Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 658 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

he Len clear of the ground, and had been the means of saving the shanty, something cuused him to start back, A groan sounded close at hand! ‘**Zounds! what was that?” ** Could it have been the wind?” It was repeated, and this time he knew it was nota voice of the storm. Unquestionably, it came from under the tree, and he advanced nearer in a state of eg! oman Then the lightning flashed, and he distinctly saw a human form among the broken branches, crushed, he thought, by the fallen giant. He forgot the consequences of interference in the natural desire to investigate the matter. In a moment he was down upon his knees, Reacking in between two branches he first re- moved some of the broken limbs, which were of kindling-wood fineness, ani then grasped the me, fe fatally-injured person. nsiderably to his surprise it did not prove that the unknown was held fast, and he had no trouble in pulling him out, ““It must be some one who was trying to get out of the storm,” he soliloquized. ‘* Well, some life seems left, and I'll give the fellow a lift. He’s only a boy, anyhow,” The last meditation was the result of the thought. Would it not be dangerous to befriend any one at such a critical time? ‘ There can’t be any harm in such a younster,” he added; and then he picked the ‘‘ yougster” up bodily and carried him into the shanty. Their appearance created a sensation, ** Hallo! what in blazes have you got there?” Alberts demanded. ‘* A kid who was beaten down and left sense- less by the fall of the tree.” ** Who is he?” ** Don’t know.” ** What was be doing here?” ‘* Seeking shelter, I suppose.” “Why did you bring him in?” Alberts’s voice and manner betrayea more than his words, and Call gaye him a warning glance, ‘*He was alone, and, of course, it’s our dut to take care of such an unfortunate, even chong he be a mere fisher-lad,” Both men looked at Carona, If they had done this at first they would have been better rewarded. First sight of the boy had caused her to start violently, for she had recognized Sky-Rocket Rob. She was now gate at him in wonder and perplexity. How had he come there? This was a conundrum she could not answer. There was now nothing in her gaze, fixed and startled as it was, to arouse suspicion in the kid- nappers’ minds; it was natural that she should be shocked and frightened at seeing a boy so near death as this particular youth appears to he muttered, But Rob Wiley was not in any such deplora- ble condition, He was unconscious, but not even a bruise marked his skin, If ill luck had directed the broken tree toward the quarter where he had crouched under the wall, Provi- dence had saved bim from serious injury. He had received a stunning blow, but the larger branches, broken though they had been, formed a support that held the trunk of the tree clear of the ground, saving his life by a narrow chance. Already he was recovering, and, seeing this, Call produced a whisky-bottle and gave him a dose. A few moments later the Life-Saver opened his eyes, , For a moment he was bewildered, but recol- lection quickly returned, and he realized his ex- act situation. “So you’re alive?” greeted Call, cheerfully, "I really believe I am,” Rob admitted, with a faint smile, ** Much as ever. one round,” “What were you doing there?” demanded Al- berts, suspiciously. Rob did some rapid thinking. He did not be- lieve he had been recognized by the men, and if Carona bad been shrewd enough to keep silent up to that time, she would not be foolish enough to betray his identity now, ‘‘T was on my way here to get out of the rain and wind,” he clearly returned. ‘I was out in my boat with another boy, fishing, and the storm made it out of the question to go home, We landed and started here, but the tree fell, After that I don’t know what happened.” Where do you belong?” Rob named a town twenty miles up the coast, ** So you’re a fisherman?” ** Yes, sir.” Tbe tree knocked you out in é PP ‘i Vif a Na y eo ihe «! 4 ".* 7 a * oer Ae aye _ ; e ey ao — a : mv ; N. ; ( wel Vel ay, ho NM ‘a a 4 oh o Oe 2 ‘s Edd ch Wrath ba ud a" **Ts this your regular ground?” . * We have to fish (wherever we can get bites. It’s a hard life, and not much pay for work. If I bad the money l’d run my own boat regular to New York, and hire a man to fish for me, but these things take capital. New York’s a long ways off,” e shook his head, and assumed such an un- sophisticated air generally that Call :et him down for a very innocent, harmless youth, whose whole soul was bound up in fish, Alberts was more suspicious, ‘** What's become of the other boy?” he asked. wa was a question which had been troubling b ‘* Sure enough,” ke returned with a start. “I hope he hasn’t been hurt by the tree. He was close beside me.” ‘** There’s a lantern here; we'll look.” They took the lantern and went out, but Tony Bristles was not to be found. When certaiu that he was not under the tree, Rob breathed freer; Tony had escaped the danger, but had run away. The Life-Saver was glad to know tbat his companion was safe, but matters were left in a state of uncertainty. Rob himself had been placed in the enemy’s own camp by chance. He did not intend to Jose the advantage if he could help it. As long as he was near Carona, and could maintain his character of an ignorant boy of the coast, he could watch over her. Perhaps, too, chance would offer opportunity for hita to rescue her. To do this, a desired Tony’s aid, but Tony was absent, and it was very uncertain what that erratic person would do. His already developed timidity might cause him to keep so far away as to be useless, or he might develop courage as unsystematic as it Met be rash, and ruin all by some ill-advised reak, When they returned to the interior of the shanty, Rob managed to signal to Carona se- cretly, which he did by placing a finger over bis lips and giving ber a warning look. That told her that she was not to let the men know she recognized the Life-Saver, and the latter felt sure that she would not jeopardize the cause. Call next gave his attention to making a smaller fire just under cover of the roof, to re- place the