Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 755 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

Gold-Dust Dan’s Oath. } 3 and now you shall meet with the punishment your perfidy deserves,” Then Hackamore spoke, ‘* Ye must be gone clean crazy, Mr, Bradlaw,” be protested, his voice faltering at first, but gaining in strength as he proceeded. ‘I’ve done my part by ye jest as I agreed; an’ es fer deatb-nets, I don’t know nothin’ about ’em; that’s all,” ‘*It is useless to lie, Hackamore, You met Red Panther, the renegade, last night, and you rode abead to meet him to-night. In that timber island yonder is an ambush, into which you have agreed to lead us. 1 know all, sir,” The guide uttered a low whistle, ‘‘l’m cleaned stumped—I am fer a gospel fac’!” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Ef tbar’s an ambush in thet island I don’t know et, I went on’y a mat- ter ov three hundred yards when I spied thet ’ar red sarpent creepin’ thro’ ther grass, an’ left m hoss an’ came back tu sp’ile his mischief-makin’, Thet’s ther plain truth, Boss Bradlaw, an—” A gesture of impatience checked him. Jonas Bradlaw wished to bear nothing more; he was thoroughly convinced of the guilt of the guide. The first wagon in tbe train was now buta few rods away, and the strange scene between their chief and Hackamore Hank at once at- tracted the attention of the immigrants, Asa result, the wagons were stopped and three of the men hurried to the crest of a knoll, The foremost of the trio was a fine-looking man of forty years, a son of Jonas Bradlaw. He strode straight to his father’s side, revo)ver in hand, saying: ‘“ What’s wrong, father? been doing?” ‘** Enough to hang him!” was the grim reply. ** Upon him, boys! Disarm, bind and gag the traitorous bound!” bags Duke Bradlaw and the two teamsters needed no second bidding. Theimmigrant cbief’s word was law—a Jaw they had solemnly bound them- selves to ~ Silently, they closed around the guide, each with a cocked revolver in hand, Hackamore looked from one to another, his eyes glowing with fierce intensity, but he quietly yielded. To yi was to court death, swift, sure, and ter- rible, ‘* Guard him, Duke, as you would guard life itself!” adjured the elder Bradlaw, when the trio had finished their task. ‘‘Our lives are at stake, for that treacherous bound has sold us out, and the way before us is most desperate now. ‘*Braddock, and you, Satterlee, fetch the wagons up with all haste, and park them around that tree, Make everything snug to resist an attack!” With simply an inclination of the head, the two teamsters burried back to the train, while Duke Bradlaw stood over the prostrate guide, ‘‘ What is it, father?’ queried the younger man, drawing back a pace, and speaking in a tone inaudible to the captive. ‘* This change— this charge against Hackamore, is so sudden, so wholly uvexpected, that I can not understand it : What’s Hockamore ‘“Nor do I,” was the moody reply. ‘ But, enough has transpired since I quitted the train a half hour ago to warrant the course we have taken,” and Jonas Bradlaw rapidly narrated all that had taken place at the knoll, Duke Bradlaw listened with deepest interest. ‘* You are right, father. There is a cunning plot back of it all,” bedeclared, when the immi- grant chief had ended. ‘‘ And I am equally sure it’s the steel casket the devils are after,” ‘*It is the steel casket,” affirmed the elder Bradlaw, ‘ And that very fact makes clear the identity of your enemy,” ** You suspect it is poor Jack’s slayer?” ‘Yes, it is Flush Frank, the gambler, Hackamore and Red Panther are but tools in his bands.” Duke remained silent a moment, staring vacantly into the hazy moonlight, ‘‘T hardly know what to think, and even less what to do,’ be observed, at length. ‘ This complication is so startling—so wholly unex- pected, that I am completely dazed, I wish could have seen that young ranger, Gold-Dust an. ‘**He was oft like a rocket the moment he had or the situation clear,” returned Jonas Brad- aw, ; e But is the situation clear? Is it not possible that this Gold-Dust Dan is himself an outlaw, and plotting our destruction?” Duke protested. ** And, were Hackamore an ally of the red-skins, would he dare slay of