Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 662 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

- ah ° ~ ee a « ~ . rz — | the hearth. and some ammunition. ing that the outlaw had prepa ™ ——_ _— ake o° 4 A - &! = pan ive meme E- - a ws “5 i i. rt .- Oe AL ‘And the Hercules is dead, Cody, you are sure?” “Yes, colonel.” ** You buried him?” ** Yes, sir, in his uniform, and with a blanket wrapped about bim; but his weapons, in m anxiety about ers I overlooked, though I too a hasty survey of his cabin.” ‘“* Did you find anything of importance?” ‘Nothing, sir; but after a few days’ rest I shall return and get bis arms, and also makea thorough search of his cabin and surroundings, for you know it is said that he has laid bya large amount of gold and plunder,” ** Yes, and you may discover if he is really in league with these Mounted Miners,” : ‘*T will do all 1 can to find out, sir,” was the reply, and the scout retired to his own quarters for much needed rest, But several days after, discovering that Butter- fly Billy was slowly improving, he set out alone for the home of the Hercules, CHAPTER X. THE HAUNTED CABIN, THE trail taken by Buffalo Bill, after leaving the fort, led him back to the retreat of the Hercules Highwayman, He held on from the ford, over the water- washed rocks, leaving no trail as the Hercules had done, and thus had thrown all pursuers off his trail. He knew that the Hercules had the name of being the secret chief of the Mounted Miners and though Butterfly Billy and himself had found the man apparently dwelling alone, that there might be others near and that he would pate to be very cautious not to run into an am- ush, So he left his horse hidden in a thicket at the base of the ridge, and continued on, on foot, up the steep trail to the peak, where was the retreat of the Hercules, He would have found another trail if he could have done so, for he did not like to follow the old one; but this he could not discover on ac- count of the precipitous sides of the ridge, so he held on up the path which Butterfly Bill and himself had taken upon their former visit to the retreat. Not a soul did he see, and arriving at the cabin he found all as he had left it. The rifle leaned against the logs, and near it was the sword of the Hercules, while the door, which he had not closed, swung to and fro on its leather hinges. Within all was the same, and the grave was before him, with the logs which he had placed there to keep off the coyotes, “No one has been here, that is certain, so after all the retreat of the Hercules must have been kept a secret by him from all others, ** Now to see if I can make any discoveries as _to where he has hidden his plunder.” The belt of arms which he had taken from the waist of the giant before burying him, hung on | the tree limb where he had placed them, and these with the rifle and sword he examined critically. ‘* They are splendid weapons, that is certain,” said the scout, as he Jooked them over, Then he began to look through the cabin. The furniture consisted of a bunk-bed, a Ay table, chair of rustic but comfortable make from cedar limbs, and some cooking utensils on some tin- uffalo-robe Pag this was all, for nowhere could he find There was a cupboard containin ware, several blankets, a bearskin, & aoe or plunder. uffalo Bill then looked around the ridge, but | | 7 he discovered that the cnly means of ascent and descent was by way of the trail he had come, ‘*He must have — lunder is buried, t e his living camp. “Well, it is late other retreat, where his gh this certainly looks and I will camp here to- night, for it looks like rain, and I cannot find | better quarters,” the scout went.after his horse and brought _ him up to the shed behind the cabin, and into _ which a door opened, so that the Hercules could retreat that way. | There was plenty of prairie hay there, show- } for his horse | Leg aoaen the business of robbery on the Overland "Wood & _ Wood was also piled up in one end of the _ Cabin, and an ax was over the door, so a fire was _ S0on blazing upon the hearth, and the aroma of _ Yoiling coffee made the place within seem quite 3 SAP ae A LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL A tt teat, 5 a Butterfly Billy’s Bonanza. cheery in comparison with the gloom without, for the rain had now begun to fall heavily. After a comfortable supper from his provision ouch, and a smoke of his pipe, Buffalo Bill ooked in at his horse, and seeing that he was all right, arranged his couch, and sunk to sleep, How long he slept he never knew, but be was awakened by the howling of the winds, and mingling with them camea sound startlingly like a human groan. Buffalo Bill was not over superstitious. He had laughed at his comrades for their dread of ghosts, for ’most all bordermen are filled with superstition, as much so, in fact, are the men who dwellin the mountain fastnesses, and trail the pathless prairies, as are the sailors who believe in the stories of the sea being baunted. But Buffalo Bill was certainly startled at this weird groan, coming from he knew not where, He arose, approached the door, and opening it, looked out. The fire had burned low, the rain fell heavily, and was driven with force against the cabin by the wind, which was howling about the moun- tains most savagely. But from the grave of the dead Hercules came the sound, and certainly it wasa groan from human lips, _ The scout was awed, and for a moment stood in silent meditation. Then he stepped back, threw more wood upon the fire, and placing a buffalo-robe over his shoulders, stepped out into the darkness, his rifle in hand, : He went straight toward the grave, and as he did so the ns were still heard, but seemed to retreat as he advanced. The grave was as he had left it, and yet the moaning sound continued, like unto a human being in anguish. Around the cabin went the scout, and upon looking at his horse, he found that he was loose. He certainly had not forgotten to tie him, and yet