Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 778 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ge? lS .. ™ ad aa = 7 ' PP + 7 , + a ; aT pay > > ony es — a < ” il T ~ * a - 0 a <* aT oa * eS — - Tees _ dae 6 Highland Harry, the Wizard Rifleman. ** Devilish facetious, ain’t you, Highland Harry?’ said Bruiser Bill. ‘‘ A little while ago it was altogether another tune.” ** Yes, sung by Bruiser William and Pistol James to the tune of ‘ bravado,’ but your con- cert endedin a panic.” The belts of the dead outlaws were cut into strips and with these Ajax bound the two out- laws and Spokane’s Indian. Then the young giant took up the bodies of the dead men,and with apparentease threw them on top of the rocky wall, saying as ne did fo: ** They’ll make buzzard grub.” ** Go your length, wretches!” Bruiser Bill said. ‘* Tt’s a long lane that has no turn, You may kill us, and I persume you will, but whether you do or not, your doom is sealed. You may even it into the ‘ Basin,’ but you'll never git out. hat’s some consolation to us. Our folks knew before you left Red Bar that you was comin’—” ‘*Got a pigeon message, eh?” interrupted Harry. ‘* Well, I got one, too, the other day.” ‘* Yes, and with your boasted, conceited skill as a shooter you killed—murdered—an innocent girl, Kitty Boyne.” : ‘*T—I do not believe it!” stammered Harry, unable to conceal the pang the outlaw’s words sent to his heart. ‘* Ha! ha!” laughed the villain; ‘‘ that teches the Wizard Rifleman in a tender spot, don’t it, girl-killer? Butit area cold fact; Kitty Boyne died back in the hills an hour or two after you shot her!” CHAPTER VII. A SURPRISED CAMP. BRUISER BILL’s declaration sent a barb of rankling pain through Highland Harry’s very heart. e could not doubt the truth of the out- law’s words. They were so hedged about by certain other incidents, spoken of by the pris- oner, that he knew were facts, that he could no longer cherish the hope of seeing Kitty Boyne alive again. To conceal his emotions the young rifleman turned and walked away through tie stone-pile out into the open valley. There alone he gave up to mental reflections. His thoughts went back to Red Bar. He was satisfied beyond ail doubt now that there was a traitor among the settlers, but of all of them who could that per- son be? He knew of noone having pees of any kind at Red Bar, yet they must have been there, carefully concealed. By this means had the Outlaws of Teton Basin learned of his and Bildad Durr’s start to a men their stronghold, and the very course they had taken. Hitherto, the hopes of finding Kitty Boyne alive, and of rescuing her, had inspired the youth to brave the hardships and dangersof the dread Teton Basin; but now that inspiration was gone and a sense of sadness oppressed him. Yet he resolved to do his duty—go on and if possible explore the land of the outlaws, By this time it was quite dark. The stars came out in the great blue dome of heaven. All around the grim, rugged mountains rose up against the sky, and high aboveall—clearly out- lined—rose the Shark’s Tooth, the central peak of the Three Tetons, throwing its shadow al- most to where Highland Harry stood, yet weary leagues away. s he paced to and fro along the base of the Trap,” Harry could hear, ever and anon, the voice of Ajax peal out in rollicking laughter, and healmostenvied the young Giant his happy, buoyant spirit. Rallying himself from his mind and heart’s dejection he was about returning to his friends when he detected a faint sound like that made by the ee of hoofed feet. Dropping to his knees he applied his ear to the und and listened for several moments. hen rising he hurried back to his friends and soon returned outside again, accompanied by ax, ** Ajax,” hesaid, ‘‘ there are horsemen in Shake Canyon approaching from the north.” The two listened. The sound could now be plainly heard. | ‘*Right you are, Highland Harry!” declared the big mountaineer, ‘‘ and judgin’ by the sound there’sa whole regiment of them. Now, what are they?