Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 90 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

we ee - —- SS — The Dread Rider. DC ————— nervously, as he stepped down the narrow en- trance to the cave, Brave as the Regulators were, they could not help shuddering as they entered the fear- ful place. “Jt is impossible to proceed without a torch,” said Curt, suddenly stopping; ‘we shall inevitably get lost in the darkness and perish in this foul den. What need is there of going further? The outlaws have doubtless fled, and we shall be obliged to seek thom else- where,” But Mark—p’r’aps we may find some trace o’ him. He may be confined in hyar some- whar. Let’s go a little further.” “All right,” answered Curt; “I am with you,” and again they commenced to grope their way forward, keeping hold upon the ledge on one side to guide their course. Slowly they progressed for perhaps a hun- dred and fifty feet, when, suddenly, Curt, who was in advance, ran against an angle of the massive rock, which seemed to bar the pas- SALE. ‘Hold one moment,” said the Regulator chief, ‘while I discharge one of my revol- vers.” For an instant the flash lit up the scene, dis- closing to them a cavern to the right; and then, as the gloom again enveloped the place, the report went echoing and re-echoing back to the furthest depths, seeming to fairly die away in the distance. “Can’t we find something for a light?” asked Gil, ‘We can’t git along without one.” “TI thought I saw the stump of a torch in the cavern there. We must find it.” After considerable difficulty, they succeeded in entering the cavern; when, by flashing some powder, they managed to ignite a quantity of raw cotton, which they carried for wadding. A half-burnt torch was soon found, which they quickly lighted. By the gloomy light of the torch, our Regu- lators were enabled to proceed in their search; but, after a half-hour’s fruitless labor, they were fain to give it up. No trace could be found of their friend; nothing to tell of his \ fate. In one of the subterranean cavities they stumbled upon a forge, around which lay tools of various kinds, and, scattered abouts a few pieces of bogus coin of the Mexican stamp, ** Counterfeiters, as well as robbers and mur- derers!” ejaculated Curt. ‘Well, Gil,” said the Regulator chief, at last, “it seems folly to search longer. Mark is either dead, or the outlaws have taken him with them. ‘The boys will think we have got into trouble, and will be uneasy, so let us get out of this infernal region as soon as possible, Ugh! it makes me shiver all over.” ‘‘Mark must be rubbed out,” muttered the old mountaineer, more to himself than his . companion. “Yes,” assented Curt; ‘it seems more than probable. Poor fellow! A nobler man never lived in Shelby. But, Gil Rey, there is a day of reckoning coming to those fiends in human shape. Mark Waring’s fate shall not be for- gotten.” *‘God bless yer, cap’en! on thet!” In the dismal gloom, dimly visible by the weird light of the flickering torch, like grim phantoms, the two friends clasped hands and agreed to stand or fall together in the perilous work of bringing the ruffian freebooters to justice. | Then the Regulators commenced to retrace their steps toward daylight; and at last the somber darkness was left behind. When in the open air they breathed easier. Down the cliff they slowly descended, and succeeded in joining their anxious comrades without delay. A short distance above where the main body of Regulators had lain in waiting for their leaders, a place was discovered where the out- laws went to and from the ravine. It was a precipitous and dangerous pathway, but bore evidence of having been traveled by horses. Thus our party sought its ascent to gain the Give us yer paw though with what motive they hardly knew. The last Regulator had barely gained the summit, when an object was seen to leave the growth a quarter of a mile to the north, and rush out upon the clearing that stretched be- tween it and the canon. It was a horse and rider, appearing to fly over the barren waste, while close behind pur- sued two other horsemen, telling that it was a stern race for life or death. In a moment it is seen that the foremost is a woman. Good Heaven! Rose Conrad, fleeing from the outlaws! The discovery, sudden as it was, is followed instantly by another as startling as that was unexpected. She has already gained two- thirds of the distance, and is riding like the wind right toward the yawning canon! The pursuers suddenly stop, as if by magic. With loud shouts the Regulators warn her of danger. They shriek again and again for her to stop or turn aside. But, heeding not, hear- ing not, in the wild confusion, their frantic cries, dreaming only of danger from the rear, she still keeps on and on, faster and faster, nearer and nearer the frightful precipice! Their faces blanched to an ashen hue, the Regulators see her rushing on to certain death, powerless to avert her inevitable doom. Suddenly the forty feet of rocky depth yawns before her. With a startling cry, she realizes her peril, and tries to check the head- long course of her flying steed. She tries to turn him aside. Too late ! CHAPTER XVI. THE SHOT IN THE BRAIN. VaLL DEecKERS, the most self-possessed of all the Regulators, alone saw a chance to save the fleeing fugitive. A chance which, though it seemed but one in a thousand, instantly called into action his decision of character. The moment he saw that their warnings were not likely to be heard, he dashed out from among his companions, and rode like lightning down to the point which she must in- evitably pass. Then, wheeling his horse, he paused upon the very brink of the precipice, facing the depths; and had just brought his faithful animal into position, when Rose Con- rad rode down like the wind. As she swept past, the strong arm of the Regulator encircled her form, and she was lifted free and clear from her gallant steed, which, with a neigh of terror, went over the brink, and down upon the rocks below, a shapeless mass of bone and flesh. With a shout for the heroic act, the others quickly rode forward, “Are you hurt, Miss Conrad?’ asked Vall, with more emotion than he was wont to show, as the other was assisted from her rather awk- ward position. “No; I thank you; only frightened. But, kind sir, it is to you I owe my life. How can I ever repay you? Please accept my thanks. Poor, poor Hero! he could not be saved. Why was Iso blind? Oh, I can not help shuddering as I think of the awful fate to which I was rushing! Again I thank you! I thank you!” ‘* Beg pardon, Miss Conrad, I am more than paid already. Besides, it was only my duty. I saw there was a chance to save you, and I should have been more than a brute had I not improved it.” ‘By gracious Peter!” exclaimed Dandy Rock, “‘ why couldn't I jest thought uv doin’ that? J’d let sich a purty one es you ar’ thank me all day afore I'd cry ’nough!” ‘You have my thanks all the same, Rock,” said Rose, blushing at the other’s rude compli- ment; “Ido not doubt but you would risk your life to save mine,” *'D’ye hyar that? Jess bring on the chap thet says I won’t! But it am all fur the best, I s’pose. He done it so much more graceful than sich a rough and tumble prairie chick es I am could. Wal, I always war the most on- luckiest feller thet ever wore a topknot; but it am all owing to the brungin’ up, I s’pose,” Red Lands above, which they wished to reach, 18 In the meanwhile Gil Rey, ever active, fol- lowed by half a dozen of the others had gone in pursuit of the outlaws, who had suddenly disappeared from view on the other side of the clearing. *‘ Excuse me, Miss Conrad,” ventured Curt, “but I would like to ask how you escaped the outlaws? If [am not mistaken you have been in their hands, It was to effect your rescue that, in part, brought us here.” “T was seized last night and borne off by Black Wayne and his followers; but by the aid of Providence I escaped them this morning, though that escape came near costing me my life.” ‘Perhaps Miss Rose will favor us with her story,” supplemented Mexican Pete. In answer to the request, Rose gave the par- ticulars of her abduction and escape, in sub- stance as follows: She and her father, returning from Colonel Raymun’s, when near their own home were suddenly surrounded and ordered to surrender by half a dozen dark-visaged men, whom they quickly recognized as somo of the outlaws, Refusing their demand, a sharp struggle en- sued between Major Conrad and the despera- does. In the midst of the contest Rose felt herself seized, and, in spite of her resistance, Not knowing her father’s fate, and expecting he had fallena victim to the outlaws, she had suffered intense agony, slightly relieved, now, by the Regula- tors’ story which they were careful to show was borne away, a captive. bright side out. She was not allowed to dismount from her horse, but with an outlaw riding upon either side, each holding a revolver ready for instant use should she make any outcry or attempt to escape, she was forced to leave home and friends behind, to go with her captors on a tedious journey to their haunt in the Red Lands, with a captivity worse than death star- ing her in the face. At last after miles of weary riding, the out- laws drew rein, and all but two turned to the south-west, while they kept on with Rose in nearly a northerly course, Thus far since her capture Rose had made no resistance or outcry, knowing it would be use- less; but she was not one to be easily intimi- dated, and all the while her mind was devising some way of escape, When she saw the out- laws separate, and only two keep with her as guards, it seemed as if fortune was favoring her, Deceived by her apparent peaceable sub- mission, they gradually, and perhaps uncon- sciously, thinking it impossible for her to escape. soon, she saw her chance. One of the outlaws had ridden slightly in advance; the other’s at- tention was for the moment diverted from his charge, relaxed their vigilance, doubtless But, Quickly she wheeled her horse, and before the astonished captors recovered them- selves and rushed in pursuit, she was out of reach of their fire, flying for dear life. In the wild ride that succeeded she lost her way; but with the stubborn determination to follow the race to the bitter end, she kept on and on, until—well, the result is known. ‘You heard nothing of Mark Waring?” sud- denly asked’ Deckers, as Rose finished her story. ‘“Mark Waring? has aught befallen him?’ cried the other, in an anxious tone. ‘Alas, Miss Conrad! we fear it. [ am positive. any trace of him?’ ‘“ Ha-ha-ha-a-a-ah-a-h-a-a!” Like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, the hoarse, maniacal laugh fell upon the crowd. During Miss Conrad’s recital, and the conver- sation that followed, they had slowly returned to the place of descent to the ravine. He wis taken by the outlaws last night, and we are in fearful suspense as to his fate.” “The outlaws made no mention of a prisoner, But, can’t you—can’t you find None had seen or heard the approach of any one. Thus startled by the fearful warning, they were astounded by beholding not four rods distant the dreadful phantom, One-Leg, the Dead Duelist! For a moment the dead-alive being gazed up- Goilm (E JOO Ss) (EO)