Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 90 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

| | (om nee ae ; The Dread Rider. eee eee -e eee 9 cumb, He had not been quick enough to use his revolver before it was knocked from his grasp; and the other had miscalculated with his knife. Thus like two tigers they fought, ‘each knowing that life was at stake. Slowly but surely Rock at last felt his strength leaving him. The other had seized him by the throat in a vise-like gripe; his eyes ‘seemed starting from their sockets; he could not breathe; he was strangling to death! _ Rock Randel felt that his time had come; but with the desperate energy of a dying man, he tried again to free himself from that fearful grasp; and by an almost superhuman effort, he succeeded in pressing back his antagonist, Then he saw what sent a thrill of hope through his frame, and added ten-fold power to his fast failing strength. The other was standing up- on the very edge of the rock overhanging the canon. With a mighty effort the Regulator rallied. Fortune favored him. Ho pushed his assailant back, back over the fearfal chasm, till the latter finding he was losing his equili- brium, loosened his hold upon the other, and throwing up his arms, clutched wildly at the empty air for support. In vain. Too late to regain what he had lost. With a wild, start- ling cry, he went down—down upon the rocks below, where the furious stream caught his body and swept it on with its rapid tide, Weak and faint, Rock staggered back against the ledge. Then his half dimmed vision saw the forms of his foes rise before him, They had rushed to the rescue of their com- rade, and reached the spot only one moment too late to save him from a fearful doom. With wild, revengeful cries, they rushed upon the Regulator, who rallying for an in- stant, drew his other revolver, and with a defi- ant shout, emptied chamber after chamber into their midst. Though firing half at random, he saw at least two of them fall; then his brain reeled; he felt himself overpowered and borne down, a helpless prisoner. When Rock returned to consciousness, he found his hands securely bound behind him; and without delay he was forced to make the perilous journey around the cliff, with one of his own revolvers pointed at his temple by the nervous hand of San Mullre, At last the plateau was reached, and Rock saw that his captors, whom he judged to bea portion of the outlaw band, now consisted of half a dozen harsh, brutal-looking ruffians. As yet not a word had been spoken, save a few coarse oaths, but he knew well there was no hope for mercy. Still the Regulator was not one to mourn over misfortunes, and, as he w1s wont to say, was ‘‘ bound to die game.” “Say, pard, I’low you’ve rung a cold deal on me this time; but, by Randel Rock, where’d thet feller come frum thet kem so near whop- ping me? Jess tell me thet, old yaller-hide, an’ I’ll feel a heap easier.” *“Oospita! you’d better ask what fate has in store,” *‘ Gehosophat! What do I care about fate? But, didn’t I jess sling over four of yours, slick! By Columby! jess undo my hands and give me back my old shooters and I’ll bu’st the hull caboodle uy ye!” An angry scowl flitted across the bleared visage of the Mexican, and his followers clutched their weapons. It was plain that the ee Regulator was trifling with dangerous men, “Dog! another word and Ill brain you where you stand,” “Sho! then mum’s the word, isit? Wal, here goes.” At this juncture some one was heard com- ing through the growth; a couple of new-com- ers appeared upon the scene; and to the sur- prise of Rock one of them was leading by the bridle his own horse. What did this mean? Surely, Hank was in trouble; and the convic- tion forced itself upon him that his friend had fallen into the outlaws’ hands. If so, his last spark of hope was gone. As the new arrivals joined their companions, ‘a@ consultation was held; and during the inter- view, though Rock could not hear their speech, he felt certain they were discussing his fate, and by their fierce gesticulations and angry manner ho knew his doom was sealed, ‘Senor will do well to say his prayers,” said the Mexican, leaving the group, a sickly sraile of triumph playing upon his sallow coun- tenance, ‘ for soon he will dangle from yonder tree.” Then in silence Rock was led rudely forward to the designated spot, followed by his captors. The tree selected seemed peculiarly fitted for the frightful business; and without delay, the outlaws made such preparations as were neces- sary to carry out their nefarious scheme. The Regulator’s horse was brought forward under a projecting branch, and Dandy was made to stand upon his back. Then a noose was fitted to his neck while the end of the cord was secured to the limb above. His hands were still securely fastened behindhim. Every thing was in readiness for the last horrible proceedings which was to launch him into eter- nity. How Rock longed for freedom. He cared not so much for himself as for the loved one at home, who would be left without a protector — alone in the world. Still he did not give way to his emotion. He had his part to act, and, outwardly, was as calm and immovable as adamant. The Mexican, who had watched the prepara- tions with sardonic satisfaction, now approach- ed the Regulator, his evil-looking visage fairly hideous with its fiendish gleam of exultation. After seeming to enjoy the scene for a while, he broke forth in a taunting tone: ** Well, senor, my turn has come. You thought to escape after doing what you did that night—and taking her away, too! But you have found that the oath of San Mullre is no idle vow. Cospita! Iswore