Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 658 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

— a Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver. 9 the statement had filled him with additional alarm, ‘ Did she recognize those friends?” he asked. ‘‘ No; her memory would not come back.” ‘*Do you mean that she went away with en- tire strangers?” ‘*They were like strangers to her.” ‘“ By heavens! I believe she has been trapped!” ‘*' Trapped!” echoed Mrs, Bond, opening her in- nocent eyes widely. ‘*Yes. If the game had been a square one they would never have rushed her away so sud- denly.” ‘‘ But who should trap her?” Sure enough, who? Such enemies as Carter and Mrs. Vincent-Brown could have no motive that Rob covld see. But his active mind, once at work, did not fail to find another explana- tion. Was not the newspaper account they had caused to be published just as likely to meet the gaze of foes as friends? Perhaps all her troubles were due to old, bit- ter enemies who now had made another attempt and kidnapped her, He questioned Mrs. Bond further. The al- leged friends, both of whom were men, had come down the north shore in a sail-boat and, arriving at the house, had assumed to be very glad to see Carona. Neither claimed to be a relative, and had vot attempted a greeting warmer than hand- shaking; but they had seemed devoted to her, had talked about her mother and sister, and their anxiety, and said that these relatives had begged Carona to hasten to them, The girl had tried desperately to remember the persons referred to, but all in vain. Their requests, however, backed up with a show of haste, and the need of prompt depar- ture, had not been in vain. Carona bad gone with them. Gone where? To a town well north, Mrs. Bond explained. There, according to the messengers’ story, the mother and sister were waiting, buf on the eve of returning to their home in New York. It was certain that the messengers must have been plausible men, for they had deceived Caro- na and Mrs, Boud, but Rob found food for sus- picion in just the fact that would have occurred to Mrs, Bond readily if she bad been younger. If Carona’s mother and sister were at the town to the north, they would have hastened to come in person for their afflicted relative. What if they were about to return to New York? Would that fact keep a mother away from ber child? Rob was positive that the girl had been ab- ducted, but his courage rose to meet the emer- gency, She must be rescued. By whom? Roger and Ben were away, and’not likely to re- turn for hours, while every moment was pre- cious, His resolution was quickly taken. Without any unnecessary words he informed Mrs, Bond that he believed Carona had been de- coyed away, and that he was going in pursuit of her. The old lady was amazed and confused. ** Tt don’t seem possible.” ‘* [ll test it—if Ican catch them. Now, then, aunt, will you see Roger as sconas he comes back, and tell him all about it?” ‘** Dear me, yes; but—” ‘*That’s all, Tell him [I’ve gone in pursuit!” With these words the Life-Saver hastened out of the house, If be bad been allowed ample time for thought he might have associated with himself more capable rson than Tony Bristles, but the impulsive decision of the mo- ment was that all depended upon him and his eccentric companion, He seized Tony by the arm, ** Come!” he directed. ‘*Eh? What's the rush?” ‘Follow, and l’ll explain when we’re in the boat,” ** Be we goin’ a-fishin’ ag’in?” Rob did not answer but, hurrying Mr. Bristles along, soon reached their boat. They entered, and, in a very short time, were receding from the shore, The first boat was no longer in sight, but he was not without hope. Their own little’ craft was the swiftest that the town could boast, and tha wind was exactly in their favor. Of course the last advantage would also favor the kidnap- pers, but, unless they had a boat far beyond the average, he expected to gain every moment when once under way. There was @ miniatuer harbor outside the town, but this was soon passed and they had the full benefit of the wind. The boat answered bravely to the demand, and they went skimming along merrily. Rob used his eyes to the utmost, but the fact was undeniable that the runaways were out of sight. This was liable to be the case any away, for the shore was very irregular, and the Life-Saver buoyed up his spirits with the | ie {Sy ‘But it won't last long—unless it changes hope that the intervening distance could be cut | inter a storm.” down rapidly. Tony noticed his companion’s excitement, ‘‘It makes the future a problem. Once in open water again, we shall find the waves rough but did not give it any great amount of thought | and annoying, and the wind will be dead against until they began to pass the Giant’s Boot. ‘* Ain’t you goin’ ter land?” he then asked. ee No ” ** Be you goin’ a-fishin?” ‘‘ Wishing! We're going man-hunting!” Tony opened his eyes more widely than ever. ‘¢ You ain’t goin’ ter turn pirate, be you?” ** We're going to hunt pirates!” ‘Great land o’ Gilead! you don’t say so! Robert, 1’m with ye! Ef thar’s any one thing I feel cut out for, it’s pirate-huntin’, Whoop! Let ’er go, Gallagher!” The eccentric young man swung his hat wild- ly, and looked fully as much delighted as his words would indicate, but Rob’s set face never relaxed. CHAPTER XI. HUNTING HUMAN GAME, THE sail-boat would have delighted ‘any vet- eran of the sea, She cut the water as neatly as a knife, sending it rippling away on either side with a murmur tbat was full of music, Sky- Rocket Rob had been atcustomed to boating from his infancy, almost, and he handled the racer with the skill which come of long practice, Tony Bristles was in high spirits. He exulted over their rapid progress, and at the idea of hunting ‘‘ pirates.” Just what he understood by that, or what he expected, was not clear. Rob was depressed. Tt was’ highly encourag- ing to sweep along the shore so nobly, but until he sighted the other boat he would not dare to hope. Feeling sure that Carona had been ab- ducted, he looked forward to a long race, at the best, Even if the other party was sighted, the affair was liabie to end with a fight. ‘* Why didn’t