Beadle's Dime Library No. 147 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

A "7 "4 fot ee < 5 - ? ae rd i 2 er ager te oe _— |)». tion of’ these ladies, » ar. man.” ; . ow ’ . " * ace 04 plan “ ‘ ¥ b j é f er 3 % ’ ‘. JA =) 3 > a ot -i' va . > : « f. —? , > ee —— . = . q+ ors Gold Spur, the Gentleman a 3 ¥ - from Texas. in time to receive the fire which none had ex- pected, and which fortunately missed its mark. _ Back several steps the Texan moved, but re- covering himself vagy Badmey the spring of a wa od was upon the large officer, and hurl- him to the ground, had his foot on his throat in the twinkling of an eye. ** Were it not, sir, for the presence of these ladies, I would kill he cried Gold Spur, and at his words, Edna Eldred cried: ** Oh, spare him, for he is crazed.” “Crazed!” and instantly Gold Spur omg obey back, but The Hercules did not rise to his feet but ay motionless. “What! did you kill him?’ asked Colonel Eldred. “I certainly did not try to do so, sir; ha! he has fallen on his own knife, that he still holds in his hand, and which pierced his heart.” It was true, The Hercules’s own knife had ‘been driven into his heart. “It is strange indeed, that he escaped death last night, for your bullet glanced on his skull, stunning and seeming to craze him, and to- night he falls by his own hand,” said Riley Rockwell, and he called to some soldiers near by to remove the body, while Colonel Eldred tnrned to Gold Spur, and said sternly: “* Your presence, sir, seems always accom- panied by some tragic act.” ‘Father, do not be unkind to one who yester- day offered himself as a sacrifice for Esther and I,” cried Edna reproachfully. **Not much of a sacrifice, when to-day we find him at liberty. “Colonel Eldred, you find me at liberty, sir, use I won my freedom by killing my guards, and had J not been able escape, the man in whose power I placed myself, would have put me to death.” **Do you mean this?’ and Colonel Eldred asked the question earnestly. “TI do, sir; but to tell you why [ escaped and why I am here,” and The Gentleman from ‘Texas went on to tell the story of his escape, his ride to the cliff cavern after Featherhoof, and his arrival at the garrison and the result. Both the maidens, as well as the officers lis- tened with rapt attention, and when Gold Spur hhad told why he had come in search of the troopers, Colonel Eldred held forth his hand, and said rarely ‘Gold Spur, I humbly ask you to forgive my cruel suspicions of Ro but, with the excep- tain Rockwell, and sev- ers, all have eved you really The White “Hold on, pard kernul, fer I wishes yer ter include me in ther gang as stuck up fer Texas since last night, an’I slings my fist towards wants ter gti ther hand o’ a Gold Spur warmly the hand of Buckskin and : who mer near him, rather than any one in particu- _“*T came up to this northern border to follow trail I intend to run tc the end, and my hav- t yf i ese to escape, for, not e last evening, did I believe him a guilty cay ge me in ill-favor at the garrison. “ But now that you are willing to trust me, ) permit me to t to you a to beat this Jackal chief and his allies?’ oa Gladly will I doanything you may suggest, “Well, sir, they will come back to these mountains like whi curs; at least the Jackal will, while Two Lance and the other In- dian ch ay somadl Tie. their hunting- grounds and play honest “To ‘asroagély defeat the Jackal, I with avd a few others will play Indian, and backed 1g Ogee Rockwell and his men, we will pass the red-skin guards, enter the retreat, and annihilate his village.” ~ A. idea; but why not my whole com- mand You, sir, with the larger force, can move at once for the Republican, and ambushing yourself at the ford, can attack them, on their retreat, and scatter them in small parties. “To rc the ladies against danger, I will conduct them at once toa place of safety, and which but one other than myself knows o hi “ And where is that?” “The cavern of the one who is known as tho | __-Hermit of the Republican.” “Ah we will trust you fully, Gold eg? 8) arrang your plans to suit yourself, an Cap- tain ockwell and Buckskin Mose will aid you in carrying them out.” “Thank you, Colonel Eldred; let our first duty be to poor Lieutenant Hale.” he pro , coming from the man whom The Herc had so hated, was felt by those who heard it, and the brother officers of the dead man hastened to perform this duty to the a Then, leaving Captain Rockwell and his de- _ tachment to pre for the work before them, Gold Spur led Colonel Eldred and the fo - and