Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 700 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

re. BAD, — ~—ge 5 eee . —— ry . " =, i 7 -- ee rt ae ee ee 10 CHAPTER XI. FACING GRIM DEATH, DEaDWoop Dick felt alarm. Was it possible he had been drugged, already? If he had, how and when had it been done? He was at loss to know, He might have disbelieved the suspicion, but when Mr. Pilbrooke acknowledged feeling so sleepy, it impressed him, e made a break for the piazza, where he took several turns up and down, trying to fight the drowsiness off, but all to no purpose, Pilbrooke had followed him out, and going up to him, Dick said: ‘‘ Mr. Pilbrooke, we have been drugged! You must keep awake at all hazards, or it may cost your life!” That gentleman turned pale to the lips. : t. I can’t do it,” he declared. ‘‘I’m ready to ron,” .’: Ls you must do it!” Dick impressed. ‘‘ Come with me to my room, and I’llgive you something I'm going to take myself.” Dick started in haste, for he knew that time was precious. The drug, and there was no doubting it now, was working, and he knew it would be a hard fight to stay its power, even if it could be done at all, And ithad come to his mind, too, when and where the drug had been given, It must have been put in his cup of tea,at supper. There was no other possibie chance, he knew. And that being so, his enemies must have an agent in the house, Pilbrooke followed right behind him, but on reaching the upper hall he stumbled and fell, and after only one effort to get up, rolled over upon his back, fast asleep. Dick heard his fall, and glancing back, real- ized what it meant. He made all the more haste on bis own ac- count. Opening the door of bis room, he dashed in, striking a match as he went and looking for the candle, No candle was there, but something else, and something of a most significant nature met his startled gaze, There on the floor lay the coffin again, open, and with a card in it the same as before.’ But now, under the name was a date of death, and that date was the date of that very day! Weakened and unnerved as he was by the drug, Deadwood Dick felt a thrill of horror. He made a desperate effort to rally, but in vain. The drug was rapidly and surely stealing power over him, and he realized that he must suc- cumb, He sought another match, as the first one went out, but could not find one, He groped forward in the dark, intent upon reaching his valise, but, in doing so he stumbled and fell. He tried to rise, butfell again. Another effort he made, and then another and final one, when, overcome, he sunk down senseless. hen he awoke, Dick found himself amid strange surroundings, His head was humming and buzzing, and it was some moments before he could fully take in the situation. Gradually, though, he recovered himself, and was able to use his thoughts and reasoning pow- ers once again, and he put them to use, He seemed to be in a grotto, or cavern. Such he soon decided it was. A torch in a niche in the rocky wall on his right lighted the place. There seemed to be no one there besides himself. Next, he realized that he was confined in some narrow object, he knew not what it could be. It seemed to hold him closely on all sides, and he had no use of his arms or legs. Suddenly his mind reverted to the coffin he had seen in his 2 ti and then the whole matier came to mind, He must be in that coffin now, and it nary on end, resting on the floor and leaning bac against the wall of this cavern in which he found bimself. Even’so it was, and he had rightly guessed. Having learned so much, and all bis faculties now on the alert, Dick set about learning more. The top part of the coffin was open, so he ha free use of bis eyes, the little good that might do him. The lower half was tight) y closed, and, as said, he had no use of his limbs, He looked around the place in which he found himself; it appeared to be of considerable size. rf cai to him was an opening in the wall, leading off somewhere, as he ventured to guess. The sound of running water was heard, too, seeming tocome from a point on the prisoner’s left, and further down, | ’ Craning his neck, Dick looked out of his nar- Tow prison, tolearnmore, . . ¥ \ ,- so an , oe? 7 ; : 7 saat : J he are . mm f° thet) WH ‘ee , & a6 ry ee iste & ioe my 4 ‘ » : ‘ , ' ” 7 tnd os i ‘ 2 ‘ « Vd’ i“ -_ a Fe mie oA ) . - ; te \ ae" bests age _ he < Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s Drop. a And as he did so he was startled. Almost at his feet, or at the foot of the coffin, as it stood on end, was a dark, hungry-looking chasm, A slight jar, he feared, might send the coffin toppling over and down into that unknown and terrible death, He wa# careful not to move. The sound of the water came from this dark chasm, proving that there was a river, or moun- tain stream, flowing at its bottom. Looking the other way, another surprise awaited him, There on the rocky floor, only a little distance off, lay Austin Pilbrooke, He was bound securely, and was still uncon- scious. ‘* A curse upon the rascals!” Dick muttered. ‘They have downed us, and, as it looks now, we are downed for good, Richard, my boy, I guess you have come to the end of your rope, at last.” The sound of steps warned him that some one was coming. Nearer they drew, and presently a man emerged from the opening opposite to where Dick stood, , He was armed, and wore & half-mask over his ace, Casting a look at Pilbrooke, he crossed the aii of the cavern and peered into the coffin at ick, ‘* Hillo!” he exclaimed, as his eyes met the iercing eyes of the prisoner, “‘ ye hey waked up, ev ye? **T guess I have,” Dick responded. ** Kt looks so.” ** Have you any objection to telling me where I am, and what is the meaning of all this?” Dick asked, ‘* Not in ther least,” was the answer, ‘“ You is in ther hands of Captain Death, and this hyer ar’ his chamber of execution, as you’ll soon ** What is going to be done with me?” ‘*¢T opine you'll be shot.” **¢ And what for?” Mebby ther captain will tell ye that, when he