Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 542 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

The chaparral on either side of the lane was so dense a rabbit could searcely creep through it, much less a large horse; so escape for the Phantom Rider was impossible, unless Le wheel- ed and overrode the Spaniard, an action hardly probable. Hurrah! thechestnut horse had en- tered the neatest of traps, from which there was but one way of escape: to turn and run down Pedro, ‘He cannot leap the gully—he cannot enter mine at last.’ Stimulated by the thought, he pressed his horse into a yet swifter gallop; and preparing for the capture, loosened his riata from the saddle- horn. But he was forestalled, The chestnut horse was half-way down the lane, boldly visible in the bright moonlight, Pedro had just entered the lane, and with gaze bent upon his chase, was clutching his riata, when from the bushes oppo- site the Phantom Rider, a serpentine line shot out, swiftly unfolding; alasso aimed at the neck of the horse, W hirr !—the coil dropped upon the neck of the steed, but not to encircle it, though it was adroit- ly cast: for with a wild neigh the horse shook it off, and tossing his head careered onward still more madly—the attempt was fruitless, Some one watching in the chaparral had en- deavored to lasso the Phantom Horseman. In a moment Pedro had reined in, and casting a hasty look ahead, wheeled to fly. He must not expose bis neck to the aim of the unseen and unknown lasso, even if the coil had failed to capture the chestnut horse; it might encircle the neck of his steed, In the glance that he cast down the lane he saw the Phantom Rider pause fora moment on the brink of the fissure. Then casting a wild look behind him, the chestput horse, with a shrill ‘‘ whigher,” plunged downward into the gully with the Phantom Rider on his back. Pedro gazed for a moment, utterly astounded at the feat. What manner of steed was the chestnut—was he, too, a phantom? Once more balxed; once more wheeling to re- treat with an unthrown riata; again bound out- ward from the chaparral. Another hasty look he threw back as his horse settled into the back-gallop. This time still, the lane had an occupant at its eastern extremity, But it was not the Phantom Rider—he had dis- appeared; but standing on the brink of the fis- sure regarding Pedro, was a man leaning on a long. gun. As he again transferred his gaze to the meadow, which he was about to re-enter, he saw an object which caused him to utter an oath and rein in as quickly as he could, The object was a man who emerged from the chap- arral, and advancing to the center of the meadow, halted in Pedro’s course and leveled a gun at his head. “Halt, you greaser!” be shouted in a harsh, discordant voice. ‘‘ Stand still; or I'll bore ye!” His attitude was firm, and his tone was not a jesting one—he was wholly in earnest. Though too distant for his features to be dis- tinguished, he was not more than five-and- seventy yards away—quite near enough to kill the Spaniard, if he shot. His entire mien was that of a desperado, and Pedro hastily unslung his rifle. But he paused in the act, as the man hailed again, and he fancied he could see the stranger's eyes gleam, so earnest was the tone. Halt—stop! don’t unsling that gun. If you do, l’Il bore ye.” The repetition of the reat, and the signifi- cance of the word bore, had their effect on Pedro. For a moment he was undecided whether to put his horse into a gallop, and ric- ing down the challenger, risk the latter's bullet: but aware that every man that roamed the plains was precise with the rifle, he saw it would undoubtedly result in his death, and abandoned the idea. He looked back at the gully. Possibly if the man had vanished from the fissure, he eoyld wheel and escape as did the Phantom Horse- man, though it would be extremely perilous; but no—there he stood on the brink still, lean- ing on his gun, with his face toward him, Kis- cage here, too, was impossible. @ was surrounded, and by men who were bent upon Capturing him, and that alive. It was only too evident—their every action be- trayed their determination to do so, and it alarmed him, for it showed they had a hidden design upon him. Well, caramba, here he was, but he would endeavor to elude them yet, and he rapidly looked about him. the thick chaparral!” shrieked Pedro. ‘‘ He is a The Canyon