Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 886 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

4 nm re ede eet » - a —< @& @& Ae ot Bs «ti a, 3 oe * - J : - —_ _ ——— eee — — . : . 3 => ee > << pate Fe Despite St. Orme’s warning, each of them came near uttering an exclamation of surprise. They were gazing into a cavern chamber. Far below the place was dimly lighted and they perceived one or two moving forms. ‘*That,” whispered their guide, ‘‘ is the great cave of the Black Hills. There is no other equal to it. The fabled Gold Caveisa myth. Those men down there think that this cave is a ro of the Lost Gold Cave, and they are blasting through a passage which has fallen in, hoping to find untold wealth in the wonderful chambers beyond, Poor fools!” For some time they were silent, then Stone ’ ~whispered: ** Pard Cobb, I kin understan’ ther rumblin’s now. I’m reddy ter give in thet thar hain’t northin’ suppernatteral erbout ’em.”’ ‘* The leader of those men down there,” said St. Orme, ‘‘is the treacherous fiend who was in league with the red demons that destroyed the wagon-train in Red Canyon. On him shall the hand of vengeance fall. Soon I shall descend into that place by means of a rope-ladder which have manufactured. When I come away, Marshal Baylor will be no more!” They shivered at the fierceness of the last words as they hissed from the unseen lips of the wronged man. Suddenly there was a commotion below. The tread of booted feet over the rocky floor was mingled with the sound of many voices. The four men yazed earnestly downward and saw anumber of masked men enter the cave. In their midst was a prisoner. It was well for our friends that the masked men were making considerable noise, for a sup- pressed cry burst from the lips of every man. ‘¢ Jackwood!” exclaimed Stone and Cobb in a breath. ‘‘Rrank St. Orme!” came from Ethan Sher- man’s lips. And the hermit cried: 4s M son!” Behind the masked men and the prisoner came the boy, Scarlet Sash, wringing his hands and weeping bitterly. ‘‘ Carry him to the strong cell!” cried a voice which was recognized by both Ethan Sherman and Minos St. Orme, ‘Then ths prisoner was led away, ‘¢ The hour of vengeance is at hand!” hissed ‘tthe white-bearded cave-dwellers, ‘‘ Something has stayed my hand until now, but the wrath of the Almighty is about to break upon the head of that crime-stained wretch!” After a time the four men returned to the round cavern-chamber, where they set about laying a plan of action. For two hours, at least, they plotted and schemed. At the end of ‘that time St. Orme announced a determination to again look down into the chamber occupied by the masked desperadoes, Sherman volun- teered to accompany him, and the two left the small cave room. | With some interest Stone and Cobb awaited their return, | Thirty minutes elapsed ere the sound of ad- vancing feet came from the passage. A mo- ment later St. Orme and Sherman. BRvene The latter seemed considerably excited, ‘‘ News! news!” he exclaimed, as soon as he reached the chamber, | 5‘ Good or bad?” asked Stone, ** Both.” ‘Then give us ther bad news fu’st, so thet ther good may take ther taste out 9’ our mouths.” ‘* Well, then, another friend of ours is a pris- -oner in the hands of those desperadoes,”’ _ ** Who?’ demanded Stone and Cobb in a breath. | ** Old Disaster!” was the astonishing reply. ** W hat?” Both men were thunderstruck, “The old man is alive and well,” asserted Ethan; ‘‘ but is a prisoner in the hands of that lawless gang.” CHAPTER XVII, A FAIR SAVIOR, Down through the darkness went Old Disas- ter, locked fast in the embrace of his red foe. Down along the sloping bank they slid through _ the bushes and vines which served to partially allay the swiftness of the descent. Finally they reached the lowest point of the slope and plunged over, A yell of horror went up from the throat of the red-skin as they whirled through space. oe __» Then came a sudden shock! __ For five minutes both forms lay perfectly still _ seeming lifeless. Then one of them stirred aD - “ttered a groan, .