Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 961 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

A ‘ tee A fighting furiously, enemies who were likely to treat him with greater cruelty. - “Ho, ho!” eried Bunton. “If it hain’t the turtle dove, himself, a-settin’ there in the eagle’s nest. Well, that do beat my time.’’ * Good-morning, sonny!” cried the other, doffing his hat with a bow of mock re- spect. ‘The top of the morning to ye. The world don’t need any sunshine when you're around!” These men were not only cruel and vin- dictive, but were highwaymen of the worst stripe. Acknowledging Juan Romero as their leader, they herded with the lowest class of Mexican thieves and thugs, and counted nothing too villainous that would serve to put money into their pockets or gratify their revenge. Little wonder, then, that Al shivered with fear when he saw them, and found himself unable to reply to their noisy greetings “Tf we'd ’a’ hunted the world over, Gabey, we couldn’t have’ stumbled on any- thing that would have pleased us better, Eh?” Gabe Bunton made no planted himself before Al akimbo. The male eagle came screaming back, but contented itself with noisily eircling beyond the reach of harm, Gabe Bunton gave it no heed. “TI reckon you're not glad to see us any more than your dad was glad to see us on the trail a while ago.” “Then you know where he is?” “Oh, yes; we know where he is! Don't we, Gabey?’’ the other cried, coming for- ward and making the sticks crackle under his heavy tread. ‘ And we'll send the boy to meet his father, won’t we, Gabey?” The words were so ominous that Al started up, lifting the bowlder. Gabe Bunton, “however, was too quick, Stepping hastily forward, he thrust the cocked revolver into Aztec Al’s face and hissed: “Go slow, sonny, or I'll put a bullet into ye. We don’t intend fer to risk any mon- key business. You’re owr prisoner, and you'll do as we tell ye. See?” ; Resistance was utterly useless, but Aztec Al was so wrought up by fear and fury that he hurled the stone straight at Bun- ton’s head, regardless of the consequences. Bunton ducked and avoided the blow, and at the same instant ‘his revolver cracked. The ball plowed through Al's hat. Then Gabe was on him, and he was thile the other rascal Was rushing to Bunton’s assistance. Bunton struck him a heavy blow on the head, thus reducing him to subjection, and with the assistance of his comrade tied his hands behind his back. “You asked what we knowed about your dad, and [ eale’late you'll wish you hadn’t asked when I tell ye. We met him on that mountain trail over there, a while ago—him and that tramp that he’s pardin’ it with—and they was so skeered at the very looks of us, that they jist throwed up their hands and went tumblin’ into the river!” | Al paled in a way to bring a grin to the scoundrels’ faces. He saw there was some truth in the statement. “*Tt’s a lie,” he spluttered, nevertheless. Gabe jerked him angrily to his feet. “And you're a-goin’ the same road! You'll find it ain’t no lie, es fur es you're concerned. Your dad took a_ ride into Lost River hole, and you'll do the same.” He almost lifted Al to his feet, and pushed him on in front down the ledge, clutching him by the shoulder and holding the revolver in readiness, answer, but with arms ol esas S Trump-Trick, The roar of the river came up distinctly when they had proceeded halfway down the slope. They descended. to the stream, at its nearest point, which, as it chanced, Was about a fourth of a mile above the terri- ble vortex. Here was a pile of ‘drift, with some sawed logs that had evidently been cut for a cabin, and had floated down to that point. Bunton removed from about his waist a large riata, which his sash ‘had partially hidden. “Into that hole you go!” he cried, with a terrible oath. ‘‘ You thought we was foolin’, but we wasn’t. Your dad went down there, and you're to follow him! Td feel like euttin’ your throat before settin’ you adrift, on’y that would spile the pleas- ure of the thing.” “You and your dad didn’t calec’late that Gabe Bunton would ever have ye by the heels when you was lordin’ it over him up there at the mines. But every dog has his day, sonny. ‘That was your day, an’ this is our’n.” He had worked himself into a fit of vin- dictive fury. His eyes snapped and his teeth gleamed like the cruel fangs of an animal, Aztec Al saw there was no hope, and he struggled wildly to remove the cords from his wrists, but the only result was to add to the pleasure of the fiends, who looked on and laughed at his frantic efforts. Bunton pushed two of the logs into the water and lashed them together with the riata, in the shape of a V; and then he and the other villain seized Aztec Al, tore a piece from the lining of his jacket and bound it over his mouth; and then, by Inain strength pushed him into the water and tied him between the logs. “ Good-by,” shouted Gabe, as he thrust the noyel craft away from the shore and set it afloat. “The pit, down there, is a-roarin’ fer you to come on!’ CHAPTER LX, WITHIN THE JAWS OF DEATH. Aztee Al’s terror grew as he felt him- self adrift on the terrible Rio Perdidas. About him were the rushing waters, on each side rose the mountain walls, and below was the deadl¥ vortex, into which the stream poured with a sound like thun- der, A situation more terrible cannot be con- ceived, for there was absolutely no chance of escape. No human being was hear, ex- cept the two callous scoundrels, who roared with laughter as they saw him floating away, as if they thought the thing an exquisite joke. The odd craft moved out into the center of the stream, as if impelled by invisible hands, and there, catching the force of the current, it raced ahead with constantly increasing impetus. Once it swung near the opposite shore, struck and rebounded from a rocky pro- jection, and then began to whirl slowly round and round, A very frenzy seized him as he drew near the opening into which the stream rushed and disappeared. It seemed a black tun- nel, almost filled by the swirling current. He had no doubt he was going to his death. It was said the Rio Perdidas never reappeared after making that terrible plunge. The story that it was sucked into a big lake, far down in the bowels of the earth oppressed him awfully. Faster and faster he descended. Then he was in the midst of the spume, tossed like a cork. He tried to crv out‘in his anguish, but the bandage choked back the sound. It did another thing, too. It kept the “man beings. ~aree water out of his mouth, and was thus signal service. He was surprised to find that he was not > instantly drowned, and, as he swept on and on, this surprise grew. His craft rode more steadily. The current tossed less, and his face was freed from the flying spray. The darkness was intense. He had a feeling that there were walls on each side, and that he was floating on a stream that was becoming more placid each minute. However, his fears decreased very little. He felt that death must be just before him, and that this slowing of the current could avail nothing. Whoever went into the pit of the Rio Perdidas could not hope to re- turn! Nevertheless, he grew calmer as the mio- ments went by, bringing him no injury. Soon he could not doubt he had passed over at least a half-mile since entering the vortex. He began curiously to wonder how it would all end. Then, far down, he of a light. The thing was so strange he was at first not able to credit his senses. As he was whirled about, it disappeared, but when he again faced down the stream he was much nearer the star-like object, and could not doubt he saw aright. Then he made the happy discovery that the dashing waves Had partially washed the unpleasant bandage from his mouth. It had dropped down a little, with only its upper edge across his lips. He so exulted in the knowledge, which, with that other wonderful discovery, was of so hopeful a character, that he shouted and screamed in very delirium. The echoes told him there were rocky walls on each side, that did not crowd close up to the stream. The light grew brighter and brighter, and quickly he perceived it must emanate from a camp-fire. It was too large for a lantern or ordinary torch. Al called again and again as he swept toward it. At first he saw nothing but the fire, though it suggested the presence of hu- Then he beheldtrocky walls back of it, and, joy of joys! he saw something dart between himself and the light that bore a strong resemblance to a man, For a full instant a bend blotted all this from sight, to reveal it more clearly the next. The camp-fire glowed plainly, the rocks were clearly revealed, and two men, hear- ing hig outcries, came running toward him along the banks of the underground river. The two men were Israel Isett and Bazoc Smith; and Al, when he recognized them, though he was so bewildered he could not think clearly, yelled with insane delight. “This way!” he screeched. “This way! Oh joy! Oh joy! Here I am! It’s me —Al! Al Isett! Aztec Al! Hurry up! Hurry up!” | They came running along the rocky Shore, drawn by his words, and he, sweep+ ing toward them all this ‘time, it was not long till they were near together. The light of the fire illuminated the scene, ‘aught the gleam floated, waspin, one of the logs, he drew the rude raft to the shore, and there, aided by the tramp, Al was speedily released from his uneomfortable position. “What does this mean?” they demand- ed. ter-question. “How does it come that you’re alive?” The place they were in seemed a huge — cavern, As to its size, they could one ’ i : a cinta od ty ahs and Israel Isett leaped into the? — water and swam out to where his son “What does it all mean?’ was his coun- nd aN riep oe ACpGOKS. com” s 4, ~ can a, shes - . —-- Spee < = ~ nn, ie nes - i a ll a oe -- Le ~~ - - —,) - _ > ——— - = > } =e > Or - 4 i ide * sat me * :