Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 728 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

- ip. ind — taking a good survey of the SCON@ DCY ORR ee wteSon he. nd evidently satisfied himself, be ay 4 ’ Reh tas tod hey ae ' f 4 =H y ng gal ’ a) t hs 4, 4 v ™ * " A a F . t A ‘ fs ¥, = ur et 4 6s ed ra & “a Ws bk 9 ¢ 4} F ‘ t . a ; q ~~ a, se na a el ee } Were % fut ' | i ae > + we “ * : ¥ hy 4 : a4 ns varie ly mo é “av . ty ~ hi : ' "ys ' \ -. io ‘ hy 4 fa am * ‘ ye Ge ie x Oy A ~ a : " > C~ 4y*- | _-— * ' ; gs we» . co. no auf es . s- ° ~ — - * P<: a 7 rs a3 . - oy 7 a : " fs a? rua > es - re Oak pes - ‘they ‘ - wr “a . * of fe That's so; but be keerful they don’t plug A ye : = a \< mt » ie yo ‘ ¢ ie it ra Sa Ve Oe! * : , : oe } a take trary notwithstanding. But it would not be ie, Tete wha _ theagreed. “ man, : ¥) ae ee ‘ ~~ “ Think I will do that,” a agreed. ‘ They are not likely to disregard » and it will be nF , hy J fh ate nee Ret x" 4 - Now you is a man o’ some brain, Iron Ivan, an’ ~ brought about. I want you ter see ef that very thing can’t. be Kit wull be one stroke fer us an’ two fer yerself, yer see.” ‘* We'll see what can be done. But I’m going out there and see what is going on.” _ You'd best have a keer how yer shows yer- lf.” A * But I don’t intend to show myself,” _“* How then wull yer go?” “Pil hug the wall. I want you and about a dozen men to come behind me, at a distance of a couple of rods or so, so as to defend re in case to capture me, If Deadwood Dick is in command, he won’t shoot me; he’d rather have me alive.” Einar * Good ernough; I’m yer primrose fer that business, Git ready, an’ ll bave ther men on So the Terrible went out, and when Iron Ivan appeared, masked, and with his peculiar cloak on, he found him with his picked dozen, ready to accompany him... - ‘J see you are ready,” Ivan remarked. ‘Yas, you bet.” ‘ “Well, come along after me, and if they try . to scoop me in, don’t hesitate about cutting them down. And “You kin trust us fer that. Lead on, an’ take care not to plug me in mis- 3 we'll be after yer, an’ you bet we’ll stand at yer back till yer belly caves in, too, Thar’s no _ eoward bleod in us, ef I do say et myself,” an believe that. Well, bere goes.” ‘the Man of Lron set off ata rapid stride, keeping close to the wall, and heading for the point of rocks, And after him marched the men, in open ordér; ready to carry out his directions in event of its becoming necessary for them to do so, They were a grim, villainous, hard - looking crew. [il would it fare witb Deadwood Dick, if they mce got hold of him, and it hardly seemed credible that he had really venture! into their denon the previous night, tae proof to the con- well for him to come again, as all declared. Tron Ivan moved steadily forward until the point of rocks was reached. “There he stopped, and removing his hat, peered drew Back and motioned for his lieutenant and ‘the men to approach, and they advanced and joined bim. — ena - ** What ar’ et like?” questioned the Terrible. “They have laid siege to us, and no doubt about it,” was the answer. ‘ « How many be thar of ’em?” Pek Biles ae Take a look at them,” _ The Terrible poked his head around the cor- ner and surveyed the scene as [van had done. t they means, sure as shootin’,” They has their line clear across ther open, an’ a mouse couldn’t git througb.” ‘And it looks like the work of Deadwood Dick. I guess I'll step out and hail them, and ive them a word of defiance, It won’tdo any harm to let them know that we know they are there, | ad a ey ee ‘Better show a flag o’ truce,” suggested one 2 a handkerchief from his pocket, he ed it upon the rifle of one of bis men, and ling it al oft, Stepped ont into plain sigh wood?” Iron Ivan called of truce flying, and I | _ that, Thonght per- 2 brat me alive and well, | see you alive and we yan oe response, att shows me y prey is ready for me, I find you in be as usual, and, as you see, we are » ; .