Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 705 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

ad r is 7-4 “4 , t, at ; » we “ * . 4 } “4 bed 7 Z ‘ly : rs Vette tiie at 4% ans a, Je i - Sy +, tee ot Be Seyi: ; te, * “7. lS At a considerable distance up the sideof a mighty mountain a great crag projected itself into the sea of durkness. But upon the outer verge of the crag twinkied a light that from the base of the mountain looked like a fallen star which had lodged there, It was a signal-fire, fed by a huge, broad- shouldered man, who crouched beside it like some giant demon of the darkness, ‘* It’s goin’ ter be a turrible night,” he growled, as he thrust more wood into the fire. ‘I don’t more’n bafe believe ther boys 71 meet ’cordin’ ter app’intment, It’s time they wuz byer now, Ther captain’ll come shore, but I doubt if “ther rest do,” But at this moment a voice from the dark- ness hailed the man by the fire, and be was soon joined by another rough-looking and bewhis- kered fellow. Both were heavily armed, and had the appearance of mountain desperadoes, ‘* Dern such a place fer a meetin’!” growled the late comer, ‘‘ Hed ter leave my boss’way down thar an’ hoof it, Likter never got hyer. Dunno why ther captain couldn’s pickt a dif- frunt place.” A few minutes later avother man appeared, and shortly after that the three were joined by two more, The firelight revealed five desperate- appearing men. he thunderstorm was rapidly approaching. The flashes of lightning bad become much more vivid, and at times heaven’s artillery caused the very mountains to tremble, ‘*Tf ther captain don’t come pretty soon ther a will git hyer fu’st,” observed one of the ve, Barely were the words uttered when the clear, ringing notes of a bugle came echoing down the mountain-side from the clouds which shrouded the peak, so it seemed, The five men started and looked at each other in amazement, exclaiming as one: ‘* Ther captain!” Then a prolonged flash of lightning seemed to tear the blackness of night asunderYand tothe five men on the mountain crag, who stood with uptursved faces and staring eyes, an astounding sight was revealed, Piunging down the mountain-side toward the crag on which twinkled the tiny fire was a horse, black as if cut from the storm-cloud above, and op the animal’s back was a rider! In the broad light of day sucha ride would have seemed surely fatal, but in the darkness of a storm-threatened night it was truly madness unloosed, The lightning’s flash died ip an instant, per- mitting the ebon vail of night to bide the blood- chilling scene from the staring eyesof the five men on the crag. ‘* Gods!” gasped one, catching bis breath con- vulsively, ‘‘Man or woman, whichever ther captain is, that ride is straight ter death!” ‘* Caramba!” broke from the pale lips of an- other,a Mexican. ‘*If he makes that ride un- barmed he is in league with el diablo!” Listening, they heard the ring of iron-shod hoofs, The sounds swiftly approached, and each man held his breath in apprehension. Soon another flash showed the sable stead and its daring rider close at hand, and the men had barely time to shrink back to the very verge of the crag when horse and master appeared be- fore them, the animal being thrown on its haunches at the very moment it seemed about to plunge from the cliff into the abyss below. Then the reckless young rider lifted the bugle and blew a clear call which the mountain crags and gorges sent echoing wildly through the night. ‘**] am with you, comrades!” Was it man or woman? The somber attire was that of a man, the face and voice those of a woman! But, what woman would dare such a mad ride? The men muttered in awe-stricken tones to themselves, At length, one bolder than the rest said aloud: *““We see you are, captain; but you are the ouly person besides Satan himself who could have reached this spot in such a manner.” The one addressed laughed as if not entirely displeased, and sprung from the horse, stand- hn ey graceful, picturesque figure in the fire- ight. ‘You are all here, I see, Good! 1 picked ou from the best men of the old band and I feel can trust you. You know me; I have been your leader before. Are you willing to league yourselves to me again, for better or