Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 961 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

’ ae : PEP maT wy “on™, x . K a tad oy SY Babak \' ——_ — —— He was a fugitive, with a price on his head. His attempt te subvert the lawful gov- eimment of the province had ended in dis- mal failure. The government had tri- umphed. His friends were, many of them, dead, and others were prisoners, with their lives hanging by the merest threads. He fancied it might have been otherwise but for the earthquake. That had terri- fied his people, and had shattered the walls on which they so much relied for defense. “They have not got me yet!” he gasped, looking back toward the town. “Ay, and they will never get me! I will kill my- self first!’ In his sash were a knife and pistol, and over his shoulders was slung a heavy can- vas bag filled with gold. This gold he had snatched in his haste as he fled. He had eluded his foes by reason of the darkness. Now the day had dawned, and he knew that pursuit would not long be delayed. Turning about, he strode on toward the mountains, muttering as he walked, and cursing the fate that made him a fugitive where he had so long ruled. At times he ran, for he realized the value of every moment. These men, who would so soon be on his trail, were keen-eyed, long-winded and merciless! Yes, the moments were more precious than the gold on his shoulders! “Reaching the Rio Perdidas, he drank of the water and laved his heated face. Then he continued on down its bank to the foot of the ledged trail that led above it up the side of the mountain. He had ascended less than halfway up this trail, when he started, gzuiltily. Glancing around, with hammering heart, he was hailed in a familiar voice, and saw coming toward him the two villains who have already been described—Gabe Bunton and his conscenceless pard. Since they’ had sent Ai into the pit of the Perdidas, they had remained in that vicinity, itching for an opportunity to rob some wealthy traveler or fugitive. They felt that the opportunity had come, and they were not disposed to hesitate be- cause the intended victim had, in better days, been their leader. **VYou'’ve heard of the fall of Carretas?” he asked. “If you are wise you will go with me, so that we may all be far from here before another way. The blood- hounds of the government will go every- where, and none who were friendly to Juan Romero can hope to escape!” They beheld the bag on his shoulders, and their villainous imstincts informed them as to the character of its contents. They knew Romero would not leave Car- retas without treasure. *“ Ay, we will go with you!’ Bunton de- cjared, advancing with a smile and a pre- tense of friendly interest. The other, who was known as Thistle Jim, came close behind him, striving to yail his murderous inclinations by averting his gaze. Romero doubted them, but did not deem it wise to voice the doubt, and continued to talk of what had occurred in Carretas, “What have you there?’ Bunton asked. “ Something to eat on the way. I would not start without food.” “We'll have a bit of it!’ cried Bunton, hurling himself on Romero with sudden fury. Romero dropped a hand to his knife, which he tried to draw. He might have succeeded had not Bun- ton’'s comrade dashed in and knocked the knife from his hand. But Romero was strong and agile, and, though there were two against one, it was a question for a few minutes which would gain the victory. . rua, ~ PR ES Fe eo oo ext 2a><"; ° : , : The narrowness of the ledge made the fighting particularly dangerous. Only des- perate and reckless men would have risked an attack there. Bunton tried to pull the bag off Romero’s shoulders. He knew it contained gold, and for its possession he was making the strug- gle. He tore the strap loose, but the bag slipped through his tingers, and, falling to the rocks, split open and rained out on the trail a great quantity of shining coin. The sight of it seemed to transform the men into furies. They fought with newer and fiercer vin- dictiveness. Round and round they trod, swaying to and fro, bending perilously over the brink, into which, at times, they seemed fairly tumbling. Bunton, who was strong as an ox, fin- ally got Romero about the waist and lifted him from his feet. For only an instant, however, did he thus hold him. Again Romero’s feet touched the rock, but he so far lost his balance in trying to release himself from the grasp of his foes that he felt himself falling. Instead of releasing all hold and erying out, as many another would have done, he clutched Bunton the tighter, and, at the last moment, succeeded in tripping his other assailant. Then all three fell from the ledge. The bag of gold coin was almost dragged off with them and, though it did not act- ually take the plunge, it opened its mouth and poured into the abyss a shower of shining coin, which rained mockingly after them as they fell. Romero and Bunton struck the water, still locked together in a firm embrace, and were, with Thistle Jim, swept