Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 51 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

_—— ee ee —« «Seve - —~ ee we re = 2. -— — wee ow owe — ss —- = - _—-_—<“ = eee _ <-- —_— ee ee SS 12 ““Go back!’’ yelled old Abe, forgetting for a mo- ment the conflict raging about him. “ Tearin’ Jeru- salem! Go BacK!”’ He threw up his arms; he waved his cap, he yelled himself hoarse. But still they came on. Albert saw in the hand of each a tiny revolver, in their faces the determination to take part in the affray. ‘Oh, climbin’ caterpillars! They’ll be killed, sure!’’ Moree old Abe, half distracted. ‘ Great Gehoso- p 17? A new party of Indians suddenly appeared, sweep- ing like a tornado down upon them, and in such a direction as to cut the two girls off. Old Abe struck his horse a sharp blow, and shouted to the boys: ‘ Mount and run! It’s the only way! I'll help the als |’? ‘“* We had better take his advice,” shouted Albert. BF oars a mustang, and all keep together if possi- ea 79 A dozen ponies were gallo ye ae hither and thither; ponies belonging to the killed and wounded savages, and that seemed loth to leave the fight, but remained as though some strange fascination held them. Albert caught one of these as it passed him, and vaulted upon its back. Asavage sprung toward him with swinging tomahawk, but went down before his revolver. And in one minute all were mounted, and breaking through the lines, lashed their steeds into a dead run. ** Look, yonder goes Abe and the two girls!” cried Ranty, as he pointed to them, galloping away in a different direction, with old Abe ahead, and a horde of savages in pursuit. ‘‘ And they’re pulling away from the red-skins, too!”’ “Yes, but we ain’t!” cried Will. “There's forty or fifty after us, and gaining every minute!” A quick ——. behind proved that he spoke the truth, and they lashed their mustangs into the best speed they were capable of making. But, either they did not understand the art of urging them for- ward, or the pursuing savages were better mounted, for the latter continued to gain slowly, but surely, po now and then a stray bullet flew unpleasantly close. “ Supposing we shoot a little, ourselves?”’ suggest- ed Will, lnohing over his shoulder. “They ain't more than forty rods behind, and I had just as soon risk losing a little ammunition as not.” Ranty thought so, too, and they turned in their saddles, and blazed away, aiming at the whole mass, Their bullets evidently flew somewhere near their intended place, for the savages spread out like a flock of pigeons when a hawk dives i a oma This was a little triumph, and the two kept blazing away, laughing in spite of their perilous situation, at the frantic dives and dodges of the Indians. But they found that it resulted in a little good also, for it checked the s of the Indians, till they, if anything, lost ground. And so our party took turns, and a running fire was kept up for several miles. They struck the stream. at last on which they had encamped the previous night, but many miles below where the race commenced. Here it was quite a stream and had low rocky banks. They turned down it, and were galloping along as fast as their now tired horses would permit, when the Indians, getting a little nearer, opened a fresh fire. At the first discharge Ranty’s horse stumbled, and the boy had on y time for a nimble leap when he staggered and fell, shot through the neck. All three saw the mishap, and pulled up. “We shall have to make a stand!’’ cried Albert, springing from his horse, and looking hurriedly around. ‘“ But there isn’t a tree nor bush to hide behind! Back up here to the brow of the bank, and let them come!” Will and Fred had sprung from their horses, and then all four started on a run for the bank, but a few yards mitte But, suddenly, a hole, a dozen feet across, and half as deep, barred theirway. Theend next the bank looked like the entrance to a cave. **Tt’s our best chance!’’ shouted Albert, and they bounded into it just as a shower of bullets and arrows from the yelling Indians, now not a dozen yards away, hurtled over their heads? CHAPTER XVIII. WORKING FOR LIBERTY. “T rECcKON we did that just in time!’’. cried rm . as they ran to the furthest end of*the hole. It went back, cave fashion, a dozen feet, or more, and by stooping they could see out the opening, but being dark where they were, the savages could not see them. A moment more and they had dismounted, and were gathered about the opening shouting and ges- ticulating excitedly. Then a lot of stones and bul- lets struck the ground at the boys’ feet, thrown out as a ‘‘feeler’’ by the Indians to determine their position. “They'll have to aim a little higher with their ‘ brickbats,’ if they expect gee us,’’ whispered Albert, and a moment after, his rifle cracked, and a savage would have fallen headforemost into the hole not his companions caught him and drag- ged him back. This incident raised a perfect din, and the jab- bering grew more exci than before. But they were careful not to expose themselves as a target again, but kept back out of harm’s way. ‘At last their excitement cooled down a little, and soon almost total silence reigned. This was broken by a voice that evidently was that of a white man; but the speaker kept back from the edge of the opening, so the yo hunters could not see him. ** Hello, down there!” it began. ‘Well, what of it?’