Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 156 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

| : pean’ safel eat a a ee $$ ————— savage and revengeful immediately behind her. Up the narrow ledge the sure footed animals climbed for several hundred yards, and then came a turn, which the psn i showed was a spot fraught with great danger to pass safely around; but the Danites quickly dismounted, by slipping over the hind-quarters of their horses, and the sagacious beasts slowly around the curve, until it came herhoof’s turn, and in spite of the risk, Muriel mppec to the ground, refusing the prof- fered aid of Carl the Killer. ** Now, Featherhoof, show that even Danite steeds cannot lead where you will not follow,” said Muriel, and her faithful horse obeyed, passing around the narrow bend in the cliff in safety. 5 will ride around it,” said Paul Reno, gruffly. “No, you might take thet way o’ dyin’, pard, seein’ as yer know ther Death Cavern are so awful near; guess we'll see thet yer don’t suicide yerself ef we knows it,” remarked Carl the Killer, and the savage prisoner was raised from his horse and carried around the curve, while bis horse was led. Once past the barrier, and Muriel saw that the ledge path led directly into the mouth of a cavern, large enough for a horseman to enter, , ‘‘Tt’s a pretty peert distance, yit, miss, so you'd better take yer saddle ag’in,” said Carl, with an attempt at politeness. ‘‘T prefer to walk, for lam tired of riding,” Muriel replied. ‘**Thet may be, miss, but I prefer yer ter ride; it’s more safer,” The maiden saw that resistance was useless and she called Featherhoof alongside of a rock and again mounted, once more refusing the leader’s proffered aid, and which caused him to say, sullenly: ; ‘Yer seems awful skittish o’ my touchin’ rer,” , ‘‘Yes: I have the same abhorrence to you that I feel for asnake,” was the bold response and once more in her saddle, she followe the Danites on their way through the cavern. As it grew darker and darker, two men dropped back alongside of Featherhoof, and once more Muriel’s pape of escape was thwart- ed, and in a little while it grew light in the cavern again, and the maiden looked around her with awe at the vast space that she was in beneath the mountain. : Above her the ceilings arose to considerable hight, and upon all sides were rocky vaults and chambers, that made the interior of the cavern look like some vast cathedral, | But the horses of the Danites held on their way, and some ten minutes after entering the cavern, the party drew rein in a vaulted cham- ber, one side of which was open and looked out upon a small, but pleasant vale, in which were a number of horses picketed out to feed upon the rich grass. Under trees near by were hammocks swung, and most of them had occupants, for the sun was just rising; but a few men were around the nee evidently preparing their morning meal. Upon these men Muriel glanced with sur- rise, for they wore black masks that wholly id their faces, and poi to her captors, to make some comment upon the subject, she fair- ly started, for in the darkness of the cavern they, too had put on the somber, close-fitting face-covering that the Danite League were wont to wear upon all occasions, and even the countenance of Paul Reno had been covered by some of his comrades, for he was still bound, “What means this general masquerade, may : ask?” inquired Muriel of the man nearest to e r. “A law of our League, miss, causes us to mask with the sunrise,” answered a man, with politeness, ‘*And you unmask with the sunset, do you?’ “That is as suits our leader’s fancy; some- times we go days with our faces covered,” an the aker rode away at the command of Carl the Killer, to tell the Chief of the League that the scouts from the Paradise Valley had returned with captives, and they awaited him in the cavern. Muriel watched the messenger and saw him approach a gayly-colored sera swinging between two spruce trees, and instantly a man sprung out. At a glance Muriel observed that it was the game one she had seen once before, the man who had captured her the day of the train’s arrival at Paradise Valley. ‘‘ Ah! he, too, wears the black mask,” she muttered, as the man came toward her at a quick walk. ; “Ah, lady, we meet again, I am happy to say, and unexpectedly so, I assure you,” he said, in a ay al way, as he came near, and he raised his broad sombrero partly, and then called to one of his men: “* Realez, send Luel here.” The man disappeared, and the leader turned to Paul Reno, and fixing his piercing eyes upon him, said: —_—~— oe ** Well, Lieutenant Reno, you have returned to the Death Cavern, have you?” ‘* Yes, chief, [ have brought you the fair lady you coveted,” was the reply. ** And yet | find you in bonds?” **Carl says it was your orders, chief.” “True; 1 heard that which caused me to look upon you as a traitor to me, and I thought it best that you should die rather than I.” ‘*T do not understand, chief.” ‘My lieutenant, Lew Baker, sent me word that you, not some one else, had fired that shot at me which so nearly cost me my life; see, here is where the bullet struck, and the shock stunned me, but my good horse Charcoal brou ht me to our retreat.” ‘Chief, Lew Baker wishes to displace me to ain favor in your eyes; it was a Chinaman that fired that shot,” said Reno. ** He speaks falsely, sir; poor Chinee Washee would not barm any one; it was your lieu- tenant, Paul Reno, that tried to kill you,” said Muriel, with fearless frankness, Again the broad sombrero was raised, and the chief said: ‘Miss Merle, I thank you; upon your testi- mony shall Paul Reno suffer condemnation— Ab! here is Luel, and as you must feel fatigued psig your long ride, she will look to your com- ort. As the chief spoke there approached a dark- faced woman, dressed in half-Indian, half-Mexi- can attire, and evidently a native of the latter country. ** Luel, see that this lady has every attention that will add to her comfort; but remember, she is a captive,” “T understand, sefior chief; come, sefiorita, I am your slave,” answered the woman, and lightly springing to the ground, Muriel was only too glad to follow her into some recess in the cavern, the chief touching his sombrero as she passed, and saying: ‘‘{ will see Miss Merle when she has rested, for I would question her as to her knowledge of my lieutenant’s treachery, as upon her words hangs life or death to Paul Reno.” Muriel shuddered, for there was a fearful ep in the tone of the chief, and after a short walk along a rocky aisle of the cavern, the woman, Luel, halted in a large chamber, that seemed almost built by the hands of men, assy of being formed by one of Nature’s It was roomy, dry, and possessed a large arched opening, overlooking the vale, that served as a window, and in it was some rude furniture of a rustic kind, with a cot of soft skins, a table and some culinary utensils. “Here seflorita, this is the guest’s chamber, and in all that I can do for you command me,’ said Luel, and not unkindly. ‘ “Tt is my prison, I suppose,” said Muriel, with a sigh, ‘* For a while only, sefiorita.” ‘* And then—?”’ asked Muriel, touched by the woman’s strange manner. ‘‘ And then to you worse than death,” was the low, sad reply of Luel the Mexican. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE DEATH-CAVERN. FATIGUED with her long ride, after bru rwe | of a most palatable breakfast ooh | t her by Luel, Muriel sought rest on the comfortable cot of skins, and was soon ay soundly, for, though she knew well what her fate would be she did not despair until all hope of escape had left her. It was late in the afternoon when she awoke, and once more she fourd her attentive guard, for Luel was nothing more than her jailer, ready with food for her. ; “The chief desires to see the sefiorita when it suits her convenience,” said the Mexican wo- man. ‘Very well; one time is as good as another; will he come here, or shall I goto him?’ was the indifferent reply. ‘“* He begs that you come there, as the Sefior Reno is to be tried for treachery toward the an ey well, show me the way,” responded ~ Muriel, anxious to get an opportunity to the better study the geography of her surround- ings, for, refreshed by her rest, her mind now turned wholly upon escape. The Mexican woman fod the way out of the cave-chamber, along an aisle, or tunnel, that penetrated into the depths of the mountain, where it ended in another vast, cathedral-like cavern, where crystal pendants glittered like diamonds, in the light of a score of bright torches. Momentarily, as Muriel stepped within the vaulted chamber, she aesitated with dread, for astartling view met her gaze. The rocky chamber was of immense size, and the Aerie was a vast dome that glimmered like burnished gold; but in the vast rotunda stood over a hundred men, all clad in black, and wearing over their faces the mask their secret order demanded. At one end was a rock, covered with bear- skins, and upon this sat a form that Muriel recognized as the chief, while upon either side ee — Nee eee Ee Velvet Face, the Border Bravo. . en ee oe ee tw of him stood ten somber-clothed and masked torch-bearers, and fronting them were