Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 682 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

LS eit _ ——— ee ee fe ee Sg = te s ~ Pe a Sea * « ® tf ’ \ 13 away, one of the white men suddenly d: * Now!” in an instant our friend knew what was com- ing and *‘ ducked.” It was well that they did, for at that moment the occupants of the other canoe fired, and three bullets went whistling over the heads of the pursuers and screaming away over the bosom of the lake. The battle was fairly begun. ** Now !” cried Old Nick. brimst un!” But the white men and the Indian also ‘‘ducked,” and did not appear to be injured after the return volley. Then, when the ca- noes were not twice their lengths apart, both parties uttered a simultaneous yell and dis- charged their weapons together. The sound rolled away over the little lake in a most ap- palling volume. The canoes came still nearer, and some of both parties arose to their feet in their excitement. hen less than ten feet sep- arated them, Old Nick shot the red-skin through the head and the savage fell into the water, ‘*Guv’em fire an’ nearly overturning the canoe, ‘* Whoopee!” yelled the excited old fellow. ‘¢ Pump it ter ’em, pards! Guy ’em er taste o’ Sweet By an’ By!” Bet the old borderman’s joy was short-lived, for suddenly he gave a groan and sunk down _in the canoe, gasping: ‘I’m shot!’ An instant later the canoes came together with a shock that overturned them both, throw- ing the fighting men into the water and suddenly ending the battle. Prairie Paul felt something grasp bim and cling closely, At first he thought it one of his foes, but in a moment Mr. Errol’s head arose above the water and the rancher gurgled: ** Help—can’t swim!” “Trust to me,” was the youth’s reply, as he saw two heads moving away on the surface of the lake toward the shore and reasoned that the outlaws had given over the fight. With some difficulty the youth succeeded in supporting the ranchman to the shore. Some time before he reached a point where he could touch the bottom, be saw two figures emerge from the water and dash away from the lake. He finally brought Errol safely to land, and a few moments later the friends whom they had left upon the opposite shore came hurrying round and joined them, but too late to render any assistance. The bandits had obtained pos- session of the girl once more and disappneared amid the shadows of the hills. ** Whar’s Nick?” asked the guide, Then Paul told how the veteran had said that he was shot and had not appeared since the canoe was overturned. “My God!” exclaimed Sam. ‘I’m erfeered my ole pard’s gone this time fer sure! We'll prob’ly fine his body floatin’ on ther lake in the mornin’, Poor Nick!” Mr. Errol stood wringing his hands and gaz- ing helplessly around him. Touched by the jtiful sight, Wild Vulcan rode to bis side, and eaning in the saddle, laid his hand on the ran- cher’s arm, as he slowly said: ‘** Don’t give up, man! It’s always the dark- est just before dawn, Think of me, For four- teen years I have been searching for my lost little ones. The best thing that this party can do is remain beside this lake and rest till morn- ing. Your horses must have rest, As for Tor- nado, he seems to have muscles of steel. J shall follow these outlaws now, and I hope to be able to restore your child to you within a few hours at the most. Wait for me.” Then he wheeled his horse sharply and rode away at a gallop, quickly disappearing amid the Ss, The party decided that there was nothing for it but wait till morning, and so they made pre- parations todoso. While they were doing this, Colonel Danglar rode serenely into camp—if a bivouac beneath the open sky may be called a cam . When questioned, the colonel said that he had mali i fallen behind to examine some alkaline crystals that he saw gleaming in the moonlight. He a red quite amazed when he learned what occurred, and he freely condoled with Mr, Errol, acting in a manner that appeared quite Datural and unassumed, But, there was more ha one of the party who regarded the ex-officer th suspicion. CHAPTER XV. WILD VULCAN TO THE RESCUE. WILD VuLcan, the strange plainsmen, had an idea of the direction in which the kidnappers would move after leaving Pearl Lake. He _knew that the outlaws must be anxious to get : Wild Vulcan, the Lone Range-R the captive maiden safely to one of their retreats somewhere in the heart of the Bad Lands. It was said that there was a vast fertile tract some- where near the source of a creek which emptied into the Snake River, a tributary of the Niobrara. It was probable that the Rust- lers had a retreat near that spot, where the stolen cattle could graze and have plenty of water. The rider of the black horse moved forward at a swinging gallop, keeping his eyes well about him, for he knew that the kidnappers had not a very great start, and he might come upon them when he least expected. e fancied that the party that had Nida in their possession was not very large. He believed that quite a large number of the outlaws had lingered in the vi- cinity of the party that bad remained behind on the bank of the Niobrara; but the ranchmea, Errol and Skywood, had trusted their wives in the care of Riata Rube and the cowboys who had remained behind to look after the camp. Would they find them alJl safe when they re- turned ? Vulcan did not attempt to urge his horse faster than the animal seemed inclined to go. He had become thoroughly familiar with the intelligent beast and knew that Tornado did not need to be urged unless the case was one of life and death and an instant spurt was needed. As Vulcan had said, the noble animal seemed built of steel, and appeared tu be almost as un- tiring asa piece of machinery. ‘There is work ahead, old boy,” said the strange man, falling into his usual habit of talk- ing softly to the intelligent animal when they were together alone. ‘‘If you will take me to the kidnappers of the rancher’s daughter, I will undertake to rescue the girls ingle-handed. How is that, Tornado? Can you do your part, do you think?’ The horse tossed its proud head in the affirmative, and galloped ward. ‘**Now mind your promise,” cautioned the rider, asif the animal he bestrode had really understood his words and given a promise to do its part. “If you fail me this time, I shall lose faith in you. The white horse and rider es- caped us, and one failure is a great sufficiency for a single night.” On, on they went, steadily onward from the lake into the weird wild land. The moon was behind them hovering high in the sky, making the swift-moving figures of man and horse seem like one black shadow sweeping through the des- ert. How long he rode he did notknow. Suddenly at no great distance he heard shouts and shots in swift succession. He waited to hear no more, but, with a sharp-spoken word to Tornado, dashed toward the point from which the sounds came, Wheeling round the foot of a low hill, be came upon a singular scene revealed by the moonlight. . ; One man facing six! The unknown, who was so greatly outraum- bered, had turned his back toward the bill, and ineach hand he held a revolver, the muzzles of which covered the six in the group before him, Two men lay dead on the ground, But almost the first object that caught Wild Vulean’s eye was the figure of a girl who was crouching close behind the one brave man who so fearlessly faced six foes. Something told the rider of the black horse that it was the maiden for whom he was searching—the kidnapped Prairie Flower! In a moment Vulcan knew that the maiden’s lone defender must be a friend. The others were probably outlaws who did not dare attack the brave fellow who faced them lest they injure as if to reply steadily on- the A With the bridle-rein in his teeth and a heavy revolver in each hand, Wild Vulcan swept down upon the amazed bandits, opening fire and drop- xing two of them. The others did not linger, ut the way they vanished in the nearest shadows was simpiy remarkable. The defender of the girl took one look at the new-comer, then sprung away, apparently in pursuit of the flee- ing desperadoes, firing one or two shots as he went, and soon sigan 9 gee as the others had, amid the shadows. It was a singular move and was quite unlooked-for by Wild Vulcan. As her defender disappeared as well as her foes, the girl leaped to her feet and stood fac- ing the man on the black horse, seeming unde- cided whether to run away or not. Vulcan drew rein, saying uietly: . ‘* Are you Miss Errol?” 4 The maiden shrunk away when she heard his voice and saw his face, for she recognized the wild-appearing slayer of heroriginal kidnappers, ider. Pies > . ’, » i . . . dey -! . —— Pe ae bs —_ Tom and Jack. But she summoned courage to reply: * ‘Yes, sir, [ am Nida Errol.” **Good!” exclaimed the Lone Ranger, with deep satisfaction. ‘‘I am satisfied that Pro- vidence guided me to this spot.” His voice seemed pleasant enough and there was no sign of msdness in hismanner. Nida felt her fear suddenly leave her, and she cried: ‘*Oh, sir! you have been searching for mef You know father?” ‘*'Yes, I have been searching for you and I | know your father. Now that I have found you, I will take you to him,” ‘Heaven bless you! How foolish I was, for I thought you an enemy! Where is father?” ‘*At Pearl Lake, where you were captured a second time by the desperadoes of this desert land. I promised him that I would find you; L have kept my promise.” He sprung down and quickly examined the four dead outlaws, The moonlight fell upon their ghastly faces and showed him that the one he sought was not there. He turned away with a sigh, putting his hand to his head and mutter- ing: ‘** Oh, Lord, how long?” Nida advan fearlessly to his side. ** Will you bury them?” she asked. He shook bis head. ‘*No; let their comrades in crime attend to that. We will leave them lying where they fell. Come, let me assist you to mount,” ‘* Yes,” she said, eagerly, ‘‘ let’s get away, for the Rustlers may return. There are others near, They had only halted a moment when that strange man seized me and ran away into the shadows. Eight of them sprung from their horses, leaving the animals in the care of the others, and pursued us,” “Who was your strange friend?” asked Vul- can, as he assisted her to mount, and they start- ed away, the plainsman walking beside the horse. : ‘*T do not know. He was quite wet, and the others thought him one of their companions who was engaged in the battle on thelJake. If he was not one of their party he tricked them nicely, for they did not suspect him till he made the at- tempt to carry me away.” Wild Vulcan was puzzled. Thestrangeaction of the man in running away after the outlaws had surprised him; but finally he believed that he saw a ray of light. **Miss Errol, I believe that the man who at- pg ay to carry you away was one of the ban- dits, ‘*Tben how do you account for his action? Why, he shot two of the men who pursued us!” “He was going into business for himself. Perhaps be had takena fancy to capture the whole of the reward which your father would be liable to offer for your safe return, and so he took desperate chances,” ‘*Tt may be that you are right, but for some reason, I do not think he was a bad man.” ‘‘if he was not he acted strangely in runnin away. I cannot belp thinking that he was afrai of me, and if he was honest he had no reason for fear, Still, Nida -was not convinced. She could not think that the man who had seemed so brave was an outlaw. Finally, Wild Vulcan asked her how she came to be captured a second time, “‘T hardiy know myself,” she replied. ‘I fell asleep in the canoe, and Paul Rickway was with me in the cave. I was so tired that Foould not keep awake, and I felt safe with Paul watching near, How long I slept I cannot tell, but I was awakened by the canoe rocking, and L looked up to see the bearded face of a strange man bend- ing over me, Before i could ery out, he grasped. me in his arms and placed his hand over my mouth. Then they carried me away over the lake. I sawacanoe pursuing, and called for help. One of the boats’ containing three men stopped to intercept the pursuing canoe, When we reached the shore I heard them fighting on the Jake, The rough men hurriedly placed me on a horse, and several rode away with me, while one or two waited with some horses for their friends who were fighting on the lake. That is all 1 know aboutit. I do not even know what became of Paul.” ‘‘He is quite safe, Miss Errol. your father when I left,” Thank Heaven!” Vulcan St. Clair looked up into the maiden’s face and studied it closely for several moments. as he walked along. At length he said: “T had a little daughter long, long ago, but: she was carried away by the chief of this ve gang of bandits, and the wretch slew my poor He was with Ke