Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 962 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

ceived harm, To Fred this was a satisfaction; and he seemed to think that Amariah would at once follow on the plainly marked trail. But Holdfast was in nohurry. Though the footprints of the two were soclearly to be seen he looked elsewhere also. He madea circuit of the spot, in so doing discovering the tracks made by the fellow as he approached the girl, He considered a little, carefully noting this track, as if to be sureof knowing it if he saw it again, and finally turned to Fred, ‘This air going tew be a longish job, an’ one we hed better ondertake on hossback. Ef yew don’t bo tew brash yew might foller on slow ontil yew come tew a puzzle, an’ I'll go back fur the ponies, When yew can’t find wich ways ther track goes, stand still. Ill be along short- ly an’ help yew out, Things seem ter be 4 workin’ ’bout right, but wecain’t tellyit. Along about sundown we'll know more, ef not sooner.” **But it ain’t no time sence they left here. They’re a-walkin’; what’s ther matter with our runnin’? Ef we don’t lose time we kin ketch ’em on foot,” argued Fred. ‘An’ it wan't no time afore they crawled inter saddles. It don’t pay nohow, ter senda boy ter mill, Run along, an’ ef yew ketch ’em give ’em thunder an’ lightnin’, but don’t try ter ool Amariah, He knows sign when he sees it ez well ez ther next,” Amariah had the best of the argument, such as it was, and went back for the horses, while Fred hurried along on the trail, which socn disap- from even his keen eyes, and he had quite a search before he founditagain. By that time Amariah was close behind him, Once in the saddle and Fred had hopes of go- ing on at a great rate. Instead of that their progress was more cautious, and more slow than ever. Amariah ap roached the little gulch with the caution of an Indian who feared an ambus- cade, Evidently he was not a reckless man, nor was he one who overlooked the fact that his life was sought as well as the li of Fanny. Once more the traces were distinct; and this time it was"evident that there was more than cne man engaged in the affair. Amariah went back where the horses had been hidden, and looked over the groun@,.. He took so much time to it that Fred an to be impatient, and ex- pressed his independent opinion after hia free and easy way,~ ‘‘ Don’t hurry me, Freddy... 1 want tew see ef I can find out who was onto. ther racket. Tl know better, then, how hard we will hey tew chase’em. Ther’s a beapin knowin’ aforehand what sorter work air cut out fur yew. It saves hoss-flesh, an’ ther wear an’ tear OV swearin’ when ther chaince air over, an’ ther fun lost.” Finally, however, be was satisfied that there was no more to be learned at that place, and the actual business of the chase began. More than once was time lost during the day in searching for the trail that dro out of sight with mysterious suddenness. before v long :‘red was compelled to admit that if he had been alone he would never have been able to follow it. SSometimes Amariah searched for the tracks until they were found; again he allowed his instincts to direct him, and after a careful iook around, to get the lay of the land, would strike off in a bee-line for some point abead, where he again struck the trail, this latter way he made up some of the lost time; but it was not hard to guess that they were not travel- ing as fast as the fugitives. Fred seemed al- most wild over the idea that they were losing ground, and more than once urged more haste, ““ Don’t be glim-flashy, youngster,” was Ama- riah’s sedate answer. “We air makin’ ontirely tew good time as it air; an’ I’m only afeard ther good luck will play out. We kin only dew our best, an’ that’s wot we air dewin’ now. Ef yew think diff’rent °° ahead, but I won’t agree ter hunt up yer "se fur tew Fe decently buried. When we | ..» ~ tellef Amariah war right.” \ ov eame to the spot where the lengthy de, the signs were so plain that Lim- he fugitives bad lost - ,* . is ive 4 : ‘6 eneouraged. 0050 tinethere that they could not be more TUAW is aT an hoot ergo ahead, and the boy expected That “0.989 would push on at once, “Oboe of the kind was done, On the con- —°). 