fast-fading blaze before relied upon. That was nearly drowned out. The storm continued, and the four occupants of the place sat down and tried to pass the time the best they could. Rob avoided glancing at Carona, and even Alberts began to lose his sus- picions, The boy champion was formally installed as one of the company for the time being, but he did not intend to remain idle. Carona must be rescued, CHAPTER XIV. A WILD MAN ON THE RAMPAGE, THERE was a change for the better outside. Both wind and rain lost their force, and it was evident that the worst of the squall was over. The sky did not clear at all, however; the clouds hung low, and it looked as if the ebulli- tion of nature would end in a drizzling rain. The quartette in the shanty were making themselves as comfortable as ible, One of the features of the boat in which Call and Alberts had taken Carona away was a sus- iciously large stock of blankets. These now caine very useful. Three were put at her dis- posal, and each of the men had one. All things pointed toa night in the shanty. Certainly, the freshiy-upset ocean would not be a safe place for a sail-boat before morning, and, now that Sky-Rocket Rob was on the scene, even Carona did notspeak of a journey through the wet swamp. Nature appeared to have aided the kidnappers in their very transparent designs, but the pres- ence of Rob made a vast change in the scene, as viewed by Carona. She longed to question ths brave lad, who had saved her life once before; to ask what the pros- pects of rescue now were; but she realized that secrecy must be maintained, and aid nothing sh. The Life-Saver was, outwardly, the calmest ales present. He warmed his feet and dried is clothes by the fire, keeping up such a conver- sation as an ignorant fisher-lad might under like circumstances, Call had plausibly ex- plained the presence of bis own party, and Rob was careful not to ask unwelcome, questions, Thus even Alberts came to regard him as rmiess, Rob, however, was in a fever of suspense, No- body knew better than he that Tony Bristles Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. il was as unreliable as an Aprilday. If the sim- ple-minded young man was near he was liable to walk into the shanty at any moment, and be- tray everything by an unguarded speech. / he Life-Saver’s hope was that both Call and Alberts would go to sleep. Unless they did, his chances were not of the best. They were armed: he was not, After a while be began to yawn, and finally spread one of the blankets close to the fire and lay down. His position, while careless and easy to . look at, was such that he could watch every one | else in the sbanty, He expected to doa good dealof watching that night, Yet his eyes soon closed, and he, to all ap- pearances, sunk into peaceful slumber. Call noted all this attentively. He waited half an hour, and then turned to Carona. ‘*Hadn’t you better retire, Miss Dane?’ he asked, ‘* Whither am I to retire?” ‘*We have but one room, it is true, but the stout cord which, as you may see, is stretched from pin to pin across yonder corner, not only suggests its former use, but gives us an idea, By banging a blanket upon the cord your room is made,” **T shall not sleep to-night.” **'You will be perfectly safe. until morning dawns.” **T am too miserable to sleep.” “Believe me, nobody regrets this delay more than I,” ‘** Will you take me back, to-morrow?” ** And disappoint your mother?” ‘**T donot care to go toa mother who would not come to me,” ‘* Remember that she is ill.” **Ts she?” ** Did I not say so?” ** ‘You said so!” **’'You still doubt us?” | ‘¢ I do,” r Carona bad not intended to be so frank, for she knew the suspicions of the men ought not to be kept active, but her indignation had over- mastered her, ** Really, I suppose it is not strange,” returned Call, amiably. ‘*T don’t blame you a particle. All I do ask is that you will suspend judgment until we have given you proof, one way or the other,” ** When will that be?” ** Early to-morrow forenoon; as soon as the ocean gets over its riot so our bout can run com- fortably.” ‘*'You say that meet us?” * Fea ‘“* Strange that I cannot remember her!” Call Jooked toward Sky-Rocket Rob, but that b youth seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Y “This is butasmall part of what you have forgotten, since your past isall gone. But let us defer consideration of this until wesee your «4 | mother. Will you act upon my suggestion, and . let me curtain off the corner?” es [ shall watch my mother will be there to Call looked encouraged. Carona was bp a trifle, and, as be could not understand. how the Evers of Rob influenced her, his bopes rose, he corner was soon arranged, and the girl . retired from general view, arranged the material } at her disposal so that she could partly sit and ; partly recline, and prepared to exercise what patience she could, er abductors went near the door and talked in vaee so low that even Rob could not catch a word, - Then Alberts lay down, but Call put his back ea against the wall, lighted a cigar, and settled a down to keep watch. Obviously, the Life-Saver must use patience | in order to accomplish his purpose. Unarmed ta as he was, he could not act while Call remained awake, Wi An hour elapsed. . The wind neat to have died down almost ; wholly, and the rainfall was not heavy enough Y to make an audible sound. Only for Call it ) would have seemed that everybody and every- thing was willing to be quiet. In spite of himself Rob was beginning to feel sleepy when something occurred to arouse him thoroughly, His secret gaze had strayed to the sve doorway — there was no door—when he was Mt startled to see a human head appear there. if It came into sight slowly and cautiously, and was followed by a pair of shoulders, Its owner reconnoitered silently and carefully. It was Tony Bristles, Rob was alarmed. What idea was in Tony’s mind was not to be surmised, but if it was ' 7 . i 2 é 24. # ; ; ; a } : ss , + s \ ss # . ~~ | a oO . AY e4 ry _ ; , oe 2 ee ee. i yaw a. Ts ” ay 3) Pf + P) ne al * 7 aT ‘ us Ea 4 V ‘ » m » i > it be | ‘ ‘" * é *\ : te Pe tA ‘, if ‘ » . a ; —_ a4 ' j ” hy . _ ae B| 7 » . ; : - is "+? al fr oe 3h) ee re - J - rap 7 do8 s.com 7