the mem- bers of the band who were simply spectators. Rising as Muriel approached, tne chief led her to a seat on the rock near him, while Luel drew back out of sight. ** Bring in the prisoner!” came the stern order then, and the next moment three men entered, the center one being Paul Reno, as Muriel saw, for he alone was unmasked beside berself. ‘Paul Reno, you are accused of being a trai- tor to the Danite League; what have you to say to refute such a charge?” said the chief, sternly. “*T say it is false,” was the quick reply. **Here in my hand,” resumed the chief, “I have a letter sent me from Lew Baker, my second lieutenant, and on secret duty in Para- dise Valley, telling me that your twin brother was tried for the a tet death of a mysteri- ee who roves the plains and mountains at will. “On the night we met in the Paradise Valley, near the home of Mr, Malcolm Merle, you re- member we had words regarding the possession of the fair lady who now confronts you, you claiming ber against the wishes of our Prophet. ‘*We then parted, and immediately after | was shot at from behind, and I hoped to believe the intended assassin was one of two persons whom we noticed near; but Baker’s report says that J, in my dress, and riding a black horse was believed to be this Velvet Face, the Border Bravo, while you were considered to be Ralph Reno, and the witnesses testified that you fired the shot.” “Jt is false!” again said the treacherou” Danite. *‘ Fortunately you brougbt with you one wha can testify as to the truth or ek of the deed on your part, and your motive in bringing ber here was to save your own life, for you that your treachery toward your chief had been discovered; now, Miss Merle, will you make known to this assemblage just what wes proven bet this man?” and the cbief turned ta uriel, who cast one quick glance over the si- lent men, with their masked faces before her, and then bent her gaze upon Paul Reno. The look of pleading she saw there at first touched her heart to pity : but when she recalled that the man before her had sent his brother to prison for a forgery he bad committed, and had then taken the life of his own father, and flying West for refuge had become a Danite, and stolen her from her own home, her bosom felt no mercy for him, and she said in a frank way and in a tone that reached every ear: ‘*T will say that Paul Reno on that night to which you refer, was believed to be his brother Ralph, as you were thought to be Velvet Face, and that the prisoner was seen by two witnesses to fire at you as soon as your back was turned, and it was believed the shot was fatal, ‘And more, had not Velvet Face arrived when he did, bringing this man a_ prisoner, Ralph Reno would have suffered death as an assassin.” “Your testimony is sufficient, Miss Merle; our words have but proven the charge of Lew er against him, and he must die.” **Jean Leo, [implore your mercy,” cried the doomed man, dropping upon his knees before the chief, while Muriel started back, as he spoke the name of the man at her side, and said in a half whisper: ** Are you Jean Leo, the Danite?” ‘“So men call me, Miss Merle.” “Then I envy that man bis fate,” was the outspoken response. “I think you will not when you see what his fate is to be, for to be a traitor to our League, Miss Merle, the punishment is more than death.” ‘Worse than death?” she asked, in an alarmed kind of way. Yes; you shall see,” and in a loud, stern voice he commanded: ‘*Executioners, bring on your casket!’ ‘*Mercy! oh, mercy, chief!” cried the con- demned man, but though Muriel heard his piteous pleading she saw not his agonized face, as her gaze was riveted upon four men ap- roaching, and bearing something between em. With a shudder she saw that it was a coffin made of iron, and on the lid was fastened the skull and cross-bones of some unfortunate. The coffin wih heer jet-black on the out- side and blood- on the inside, and was suf- ficiently large to contain a man far above the average size. “Paul Reno, you have just five minutes to breathe the fresh air of life; if you have aught to say, speak!” : ““T beg you mercy, Jean Leo, as you hope for mercy.” “It is useless, as you know; our League knows no mercy, and our laws admit of none; our coffin is at your feet, and already has it n the recipient of other traitor Danites. **Executioners, seize the traitor and place him in the casket, and seal it with the Danite’s seal of justice.” ‘**Great God! do you mean to bury him alive?” The cry came from Muriel, for up to that in- stant she had believed the prisoner was to be new EGomicboo (C “S) (€ Mins 9) ;