Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 794 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

2 .—. --F a. . - 2 Jockey Joe, the mountain Jehu; and, asif to give emphasis to his remarks, he swung his long whip throagh the air with a crack like a pistol-shot, causing the lagging nags to start forward with a sudden jerk that threat- ened for a moment to upset the rickety stage- coaeh, and produced a promiscuons shaking- up among the inside passengers. It was a wild, romantic scene in the very heart of the mountains.’ Here penetrated a narrow, tortuous defile, flanked on either side by precipitous wails of rock that rose straight up to a tremendous height, while, in the dismal depths of the pass, dark, creeping shadows evén now began to wreathe fantastic shapes. _A rugged, rock-strewn trail followed this tortuous way, along which the cumbersome stage-coach toiled laboriously, creaking and groaning with every revolution of its wheels; while Jockey Joe, anxious for his reputation for being ‘‘always on time,” continued to vent his displeasure by simultaneously lash- ing and cursing his jaded horses with liberal hand and tongue. In marked contrast to the grizzled, rough- and-ready driver was the solitary outside passenger perched upon the seat by his side— an individual of rather marked personality. He was but a mere youth, apparently under twenty, slightly above medium height, and with a slender, supple figure. ,His features, too, were handsome, being as clear-cut and regular as auy woman’s. His beardless face glowed with the fire of youth and health. Dark, glossy ringlets clustered about his neck, while from beneath the sombrero’s brim, eyes black as jet shone with wondrous brill- iancy. = ~ The garments of this youthful traveler, coarse and ill-fitting as they were, could not conceal the graceful contour of his form; nor did the brace of six-shooters, hung one on either hip, seem quite in keeping with the fragile form and effeminate countenance of their owner. Not strange, therefore, when this‘handsome youth, with the face and figure of a school- boy and the garb and accouterments of a typical mountaineer, nimbly mounted the driver’s box just as the stage departed from Fortune City, that he was closely scrutinized by Jockey Joe, who lost no time in Culti- vating the ‘* tenderfoot’s” acquaintance, but with poor success, for the stranger was so un- communicative that the driver soon abandon- ed the attempt in disgust, consoling himself by abusing his patiently plodding horses in the most approved fashion. | Of this boy’s fellow-travelers, four in num- ber, who sat within the narrow, box-like’ vehicle, we may say that two were typical mountaineers, brawny, red-shirted and well- ** heeled” fellows.’ Two others who occu- pied the opposite seat, and were conversing quietly between themselves, were tall, ath- letic men of middle age, with long hair and luxuriant beards. heir garments were those of the miner and prospector: flannel shirt, jacket, and trowsers tucked into heavy boots, and the usual belt from which the necessary six-shooter was suspended. Nothing in their appearance would awaken the suspicion that they were not typical Westerners. Yet they were not typical miners or Westerners but were, in reality, none other than the Railroad Pards, with whom the readers of this series are well ac- quainted.* | Headlight Harry, the young engineer, had saved from death the old miner, Gidéon Goff, and was rewarded with a cipher locat-. ing a treasure cached in the Colorado Mountains, This cipher, by a mischance, fell into the hands of an unprincipled scoun- drel, named King Kirby, who had dogged the miner East for the purpose of securing Goff's precious secret. Headlight Harry, accompanied by his devoted friend, Rufe Ruffle, ha¢ started West to secure his legacy, _ *See Half Dime-Library Nos. 759, 727, 691, 678, eto. 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We ET Se x Headlight Harry’s Hunt. but encountered a series of rather startling adventures at Fortune City, which threat- ened to bring their eventful career to an un- timely end; but, with their usual good luck having escaped this unlookéd-for peril, the two Railroad Pards decided to continue their treasure-hunt, and thus it is we now find them nearing Satan’s Camp—the Mecca of their hopes. ‘From Fortune City to Satan’s Camp was a wearisome journey over thirty-five miles of the roughest of mountain roads, but the pards were content with the knowledge that another hour, at most, would find them at their journey’s end, when, suddenly, a long- drawn whistle, loud and shrill, startled the driver and passengers alike. At the signal a dozen figures sprung suddenly into view, a few yards ahead, and then came the com- mand: ‘* Halt, Jockey! the toll-gate.” Joe evidently had ‘‘ been there” before, for he evinced not the slightest trepidation but obeyed orders promptly. ‘“Them’s road-agents, my lad,” he mut- tered, grimly. ‘‘If ye’ve got any vallybles better prepare to shell ’em out.” The youth at his side evidently was pre- pared for another course of action, for, with startling quickness, the deadly muzzle of his revolver pressed the cheek of Jockey Joe, while he cried with fierce emphasis: ‘‘ Drive on! Drive on, or you’re a dead man!” | Then with his disengaged hand, the youth seized the whip, and brought its long lash downo upon the leaders with wicked force, causing them to bound impetuously for- ward. The now enraged road-agents rushed to- ward the coach, yelling furiously, at the same time discharging a volley at the two on the box. Jockey Joe pitched headlong from his seat, shot through the brain; but, even as he fell, the dauntless youth caught the lines, and, standing erect urged the animals with quick whip-strokes into the very midst of the outlaw band! So furious was the rush that the road raiders were