Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee — —_— —_——<—— —- unless I am greatly mistaken. See! he’ lies there motionless with my bullet through his brain. The end has come at last. Who would have expected to find it here?’ He spoke weakly, and yet with a strange fever of exaltation, and holding with one hand to the rein of the horse that he had eaptured as his riders fell, with the other he pointed to the figure of the prostrate man. Kate started. ‘“What, dead?’ ‘Sol believe. It was his life or yours— and my own some time. hesitated? Yet, come. There is no time for delay. His tuols are on my track; it was by —— a _-- shot will bring them here. Come, let us mount and be off while there is the chance. Ah! what mean you?’ “What? and leave him here to die alone? For, see! He is not dead yet.” She was kneeling with a woman’s consist- ency by the side of the prostrate man—it .was the movement to his side that called forth the last question from Wilkins. She had the head of Captain Skull pillowed on her knee, and was holding the tips of her fingers to his heart. _ ** Dead? of course he is not dead. If he was it would be the worse for you both. It will be bad enough anyhow, for he has a long arm, a strong grasp and never forgives.” The two looked around with a startled glance, as the voice of a stranger fell upon their ears, Wilkins making a movement to- ward the pistol that he had returned to his bosom. “None of that!” added Catalina, sharply. “*T am inclined to be your friend, but I will run no risks of treachery. I am as good a shot, and I can pull the trigger before you draw.” ‘‘But—but who are you?” queried Wilkins, hesitating. Without reply the girl stepped forward and bent over Captain Skull, whose ‘head had again dropped to the ground. Then she felt the top can of his head, and though ber hand,’ when she drew it away, was stained with blood, she , manifested little trepidation or repignance.: ** Yes, “he lives; if you would live, too, come with me. There is but one route open.” ** And you! in heaven’s name, who are you?” “T know not; perhaps a friend. Come or stay as you choose, I hear the bloodhounds in the distance, and will not remain to see you pulled down. If you go not with me, fare- wel.” ba She glided away. Her mustang was back in’ the dingle, just where she had left him, and | she felt that she would be safer upon his back. | On the instant Wilkins decided. - Once more the horse of Captain Skull bore double, and | with a few bounds was by the sideof Catalina. | ‘‘You have come, bave you?’ she asked. ‘¢ Better had we started sooner.” | Like an echoto her words sounded ‘a cry from above: alee “ Halt!’ Half adozen of the road-agents were peer- | ing down from the bank with weapons at a ready. ; “On, now! we must run the risk. ‘If I fall and you live remember I did my best.” She gave hér mustang the rein and he shot away, while close in her wake came the two to whose aid she had so strangely devoted herself. Then there was a crash of fire-arms, as the outlaws saw their prey thus escaping; but the sudden increase of speed had disconcerted their aim, and on flew the fugitives unhurt, and heading straight down Red Cat gulch. ~ Past Irish Molly’s they went like a lightning express, hardly having time to notice that the house was all shut up, and nota sign of.a living creature about. ‘There was no time to halt now, for there was no telling how soon the horsemen, warned by the noise of the firing, would return fo seek Captain Skull, and strike upon their trail. ' For fully half a mile the mad run continued. Then aeross their path there brawled a stream, small ercugh’now not to check their advance, though at times it swelled into a torrent that swept down lik a flood through the gorge into which Red Cat gulch debouched. Into this stream Catalina led the way square- ly; and then, turning to the left made off up the gorge, though the path was too rugged for rapid or even for safety. Why should I have | | miracle alone that I escaped them, and tha | | | —~ ae tC OS ee _—-— — - -_-—— —.» — —- than flight; and I alone can place you where your presence will never be suspected.” “True. I doubt even if the road was open whether I could stand the journey to the min ing camp tbat it would have been better that Imever passed. I would drop by the wayside.” **Keep up your courage and your strength. I came hither this night tosave you, and I will; but no more talk. You are far from safety yet.” Wilkins accepted her advice without hesita- tion, since he not only saw the good sense ‘in it, but he was also in a fair way of soon being un- able to do otherwise. He was still buoyed up with hope, still nerved with the nearness of danger; and though he felt a pair of soft arms around him he vowed that they should not have the heavy task of holding him in the saddle. “The bed of the stream was followed for 17 his wounded ribs had brought him very near to it. He was better soon, and Catalina and Gomez stole softly away, leaving the two alore to- gether to talk for a time, and finally sink into the sleep of exhaustion. Morning dawned, and wore on. While they talked in low tones Catalina came in sud- denly. ‘“ Hush,” she said. ‘‘ Gather up those things of yours and take them up yonder ladder to the loft. Should any one come to the cabin remain there quietly until you are actually dis- covered?” “What? Is there danger?’ Wilkins moved to the window as he spoke and looked down into the valley. Two horse- men were in sigbt, riding rapidly toward the ranch, and at the sight he staggered back and stared at Catalina with wild eyes: ‘Heaven and earth! You have brought us some distance; then again Catalina turned to | into the lair of Captain Skull; and yonder he the left. She seemed to know all the wind- comes.”