their number? Noone knew of the presence of the red spy, and he might have gone scot-free had ,the guide so elected. No, no, father! I am hot convinced that we are adopting the safest course. I can hardly believe Hackamore guilty,” ‘* But the pocket-compass, Duke, and the vari- ous suspicious happenings of the past few days —what of them? “1 confess, father, that it looks dark for Hackamore, Yet it may be that Gold-Dust Dan, not the guide, had a confederate with the train, who stole the compass and delivered it to the ranger. There are—” A light step directly behind the immigrant caused him to leave the sentence unfinished. Turning, he stood face to face witb a girl—a slender, lissom creature, with streaming red- gold hair, starry blue eyes, small white teeth, and face of almost faultiess contour, She was clad in a dark, snug-fitting riding-habit, carried a small rifle, and wore in her sash a brace of exquisitely-mounted revolvers. ** Media! is it you?” ‘It is I, papa, Is it a council of war you are holding? hat has happened?” ‘* Much, or little, Media, just as one looks at it,” returned Duke Bradlaw. ‘*‘Go back to the wagons, pet. 1 will tell you all presently. And do be careful, Media, for we may be in danger.” ** Yes, child, you must not venture away from the wagons alone,” added the immigrant chief, earnestly. ‘* Wait; I will go witb you!’ But, at that moment Braddock came hurrying up. There was a wild gleam in his gray eyes, and his face was colorless. ‘** Great God, boss!” he ejaculated, in a hoarse undertone, his hands shaking as if palsy-stricken, ‘* We cain’t camp un’er thet oak—we da’sent! “ Thar’s a hull haydoogin ov red-skins u among ther limbs, ready ter drap down aw’ slit our throats ther minute we shut an eye !” This startling announcement fell upon the little group with crushing force, For a full minute nota word broke the grisly silence. Then Jonas Bradlaw faltered: ‘‘ Sure—are you sure, Braddock?’ ‘*Sarv’in as | am byar, boss. On’y by chaince I spied ’em, fer they’re well hidden,” was the whispered reply. ‘' Don’t take my word. Ye’ve got a night-glass; use it, but don’t let ther devils see ye. They don’t know they’re diskivered, an’ our on’y chaince is ter make b’lieve we’re goin’ inter camp a bafe-mile furder on, an’ then break straight fer ther tim’er yender.” Covertly, Jonas Bradlaw scrutinized the oak, and the glass fully verified Braddock’s report. ‘‘They are there,” he averred, ‘‘and it is evident they expect us to encamp beneath the tree, ‘* Duke, this trap looks bad for Gold-Dust Dan, and certainly alters my opinion of Hacka- more,” ‘I think, sir, the guide is free of any intent to do us harm,” ‘* Yes, yes; I have been misled. He must be released at once. : ‘** Braddock, do you go back to the train, and quietly pass the word that we are not to encamp on the knoll, Be careful to create no alarm or confusion, or we'll have those cusses down on us in a jiffy. Vl join you in a moment.” The teamster burried away, ‘* Now, Duke, you attend to Media,” pursued Jonas Bradlaw, drawing his knife. ‘* I’ll see to the guide,” Hackamore shook his head vigorously. ‘*Remove the gag, father; he bas something to say,” suggested Duke, ‘* Perbaps he doesn’t wish to be released.” The captive nodded approval, and the immi- grant chief relieved his jaws, ‘*Ah! thet’s better!” grunted Hackamore, moistening his lips, ‘‘ Leave me bound till ye git me in one ov ther wagons, Thar’s sharp eyes in thet tree, ‘* Better git back ter ther train, Mr. Bradlaw, an’ move itupina burry. Sing out yer orders jest es ef ye didn’t know thar’s a red inside oy ten miles. Our hair’s in danger, an’ nothin’ but a bluff game’ll save et.” ** ‘You heard Braddock?” ‘Yes, an’ he hit ther proper plan, fu’st pop. We must make ther timber island abead, Hur- ry up, now,” Jonas Bradlaw needed just that urging. He was completely dazed. ‘* You stay hyar, Duke, an’ you, gal, jest es ef ye war standin’ guard over me,” advised Hack- amore, as the pee ah chief hastened toward the train. ‘‘They’ll all be up in a few minutes; an’, my word fer et, ther reds won’t show their beads, They’ll lay back ter ketch us ip camp later on, when they kin take us by s’prise,” | The guide’s prediction proved correct, Jonas