Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 902 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

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But no outlaws caine, and confident that they had given up the pursuit, New York Nat gave the order to move onthe fourth morning after their arrival there. They went back the way they had come, and they were very careful to reconnoiter well ahead, Going ahead on foot, Nat discovered that ‘the party had returned from its search in the mountains, fur there were their tracks, thir- teen horses, as plain as could be seen, They branched off toward Junction City, too, and came right down from the moun. tains, The Nat tol eden. ‘* You hain’t give that up?” ‘* You bet we hav’n’t.” ‘Well, I guess we can find it.” it | know we can when your life depends upon it.” So the prisoner’s face brightened and he led the way once more, bound to his horse -and with his hands in irons. They. went up through the canyon and found the place where they had camped when their foes came so near to them. | They had traveled very slowly, going cau- tiously as they did, and it was nearly dark when they got up in the mountains, the sceat- tering trails of their pursuers showing that they bad searched for them by twos and threes, But no well defined trail followed along -on the one that was evidently an old one, and which the prisoner asserted was made by his band going to and from the retreat of the Outlaws. ‘‘We can ride right in on ‘em at night, ‘surround their cabin and call fer them ter come out with their hands up. “That will fetch them, you bet, only I ~don’t want ter be seen by the boys, yer knows,” explained the prisoner, But New York Nat was wary, and ques- tioned the prisoner most closely until at last he managed to discover that the camp was between two cliffs that formed a valley, and could only be reached by ascending to the top of a range and then descending to the retreat. ‘Is the retreat visible from the range?” ‘ From one point it be,” ‘* Does this trail lead to it?” ‘*Tt do.” ‘‘ Very well, boys, you go into camp here, sand I’ll pusb on ahead on foot and see what I can find out.” ‘No need o’ that, for we kin al! go to- gether,” ‘I prefer to go alone, ” answered Nat. ‘* It’s a dangerous trail.” ‘‘T'll keep my eyes open for danger,” ‘Sure as shootin’ yer'll run over a cliff.” “PIL risk it,” ‘Yer is a durned fool to do it.” “Til take bigger chances now you urge aguinst it. * Just keep right by that man, one of you, and finish him if he tunes up or makes any risoner again looked uneasy, but him his duty now was to lead to the ee . é lee gt =~! — oe —— ~~ —— 7. Ee eee. > aes ns tan Naat a. -Senerrs =” ~ oe ~~ Wat. 2 —_ * a —— yee 44 th Pg erey.. wh ig Pe 5 Daud an OP. eS lh is Se cE New York Nat in SOTO UGE ee ———— _ ** Keno, I belicve that man intends to be- tray us in some way if we give him the chance,” said Nat, and having selected a camping place, he started out alone and on foot, Ile followed the faint trail winding up to the top of the range, and coming to “the two cliffs that formed the valley, he approached and looked over cautiously, His face brightened as he saw a number of horses feeding in the valley, and from almost beneath him came a column of white smoke curling upward, “‘Ah! I have found the retreat. ‘‘Now to have a better view,” and Nat searched about for a better outlook. He now found a spot that commanded a view of the cabin, and his eyes fell upon ee that caused him to smile signifi- cant What he beheld was a log cabin just be- neath him, and a camp- -fire near it, built up against the cliff. The sun was near setting and the valley was cast in the shadow of approaching night. About the camp-fire were no less than six men, two of whom were cooking the even: ing meal, hree others were lolling near, while a fourth was visible seated by the stump of a tree to which New York Nat even from where he looked down could see that he was bound, “That man is Gentleman Jack,” said Nat as he recognized the man bound to the tree. CHAPTER XXII. IN DISGUISE. Wuat Nat saw in the canyon did not seem to surprise him, and he watched the group of men until darkpess closed around _them. He saw the men gather around for sup: yer, The prisoner was with them; but, though his hands were freed, Nat could see that his feet were bound from the manner in which he walked, More wood was thrown upon the fire, thereby causing a bright light and the group of raen were plainly visible to the watcher i? from the cliff above. Still watching, New York Nat saw them throw themselves upon the ground ahd could even hear their voices