| r ny ~ . "a i 4 . i¢ * p | i. ‘ ] Po. A j + aM ‘ “a : ena! \ We ty Laat nth, oo ale Ye vag she ir Bi Re » 47 s A i * ga ee mode edie 4 ae ae ae i wea ai ty } me, { / I ’ : 4 { Pins : ta s * 2 af aiah ‘ ot. , . ok ‘ Tae +2 | ~ oh ay “eer, ; 7 ae A “ a ty *) Sr iat i a falat "ye gener nL ; wen, 7 abe -*, gs, *, ye | gr —————————— —— what ee ee pe Tent a - Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise. preparing to starve you out. You had better surrender,” ‘*Ha! ha! ha!” was the defiant laugo, ‘I rather guess not, my jolly detective. If you wunt us, come and take us, You will get the warmest reception you ever got in your life. And you can’t starve us out, eituer, for we have enough provision on hand to last us halfa year, ‘‘T know you are lying when you say that,” was the retort. ‘“‘I sized up your camp last night. But I didn’t suppose you would surren- der. No matter, you hold out a little while, and the first you know I will have the whole nest of you, big and little together. Just tell your men that Deadwood Dick says so. What did you want to say to us—avnything impor- tant?” ‘* Yes, something important,” was the re- sponse. “I want to say to you that Jam cap- tain of this band now, and that I defy you and allthe force you can bring with you. And I want to tell you that 1f we capture you, as we intend todo if we can, you will wish you had never been born,” ‘‘Tcan laugh at all that, IronIvan. ‘* You know me well enough to know that I don’t scare, Slink back into your rat’s hole, and remain there till I am ready to drag you out. And it wort be a great while, either,” “All right, we will await your pleasure, but devil help the first man of you who shows his nose around this point of rocks.” ** You bet!” approved Thomas the Terrible, in low tone, ‘‘ Give et to’em, Lron Ivan.” ‘“I¢is neediess to warn us of that,” was the returning shout. ** Don’t teke us for fools, When we make a move it will be one that will surprise you.” * All right; but what’s the matter with your arm?” ‘Oh, nothing, only a pill I laid out your other captain. back with interest,” ‘* Take care the next one you get doesn’t strike nearer home, that’s all. And now good-by for the present. See youlater, Ta, ta!” ‘Yes, you shall see me later, L promise you that,” was the responding shout, ‘* Ha! ha! ha!” And with that wild, defiant langh, Iron Ivan drew back behind the protecting corner.«——-— “That willlet them know that» we are ready for them,” he observed, ‘‘ It will do them good to let them see that we are wide awake.” ‘* Yas, you bet it will. An’right here an’ now, Iron Ivan, we wants ter tender ter you our most bumble ’polegy.” ** Your apology? What for?” ‘* Why, fer ther wrong we done yer when yer fu’st kem ter camp yesterday. We took you fer Deadwood Dick, yer knows,” ‘*Oh, don’t mention that. It was a mistake ie were likely to make anyhow, and you can’t too careful, you know. It shows that you are not asleep, and that a fraud couldn’t be worked on you.” *“Wull, we takes et back, anybow. We has now had all ther proof we wants thet you ar’ ther genoowine article, with ther stamp mark still on yer. We has ther consait that we knows ther genoowine when we sees et, an’ ef we gits tooken in et wull be our own fault, an’ we won't kick.” ‘* That’s a sensible view to take of it. If you get fooled, when you are sober and have your eyes open, then you hadn't ought to kick. But, now let’s get back to the camp, and see what else can be done to strengtben our lines, You have seen Deadwood Dick, and heard what he said. We must look out for him. If he steals a march got the night L will pay that _on us it will be our own fault.” Men were left on guard, half-way across the ‘“ playground,” and the others retired to the home base, “* You say you have another way out of here?” questioned [ron Ivan, then. “You bet we has!” was the exclamation. **Come, an? we'll show et to yer at oncet, an’ see er thjnks of et.” All right, I will, and to-night I may have oc- casion to use it. Deadwood Dick has been here and bas written his defiance on our doors; I Jather thinf,;Jron Ivan will return the compli- ment,” ithe This was greeted with wild approval, and 1) ng Terrible led the way to show the other ns of communication with the outer world. | CHAPTER X. INQUIRY FOR DEADWOOD DICK. to the wall, was a well. It bad been dug taere the first time the camp NEAR the middle of the