comes,” ** And when is he coming? You'll excuse my question, but, as I am interested I want to know,” * Wull, you zs a cool one, durn medf ye ain’t!” the fellow exclaimed, ‘‘ Ther captain ar’ comin’ soon’s I call him, and I’m goin’ ter call him now.” ** And where is he? How is it that heis not here to entertain his guests? I feel slighted.” The fellow laughed, ‘*’'You takes ther rag, you does, fer narve,” he cried, ‘* But, we'll take some of that out of yer, lopine. Ther captain is in another part of ther cavern, but he wull soon be byer.” The man turned away, then, and walked back to the opening, where he drew @ revolver from his belt and fired a shot. ene done, he replaced the weapon, and came ck, ‘That wull soon fetch him,” he remarked. The tramp of feet was soon heard, and in a lit- tle time Captain Deatb stalked into the cham- ber, followed by four masked men bearing rifles, The ghastly road-agent looked more horrible than ever, if possible. His grinning jaws and flesbless ribs oad horribly white in the dull light, as he stopped just within the opening. He was clad as on the other occasion when Dick had seen him. His black cloak fell from his shoulders, open and disclosing his gleaming bones in front, while on his head was the broad, black hat, adding to his hideousness, if possible, “Halt!” he commanded, when the masked men had filed past him. They came to an immediate stop, drawing up in line/and facing the coffin. When that was done, and they stood with their rifles at rest, the skeleton highwayman ad- dressed Dick, ‘“Deadwood Dick,” he spoke, “tthe hour of your death is at hand. Soon you will be asl am, a being to whom death has terrors no more.” ‘* Ts that so?” returned Dick, coolly, ** Tt is so, as you will find.” ‘** And, what is the reason for this, if I may be allowed to inquire?” ‘“* There is no need for you to ask that ques- tion. You are known, Dick Bristol, and we know what your presence at Satan’s Spring sig- nified.” “You don’t enlighten me very much,” Dick still parleyed. : ‘*T will enlighten you more, then,” came th rejoinder, ‘‘ You took it into your head to hunt down Captain Death and his men, and we have taken it into our hands to put you out of the way, ** Then you do mean to kill me, eh?” ‘* As surely as ycu live now,” Deadwood Dick believed it, He saw that he had fallen into the bands of men who could kill without mercy, but, man of nerve that he was, he would not let the rascals see a sign of fear in him now. If there was noescape, letthe worst come, ‘* Very well,” he said, “‘so beit. A man can die but once. Goon with my funeral,” ‘‘Is there nothing you want tosay? Captain Death asked. **There is much I would like to arrange,” ans- wered the detective, ‘*but you would not grant me the time, nor would I put my affairs into your hands,” ‘* How much time would you want?” ‘*Time enough to write a score of letters, and to arrange my affairs.” ‘‘Oh, that isasking toomuch, You canat- tend toall thatin the next world, where time stands still.” ‘*Very well, I ask no favor. Bear in mind, though, that, if by any chance I escape with my life from your power, I will hunt you down,” ‘‘Ha! ha! ha! Not the least doubt about it. But, you will not escape, In less than two min- utes four bullets will have found your heart. Men, are you ready?” ‘* We are ready,” responded the four. spot on the coffin beneath which his heart ought to be, and when I say three, fire.” - Up came the four rifles, as one, and Dead- wood Dick saw their glinting barrels brought to bear upon bis breast. It was a moment of the most awful suspense he had ever experienced. ‘* One,” Captain Death counted; “ two,” after a second’s pause; and then the fatal word— “three!” CHAPTER XII, THROUGH THE JAWS OF DEATH, Tuer four rifles spoke as one. Fire and lead belched forth from each; but at the same instant an unlooked-for thing happened. The coffin fell over sideways, and plunged headlung into the chasm. . Captain Death and his men looked after it in amazement, and stood spclilbound as they heard it go crashing down into the depths, Jowed a splash, when it struck the water. After that all was still. “The shock of the bullets striking it must have caused it to fall,” Captain Death comment- ed. ‘“* Well, no matter: it will save us the trouble of disposing of the body.” “Et wasn’t thet way, though,” one of the riflemen spoke up. ‘Not that way! How was it, then?” “Ther coffin went over jest afore we fired.” ‘Are you sure about tbat?” | The other three admitted that it was so, Captain Desth sprung across the chamber and looked at the wall. Sure enough! There on the rock, in a space of two inches, were the four bullets flattened on the stone. , ; ‘‘You are right,” he cried. ‘Not a bullet touched him.” ‘But et don’t make no difference, I opine,” observed the fellow who had been Dick’s guard ‘¢Ho’s gone down to his death now, just as sure as the bullets could have sent him.” ‘Oh, yes, there is no doubt about that,” agreed the captain, ‘‘It is strange how the coffin came to fall, though.” The coffin was gone, and Deadwood ee with it, and there being nothing to be done about it but to accept the fact and make the most of it, Captain Death and his men turned to — their other prisoner. Mr. Pilbrooke was just coming to his semses. wice they heard it strike the rocks, then fol- | The reports of the rifles, no doubt, had had > ‘Take steady aim at his heart, then, or atthe _ - something to do with waking him out of Lis un- | natural sleep. 4 : “Well, how do you find yourself?” Captain Death demanded, giving him a poke with his foot, to stir him up. | ‘‘W—where am I?” the unbappy man asked, “You are in the hands of your frierds, Cap- tain Death and his men,” was the answer, This statement, and a sight of the terrible- looking chief of the band, had the effect to bring | Pilbrooke to with a rush. around him, terrified.’ “Why have you brought me here?” he asked, “To kill you,” was the answer, right to the int. ORF ‘ ‘* Heavens!” s et He struggled to a sitting posture, and looked a | ° - * a — x Ps