Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 519 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 breast. But he did not fall, although for a mo- | ment he seemed hard hit. Whipping out their knives, the two rough- looking men, who had been sitting near, sprung toward him. Before Faro Kate could repeat the treacher- ous shot, the three men were engaged in deadly encounter, for Red Robin had drawn a knife and turned to meet his assailants. For a moment it seemed that he must be quickly overcome and slain, but only for a mo- ment; then one of the two rough men dropped his knife, and clasping one hand to his breast, which was already showing crimson, reeled back and sunk down to the floor. The other ruffian attacked Red Robin with redoubled fury. ; At the sound of the sudden shot, the loafers in the bar-room had rushed into the saloon, and they now stood around, some of them with weapons drawn, excited witnesses of the terrible knife-duel. In regard to size and weight, the men seemed well matched, but there was « certain quickness | of Red | and alertness about the movements Robin that was wanting in his adversary. Round and round the two men circled, each | warily watching for an opportunity to deal the | other a fatal blow. tevolver still in hand, Faro Kate breath- | lessly and anxiously watched tae contest. She | dared not attempt to shoot Red Robin for fear | of hitting the other man. But suddenly the combat came to an ah | termination. For a moment the men fought savagely, then there came a cry of pain, and | Red Robin's assailant. fell to the floor. Almost before the spectators could realize that the fight was ended, thesharp crack! crack! of Red Robin’s revolvers rung out, for he had | drawn his weapons and was charging the crowd. Right and left they scattered before the wild, fierce-looking man, whose eyes seemed lit with a fiery glare, and whose revolvers vomited forth smoke and a leaden hail. ‘‘Stop him!” shrieked’ Faro Kate, recklessly firing a shot at the bounding form of the red- breasted man, ‘‘Stop him! Take him, dead or alive!” But before the crowd could recover from their alarm, the Reckless had bounded through their midst and disappeared into the bar-room. He came face to face with Simeon Small, who was just rushing toward the saloon, revolver in and. But before the barkeeper could lift his weapon, Red Robin’s fist struck him fairly be- tween the eyes, and the unfortunate man went over backward, landing upon his head and shoulders, fairly knocked senseless. Tearing open the door, the Reckless sprung out, bounding down the steps, a knife gleaming in one hand. One quick slash severed the rope with which the hcrse was hitched, and hurling himself upon the animal’s back, he bent low in the saddle, to avoid the bullets that some of the men on the hotel-steps sent flying after him. He laughed in a hard, reckless manner, as he dashed through the camp and on toward the a where he had parted with Old Bomb- shell. ‘* The cat shows her claws!” he muttered, sav- agely. *‘ She tried hard to kill me, and was repared, if she failed, to have ber ruffians close in and finish the job. Iam convinced that this masked woman knows me, and for personal reasons seeks my life.” He dashed on down Big Cat Canyon, and soon came upon Old Bombshell and Howard Thorne, who were earnestiy talking together. They heard hith as he came galloping down toward them, and as he came up, Old Bomb- shell cried: ‘By the Roman gods, pard! I war jist er- oin’ ter strike out ter see w’ot ther racket war. eerd ther shots jist now, ye see, an’ kinder thort p’r’aps ye had run erg’in’ er deefekilty. This young feller war jist er-tellin’ me ye’d sent him heer ter meet me, But w’ot did ther shoot- in’ mean?” ‘*Oh, they were only using me for a target for a little revolver-practice,” replied the Reck- less, with a hard laugh, ‘* Thunder an’ Mars! you don’t remark! W’ot in blazes war ther blow-out?” With a few brief words, Red Robin related what had occurred since he had parted with Thorne. **host o’ ther Pan Handle! et war er reg’lar cirkiss, warn’t et? Ther blamed galoots meant ter salivate ye thet time fer keeps! Reckon they realize their mistake in buckin’ erg’in’ er Lisbon yarthquake. Bet er bob-tailed hoss they'll tackle ye with er small-sized army next time they try ter send ye over ther range. But | | | you you will see no quailing or flinching on my | | Captain Mystery. I say, pard, didn’t they hit ye with sum o’ ther | lead w’ot they slung at yer karkiss?” | The Reckless smiled in a peculiar manner. | ‘Hit me?