compelled to Sap aside to es cape being run over; but this brought them on either side of the coach, where, yelling like fiends, they opened fire again. At this critical moment the four inside passengers took a hand in the ‘‘ fun,” a literal stream of bullets poured, and the outlaws went down like nine-pins on either side, while their unwounded comrades fell back in confusion before that unexpected fusilade. In another moment the coach was fairly clear of the gang, who, now fierce for vengeance, came on in hot pursuit. Once clear of the outlaws, the inside passengers no longer returned their fire, but, crouching low to avoid the bullets, awaited the result of the driver’s remarkably daring attempt to carry them out of danger. On flew the rickety vehicle, rocking and swaying at a fearful rate, rapidly drawing away from the discomfited road raiders, who, soon realizing that the game was lost, abandoned the chase and reluctantly with- drew to their mountain fastness, Hold yer hosses! Here’s On this occasion, however, more than or- dinary interest was evinced, for the rapid and prolonged firing had attracted general attention, down in the valley and everybody i Cie! <- was anxious to learn the result of the scrim- mage. Judge of their surprise, therefore, when, instead of beholding the well-known figure of Jockey Joe perched on the driver’s box, they saw but an empty seat and reins lashed to the break bar! Cries of astonishment went up from the crowd; and when, a morent later, the inside passengers had sprung out and discovered that their late traveling companion, the hero of the outlaw fight. had mysterious)y disap- peared, their astonishment only added to the now intense excitement. CHAPTER IL. LIFE IN SATAN’S CAMP. SATAN’s CAMP! Never was a place more aptly named, for this, indeed, seemed Old Nick’s favorite stamping ground. Here, apparently, law and order did not exist, and violence held undisputed sway. Nestled high aren the mountains, amid surroundings grim aud des- Olate, walled in on every hand by the ever- lasting hills, this camp so flourished that its reputation in the outside world became a by- word for what was rough and tough and un. desirable as an abiding: place. From the nearly three hundred individuals who composed its regular population, it would have been difficult to select two score who did not fraternize with the Prince of There was, indeed, an element that ranked above the regular camp denizen in respect- ability, comprising a number of the hardy miners, who toiled by day in the neighbor- ing gulches, but whose propensity for gam- bling drew them into camp at nightfal’, ready to condone if not to add to the general dis- , order. Such was Satan’s Camp—into which the two Railroad Pards now ventured, oa their quest for the lost Goff treasure. Nor was the venture taken in ignorance of the real character of the place, since Gideon Goff had admonished them on that point; and — the Pards were not long in discovering that Gideon’s picture of the camp was by no means overdrawn, In fact they had hardly emerged from the ‘‘bhotel” the next day, after a good night’s rest when they were brought face to face with one of the camp’s aimost daily ‘‘ visitors.” There was a sudden outburst in the street, of angry cries, followed by several pistol- shots. ‘One man fell, while another stood ~~ above him, the smoking revolver in his hand. Then the excitement ceased! Rough hands lifted the lifeless form and dragged it uncere- moniously away, while the assassin coolly re- placed his weapon and sauntered off without a hand being raised to stay his progress. ‘‘Hang me for a Mormon if this isn'ta b reg’lar Hades,” uttered Rufe Ruffle, in deep — disgust, as the two moved away after wit- nessing the tragic affair. ‘‘If it’s the fashion here to slaughter men in the street afore vreakfast; then I opine the sooner we pull up stakes an’ git, the more liable we'll be to A sharp turn in the road now revealed the | get home.” ri lights of Satan’s Camp twinkling like fire- flies in the distance, and then it was that the dauntiess driver for the first time exhibited signs of uneasiness. SlJackening speed con- siderably, as he reached the outskirts of the settlement, he hastily secured the reins to the break bar. This done he sprung from the box and quickly vanished in the dark. ness! This act was entirely unobserved by the four passengers within; and, left to their own guidance, the horses trotted leisurely in- to the camp, and came to 4a halt at the cus- tomary stopping-place in front of the so- called “‘ hotel,” where the usual motley crowd had assembled, to greet the arrival of the stage from Fortune City. . ” “a 7 7. yf 4 f P ’ oe 4 a Poth oe SRL: waa a‘) wi i ; , Sn Pi VA arf a xs ot i Fi ne ea? ie at a h i te Kee vie oe ve aes Headlight Harry’s face wore @ grave ex- pression as he replied: | ‘« Yes, Rufe; the fact is we have struck a pretty tough locality. -But, we were fore- warned, so were We 80 inclined.” ‘* Who is talkin’ about backin’ out? Dont = I hain’t comes ct be oO aft ‘ think I’m a-skeered, pard. these miles to flunk at the last minnit. siree! I’m a-goin’ to see this game through, or bu’st in the attempt.” : ‘‘Nobly said, Rufe! God grant we shall 1 h Vilbad? | be successful .in our mission, tho mit the prospect is not brilliant. | ’ a 4 Bos ) o; ; ’ . eae P ; » ; / wr .* a aL 4. : re S. F + Fh . ‘ 7 - Ny) es 17% ara gl 4 7 ‘i 7 \% S ’ oy we es = = Ne « 4 ee 4 a we ot se Ses 3 . “ 7 - ©. ot | <te" ; Me 5 >. a Al “s Al 4) ig 7 = , a < i here we are, right in the lions’ den. It’s now too late to back out, even — We are,in. |e Such peril here that it behooves us to aet sf “te “ ‘ f 5 ... 3 nasi oy, pags a aos ®: : , . Ty - a 7 o —_ * on bd > a a - "@ | - , ~ <. ~ * ’ a um - ‘ . nh > A ¥ pis ages, Sap : i > -! by 4 73 ‘ = lV a é é yo . - (in 4 | | Fe ‘J x > | \ ' F | . IW VW Ws EN» Jt) N gH”