worse?” ‘*Weare, That’s what we came here for.” **Good again! I know you fully understand what you are saying. You are men who shrink at nothing. That is the kind I want. Stand hes 4 { “x ; Violet Vane's Vow. here in acircle, place your left band on your heart, lift your right and repeat after me.” Standing thus on the mountain crag, the five repeated the administered oath or pledge, and, as the last words were spoken, there came a stunning crash of thunder, preceded by a zig-zag of flame which seemingly went writhing across the inky heavens, like a fiery serpent. ‘‘See!” cried the captain, with uplifted hand and upturned eyes, ‘That flash shall be the symbol of ovr league—a fiery serpent! Weare the Serpent Sia |” Through the night rode a horseman who ever and anon tried tourge his jaded animal to a faster pace. “On, on, old fellow!” he muttered, ‘* The journey is nearly at anend, Soon you will have food and rest and [ shall be blessed by the light from the bright eyes of the one Llove, Ione is waiting for me. Once again with hereand I as- sume my true name and drop the title of Violet Vane forever; I will leave the old wild life be- hind, never to return toit. True, it has been full of excitement and adventure, but, for some reason, it seems to have left a bitier taste in my mouth, Just now almost any life seems better, nobler than that of card-sharp, adventurer, or detective. Go on, old horse, go on!” Soon the lights of a town rose out of the dark- ness before him, and within twenty minutes he drew rein at the door of a ramshackle hotel, Waiting for nothing, he leaped to the -ground and dashed into the Dhilding. It was strangely thronged,with people, rough denizens of the mines, all of whom seemed excited The advent of the stranger was not noticed, ‘‘ Ther old galoot’s goin’ ter croak, fer shore,” Violet Vane heard one rough observe to another, ‘* Yep,” was the response. ‘* Ther p’isen cusses guv him his last sickness,” ‘An’ they got away with ther gal, Satan scorch ’em!” ‘* Shore’s shootin’.” ‘‘They say ther old man’s all ther time callin’ fer some ’un as he expects will come before he shuffles off,” The speaker felt a steel-like clutch on his arm and whirled swiftly to seea pairof midnight eyes glaring savagely into his own. ‘‘What are you speaking of, sir?’ demanded astern voice. ‘*‘ What bas happened? Is Owen Wilson harmed?’ Is his daughter—” “‘Who in thunder are you?” growled the other, bis band dropping on the butt of a holstered re- volver. ‘“T am Viole6é Vane, the friend whom Mr. Wiison is expecting,” was the reply. ‘Then you’d best hustle up*ter ther pore devil’s crib,” suggested the miner, promptly, his band falling from the weapon. ‘ Satan’s been ter pay, an’ Wilson’s got his last dost. Gal’s bin kerried off, Foller me, ll show ye ther way.” One minute later the dark-eyed young man was standing beside a bed upon which lay a man with closed eyes, looking pale and lifeless, Stooping, Violet Vane touched the cold hand, saying softly: ** Mr. Wilson!” It seemed as if his voice reached to the very portals of death, The eyelids of the dying man fluttered and ote opened; a low sigh of joy came from his pale lips as he saw the face bend- ing over bim, ** Philip!” he faintly whispered; ‘‘ 1 knew you would come, I bave been clinging to life for the last hour that I might see you a moment at the end. My child—lone, my darling!—you will save her!’ ‘So help me GodI willifI can! But, what has tiappened? Tell me all,for I just arrived and know nothing.” ‘* There were six of them,” gasped the sinking man. ‘ They were dressed—in black—and on their breasts—biood-red serpents, They sought to tear her from me—my little Ione! I was not strong because of my recent illness—but I fought them—with all my—strength. One struck me with—a knife, I knew no more till— I found myself here. They were gone—she was gone!” With sudden strength, the dying one started up, grasping Vane’s hand and crying: ‘‘ Repeat an oath—a vow by high heaven to hunt them down andsaveher! When you have sosworn I willdieeasy and rest peacefully in my grave. Swear—swear—” the sudden end of buman life. He turned bis eyes upward and lifted his free left band to heaven. His lips moved, and although no sound came from them, every staring