* ~, . -_ v + Po ” Sa a Old Disaster, the Border Nomad. Tere Another minute passed and one of the dark Er clam c’u’dn’t talk ef it secured er speshal forms sat up with an effort, ** Ghost o’ ole Goliath!” The words came from the lips of Old Disaster. The old Border Nomad was far from dead. ‘* Waal, ole sinner,” muttered the survivor, ‘* ve hev been through ernuther ’tarnal disaster. This warn’t quite ser bad as ther time w’en I war run through ther rag-picker in er shoddy- mill. Thet jist etarnally tore me all ter pieces. My ole karkiss hung ter ther bones in shoe- strings. This time ther breath war pritty nigh jolted out o’ me, Reckon it w’u’d quite been ef ’d struck at ther bottom, but thet red war er nice soft cushion.” The old man chuckled softly as he examined the body of his late foe. ** Dead !” declared the old ranger; ‘‘ dead as er herrin’! He’d orter known better’n ter tackled er rampin’ disaster, It’s er sorrerful fac’ thet ther varmint didn’t hev time” ter say over his prayers.” Slowly and with great difficulty the veteran borderman arose to his feet, He rubbed his bruised body and stretched his limbs with a mingled groan and sigh of satisfaction. ‘¢T feel like an ole hoss,”he muttered, “ but I’ll be all rite as soon’s | git merself shook inter runnin’ order, Thet won’ttakelong. Ther ole man has been through menny er wuss racket ’n this hyer—sorrer 0’ Sodom, yes!” Disaster had had a really wonderful escape, but be did not seem to look at it in that light. To him it seemed more like a necessary or matter-of-course occurrence, ‘* Wonder whar Ole Pillbox is?” he said, as he began to feel around on the ground, ‘I had holt o’ it w’en we kem down, but it slipped out o’ mer fingers. Ah! Hyer she be, ther darlin’!” He uttered a chuckle of delight as his fingers closed upon the barrel of his beloved old shoot- ing-iron. | ‘ Now Ole Disaster are hisself ergain! We're reddy fur ther red varmints, an’ we kin wallop several times our weight in ’em,” He paused and listened for every sound that might come from above. Darkness and silence brooded over the Hills. To the old watcher’s | ears came no sound, ‘‘ They're all rite so fur, Ther reds hain’t diskivered ’em or there’d been er racket. I reckon we'd run inter er nest o’ ther p’izen crit- ters, but Eb Stone kin git’em out o’ thet snap ef any man kin.” For some time Disaster was undecided on his next move, but he finally resolved to make no effort to rejoin his friends that night, He real- ized that such a move might take him into dan- ger, for it would be difficult to distinguish a red-skin from a paje-face in the darkness, Slowly he moved from the spot, and, at the first opportunity, left the gorge into which he had fallen. Afte® a time he found a secure Spot, far from the ravine, and spent the night there, When morning came, the old ranger’s first move was to attempt to find his friends, from whom he had so unceremoniously parte] the night before, He spent several hours in fruit- less search, and toward noon turned his face in the direction of Dismal Gorge, ‘“They will go back thar, arter a time,” he decided, ‘an’ 1 kin quicker bit’em thet way than sum other,” The sun indicated that midday was past when the Hills tramp suddenly found himself surrounded by masked men, A dozen cocked revolvers were pointed straight at his heart, “Throw up your hands!” commanded a stern voice, ‘* Hesitate an instant and you die!” A wild scheme did flash through the old man’s head, but he saw the utter folly of resfstance and slowly put up his hands, one of them still holding the long rifle. -** Up they go, pard!” he said, with a lugubri- ous look, “‘It lookt ez if this ole blockhead bad run chuck ag’in’ er reg’ler foreshadderin’ 0’ a disaster—ghost o’ Goliath, yes!” ‘** Secure bi: weapons,” commanded the leader | of the masked men. His order was swiftly obeyed. ** Now bind him hand and foot.” ‘* Howlin’ tomcats!” groaned the veteran. ““Hev I got ter submit ter sech er condemned outrage? Sorrer o’ Sodom!” Yes; he was forced to submit. They bound him eourey but the end was not yet, ' ‘* Blindfold him!” ‘* Geehosifat!” burst from the borderman’s | lips. ‘* Aro ye goin’ ter gag me, too?” _ “Tf you do not keep a silent sony be at er | es,” “Then I’m dum’ ’s er clam,- Ow er clam’s bout ther dum’mest o’ all dum’ animals, © - { - ’ ' ® Fy sl - boty ° : ed wi | is ; ° - ~¥ v * . ay’ » als “i ra ne Ll after falling