Pards. See ——__—__. A live-oak, with squat, spreading branches, was Close at his left hand—in fact, one of the lower and outer limbs, swaying in the breeze, ever and anon tapped him on the shoulder, Underneath the branches was dense, opaque shadow, and beyond, the chaparral was mat- ted and hedge-like. He could not force his horse into this latter and escapé, but he could, perhaps, dart suddenly into the shadow, and be protected in some measure from the enemies’ bullets. Perhaps by temporizing he might yet escape. He glanced at the desperado in the meadow. Tired of keeping his gun at arm’s length, he had dropped it into the hollow of his arm, seeing the Spaniard made no demonstration, The man behind at the fissure had not stirred—he was yet regarding Pedro; and taking advantage of their momentary relaxation, he jerked the bridle-rein sharply to the left, over the black horse’s neck, The Spanish-bred horse, accustomed to dart at the slightest signal, was under the tree in two seconds’ time; for the present Pedro was safe to some degree. The man at the fissure, though seeing Pedro’s disappearance, was too well acquainted with the density of the chaparral to fear his escaping: and now his enemy was hidden, he, too, moved into the thicket, to avoid any unseen bullet which the Spaniard might easily direct at him. His brother desperado in the meadow, also quickly scuttled into the chaparral before Pedro could bring his rifle to bear upon him: and over the thickets, adown the meadow and lane, not a creature was visible, Pedro’s first act was to secure his nugget to his saddle. He was resolved if they did capture bim that they should not possess his gold. ns to-night I am shot and killed, or taken prisoner,” he calmly thought, ‘‘ my brave horse will be at camp in thirty minutes’ time. And then they will come to the rescue, if not already, as they should be, on their way hence.” Duncan ha | left him two hours ago, to bring the other two comrades—they should be here now. He grew uneasy at their non-arrival— had evil befallen Duncan? He was not aware that at that very moment his companions were confined to the camp by quadruple their number of desperadoes, who were bent upon keeping them there; and that a plan to capture him alive had been determined upon by these very men, hours ago. But he waited, listening eagerly for any sounds indica- tive of his comrades’ arrival, and watching every twig, thicket and shadow about him, with every sense on the alert, An hour passed dismally by, and his uneasi- ness increased at the non-arrival of his com- rades, What could detain them? A slight rustle took place on the edge of the chaparral across the meadow at the spot where his challenger had disappeared. He leveled his rifle silently upon the spot, ready to fire should an enemy show himself. Another movement occurred, and he heard a distinct rustling of the bushes; then an arm was projected, the hand moving slowly over the ground asif feeling for something. I[t would not do to fire at the arm, although he had an excellent opportunity for shattering it; when he shot be meant to kill. The rustle grew louder, the bushes shook vio- lently; a man was there—undoubtedly the des- perado who had barred his path, As the moon rose higher in the zenith, a ran- dom ray found its way through the oak’s branches, and slanting on his head and shoul- ders, illumined them bnghtly, though without his knowledge. Now any enemy that might be in his rear, could have a full view of his body from the waist upward, An enemy was in the rear—a man Slealing from the fissure toward him, keeping closely in the shadow, which now half-concealed the lane. He drew near, nearer; inone hand was a cocked revolver, in the other a lasso. The rustle across the meadow increased to a violent shaking of the bushes, and a head was thrust forth, only to be drawn quickly back again. It was the head of his challenger. Now the man in the lane was within twenty yards of the live-oak, with bis eyes fastened on the Span- iard’s gleaming neck and shoulders, Still again the bushes were shaken back and forth, and he watched them eagerly, It was a lure to attract his attention, Better had he cast an occasional glance to his rear, Suddenly the head was again thrust forth, and the hand and arm were waved tauntingly at Pe- dro, who quickly aimed, only to be disappoint- ed, as the head vanished. The