Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 654 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 Tiere caste nie aoe Sal eta A rope was thrown to him and he was drawn aboard. That’s about the last he knew for an hour or more; then he was awakened by the cap- tain pounding him vigorously on the breast. “Well, lad, are you awake yet?” the cap- tain asked. illy sat up on the bunk and looked about him, and then comprehended matters, “Oh! ye picked me up, hey?” Yes. What were you doing, swimming about like a shark?” ‘* Just came from one.” He et you on board the smuggler?” ae Tes.” “‘ Aud what was you doing there?” ‘Well, boss, I was partly proppin’ up the mast and it was proppin’ up me. I was a prisoner.” ‘‘ Where is the boat now?’ ‘“‘Under water.” ‘“‘And the crew?” ‘Gone ashore. They left me to sink, and _ took a skip. They’re goin’ to raise ructions on shore.’ “ Attack Bristol and the officers?” ‘“* You bet!” The captain turned to the first mate. ‘‘ Let her go!” he ordered. “ Beach her if you can.” The mate gave the orders. The anchor was hoisted. The captain again turned to Billy, and cross. questioned him until he was satisfied the boy’s story of his Capture and escape was the truth. It was not difficult for the little cutter to get ashore, and she was soon well up on the soft sand. Immediately the beach was attained the captain said: ‘‘ Everybody arm themselves!” This was done; then the cutter was tem- porarily abandoned, and the crew started off for Snug Harbor—now fully five miles dis- tant. It was a tiresome tramp, and as they neared the village they heard sounds of excitement, off in the distance. “Forward!” cried Billy. “I know the way and will go first for the cabin, then for the tavern.” In the mean time, it becomes us to follow up the daring detective's adventures. is presence at the tavern, did not appear to attract much attention—apparently owin to the fact that he was such a ty pical-looking tramp and bummer. ‘They don’t suspect me,” he concluded, “and that is one point in my favor. If Deadwo there’s anything to be gleaned here, I'll soon | know it.” Tbe men were in a state of considerable excitement, and more evidently getting ready for some important movement. “They’re getting nerved up for a fight, if I'm any judge,” thought Dick, ‘‘and it is ten to one that they intend to attack m men, earnest,” Occasionally Dick would saunter up to the bar to get a drink, hoping to catch a word of information, but in this was unsuc- cessful. He would then return to his corner. Finally he was approached by Jim Oaks. ‘* Well, old man, what are you doin’ here?” was asked. , ‘“ Nothin’ purtickler, ‘cept gittin’ dry on the outside an’ wet on the in.” ‘‘ Where did you come from?” ‘* Californy.” ‘* Where are you going to?” ‘‘Dunno, yet. Hain’t made up —'most anywhere, where a feller along without work.” “What is your name?” j “* Jeff Jordan.” | ‘*Can you fight?” “Well, you bet! Tusset brown.” y If they do there will be bloodshed in | my mind can git I kin just do that to a | | aoe ath are ———— > a OT, dae ot a od Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers, “ Well, ws’re goin’ to have a little skirmish with the enemy pretty soon, and want to muster in all the men we can get.” ‘* What enemy?” ‘Oh! a gang of detectives who have been bothering us. Will you join us?” ‘ “* Wal, I reckon, if ye want me. ready fer a fight, Jam!” ‘Then come up and have another drink, as a bracer,” Dick acquiesced, although he touched the liquid poison very lightly. This drink cemented the apparent friend- ship between him and the Smuggler chief, and prevented any suspicion that might have been rife among the rest of the gang. They were all toughs, but Dick was about the toughest-looking one of the party, anda very fit companion, in his disguise, for the rest. A perplexing problem now arose in his mind. How was he to get out of accom- panying the gang? The smuggiers were making active prepa- rations for a start, and Oaks soon approached the new recruit, carrying a rifle—a single- Shot breech-loader, With the exception of Deadwood Dick, there was not a perfectly sober man in the party, but all were in a fighting mood. Before the gang left the tavern, Jim Oaks mounted a chair, and said: ‘Fellow citizens! Are you all for the mutual protection of our interests?” ‘‘ We are,” was the reply. ‘Are you ready to fight to protect those interests?” ‘“ We are! we are!” ‘Then death to the detectives who came here to make mischief. Outside and form in line, two abreast. Then for- ward, march! We must wipe out the whole gang—not leave one of them to zo back and report, and thus bring down here the whole revenue corps to clear us out forever.” CHAPTER XV, CONCLUSION. THE smuggler gang filed out of the tavern, and arranged themselves in file, according to