? was Ranty’s pertinent query, in return. —=s OE eA a OS Ah ninst 26 SaaS ee Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. ‘* Any *bjections to tellin’ who ye are?’”’ continued the voice. ‘** Not in the least.”’ Silence a full minute. “Wal, who the devil be you, then?’ ‘*Four Michigan boys,’’ answered Ranty. tain, commanding, Albert Arlington, aged twenty- one. Balance of party, Randolph Hazelton, fifteen; Fred Carter, aged seventeen, and Will Mac- donald, seventeen; pilgrims. Which means,”’ continued Ranty, by way of explanation, *‘ that we’re very grim, and d in lead pills for the benefit of you and your clique.” A muttered imprecation came from above. ‘Don’t swear,’’ admonished Ranty. ‘‘ It’s wicked.” ‘* We'll give you something that will be worse than — pills, you little cuss,’’ shouted the man, savage- y. “Oh, tales untold! You chill our blood with hor- ror!’ exclaimed Will, in a tragic tone. ‘ But, why don’t you come out and let us see how you look?” ‘“*Say, you think I’m a fool, don’t ye?” “ Certainly!’ answered Ranty, vely. Another muttered imprecation followed, and then a rock, pe a dozen pounds, came flying through the air, and so well aimed that, had not Ranty — hastily aside, it must have struck him. He uttere a deep, hollow groan, as if in agony, and instantly brought his rifle to his face. The result was as he ns mene Hearing the an the man sprung to the edge of the opening, a large, heavy rock in his hands, thinking to take advantage of their attention to their wounded companion, to hurl it upon them. He was only in view a brief instant, as he swung it aloft, but it was enough. The loud report of — iece echoed out, and the bullet struck one of his ands, carrying away a finger completely, and, flat- joey | against the rock he held, spattered into his face, blinding him for an instant, A loud warning-cry was raised, and a dozen d arms stretched forth but all too late, and losing his balance, the man fell headforemost into the phe perm Before he could collect his scattered senses, Albert rushed out, and seizing him by the collar, dragged him into their retreat, while Ranty covered him with his revolver. And there he lay, quaking with fear, no other than the treacherous guide, Warner, who had attempted to betray the two brave girls into the hands of the savages. ‘Well, you arn't an over-and-above fair lc oking specimen even of the kind of bipeds you represent, said Ranty, regarding his painted, blood-stained a while Will and Fred were binding his hands and eet. “Now then,’’ demanded Albert, “who are you, and how came you in such bad company?”’ ‘* Ye needn't ask me, fer I shan't tell yer nothin’,”’ was the sullen response. ‘“We could make you, if we chose, but we care nothing about your identity, and had as soon you would keep it to yourself. owever, you undoubt- edly have influence among the yelling horde above, and we will give you a chance for your life. If you will have them withdraw, and give us a mile the start, we will give you your liberty. Otherwise—”’ and a significant look finished the sentence. This was thrown out as a feeler to determine the osition held by the prisoner among the Indians. e ruffian’s face turned more ghastly than before under the paint and blood. He declared he had no oot ad among the Indians; he reiterated it in a quak- ng voice, when Ranty pressed the cold muzzle of his on against his temple, and told him to “talk s gz hg The din above had ceased. The savages were evi- — waiting to see what the young hunters would oO next. * You red-skin that can talk," called Albert, after having questioned their prisoners a little, ‘“ come out where we can hear you.”’ ‘What want?” responded a guttural voice. “To get out, you old sinner! ‘Keep still, Ranty, and let me do the talking,” ad- monished Albert. ‘If you will draw off, and let us have a half hour's start,’’ continued Albert, raising his voice so the Indian could hear, ‘“ we will let him go free; otherwise we won’t promise you that you will ever see him again.” “He big heap, much fool; don’ want to see ’im any more—put in wood an’ roast you all togedder,”’ responded the Indian. — ‘We'll see about that, you smutty imp!"’ yelled Ranty wrathfully. “Dll bet you'll know it when you get us!” ‘Of course he will,” said Fred. ‘ And it won't be long either. We can’t live in here without food or k more than three months.” ‘* Who said we could?’’ responded Ranty, setting his gun against the side of the cave, and commenc- ing to roll up his sleeves, is companions looked at him in amazement. They saw by the expression of his face that he had thought of some plan of escape. For answer he took Albert by the arm and pulling him to the rear end of the cavern, motioned him to bend down, and listen. Albert did so. A heavy, dull roar came faintly to his ears. ‘* The river!’ he exclaimed, suddenly. “Exactly,” said Ranty. “It ain’t more than twenty or thirty feet through to it, and to-night we'll tunnel out {”” Like a flash it entered the mind of each, before Ranty had ceased speaking. ~~ stood looking at each other fora full minute. Here was an easier a out of the difficulty than they had dreamed of! They commenced the labor at once, while the prisoner lay and watched them, hoping their tunnel would cavein upon them. But, tho the ground ‘* Cap- ee On a ee — a === Comicboo was not so hard as to render digging oeemely laborious, it was still solid enough to preclude all danger of its falling in. The work progressed rapidly. When dusk came it seemed from the sound of the water, that they must be nearly through, and rere concluded to rest awhile. All were hungry and thirsty, but neither food nor water was to be had till they reached the “‘outer world.’’ Their besiegers had settled down, determined to starve them into submissions They little thought how they were spending their time, and the young hunters had gagged their prisoner to prevent him from calling anything that would give them a clew as to their operations. After an hour’s age er again commenced work. They had been ging but a short time, when Albert, who was ahead, suddenly uttered a suppressed exclamation, Inthrusting his knife dee into the upper edge of the tunnel to commence pull- ing down another course of dirt, it went — into empty space; the dirt crumbled in every di- rection and fell clattering around them, leaving a hole fully two feet in diameter, through which, but for the darkness, a full view of the river could be obtained. They held their breath, expecting the Indians had heard the clatter of the falling dirt, but all was still. They enlarged their outlet a little, and found they had aimed exactly right, having struck a narrow flat of sand that stretched along the river about a foot above the water. Peering out, Albert discovered the savages had a small fire, as the light from it was thrown on the river from the bank, lighting up the dark water as it rolled along. Albert crawled cautiously forth to reconnoiter. In three minutes he returned, and imparted what he had learned to his companions. e had found a good passage —' the the river's edge where they could retreat with little ars vs of discovery by the Indians. ~ peering over the bank, Albert saw a host of the latter squatting about their small fires, smoking and eating. It was decided to leave their prisoner where he was. The Indians would discover their escape be- fore he would be in any danger of starving. ‘‘And a little wholesome ee wil do you good, you know,”’ said Ranty, fixing the gag more securely in his mouth. ‘‘ And remember, when you do get free, not toswear. Besides being wicked, it shows bad bringing — We are sorry to be obliged to leave you gagged, but you know it can’t be helped in the present case.” ‘“**Fare-ye-well, and if forever,’’’ said Will, as they turned to leave, followed by his scowling looks, . ,we are never destined to meet again, so mote it e.” They passed along their tunnel, and emerged on the narrow, sandy flat. The soft, yielding soil gave back no answering footfalls, and like dusky shadows, : glided along, following down the stream. The bank was covered with short grass, and partly imbedded stones and bowlders; was nearly perpen- dicular, and from five to ten feet high. At one of the highest points, Albert, hearing Soya ey ert upon a stone that lay on the flat close this ank, and this raised him, so that by bracing one foot on the perpendicular bank, and hanging to a bush with his hand, he was enabled to see over the top. They were fully two hundred yards below their starting point, but there, within twenty feet,were sev- eral savages. Albert held his breath, and clung to his support. It was a frail one, at the best, and began to Soh un- der the continued strain brought upon it. But the suspicion of the savages was evidently aroused, for they were looking a ntly straight at him, but, in the darkness, the foliage of the bush concealed the part of his head above the bank. The bush settled slowly, and each moment Albert felt it weakening. He was afraid to relinquish his hold, for fear the Indians would hear the noise he would necessarily make in descending, or see the sudden straightening of the bush. But, suspecting something was wrong, Will grasp- ed him from behind and ws type thee his whole weight. Albert relinquished the bush slowly, and the next in- stant was standing safe on the ground. But aslight rattling followed, and a small stone came thun way See: With a motion from Albert, all four threw themselves flat on the ground, close to the bank. And none too soon was the precaution taken, for, a moment after, a neta sound came from above, and several dusky aces red over the bank, clear- ly outlined against the sky. But the shadows were deep and dark where the boy-hunters lay, and the eyes of their dusky foes failed to perceive them, and after a somewhat lengthy scrutiny, the faces were withdrawn, and the force of Indians moved off, and soon the sound of their footsteps died away. CHAPTER XIX. A CAPTURE THAT DIDN'T HOLD. “TRIPE and b’ar’s meat! what ails the hoss? You fidget ’round wuss nor a Blackfoot with the nettle- . You've allers been a well haved hoss, Jimmy, but, by thunder! I b’lieve yer gittin’ over it! In- ins? You sniff as though they war some ‘round, ut hain’t I been out two, three times an’ seen n sign? Which on us is mistaken? One or t’other, Thus did old Abe Anderson address his horse, as he stood silently by his side peering about him. first gray light of coming dawn was visible over the tops of the tall pines that lined the mountain side. Twice before had the trapper been called up by the KSC