Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 870 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

risk, Dan’l, from beginnin’ to 1 Nels philosophically, ‘‘and if § to-night, all right. Sol and hold the fort here, and if I clear m alive you'll hear from me inside r-four hours. Pards, the verdict’s F- I’m goin’ to make the break,” ~ ild listen to no protest—no argu- e had set his head upon going and id. Bidding his friends good-by he from the cave and was gone, lire suspense Dan and the hunters held their breath as he departed, Ten seconds had elapsed, and they were assuring them- selves that the crisis had passed, when sud- denly the crash of firearms mingled with a demoniac yell burst like a thunderbolt on their ears. ‘‘My God!” exclaimed Dan, ‘‘ they’ve dis- covered the boy!’ Norway Nels will never escape!” ‘*Harkee!” whispered Polar Sol, and silence being thus imposed, they all listened for several moments when the o!d hunter continued: ‘‘ By the sword o’ Gideon! they have not got the boy yit, and it’s catchin’ be- fore hangin’! Do you observe that yellin’ is growin’ fainter—trailin’ off down the canyon? The’re after the boy, but V’ll bet Old Dismal’s scalp they don’t—” There was a flash in the mouth of the cave, a bullet flattened against the rear wall as the stunning crash of a rifle drowned the speak- er’s voice. Raven-Eyes had carried out her threat, and revealed their hiding-place to her friends! CHAPTER XVI. A STARTLING DISCOVERY. Ir now became necessary for the three be- sieged men to keep well behind the angles of the walls out of line with the mouth of the bear-den, for there was no telling what mo ment a bullet would be sent in. The bushes outside not only made a covert for the foe, but formed an impenetrablé packground of darkness over the entrance to the cave so that it was impossible to see any- thing. The ear alone had to be relied upon, and Polar Sol, revolver in hand, took a position where he could not only hear, but where he could return the shot should another be fired. An hour or two of unusual quiet, how- ever, followed. The yelling down the can- yon had entirely ceased, or, at least, the be- sicged could hear nothing more of it, and they were feeling pretty happy in the belief that Norway had made good his escape, when suddenly their ears were greeted with a new outburst of savage demonstrations. What it meant, of course, they could not tell, unless Norway’s pursuers had, after all, returned with hima captive. The confusion did not seem to be exactly one of triumph, but rather of disappointment and dismay; but no difference what it. was, the besieged were compelled to pass the remainder of that night in painful suspense and uncertainty. The noise in camp had scarcely subsided when, all at once, there was another flash and report outside and a bullet was sent into the cave to remind the besieged that the place was being watched. And, to give those watching to understand that the besieged ‘were not napping, Polar Sol sent a shot at the spot where he had seen the flash in front of the cave, To his utter astonishment an unearthly savage yell answered the shot—a genuine yell of agony. “A lovely snap-shot, Polar!’ whispered Old Dismal. ‘‘ You winged the varmint without a doubt, you noble Old Master.” But whether he hit a red-skin or not, no more bullets were fired into the cave. The enemy, however, were not idle. The sound of ax-blows and the rustle of bushes were the next diversions. What they were up to the Rozues could not make out at the time, but presently Sol noticed it was growing lighter SS _--- eo Or Cr) OO a. ee eee” about the mouth of the cave as the work out- side went on, and, finally, they discovered that the red-skins were clearing away the bushes from in front of their retreat. When three or four rods of the slope around the entrance to the bear-hole had been denuded of its shrubbery, the red-skins built a fire at one side of the place so that its light shone over the clearing. ‘‘T hope now the varmints are happy,” Distnal remarked. ‘‘They’ve got the en- trance o’ this hole in full view, and the bush- es cut away outside so that if we should be fools enough to walk out they could warp it to us. They’ve gone to lots o’ trouble for nothin’.” By turns Sol and Dismal kept watch. The fire was kept burning outside, which was really of as much advantage to the hunters as to their foes, for while they had no thought of leaving the cave, the light enabled them to see that no one entered. Thus the'night was spent, and when day- light came the hunters found that the re- moval of the bushes from in front of their retreat enabled them to see right over into Gray Falcon’s camp. This was a very pleasant discovery, for it enabled them to observe what was going on, and Polar Sol took a position to watch pro- ceedings, and ascertain if possible whether Norway Nels had been made prisoner or not. ‘‘The vagrants,” he reported to his friends, ‘Core all frisking around quite peart. Some o’ them are br’ilin’ meat for breakfast, some o’ them are comin’ and goin’ ’mong the hosses, and some monkeyin’ with guns. Zip! there goes that little firebrand, Ravin’- Eyes; frisky as a doe; if she’d look this way Vd throw her a kiss—ouch! there goes Kamas Kit, limpin’ trom atent! Kamas is pretty lame, I can tell you. There stands that white man you called Bondurance, Dan’l, talkin’ to that bad, bold Kickin’ Hoss. He seems to be a free, priviledged