Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 755 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

‘ : : ™~ —_—_— _ drawn up in a long line just out of range, and were evidently —— oe. the atrival of their chief, the notorious Red Panther. Far out on each flank, at points commanding an unobstructed view of the plain south of the timber island, vedettes had been posted, to give warning of a continuance of the flight; and as Reckless Roy noted the strength of the enemy and the precautions they had taken, upon him was forced the conviction that the struggle pending would be a most desperate one, The minutes wore slowly away, till the moon- light gave place to the gray and purple of early dawn, when the young outlaw Was suddenly joined by Idaho. ‘*Cap, there’s something derned strange back in the timber,” the heutenant exclaimed. ‘Two aloots have crept through the lines and want to’ join our forces!” CHAPTER VI. RED PANTHER’S DEMAND—THE BATTLE. ‘* Hoppin’ hornits! Ole Calamity, I’ve hearn ov ye ever sense [’ve bin big enough ter tote a rifle or rastle a red!” ejaculated the big hunter, as the hoarse chuckle died out of his throat. ***Pears’s if westood on ther same platform, too! Shake!” And parting the bushes, the Hercules crept into the little opening. Old. Calamity eyed kim a moment, then frankly extended his hand, saying: ‘“"Pears es ef I'd hearn ov ye, Big David, though I cain’t jest place ye. But ye look honest, an’ are too big ter be sneakin’, Thar’s ay. han’, Davy.” hen the two men put up their weapons, crossed palms, and settled down to compare otes, ** Whar d’ye drop from, Calamity, an’ what’s this leetle game ye’re up to?” ths big hunter asked, when he had gotten his massive form into a comfortable position. ‘* Didn’t I see ye slidin’ through ther grass a bit ago, straddle ov an ole cayuse?” ‘* Ye did, David—ye did! An’ thet ole cayuse war my pard, Pepper,ther knowin’est critter that ever slapped ther starch out ov a smoky-hide,” the old borderman replied. ‘* Ye see, David, I’m a plain man, an’ a man not much given ter gab; but this one p’int both Pepper an’ me are finicky in—we wanter die carm an’ peaceful- like. We're both gittin’ old, an’ the constant friction ov rubbin’ out reds is tellin’ on us, We're jest able ter toddle along, an’ our narves are completely upsot, We're clean tired ov calamities an’ misfortunes, an’ we moseyed up inter these wilds in ther vain hope ov findin’ some nice, quiet spot uncontaminated by ther pestiferous red-skin, whar we c’u’d lay our weary bodies an’ gently drift ter t’other shore, But no! ther varlets w’u’dn’t hev et. Whar- ever we lay down ter breathe our last, they'd come an’ rout us out, Last night we give ‘em ther slip, an’ laid ourselves out in this noble grove ter await ther eend. An’ again were we disapp’inted, David, fer along comes a wheen ov PreK eh an’ ter avoid a calamity we up an’ ske- ‘** But, David, we didn’t calkilate ter go fer, Pepper an’ me didn't, fer we'd see’\l enough ter set ev'ry gallon ov our good blood a-b’ilin’, fer them eo is varlets hed kaptered a pore lone female. So I jest planted Pepper out thar in ther grass, an’ slipped back ter see what I e’u’d do, ‘* An’ now, Davy, what be you doin’ hyar?” ‘*T jest crawled in byar fer a cat-nap,” the Hercules explained, settling closer to the earth and combing bis long red-brown beard with his fingers, ‘‘ I’ve lost my boss, an’ am hoofin’ et to’ards Empire, whar l’m ter meet my pard—ef we both pull through. We left Slocum City, over in Montaner, ’bout ten days ago, an’ headed fer ther Black Hills, es my pard’d got a letter in- vitin’ im over ter help round up Ole Red Pan- ther’s gang. Night afore last, a passel ov red bucks jumped us, an’ we war forced tosepurate, but ’greed ter meet at Empire, es et war near thet p’int we expected ter j'ine Reckl Roy. My ‘pard war forced off ter ther north—” ‘Reckless Roy! ye don’t mean ter tell me ye’re goin’ ter j'ine han’s with thet young bell- yun, David!” interrupted Old Calamity, suspi- ciously, ‘*Mud-cats an’ boun’ pups! he’s the biggest fish in ther hull outlaw puddle!” ‘ ‘More Regulator than outlaw, Calamity, though thar is a price on bis bead,” mildly pro- tested the Hercules, ‘I'll tell ye somethin’, Ev'ry relative ther boy bed war slaughtered in ther Canyon massacre, ov ther bull fam’ly he alone