—to be sure they did. But their | bullets failed to harm me. I am here!” | Old Bombshell looked puzzled, as also did | Howard Thorne. | Ef they hit ye, whar are yer wounds?” asked Bombshell. ‘“‘T have none,” was the reply. ‘As I told _you, I am unharmed. Both bullet and steel | failed them in their attack upon my life.” Oli Bombshell slowly shook his head, as | though he did not fully understand, but made no further remark. | The three men now turned their horses’ heads | down the canyon, and as they rode along, Red Robin rapidly explained to Old Bombshell con- | cerning Sylva Blair and her probable abduction | by the outlaws. | ‘By ther Roman gods, pard! I believe that et war she as we see’d them fellers kerryin’ orf as we kem out 0’ ther jail!” declared Bomb- shell, | “Undoubtedly you are right,” replied the | Reckless, ‘‘ They were probably two of Cap- | tain Mystery’s men who did the foul job. If so, | she was carried to the outlaws’ nest, and there | we shall find her, if she is found at all.” | ‘** An’ thar’. whar ye propose ter go?” | “Woes if we can find their retreat.” ‘Waal, pard «reckon I know pritty durned near whar their hang-out is. Kinder guess thet me an’ ole Lion kin smell’em out. But, I say, mate, are you a-goin’ ter take this heer young cha pers q” ie Tes—whv not?” } | Old Bombshell shook his head soberly. “ We may git inter sum all-durned tarnal tuff places, mate, an’ we want nobuddy with us as | ain’t fitted out with cast-iron narves an’ charged | with clean number one grit. "Tain’t every galoot 'as would cnoose ter poke his nose inter sum 0’ | ther corners whar we may go—ghosts o’ ther Pan Handle, no!” | Howard Thorne spoke quietly but decidedly: | ‘Tf you Go not wish me to go with you, sir, | we will part company; but whether we do this or not, I am going on in search for Miss Blair. Ido not desire to force my company upon any one. ‘‘ Thet’s ali well ernuff,” grunted Bombshell, grimly. ‘‘ But I’d advise ye ter face erbout an’ climb back inter camp. By ther Roman gods, young feller! if ye continner in ther company of we two Lisbon yarthquakes, ye may get er taste ov cold nd. fer we are goin’ inter ther wolf-den ov Ole Mystery hisself.” ‘*T care notif you go to the ve Hades!” cried Thorne, warmly. mouth of ‘** Tf lam with part. But if you wish that we separate—-” Here Red Robin spoke up. ‘“‘T fancy, Bombshell, that you will find this young man pure number one grit. Had I not thought so, I should not have said anything to him of this expedition ” ‘Waal, pard, 1 ain’t ergoin’ ter kick ef you think et best ter take ther young chap erlong. hed an idee as how he might be er leetle gone on ther gal, an’ jist es like es not he’d get narvous an’ make er durned mess jist w’en things war mighty kinder critical. ut ef you say take him, take him she am.” ‘‘Then that settles it,” laughed Red Robin, ‘7]] bet my money on our friend here. But—” turning to Thorne—*‘ are you well armed?” For reply the young man showed him two heavy self-cocking revolvers, ‘*T fancy those will do,” said the Reckless, as soon as he saw them. ‘“‘ They are tools that you can work rapidly, and the man who runs against a ball from one of them will know it.” For a few moments the trio rode on in silence. Finally Red Robin turned to Old Bombshell, saying: ‘* Well, partner, what are your plans?” “Waal, they are short ernuff, an’ I kinder reckon as how there ain’t enuff twist in ’em ter bother your head much. First, we will go to my hang-out, fer 1 want ter get my rifle. lean fit you fellers out with rifles if ye want ’em. | Arter that we will leave toward ther section 0’ | ther kentry whar I hev an idea this blamed out- | law hangs out. Ef we find their den, why then | we can lay out future actions.” ‘Plain enough, although I fancy we shall have no little difficulty in finding Captain Mys- sey? retreat.” ld Bombshell made no reply, and they rode on in silence until they had traversed the nar- row ravine and entered the mountain pocket where stood