Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 961 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

“<& ‘give it to me! “That looks promisin’ now. Owns a silver mine, does he? I’m yours till death do-us part!” He thrust his head out of the chapparal and listened long and carefully. ‘You could walk, I s’pose, with a little help? I kin tell you that you're as heavy as lead. As for that bike—what are we goin’ to do with it?” Aztec Al drew it to him and carefully examined it. The sun and the sapless air had already removed every trace of water from it. “Better hide it here and leave it. too broken for use,” The tramp readily assented to this. He had been making his way toward Carretas, and a vision of the aid he might get from Al’s father made him willing now to assist the youth. Though, to do him justice, it is only fair to say that he would, in all probability, have assisted the lad if there had been no hope of reward, for. as Al was to learn, there was a great deal of the milk of human kindness in the heart covered by that shabby coat. Al was anxious to get away from the dangerous vicinity before the return of the horsemen, and when the bicycle had been carefully hidden, the tramp assisted him into another trail, which Al pointed out. Then, together, they continued on toward the town. They camped on the mountain side that night, but going on the next day. It was mid-afternoon before they drew near the mud walls of Carretas. Al had quite recovered from the immediate ef- fects of his fall against the rock, though, of course, the cut was far from being healed, A lively musketry fire was in progress, the soldiers outside of the walls shooting at those within, and being replied to in a spirited manner, “This kind of music never did sound quite as sweet as a pianner to me. It’s a sort of orchestra that I don’t hanker to git close to!” Nor could Al persuade the tramp to make any effort to get within the town’s walls, ‘T reckon I’m a deal safer out here than in there, sonny! I'll strike these here, sol- diers fer somethin’ in the way of chuck, d’reckly! Mebbe I kin manage to steal enough from ’em to live on, if they don’t But in the town—why, if it’s took, I calculate that every blamed rebel in it will be shot, without judge er jury. Thankee; I’m very well contented right where [ be!” But Al was resolved to penetrate the lines and get into Carretas, no matter what he risk, hoping to be able to save his ather. From their position, they could see the high, whitewashed tower of the prison where his father was certainly confined, and the sight of it inspired him to an endeavor. “ Good-by, then! I’m sorry to leave you, But I'll never forget how you've helped me.+ If the chance comes, you may be sure I'll be glad to pay it back.” *“T’m bettin’ that you'll git a bullet in you. But you’ve my gest wishes that you'll come out all right, and that I'll yit git a whack at that silver mine owned by your dad.” Al was pushing on, in a fever of impa- tience, and the juggler tramp waved a farewell, his right arm flapping up and down like that of a ragged scarecrow. The attention of the besiegers was di- rected wholly toward the town, and Al was in their very midst, slipping from rock to rock, before, they knew of his pres- ence, He was discovered, as he rose suddenly It’s at the side of the startled commander. © Al questioned, without the tremor of a muscle, as he looked into the muzzle of the pistol that the commander drew and pre- sented. “If you do, I am here to say I can help you. Try that opposite gate!’ The officer looked at him doubtingly; then he put down the pistol and showered him with questions, while several of the men crowded about. “T’'ve got a plan!” assured Al, with unblushing boldness. “I’m going into that town! You want to go in there, so we can help each other! My father is in there in that jail, and I'm going to get him out! “If you'll let me, I'll take a body of men and attack that opposite gate, while you keep up a lively firing on this side to draw their attention. I've been through that gate hundreds of times, and know that it can be battered down just like nothing, if you’ve got men with grit enough to walk up to it. I'll agree to put myself at their head!’ He said it with the coolness of a vet- eran, There was nothing of bravado in his air, and his words carried conviction. The commander requestioned him and elicited his whole story. * Pye heard of your father, and I judge you're speaking the truth. I guess I can afford to trust you!” He turned to his men, “T want twenty volunteers for this duty —twenty men who will follow chis young fellow and batter in the eastern gate of Carretas. I will have two score more ready to support you and follow you!” There was a minute’s hesitation; then a score stepped to the front, showing that there were brave men in this detachment of the Mexican army. The lay of the land was favorable for the maneuver, and Al conducted his vol- unteers by a circuitous route through the hills to approach