Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 906 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

could he have succeeded she might never have been heard of again. But, the Cycle Sport had thwarted that diabolical scheme, Knowing now the place of rendezvous, and being unable to aid further in the trail. ing of the other outlaws and their prisoners, General Fielding and Safety Sam agreed that the best thing to be done was to make their way to Devil's Basin as quickly as pos- ‘sible, there to await the turn of events, CHAPTER VIII. THE TROOPERS STRIKE. Deviu’s BASIN was a wild hole in the hills, about midway between Silver City and Gold Lode, but further to the east, It was off the main trail, and was only reached by a tortuous way which led up from the plains some miles to the northeast of Junction. The place was seldom visited, so the trail that led to it was not generally known, Even General Fielding himself was not cer tain of the way, but fortunately he had with him a man who kuewit well. That man was one of the troopers, while Safety Sam, who had once visited the spot, believed that he could find it again. The trooper was made guide for the oc- casion., ° They pressed forward at good speed, and Safety Sam found the running of his wheel but play, after the experience ‘he had had of carrying a double load. Silence prevailed, for the most part, and nothing was to be heard but the steady thud of thehoofs upon the soil. Miss Fielding’s mind was full of anxiety for the safety of her friends, and knowing what her own escape had been, her heart was heavy with fear for them, In about one hour they reached the hills. The trooper who was acting ag guide had made no mistake, and they came to the de- sired spot w ithout trouble, Here they drew rein. Just as they did so, and as the com- mander was about to speak, the thud of other hoofs was heard, and the commander hurriedly whispered: ‘*Some one is coming this way! Draw aside, quickly, on either “side, and we'll have them in a trap, if they area ‘part of the out- law band, ‘There are not more than three or four of them, I take it.” ‘They listened. _ The others agreed with the. general in his opinion. By the sound, it was, guessed that there were three of the party, and they were com- ing at an easy canter. * Yes, draw aside,” Safety Sam seconded. ‘Ti stand here and hold them up, and at the same time I[}] flash my bicycle lamp upon them and you can see just what you've ot.” ore A good plan,” agreed the general. “Not a sound, now, bunt every man ready for business when the time comes,” Silently yet quickly they took up their positions, and waited. ~ The Cycle Sport had laid his wheel away at one side, and he stood ready in the center of the pass. It was so dark, there Under the edge of the hills, that it was impossible to see any- thing more than a few yards away, which, in this case, made it good for the goldiers. On came the horsemen, and the Cycle Sport waited until they were actually upon him before he brought them to a stop, His object was to make the ie ey com- plete, and to have them well 1 ‘he trap so that they could nct possibly help themselves or get away, Suddenly the light of the bicycle lamp was’ fiashed full upon them, and the command _ rung out; | * Halt! _ Throw up your hands!” ae ee oe Wp BE Gb Ss ae zz eS ee . Saloty | Sam, the Cycle Sport. No mistake had been made, as the light instantly revealed. ‘The horses were brought to a stop with a suddenness that almost unseated one of the riders, The other two uttered oaths and impreca- vions under their breath, but they obeyed the second part of the command with as much haste as the first, One was an Api che, looking as nearly like a devil as one’s imagination can depict, the other was a villainous looking white, while the third was a prisoner, a man of limited Stature, They were, in fact, Alexander Longman and his captors. Before any move could be made, or they could have time to think what to do, Gen- eral Fielding and his men were upon them, ‘You dogs!” the general cried, in his anger. ‘‘It would serve you richt to drop you out of your saddles w ith bullets in your brains, here and now!” ‘‘General Fielding!” exclaimed the pris- oner, Whose face was the picture of fright and distress. “Thank God, you have come to my rescue! Save me, [ beg of you! Save me from these fiends!” ‘You are saved, Mr, Longman,” Fanny. “You, Miss Fielding! Thank Heaven you have been rescued!” ‘* Bind these fellows, hands and feet, and gag them well,” the general ordered at the same time, An order that the troopers proceeded to carry out straightway, And while they were doing that, the gen- eral and Safety Sam cut the thongs that con- fined Mr, Longman, and he was freed, ‘Thank God! thank God!” the poor fel- low fervently ejaculated. ‘‘I thought I was done for; that [ had come out here into this wild. land only to die miserably at the stake,” ‘*"Pwo rescued, anyhow, and a couple of prisoners,” 0! bserved the commander, Miss ‘ cath spoke up *-‘* And how did they rescue