camp, yet back nearly a had been under siege, when it was death to go to the creek for water. orf As the camp was on a flat, it was reasonable ; to suppose that water would be found at no very great depth, and so the pent-up outlaws, almost — in despair, then, had begun to dig for it. They went down some twenty feet or more, witbout auy sign of water, and were in some- — thing of despair, when suddenly a surprisi thing bappened to them, The bottom dropped out of their well, and the diggers were deposited some feet below, in astream of running water, Fortunately it was not deep, and was running — sluggishly, and no harm was done. In fact, it was a blessing to them, and proved a blessing in more ways than one, later on, Tbe men were hauled out, a supply of water was taken, and after that the men set about ex- ploting their find. A ladder was made, and half a dozen of them went down, They had torches, and were gone a consider- able time, | When they returned they bad good news to report, They had found something of a cavern down below, and following it, had found a way out. They held the best hand, after all! And this was the secret of the matter. Iron Ivan wondered where the entrance to the way of escape could be, He had had his eyes well about him, had made a search for itin a quiet way, and was puzzled to know, | When Thomas the Terrible led the way, with a rope ladder on his arm, be was puzzled all the more. He imagined it must be through a hole under some one of the several sbanties, What was his surprise, then, to be led direct to the camp’s well, which he had never thought of in connection with the secret, ‘* You don’t mean to tell me that this way?” he said, ** Waal, I reckons we does, then!” laughed the Terrible, ‘** But, how do you get'oui? Where does the well lead to? This is a plan that could never be suspected, Ha, ha, ha! Déadwood Dick, we can laugh defiance at you!” ; ‘‘[ should cough up a couple o’ cats ef we couldn’t,” Thomas agreed. ‘‘ Why, et would 4 -~ you get out puzzle ther Olid Boy himself ter guess ther — secret, An’ yer see that ’ar cabin thar bides ét - fronrther other side. pose,” He was then given the story of the means of escape, how it had been discovered, etc. And when the story bad been told, Thomas, the Ter- de invited him to go down and »:e for him- self, a . To this Iron Ivan agreed, fi Jly, and he and the Terrible went down, bem .ag torches, The ladder was of sufficient’ iength to lower Et war put thar on pur- them to the water, and they stepped off into the. bed of the underground creek, ‘* Now then, right this hyar way,” conducted Thomas, ‘‘ au’ we'll soon be goin’ through one of ther dandiest caverns yer ever sot eyes on in yer life. Follow me, an’ don’t be afeerd,” ‘* Little danger of my being afraid, I think,” was the cheerful response, | Thomas led the way, and a wild, awe inspir- ing way it was, —e For a distance they followed the bed of the creek, then came toa place where the cavern broadened, and here they left the creek and walked alongside of it, And here was one of the grandest sights ever seen, in its line, The top and sides cf the cavern were covered with glezming stalactites, which flashed and glinted under the torchlight as though composed of diamonds, — But this by the way. They pressed on, keep- ing to the course of the creek, and finally light was seen ahead. “Thar is daylight,” spoke Terrible Thomas, then, ‘‘ an’ we’ll soon be out,” ‘*T worder this cavern has never been dis- covered from the other side.” ‘‘ Yer won't, when yer sees ther hull of et.” Finally the opening was reached, and the roar of a falls greeted their ears as they came to it, | | Here the creek rolled lazily out, suddenly to Start into life as it went over the ledge and dashed itself below a bundred feet or more. ‘4 Tron Ivan looked out and down, Below the falls, half the distance down, was a ledge, from which escape looked possible. = ‘* Now yer sees bow et ar’,” spoke his guide, ** We has a ladder hyar, an’ we lets if down, an’ down we goes.” = He threw arope-ladder over while speaking, and laid hold upon it to descend, telling Ivan to follow him. | **Jt would bea bad joke to find the ladder . a