Beadle's Dime Library No. 147 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

‘ . s é, 17 — ‘Why not before?” se Didn't ask no questions, when he agreed to ‘* All right: Rockwell, I wish you "9 with the scout and the prisoner; and you, Mr. Gold Spur, have heard the arrangement?” and the colonel turned to the prisoner, who answered aes 4 6 ‘*T have heard all, sir, and am content; but ‘there is one favor I have to ask of you?” ** Name it.” ‘‘Instead of Captain Rockwell, permit The Hercules to go,” and The Gentleman from Texas smiled most sweetly as he glanced at the huge lieutenant, who quickly turned and faced him “You mean for me to let Lieutenant Hale accompany you in place of Captain Rockwell?” “*} do, er.” ‘‘ What do you say, Rockwell?” “Tf Gold Spur prefers Hale, I certainly am content, sir.”’ ‘* What say you, Hale?’ and the colonel turn- ed to The Hercules, who answered suspiciously: ‘*There is some treachery in this.” ‘‘Oh! if you are such a coward as to fear to go, I will not request the honor of your com- pany,” came in sneering tones from The Gentle- tleman from Texas, The bronzed face of the irate lieutenant flushed at the words, and he turned quickly to- ward the prisoner, saying savagely: ‘*T fear no man, sir, and you shall eat those words.” *T am wholly at your service now, sir, if Colonel Eldred will kindly permit—” **' No, no! I cannot allow this quarrel to go on. “You ean go or not, Hale, as you please, ‘with the prisoner when the exchange is made, and if your hot head has run you into danger, you will have only yourself to thank for it, for, from the very you have seemed antazonistic to Gold Spur, and, if I have wrong- ed him in my suspicions, you are the cause.” ‘*] will bear the brunt of it, sir, for I know that I have not wronged The Gentleman from Texas for [ Se to prove him to be none other than the Jackal.”’ ‘*And you will go tothe place of exchange with me?” asked Gold Spur. “ee I will ” “Thank you,” and all noticed a peculiar light come into the handsome eyes of the Texan, a light that no one present seemed able to under- stand the meaning of. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE DUEL. WHEN <7 mb: ca ae gon the western nori- Zon, a small pa e e cavalry encampment in the timber, and moved slowly down the slope to the prairie bottom, which spread away on either side of a sm stream, the banks of which were fringed with cottonwood trees, ‘with here and there an ash, and hackberry. In the edge of the timber congregated the troopers, gazing most anxiously upon the high hills that arose on the other side of the valley and watching for the coming of the promised party from the retreat of the White Jackal, Presently a murmur ran along the line as four persons were seen to emerge from the foot- hills. They were not on foot, as were Buckskin Mose and his party, and two of them were at once ized as the fair captives, and Colo- nel Eldred could hardly suppress the cheer that he saw the men wished to burst forth With. “They are on the safe side, for they are eonmied.® remarked Major Gregory, while, as they came further down into the valley, Riley Rockwell, who was attentively reg ing them through his field glass, said earnestly: ‘‘One of the guards is a white man, Colonel Eldred.” “You are right, Rockwell, and he is attired in uniform.” “Colonel Eldred,” and the young captain turned a ckly to his commander. ‘* Well, captain?’ " oe you notice anything peculiar about that man?’ ‘* He is a large man, and his face is beardless, hile—” ‘* He wears a Pt uniform, sir.” “By heaven! it is the sergeant deserter, as I live,” cried the colonel in stern tones. “You are ri ht, sir; the man is Maurice Syl- vester, and he is in his uniform. I never would have believed this of Sylvester if I had not seen him with my own eyes,” said Riley Rockwell, sadly. . Buckskin Mose was right, then, when he said he saw him at the head of the red-skin band; but to think of the brazen impudence of the man to boldly ride out before us and show us bow low he has fallen. Oh! that I could capture him,” and the colonel paced to and fro, his brow flushed with indignation, while the comrades of the deserter sergeant seemed deep- ly pained at what they saw, and blushed for the shame of the man they had so much ad- mired. , small party = the i ae Se ills, they all saw t conte toa halt in an open space, and the two men—the In- dian and the white man—spring to the ground, while the ladies remained in their saddles. Presently Buckskin Mose, The Hercules and