Beadle's Dime Library, Vol. XII, No. 145 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

Pistol Frards. hands that belonged to it, that suddenly | ‘his wrists and gave bima pull that there was no resisting. From the inside to the outside he. was transferred, almost before he knew it. Then up sprung the man. “Shot or blow aimed at me must first go through your leader, over his shoulder.” The footsteps had halted before this, but Soft Hand knew that men were lurking in the | passage, and as he had found his progress blocked by a huge stone that he was unable to move, he had just. decided that he must go back and trust his chances at the point of en- trance when he heard the explorers coming to- ward him. His movements resulted in their being dis- concerted, and as there was nothing to be lost, they obeyed his order. As they receded he advanced, and close at their heels burst. out of the rift, But as he came, with a revolver in one hand and Leon in the other, some one played upon him the same trick that he had played upon Cerrado, dropping right in his pathway. Down he went, firing one fruitless shot, and then upon his back there sprung three or four men. At once he was helpless, bound, prisoner, while Colonel Dashwood stcod over him, with a mocking sneer. Fall back or I open fire CHAPTER XXXIIL A LIFE-STRUGGLE ON THE LEDGE, Tue gentleman from Cinnabar, as the reader very well knows, was not much given to talk- ing, and however bravely he might strike out in a bopeless conflict, so long as his blows went home he was not much given to exertion that could not possibly bear fruit of any kind, In this crisis, he made just one tremendous effort, and seeing that he might as well try to lift the mountain, he then remained without speech or motion. ‘ A couple of rough hands jerked him up from his position, face downward upon the ground, and propped him up against the wall of rock.. As the, bright moonbeams slanted down on his face, they showed no trace of anxiety or fear; only a cold, scornful smile. Yet he wus thinking of the scene.in .the vaults of the ruined mission, just before be had been entombed alive. Could he expeet any more mercy now? Spi very much, for Colonel Dashwood was his mortal enemy, and when he glanced away ot Veron Page Set upon the.cold, dark face too was here; in at the of. her he could +a py A her presence 3 been a _he not Nee) tole that wk nang, the two together? He .Jleoked from the one to the. other, end. wondered, perhaps, how far explanations had gone between. -the two, or whetber there had wenaneantionstion explanations at all. arna.Jooked down at him with a } gleam, in her Pek as, aivensint she ‘hand upon his shoul ‘Man, man,” she whisper for mercy answer in. truth.” “‘ Hold .on, miss or madam, I’m not hoping for mercy. I’ve been there, and I’ve got more hope in an honest pard and my good hand and eye than in all the mercy ever invented. Don’t waste words over a man like me, but let things slide along in the groove that Nature makes for them. The sooner it’s over, the better fur One of us,” ‘‘The sooner what is over?” ** Life; death; whatever is to happen, You'll own I’ve no good cause to love you after the lit- tle game you p!ayed on me not solong ago,and if I haven’t a notion for revenge, it’s because I wouldn’t like. to strike a woman. Now, that brother of yours I'd take out of.the damp iu a minute, if he gave me a chance todo it honest- ly; but you’re different material. Only, half- way forgiving as I may be, you can stake your life Pll do you no favor, so don’t make your- self small asking it. You and Allan, yonder, should understand each otber by this time.” ‘‘ Allan? my brother? It is false. Your igs you hope lie moved us somewhat, and we went to seek him witha shade of hope and a cloud of fear. One glance was enough. He may be a vile man; but he was our friend in that he swore to while he follows his own.” ‘* It’s a pity such a handsome woman should be so big a fool. Tell them.to drive on with | the hearse. I'll say nothing more to you,” He could not have chosen words that would have angered her more. “So be it, Pierre Redette. I might perhaps even yet have saved you, false father, per- jured husband, treacherovs friend that you have been. Now I leave my revenge in the 25 — I ride you down. He helps me to my vengeance Hand’s arm unclasped from the tree and he | dropped from sight. CHAPTER XXXIV. IRISH MOLLY HOLDS THE DROP. Sort Hanp dropped; but not, indeed, to in- stant death. He had no well defined idea of why he acted, but act be did, and when his arm unclasped from the tree it was of bis own volition, He hands of one who will make it as complete as preferred risking his chances pow, before his even I could dream of,” strength was all exhausted in fruitless en- She asked oo more questions but turned deavors. away and took her stand by Victor Page. Then Dashwood shot his bolt. At the very outset he had to face a fearful chance; but he threw all upon tbe risk. As ‘* Your friend is somewhere below; and it is | his arm slid away from the tree his hand slid as certain as death that he never will get out. I have had some little differences with you two, but I still have a little compassion, and for fear that he may grow lonesome, I’m going to send you down to join him.” He paused, and touched his face at the spot along the rope that for the moment, bending _his head sideways, he grasped convulsively with bis teeth. Then he had the rope in his hand and was sliding slowly down, It scorched, it burned, it almost tore bis arm from its socket, but the bowie-knife of Alabaster Jim had pierced.