breath- less witness knew he was repeating a silent sacred vow in the presence of the murdered man whose hand ‘be Sauna From that moment the Serpent Six were doomed! eee CHAPTER I. TWO MEN AND A MULE. A CLATTER of hoofs and the hoarse ‘“‘ hee- baw” of a mule startled a man who had been sitting on a bowlder beside the rucky trail, slowly writing with the stub of a Jead-pencil in a ragged note-book made of common wrapping- paper. He looked up, with the pencil poised, and saw the mule coming toward him at a head- long run, with a little fat man, who appeared alinost dead with fright, clinging fast.to the ani- mal’s back, and having both arms locked con- vulsively round its neck. ‘* Whoa, you plasted vool!” shouted the man on the runaway’s back. Then, as he saw the witness by the roadside, he yelled: ‘“Stob dot peast! Stob him, vor Cott’s sakes!” Apparently seeing the man at the wayside, the mule suddenly changed its direct run into a series of gyrations, and by cavorting around seemed determined to dislodge the howling rider; but the man on the.bowlder seemed too astonished to render any assistance. Perceiving \ this, the little Dutchman shouted: “Uf this plamed shackmule preaks mein neck I sues you mit der court damages vor, so hellup me cracious! Whoa, you imp uf der tyfel’s stable! Whoal You haf— Dunder und blit- zens!” The mule had stayed his gyrations with a suddenness that sent the rider sailing through the air like some huge frog, to land with a loud gruntat the very feet of the man to whom he had vainly appealed for assistance, He did not appear to be badly hurt, for he quickly roll- ed over and sat up, supporting bimself with both hands on the ground, while he stared in a comi- cal manner at the animal that bad served him such a trick. And with lowered head and an air of meekness and self-reproach, tbe mule returned the look, seeming not a little astonished at the result of his final effort. ‘*Py Shimminy!” gasped the little Dutecbman, as soon as be could catch his breath. ‘‘You vos von plamed fraud’” be added, shaking a clenched fist at the dejected-looking animal, ‘* You look like you would cry von puckets uf tears, but zwi tollars I pets you vos readty to splidt mit Jaughin’ your insides on, haf von greadt desire to preak your neck! Ach, himmel!” With this he arose and cautiously approached the peaceful-looking animal. ‘You sbust vait!” be muttered, as he cau- tiously lifted his right foot and balanced himself on his left; ‘*I vill kicks der packings uf your hide oudt, See how you likes dot!” and he de- livered a kick with all the force he could muster, But the mule did not wait to be kicked. With a sudden whirl it avoided the punishment and the kick was wasted on empty air. Up went the fat little Dutchman's right foot, and, as it met no resistance, he landed flat on bis back with a beavy thud that Lrought another grunt from his - lips. For several seconds he lay quite still, gaz- ing reflectively at the blue sky; then be drew a long breath and sighed; ‘*Td vos alvays thus since shildhoodt’s hour, Nefer haf I seemed to gid much satisvaction oudt uf this life, und ven | kickt I alvays vas mein muscle. Id makes me feel very sad, un I somedimes vish I vos deadt und purried pefore Ivos porn. Yaw, dot vos so,” ‘‘ My friend,” observed the man on the bowl- der, nis face untouched by a smile, although there was a suspicious twinkle of mirth in the depths of bis keen black eyes, ‘‘ I fear you are prone to look on the somber side of life.’ ‘“Tyvos on my pack, I know dot,” was the quick response. ‘Arise, arise! your fears throw off, The world lies wide before you; Heed not the foes who at you scoff, For God's blue skies are o'er you.” “That is a little quotation from my forth- coming book of poems, and I must say 16 Seems His words were choked by a low gurgling | very appropriate to the occasion,” groan and he fell back limply on the bed— dead ! With the dead man’s hand still clasping his own, Violet Vane knelt by the bedside in the silent chamber where all were awe-hushed by “Yaw, dot vos so,” admitted the Dutchman, slowly arising to his feet and sirveying the other, while he gensy rubbed his back. ‘So you vos a poet, don’d it? Und you dink dot v’ot { you quotes vos abbrobriate? Vell, I vos nod