the prisoner approached the others, and all ex- cepting the scout and the red-skin et SYP salutations, while Lieutenant Hale said in hi sneering way: ‘*T congratulate you, young ladies, upon your escape from such vile company.” ‘*T believe we owe our escape to no effort of Lieutenant Hale,” replied Esther Gerard, sharp- ly, and the words brought a blush to the man’s <heek, and the retort: sé No, Jackal; but you, sir, I am surprised to see take advantage of this meeting to boldly appear in view of your former comrades,” and The Her- cules turned to the sergeant, who replied calmly: ‘*T act as I please, sir, and for my crimes you are no more responsible than you are for the rescue of these two ladies.” ‘* No insolence, sir, for I will not listen to it, but punish you as you deserve,” angrily said the heutenant. “One word, sir,” and The Gentleman from Texas turned to The Hercules. ** Well, sir.” ‘As another opportunity may never occur, — me to say that no better time can ever found than now for the settlement of the outstanding debt between us.” All looked at the speaker, and saw that his words had a deep meaning, while his eyes were fastened upon The Hercules in a way that offi- cer did not at all like, and he said, quickly: ‘“‘T never quarrel, sir, with a man in irons.” ‘‘ Are you the person in charge of these ladies, sir, until they are given in exchange for my- self?’ and Gold Spur turned to the sergeant, ee quickly: ‘**l am ‘You are authorized to deliver them over to the scout here upon my being given up to you?” ‘** Yes, so the Jackal instructed me.’ ‘Well, sir, kindly make the exchange, and then free my arms, for I ask nothing more, and lend me one of your pistols, and if that man is not a coward, he will meet me, face to face, for the insults he has continually heaped upon me.” ‘‘Thet chin-music are all sweetness, it are, Hercules, an’ I doesn’t see as yer kin re- fuse ther gentleman, seein’ as things look a leetle dark for bim, an’ yer might not meet ag’in,” put in Buckskin Mose, seemingly anx- ious for an affair between the Texan and The Hercules. ‘I certainly shall offer no objection to the meeting, if the lieutenant is not afraid to meet you, Gold Spur,” remarked the sergeant. * Afraid! 1 fear no man,” savagely said the lieutenant. ‘*Then, sir, ask the scout to serve as your second, and the sergeant will, I hope, act in a like capacity for me, while the ladies can ride on to their frien who so anxiously await them, if so they wish,” said Gold Spur. ‘* No, no, we will remain here; but oh, sir! do not risk your life in a duel with Lieutenant Hale,” cried Edna, in alarm. ‘* Alas! Miss Eldred, affairs of this kind often occur on our border, and, as I now am given up to the mercy of the Jackal, I may not again have another opportunity to meet him; will you remove the iron from my right hand please, sergeant?” ‘*T hes ther key; here it are; so does yer say the word, —— ” yes the deserter was to stretch forth his hand and take the key, and then instantly release the right hand of the Texan from the iron cuff. : ‘Oh, scott, cannot you prevent this fearful meeting?’ cried Edna, and Esther joined in the appeal to Buckskin Mose, who walked up to the = of the maidens and answered in a low ne: “ Now, gals, don’t yer say beans, an’ we'll see some fun. ‘* But one of them may be killed,” persisted na. ‘** Don’t doubt it; but ef it’s ther loot’nent he’s no loss; ef it’s Texas, then his death will be = than ther one ther Jackal intends he shall e. ‘What! would the renegade chief take his life?’ asked Esther. ‘* ’'m thinkin’ thet are jest what he w’u’d do, leetle gal.” ‘* And does The Gentleman from Texas know this?” ‘“‘He are fully acquainted with the sarcum- stance o’ ther case.” ‘* And yet he places himself in his power?” ‘Ter git you putty gals out,” ‘‘T will not accept the sacrifice,” said Edna Eldred, firmly. ‘Nor I,” rejoined Esther Gerard, in a tone equally as firm. ** Guess yer can’t help it, leetle gals; but see, Ther Herk don’t look adzactly happy at bein’ fetched out fer a fight; yas, pard, I are 4 and unheeding the call of the maidens, Buc Mose sprung to the side of The Hercules, who called to him. wt Ten paces had already been off by the sergeant, and both Gold Spec eed the Moxtane . P A, r i *- car by 28 ~ } Si; bye phot fad 4 = St eee A > A? * a eS o . rr NT a TTT EIERII RRR —_—_—— a a em ——— ant had their revolvers in hand, and neither Edna or Esther dared now to for the men had taken their positions, and were ready for the word. It was a