over the precipice with his red foe, . : . . | - sid * , : i dg « a oer ie «ae va et 4°7 Renter eit ¥ ee rey gts by gpuinsaiess byes uae wee Sie adnhnerie cake ie ale niet ag license fur thet puppose. I’ve of’en thort as how it ’u’d be er fine thing ef sum wimmin war © clams.” ** Silence J” **Thet hain’t my name, but I reckon ye’r’ di- rec’in’ yer remarks torrud me, so ef ye don’t ob- jee’, I'l make believe I’m er clam.” A heavy blindfold was placed over Old Dis- aster’s eyes. Then he was borne along by four men, ~ For half a mile at least the old chap was car- ried in this manner, then they passed a spot where the faint smell of smoke came to his nostrils, ‘Ther burnt cabin!” was his mental de- cision. A few moments later they halted where the sound of falling water smote on Disaster’s ears. He knew well enough that they had reached the waterfallin Dismal Gorge. Briefly the men spoke in low tones, then they once more went forward, ‘Soon the old border- man was drenched bya mass of water which dashed over him. Then he knew quite we'l that he was in the cave beneath the waterfall, of which be had been told by Cobb. He listened. Peculiar rappings and signals were followed by a heavy scraping noise. ‘t A secret door opening,” he thought. He would have been amazed had he seen what appeared to be a ponderous stone, set in the solid wall, slowly move away, disclosing a dark opening, | Then the masked men and their prisoner en- tered a secret cavern, Within the large main chamber the blindfold was removed from the old Hills tramp’s eyes, his feet were loosed, and he stood up. He gazed around with some interest. He saw the same cavern-chambe". lit by flar- ing lights that Minos St. Orme and Ethan Sher- man were gazing down into at that moment! Little did the prisoner dream that far, far above, hidden by the darkness, but gazing down upon him, was one of his friends of the party who ig oR in search for the Lost Gold ave, ‘‘ Place him with the other prisoner in the strong cell,’’ commanded a voice which Disaster instantly recognized, ‘* Hullo, Stokesie, thet you ?” cried the old man, ‘So, ole frien’s meet ag’in; but, I jist can't shake han’s wi’ ye, ole boyee, till these gentlemen unharness me grippere. Hope yer won’t think 1’m incivil nor nothin’.” The man uttered a snarl of rage, _ **So you know me?” he cried. ‘* Well, that is allright. Your knowledge shall never do you any good, I am only waiting for the capture of Ethan Sherman, when there will be a grand hanging bee in this very cave,” ‘¢ host o’ ole Goliath!” was all that the old borderman ventured to say. | ‘ The masked man waved his hands, and Dis- ' aster wasled away. One of his guards carried a light. They proceeded a short distance from the main chamber and then halted before a stout wooden door, set in the wall. One of them removed a bar which held this door in place, and, as it swung open, the other thrust the prisoner in, The door was slammed behind oni ‘‘A purty pickle, by ther sword o’ Goliath ag owled the veteran. ‘‘Ther meachin’ curs idn’t even untie my han’s. What er dod- durned gang 0’ sneakin’X— Howlin’ tom-cats!” The old man stopped suddenly, for he per- ceived a pairof glowing eyes fastened upon bim. He started back in alarm. ‘+ Ah, old man, is that you ?” called a famil- iar voice A cry of delighted surprise was the answer. 7 ‘t Jackwood, by ther sword o’ Goliath!” ‘‘Right you are,” was the reply. ‘‘ We are in a tough corner, old man,” ‘‘T puess yer’ shoutin’, boyee, But are yer grippers unhampered?’” sp ‘““My hands are free, if that is what you mean.” Ae ‘¢Thet’s 4a ther ae o it. Mine oh tied up ser tight I can’t skeercely wiggle er Unger. J ist see if ye kin git ther blamed mee off.” Jackwood did so, and soon the borderman’s hands were liberated. ‘‘Thankee, lad, thankee! / how ye kem ter be in this condemued pickle.” The young man complied, relating his ad- ventures from the time he parted with Sherman and the old ranger until they met within the risoner’s cell of the great cave. | ie Then Disaster told ‘him of the burning of the hut, meeting with red-skins, and his experience ! 1, &- 3 4% ¥ 4 a? , , , ao ate ng | Now, jist tell us — ots mene a! eee nme w v pyr > - ° . * - ~~ ee ee ee ¥ Ee =a — ios i Se a