Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 959 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

cat oO the innkeeper feared his queer-looking customer who, however, paying no attention to the others in the room, threw a small leather case on the table and attacked the brandy, As the dwarf was pouring out the liquor, Harry, breathing hard, and looking a trifle ex- cited, entered and took a seat at the table, be- side Laurie. he rayne sitting on the other side of the table de Galileo, asked: ** What's wrong, Harry? You look as if you had beeh running. **Thave. I was afraid I would be too late to see the birds Sergeant Galileo had trapped. He promised I should see them when Captain Paulo arrived. He sent the carriage for him.” Paulo! The name seemed to have a magic effect on all in the room, The landlord came in from the kitchen; the sergeant changed color, and looked confused ; the dwarf raised his head from the case which he had opened and was examining, to look at Harry, while Spence started up with his hand on his sword, exclaiming: “What! Sent for Paulo the brigand?” Laurie, who had remained seated, with his eyes fixed on Galileo, while one hand rested on the butt of a pistol, noted the expression of the latter’s countenance, and Decatur’s words came back to him, ‘*Tg there not some mistake, friend Galileo?” he asked, in an easy, careless way, that gave no ie of the tumult raging within as the words: ‘*These people never forgive an injury,” kept flashing through his brain. Wf ie a jest,” said the sergeant, recovering loon gst The dwarf laughed hoarsely on hearing this, but before more could be said the door was opened and a fellow, evil-looking enough to be brother to the landlord in, “Ho, ho, ho! Merely another jest,” roared the dwarf, as the landlord joined the fellow at the door. In a minute or two, the fellow disappeared from the doorway, and in uavering tones the landlord asked the dwerf if he intended to re- main for the night. ‘*Tf I like,” was the uncompromising reply, adding: ee Perhaps I may make a sale—that will decide me. Then to Harry, who, yor he was friendly, had kept his eyes fixed inquiringly upon him, the ker continued in very English: **Come hither, younker, an’ thou mayst find something to interest thee.” Harry obeyed, and under pretense of showin sary egowgr of his case of nicknacks, the d ‘* You are in aden of thieves and murderers, but while | am here they will not, I believe, ou. ey There is not room enough for all, therefore when [insist upon re g, do you offer to share your room with me in exchange for one of ae trifles—which you have not money enough to buy. This was said rapidly in an undertone, the speaker moving from article to article, and hav- ing finished he held up a small vial, and loudly ed: ‘* What is the use of talking, younker? Hav- ing no money, how dost thou expect to possess thyself of this precious liquid? If by stealth or force—see! Ifearnoman! No—not Paulo and all his cut-throat crew!” Closing his case with an angry snap, the dwarf laid the vial referred to on the table, as if defy- ing any one to attempt to take it, and called loudly to the landlord that he intended to stay for the night, and would have some supper. ‘*The meal with pleasure, good sir,” said the landlord, ‘‘ but my room is taken already.” **T care not—here I stay—on the floor if need be,” growled the dwarf, his was Harry’s cue, and he made the offer as arranged, which was promptly accepted, and the precious vial handed over. The landlord looked dismayed, the sergeant y spt ania Laurie and George surprised, while arry looked so happy—over the acquisition of this powerful ally, and not, as the others sup- — over tho possession of the vial—that ere was no question of the genuineness of his Joy. This last was the cause of the sergeant’s per- sg f for it rendered him uncertain whether he dwarf had warned Harry; but supper was now ready, and being served, put an end to his conjectures, for it was necessary to keep up ap- pearances a little longer. Supper was about finished, the sergeant as talkative and entertaining as he had been all : : iy) . ‘ ‘a - yf ‘ Witter bin ULad mt ay ‘ A rly We, we are eee? Aa Yd, , = an 2 im Fa! LMA Pad r dees the rl RIS RE O etek Bea 91 YOO ah + < st oF ” ° "hy 4 ee - - P " Y.. _~ - " ot bd e e : “3 Ve ~y The Four Commanders. day, Laurie quiet and watchful, Spence uncon- sciously following his friend’s example, while Harry, more at ease than either, was paying strict attention to his plate, when suddenly angry voices were heard outside, the next in- stant the door was flung open, and in strode seven men, headed by a fellow nearly seven feet in height, with a long-handled, spike-headed ax thrown over his shoulder. It was Paulo, the brigand, a most ferocious- looking being, with six of his notorious band and as they entered, the tramp of a number of men en the kitchen from the rear came to the ears of the hemmed-in Americans. The birds were indeed in the trap, and Paulo had grown tired of waiting to dispatch them. CHAPTER VIII. AWAITING THE ATTACK, As Captain Paulo entered the inn, Laurie looked significantly at Spence, and opening the loose blouse he wore, rested his hands on the butts of a pair of pistols, saying: ‘* George, these are a ruffianly-looking set of fellows—iook to your pistols, and shoot at the first insult! a “Don’t stir, friend Galileo! Harry is an excellent shot, and will take care of you, if I cannot,” Was there a hidden menace in Laurie’s words, or was it imagination? The sergeant could not answer the question, nor did he dare disobey the injunction, for at the first word followed the example of his superior, and the guilty wretch wisely reasoned thatif they suspected him of treachery, the first move he made would send a ball crash- a er his skull. e therefore sat still while the giant brigand, taking this as a signal that the time was not go undered out an order for wine, he landlord, who was in league with the brigands, hastened to obey, but, before he could fill a flagon, the dwarf, in tones sounding more like rumbling thunder than human utterance, swore by the bones of St. Anthony of Padua that if be were not first served with his supper, he would crop the landlord’s ears. ‘‘Thou!” cried