you, Fielding?” the short Longman in quired, feared that you had been killed,’ ‘‘T owe it all to this gentleman with the light, Mr. Hoffman. But, no time now for explanations, the others must be rescued, and I only hope they have fared no worse than we. ‘Yes, yes; that is true, that is true.” The man spoke as if he hardly knew what he was saying. ‘‘ We must save Miss Masters, at any rate, you know,” Fanny added. She could not resist the temptation to re- mind the lover of his lady fair. ‘True, true, true,” he chattered, ‘‘T am almost bewildered, and know not’ what to do.” «And you have such a golden oppor- tunity to prove yourself a bero in her eyes, too,” tLe young lady added. ‘I hope it will come around so that you can rescue her all by yourself.” ‘* Yes, yes; to be sure, to be § sure,” But, it Was not believed that the lover wag anxious to be placed in any such critical position, — ‘Are they bound?” asked the command- er. “ Yes, sir.’ fs pw then, for Devil’s Lead the way, Rogers.” « And here is the lamp, if you want to use it,” said Safety Sam, offering the article as he spoke. It was not safe for the Cycle Sport to ride his wheel here, so he fell in behind the others and walked, pushing the wheel by hand as bicyclists generally do under like conditions, In about an hour they rode into the pocket, or basin, of the name we have quoted They had previously examined the ground, by means of the light, and were assured that ey none of the outlaws had preceded them. Basin, Aas: ~ he >". LY AT eS RS EE OS TG Ne SN - The first arrivals had been captured, others would naturally think, provided they took tbe pains to examine the ground, that all the tracks had been made by their comrades, ‘’wo men were directed to make a fire on the side opposite to the entrance, and the commander, Safety Sam, and the . others, took up their positions near the entrance, to be ready to secure the others as they might come in, ‘The plan was carried out, and was success. ful to the full, The cut-throats came in by twos and threes, and they fell into the trap so easily that they were prisoners before they knew it. And then, after a time, the soldiers began to steal into the basin, findin g their way “by having followed the trails upon which they had star ted, and at last all were there. This, however, was not until far into the night, and it was decided to remain there and start for the fort by daylight. The prisoners-‘had all been rescued, and they were unharmed, further than being badly frightened and completely tired out, but by morning they were none the worse for that. They started’as soon as it was light enough to see their way, the troopers with the pris- oners under guard, and in due time reached their destination, Where startling news awaited the commander, It had been a night of tragedy, CHAPTDPR IX, STARTLING QUESTION, DurincG the night a murder had been com.- milted at the’ fort. The victim was Captain Deerforth, one of the best-liked men of the garrison, who had been sick for some weeks, He was a single man, a fine fellow, and his room was on the ground floor in one of the officers’ quarters, His nurse had stepped in about daylight, to see how he was,.and was horrified at what he beheld. The captain was cead, and a knife was buried in hig breast, A window on the opposite side of the room was open, showing plainly how the as. sassin could have, and undoubtedly had, en- tered to do his hellish deed. The body was nearly cold at that time, showing that a considerable while had elaps- ed ince the blow had been struck, On the shutter-pin on the window: sill was discover. ed a bit cf blue cloth.. This much was discovered by the nurse des fore the alarm was given, As soon as the disco overy was made known, the whole fort was in a state of excitement immediately. Taken together with the events of the evening, and the uncertainty that existed with regard to the missing young ladies, it was all that was needed to cap the climax. The fort was in an uproar, Hasty search was made, with the hope of getting a further clue, but none was to be had, There were tracks under the window, where » man had evidently leaped out, but that was the last that could be seen of them, for the ground was of such a nature that they could not be followed. he sentinels all averred that no one hace passed their lines during the night, and as it had been a night of danger, their word was taken for that, The last persons to come in had been Cap- tain Dettlinger and his men, They for Safety Sum on the previous afternoon, and had killed or captured the whole hea ber of them. ra a It was ten o'clock when these came m, and as 800n as the prisoners had been p had been successful in running” down the Indians who had made it so lively | - ’ —— * = — - ~ - ‘-, /. : - ~~ Sn , -. Po med ie 1 el =e ~ eo > - * = rr, “Ss ‘) Se oe = Dit - - a Fee i “eh es a in ” 2 aes ah at - —— a , ak itil = - ~~ - r 4 the guard-house the captain and his men re | a tired for the night, and nothing further anit. done around the fort ui OIE the ce