Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 939 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

pte ey 4! a 34 Js ; me » Prank Warfield laughed softly, saying: ** Ben, you must be getting nervous,” ‘But he had scarcely spoken when no less than & dozen of the nearest bushes between them and the moon were seen to topple to one side, and the next instant a dusky form leaped from the grouxd from behind each bush, and, with a horrible, fiendish yell, rushed upon the young men,’ several of them firing shots over the tourists’ heads, Ben and Frank started back, drawing their weapons, for they realized in an instant that they had been attacked by a band of Desert Pi- rates! ~ CHAPTER VI. IN THE “STOCKsS,’’ BEN MgrApD and Frank Warfield made a prompt attempt to defend themselves, but che cunning foe were so close upon them, and so quick in their movements, that before they could fire a shot they were seized from each side and behind and hurled violently to the earth. Then they were quickly disarmed and robbed of everything of value upon their persons, and, in the mean time, their horses and outfit were taken in charge by the robbers of the desert. Finally, the prisoners were permitted to rise to their feet, and then they saw that their cap- tors were about half white men and Mexicans, and half Mescalero Indians, all of them as fero- cious and murderous-looking a gang of cut- throats as were ever banded together. In the voice of one of the white outlaws, who ap ed to be the leader of the gang, was some- thing vaguely familiar to the prisoners. The fellow wore a broad, slouch-brimmed hat that concealed the upper portion of his face, but ‘they were not long in identifying him as the very man whom their friend, Captain Clarke, had left at the mining-camp to guide them across to the Rio Hondc—Jacarilla Jim, the ‘the scout! There was also another white man in the crowd, disguised as an Indian and wearing a superfluity of savage toggery, who appeared to a person of some authority among the pi- rates. He was a tall, angular fellow, with a villainous countenance, and whose venomous remarks evidenced a heart of savage cruelty. He was addressed as ‘‘ Jaguar Head” by his <companions. The pirates conversed with each other in a jargon of Spanish, Indian and English, little of which the captives understood, Jacarilla Jim was addressed as Captain San- gre—meaning Captain Blood, and there was nothing in his presence there at that time, and upon that occasion, to bid them hope, In fact, it ‘proved they were right in suspecting him, at rst sight, of being a villain, notwithstandin ‘the had n recommended to them by their ol friend, Rufus Clarke, whom they had expected ‘to join at Camp Benito. That their capture by _ ‘the Desert Pirates was premeditated there was no doubt, but the young men did not believe that the solecause of it was their rejection of Jim as guide, There was a mystery connected with their ‘capture, the sudden departure of Captain Clarke from the Sacramento camp, and the eagerness -of the man, who proved to be the leader of the Desert Pirates, to conduct them across to the Rio Hondo. How far, and in what way, Cap- ‘tain Clarke was connected with it they, of course, could not im @ The fate of Old Tom Rattler was another matter that concerned the captives, and grave ‘fears of his capture cr death filled their minds, Altogether the sit ation for the young men was critical, and they knew not what the out- come would be. The Apaches stood around them with tomahawks in hand, apparently waiting the word from Captain Sangre or Ja- guar Head to brain them, pally the outlaw chief approached Ben and asked: ‘* Whereis your de, young man?—the old hhunter?” a mid ‘I don’t know,” was the prompt answer of ‘young Mead, in a firm voice. ‘*He was with you at sunset; what became of him?” the outlaw demanded. These questions convinced the captives that nis gomignoke waereabouts were beat agen to ye outlaws, an ve them a slight degree o hope. To the villain’s queries Ben replied in an evasive manner, which caused the outlaw to be- come angered, and turning to a Mexican at his side, he said: “Jackal, take the tourists’ spade and dig a ‘pair of ‘‘ stocks” and we'll t them till morn- in’ and maybe they'll talk, then,” Among the captives’ camping outfit was a Kit Ban — dy’s “Star” Engageme nt. eer ee spade, an implement always carried by men | their spade and some other tools behind, so I'll crossing the deserts for use in cleaning sand- | sail in and grub you out.” drifted springs. This tool ‘‘ Jackal” procured and set to work digging a holein the sand and earth. He was relieved in his work at intervals by others, and in a short time two holes “ chin deep ” were ready for their victims, Then the feet of the captives were tied to- gether and their hands securedat their backs, This done, they were stood erect in the recently- dug holes and the sand filled in around them, and when the villains’ work was thus completed, Ben and Frank were buried alive to the neck, unable, of course, to move a muscle, ** In the mornin’,” said Captain Sangre, alias Jacarilla Jim, ‘‘ we will see you again if the coyotes don’t eat yer heads off.” And thus the outlaws left them “‘ stocked,” and wended their way back toward Spring Basin, fully satisfied their victims would never live to see the dawn of another day. The ‘‘stocks” was a favorite Apache mode of torture. The young tourists were within ten feet of each other, and could look into one another’s face, and as the Desert Pirates disappeared from sight Ben exclaimed, in despondency of irit: ‘*Frank, this is a hard old deal, and the game’s up with us unless Rattler gets around before the wolves do, and I don’t think we need expect him, I believe he isin the power of those devils or dead, else they would never have left us here alive in this plight, knowing he would return and release us,’ ‘* IT do not understand,” replied Frank, ‘' why the fiends leave usin this horrible piight—why they did not kil] us outright and so end our mis- ery, unless Old Tom is not in their power, and they hope to trap him when he comes to our re- lease.” Thus the two conversed over their situation fully believing the foe were lying in wait hard by. Less than half an hour had passed when the bark of a coyote was heard close by, and in Jess then five minutes it was answered from a dozen different directions, Presently a gaunt, shaggy form came shying up to within