—soldiers, outlaws or Indians?” ‘They are not soldiers,” replied Harry, “‘ that I feel certain of; nor do I think they are out- laws, for the outlaws would hardly attempt to travel this canyon with so many horses as ap- to be in that cavalcade,” ‘*Then two from three leaves one, and that’s Ingins,” said the young Giant; ‘‘now, then, I don’t know how they may figger up, and if meena eee * = n > . - : pt os —— » - et < FF RY Oe Fer Cee a a a ee ar x ~_** j + iP i> ; : Tae at Y } ‘ u they’re hostiles and call here, twenty or thirty’ll be all we four’ll care ’bout fighting at a whirl.” “They can hardly be Crows so far from home,” said Harry, ‘‘ unless out ona horse-steal- ing raid; but why they should be headed this = unless going to raid Teton Basin, I don’t understand. band of Sioux, Snakes and others from over east, entering this canyon sd way of Hayden’s trail, If so, they are undoubtedly bostile, and are endeavoring tc make the spring here before halting for the night. Ajax, there isn’t room in this valley for us four and forty or fifty hostile red-skins.” ‘¢Then we'd better fall back in order to the hills,” Ajax suggested, “‘ rather than under- take to keep the varmintsaway fromhere. But I'll send out the old folks and you can consult with them.” So saying the Giant returned to the spring and sent Uncle Bildad and Spokane Joe out, and when they had been informed of the approach of horsemen, not only by word of mouth, but by the sound of trampling hoofs, Old Spokane said: ‘‘They must be Sioux from south o’ the ‘Park,’ for I saw just yesterday what I s’posed to be an advance party o’ them red varmints, and they war in paint and feathers, too, ready for fight. Where they’re goin’ I can’t imagine, but we’d better get out of this, anyhow.” ‘*What about our prisoners?” asked Uncle Bildad. ‘* Leave them to the mercy o’ the savages,” answered Old Spokane; *‘ we can't be incumber- ed with them, and if they are, or are not, known to be outlaws, the reds’ll attend to ’em, for Jack Hart’s gang has stolen more hosses from the Ingins than the whites, and the’r hair’s in demand as well as yours.” ‘‘Then we must be off, for they’re coming near,” Hurrying back to the interior of the stone-pile they informed = of their intentions, Witha look of regret on his face, the young Giant turned to the fettered outlaws, saying: ‘* By-by, Bruiser Billy and Yakima Jule; we must part, and if forever, fare thee well. Old Plenty Cows, the Crow, or Squatting Calf, the Sioux, anda band o’ warriors are comin’ this way, and we'll leave you to their tender mercy. Be brave, Bruiser, asa Trojan, and lie like an Arab, and mebbe they’ll spare you. Paw the air, Yakima, and swear, like a tragedian, by yonder rising moon and them blinking stars you'll mop the earth with Ajax, the Infant Cyclone, and Highlo’ Harry, the Wizard Death- Shot, and mebby they’ll not only spare you, but ordain you as a valorous warrior. By showing the proper disregard for the truth and rippin’ up the atmosphere in a frantic manner, you may be spa the burning scalping-knife and the splitting tomahawk. Ajew, ajew!” With a wave of his hand the Giant turned and hurried away, and joining his friends awaiting him outside, the four started off through the darkness down the canyon. They had not gone more than forty rods be- fore the horsemen reached the Devil's Trap and halted. They listened, and to their surprise heard a confusion of voices, oaths and com- mands to their animals that told them the party was not Indians, but outiaws ! ‘“By hokey!” exclaimed Highland Harry, ‘we've overshot the mark, boys, leaving them three villains alive, for that’s a gang of outlaws witha drove of horses—stolen ones, no doubt!” ‘*Then Bruiser and Yakima ’ll be after our hair hotter’n yellow hornets’ javelins,” declared Ajax; ‘“‘and we'll have to waste some gun-fod- der on them. But say, how solemnly still things have become ’round and about the Trap! I reckon they’re listening to Bruiser and pard’s story of the horde of mountaineers that swept down upon them like Assyrians and smote them hip and thigh.” oving on thenarrowing valleysoon crowded the four into a deep, dark, wooded defile. Here they again stopped to listen, when they discov- ered that those hocfed feet were again in motion —coming directly toward them at a lively ace. ee Oh, John Rodgers!” exclaimed Ajax, ‘‘I wish we could block this gap some way and head them off!” ‘‘ That’simpossible,” replied Harry ; ‘‘ but they seem to bain a big hurry. presume Bruiser and Yakima have told them a big story and scared them into improving the cover of night. But, boys, let’s to cover until they pass.” Sty re aside the four men concealed them- selves in the shadows of the defile. In a few minutes a man rode into the pass leading a pony around whose neck was suspend- I’m of the opinion they are a | ene LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LD CC LL LL a ct “— . P je to, ry . “ : ft a * a a ‘ ae at 2 a ' € >] " i* - 4 ‘ i 4 rr« 4 , wr _ ‘ts ed a tinkling bell. Thirty or forty horses were following behind these, while no less than ten or fifteen mounted men brought up the rear. Among these the loud voice of the redoubtable Bruiser Bill could be easily distinguished pro- claiming in language most vehement against the mountaineers in general, and Ajax in par- ticular. ‘* He’s reading your title to a corner in sheol, Ajax,” Highland Harry whispered, to his big companion, rh i expect he is feeling rank against me,” re- plied Ajax, ‘‘ for I smacked him hard on the face and give him a tremendous kick in the shortribs. I wish now I'd knocked off a lung or two.” The outlaws passed on up the canyon, and, so far as the mountaineers could see, manifested no fear of pursuers; and after a short consultation the quartet concluded to follow them just as far as possible, as no better opportunity could be of- fered to get into the Basin. Scarcely five miles, however, had been trav- ersed when the whole band came to a halt in a grassy valley similar to that surrounding the Devil’s Trap. And it soon became evident that. they had stopped for the night. The borses were turned loose to graze in the valley which was well surrounded by a palisade of perpendic- ular bluffs. A guard was stationedin the pass at the up- r and lower end of the valley; then a fire was ighted just within the fringe of timber at the base of the western bluffs, and the outlaws pro- ceeded to cook their supper. The villains seemed well provided with fresh meat, which fact was evidence that their steal- ing incursion had reached some cattle-pen as well as horse ranch. ay EY ‘* Darn their impudent hides!” Ajax growled, in an undertone; ‘‘ they’ve halted for the night, sure. They don't seem to care a whip for our presence in Snake Canyon. That’s pure con- tempt, boys, for the Wizard Rifleman and his pards, and I am for teaching them manners. We're good for the whole caboodle.” ‘‘ Rasy, friend,” replied Highland Harry; ‘‘T would rather get into Teton Basin at their heels than to kill the whole gang. That drove of horses will leave a plain trail. We can make them villains our guides to their own hidden re- eat.” ‘¢ That’s all true, Death-Pop, but it looks like a waste of opportunities for piles of fun and fight,” Ajax responded; ‘‘ you see, we’re inside the guard line, too slick, and all we would have: to do is to wade right in and paralyze them. But I can stand it if you say it’s best, Pard Harry.” ‘‘ Let us wait awhile, at least,” suggested the Boy Rifleman; ‘‘ they may move On as soon as they have eaten their supper and rested a spell. And there may be others back looking for we folks,” Concealed within one hundred yards of the outlaws, the mountaineers could see every move- ment they made within the light of their camp- fire. Amid the activity of the gang in cooking sup- per, a loud and hilarious conversation was car- ried on. The lamentations of Bruiser Bill and Yakima Jule, and the recent death of three of their friends at Devil’s Trap, did not seem to oppress their spirits in the least, Presently the savory odor of broiling beef- steak pervaded the valley like an incense, and assailed the olfactories of the mountaineers. Ajax, who had not tasted food since morning, and who was blessed with an appetite com- mensurate with his size, said, as he sniffed the air and smacked his tips: ‘¢ Fumes of glory! that odor ismore aggravat- ing to me than the presence of the outlaws. I'm hungrier than a coyote—I’m always hungry, for that matter. Boys, I can never squat here and watch them outlaws quietly devouring that steak. Something must be done.” “Say, you,” Spokane Joe ke up, ‘‘if you. don’t keep a little stiller somethin’ will be did—. Bruiser Bill will stuff your ’natomy with cold Gallatin ranch.” “ All right, Joseph,” the Giant replied; ‘*‘ fron» now until something happens I'll be dumb in si- lence, and content to inhale the sweet-scented. ozone for supper.” buckled their belts, and, with their revolvers: attached, laid them aside to enjoy the better their repast by unhampering the capacity. ike Ajax, the outlaws/had undoubtedly fast- ed since the previous night or morning. Atan rate, it required nearly an hour’s work of a . ; 2 a \ \ (@ lead ’stead o’ thoroughbred beefsteak from some While cooking their meal the outlaws un- | stomachs”