Oaks’s direction; then the burl y ruffian took the lead and led off at a rapid gait, Dick, in the formation of the line, had taken good care to get a position in the rear of the command, If an opportunity offered itself, it was his intention to drop out of file and skip for the cabin, When they arrived within shooting dis- tance of the cabin, Oaks called a halt. ‘You fellers stay here,” he ordered, ‘We don’t want to fall into any trap, and so I will go ahead and reconnoiter. I won’t be gone long. If I am, why, make a rush upon the cabin!” * At the point where the gang had _ halted, were plenty of big cypress stumps, and the men squatted around on these. Dick took particular pains to get as far from the rest of the men as possible, with a view of escaping. Many of the gang lit their pipes, and_be- an to smoke, while all entered into a noisy iscussion of the situation. That was Dick’s opportunity, but, just as he was about to steal away he felt a tap upon his back. He looked around to discover Billy Bucket, © Was crouching behind the very stump on which Dick was resting. | ‘, Come,” he whispered. ‘The boys are waiting oniy a short distance away. Now’s our time.” Dick slid from the stump. The smugglers were in hot and high argument, and took no notice whatever of his movements, and in the course of a few minutes, Billy conducted him to where the revenue officers, and the ship's crew were awaiting ina chaparral near the cabin, but off to one side. with you, : had fired the b| After Dick had received a warm greeting, Billy Bucket | Spoke up: ‘“ Now, you fellers, ef yer’ goin’ ter do bizness, do et, and then let’s clear out of this place. Ef we stay here much longer, we'll Allus | all git ther epizootic.” . ‘Are the men in a position where we have any chance of taking them?” asked the first mate of the cutter. ‘They are,” responded Deadwood Dick. ‘‘T am sure that by making a sudden rush, we can overpower them, drunk as they. all are and Oaks absent.” ‘Then, lead ahead, and we will end the matter, the quicker the better,” Just then came a shot from the cabin and Oaks was seen to come staggering out of the door, closely followed by Hiram May; then again another shot, from a revolver in May’s hand, and Oaks fell to the ground, = ‘Oh, it’s May is a bully boy—he is!” cried an. xt Yes, he has done for Oaks, that is cer- tain,” added Dick. ‘‘ Now for the gang!” The gang had been alarmed by the shots, and then, seeing their leader fall, made a dash for the cabin, but only to be confronted by the officers and crew, headed by the bum- mer, Dick advanced. i ‘Fire one single shot, you scoundrels, and-we will not leave one of you alive!” he shouted. ‘And if one of you attempts to escape he will be shot down like a dog! There lies your leader, Jim Oaks, Your jig isup now! Do you surrender, or is it wipe you all out? Take your choice!” The answer was a rifle-shot, and a bullet cut through Dick’s old hat: but, a quick re- sponse came from behind him. “Take that, ye b’oody Spalpeen!” cried Egan; and, as he spoke, the Kicker, who shot at Dick, tumbled forward on his face, ““Apy more av ye as wants the same?” called out the irate lrishman. “Advance, one by one!” Dick, peremptorily. The toughs were Simply paralyzed. It was all so sudden and unexpected that they were seemingly incapable of resistance, and almost mechanically they advanced singly, to be disarmed as each one came up. Only the monster Suke tried to escape. He, at least, would not surrender. a break for the cover of the Cypress stumps, but was not quick enough for the Vigilant Egan. His rifle again spoke and the career of the wretch was then and there ended. He had plotted his last scheme of ruthless robbery and wrong. Dick now hurried to the cabin, where May, pistol in hand, sat grimly in the door. ‘‘ Why did you kill Oaks?” ‘Dick demand- ed. ‘‘I wanted him spared to make him re- veal this whole business, ” ‘He is not yet dead,” May answered, ‘ shot him to prevent him from murderin Caruthers, whom he go hates. He tried to Shoot me for defending the young man, and I gave him a second dose, which guess will settle his accounts on this earth.” Oaks was groaning as he lay upon the ground, and Dick at once proceeded to in- vestigate his condition. He found two wounds in the breast, either of which must prove mortal, ‘Do you know me, Oaks?” asked the de- tective. : ‘“‘ Yes,” he answered, in a whisper. “‘ You are the leader of the revenue men,” “Tam that. But, lam more. Iam the protector of your wife and of whom are now under m commanded y care. I know you to be not only Oaks the smuggler and Villain, but also Gifford. Is it not so?” ‘What shall T daughter for you?” Det ol The wretched man seemed tortured by his ‘ say to your wife and He made daughter—both | Ee a ae =o & * er. - aa ~ Ve, oe ¢ ce ae“ es