a few feet of the helpless men, sviffed the air, and, thrusting its nose upward, uttered a long-drawn and dismal cry that sent a shudder to the very hearts of the imprisoned men, From every quarter came an answering cry, and in a few minutes more a dozen coyotes were circling about the doomed men, growing bolder and bolder each moment, a:-proaching closer and closer, until the prisoners could al- most feel their hot breath upon their faces, The ey beens men shouted at the hun brutes, in hopes of frightening them pitay, bat in vain. That a horrible death awaited them they did not doubt. Tom Rattler came not, But hark! A pistol rings out! The wolves fall back with an angry snarl, and reluctantly retreat before an ar hong Me, figure, A gy joy rises to the lips of Ben Mead and Frank Warfield “Tom Rattler is coming!” is the thought that flashes through their brain, but the next in- stant hope fades from their breasts. They see the ene Sora outlined against the sky. Itis not Tom Rattler, but a stranger, who, hat- less and sly, comes creeping like an assassin to- ward them, a revolver in each hand glittering in the moonlight. Up to within twenty feet of them came the unknown; then he stopped, started back and turned as if to flee, Oy unknown was Desert Dan, the Boy Saddle ce, CHAPTER VII. DESERT DAN TO THE RESCUE, ‘* HELP, stranger, be you friend or foe!” was the earnest appeal of Ben Mead, as he. saw the unknown turn away, Again Desert Dan, for the batless stranger was the captor of the desert stallion, paused, and once more turned toward the ghastly ob- jects on the sand to assure himself from whence those appealing words had come, and it was at that instant that the truth of the situation flashed through his brain. _ Great, holy Jingrickeys!” burst from the lips of the Qouns horse-tamer ; ‘‘ what are you? and what for a fix are you in?” ‘We are two very unfortunate fellows,” re- plied Ben; ‘* and were planted here by a gang of red and white cut-throats. I beg you'll help ~ out of this predicament before the villains re- urn : “11 do the best I can for you, strangers,” re- sponded Desert Dan. ‘Your ‘ planters’ left True enough, the outlaws had left the tour- ists’ spade behind, and Dan proceeded to dig the two men out. The ground was soft and yield- ing, and in a few minutes Ben and Frank once more stood free, gazing into the strikingly handsome face of their young rescuer, and thanking the fate that had sent him adrift on the plain that night, It required but a few moments for the three to explain who they were, and the combination of circumstances that had brought them to- getber, when Desert Dan said: ‘Then I’m afraid your old friend Rattler’s in trouble, else he’d been ’round ’fore this, How- ever that may be, it won’t do for us to remain here. We'd better pitch our tents out where we can pull the most of the night over us.” Acting upon the boy’s advice, Ben and Frank decided to leave that memorable spot, and so accompanied the youth back to where he had left Black Robber tied. After receiving in fu!la history of the noted stallion, and the exciting manner in which he had come into Dan’s possession, Ben and Frank assisted the youth to place a noose over the horse’s nose and to lead him away—all of which was accomplished with little difficulty. Not one of the three had any definite idea of where they were really going. They wanted to keep out of the clutches of the outlaws, but they were not sure whether they were going away from danger or into it. Finally they came toadry sink in the plain where they thought it possible they might pass the night unobserved. The bottom of this sink was wholly devoid of vegetation, but around the edge above was a thick fringe of sage- brush. Into this depression they led and secured the black stallion; then they held a consultation. Desert Dan related the story of his meeting with the spirit of the night, the fair Zulita, and Ben and Frank could see that the young Desert Rider was deeply concerned about the girl, He could not think she belonged with the outlaw band in Spring Basin, and yet it was bard for him to be- lieve that she was at home in that great desert. In fact, ber BI ae ate en there was a mystery that he determined to solve as soon as possible, That which concerned the trio now, more than anything else, was their need of water. That particular plain was new to Dan and he did not know of the existence of water in ne hg, Bergen until informed of it by Ben and Frank. But, so long as the pirates o ‘cupied the basin, the water there was pot for them. Ben aud Frank could not give up the hope that Old Rattler would return all right, and rather than jeave without knowing his fate, they re- solved to remain in the vicinity until near morn- ing. at least, he little party was not in good condition for Frank had been robbed of even their jack-knives, and so far as means of escape were concerned, they had prac- tically none. defense, it is true, for Ben an After some moments consultation Desert Dan concluded to go hack toa point near where he had rescued Ben and Frank and watch for Old Tom. He left one of his revolvers with the boys, cautiously ascended to the top of the sink, and gazed arouna over the moonlit plain. While he stood thus, he saw a dark, round object disappear behind a sage-brush not over fifteen feet from him. He at once mistrusted that it was the head of a Mescalero scout lurk- ing upon their trail. Heat once drew his re- volver and was in the act of firing point-blank through the bush when the ee occurred to him thatit might be Tom Rattler, the hunter- de, to whom he—Dan—was unknown, hence his stealthy movements. Holding his tion, the watchful young horse-tamer scrutinized the sage-brush, and pre- sently saw at least six feet of fantastically- decorated M ero Apache rise up before him, his arms folded across his breast, his head ele- vated with gn air of great importance, while, in a tone of imperious dignity, he demanded: ‘* Surrender, you miserable sand-rat! [ am Jaguar Head, the Great! Waugh!” “Nary s’render, Jag,” was the prompt re- sponse of the Saddle Prince, ‘‘ Iam Desert Dan, the Little, and if you want any amusement, just climb this way !” And the young ranchero leveled his revolver upon the breast of Jaguar Head, the Great. CHAPTER VIII. JAGUAR HEAD SURRENDERS, ‘“‘HOLD on there, sand-rat!” cried Jaguar 5 Head, speaking English fluently; ‘‘ don’t be too 900 fm at * Cc » wae ee Oe ae A Le ~~