ba Sew accom panied e river, and an hour r breaking cam » ‘the two maidens were safely located in the Her mit’s Cave, where they were provided with far more comforts than anticipated. Leaving them there with the colonel’s negro servant man as a protector, Gold eon sph on his return to the command of Riley k- well, and (shortly after midnight the troopers were on the march for the retreat of the Jackal and his band, and which was almost destitute of walriors, ; Throwing around him the trappings of a cbief, and with Buckskin Mose also thus rigged out, The Gentleman from Texas rode up to the In- dian guard, to whose challenge he had responded in the Sioux tongue, and throwing himself upon the surprised warrior, a death struggle at once began, while the garrison guide sprung upon the other. It was a short combat for life, and Gold Spur and Buckskin Mose were the victors, and the troopers moved slowly on into the interior of the hills. © Around the narrow shelf of rock where he had slain his guards, Gold Spur led the way, and soon after the glimmer of the camp-fires came in view, and like an avalanche the troopers charged upon them. Wholly taken by surprise, the Indians were panic-stricken, and were shot and cut down in numbers, and ere long the soldiers held the vil- lage in triumph, and by the early light of dawn and the blazing cabins and tepees, began the search for booty. Tired of carnage, Riley Rockwell was leanin against the deserted cabin of the Jackal chie when a formclad in white glided up behind him, and the arm was descending with sudden force, and in the hand was a long, narrow- ssn knife, seeking the heart of the young of- cer. But ere the sharp point cut the cloth above his breast, there came a flash and report, and the intended assassin fell at the feet of the young officer, whom the shot suddenly aroused the danger he had been in. ‘Great God! it is a woman,” he cried. ‘‘Ay, and I sought to kill you, because you have brought ruin upon him I loved,” she hissed “pay 7 to you I owe my life, Gold Spur,” and the captain stretched forth his hand, while the Texan replied: ‘*T was sorry to kill a woman, Rockwell, but it was her life or yours, and I know well the evil she has done.” ““Who are you that professes to know me?” and the woman fixed her eyes, fast glazing in death, upon the Texan. ‘“‘T am Geld Spur, the Texan, and Iam on the trail of—your lover.” A shiiek burst from the sscoende By ony and with that cry the life went from her y- ‘* Poor woman; you knew her then?” said Ri- ley Rockwell. ‘Yes; she loved the Jackal when she was a mere girl, and gave up all for him, clinging to him through all his until she became as vile as he is; but come, 1 have a surprise for you,” and the Texan led the way toward an- other part of the village. CHAPTER XLII THE SURPRISE. SILENTLY following the Texan, Captain Riley Rockwell soon came _ a cabiil built against the steep side of the hill. It was a cabin built of the stoutest logs, and it was the entrance to what the J chief called his Death Cavern. And there, seated in the entrance to the cave in double irons and his face haggard and emaciated sat a man half clothed. ** Great God! it is Sergeant Sylvester !” The cry broke from the lips of the young officer, and Gold Spur said: * Yes, it is Sergeant Sylvester.” ‘** But only the evening’ before alive and well he delivered up the Jackal’s captives in ex- mee for you, Gold Spur.” ‘** No, no, captain, there is some sad mistake here; but come, let us get off, for as we have wiped out the retreat, we may arrive in time to join the colonel in his ambush,” and taking a bunch of keys from the girdle of a dead white renegade, the guard of the Death Cavern, Gold Spur quickly unlocked the irons that bound the wrists and ankles of Sergeant Sylvester, and aided him to mount a cavalry horse. : Shortly after the troopers set forth upon their return, anxious to join in the combat at the ford; but, ere they got within a dozen miles of the river, they heard the firing of their com- rades, and knew that the battle had begun. Te vigtarg with all haste, they hoped to get in at the end, but were again disappointed, for the firing ceased when they were yet a mile away, and u reaching the scene of conflict they found that their comrades had done their work well, for the retreating Indians had been taken wholly by surprise, and bad been shot down by the score. “Gold Spur, we owe this glorious battle to you,” cried Colonel Eldred with enthusiasm, ‘but there is one great draw in fact two.’ ** And what are those, colonel.’ “The Jackal chief escaped, for he is not among the dead or wounded, and so did that arch deserter, Sergeant Sylvester, whom I saw fighting like a very demon.” ““No, Colonel Eldred, you did not see me there, sir.” — - It was the veg ey himself who spoke, and the colonel stood like one dazed: but before he could speak in reply, Gold Spur cried: ‘*’'You say the chief escaped?” ée Yes. ”? ‘‘Then come with me, and this mystery shall be solved.” ¢ Away rode the Texan, and close behind him followed Colonel Eldred, Captain Rockwell, Lieutenant Emmerson, the sergeant and Buck- skin Mose, A rapid ride of fifteen minutes, brought them to the mountain range, which has before been described as seemingly cut in twain by the river, and dismounting, the Texan led the way up the steep path, and bounded into the cavern. As he did so, a man fell at his feet, and over him bent the athletic form of Moor the servant of Colonel Eldred, and who said, in seeing the Texan enter, and the others bebind him: ‘* Ah! I got him, sure! he comed in with Miss Sibyl in his arms, and were goin’ ter run this cave, but I guesses not, and so we hitched, and he hev got my knife, hallelujah!” **Curses on your black soul, this wound is fatal,” groaned the prostrate man. ‘“ Yes, it is fatal, Moline, the Prairie Serpent, White Jackal, and devil incarnate; if it were not, I would kill you now, as I would a snake,” and Gold Spur bent over the prostrate man, who cried savagely: ‘‘Ha! we have again met, and you escape me; ay, live to see me die.” ‘* Yes, Moline, as I saw Lela, the Mexican die, the woman you so wronged, and who be- came vile like you.” ‘* Lela dead!” and he spoke in a whisper. “Yes, I killed her to save the life of a noble man.” “Then are you avenged, Herbert Hilary,” said the Jackal chief. ‘*'Yes, lam avenged for the murder of my wife and child, and burning of my house, when, as the Prairie Serpent, you came and did me those cruel wrongs, that set me as a hound upon your track, “T drove you from Texas, Moline, and I followed you here, and in my disguise of an old Hermit, I have been plotting a sweet revenge on you, and death has cheated me; but I am content, I am content.” Gold Spur arose, for be had knelt by the dy- ing man, and stood with folded arms looking down upon the Jackal. It was a thrilling scene there in that cavern; the Jackal lying upon the rosiey Sas Moor, the negro who given him his death-wound —s at his head; back in the cave crouched three fo rms, gazing in silent awe u the scene; and in front stood Colonel sm Riley mabey t Buckskin Mose, Lieutenan Emmerson and the sergeant. Presently the latter step forward and laid his hand upon the arm of the Texan, while he said quietly: ‘* He called you Herbert Hillary?” ‘Yes, such is my name,” “You had a sister?” ** Yes, Blanche; she married when I was a middy at sea.” ‘* She married me.” *“*T know it.” ‘“‘ And | have to ask you to forgive a wrong in the past?” ‘It is forgiven; you had never met me, and I was believed lost at sea, and returning home and seeing my sister with her arms around my neck, for I had just returned wee in a frenzy of jealous you shot me and fled. “You believed you had killed me, and be- came a murderer; but I recovered, gave up the life of a sailor, to become a Texas ranchero, and that man wrecked my life.” ** Alas! that he too should have wronged you, for he is my twin brother.” All started at this announcement, while a smothered cry came from the back part of the cave. “Yes, my twin brother, who, from earliest boyh was a wild, sinful fellow, and brought me into all kinds of scrapes that brought sor- row in later years. ‘“* Loving bim as I did, he also possessed an in- fluence over me which I could not shake off, and, knowing that I was engaged to your sister whom he alo loved, he made me swear to sell my very soul to him, at bis will, under pain of telling her that I, not he, was guilty of many crimes that had lately shocked the community. ‘* It was his secret call, the cry of the whip- o-will that made me leave the bivouac that night, and he it was that forced me between two warriors, to cere me into the attack on the train, and that 1 would not betray him, preferring death, you all know. ‘‘Rut when I went to bim, after my escape, and begged that he should free me from my oaths that bound me to his will, he threw me in his prison cave, and doomed me to a living death. : > ‘‘Speak, now, Moline Sylvester, and say if speak the truth?’ — 7 cS (E fs Pts ‘ i -EOmicboo . , ‘te rh 8 't eed da, eh ee ee Sum. ~~ =.