escapin’, He swore vengeance, an’ took ther trail, an’ soon diskivered thet ther chief mover back ov thet hellish affair hed be- 4 Gold-Dust Dan’s Oath. oe come one ov ther moguls ov Deadwood. Ina fair, square fight, he shot the dirty cuss dead, an’ fer thet act he war outlawed, ther friends an’ allies ov his victim bein’ men ov influence, No, siree, Calamity: I cain’t consider Reckless Roy an outlaw, knowin’ his bull career es I | do. An’ thar’s not a man in the band but’s suf- fered deadly wrong at ther bands ov ottlaw or red-skin. Ther Regulators hev vever lifted a han’ ag’in’ an honest man, and never will. Dye s’pose Gold-Dust Dan ’d—” “Is yer pard Gold-Dust Dan, David?” broke in Old Calamity, with no little interest. ** Ye bet he is, an’ ther friend ov Reckless Roy ter boot!” ** B’gosh! ef thet be true, (VIl cave, David! I’ve heard ov Dan’! often, an’ he’s a brave, dariu’ | youth.” At that moment the sound of firearms inter- rupted the conversation, and the two border- men made a cautious survey of their surround- ings, To their surprise, they discovered that a sentry bad been posted about fifty yards distant, ata point commanding the plain south of the timber, ‘* Begins ter look es ef we war in fer et, Davy!” observed Old Calamity, in an under- tone. ‘* Dey’ll be on hand putty soon now, an’ et won’t beeasy ter get off ‘thout bein’ seen, Ef we’re goin’ ter resky ther gal, we’d better do et while tuer varlets air engaged off ter ther north- ‘ard, and then slope straight fer Empire.” Big Davy readily assented, and the two moved cautiously into the depths of thetimber, It re- quired but a few minutes to locate the wicky- = erected for the captive, but much to their disgust, they found it closely guarded, and were compelled to retreat empty-handed, “We'll bev ter wait till night comes ag’in,” Old Calamity averred, when they had regained the shelter of the covert. ‘‘ An’b’gosh! [reckon we'd better levant, too, afore we run afoul ov some derned misfortune,” Again the Hercules gave assent, and steadily rose to note the position of the sentry—only to sink back with astartled grunt, “Hug ther ’arth, Calamity!” stretching himself flat on his stomach, ov ther gang’s comin’ straight this way!” Not a breath too soon was that warning whis- per, for scarcely bad tbe busbes settled into their wonted quiet when a steady swish, swish of the high grass announced the approach of the outlaw. On and ov, and then directly past the thicket, strode the fellow, keeping just outside the tim- ber edge, and when the sound of bis steps had died away, Big Davy turned upon Old Calamity a startled face, Hoppiw’ hornits!” heejaculated, ‘‘ Calamity, we came near a-makin’ a fine muddle ov things! ‘* Ther outfit in this timber is Reckless Roy’s Regulators !” B mighty! David!” _“ Right! T know Pmright, Et war Roy who jest passed!” asseverated the Hercules, ‘The only question now is, what shall we dof” And that question was not decided without due argument, Big Davy was in favor of mak- ing their presence known and joining issues, for the time, with the young outlaw, while Old Calamity was dubious about so decisive a move, The old plainsman finally gave reluctant as- sent to the proposition, however, and quictly fol- lowed the Hercules into the outlaw camp. Never were a band of men more surprised than were the Regulators when the two border- men stepped unannounced into their very midst, ‘*Who are you?—what do you want?” Idaho angrily demanded, promptly covering the pair with bis revolvers, while the men leaped to their feet with weapons drawn. “ Easy, pard!” returned Old Calamity, airily. ‘‘ We’re two fire-eaters, an’ we want yer cap- tin, an’ we want’im ba-ad, fer we're goin’ ter j’ine forces ’ith this cobort!” Idaho nodded grimly, ‘Ther capt’in may decide thet /” he responded, pointedly. ‘* Watch ’em, boys, while [ call ther boss,” The arrival of Reckless Roy was not long de- layed. At sight of Big Davy, the young outlaw uttered a cry of light, and sprung forward and warmly grasped bis band, ‘*And where’s Gcld-Dust Dan?” he asked, when Old Calamity had been introduced and greetings exchanged all around, ‘I looked for him with you,” The Hercules explained the non-arrival of the young mountain detective, an then Reckless Roy returned to the post be had abandoned at Idaho's call, where he was joined