and laughter. at last he saw two of them lead the prisoner to the cabin and enter it. Then oue by one the others followed and the fire began to die down. “They appear to keep no watch,” mut. tered Nat, and he began to slowly retrace his way down the mountain trail. It was moonlight ard he had watched well his trail. | Just before midnight he arrived in camp and found Keno and Freckles awaiting him, while the prisoner had retired to his blan- kets sa was not asleep, the boys whis- perce Nat ate a hearty supper his comrades had resei ved for him and then said: ‘Well, boys, there are six men in the camp.” ‘Then our man lied?” -“ He certainly did, and intended to lead us into a trap. ‘* But, one of those six men is Gentleman Jack!” ‘** You saw him, Pard Nat?” cried Keno, «did indeed.” Sey: knew you would find out what was going on,” averred Freckles, admiringly. Nat then went on to tell of his discovery and added: ‘* Now wedare not attack that camp. with five men in it. We might be successful but go ont CFG . % ‘ea lege RIT AY Prey i Pek res tnt ey te \. York with me, and 11 am not hunting for a grave out here for myself, . ‘* If there were but three of them we might risk it. ‘*That man there tried to lead us into a trap, for he knew the number in the re- treat and expected we wou'd be wiped out and he escape, so I shall act now with no cunsideration for him. ‘‘My idea is to put on one of the dis- guises we brought wilh us, have Fred Fox pick me up, for to-morrow is his day to go to Junction City, and I'll make a clean breast of it to him, have him get several men he knows he can trust, and bring them out in his coach, ‘You, Freckles, can come down with the horses and meet us, and we will then be strong cnough vo, attack the retreat bh ie every prospect of catching the outfit and res cuing Gentleman Jack, “This done we can go to Junction City the next night and take in Satan Sam and his outfit. “That is my plan, so what do you think of it, boys?” “What disguise will you wear, Nat?’ “Tll rig out .ke.that young parson we saw up in the mines, for I have a suit, a wig and spectacles.’ © Good! and you can change the expression of your face so that no one will know you, Pard Nat. ‘Freckles will take care of the camp and. the prisoner, and I will go with you to the stage-trail and retreat, and we'll have the horses there for you, all six of them,” said Keno. This being decided upon Nat and the others retired to their blankets, but were up at an early hour and Nat was soon rigged out in a clerical suit, and with his wig of rather long hair parted in the middle, and gold rimmed spectacles, no one would have recognized him, for he did possess the fac vulty of completely changing his facial ex- pression, The prisoner realized that Nat had made some important discovery, and was prepar- ing for some move, and he was nervous and ina very ugly humor, After an early breakfast Nat mounted cnt rode away with Keno, to bring his horse back, while Freckles remained Yo camp to look after the outlaw prisoner and. the horses. — Some hours after, as Fred Fox was driv- ing along the trail toward Junction City, he saw a man seated by the way, and at first he feared his coach was to be held up by road- agents. “But as he drew nearer he muttered, greatly relieved: “Tr’s a young sky pilot, as I live; but what on earth is he doing here alone, and on foot?” | There was not a passenger in the coach Nat was delighted to see, and Fred Fox called out to him in his blunt way: ‘Say, Pard Gospil Sharp, I guesses, you has done what yer tells others not to do—got astray ¢” ‘Yea, verily, my sinful brother, that have I done, for my beast of burden bath left me afoot, and I am forced to seck of you a lift toward the settlement ahead,” an- swered Nat in a tone most doleful to listen LO. ‘Tn course that means no money for me or the company; but, I’\l give you a ride if you don” try to convart me, ~ So hop up on the box with me and make yourself at home,” Nat, having convinced himself, that there was no one aboard, did ag he'was told, and Fred, having: made up his mind to take his pay out in ‘‘having some fun” with the ‘sky pilot,” was Startieat by heariag sud- trouble,” We'll do it,” said the boys, and the pris. “oner smothered an oath between his teeth, | “while eau saw that his face pajed ie si denly: - ** Bay, Fred Fox, you are a good. square fellow, true as steel, 1 have heard, and I pr es sret” some of us would go under, beyond a doubt, and I don’t want that. | | _ iL want you boy's to go back to New ’ tet, pie ae bon , - s | - < : e- a “f oe PLS Mow: ~~ choo Ks. com * spend hy’ ey mf ‘Sine