the Boomerang’s cabin. Bombshell dismounted and entered the cabin, F H : : | ‘eae? ' » a S. <i* * - « returning in a few moments with three rifles. Passing Red Robin and Thorne each a rifle, he retained one himself. There were also several other things which he secured before announcing; ‘‘Thar, I reckon we are pretty nigh reddy fer Ole Mystery, an’ by ther Roman gods, we'll rive him sum lively music ef we run afoul ov im!” Then he sprung lightly upon his horse’s back and led the way out of the pocket, away into the hills. It would be wearisome to follow every move- ment of the trio in their search for the outlaws’ stronghold; but more by good luck than from any other reason, late im the afternoon the three found themselves gazing down from a mountain- side into the very sink where stood the cabins of the outlaws. ‘‘ Thar,” exclaimed Old Bombshell, ‘‘ by ther Roman gods, pards! thar she is—ther very camp whar Ole Mystery an’ his outlaw gang holds out. J’ll chaw up my ole boots ef we ain’t in luck!” “T should say we were,” Red Robin replied, ‘‘ for our finding this place is evidently nothing more than a piece of pure luck. A man might tramp around over this part of the country for half a dozen years, and still never come across this camp,” ‘“‘ Right you are, Robin,” declared the Border Boomerang. ‘But, I say, mates, we’d better be gittin’ under kiver, ur them blamed varlets down thar may sight us.” When they had concealed themselves Bomb- shell again spoke: ‘* Now you fellers stay heer while J slide back to where we left ther hosses an’ see as how they are allright. Jist lay close an’ keep cool till I kem back,” With these words he departed. Red Robin and Thorne lay beside two large bowlders, both gazing down into the camp. ‘‘Do you think we shall find Miss Blair down there?” asked Howard. ‘‘T do,” replied his companion, | ‘‘ Something seems to tell me that we shall find her there.” ‘*T hope so, indeed, for, to plainly acknowl- edge the truth, I have taken more than a pass- ing fancy to that girl.” — ‘T knew it. Your actions told me that. As for me, I have an idea that I may advance my own interests by going down there. I more than half believe that my bitterest enemy is in some way connected with those outlaws.” ‘“But how do the outlaws enter this hole? There seems to be no passable opening.” ‘So Lobserve. There must be some gaa Perhaps it is a cave-tunnel through the very base of some of these hills. Ah! there it is now!” pointing across the sink to the opening of the passage, which was visible upon the opposite side. “Yes, I see it now. There is a guard near by the mouth. It is probably guarded at both ends. I wonder how Old Bombshell proposes to enter the sink?” ‘“By means of a rope, I think? We can lower ourselves down into the very midst of their camp without disturbing an outlaw,” In a few moments Bombshell returned, and with him he brought a long, knotted rope, prov- ing that Red Robin’s idea of the manner in which he intended to enter the sink was a true one, He explained that as soon as it was dark, they would descend the mountain to the brink of the precipice. There they would make one end of the rope fast, letting the other drop over into the sink. They could then descend mto the very midst of the outlaws’ camp. While the three men were gazing down at the outlaws’ camp, they saw one of the cabin-doors open and a female appear in the doorway, She turned her face upward toward _the mountain- aks, and despite the distance, 4 horne at once recognized her as Sylva Blair. Uttering a low cry, Howard sprung into view, waving his hand to the girl below. With an angry curse Old Bombshell seized the young man by the shoulder and jerked him off his feet, landing him flat on his back, behind a bowl- der. “ Tass ez I tole ye, pard!” snorted the Border Boomerang. ‘‘I knew he’d do et! By ther Roman gods! Vd durned good min’ ter shake ther breath out 0’ ther young fool’s body!” But he didn’t have a chance, for at this mo- ment Howard twisted himself out of his coat and sprung up, leaving the garment in Old Bombshell’s hands, “You may shake the coat, old man,” said Thorne, coolly, “* bat I seriously object to your shaking me. If 1 did anything wrong, i _. ee LIL . > Red Rotin and <t Ce i = ; ley Pi Se fhe » ( a i