Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 137 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

de ‘Which has got vou into trouble.” “Why has it if you are Neutrals, and not outlaws?” ‘* We have a right to the benefit of our doubts, ond will be compelled to hold youin custody until we have some assurance of your purpose in coming here.” “Till you find out my home, inhuman wretch,” thought Long Beard, as a look of bit- ter anguish swept over his face. He made no reply to the man’s words, but became silent, The commandant turned and walked away to where a man was seated upon a couch of dry leaves, his head swathed in a bandage, his face bruised and swollen. “Tt is he, Bill, by heavens!” the command- ant said in an undertone. “T thought it war,” mumbled the man of the bandage and swollen face. Long Beard overheard the remark, and though he sickened with terror, the power of a lion gathered within him. His breast swelled and his eyes glowed. Evil designs were evident in in the very tones and movements of the man, Kirby Kale, as be was addressed by his companions, and the “omen felt. satisfied that he was recognized. owing the man of old, no wonder he feared Outwardly, however, Long Beard yielded submissively to his fate. He regarded Captain Kirby Kale with the greatest indifference, Few living persons had the least idea of the relationship, of the deadly hatred, of the dark secrets existing between these two men. Years of separation had failed to eradicate one tithe of this awful bitterness—so terrible that each one was afraid to declare his recognition of the other, although one was captor and the other captive. Bitter and strange indeed must have been the antagonism between these two men. In the course of an hour Captain Kirby Kale Came around, and in a tone of feigned indif- ference, said: “Gray Beard, I have talked with my men and all suggest that you be kept a captive unti we are of your real character and of your place of residence.” “What is that to you, if you are Neutrals, as you claim?” asked Long Beard. ‘* We are partial to our own safety.” ‘Then you fear a single man?” ‘ “Only his tongue.” ‘«-You have reason for fear, then. Your con science must be guilty.” ‘One word might bring a regiment of Americans down upon us.” “Then you favor the English?’ Captain Kale betrayed a slight emotion. He had incautiously said more than he had in- tended, . “‘T tell you, sir, I am neutral,” he affirmed, severely. ** And I, too,” replied Long Beard, indiffer- ently. * Well see,” and the captain turned and walked away. He was soon at the further ex- tremity of the cavern, in a whispered conversa- tion with a few of his men. Leaning his head against the wall behind him, the prisoner gave himself ie to reflection. A deep silence now fell upon the place. Most of the men had sought their couches, The lanterns burned steadily and brightly, but their light failed to reach the extremities of the cavern. Where the light ended and darkness began was a wall of purple gloom: The cavern was a natural one, hollowed out by the hand of the Creator. Stalactites, tipped with the silver light of the lanterns, studded the black dome overhead like stars, and huge stalag- mites rose up here and there, grim and ghostly. prisoner noted everything closely, for had resolved to make an attempt at escape when the proper time came, and he wanted to familiarize himself with the place and get the right course leading out. e night stole on. The captain had retired, and one by one the others dropped off, leaving the prisoner and his guards alone. The lights began to burn dimly. Only the heavy respira- tions of the sleepers, or an Occasional question drawled out by one of the guards, broke the silence of the piace, when, sudden , & deep, oes dong sound came crashing through the cavern from the main entrance. It d the guards and aroused the sleepers! It was the deep bay of a dog, and the old borderman’s mind at once reverted to Happy ety, and his faithful companion, Belshazzar. A feeling of hope took possession of bis breast, but as he saw the men hurrying from their couches all vanished again. hat meant the noise? Was Happy Harry coming to his as- sistance? Had the youth seen him drawn into the trap of the enemy? The bay of the animal again echoed through the hollow chambers of the great vault. “This way, this way,some of you!” called out theman who stood guard near the entrance of the —s. Three or four men, one of them carrying a lantern, hastened down to the water’s edge. ** What is it, Hoover?’ ; ‘ ** Look and tell me yourself, if you can,” an- swered the guard, The man held his lantern high above his head. The light streamed out upon the water. He saw that the water was agitated—little waves were chafing the walls of the cavern. Something dark was in the water—something possessed of life—struggling slowly and labori- wa. toward them. ‘* Well, what is it, anyhow?” All stood speechless with wonderment. No one could answer, for noone knew. All saw a black mass strug ling in the channel, but the faint gleam of the antern’s light was not strong enough to reveal its outlines. **Tt’s a bear!” one of the men finally ventured to assert, The whole party recoiled with an involun- tary start. he object came nearer and assumed a more tangible form. ‘“ By heavens, it’s a big dog!” exclaimed the man with the lantern. “Tt is, for a fact,” affirmed the others. ** But what’s he got in his mouth? What's that he’s draggin’ this way through the water?” “Merciful Moses! it’s a person!—a human— dead!—drowned!” The man saw aright. The black object was a dog—it was Belshazzar. And he was drag- ging a human body through the shallow water toward them! It was the body of his young master, Happy Harry! With bated breath, and wonder written upon every feature, the Neutrals watched the animal. He dragged the body along, making desperate efforts to keep it out of the water. He soon came within reach of where the men stood, then one of them stooped down and pulled the body ashore. ** Hold the lantern here, Victor.” Victor held the lantern close to the face of the dead, ‘*T declare, it’s a boy, and he’s dead as a door-nail.” Harry’s eyes were closed, his teeth set, his hair wet and draggled. A death-like pallor was upon his young, boyish face, In one hand was Clasped, ina vise-like grip, a broken bough. One of the men attempted to remove it, but failed. ‘‘Tt’s fast,” he said, ‘‘in the icy grip of death. And that’s what’s killed the little feller. He’s been climbing along the rocks, and that bough has broke and let him fall,” Belshazzar came out of the water, shook the wet from his shaggy form, then advanced to the side of his young master and gazed down into his face with an almost human intelli- ence. Then he seated himself upon his aunches, and looking back into the black, dismal cavern, howled at the black, sullen waves. CHAPTER VIII. HARRY ON HIS WITS. ‘‘He must have been a friend of that big White Beard,” said one of the men, as they stood mutely around the motionless form of the boy. Kna this was the conclusion that they all came to. ' : “Is he dead?” asked Captain Kale, coming up at this juncture. ‘** Deader’n the Prophets.” Kale stooped and felt his pulse. ‘*He is not dead,” he exclaimed; ‘‘ he has a strong pulse, Carry him up to the room and we'll pump the water out of him and give him a strong stimulant.” ' Two men stooped to lift the youth in their arms, when the dog disputed their right to the body; but, after some coaxing, they succeeded in convincing the animal of their friendly in- tentions, and were permitted to move the body though the faithful mastiff followed close behin the two men. They placed the youth on a couch, not far from where Long Beard sat in bonds, *Do you know him?’ Captain Kale asked, pointing to the youth. ; Long Beard shook his head involuntarily. His peees heart grew sick when he recognized the face of the motionless form, The broken branch still clutched in his hand told him that the boy had doubtless met his fate in trying to assist him. Belshazzar crept up and crouched down by his master’s side, and watched the administra- tions of the men with an eager, anxious look. The captain ordered some brandy, which being furnished was poured quite freely down the youth. Then three or four men set to work chafing his limbs to assist in starting the cir- culation. Thus for some minutes they worked faithfully to bring back the failing spark, but with no apparent success. ‘I’m afraid he’s too far gone to be saved,” said the captain, hopelessly. Long Beard heard the words. They fell like a death-knell upon his ears. | Tiring of their efforts, the men finally wrap- ped the body in a blanket and left it. They manifested little anxiety about his recovery. The man with the bandage on his head final- ly came yawning from his couch and looked at the dead boy. He spurned the body with EEE ee i Long Beard, the Giant Spy. his foot and moved on, muttering profanely to himself, Long Beard kept his eyes upon the boy’s face. Some invisible