quickly away. Within the cave, some distance below, Romeroand Bunton came, struggling, to the surface, and realized that they had passed through the dreaded “pit.” All thought of fighting had vanished. They were delighted to find that they still lived. Both were good swimmers, and they made it the first business of the moment to swim ashore and crawl up on the rocks, They came out not six paces apart, on the side that had witnessed the landing of our friends some days before, and there they sat, striving to see each other in the gloom, and panting loud enough to be heard above the roar of the stream. At last Bunton spoke, and, sure the man near him was Romero,thus addressed h'm, in Mexican: “We are still alive, but we are not safe. The gold is gone, and our enmity must go with it. I am your friend, if you will let me be, and together we will try to get out of this place. As for Thistle Jim, I reckon he is gone, for he was no swim- mer.” “This all came about through you,” af- firmed Romero. “ But we cannot afford to quarrel. Where we are I do not know. We will make it our business to find out.’ There was such agreement on this point that they drew together and began to talk of what they ought to do. When they had rested, they went on down the stream, feeling their way foot by foot, and taking a passage, after a while, that led them from the stream. As it proved, however, it was a more di- rect passage to the outer world than that taken by the Americans, and in much less than a half hour they came out into the sunlight and looked down the valley to the adobe village. It was a strange revelation to these men, who had lived in that province all their lives, and they were at first almost un- willing to credit their eyes. -_— +. e * .’ The Tramp’s Trum p-Trick. Indeed, their adventures had bee... such a character teat they would readily — have believed the whole but parts of a ~ B fantastic dream. As they stared, a form arose up bes ile a rock, in the very shadow of the mout. of the cave. It was the form of Thistle Jim. | He had come through the ordeal un- harmed. CHAPTER XVI. THE FATE OF THE BANDITS. Gabe Bunton gave a low whistle and Thistle Jim stared his amazement. For an instant he hesitated as if he in- tended to beat a retreat. He did not know how bitter an enemy Juan Romero might prove—Romero whom he had sought to kill. That Romero and Bunton were ap- parently on friendly terms was a puzzler. lor an instant Romero’s face clouded, then cleared. ‘It must be the work of God that we are all alive,” he said, advancing. “ Let us be friends.”’ Thistle Jim was glad to be so readily for- given, and he stepped forward with out- stretched hand. “What do you make of that town down there?’ Romero asked; when they had ex- changed experiences. “An Indian pueblo, It is not the town that bothers me; so much as this queer river.” They were not able to solve the mys- teries that seemed to surround them, and, seeing a large number of Indians, as the morning advanced, they kept in conceal- ment throughout the day. They had plenty to drink, but nothing to eat, and on the arrival of night were in a famishing condition. Made bold by hunger they advanced up the valley toward the town, and were able to satisfy themselves in part by devouring raw some potatoes they found in a field, They were on the point of creeping into the town to inspect it, when they were startled and driven back by the clamor oe- casioned by the escape of the prisoners. They were so startled by this that they , returned to the potato field, and, after dig- ging up a number of the tubers, crept back to the point they had occupied at the valley’s upper end. The sounds of pursuit rose and fell in a bewildering way and lights flashed in the streets, but finally all grew still and so remained for a long time. But just as they were thinking of again descending toward the town they heard the footsteps of runners. These footsteps came near, then ceased on the margin of the stream. “It’s the queerest business I ever saw,” Romero whispered, seratching his head. “ Had we better stay here longer or leaye at once ?’’ It was voted to remain in concealment until daylight. The hours that wore away seemed weeks in length, but the day came at last and they were able to look into the spot where they had heard the runners. Gasps and exclamations of surprise fol- lowed. No wonder they were astonished, Stretched at full length in a hollow were three well-remembered forms—those of Israel and Al Isett, and Bazoo Smith. And they had never doubted that these men were dead. | Worn out by the excitement of the night the trio slept, unmindful of peril. | About the neck of Al were the two heavy strings of pearls, and the eyes of the bandits glittered as they saw them. Such pearls they had never beheld. The two strings, worn so carelessly by the youth, were worth an immense sum. te * -. . : A« ov. + 4) wis y - , A Ther whe rary = 5 Pte Pay Zz . 5 | ey | ’ wr. Y * . -\* i as ¢ ¥ wh i . * .% Tac ' iw ; ae A ah { ; ; = whi? 22 Re).