Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 542 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

knew at once why his comrades had not come to the hill in accordance with his desire—they were besieged by a band of rangers, though for what reason, he could not imagine, The mysterious shots aimed at his head, the strange horsemen, he had seen in the chaparral, were enigmas to him no longer; the marksmen belonged to the band, and the cavalleros were even now clustered about him. ‘*You have got him, I see, men,” observed the chief, Cyrus Johns, ‘‘ Well, you have worked it finely.” The band, save several who were evidently acting in the capacity of spies, gathered about Pedro as he was pulled from the saddle. He was securely bound, hand and foot, and placed upon his back, with a saddle for a pillow; and then the chief said: ‘*Mr. Greaser, I suppose you would like to know whv you are brought here, wouldn’t you? Well, to give you a little idea, Pll tell you. There’s a woman in your camp, ain’t there?’ ‘*Not to my knowledge, senor.” ‘*There’s a lie at the start. You are beginning well, greaser.” He was a coarse-featured, wolf-eyed man, rather large than otherwise, and though he habitually spoke sarcastically, there was a gleam of devilish ferocity in every action. At his last remark, Pedro scowled at the sensual face, but said nothing, and his captor resumed: ‘*'There’s a woman there, and you know it, Well, I suppose you also know she belonzs to me. If you don’t you’d ought to, so it’s all the same. Now, your high-toned and cranky pals don’t intend to give her up to her lawful owners —at least they say they won’t. But we are going to have her, and the way we'll do it is this: to-morrow morning we will take you out on the hill, and give them the choice of two things; to deliver up the girl, and take you back, and a thousand American dw Jlars (we are willing to do the square thing) to boot. Other- wise, if they don’t choose to do it, we will shoot you. That’s all, Mr. Greaser.” ‘“‘Stay!? cried Pedro, as Cyrus Johns was turning away. “I protest there isno woman in our cam~=—at least there was none when I went away in the middle of the afternoon, If the woman, whoever she is, is at our camp, she has entered since I have been absent.” ‘Taking all you say fr the truth, greaser, that don’t make a straw’s difference. ‘They’ve got her, and we’ve got you; you’ve been told ow we are going to get her.” ‘* But, senor, supposing they will not give her up and you do shoot me. That will not do you any good—it will not bring the woman back.” ‘* There'll be one greaser less in the world, then,” was the brutal rejoinder, ‘‘Curse a greaser! I hate the whole treacherous tribe.” Pedro fumed, ‘I am no greaser, you low scoundrel!” he thundered. ‘‘My grandfather was a Castilian noble; and had not my father been exiled on account of politics, J would have been a noble to-day.” ‘* Exactly, Mr. Greaser—I savvy. My grand- father was hung for murder; and if my father wasn't in the penitentiary for life on account of a little fracas with knives, he would be ouf; see the point?” ith this jocose bit of family history he final- ly turned away to snatch some sleep against the morrow’s crime; and Pedro, angrily muttering, was taken to the summit of the hill where he would be under the supervision of the guard; and having tightened his bonds, his escort left him in charge of the latter, and unrolling their blankets from their saddles, they lay down be- side their horses and went to sleep. Pedro was greatly surprised at hearing a woman wasin the camp, but he had no reason for disbelieving the statement. His captivity, and the proximity of the rangers to the camp did but confirm it; and taxing his brain to in- vent means of escape, or at least, communi- cation with his friends, he sat on the summit, looking down upon their silent camp, The only means which he could devise for escaping were put into execution immediately. There were three wacchers closely eyeing the - eamp—one close by, another at some distance, and the third still further removed. The near- est ranger divided his attention between his - Jookout and his prisoner; humming a minstrel- hall ‘melody the while, snapping his fingers as ap accompaniment. He seemed a jovial fellow, et Pedro broached the idea in his mind—a ribe. Although he offered for his freedom all his ready money (three hundred American dollars) and his two pounds of gold, at the same time artfully hinting at future emolument in the shape of additional coin, the ranger heard him Pe bid - i 4 “ts , Pa ee mo jie -e, ey Mey C2 SPER eS ‘o yon 7 ¥ »v*™ mg i 4 * -- 7 a rie * a. 7 y = A = s ” Bs. le - so 1+ Fie 4 “ . 