Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 542 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- lessness of endeavoring to pierce the line of horsemen which encircled the camp. He looked this way and that, with the wistful eagerness of a hunted fox; but, turn whichever way he -- would, he still saw a man in his path, with more at hand to spur to his assistauce in case it should be required. In his wrath, he cursed the bright moonlight for having exposed bis actions, hurled a volley of maledictions at his enemies, and, in his rage, shot wildly, and wide of the mark, at his nearest foe. In reply, several bullets whistled uncom- fortably near his head, with the accompanying remark, uttered in a threatening tone: ‘Get back into your hole, Mr. Rat, or your friends will have to make one for you, some- wheré in the vicinity of six by two.” Sullenly retreating, the wrathful guide obey- ed the stern command, and retraced his steps into camp and dismounted, fuming. But he left his mustang ready equipped to make a sudden decamp, should an eligible opportunity occur. But to bis further discomfiture and cha- grin, it did not fall to his lot to leave, although * he kept constantly peering 10 quest of an op- ; portunity the entire night. His companions busied themselves when the moon set (which it did a l'ttle while before dawn), in transferring the entire camp to the gully behind them; and when the first gray streaks of daylight slanted ” across the sky, and gradually augmenting, : lighted the plain, the bandits on the hill shouted st in surprise! the camp was not in sight, a ~ ee .> n ies.) a +4 CHAPTER XIII. A WELCOME REFRIEVE. THE same gray streaks which heralded the approach of day, and originated the cry of sur- prise from the bandits, called forth a similar though cautious one from the friends lying perdu in the gully; for Simpson’s keen eyes, scanning the summit, had fallen upon Pedro, a captive, sitting upright, calmly puffing a pipe, and closely guarded by a single man. The guide sighed in relief at seeing him alive and sufficiently well to smoke, and though not relish- ing his captivity, he regarded it as infinitely better than death. ke He was so far lightened in spirit that, leavin ae Jack to guard the camp, he and Duncan started > away down the ravine with a skillet and a | uarter of antelope; for your ranger, even in the midst of deadly peril, will not forego his meal, if he can possibly find an opportunity in which to eat it. The descent of the gully was so rapid, that a few rods down, it became a canyon, with recipitous walls, nearly a hundred feet’ in ight; here was a capital chance to cook with- out being betrayed by the smoke, <A few light, dry sticks were guthered from neighboring dwarf-oaks, and as these had been drying ever since the winter rains, they emitted but little smoke; and soon the antelope was sputtering on the coals. It was not long before they reappeared at camp with the skillet full of juicy steaks, Miss Sandorn appeared, much refreshed, and though still fearful of being recaptured by her dreaded enemies, brightened the breakfast by her sweet, womanly presence, and the meal was discussed in moderave spirits, though dashed with melan- choly at the thought of their comrade and leader being in the hands of the bandits. - They had scarcely finished, and were rallying Duncan upon having gotten through a Lical without a surly remark, when a hoarse hail came from thie hill in the voice of Cyrus Johns: “Hallo, yender! ITve got something to say.” “Spit it out!” whispered the guide, epigram- matically. ' “You needn’t think we don’t know where ou are,” continued the gruff voice, ‘ You are in that gully. Now, if you want to Save your greaser’s life, you had better answer,” The three friends cautiously peeped over the bank, and saw tle robbers assembled on the hill, with Pedro, now erect. Three men sat on their horsesa half of a mile north, making a surround. “Do you see this fellow?’ shouted Cyrus Johns, pointing to Pedro, who was aside from the rest. ** Yes,” halloed Jack in reply. only decent man among you.” “You'll sing a different song before night, Cimarron Jack,” was the angry reply. ‘‘ You'll beg on your knees for your life—mind that.” | ~ & Ab, jest shut yer foul mouth!” shouted _ -§impson. ‘‘ Cyrus Johns, you ain't fit to kerry | slops to a bear.” he hoarse voice became angrier, , “You, too, mark my words, Tim Simpson, ‘*He is the » — P so = wie ~ r i >, ; ee SL TT TT TT - OO The Canyon Pards. ~~ oe —_—---- ’llsend you to your reckoning before sunset, You've seen the sun rise tor the last time.” ‘* Don’t aggravate him, Tim,” cautioned Jack. ‘* Tf you do, he may harm Pedro,” The clustered bandits remained silent as their | leader proceeded, shouting to make himself heard, being nearly three hundred yards dis- tant. ‘“Pve got a proposition to make to you fel- lows. I’ve got no ill-will against you—you never did me no harm beyond killing three of my men last night, and every one of them was a fool, If you'll do what I want you to (it ain’t n:uch), Pll give you a thousand American dol- lars, deliver up the greaser, and Jet you go | free, But if you don’t consent, Pll shoot the greaser right bere where he stands, so you can see the fun, and then charge your camp, and leave every man of you lying dead in your gully.” ‘**'That isa pleasant prospect, indeed,” growl- ed Jack, wbo well knew what the “ proposi- tion” wouldbe, ‘* Don’t be alarmed, Miss Kate,” he whispered, consolingly, to the young gu, who was pale with fear, ‘* The proposition is this,” resumed the bandit: | “Give up the girl, and take your Greaser and your thousand dollars, and go wherever you please; but if you refuse, you’)l see the Greaser dead in three minutes, Then, if you still refuse, we'll kill every mother’s son of you. Now you can take your choice—yowve got the two to choose between, “Vil give you five minutes t decide in,” he shouted, in conclusion; ‘‘and I intend then to stick to my resolution,” He turned away, and leaving Pedro strongly guarded by three men, he called the trio from the opposite side of the camp, well knowing the friends would not leave their present position under the circumstances: and when they had arrived, be collected them in readiness to carry out bis plans. ; Jack turned to his companions, supporting the young lady who was half-fainting with appre- hension. ‘‘ Well?’ he inquired, ‘‘ what is your opinion, comrades?” He met with no reply. The cook sat with his hands cla ng his face, sorrowfully, gazing at the ground, while the guide fingered his knife convulsively. . “You've got to make up your minds,” con- tinued Jack, sadly, ‘ That villain means every word he says, and in five minutes will demand an answer. Think well over it, boys—it is a horrible alternative at best. And I hope,” (and he elevated his hand and turned his face, white and stern, skyward) ‘‘I hope that if there is a God, and if there is such a thing as a hell, that every man that takes part in these foul deeds will be eternally damned.” Be met with no response yet. The brains of the two men before him were surging with dark and bitter thoughts, commingled with wild sor- row, _ “Cant we make a charge, and rescue Pedro?” inquired the guide, without raising his eyes. ‘* It’s no use—the moment we leave this ravine to do it, they will stab Pedro; no, Tim, we can’t rescue him, except by—” He halted short, he could not think of the al- ternative, but, winding bis arm round the waist of the weeping gir}, put his hand to bis face and sbut It from sight, His comrades could see the huge form of their companion on the sum- mit erect ard defiant, yet with his face silently regarding them, as if in mute appeal. Every past kindness, joy, and pleasant time came vividly to remembrance—every generous deed his noble heart had prompted, recurred with tenfold intensity: and, could they now see him shot dead before their very eyes? No! ten times, a hundred, a thousand times, no! But, could they yield this creature sent by Providence to their protection to the depraved and brutal men above?—could they, if they did, ever sleep without seeing her agonized face con- fronting them in stern accusation—hear her shrieks of agony in their midnight dreams? ‘Thinking of mothers, sisters, daughters, at home, could they for a moment entertain the thought of giving ber up! No! ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times—no! The young giant endeavored to instill scme comfort into the beart of the distressed girl, but met with no success, not being in a state of mind qualified to inspire hope, She fell on her knees, and with her beauiiful face piteously working beseeched,and implored him to save her from those terrible men: sobhing wildly and wringing her hands, as if her heart would break, wringing his to the very core. € was in a barrowing position, and he knew no means of extricating himself with an easy x 11 | conscience. He truly, and with his whole earnest soul, loved the creature who was driving him mad with her frantic appeals for protection, and several times was on the verge of saving her at all risks, | But when he turned toward the hill and saw his companion’s sad face turned toward him silently, his whole nature arose in arms; no! he never could, he never would, see his comrade | shot down like a dog before his very eyes, A wild idea entered his brain. He would gather his tiny force and make a desperate charge upon the bandits, and endeavor to rescue Pedro. But the idea was rejected as soon as _conceived—at the first demonstration a knife | would be plunged into Pedro’s heart. The demeaner of the young girl changed, Her ‘lovely face became set in a hard expression, | Her eyes | which alarmed bim, it was so ves y gazing in- glittered, hard and cold, and steadi to his face, she said quietly: “Tf Tl am not given up, will they kill your _ friend?” | He bowed sadly. She continued, in the same | clear tone, steadily looking into his eyes: ‘‘ My coming here has caused all of this trouble, and [ know how bard itis for you noble, brave men to givemeup. I cannot live with those men | —I cannot see your friend die; will you lend me _ your knife!” | He clasped her tightly to him, ‘* My knife!” he gasped. ‘* What do you want with my knife?” A sudden spasm shook her, and she wildly | pressed her hands to her bosom; then recover~ | ing, she continued: ‘*T cannot, cannot live with those men, and your friend will die if I am not given up, I will end this trouble—lend me your knife!” ‘No, I will not!” Her eyes blazed. ‘‘ Lend me your knife ” ‘*] will not!” She was quivering with excitement, “T order you!” she cried, ‘‘ I command you to pena me your knife!” | He drew away from her, | ‘** Boys,” he cried, ‘‘ hold on to your knives— she is going crazy and wants to kill herself.” The two men were awe-stricken, as she stood with blazing eyes confronting him, At this juncture a hoarse hail came from the hill. She started and tottered as the voice of Cyrus Jobns rung out. They turned toward it—the time had ex- pired, ‘* Hallo, you fellows!” cried the voice. ** Your time is up, but some of my men ain’t satisfied— they want to give you until sunset. Majority rules in this outfit—you’ve got till sunset, and there it ends,” ‘* Praise God!” shouted Jack, clasping her to his breast, while the young gir] glowed with sud- den relief, ‘' Hurrah!” ‘* Look!” whispered the | ruide, in scarcely audible tones, to Duncan. | ‘“He’s Jsissin’ her, an’ eryin’ like a child,” ‘** Let him!” snarled Duncan, with transfigured face; “let him, you old thief—let him!” ‘She’s got her arms around his neck,” con- tinued the guide, in a breathless state of excite- ment; ‘fan’ he’s kissin’ her an’ cryin’ like a child.” “Dead gone, my Christian friend—dead gone!” he shouted, dancing like a madman— ‘* dead gone!” ML A CHAPTER XIV. DOT’S INFLUENCE, THE overjoyed friends did not know, thou Pedro did, that the reprieve origimated with his | jovial guard. For some occult reason. he had | busily harangued a majority of bis fellows dur- | ing the five minutes, and, such was bis remarkable | fluency of speech, he soon made it evident to them that a continuation of the time until sunset would be fair play, nothing mere, . Thanks to his ready wit and shrewd, supple tonzue, he triumphed in his strange desire, and was now, merrier than ever, guarding Pedro on the summit. He told the Spaniard his name was Veach— Charles Veach, of Connecticut, a rich man, So were all of them, he said—every men of them | was rich, He seemed in excellent spirits, and | began a running fire of songs, jigs. horn pipes, | and rather low anecdotes, to whic Pedro listen- ed and applauded, out of sheer gratitude, as his heart was heavy, notwithstanding his reprieve, Atan hour after sunrise five of the band mount- ed their horses and rode away toward the chap- arral. Provisions had run low, and they were off in search of deer, antelope, or any worthy game which they might meet. , a |