picturesque scene, yet a fearful one, with the two maidens seated a few steps apart on their horses, the Indian warrior, in full war-paint, holding his own and the animal rid- den by the sergeant: the two men who were to ~ confront death standing ten paces distant from each other, pistols in hand; the officer pale, sin- | ister-looking, and his eyes and face brim full of _ hate, the Texan calm and with that strangely ou owe it to some idle whim of the | winning smile upon his handsome face that no danger or trouble could drive from it, and with his elegant Mexican costume setting off to ad- vantage his superb form; the sergeant, a strange look upon his countenance, standi ready to give the word, and Buckzkin Mose, su- premely indifferent, apparently, not far from the lieutenant. Seeing that all was ready, and noticing that both the troopers and the Indians, not under- standing the delay, were growing uneasy, the sergeant gave the word, and the two weapons were quickly raised, and two shots broke the stillness of the scene, one following the other. But The Gentleman from Texas had first, and his bullet went straight to its mark, and The Hercules, with a muttered curse, sunk ~~ his tracks, while his adversary remained un- urt. ‘“* Oh tell me, are we free?’ cried Edna Eldred in a tone of anguish. “You are, said Gold Spur calmly, and be turned while Buckskin Mose said: ‘‘ Better skip fer ther timber, gals, an’ tell ther kernul ter senda couple o’ sojers fer ther dead loot’nent: better say four sojers, as he’s a heavy one; don’t linger, leetle wimmen, but skip. Horrified at what they had witnessed, the maidens dashed away, for already was the risoner and his two guards going toward the ills, and Buckskin Mose was looking ar down upon the motionless form at his eet. | CHAPTER XXXIV. Ix th THE GOLD cmet an wilieht, Gold N the gathering gloom of twilight Spur as, moun upon the Indian’s horse, he rode slowly toward the hills, saw the maidens dash toward the timber, and heard the wild cheer — that greeted their safe arrival. Then, still glancing back he beheld the Scout, Buckskin Mose, bending over the form of the lieutenant, and a moment after the soldiers that came and bore The Hercules away. Behind him walked the Indian warrior, close u the heels of his horse, and ahead, in stern silence rode the sergeant. Up the steep hillside they went in the gather- ing gloom, until presently a guard was re of three warriors, and here, with a word to the Indians, the sergeant rode on. Then, with a warrior behind and before his horse, Gold Spur continued up the steep as- cent, to suddenly come toa halt, as the path ahead was filled with h orsemen. . iM As they came nearer, at their ve Gold Spur | him came reco the sergeant, and behin full ante trey braves, all well mounted and Like statues they rode by on their ies, were heading for the valley beyond, but not. one thatdivided them from the trooper camp. — As they passed many glanced in silence upon him, and one or two spoke a word to his war- rior as they stood upon either side of him; but this was and soon they from sight, and the braves moved on once more, " To the keen eye of The Gentleman from a d A were observable certain things that cause to feel that a secret expedition of great impor- tance was on hand, and that it was not an at- tack upon the trooper encampment by any means. Instantly he to plot a bold escape, and, his irons vthrdig oid again fastened bis wrists, he to pull his hands through them, fer the had not taken into consideration the extreme smallness of these members. | A little work and his hands were free, the In- dian guard walking in front and hin horse little dreaming of what the darkness was concealing from them. Fastened to a fancy collar around the neck of the mustang he rode, was a tomabawk,and to grasp this was the work of an instant, and with it clutched firmly in his hand he bided his time. It soon came, for the path led around the mountain side, by a narrow path upon a shelf of © a with eighty feet sheer down to the canyon ow. It was a terrible risk, but Gold Spur took it, and bravely too, for, turning suddenly he dashed the tomabawk into the face of tbe warrior be- hind him, giving him a blow that sent bim reeling over the preci his wild yell start- in a thousand echoes ipetiten a death-cry had hardly given warning, : mustang was upon down beneath his hoofs the warrior went. com 300 JS i « < :* / . ies, for I remain: farewell,” away, =" a. ant * ead : The Pe > a, . » <4 » - . * - > cia ne