1 a pe oe = = a 9 a, r 44) Sea * i”? ° The Canyon Pards. quietly through to the end, then decidedly shook his head, ‘It’s no use, pard,” he said, ‘‘no use—don’t think of it, for you can’t work that game with us. Why, man! our pockets are stuffed with gold—we are rich, every man of us; and a few hundred dollars more or less don’t signify. If I was poor,.now, ’twould be different; but I am rich, and that stops your deal at the very soda. If you ever played faro-bank you'll see the oint. F Pedro had, and did. His good-humored tone showed him to bea genial, hail-fellow-well-met sort of knave, but there was no mistaking him—he could not be bribed. No more could his comrades, he said— they were too rich—too rich. He said the party had halted temporarily at the chaparral to recruit, before undertaking their arduous desert journey to Texas, where they were to disband, after having been on the maraud for two years. During that time they had become rich, every man of ’em, he said, chucklinz—every man of ’em rich. He gloated over this, repeating his favorite word, which was music to his ears, several times; and waxing sunnier and more genial at the thought of future high living and aimless vagabondizing, he offered Pedro his pipe to keep up his spirits, he said. As for en’ he didn’t need any stimulant, for he was rich. Pedro gratefully puffed the pipe, though it was strong with age and villainous tobacco, but but passed a dismal night filled with gloomy fore- bodings, though his jovial guard cracked jokes, sung comic songs, and narrated droll incidents | the entire night with infinite gusto, At inter- vals assuring a rake-helly air, he would strut up and down his beat, occasionally pausing to execute a jig or a shred of hornpipe; but his gayety jarred upon Pedro, and his spirits sunk lower and lower, as he pondered over the prob- able events of the morrow. CHAPTER XII. 4 SURROUNDED. AFTER the rangers had galloped away in affright at the appearance of the Phantom Rider, the friends arose and stretched their legs, and though hardly daring to venture far from the breastwork, the guide and Duncan busied themselves in collecting sufficient bunch- grass for the horses in the gully behind them, After a sufficiency had been deposited before them they returned, and leaning against the breastwork, occupied themselves with surmises and it would seem so in this case. Here the braggart was casting off his robe of many- colored vaunts, doffing it to don one of humil- ity, crawling out of his external self like an eagle deserting his last year’s feathers: and had Simpson seen him then, he would have been amazed, ‘*T am not what you deem me,” he added, anxious to roinstate himself in her good opinion. ‘‘T am not a professional hunter and plainsman; I am driven to lead the life.” ‘‘ Driven to it?” she asked, in surprise. ‘‘ Yes, driven to it. I am by profession an artist—a landscape and scenic painter; and many’s the connoisseur that has eulogized my works,” She smiled, though kindly, and her beautiful face expressed her amusement. He flushed. ‘Do you think lam joking?’ he. demanded, ‘or again boasting? No, and to convince you, I will get acbarred brand from the coals out- side and sketch your portrait on the canvas; and poor as are my implements, if you don’t think, when you see it, that you are looking into a mirror, my name is not John Worth, or Worthington.” ‘*Come outside, Jack,” called Simpson, from without. ‘* Don’t be alarmed, Miss Sandorn,” he again said. ‘‘AslongasI can move a muscle, lam devoted to your service. I must go pow,” and with these words he was gone. His two companions were standing together, looking off over the southern plain. The guide pointed to the western extremity of the bill, where a madly galloping horse was approaching riderless. ‘‘That’s Pedro’s horse, coming back without him.” Jack saw ata glance the guide was correct. There was no mistaking that swift, smooth gal- lop of the noble black horse; and in a few sec- ouds’ time he dashed into their midst and halted, snorting in affright, with an empty saddle and swinging stirrups. ‘¢ Something’s happened to Pedro!” cried the the guide, “ Romathinp's happened to my old chum. Curse that ghost! I believe it bas sper- rited him: away.” It would be a difficult matter to find two men more devoted to each other than were Pedro Felipe and