character there. But I cansee nothin’ o’ big Norway Nels, for I guess he’s not there. But, pards, if -I wasn’t afraid the varmints’d change their camp, I’d go to flingin’ lead outen here with old Milinda, in two seconds. I'd want no better sport than to set here and pick them hellyons off one by one.” And thus for an heur Polar Sol continued to take observations, and report to. his friends. In the mean time the enemy had eaten breakfast. After their repast all began stir- ring about in a manner that indicated a liveiy demonstration of some kind. Sol watched them closely, in hopes of being able to determine what they meant to do; but whatever it may have been, their prepara- tions were suddenly interrupted by the pres- ence of something in the canyon below camp. Immediately every face was turned in one direction, and all stood as if rooted to the spot. Sol could not see, owing to his narrow range of vision, what startling object held them in such silent amazement; but he was not long kept in ignorance, for, presently, an Indian appeared in camp, with the lithe firure of a young girl, with hatless head and flowing hair, walking at his side, ‘‘ Sword o’ Gideon!” burst in painful ac- cents from Polar Sol’s lips, ‘‘ they have at last recaptured the gal, Alfa Bond !” CHAPTER XVI. A THUNDERBOLT FALLS. TRA BONDURANT, the executor, passed a restless night in Gray Falcon’s camp, and was glad when morning came. Between outbursts of excitement that periodically disturbed the night, he endea- vored to review the situation and circum- stances surrounding the new claimant; for, while he was not ready to question the claim of Gray Falcon, the white chief, to the property of Israel Mitchell, he was satis- Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. a a —_—_—_—_ _—__ ————_ eae TC CC LLL LE, LLL fied that he wasinan unholy alliance witl the outlaws who seemed very active in his interest. The presence of young Temple, a prisoner his final release by friends, the fight anc death of several men, the besieging of thé rescuer in the bear-cave, the fury and wickec threats of Kamas Kit, all went to show tha the allies were at war with the hunters an¢ ranchmen—in fact, with all men of law an¢ order. Itis true, he could find no fault witl his own treatment; but, notwithstanding, i was a blessed relief when the night had passec and the light of day dispelled the gloom fron his mind as well as the canyon. As soon as breakfast was over he repairec to the lodge of Gray Faloon, and, after ¢ short conversation, informed the chief tha he would like now to have a talk with his detective, Syl Gascoyne; also, with the man, Seth Craver. The chief dispatched Raven-Eyes for Gas: coyne, who soon appeared in the lodge, stroking his long black beard and bowing politely to the chief and his guests. “Syl,” said Gray Falcon, addressing Gascoyne, ‘‘ you will be seated and tell Mr. Bondurant how you got onto Seth Craver and Doctor Dave’s plot to rob me of my rights.” Gascoyne seated himself and began his story, and as he talked on in a smooth, modulated tone, there was something so vaguely familiar in his voice that, half the time Ira Bondurant lost the run of his story, in his endeavors to recall when and where he had heard that voice before. The more he tried, however, the more confused he be- came, und, at last, he made up his mind, before the man had finished, that the fellow’s big, full beard was a disguise behind which, he had nv doubt, was concealed a face that he would recognize were it uncovered. Be that as. it might, Gascoyne’s story was suddenly interrupted by a buzz of excitement outside in the camp, and turning, he looked out. An exclamation of surprise broke from his lips, and rising, he hurried from the lodge. without offering an excuse for so doing. Bondurant saw the fellow was unduly excited, and, excusing himself to Gray Fal- con, he followed the reputed detective out, The cause of the excitement mas the pres- ence of Alfa Bond in camp. ‘The executor recognized her at a glance, though her beau- tiful face wore a look of scorn and defiance, and her dark eyes flashed with an unnatura, light as she confronted the two-score of de- lighted red-skins and outlaws. The girl had been brought to camp by the red-skin who, since daylight, had stood alone on guard down the canyon. He reported her on her way to camp of her own accord—that she had even begged him to accompany her to camp. Advancing through the crowd into the girl’s presence, Bondurant addressed her thus: ‘‘Good heavens! Alfa, what has brought you here into this camp?” ‘‘The desire, Mr. Bondurant,” the girl re- sponded, her voice tremulous with passion, “to avenge my father’s death! J am glad to find you still alive, though it is a wonder these murderous wretches have spared you,” ‘‘T was deeply grieved to hear of your fa- ther's death, Alfa,” Bondurant returned, ‘but surely these men and warriors will not harm you.” ‘Harm me?’ she exclaimed, flashing a look of contemptuous disdain at the leering faces before her; ‘‘ Mr. Bondurant, these creatures are human vultures; they will de- stroy me soul and body, if they can!” : ‘Now, gal, look here,” put in Kamas Kit, ce , ; 4 you don’t believe that else youd never come here of yer own will. Come, now, be fair with us. We hunted for you all night. Your runnin’ away give us oceans of fear and uneasiness, ” : , : ; ; ‘aD Y= a” * , I nas aa ri : - 4 “a ws 4 a} ad ’ te yr wd +. s = Biz