power bade him watch; and, to his joyful delight, as well as surprise, he saw | Happy Harry open bis eyes and flash a wry face at the retreating form of the man of the bandage. Then he glanced toward him, winked significantly, closed his eyes, and to all ap- pearances was dead again, In an instant all flashed through the mind of the captive—Happy Harry was feigning uncon- sciousness! By the help of his trained and powerful dog, the daring boy had deceived the enemy and gained admittance to their strong- hold. He played his part well. He was a skillful actor, with courage and recklessness enough to carry out any cunning design. For some time our hero lay pertectly motion- less upon the ground. His dog crouched by his side. Now and then a man walked past him, regarding him only with a passing glance. Again the men sought their couches, and si- lence once more pervaded the cavern. Some of the lights burned out, leaving a dusky twilight. Suddenly the figure of Happy Harry stirred. lt rolled over—rolled toward Long Beard. It rolled over once, then stopped. After a few minutes’ pause it rolled over again. This was repeated until the prisoner was reached, unob- served. In a moment it rolled back to its former position. Then a groan escaped the boy’s lips. The guards'started up and glanced toward him. Long Beard apparently was sound asleep. ** By St. Peter! that boy must be comin’ to,” said one of the men. ‘* The little sprig was about played out,” re- sponded the other. / **Such a tender infant shouldn’t be turned loose so early, in this unhealthy latitude.” “He must be that Big Beard’s boy.” A cry of surprise and an oath was the reply. The man had looked up from his cards just in time to see Long Beard rise from his seat and dash away toward the entrance of the cavern. No bonds bampered bis movements. They lay upon the cavern floor, where he had sa , The whole band was aroused, and in a mo- ment all were hurrying through the cavern. Captain Kirby Kale brought up the rear. ean fell from his lips and rage kened his row. “Take it easy, gov’nir; it’s the best way; it is, by a sacred fact,” said a pleasant voice near him. Kale turned, and to his surprise saw Happy Harry reclining on his elbow on the ground. A mischievous, comic smile—the natural ex- Breecp of the boy’s countenance—was upon is face. He manifested no alarm nor curiosity concerning his whereabouts, but seemed per- fectly indifferent to his situation. d so skillfully, boldly and shrewdly had he played his in jiberating Long Beard, that the captain mistrusted nothing of the truth. He turned short upon the boy, and ina tone expressing his surprise, exclaimed: ‘Why, lad, I thought you were dead!” “Dead?” reiterate arry; ‘‘ well, s’pose I had been; a dead nigger couldn’t rest in this lace for the confounded noise. What ails them tterdemallions rushin’ down there like mad? Where am I, gov’nir?’ **Do you remember where you were last?’ ed e. “ve a faint a elegy of an idea,” replied the youth, seratchi his head reflectively. ““T think I was scramblin’ long a ledge over- lookin’ a bay of Lake St. Clair, tryin’ to git to a hawk’s nest, when my foot ‘and I careened handsomely over into the water. And about this time—while I war fallin’ and while mussin’ around in the water—l tried to think of so many things at once that my brain couldn’t hold ’em, and so I didn’t think of any- i As to where I am, I can’t say whether I’m on earth, or in the regions of darkness pre sided over by Satan. Strikes me them fellers rushin’ down thar are a legion of imps the way they beller. And—” he sniffed the air like a hound—“‘ strikes me I smell brimstone.” Pheu Kale indulged in an outburst of laugh- r. ** Who are you, boy?” he asked. **T used to be called Happy Harry, the Wild Boy, when I lived on earth, and made a b’is- ness of huntin’ squirrels and robbin’ birds’ nests. I Md a this is the hunter’s corner of perdition, & At this juncture a man came up with the information that Long Beard had escaped. Kale swore with potent rage, and even threatened the guards with violence. Happy Harry suddenly cane a ae of the man with the bandage on his heat. t was the traitor, Bill Mucklewee—he who had be- trayed Captain Rankin into the hands of the savages. ut the villain kept alcof from him as if to keep bis identity concealed. Daylight finally came outside, but darkness remained in the cavern. The lanterns had to be kept burning both night and day. Food already prepared was served out to the band. Harry partook heartily and made himself at