the lariat end rested upon the ground. Making the animal fast again, he entered the cabin, and throwing more wood upon the fire, a ay his pipe and sat down to smoke and think. Distinctly, still, the groans were heard, and uy scout was. more bothered than he cared to admit. | At last he determined to go to sleep again, and after several efforts did so. ’ But he was awakened with a suddenness that caused him to spring to his feet in real alarm, And to his ears, amid the still falling rain and howling winds, came appalling shrieks in the deep, powerful voice of a man. Buffalo Bill had never up to that moment known the meaning of the word fear; but this was beyond his comprehension, and he mut- tered: ‘* The accursed place is haunted!” e shrieks came from the vicinity of the grave of the Hercules, and once more the scout went forth to see what he could discover. But the cries died away among the cliffs, with many @ wild echo cast back to the ears of Buf- falo Bill, who returned to the cabin and sat down before the fire, which he kept burning brightly. His horse he again.found to be unfastened, and the animal seemed strangely uneasy, and the scout determined to sleep no more, So, smoking his pipe and thinking, he remain- ed before the fire until the dawn came. The rain ceased with the break of day, and after breakfast the scuut went the rounds of the ridge, deeply impressed with the happenings of the night, **T wouldn’t stay another night in this place for a cool thousand dollars,” he muttered, as be i his horse away, and left the cabin behind im. ‘Tf this place is not haunted, I dreampt all 1 heard last night, and I was awake as surely as I am at this moment. ** Wonder what Colonel Carter will think of this story, I have to tell him? “Laugh at me, I guess; but all the same it was no delusion on my part, those groans and shrieks, yes, and the untying of my horse. “*T am half-inclined to think that ghost-stories are true,” y . So saying Buffalo Bill mounted his horse and rode on toward the Overland Trail. He held on his way to the nearest relay sta- tion, where he knew the man in charge, and rid. ing up to the cabin was greeted with a loud hail \t¢me.” | time, and the words: ‘* Ho, Buffalo Bill, did_yer know. that ther ghost_of ther Hercules Highwayman were on ther Overland Trail?” 4 forced one, and then Jake Reeves continued: | — and the animal seemed to be fairly fly- ng. : . ene ma a meme ey - oo —~ i 7 CHAPTER XI. THE SPECTER HIGHWAYMAN. IN spite of his nerve, the salutation of Jake Reeves, the relay station-agent, somewhat star- tled Buffalo Bill; but he replied calmly as he dismounted: ‘‘ What story is this you are telling, Jake?” ‘‘Tt’s no story, Bill, but ther solid truth, fer I hain’t ther only one has seen it.” ‘* Seen what?” ‘Ther ghost o’ ther Hercules Highwayman,.” ‘** Nonsense!” .“Tt hain’t nonsense, but sense, fer I wasn’t i born in ther woods ter be skeert by a owl, as yer mrt should know.” a ‘*T know thdct you are a fearless fellow, Jake, and bave a record for nerve above the aver- age.” ‘‘ Well, I tell yer that I seen the specter, too,” ‘‘ Some one else has seen it, too, then?” S| Yes.” ‘** Ther gamest driver on ther Overland, as yer will say when I tell you it was Bob Burt.” ‘*‘ Good authority, Jake; but what did he see?” ‘“‘He saw the Hercules on horseback, at the 4 very place where the Giant General once held up ee his coach, \ ‘*There he was, seated upon his horse by the R roadside, white as death, motionless, and gazing at him in the moonlight. : ‘* The passengers saw him, too, and Bob Burt drew up, expecting to be halted, but the man, specter, or whatever it was did not speak, and so the coach rolled on.” “When was this?” ** Night before last.” ** And you have seen the same thing?’ ‘*T have.” * When?” Ca ‘* The same night,” ‘y ** Where?” : ‘Right here, Pard Bill.” | “* At your station?” ** Yes,” ‘© How was it?” ** You see, word came along by Pony Express Rider that the Hercules Highwayman had been killed, that Butterfly Billy had just laid him ow. ** He did; for I buried the Hercules, Jake.” “ rs ws knows he hain’t above ground?” ra 0. ee ** Waal, I had no idee of seein’ any one on ther trail that time, for no coach was due, and ther Pony Rider had passed, and so I was enjoying a pipe after supper, and the comfort of knowi that Butterfly Billy bad called in the Hercules’s chips, don’t you know? ‘Suddenly I waked up, and Bill, do you mind ." me, I hain’t no believer in ghosts, or leastwise I Oy wasn't, and afore I came West I were a under- taker, so had full acquaintance with dead folks; but, Lord love me, there was the Giant Gen- eral!” ) ‘S ‘* 'W here?” re ‘**Rigbt there in the Overland Trail, passing ach along as quiet as if his horse wore moccasins, bel for I heard no scund of hoofs, (ae “He was sitting bolt upright, bis sombrero ca: drooping over his face, yet, I could see that it was awful white, and he turned his head and looked squarely at me. ‘**T tell you, Bill, I could not move from my a and he just passed on afore [ knew what to 0. ‘Then what did you do?” ‘‘f just run into the cabin, got my rifle and sent a shot flying after him; but I stopped sud- denly with my shootin’, for such a shriek from human’s lips I never heerd; it was awful.” “You hit him then?” “I don’t know what I did; but I got tired of | the moonlight, and somehow I didn’t rest well a all night.” ae ‘*T don’t wonder,” said Buffalo Bill, remem- a bering his own experience the night before, ‘‘The next day I looked for tracks but saw | none, and I didn’t find no dead body, so I don't a, shoot at ghosts no more,” ‘ Buffalo Bill gave a light laugh, but it was a “The next day, yesterday morning, Bob Burt came by with his coach, and told me he had seen the Hercules the night before. ** What do you think now, Bill?” Before Buffalo Bill could reply there was heard the rapid clatter of hoofs, and Jake Reeves called out: ‘It’s Pony Rider Cricket, for this is about his Then there dashed into sight a horse and EGpookKs:.com