by the two he warned, ‘*One I w’u’dn’t won’er ef ye’re right, ——_——— rr ee —_-__-_oOoO OOO CF "FCO ee e — _ ———_—— ae | ee -_ ~~ recruits as soon as Old Calamity had called in and picketed his cayuse. | **I say, Cap,” the old plainsman remarked, as he eyed the warlike array on the crest of the . swell, ‘tet do strike me thet ye’ve got a conjem- med calamitous misfortune a-brewin’—et do, b’gosh! Them reds out thar, an’ ther sprinklin’ ov whites among ’em especially, mean mischief, They’re goin’ ter s’round ther timber,” ‘*T believe you’re right, Calamity,” Reckless Roy returned, ‘‘If we can stand them cff till our horses are rested thoroughly, we'll cut through their line and run for Empire. Then— ‘Aha! Red Panther at last!” The road-agent chief had indeed appeared, closely surrounded by over a dozen of his white followers, and as the desperate group came toa halt three cbiefs left the line and galloped to the center. ‘* A move will be made soon, fer thet is a war- council they’re holdin’,’ averred Old Calamity, bis dim blue eyes lighting up with a strange fire, Five minutes passed, then the chiefs spurred back to their places, and the long line broke, half sweeping around the eastern side of the motte, half to the west, the ends of the long line meeting and forming a circle, Not a word spoke Reckless Roy or bis com- panions. All bad foreseen the move, and impa tiently awaited the one to follow, It was not long delayed, for no sooner was the line complete than forth from bis followers rode Red Panther, mounted on a powerful bay horse, and carrying at the end of his rifle-barrel a white bandkerchief. ‘A truce! Dll see what the wretch has to say!” exclaimed Reckless Roy, and he boldly ad- vanced to meet the notorious renegade and road- agent, “Old Calamity and Big Davy gazed at Red Panther witb no small degree of curiosity, as it was the first time either bad seen him. The renegade was tall, sinewy and well-form- ed. He wore a full suit of buckskin, which bad been dyed a bright scarlet, and his sombrero, pinned up on one side with a massive gold star, and ornamented with a triple gold cord and a single long, black ostrich-plume, was of tho same color. Gold spurs were at the heels of bis bigh cavalry boots, and his rifle an? revolvers were ornate with the sume precious metal, A broad sash of black silk encircled bis waist, and on each shoulder, worn as an epaulet, was the dried forefoot of a huge panther. Masses of dark and red hair clustered around his shoulders, and bis beard, only a shade lighter, fell almost to bis waist. His eyes were large, jet-black and brilliant, gleaming savagely through the eyelets of his sable balf-mask. A striking figure—a figure at once odd and terrible, was Red Panther. Straight down to the edge of the sluggish lit- tle stream he rode, ond there paused to await the approach of Reckless Roy. he young outlaw was only a moment later in reaching the southern bank of the stream, where he halted, resolutely facing his redoubta- ble adversary. ‘*T come to propose terms, young man,” Red Panther announced, in a voice of purring soft ness, ‘* Are you ready to listen?” ‘As well now as ever,” Reckless Roy re- turned, with a scornful cur) of bis red lips, ** Proceed,” “You bave a young lady captive in your camp?” ‘*‘We have a young lady under our p-oteoc- tion, yes.” “Well, Reckless Roy, we want that girl. She is valuable to us. Deliver her up, and I will withdraw my men and leave you in ace, ‘*And if I refuse?” Red Panther’s eyes glittered viciously, : ‘Tf you refuse, on your head be the result!” he exclaimed, a strain of deadly menace break- ing the purring softness of his voice. ‘* You are completely surrounded, Reckless Roy, and I shall stop at nothing to gain my end,” A ringing, scornful laugh escaped the young outlaw. ‘‘ No is my answer, Red Panther!” he cried, ** And were your force a bundred times as great it would still be no! Go back to your murder- ovs c'an, and attack if you wish!” Red Panther uttered a fierce oath, and raised his clinched band, ‘*Fool!” he grated. ‘Poor, blind fool! you have sealed your own doom, and that of every man with you!” and wheeling his borse he gal- sa, pt 3 sac to his lines, kless Roy returned to the timber. “Boy!” exclaimed Old Calamity, an expres- ~ t < ‘. 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