man in the ob- scurity of the lane now waved his riata hur- riedly over his head once, twice, thrice, and 9 then, with all his force, hurled tbe coil at the gleaming shoulders of the Spaniard. The latter heard the “ whirr,” and withdraw- ing his gaze, looked quickly back. But he looked just in time to see a spiral line darting toward him from across the lane—just too late to avoid it, and ere he could move from its path the noose had settled over his shoulders—the gleaming moonbeams had betrayed him. The man in the lane, as he saw the noose en- circle his victim’s neck, yelled in gratification, and throwing his entire weight and strength into the action, jerked the lasso. The noose slid, settled, and became taut, and Pedro, un- able to help himself, was rudely jerked from his horse, which neighed in alarm and galloped madly away. He was captured—taken alive, Away went the black horse, bound for, the camp, with the nugget of gold beating a rapid tattoo upon the saddle, CHAPTER XI. A JOVIAL BANDIT, PEDRO’s rude fall partially stunned him, but he soon recovered, to find his two enemies standing over him. One was a short, smister fellow, of great muscular power—bis lassoer; the other was tall and sinewy, and of a fierce disposition—his challenger. At a glance he knew he had fallen into rough hands, and might expect correspondingly rough treatment, He noticed they were heavily armed, but, naturally incensed at their cool capture, he stoutly de- manced, sitting upright: ‘* What do you mean, senors, by lass’ing me? I have done you no harm—you must be mistaken in your man, Let me arise.” With this demand he essayed to get up, with the lasso tightly confining his arms, but the short ranger rudely overturned him, with a curse. ‘‘ Keep quiet, greaser, and lay still, and yer'll rit treated better than white-livered Mexicans deserve, Butif ver go to cuttipg up yer didos, yell git handled without gloves, so you can put that in your pipe and smoke it.” ‘¢Senor, loose this riata and allow me to rise, I’ve got no money, if that is what you want,” * No, I savvy,” remarked the tall desperado, sarcastically. ‘‘ Il never saw a greaser that did have more than a few dollars, But you’ve got a fine gun here—or rather J have,” and be in- spected Pedro’s rifle. ‘* Anda pretty ’cute kind of a knife:” and with this remark, the lassoer coolly abstracted a jeweled dagger from his captive’s belt, ‘¢1]] raise you two, and call,” and tke taller one drew a brace of elegant revolvers from the same place. Pedro sighed at seeing his beautiful and favorite weapons appropriated by the villains, The dagger was golden-hilted, the revolvers were silver-mounted, and the elegant rifle was worth a large sum, ** Recollect, this is robbery,” he growed be- tween his teeth. ‘Tll mark you two rascals hereafter—-car-r-amba !” By way of rejoinder, he received a lusty kick in the short ribs, and the threat that if he didn’t keep his windmill shut off, he would get the wings knocked off, which metaphorical and elegant speech, translated into plain English, meant that he would have his teeth knocked out, if he did not keep a closed mouth, He was sufficiently acquainted with despera- does to reflect that discretion is the better part of valor, and like a shrewd man, kept his peace externally, but within he was asa raging bull; and he swore lustily to himself, in a way Spaniards only can, They rifled his pockets ravaged every portion of his outer clothing, an quarreled over their illegitimate booty, kicking him from time to time in barbarous delight; and at length the taller rascal went off to fetch their concealed horses, swearing at the flight and escape of the noble black horse, which he had in vain attempted to lasso, The horses were brought, and Pedro was roughly jerked to his feet, and after being placed upon one of them was securely lashed to the aici with the mata; and then his captor mounted behind him, and his companion vault- ing into his saddle, they rode away, bound, Pedro knew not whither, His victors, after the first outbreak, had relapsed into mocdy silence, Leaving the chaparral, they entered the mezas, and galloped toward the camp. An hour later, they rode into the midst of nearly a dozen men, who were tag en- camped on the hill, where Duncan had met the Phantom Rider, a half-mile distant from the camp; and seeing their warlike attitude, Pedro boo (@) ° = 0)