Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 673 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ors -,* - a i. a - glance, the wil ‘Below there, boys!” yelled Black Bart, in stentorian tones. *‘ Here, cap’n,” came the ready response of Yellow Jack. **Lend a hand to catch the girl, now.” The captain sunk upoh his knees at the edge of the balcony, and lowered his burden over in- to the waiting arms of his satellites. The next moment he, himself, swung hastily to the ground. **Vamos, boys!” he cried. This racket will rouse the town, an’ we will have a reg’ lar hor- nets’ nest ’round ourears, Git!” The chief caught up his captive, and darted over the lawn at full speed, closely followed by his subordinates, just as the servants, having recovered their self-possession, issued from the mansion in pursuit, The two outlaws drew their weapons, and fired several shots as they fled—a proceeding which caused the would-be rescuers to waver perceptibly, and gave Black Bart time to reach the gate with his prize. Vith one sinewy arm entwined about the frail form of the unconscious maiden the outlaw chief clambered to the top of the gate just as his men rushed down the road with the horses. But ‘‘there’s many a slip ’twixt the cup and the lip,” and the captain’s exultation quickly changed to dismay as he found his triumphant course suddenly checked in an unexpected man- ner. There was a sound of clattering hoofs coming from a direetion opposite the marauders and tine next moment a gidowy band of riders thun- dered aoa upon the scene. A party of Richvillians, belated in their re- turn from some expedition or other, had ap- proached the town and, attracted by the sound of fire-arms, rode up just in time to interrupt Black Bart’s little scheme, They quickly took in the situation, and, with furious shouts, spurred into the midst of the discomfited out- laws, There was a terrific shock as the two par- ties crashed together, followed by the sound of arms and excited shouts of the combatants. However, the conflict was of brief duration, for the outlaws, taken by surprise, quickly wheeled and fled. After them thundered the victorious Richvill- ians. The latter were well-armed, and tie sharp ring of their pieces made bitter music to the ears of the panic-stricken marauders. Meanwhile, Black Bart had not been caught napping. Comprehending the situation at a captain: h°d flung himself into the shadows of a convenient bush, while his two ms less active companions were quick to follow im. There they crouched as the horsmen galloped by their place of concealment speeding in pur- suit of their routed comrades; nor did Black Bart venture forth until the hoof-beats of their animals grew faint in the distance, The members of the Garland household were skurrying after the receding combatants, delud- ed by the belief that the chief and his captive had joined the fugitives,and to this mistake Black Bart owed his escape from instant dis- covery. The outlaw chief was furious with rage and disappointment. The inoportuneinterferenceof the Richville party had checkmated a trium all but attained and left him on foot in the midst of enemies, To be sure, the crafty nobber had eluded his foes at the outset; but it was only a question of a few moments when the party would discover their mistake and hurry back to find him, Be- sides, the sounds of conflict bad aroused tbe sleeping town, Lights were twinkling in many dwellings and voices could be heard as the own- ers issued forth to learn the cause of the disturb- ance, Black Bart glared wildlyabout. It was prob- able he must abandon his prize to save his own neck. Even then, dismounted as he was, the eet chance of escape was exceedingly small, Toot!—toot! Two shrill whistles at this mo- ment rung upon the air, and glancing toward the railroad the captain beheld a flaming light that, gleaming like a ball of fire in tae darkness, marked the course of a slowly-moving locomo- ve. The early morning Express was due at Rich- ville, and, the Jine being a long one, it was cus- tomary to change engines at this poiot. The relieving locomotive was run out upon the main line and held in readiness a few minutes before- hand; then the incoming engine made what is Careful, ; termed a ‘‘ flyingswitch,” letting thetrain down upon the one waiting to receive it. Thoroughly versed in railway knowledge, Black Bart knew well what the presence of the locomotive signified. A glad cry fell from the outlaw’s lips, for he saw a possible avenue for | escape. Bidding his two men to follow, the captain ran swiftly toward the gleaming headlighs bearing his lovely captive as lightly asafeather. It was his intention to capture the detacbed engine and run down the line ahead ot the Express. An audacious trick, surely, but which, if accom- plished, rendered escape a certainty. Visions of the hangman’s noose made Black Bart desper- ate, and he fairly flew over the ground. Behind the fugitives came theclatter of hoofs, telling the horsemen were returning from their wild-goose chase; and above the station could be heard the ramble of the approaching train. It was a trying moment for the dare-devil ma- rauders! The distamce, several hundred yards, was | quickly covered ; and breathlessly the three rob- bers approached the locomotive. The engineer and fireman sat af their posts, unconscious of theimpending danger, The engineer was“ blow- ing off,” and the noise of escaping steam drown- ed all other sounds. Crack—crack! Tworeportsrung out, followed by agonized yells, as the luckless trainmen sunk bleeding upon the floor, shot down in cold blood by Black Bart’s sure-shot assassins! ‘* Bravo!” yelled the outlaw captain, as a vigorous leap carried him inte the cab. ‘* Jump on livel y, boys! The hell-hounds are close upon ' Just in time! The locomotive was surrounded by a crowd of excited citizens, who, however, were too dumfounded to act, and at a loss to comprehend what it all meant, Jropping Grace Garland, the chief quickly threw over the lever, and pulled the throttle wide open, The driving-wheels spun round like lightning, but not an inch ahead did the pon- derous machine move! *¢ A littlesand, Jack!’ commanded Black Bart, as he drew a brace of sixes, and fired shot after shot into the advancing crowd. Aroused to action at sight of the audacious chief, the infuriated citizens rushed forward. But too late! The huge wheels ‘‘ bit the iron,” and the