over the bodies of my dead comrades—slain by your own hands—that you should die, dog of an Ameri- can! and die, die you shall, I have hunted you long, but triumphed at last. Carambal! I intended to have torn you limb from limb; but my messenger tells me I have other work to do. I have not the time now; so I must content myself by seeing you dangle from this tree, food for the buzzards, Oh, if Pedro was only here! What message shall I carry to the senora? Ha! that is good! She shall know how you perished; and when I go back ot Taos, she shall go with me—mine/ And this is San Mullre’s vengeance; enjoy it now, for within one moment you shall swing between heaven and earth!” As the Mexican finished speaking, he raised his hand as the signal for the rude execution. The fatal moment had come. CHAPTER X. WHO SAVED ROCK RANDEL} THE crisis came, but not as expected, Before the outlaws could start the horse un- der their prisoner, the sharp report of a rifle followed by another, and the thong which suspended the Regulator from the limb of the tree was cut in twain by the bullets from the unseen rifleman, Confusion followed. Then a cry, and the sound as of a person rushing through the thicket of the growth to the east was distinctly heard. With one ac- cord the outlaws ran in that direction, save two who staid by the captive. As the outlaws disappeared in the thicket to the east the report of a rifle again rung out, and again it was followed by a second, when the two men standing guard over their captive fell dead in their tracks, shot through the brain. So sudden and unexpected was all this, that Rock Randel seemed stupefied. But a quick, sharp voice almost at his side brought him to his senses, , ‘Ride! for your life, ride)” In an instant Rock was astride his horse, and the faithful animal, that through all the fore- going scene had stood so quiet, at the well- known voice of his master, bounded forward with all his energy. As the Regulator reached the growth beyond the clearing of the plateau, he heard loud shouts and curses from the outlaws, mingled with the report of firearms, and half a dozen bullets whistled round his head. But it was random firing, and the only effect it had was to increase his speed. That was a wild ride. The Regulator’s hands were still fastened behind him, the thong was still hanging from his neck, while his long, raven hair streamed in the air, and though he found but little dificulty in guiding his trained horse by voice and knee, the low- limbed forest, the tangled brushwood, the rocky, uneven surface of the earth, forcing him to be continually changing his course, made his headlong flight fearfully perilous. But, afoot, and in a lurch, the baffled outlaws were soon left far behind. As soon as he felt safe from the pursuit of his foes, Rock, shaping his course for the senti- nel sycamore, slackened the pace of his horse to a more leisurely gait. | Half an hour later he was startled by tho sound of an approaching horseman coming directly toward him; and fully realizing then for the first time the helplessness of his condi- tion, should it be a foe, he was about to turn his horse one side, knowing his only chance of escape lay in immediate flight, when a familiar voice exclaimed: ; ‘‘Hold there! That you, Rock Randel?’ ‘‘ By Randel Rock, Hank, itam! lLeastways all there is left uv me,” “By Jove, Rock! I thought ye war gone under sure!” ‘‘ Jess undo my paws here, an’ take this hyar necklace off, an’ p’r’aps Ill feel more like yarnin’ it, Wagh!” ‘But where hev ye been to git rigged up like this?” asked Hank, as he cut the ligatures from his companion’s hands, and helped remove the thong around his neck, In reply, Rock narrated to his astonished friend, in his peculiar way, the perilous ad- ventures and hairbreadth escapes through which he had passed. ‘‘Tt war a narrer squeak, an’ no mistake!” ejaculated Hank, as the other finished his strange story. ‘‘But how’d you manage to keep cl’ar uv ’em?” queried Rock, *“ Wal, ye see I got fooled on thet trail ’bout same as ye did; so I went back to our hosses, ° an’ commenced ter wait fer you; but the more I waited the more ye didn’t come, Purty soon I got onpatient, an’ thinkin’ ye hed either got lost or gobbled up by the ‘outs,’ 1 war goin’ to take yer trail an’ foller yer, when all ter wunst a dozen of the very same varmints pounced onter me, an’ I hed ter up an’ take my walkin’ papers right quick, ye bet, But, somehow, I managed ter mount my hoss; and es they war afoot, I left’em. I tried ter lead yer hoss, but he broke away. Howsumever, I wiped out two uv the cusses, an’ fetched round hyar. I know’d the varmints war too thick fer me to do ye enny good alone, so I war goin’ fer the other boys to ’sist me, though really s’posing you war rubbed out.” “Then it warn’t you thet done the shootin’ an’ told me to scamper so?” asked Rock, in evi- dent surprise. “No, pard; I warn’t ‘lowed the priv’lege.” “Who war it then?’ exclaimed the first, ‘Mus’ bin Old Nick,” said Hank, solemnly, ‘‘T w’u’d jess like ter grip his paw, if it war the Old Boy hisself. But it warn’t; I almost knowed ther voice; an’ whoever it war, ef he’ll only say the word, he can count on Rock Randel ter lay down his life fer him. I tell yer, Hank, thet war some tall shootin’, The cap’en hisself c’u’dn’t beat it.” ‘‘Kerrect, pard.” The day was fast waning, and the Regula- tors saw that to reach their destination at the appointed time, they had got to hurry on, so the conversation ended; and, save an occa- sional remark, they continued on their way in silence. A little before sunset our friends reached the sycamore, where they found Long Gus Durrell CONNIE OOO! <S ae)