the guide, friends and comrades of years’ standing. Alarmed, and not without abundant reason, be clapped his saddie on the vicious mustang, and was working like a bee in hasty preparation to search for his friend, when as to Pedro's locality and well-being. They | a cry from Jack aud an oath from Duncan ar- were not alarmed at his absence, having the highest confidence in his sagacity and caution; but stiil these might stand for naught against the horseman whom precisely-aimed rifle-bullets could not injure. Their tones grew lower as they entered upon this subject, while Jack within the tent was busily occupied in comfort- ing Kate, who was highly alarmed at the deter- mination of her former captors. ‘** Never fear, lady,” be said; ‘* while one of us breathes we will protect you.” ‘You don’t know how you comfort me,” | was the grateful rejoinder. ‘‘ My debt of era titude is far greater than I can ever hope to repay.” |. ‘‘Man is bound,” replied Jack, solemnly— ‘“‘man is bound to protect others weaker than himself, which is exactly what we are doing | and which we are by the laws of nature re- | 'ing far from help? Nothing, Jess than nothing, She smiled as he thus cast condescension to | quired to do,” the winds, and a grateful warmth glowed in her lovely eyes. ‘But your other companion, the Spaniard— | Pedro—is he not long absent—are you not alarmed at his prolonged stay?” ‘* No, lady—Miss Kate, if you will allow me to address you in that manner,” and the cunning | Jack gave her no time for consent or refusal, but went rapidly on; “he is wary and shrewd, in fact, being the second sharpest man that roams the plains.” She naturally asked who was the first and foremost. He bristled like a turkey-cock. ‘“ Who? Why, me, of course; tuat’s a pretty question to ask the lion-tamer. I’m the cock of the walk! I’m the Feejee dancing master and the king of—” . He stopped short in embarrassment as she colored and drew away from him in alarm. Red with shame, he hastened to apologize, ‘‘Pardon me, please,” he pleaded. ‘* You think me insane, and no wonder. It is a bad habit I have fallen into, this vaunting. If you will excuse it this time, I will endeavor to reform.” It is said that man is constantly changing, * ; 4 rm, — "a ¥) Re YS < : » ‘ ~ a . eer . : ‘ or. 2a 5 yi 4 = > > sae 4 d POE'S, 8 Dae ake Teal th | “ee a. YY . = Lf « ” : bh — > ~ cm P x. 40 - &% % a, y we! ’ “ = > P ’ a : -~ A ° > ah Fe jai a Se et > eve - i ee =e wt Se . eee ~ rested him. He turned hastily, half-sick at thinking blood had been discovered on the Span- iard’s saddle—the life-blood of his old friend. He drew a breath of relief as he saw Jack narrowly scanning a yellow object in his hand, and which he had taken from the saddle, An- other glance and he recognized it—Jack held a nugget of gold. ; Ha! had Pedro discovered treasure some- where—had he sent his horse to camp with the nugget by way of message? No; the first self- uery was absurd, and the second silly—some- thing had happened to his old friend. After the first questioning glarces, he be- stowed no more attention and thought upon the old than if it had been a stone, although Jack, in admiration, was lauding it to the skies, What was a nugget—a paltry lump—a mine of gold, even, while bis comrade might even now be dy- were that possible. But another burst of profanity from Duncan and a responsive ejaculation from Jack, cause him again to pause and follow their outstretched arms with bis gaze. Seeing what they did, he swore roundly; the rangers having recovered from the fright occasioned by the Phantom Rider, were reassembling, and were even now on two sides of the camp. He must be expeditious now, or his outward course would be obstructed—or, to use bis own expressive remark, his game would be blocked. In a few seconds the inustang stood saddled and bridled. He hastily grasped his rifle, and look ing to his revolvers, sprung into the saddle and started from the camp, riding toward the north, the only side now which was not occupied by mounted rangers. But he did not go far, Seeing a horseman leave camp and spur swiftly northward, several rangers galloped to intercept him. Simpson urged his mustang to his fleetest now, but he was to late; before he had ridden two hundred yards, three horsemen were in his path, anda hoarse hail greeted him: ‘Keep back—halt, or you drop!” He obeyed the command, seeing the utter use pf aoa hs Vay ae RL ae che — “ - - ; 5 - . a =. + - t & : * ie eX * - Te ~ i [ | a _ “9 4 a 7 by = ol * . . icbooks.conm