieves wanted to make their escape, and leave the field to their foes. In this they were frus- trated by the valor and determination of the Vigilan and each outlaw, fiercely assaulted, was obliged to defend himself. While his face was toward his foes, there was alwaysa chance but if he turned his back it would be the signal for the discharge of a death-dealing revolver or yaa So they fought with a courage born of e fight being one-sided, was, as I have said, of brief duration. When three minutes had passed, two more outlaws lay upon the rocks with the life-blood oozing from terrible wounds. 0 more miscreants were held prisoners be- tween some of the Regulators. Rattling Rube uttered a hearty curse. After all their work, The four seconds passed. en but little time for the men to think, but a drowning man has ideas like flashes of light- ning, em there is no telling what they ran over in their individual minds during the time that intervened before the explosion. The fire draws closer; it is within a foot of GomiGcbookseeo (C