| with tightly clinched teeth and straining nerve when that worthy pinned bim to the wall. ‘*]. wouldn’t do it, colonel, He’s a bad man by himself, and if we two once get together | again, there'll be music in the air, and learn it | by heart if you don’t believe me. ’ “I'm afraid it is the truth you're telling; but I don’t intend to send you quite all the way. We'll fix.it so you'll be in sight. of each other, That will be enough enjoyment for you; and for me, too, I'd study out some het- ter, slower, more glorious plan, but I’m in too great a hurry now. Half a dozen of my friends were at the other end of the Devil’s Door,.and no doubt made a capture. Unfor- tunately they no doubt had a wholesome fear of the pistels of yourself and friend, and so closed the doorway when they had gathered in sei uneratetal girl who I. know joined you ourney around.for a mile or so is no rx oe eck suppose. it must be taken. Have you anything to.say for yourself?’ ‘* Nothing, except. that unless all signs are false I'll live to see you bung.” ‘Then turn him off!” sharply ordered the a totally ignoring the insult, The meaning of his covert threat became ap- parent, He had already whispered his orders while. Varna Leld her, little conversation with the prisoner. Now.several men advanced, From. the end of the lariat rope they cut off perhaps a dozem feet, It had not touched the ground before but they wished to make it a certainty. Then around his neck they knotted the end and stood waiting for further orders, ‘‘ You are sure. it will not slip, or be uncom- fortably loose?’ ‘‘ It’s tied right thar, an’ it won’t come loose till ther rope breaks,” “ Well, Mr, Soft Hand, or Mr. Pierre Redette, or Mr. Man from Cinnabar, or a la name may be, the case stands thusl ba are, sae cio eae ran | iin cnt agen Ra tastea talon | point is that the momentary stoppage at the end of say sixty feet drop will prove exceed- ingly unhealthy for the il marrow, Good- TS Over with him.” _, he great, cruel brutes caught up their vic- tim and dragged him toward the hone ie ledge, and for a few seconds poised waiting to hurl him.out into ore It was at that prorenss that Sott Ha Hand, in whose face. not, of a muscle or the See b thetetch ae at ene ble, made his supreme effort. Wrapped, as he was, with cords, and held by four strong hands, it seemed as though he could. do positively nothing; yet even then he yes not altogether so helpless as_to effect noth- tee hand at least he tore on. and with one straightforward blow he litted the brute at his right clear from his feet, oe out into nothing- ness, .As his d g cry rung up, his com- rade struck Soft d’s feet from under him, and pushed him over the b a he still held on. If he let go there was the drop, and the noose, which, had his one hand been free, he could not have lousened; and be- low, a broken neck. What better it would be save a prolongation _ of agony he knew not, for at the end what es- cape could there be from strangulation. Fortunately for him the men above never for a moment dreamed of any pvssibility of es- cape. A shot would have made the result certain at first, though before many yards he was at least safe from them since the rope trending outward a little with the swell of the bank, then dropped under its overhanging shade and just hid him fiom their sight. They might cut the rope—at the risk of bullets from below—but they could not harm him directly. An age it seemed, for its agony; yet the end of the rope was fearfully near. Clinging blindly, with blood dropping from his torn palm, and an awful numbness beginning to creep through his arm he knew he could hold on but a little longer. Once or twice he bad relieved with his teeth the strain upon his band. .He tried it now for the last time. It was just at this moment, that he beard the hearty voice of Alabaster Jim; and never were sounds more welceme, ‘“‘Hold on, pard! Don't yer try it alone; lemme, assist—steady mow. Ther drop ain’t more ner a Soren ts an’ I don’t, b’lieve yeu break ary a We'll mene it w a vo Kon with. all ther Nowton on fur them cusses yit; I ow alla one er a do. Hold fast a minnit; I'm pod icod og: 7" It was very little use to tell him. to hold fast for it was life or de Sei frost Hand. doing it; but cay set and, that was th could, ibe ol to gain. a vantage i unin His heavy six-shooter spoke, eee were one py tanen! There was another soto his f bis fost well under in ad Ss me abt inure oda feet, but he strain h “tid then itt yf ay. The alge ; or, in some eee way, bad he escaped? From below there came up no answer. ‘Drag up the rope again. If they like it down there let it be so,” said Colonel Dash- wood hastily. “A goat couldn’t climb pret when we have time we'll come back and - rink. Yet even then he did not at once fall, for by | them at our leisure while we bury the dead.” chance his arm struck across the overhanging tree to which the rope was knotted. . His thoughts now were what might be at the further ret the Devil's re 4 With a shriek Varua rushed forward, This | Door. From the fact that the PopegaTey, Was seemed to, ber more terrible. even, than the | seene in the oid vaults; but Colouel Dashwood | caught her rudely by the shoulder, just asSoit ‘ look-out above, to whom he closed he w that some had passed through, and that probably the men on the > had signaled by Gomicbooks ~. (E()