Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 886 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

<t " Old Disaster, the Border Nomad. attempt to take his life. As he crouched close to the ground, he glared around asif still ex- pecting a shot or an attack. Crouching thus,Sherman dimly saw a dark form leap through the cabin doorway and come racing toward him. The sound of the man’s feet on the ground could be plainly heard, and in less than twenty seconds, Eben Stone was by Sherman’s side. Jabez Cobb followed, Then came Old Disaster, running like a deer, despite his age. The four men moved still further from the burning hut, and finally crouched close by sev- eral large -bowlders, some distance down the ravine. ‘¢Thet ar beats me!” admitted the old border-” man. ‘‘ Me, too,” said Cobb. ‘* Whar are ther dirty varlets?” ‘¢'You tell,” was Disaster’s peculiar reply. ‘¢ Tt must be that they were taken by surprise at our early evacuation of the cabin,’ observed Sherman. — ‘* Thet’s it,” grunted Stone. Then the four were silent again as they watched the flames, which had now secured a firm hold on the doomed hut. ‘‘ Are you goin’ ter be druv out o’ hyer by these measly curs, pard?”’ Old Disaster finally asked. ‘*Not much,” was Stone’s quick reply. ‘‘We’re not goin’ ter give up thet thar placer while it pays like it does now.” | Cobb uttered a growl expressive of a similar sentiment, ‘‘ But w’at are ye goin’ ter do fer er place ter bunk?” ‘© We've slep’ under ther stars lots o’ nights,” said Stone. ‘‘ We kin build some kind o’ er * camp out o’ bresh,” ‘¢ But hain’t ye goin’ ter lose consider’ble stuff by ther fire?” ‘*Not much, All our tools are down by the sluices. They're all right ef ther crjtters w’ot fired ther cabing don’t find ’em.” | ‘*Ther chances are thet they won't,” said Cobb, ‘‘fer I gathered ’em up an’ chucked ’em inter er place whar I[ guess they’ll be safe,” Fiercer and fiercer became the fire, until the whole cabin was wrapped in flames. With a feeling of mingled rage and regret, the two miners saw their late home ra Ai by the fire fiend, Finally the walls fell in with a crash, sending thousand of sparks upward into the darkness, ] The four men held a consultation and decided - toleave the ravine, A few minutes later they were stealing silently away through the dark- ness, - Onward they went for nearly an hour, leav- ing the ravine and continuing through the hills, hey were. skirting the brink of a precipice looking for a favorable camping-place. Disaster was several fest in advance, when sud- denly a dark form rose up before the old man. In an instant they clinched, and the old border- man cried: ' ** Red-skins, by ther sword o° Goliath!” A fiercestruggle followed. Round and round whirled the two foes, locked fast in each other’s embrace. Stone sprung forward to aid tho old man, when suddenly the combatants lurched forward and plunged headlong over the preci- pice! — . A wild scream that cut through the darkness came from the red-skin’s lips as he went plung- ing downward, The yell was answered by a score of cries on all sides of the startled whites, ‘‘ Pards,” sibilated Stone, ‘Ole Disaster has gone to his death, an’ we are surrounded by red varmints!”’ Wl CHAPTER XTIT, THE CAPTIVE MAIDEN. FoR a moment after Stone’s startling declar- ation the three men crouched in their tracks, uncertain what move to make. Ever sought a weapon, and each man /resolved to make a desperate struggle tor life if an encoun- ‘ter with the Indians ensued. The sound of advancing feet was heard on the oJ t. ** This way!” hissed Stone, and crouching low, he os them onward, ae _ Every man stepped as lightly as possible an kept constantly "On the alert for foes, Like black shadows, cut from a stijl darker night, they glided ie = the gloom, Hach moment macy tamected to hear a cry that would tell of their discovery by the red-skins, aay they paused beneath some overhanging ranches, “* Hark!” whispered Sherman. os ao OMe aoithy allt Ste 4 :: ays r + A + 4 ‘ i if Yik Old | hand } ‘wa re) at) Sf d Ww} a s&s 4 I eee tp les ee They listened, and again the tread of advanc- ing feet was heard directly in front of them. ‘*Down!” breathed Stone, and silently