. ings of these mountain paths, following them without a moment's hesitation. After what seemed an age of wandering she cautioned the two, again, and leaving abruptly the mountain trail began a descent toward a valley that lay beneath. “Whither do you take us?’ whispered Kate, in some alarm. ‘‘If daylight finds us wander- ing here any eye can mark usdown. Would it not be better to remain bidden bere in the mountains until we are able to proceed on our journey ”’ ‘And starve? No, no! Your pursuers are birds of the night. When daylight comes you could even dare to ride straight into camp; though you would be no safer there than here. It is not as a robber chief that Captain Skull is bunting you down; but as your foe to the death. “Even in Tierra Roxo he can make his arm felt. A stray bullet, a thrust with a knife at your back, or a dozen other plans he might try, though his greatest hope I know is, te take you alive.” ~ “And why?” “That you must guess. I was unlucky enough to hear a conversation, surely never meant for my ears; I dare tell you no more. Now, hush; and whatever you may see or hear speak not again until I give you leave. If you do it may cost you your lives and mine.” Strange enough it seemed to the two, yet positively true, that they were approaching a dwelling house of some extent; but, as they hoped that it was their guide’s intention to lead them thither, she turned, and leaving it at oné side, made ber way cautiously to a cabin, scarcely more than a hut, built against the side of the mountain and at the distance of perhaps half a wile from’ tbe larger building. Halting them near this Catalina sprang from her saddie, and, on foot, advanced toward the cabin, in or about which no signs of lite could be noticed. Yet their movements had not been unseen. Just as she neared the shadows of the house a dark form stepped out and confronted her, and for a few moments there was a low-toned, earnest conversation. Evidently she was ask- ing some favor that the man, for man it was, was none too willing to grant. Yet the girl triumphed at lengtb, and coming back she whispered: 5) ** All is well if you be but ordinarily careful. Gomez has agreed to shelter you; as he can do without risk if you keep quiet and within doors. Remember, though, that you are risking two lives besides your own. Indeed, our lives might be in the greater danger. If sickness should come; if fever setsin from that old wound, and Gomez is not leech sufficient to cure you, you must die and give no sign. Remember that. At the first sign of treachery I will hunt you both out and slay you where I find you. Now that you are warned, come. it is not a palace I have led you to, but it isa place of safety which is a great deal better.” The girl spoke harshly, and at length. Evi- dently she had very little faith in any one, and intended them to understand it. It might have been just as well if sbe had waited to make her remarks until they got inside. Kate felt the frame around which her arms were clasped tremble, and was just in -time to save herself from the fall both would bave had had she been taken unawares. ‘Catalina sprung forward, however, and Gomez; and between “There is just one chance for you,” whis-| them they helped Harold Wilkins into the pered their strange guide. “If you follow me cabin, whither Kate followed. He had not you take it. You cannot go far, if I mistake | fainted, but a sudden twinge of pain~ about | | CHAPTER XXIII. ENTRAPPED. CAPTAIN SKULL, if be it was that Wilkins saw from the little opening that did service as a window, never once thought of the cabin of Gomez as a possible refuge for the two fugi- tives. When he had recovered from the lethargy produced by the bullet grazing his skull be found himself lying on the ground, his horse gone, and three or four of bis men stand- ing around him in amazed perplexity. They had heard the shot fired by Harold Wilkins; but waited in the distance. They believed it was from the revolver of Catalina, and had reason to thiok that it bad proved harmless. A few moments later and there was a rat- tling volley; and then they hesitated no longer, but dashed back, to find the captain still sense- less, and to hear the sounds of flight and pur- suit dying away down the gulch. ‘So the girl got away with you, captain? She’s little, tut she bites deep when she seis her teeth. If she had heldas lower down there’d have been a vacancy made to-night.” “Which, perhaps, you would not have been sorry to see,” said the captain, raising bimself to a sitting posture, and glaring around in no very friendly way. ‘*No woman’s hand fired the sbot, but the bungling work of Leon turned the man he should have taken or slain, loose, to come within an ace of doing for me. The girl was gone long enough before—though she may have come back again; who knows? But why do you-linger here’? Off in pursuit! Take them alive if you can, but if you cannot, let there be no more nonsense. Slay them all! If they get into Hangtown it must be known at once, and it will be worth five hundred to the man that slays him there.” Down the gulch went the Skulls, but before long they joined the party under Leon, and found them utterly at fault. It was certain that the fugitives had not stopped at Irish Molly’s, for that building bad been under sur- veillance. ever since they bad dashed by. There was a chance that they were somewhere near, concealed in Bry 22s ravine, but the theory most generally accepted was that, under Catalina’s guidance, they had beaded for Tierra Roxo by the circuitous and diffeult trail which led from the lower end of Red Cat Gulch. One man threw aside his ‘mask and rode rapidly away, if possible to head them off and make sure of their entrance into town, while the rest continued a fruitless search which lasted far into the morning. _ Then some doffed their and others crawled back to their dens, and though watch- ful eyes were abroad, for a time the hunt seemed to be stayed. At all events it was carried on a very cold scent, since several days passed and still the disappearance of the two was complete, though in that time various things of importance had happened, some of which have already been related, and the his- tory of the rest remains to be told. At the cry of ld Wilkins, Catalina looked coolly out of the window, and then turned to him with a smile. “So that is the redoubtable Captain Skull. Thank you for the information, though I bad suspected as much. And as for bis nearness—. what better could I have done than brought you where your presence would never be sus- pected! It he finds you I own it will be un- comfortable enough, but he must not. you. In a day or two I hope you will be (E cS 0 ONO) ecoim (Elo)