the barred eastern gate. All around Carretas was a high-~ mud wall, easily breached by cannon, but proof against musketry. It had only two gates, the eastern and the western, and Al knew the eastern gate would be the easiest taken, Carefully handling his men; he kept them out of sight, and arranged them for the charge in a little hollow, not more than two hundred yards from the brown mud wall, Then he made them a speech, flourishing the revolver given him by the Mexican commander, as if it were a sword, Sight men, with revolvers, were to lead the charge. The others were to bear a heavy beam of wood, to be used as a bat- tering ram. Cheers were not allowable, nor would they have been given by these non-cheer- ing Mexicans; but the smiles on the yellow faces, and the glitter and snap of black eyes told their boy leader that he could rely on their fidelity. “Forward!” was his low command. “Every man must do his duty, and we must take that gate. Your comrades are just behind you.” They had seen the flitting forms of the approaehing support, and were thrilled with encouragement, The moment was auspicious, and Al, without an instant’s hesitation, led them out of the hollow, and, setting himself at their head, ran toward the gate. | CHAPTER IV. BEHIND PRISON WALLS. The patter of feet aroused the guard in the watch tower at the ‘side of the gate. He fired his musket to give the alarm, and then, to secure his own safety, leaped down inside the wall. His shot was without effect, and, before others could mount to the tower, and to oF t ° : , 7 “ -. pit . : P+? . & ip t » | A . t,* - : *; ee, =a nr @ | ea a le baa Oe OG i Pons 2 er = Pi f , ». »* “ie é 5 . \ wwe? & SE see EEE ———— the top of the wall, the storming party was at the gate, battering away with the beam of wood. The furious blows hurled the gate from its hinges, and over the broken timbers scrambled the boy, with his men. But they found resistance. Though the surprised defenders fell back before them, a musketry fire came from the streets and from the houses that cut down more than one of the assaulting party. “This way!’ cried Al. Follow me!” He gave a victorious American cheer, Swung his revolver and rushed in the di- rection of the prison. His men followed bravely enough. The bullets flew faster, and to their ears came the cries of the men without who were running toward the breached gate. ‘Ad thought enly of his father, in that big, white prison, and pushed on, firing his pistol, and cheering loudly. He saw some of his men fall about him, and found him- self opposed by a big Mexican, armed with a saber. He fired at the gaudy figure, then leaped forward. He saw his ball strike the Mexican in bar Shoulder, and expected to see him all, Instead, the Greaser shifted the saber to his left hand, and swinging it, with a fierce oath, struck fiercely at the daring youth, It was not a direct cut, or it would have killed the boy then and there. The broad side of the blade caught him on the crown of the head, and beat him senseless into the dust of the street, When he came to himself the fight was over, his men were dead or driven back, and he was lying in the big white prison he had tried to reach. feeling dreadfully used up, and more dead than alive. Then he heard his name ealled, and roused himself, to stare into the face of his father. Strangely enough, they were in the same cell, which was large enough for half a dozen ordjnary cells. ‘My boy! my boy! Why are you here?” These were the words Al heard, and he knew he had been dragged into the cell and pitched down on the floor only a mo- ment before. The wound received by contact with the rock was again bleeding, but, fortunately, the blow of the saber had produced only a bruise, His head was so sore, though, he could hardly bear the weight of a finger on it, and it ached as if it would split. He scrambled to his feet and rushed into his father’s arms. He was so glad to see his father alive and well that, for the moment, he forgot they were both palpi in danger of early and violent death, With the fewest possible words the boy explained how he came to be there, study- ing the while his father’s face. It was a weary, worn and bearded face, but a face that was energetic withal, and not unkindly. Israel Isett had witnessed the charge on the gate, though, in the confusion, he had not recognized his son as the leader of the charging party. “It was a foolish thing for you to do!” was his gentle reproof. ‘You can see yourself how foolish! It has done me no good, and has put you here in the power of these miscreants!” He looked pityingly and compassionately at his son, but he did not communicate the fact, that, on the morrow, he, Israel Isett, expected to be shot to death. “Eh, what is that?’ and Isett peered from the barred window. “Follow me! A portion of the country beyond and | near the walls was visible, and out from t . s’ é P wid et * *.%.” * ; 1,yes)) pa a a icbooks ' hs 7 vo nie ee ¥ i / - ~ eA (eae - a. rs te ay: asi te 4 a % a 7 a com