the three sunk to the pcan’. Onward came the soft footsteps, and like grim phantoms of the night, five dark forms stole by them so near that Jabez Cobb could have touched their legs with his right hand. Away into the darkness filed the eluded warriors. Then the three whites arose to their feet, and without a word, crept onward through the night, nce Sherman stepped ona rolling stone and nearly fell to the ground. Not a sound came from the lips of either Stone or Cobb as they silently continued onward. Mentally berating the luck, Sherman followed. Finally they paused again and each man strained his ears to hear any alarming sound. All was silent save the faint whisper of the night-wind amid the leaves above their heads. ‘*Guess we’ve got shut o’ ther varmints,” whispered Cobb, ‘*No tellin’,’ was Stone’s soft response. ‘We're apt ter run inter a hull nest o’ ther p’izen critters afore we know it,” ‘*Ther durned skunks was all round us,” said Cobb. ‘*‘Wekem nigh gittin’ inter a stew.” ‘Poor Disaster!” came from Stone’s lips. ‘¢ He struck his last disaster that time.” No one spoke, for their hearts were filled with sorrow by the sudden death of the brave old man, After a brief consultation vy started on- ward with Cobb in advance. The big miner thought that he could lead them to a safe camp- ing-place. For reasons of his own Stone fell back to the rear, ’ But “pai were not yet out of danger, Suddenly Cobb was confronted by a dark form, and in an instant he knew that it was an Indian. . Like a flash the miner’s hand shot out and his muscular fingers closed on the throat of the red warrior just in time to strangle a warning whoop. The Indian grasped the wrist of his white foe, and while he endeavored to tear the choking hand from his throat, he flashed out a long knife and struck savagely at Cobb. The miner caught the red-skin’s wrist, while he still re- tained his clutch on the savage’s throat, ‘*No, ye don’t, ye p’izen critter!” hissed the i gent : gurgling sound came from the Indian’s throat, as he endeavored to utter the yell which had been blocked by thoseiron fingers. Back and forth, round and round went the combat- ants, Neither Stone or Sherman were able to assist their friend, for they could not distinguish friend from foe in the darkness, The combatants made considerable noise, still Cobb hoped to prevent the Indians in the vicin- ity from hearing them, and with this object in view he clung tenaciously to the throat of his foe. Stone followed the writhing, swaying forms, a knife in his hand, but not daring to strike for fear of st his friend. Suddenly both fell to the ground. A moment later a tall form arose before Eben Stone. It was Cobb. ‘That settles his hash!” muttered the big min- er, softly. ‘‘ He took the hull length o’ his own knife w’en he struck,” ‘Then let’s git out o’ hyer lively,” whispered Stone. ‘Guess ther red sinners didn’t heer ther racket, but this hain’t er healthy lokality fer us jist now.” Once more they hurried swiftly and silently onward, They were now more keenly on the alert for danger than they had been before, for they realized that they were liable to find foesin an unexpected spot. ohm te They finally reached a secluded place where they decided to remain for the night. It was a smali wooded elcove, separated from a deep de- file by a mass of thick bushes, No camp-fire was built, for they well knew that it might lead their red foes to the spot. While two of them slept, the third kept watch to avoid a surprise by enemies. And thus, tak- ing turns at guarding the camp, the night wore slowly away. hey , gain Sherman dreamed that his lost sweet- heart came to him and beckoned for him to fol- low her, but when he arose in his sleep and would have left the spot, Cobb, who was on guard, awakened him. Morning came, and the three men held a con- sultation to decide on their future movements. ‘‘ Have ye any ijee o’ strikin’ back fur Dis- mal Gorge?’ Cobb asked his partner. ; e, } ; fo ; / ‘ J 7 a } — T ’ } iv i ig a Meyten j y é : . “ . <<. * 4 3 7 , r es i ei ty 3 i rote: ny ey eager ; Syl BA 4 I 0 he: : bh Sas ce th Sel re Jackwood war hyer— But he hain’t, er leetle puzzled erbout the boyee,” " r 1D . i , Stone shook his head, ‘* T hain’t jist made up my mind,” he admitted, ‘We've been livin’ pritty snug on flour ever since we struck ther spot an’ eatin’ meat, Sum time ergo I thort 0’ one o’ us strikin’ fer Custer ter bring in rations, speakin’ o’ it war ther fear thet ef one o’ us went All thet kep’me frum we'd be follered back to ther ravine.” ‘** An’ w’at do yer think now?” ‘* As I sed, [ hain’t jist made up my mind, Ef Tm jist. ‘| think it is our duty to find Old Disaster’s body and give it burial,” observed Sherman, I’ve been thinkin’ o’ thet, too. We hey er double objec’ fur goin’ back ter ther spot whar ther ole man methisdeath, Hehad Jackwood’s share 0’ ther yaller,” ‘** But ther reds are thick as flies in er Floridy swamp,’ said Cobb, ‘*Ther varmints hey got inter this lokality, an’ we may hev further trubble wi’’em,” was: Stone’s opinion. ‘' Et will be strange ef they hain’t, foun’ Ole Disaster’s boddy an’ sacked e may fin’ it both ther gold an’his skulp. diffikilt ter keep our own hair on our cabezas,” ‘*Ye’re right thar, pard,” drawled the big miner. ‘‘ But I’m of ther youngster’s ppt RF le’s find ther ole man an’bury ther boddy. It makes no difference ef ther critters hev sacked ther yaller an’ tuck his skulp, we shell be doin’ our duty ter ther dead.” ‘* Stone was silent for a few moments; then he lifted his head and said: ‘*T guess thet’s what fer uster do. Arter we hev buried ther boddy o’ our ole frien’, we'll try ter find Jackwood, though jess ez likely ez anybow he’s run erg’in’ther reds an’ lost his skulp. I can’t understan’ w’y ther lad shied off ez he did.” ‘* No more do I,” admitted Cobb, 2 knew well enough, but he remained ent, ‘* We mus’ keep er sharp eye out fer Injins,” | continued Eben Stone, ‘‘Ef we war ter rum inter er nest like thet one las’ nite, they’d do us upin ther daytime. We must steer shut 0’’em.’” A few minutes later the three men left the secluded spot, and, Stone leading, retraced the course they bad traveled the night before. They were cautious and wary, keeping under cover when they were able to do so, Stone seemed to knowevery rod of the ground which they had traveled in the darknegs, and at no time was he at fault on the course to pur- sue. With the ease of a born guide he led them along. At the proper point he turned into a gorge which would allow them to pass beneath the precipice over which Old Disaster and his red foe had fallen in the darkness. After a time Stone halted, | | ‘** We must be nigh ther spot whar they went over,” he announced, , Then they began a careful search for the — body of the old borderman. After a short — time they found a eet where something had fallen from above, Stone bade his companions — remain quiet while he examined the “sign.” A moment Jater he announced: i ‘** Hyer’s whar they kem over. Hyer’s blood — an’ er show thet ther reds hev been hyer afore ‘* But whar’s ther boddy?’ asked Cobb, **’Tain’t hyer,” ‘* Thet’s plain ernuff.” | ** Waal, ther red devils hev been hyer,” The three men looked into each other’s fac as if seeking to read the truth there, ‘*Perhaps he is not dead,” ventured Sher man. Cobb pointed upward. ‘* Look thar.” ieee Sherman looked and saw the edge of the precipice over which the struggling foes had lunged in the darkness. It was a terrible al, ‘ae he no longer doubted the old man’s ea 7 « | A shori distance helow the brink of the preci- pice the bank sloped outward and was covered | with a few scrub bushesandsome vines, Down through these bushes and vines, as they slid along the sloping bank, the combatants had plunged, and now the ** path” that they made could be plainly seen. | } ie ‘* No,” said Stone, decisively, ‘‘ thar hain’t | no hope thet Ole Disaster warn’t kilt, As fer ther boddy, ther reds hev did suthin’ wi’ it.” Aftera short time they decided to continue: onward down the gorge. | of They had reached a bend in the ravine, when Stone, who was in advance, leaped backward. with a low, startled exclamation. ‘nee ‘* Injuns!” he ejaculated. Sh eae Cautiously they peered ahead and saw coming’ y St 109 > - y | } a] « a , ’ : ial th -_— <a —_, ., a Ve A. aes a N bs { |, r WA oy, / . @ i ) { ‘en | q I ‘ —| V/\ y | | ~é | ‘ y ¥ yas i, , a Teer eo Sores es... ¥ 4