the giant coatemptuously, ‘I am minded to slit—” He paused abruptly on meeting the scornful aoae of the dwarf, and addressing the innkeeper, said: ? eave thine ears, and do it quickly, or J will em, All this was in Italian, which neither Laurie nor George understood, but the former, seeing that the brigands feared the dwarf and surmis- ing something of what had passed previous to the exchange of the bottle for the bed, told Harry to tell the dwarf to come up-ttairs as soon as his supper was finished, as they were w and wished to retire, “*T’7ll come when it pleases me,” growled the dwarf in Italian, but with a significant look at Harry, who without interpreting the reply arose from his chair. ; This was Laurie’s signal, and ordering the landlord to bring up a dozen of wine— they would make good weapons, he thought—he, , arose, saying: ** We had better retire, and leave this room to these ruffians, Come,are you not going, friend Galileo?” The thrse Americans were on their feet sur- rounding the sergeant, who arose, and with a wan smile replied, that he should like to wait and see if there would be any more trouble be- tween the giant and the dwarf. ** As you please,” returned Laurie, carelessly, **but I should think you would prefer our com- pany,” : The landlord now produced candles, and “ the birds” ascended to the inner trap. As soon as they were in theroom H told all he knew, and that the innkeeper had gone for belp, and after expressing bis regret at not having compelled Galileo to accompany them as a hostage for the dwarf, Laurie examined the room, which he quickly discovered had been de- signed for a trap; easy Of entrance, but impos- sible to get out of, et through the bar, The door was a frail structure, secured by a bolt which shot into a post, which moved on a pivot and could be turned from the outside, and was, therefore, of course, useless, while the two windows were secured by iron bars, ‘*The birds are indeed in the trap, but these birds are not doves,” said Laurie, smiling mily. ‘‘Hark! Here’ssome onecoming!” exclaimed Spence, half-drawing a pistol, but the footste came so boldly that he concluded it was the dwarf, and shoved the weapon back, i % siti it Sil FY 5 . ib. A moment after the door was kicked open, — and the dwarf entered bearing a basket of bot- tles and pewter flagons in one hand, and his case in the other, Setting down his burden the little giant pro- ceeded to knock the neck of a bottle—making considerable noise about it—and filling a flagon handed it to Laurie, saying loudly: OF cant Drink! A short life and a merry one This was accompanied by an expressive wink, and followed instantly by: ‘“‘lam here to get you drunk. Your friend was afraid to und e the task. Now,if you can, sing and make all the noise you like— gradually, ‘* They are cowardly cut-throats, and fearing oe suspect them, do not care to begin their loody work until you are drunk, so, if you sing and make plenty of noise, you are safe for at least an hour, and we may be able to keep them off until help comes,” “Sing a song, Harry,” said Laurie, following the dwarf’s example, and speaking loudly. With all the nerve of a veteran, the boy obey- ed, and his clear tenor voice rung through the crime-stained den, while the others concocted means of defense. The plan finally adopted was that the two beds should be got in readiness, one on top of the other, and placed near the door, Then, at the end of an hour, lights should be extinguished, and all noise cease, ‘* Then, in a little while, one of them will come up to see if you are asleep,” said the dwarf, and I will take care of him. That will be one ess. folie k- Do Figs poe © Page a us?” ce surprise, while shuddering at the cold-blooded way the dwarf spoke, on ? Certainly. They will think I have got drunk with you, and will be glad to have a chance of cutting my throat as well as yours, ‘“‘ But don’t stop the drinking!” With the last and only Joud-spoken words, the speaker picked up the alread empty bottle, and proceeded to knock off a little more of the neck, at the same time calling for another song. ~ This programme was followed for about an hour, three wor and one singing until every- th was in mess, and then all joined in. Sgn boisterous rm t the end of an hour, the brigands below could be heard how soon the mis- Tv son of the devil would have his work e. Then came the words of Paulo: ‘* Patience! He, too, is getting drunk, and alk will go together. He knows too much. we or you,” chuckled the dwarf. ‘‘Now put out the lights,” he continued, “ but a little longer and not so noisily." ortly after, ata signal from the dwarf, all noise ceased. All had previously removed their hoot and so oo noisily sp sr floor, and t now awa the coming 0 © spy—the three Americans with drawn swords, behind the barricade of beds, and the dwarf with a long knife, beside the false doo It was nerve-trying work, that waiting, Five, ten minutes passed, and the suspense was be- coming unendurable, when suddenly the rickety stairs were heard creaking—the scout was com- ing and all breathed a sigh of relief, CHAPTER IX. A BLOODY BATTLE, EVIDENTLY the spy feared he had made too much noise coming up, for he paused several minutes outside the door, and during that brief interval, the moon came shining like a beacon of bope through one of the narrow windows, its light falling on the false door-post. After what seemed an age to the anxious watchers, the doorpost began to revolve, then the door was slowly pushed inward, and then there was a nen ike flash in the moonlight, and without a sound the blood-stained brigand passed to his final account. He had come on his hands and knees, and as he passed the dwarf, one hand of the latter droye the long knife through his back, while the other silen any possible outcry. ‘‘Number One,” said the dwarf, as, picking up the body, he carried it around the barricade and placed it in a sitting position in a chair— ‘to keep it out of the way, for we'll be hand-to- hand before long ”—he explained, ** How many more are there?” asked Laurie. ‘Fifteen or twenty. Don’t stir anything— they may send another to see what detains this. ne, The dwarf stepped outside, and listened to the talk of the murderous crew below, but for a few