Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 542 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

prettily thereat, and Jack, as is usual with young men similarly placed, relapsed into a state of semi-imbecility. CHAPTER XVI. CAPTURED AT LAST, THE dinner bad been finished but a short time, and the men, drawing back from the un- comfortably warm fire, were puffing their pipes with the quietude and self-satisfaction born of a well-lined stomach, when the cook, who had re- sumed his pugnacious grumbling, suddenly cried: ‘*Tear every stitch out of my boots, but thar comes the ghost!” The men sprung to their feet, and the young girl, not cognizant of the Phantom Rider’s shadow-existence, glanced timidly about her. Across the southern plain, and riding directly toward them, galloped a steed that Pedro and Duncan well knew—the chestnut horse, and on his back was the Phantom Rider. A snort dis- tance in his rear, galloped a horseman, evident- ly in hot pursuit. This horseman was small in proportions, and was plying the spur rapidly, urging on his straining horse. n flew the chestnut steed, bearing directly upon them, though nearly a mile away; on came the slender horseman, plying both spurs. ** He is chased!” eried Pearo. ‘‘ And by a ranger,” added the guide. ‘‘ Shall we hide and pepper him as he goes by, Pedro?” ‘‘ Stay a moment—lI think I know him.” He shaded his eyes with his hand, and peered closely at the pursuer. “It isas I thought,” he said. ‘It is Veach— there is none so small as he in the party.” ‘“* The feller that let yer loose?” ‘The same. See, he is waving—he is sig- naling; what does he mean?” He wasa mile distant, and the flying Rider was a hundred yards or more in advance of him. Taking off his hat, the former waved it violently over bis head, as if to attract atten- tion, and as they were the only men in the vi- cinity of the hill, he must be desirous of attract- ing their notice. In answer, Pedro sprang upon the bank, and doffing his sombrero, swung it rapidly over bis*head. At this the gestures of Veach—for it was he— became more violent. His hat now described shorter and quicker circles, and he appeared to be standing in his stirrups. ‘* What does he mean?” inquired Pedro. ‘‘ He wants us to do something, that is sure. What can he mean?” That he wanted something was evident; for while he dashed the spurs against his horse, he waved his hat more frantically, and every mo- ment the chase drew nearer, ‘‘T will saddle my horse, at any rate,” said Pedro; ‘‘soif he wants me to help him, I will be ready to doit. Mind, now, Tim,” he said, as he set about his task, ‘‘don’t flre at him—he’s friendly.” The guide assented. The speed and yet nicety with which Span- iards can saddle and bridle horses is marvelous to novices. This one was an accomplished equestrian, andin an incredibly brief space he was mounted and riding out of the gully. But now the gestures of Veach had ceased, and he was no longer visible on his horse. Had he fallen? No; they would have seen him. Was his saddle empty? No; they could still see his swinging legs as he regularly spurred, But he was bending over his horse’s neck then, for his form was not visible. The chase drew nearer. The chestnut horse galloped wildly, and was drawing close, closer at every bound. All of the party felt a strange interest in the chase, a wild desire to solve the mystery of the Phantom Rider. ach man took his gun, resolving to aim steadily, and if possible empty the saddle of the chestnut horse, though they had no expectation of so doing. Duncan was wildly excited, and was as nerv- ous as he could well be without bursting an ar- tery. while the guide and young Worthington anxiously awaited the approach of the chase. Veach still remained invisible; what was he doing? His gestures had some time before ceased, not to be renewed, and he no longer stood in his stirrups. ‘It’s very strange, comrades,” remarked Pe- dro, sitting on his horse above them. ‘“ He evi- dently Wishes us to do something, but he no re waves,” ‘* He has his hands at his borse’s head,” he re- ‘‘T can plainly see his arms. Ha! he is loosing his sumed, directly. He is at work there, lariat,” —————— ee SC 220@COOlOO@M ELE ihe Canyon Fards Pedro was correct; the bandit was loosing his | halter from the neck of his horse, for the next moment he appeared in his seat, waving wildly: this time with his halter in his hand. ‘‘He wants you to lariat the ghost, Pedro,” said the guide, excitedly; ‘‘that’s what he wants.” It was exactly what he did desire. ' the sudden shock. Pedro quickly took his coiled riata from the | saddle-horn, and showed it to his horse. The well-trained animal understood the mo- In the other was a long knife. He had been bound to his saddle securely— thongs around his legs and on the saddle showed that to be the case. They had been broken by In his head and face they found no less then five bullet-holes, proving conclusively that Duncan and Pedro had aimed correctly, as had the rangers when they gave him a volley. In one of his cavalry boots was a silver-mounted pistol, which they abstracted. Drawing this out, they perceived it transfixed a shred of tion, and fastened his eyes on the Phantom | 'aud the following met their view, written in a Rider, now a quarter of a mile away. Pedro turned to his companion. ‘“* Three times white paper. This they withdrew and unfolded, | rough, unpracticed hand, with blood: have tried to lasso yonder | ‘*Rrver Gris, 1849.— Here is the body of John horseman, and three times [ have been balked. | Griffin, who murdered his father for gold. He met Senors, if I fail this time, he is, indeed, not of this world.” On came the chestnut horse, like the wind, with his strange rider—on came Veach, having ceased his gesticulations, Pedro again turned to his companion, and for the first and last time in his life, boasted. | | | his reward. All murderers take warning. ‘** APACHE JACK.”’ They well knew the signer, all except Duncan and Kate. He was an honest man and far- famed scout; and in the absence of justice, he had executed the solemn command of God, which let no man dare abridge: “‘ Eye for eye, ‘Senor, I am the very best caster of the riata | tooth for tooth, blood for blood.” in Mexico; Iam famous. My horse is the best trained for that purpose in the country; and, if I miss now, the horse and rider are ghosts.” In his right hand he took his 7i.1ta, and slip- ped the noose to about three feet in diameter. The noble black horse pranced slightly, then was a block, carved, fixedly watching the com- ing horseman. They watched with intense interest. Nearer came the chestnut horse, bearing straight down upon them, while the Mexican and his horse were like a statue. The Phantom Rider evinced nointention of veering and sweep- ing up the hill; if he did, Pedro would havea difficult task; but on he came, dashing madly, and he was now so close they could hear the horse breathe, short and heavily. Pedro raised his riata. The black horse braved himself, preparing to dart forward when the coil left his master’s hand. Nearer came the Phantom Rider, closer; he was close by; still Pedro sat quietly. Nearer—still nearer—he was nearly opposite, twenty yards away. Pedro whirled the riata over his head, while the black horse, quivering with excitement, pre- pared to spring. Once—twice—thrice—four times, and—whir-r! Away went the lasso like a darting serpent, toward the neck of the chestnut horse. In the gully they held their breath with anxiety, and Veach, behind, reined in. When the coil left the Spaniard’s hand, his horse sprung forward like an arrow. The lasso spun out its spiral length—longer—still further away—it is descending—it is over the neck of the chestnut horse. ‘‘ Hurrah!” The black horse, as he saw the noose encircle its victim’s neck, halted suddenly and braced himself. The noose settled—tighter—a shock— and the chestnut horse was rolling over on the ground, over and over his rider. ‘‘ Captured—caught! hurrah, burrah!” and the cally echoed again and again. Veach, be- hind, took up the cry, and came dashing up. ‘Well done, hurrah! Three cheers for Fe- leepy !” hey were given hastily. The friends rushed out of the gully and crowded about the captured horse as he arose, half-choked and gasping for breath, But he arose without his rider—there he lay on the ground, scowling up at them from the horrible face beneath the flapping hat. While Jack held the plunging horse, and Pedro, band over hand, came up over his lasso, the rest, charged with curiosity, bent over the prostrate rider, and the same cry came from all, simultaneously: ** A dead man!” He was a corpse! Sternly, yet with vague distrust, they shook him slightly, and eked hte body between their hands. It was cold and stiff—-beyond all doubt he was dead. Assisted by Veach they took off his poncha. Underneath that garment was a vest, drab in color, and of American make. Next came a woolen shirt. Tearing this open, they found a small dark spot on the breast, at the heart; it was a bullet-hole. The dry, hot air of the Southwest is as effi- cacious for a few months, in the preservation of dead bodies, as the process of embalming—they wither, wrinkle, become brown, and then retain their substance for some months. _ Knowing this, and noting the scaly, dried blood upon the bullet-hole, they were satisfied he had perished months before. Indeed, they were assured of this, for they met with that which explained the mystery. - They cast the parricide from them, and tak+ ing the chestnut The Phantom Rider was a mystery, a ghost, no longer. Our tale is ended, and the exploration of the Colorado River also; for the next morning Cim- arron Jack, or John Worthington, as it is best he should be called, stepped forward, and called for volunteers to escort him and Miss Sandorn to the States, where, if it pleased Providence they were to be married, when her term of mourning for her father had expired. Every man volunteered, Veach among the rest. The latter stated he had met the five rangers who had left the main body, and they had in- formed him they had deserted—they cared not to expose their bodies to the aim of crack marks- men to indulge a whim of Cyrus Johns’, As for himself, he had been on his way to Califor- nia, but meeting with the strange horseman, he had determined to ferret out the mystery, and gave chase. We know the result, He identified the nugget as his own, the in- itials being those of bis name—Charles Veach. He was rich, he said—rich as a miser; and was going back to see Dot, and marry Black-eyes in the little old Wooden-Nutmeg State, And he reeled off a lively bornpipe in anticipation, The chestnut horse proved to be an invaluable animal; gentle, and suitable for a lady’s steed, notwithstanding he had so long carried such a degraded burden; and the pack-saddle was meta- morphosea into a side-saddle, so Kate could ride on the homeward journey. A supply of provisions was cooked: by noon of the next day they were in the saddle; anda year later, Duncan and Veach witnessed the marriage of John Worthington and Miss San- dorn at Worthington Elms, ia South Carolina, and enjoyed the privilege of kissing the bride, edro and the guide have settled for life in Mexico, where they smoke and chat away their quiet lives in peace, recounting their thrillin adventures in the days of the ‘‘’forties.” An here end the adventures of Pedro Felipe and his comrades, THE END. DIME DIALOGUES AND SPEAKERS FOR SCHOOL EXHIBITIONS AND HOME ENTERTAINMENTS. Dialogues, Nos. 1 to 34 inclusive, 15 to 25 popus lar dialogues and dramas in each book. Each vol- ume 100 pages 12mo. Speakers, Nos. 1 to 2% inclusive. Each speaker 100 pages 12mo, containing from 50 to 75 pieces, YOUNG PEOPLE'S SERIES, Dime Book of Winter Soorts. ; Dime Book of Summer Athletic Sports, Dime Gents’ Letter Writer. Dime Book of Etiquette, Dime Book of Verses. Dime Book of Dreams. 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