20e ‘ah followed suit aad unsaddled bis iS ce «tid not take the time taat those in “S8°0 So-peeruit themselves, and when they eine yyy 4 On the chase the advantage was | AN _/° . © Mariah had not ridden for en hour wHean 726 Once more halted. Of course there were no evidences of a strug- | gle,nor any indications that the girl had re- | seethe mountain chain 7 Flip-Flap Fred at Hard Pan. They were at the edge of the plain, and could beyond, There was no question about the trail just then, and the road before them was almost as levelasa floor, Fred could not understand such caution. ‘“Tt’s this ways, bub. Yew know, an’so dew I, thet ther’s a gang tlet would like tew take me in—an’ ther’ couldn’t be a better place in all outen doors, They kin see us fur miles, an’ ef they expect us to-tew come boomin’ along on ther trail, 6g Ov course they dew, w’ot’s tew hin- der from droppin’a man er tew back tew lay low,an’ when we come in range tew shoot plumb center? Mebbe it would be best tew lay back tell dark afore we cross ther plain. We can’t miss ’em in ther dark; an’ ef we traveled a couple hours after sundown it would bring us nigh tew where they will make their camp tew- night. In the morning we would be right in town, an’ all dressed up.” ‘* But s’posin’ they don’t make no camp ter- night? har, oh, whar would we be in ther mornin’? An’ s’posin’ this ain’t that garg, at all, Yer sed thet ther Lambs were off ther track, an’ yer wa’n’t afeard ov them botherin’ yer neat Ss W’ot’s got inter you ter be so skeery, anyhow?’ ‘**T ain’t skeery; but I don’t want ter make no mistakes at this stage ov ther game, I ain’t afeard ov the’r campin’ somewhar’s in them hills, cause I know they got tew, onless the turns ’round an’ takes ther back track. Th air about ther only outlet, an’ on ther other side air ther sands ov ther desert. Onless they’sa heap better than ther averidge, they can’t travel furder than ther rest ov folks without grass an’ water; an’ they ain’t sich fools ez tew try tew *‘Ah!” answered Fred, ‘Have it ter suit yerself. You seems ter know ther lay-out better than ther man that made it. When we git back inebbee I'll hev su’- thin’ ter say ter you; but jest now you kin hev yer chance, and I'll do ther thinkin’ ez we go ng. It was a little strange how the two stuck to- ages when they were all the time differing so n regard to the course to be pursued, and the boy was 80 free to express his doubts and suspi- cions. Amariah was the very essence of g humor all the time, but that could hardly ac- count for the desire that he seemed to have for the boy’s pte nh ' Fred did not overlook this; but was inclined to think that any company on what might bea desperate undertaking would be r than none, and that Amariah had no particular ed- miration or love for him, and might quietly drop him out of sight when the opportunity came and he was needed no longer, What he had said appeared to gradually have more effect. Amariah was silent for a little, and nt his time looking out over the plain before m. When something like fifteen minutes had sed, be reorganized his plans. ‘* It's more reesky, Limberleg; but seein’ yew air bent on it, mebbee we kin make ther riffle. EfIcould git ’em tew b’leve thet we hed bin throwed off the. track, it would suit tew a charm; but ef they see us, like ez not it won't make much differens’in ther long run. We'll git on ahead, though I’m still a-thinkin’ thet ther time frum now tell night wouldn’t be lost ef we waited here. We've got ter stop when the dark comes down.” ‘* That’s dependin’,” said Fred, as he climbed once more into the saddle, ‘*Ef we kin find ther trail, we'll foller it, I reckon ;an’ it’s no use ter borry trouble "bout it till ther time comes, Here goes,” Again they were on the way, following the track of the fugitives at a rapid rate, ‘If Ama- riah had more for a guide than the hoof-marks that the boy could see for himself, he said noth- ing of it; and Fred had so far seen nothing of the little signs that Fanny had tried to leave behind her to aid in the pursuit, Of course the darkness came down before they had reached the pass in the mountains for which they were aiming, but now they made no halt, since it was almost certain that they could not miss the way. Even when they plunged in- to the gloomy defile, the pace was kept up until far into the night, When Amariah drew rein again the boy was glad enough to slide to the ground and takea little of the rest that he began to need 80 badly. Once stretched on the ground, Fred’s eyes closed withont his being aware of it. He slept soundly, and there was nothing to disturb his umbers, en he awoke again, with a yawn, the sun was shining and he was alone in the desert fastness. Amariah had vanished, and 80 had the horses, His saddle was, fortunately, 11I under his head, and the haversack that was: strapped to it contained a scant supply of food. He still bad his revolver; but, altogether, he was: a very lonely boy, who found himself ina bad predicament. He would not go back, and it: might be death to remain there or go ahead, CHAPTER XIL ‘‘ WHO HAS THE GIRL?’ THERE are mysteries enough in the world, as it is; but if the facts as they might seem were always known there would be more of them. There was a large-sized oneat Hard Pan, though few took note of it, and so far only saw one side of it. Just about the time that Fairy Fred and his elder companion were starting in to cross the lain that stretched between them and the moun- in defile beyond, the loungers at the Hivewere delighted at seeing a wagon, drawn by two horses and under the guidance of a man who looked very familiar, enter the town. The wagon was a covered one, somewhat resembling an ambu- lance, and on the front seat was Amariah Hold- fast himself—or his Double, There certainly could be no mistaking that peculiar countenance, those long, flaxen locks, or the mildly curious gaze with which he looked about him, Tomake assurance doubly sure, there was the bear. Dandy was stalking along at therear of the wagon, and languidly viewing the town, casting his glances from side to side, as though neither the place nor the people were strange to him, Straight to the Hive went the wagon, and Harry Harper, who stood in the doorway, greeted the arrival with his pieasantest smile, “‘Good for you,old man! Thought you would be coming our way again, if the racket last night hadn’t scared you out of the district, Drive in- to the yard, and lariat your team behind the shed. We will look out for you better since we begin to understand the game they tried to set up on you,” The invitation was accepted with a solemn nod, and the vehicle turned to take up the - tion indicated, Harry stepped out of the door- way, and followed around the building. When he saw that the wagon held no other occupant his oe lng and concern were plain enough, ** Helio! ae amr bik yah the rest of your party? No wrong i ho ** A heap wrong; an’ Amariah Holdtast be all broke up. While i were tew town this mornin’ them skipjacks got in the’r work, Ther gal’s one, ther boy’s gone; an’ ther’s nobody left ut Amariahk an’ ther bear. They stole ther gal, an’ little Limberleg hez gone in chase, war doin’ ther same te!l I see’d it war no use; an’I come tew Hard Pan tew look fur news.. Hey yew heared anything ov that gang, or pore, leetle Fanny?’ ‘* Nary thing, Mr, Holdfast. But we did hear that those fellows that were after you last night; were frauds of the first water, and that they skipped out ahead of half a dozen deputy sher- iffs, who got there just too late to make the haul. It seems they have been in the bushes, waiting for their chance at the Lambs; an missed it by less than no time. Perhaps they will get your girl for you. If they don’t, say the word, and every man that has the Hive for headquarters willturn outon thesearch, Come right in and brace vp.” **Thanks; but afore this thing gits donigie 3 known, jest a word with yew, Kin we tal whar all Hard Pan can’t hear us?” ‘‘ Certainly, certainly,” answered Harry as he led the way to his room, ‘There were two wit- nesses Go the conversation, so far as it had gone,, who were not visible. Ina shanty just opposite the Hive, Nestor Northrup, and Thompson, of the Lambs, were havirgaconference. A noise upon the street caused them to take a peep through the grimy little window at tbe front, and they had a view of the arrival, which was as much of a surprise to them at it had been to Harper, ‘* Heavens! There has been a hitch some- where!” was the exclamation of Northrup, as he recognized the face of Amariab, ‘* He would never come here without the girl —he would sooner die, on the trail, I'd give a. hundred to know what he is telling Harper.” ‘‘ Save that and it will be twice that earned, What’s the matter with going ove: to find outf No one else knows you; and he won’t squeal, He dares not.” ‘* Tf you please, I would rather not. The way things are Gay ttre am notso sure what he would dare to do. He may be tired of playin hide-and-seek, and ready have all the old accounts opened. We have got the hounds out. of the way, on the trail of the Simon-pure Lambs; there is no use in running any risks by showing what might seem a better and a fresher cComicboc cS com