we think to take revolvers?” he ng y asked, mechanically giving his thoughts aloud. Tony hesitated, and then produced a bright new revolver of the most approved pattern. ‘* Where did you get that?” Rob asked, in sur- prise, ‘** Bought it.” ** When?” Tony looked confused, and then stammered: ‘* L—lately.” ‘* Well, I never dreamed that you went ‘ heel- ed,’ but that weapon may come handy before we see the town again. It’s a good thing to have.” ‘¢ Thought so, when I bought it.” ** What use had you for it?” Tony’s face flushed, and he did not meet his young friend’s gaze. ‘** 1 didn’t know what might happen.” _ Rob detected the evasion, and wondered what it meant, but far more important matters were on his mind, and he forgot the circumstance for the time, Minutes passed and grew into hours, but the long-looked-for sail of the fugitive boat did not appear, The case became serious. Night was near at hand, and, if she could not be overtaken before that period, all hope appeared to be gone. They had reached a broken part of the coast, Several islands, which, by some persons, might be termed detached fragments of swamp, lay in a group. The land was generally very low, and, often, impassable. To avoid this broken coast entirely one must take a wide detour to the east, as Rob well knew, while a straight course would have strong advantages, One thing he realized—for some time to come as had been the case for some time past, he woul have only a limited view in front, and might get almost up with the fugitives without discovering the fact. The direct course was taken boldly. Previous knowledge of the place enabled bim to choose the broadest channel, where their boat would receive the most aid from the wind; but even that precaution did not save them from a vexatious let-up in s ° This was not due to any fault of the channel. Some time before a black cloud had appeared in the north. It rose steadily, and with an ap- pearance of conscious power, yet it came up against the wind, as it blew where the boat was racing along. For some time the south wind had been growing fickle and weaker, and it finally na 2 to die out entirely, : Meanwhile the cloud in the north grew, seized upon more and more of the heavens, and as- sumed a threatening aspect. Plainly thé north wind was to be the victor, ‘ ‘““ We're goin’ ter hev a howler!” declared Tony.” us. Progress in that case will be dangerous, I should say. Now, the question is: Whateffect will it have on our fugitives?” hang! did an unusual amount of thinking, for im. ‘“* How’s the shore above?” ‘** Barren and desolate. The nearest town is so far that, if they try to make it, they are likely to getycaught in the darkness,” ‘‘And it'll be darker than black cats, And the water will be rouzb as ’tarnation. And I don’t b’lieve they’ll be fools enough ter try an’ make the town, with a gale likely ter be howlin’ around them any minute, You an’ me hev seen jest sech squalls come up afore now, an’ we know they kin pounce down as sudden‘as a pan- ther, an’ a beap more dangerous.” All this was in keeping with Rob’s own opinion, For several minutes the idea had been growing upon him that the abductors would make a landing rather than face the dangers of a squall, But if they did land, where would it be? No- where in that vicinity could they find shelter, unless it was in some shanty unknown to him, That such existed was probable, but the coast was so wild, low and barren for several miles that nothing was certain. ? Darkness came on rapidly, and far ahead of time. Rob began to feel that theirs was a lost cause. When their eyes failed to be of any use, what hope would remain of overtaking Carona and her companions? He held to their course. A little while longer would bring them to open water, but it was already nearly dark. ‘** Hullo!” quoth Tony, suddenly, ‘‘I kin see the sun settin’ over yender,” Rob looked, but one glance was enough to show him that Tony did not see thesun, Its rays could not have struggled through the black cloud, anyhow, and the particular sight that Bristles saw was the light of a fire. It proceeded from a ridge to the left, but whetber that of island of mainland the Life- Saver did not know, though it had immediate and strong interest for bim. Had the abductors encamped there? For awhile he was undecided what to do. The delay necessary to make an investigation might prove fatal, but, when he looked ahead, he could not but see that it was next to hopeless to pro- ceed in that direction, let the other craft be what it might. He briefly explained his views to Tony, and that person fell in line at once. The fire was then clearly to be recognized as such, and he de- clared that it must be the abductors’ camp, A landing was made without delay, and their boat secured. Before them was a slight bluff, heavily wooded. On the summit burned the fire, Rob was about to suggest a search to see if the other craft could be found when Tony uttered a cry. He had used his eyes well, and when Rob looked for the result, he found a boat not twenty feet from their own, but nearly concealed by bushes which overhung it, An examination was made, but it established nothing. It was a sail-boat, but there was no way of determining whether Carona had ever been in it. ‘* We'll go up the bank,” Rob announced, wt x they fire?’ ** We must be careful.” * Right! There are men in these regions who would shoot us as quick as though we was buz- zards, Look out!—it burts like sin ter be filled up with lead.” ‘You may stay here, Tony. I'm smaller than you, and somebody must crawl up toward the fire on the sly.” “You do it; I’m a fisherman, not a trailer.” ‘Stay by the boat, and see that nobody gets away with it,” ** Correct.” Rob started on bis trip. It was not easy to ascend the bank without making any betrayin sound, but due care enabled him to accomplis it in a fairly successful way. Once up, he was able to get more information as to the fire. Only a few vards away was a long. low shan- ty. If the whole bad once been roofed over it was so no longer. One-half still bad the old walls, but the top was gone, and through the opening mounted the red flames of a fire made of material that burned fiercely. y or ~.