ase Bradlaw shouted out his orders to the menas if wholly uncenscious of the presence of a lurking foe, The train moved sl:wly across the knoll, and on toward the timber island, following the course of the creek. Hackamore was picked up and placed in the second wagon, where he was relieved of his bonds and given his weapons. When a safe dis- tance from the knoll, he quitted the train and secured his horse, Media Bradlaw, mounted on a magnificent coal-black mare, rode at her grandfather’s side just ahead of the wagons. The old man was nervous and low-spirited, ‘‘ ’m afraid we're in for a siege of hard luck, Media,” Le remarked, with a backward glance at the lone oak, now growing dim in the hazy moovlight. ‘‘I don’t believe we'll ever get away from those cunning red fiends, They’d never keepso cooland quiet were they not sure of their game,” ‘*] don’t like et myself, Mr. Bradlaw,” re- marked Hackamore, who had silently ridden alongside, ‘*Tll jest drop behind the train an’ keep my eyes open, When they see we've nut gone inter camp, but are pullin’ fer ther timber, they’ll likely make a break,” ’ The immigrant nodded acquiescence, and the guide galloped away. ** We can at least leave the wagons and escape with our lives, if we fail to beat them off,” Media suggested. The old man shook his head. ‘* There’s just the trouble, girl,” he observed. ‘** Of course, ten well-armed men and a plucky irl like you ought to stand the red devils off; but tbe trouble is, not one of us but the guide ever bad a brush with an Indian, and when the attack is made it’ll create a panic, and it’]] be every man for himself, With our borses jaded, when it comes to flight, hardly a man will be able to escape. ** With you it will be different, and that’s just what I wantto talk about, Hurricane is fresh, and can outstrip any borse on the plains. If it comes to the worst, you must ride for life. You will promise me this, Media?” ‘*If you and papa think it best—yes,” the girl replied, a tremor in her voice, ‘* But, I Do hope that it may not come to that,” ‘* But it will,” declared Jonas, ‘‘1 believe that not a man of us will escape, Mind you, Media, Il am not frightened, or nervous, See— my hand is as steady asarock. 1 have nota fear. I speak out of that mysterious knowledge that often comes to men at critical periods, aud I speak because I wish to save you, and to balk the devils who are hounding us to death, ‘‘Here is the steel casket, You know its secrets and where to find its counterpart, Take it and secure it to your person, so that it will not be lost.” From an inner pocket of his coat Bradlaw took the casket—a small stee] box, oblong in shape, and handed it to Media. The girl accepted it reluctantly, and fastened it in a pocket of her riding habit. ‘*There! I feel more at ease!” exclaimed the old man, with asigh, ‘‘I know that you will sooaeys Media, and it will baffle the hounds, 1Oo— A rifle-shot, closely followed by a sharp, agon- ized screech, interrupted Bradlaw, ‘* Hark! the battle opens!” he cried, his eyes lighting up with a fierce glow, ‘‘ Keep close to tbe train, Media. We may be able to make the timber, as it is now close at band. Good-by, pet!” Leaving over, be pressed a kiss on her quiver- ing lips, then wheeled bis horse and spurred to- ward tbe rear wagons, urging the drivers to greater speed as he passed, Bebind the train, now following it, again halt- ing and facing about with ready rifles, 10de Duke Bradlaw and Hackamore Hank, ‘*Go forward, Duke, and see Media,” shouted the immigrant chief, spurring directly between the two men, with weapons drawn, “I will take your place here.” ‘* Yes, go,” added Hackamore, ‘‘ Thar’s little ter do hyar yet. But one ov the red beggars hes shown | himself. We'll make ther tim all right! The guide averted his face to hide the glit- ter in his evil eyes, Thus urged, Duke Bradlaw galloped forward. ‘*See thet gang yender!” cried Hackamore pointing to a band of a balf-score horsemen that suddenly swept into view over the crest of a swell. ‘‘ They’re wuss nor all ther Injuns!” ‘The leader rides like Gold-Dust Dan,” Brad- law exclaimed, after a moment, a dark frown g¢ his face. | **Gold-Dust Dan!” sneered Hackamore, rs o1a eee amen T ANS ore pe x %, }