loco- motive shot ahead of the crowd like a meteor! Gaining fresh impetus at every revolution of the giant wheels, she flashed swiftly down the line, bearing away the triumphant outlaws and their prize! CHAPTER VII, DRIFTING TO DOOM, MIDNIGHT on Mad River! Darkness, deep and impenetrable, brooded over the turbulent stream. The verdant shores, the swirling, foam- flecked waters; the mighty forest stretching on either hand; the smiling sky o’erhead—ail the objects. which together formed so pleasing a anorama by day, were now, by the touch of ight’s somber wand, merged into one abysmal chaos of blackness. The sullen murmur of the waters; the mourn- ful sighing of the night wind through the trees; the wolf’s lugubrious how], or the shrill cry of the night-bird—these sounds, alone, disturbed the awesome quiet of the scene, Borne steadily onward by the resistless tide, a floating object breasted the sweeping current of Mad River—not a boat, but simply a drifting log; and upon its wave-washed surface lay stretched a human form! Luckless Headlight Harry! It was, indeed, a terrible predicament into which his own in- quisitivenesshad led him, Consigned tothe tender mercy of the elements, by the hands of his merciless captors! It was ‘a situation calculated to discourage the boldest man. The railroad boy had been powerless to es- cape, for in their grasp he was as an infant; but now, when the outlaws disappeared, and he found himself fairly embarked upon his invol- untary voyage, Harry commenced a desperate struggle for freedom. However, the ruffians had performed their work too thoroughly to make this an easy task. One sinewy thong bound the boy’s legs firmly to the log, while another was passed tightly around his breast, at the same time confining his arms. Cunning hands applied the bonds, and strive as he might, they would not stir a particle. So, perceiving his utmést efforts were futile, Harry soon ceased struggling, and set about to consider the situation with as much composure oS could be expected under such trying circum- nces, The Lightning Express Detective. fe The youth was lying face upward, and the rough log at his back formed a by no meens pleasant resting-place; this, added to the fact that the tightly-drawn cords were cutting into his flesh, served to render his position, to say the least, uncomfortable. But Headlight Harry cared nothing for his bruised and aching body; he heeded not the cut- ting cords, nor theicy wavelets that, breaking over the log, drenched him to the skin. Other thoughts were uppermost in his mind—thoughts of a deadly danger, the presence of which the poor youth knew full well. Mad River was, from source to mouth, a ra- pid stream, but at this point its course was un- usually rough and turbulent. Its surging wa- ters leaped and rushed along: constantly gain- ing increased impetus, and finally made a ter- rible leap over a lofty precipice, falling far, far down into the rocky chasm below. This cataract, with the rock-strewn whirl- 00ls at the bottom, was locally known as the evil’s Jump; and the name, perhaps, was not inappropriate, for no one less supernaturally gifted than Old Nick could plunge over the dizzy brink, and live to boast of the ex- ploit. The Devil’s Jump-off was below, and scarcely half a mile from where Headlight Harry was helplessly gliding down the stream, drawing nearer to the fatal spot with every passing mo- ment. The railroad-boy knew the location well. Often had he stood upon the shore below the falls, and watched the mighty flood, Niagara-like in its terrible grandeur; and now, powerless to move band or foot, he was being borne to a frightful death in the depths of the horrible abyss, the very sight of which had filled bis boy- ish soul with awe. The thought caused the brave boy to shudder violently ; indeed, it was a situation calculated to strike terror to the stoutest, heart. On flew the log with ever-increasing velocity, together with its human freight, borne swifthy onward by the merciless current. A low, sullen murmur reached the lad’s ears, borne on the night-wind sweeping up Mad Hiver. It was the noise of the cataract, and it rung in his ears like the knell of doom, The sound roused Headlight Harry from the lethargy into which he-was fast sinking, : nd stimulated him to almost superhuman exertions. With a strength and desperation born of de- spair, the boy writhed and twisted and strained till bis veins stood out like whipcords, and perspiration poured down his face in streams, But vain were his mighty efforts; for the sin- ewy thongs that bound him refused to yield a hair. Bleeding, breathless and exhausted, Headlight Harry sunk back upon the log, his strength exhausted, his last hope gone. The moments flew by like lightning. The log sped faster and faster. Five minutes more would bring it to the brink of the precipice! Louder grewthe sound of the down-pouring cataract, till the sullen murmur had swelled to a deafening roar! Rougher became the waters, until the log, erstwhile riding smoothly, row rocked and quivered violently on thecrest of the dancing surges! Huge, jagged rocks here and there reared their frowning heads above the surface, but the log passed them all unscathed, Dense showers of spray flew over the craft, threatening to suffocate its occupant. Indeed, death in such a guise was preferable to a plunge over the Devil’s J amp. Swift danced the log o’er the angry waters! The night wind sung a mournful requiem for the poor soul rushing on todeath. Fair Luna, queen of the night, sent her compassionate rlance down, then sorrowfully hid her face be- ind a cloud, as if to shut out the dreadful scene ! The thunder of thecataract warned Headlight Harry that the critical moment was at hand, and, with closed eyes, the lad calmly awaited the inevitable. He did not want to die—life was very sweet to him; but now, brought face to face with death he could meet the grim destroyer bravely, an perish as a bero should. Thougbkts innumerable flashed like lightning through his brain. He thought of his mother, doubtless at that moment anxiously waiting for him at home—of Ralph Renwood and his many friends; then he tried to pray, just as the lo leaped into the roaring, tumultuous waters o the Devil’s Jump! For an instant the log shot forward, rocking and plunging violently; then suddenly came a mighty crash, as the swiftly-speeding timber so a some unseen object with terrific orce,