Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 156 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

SSeS! 7 $ On) eae Aue e aA sr ars ee a Ld > a ee - . ‘. Some ran like a deer along a dim] 18 shot or hanged; but when she knew what was his awful doom she turned pallid and trembled like an aspen-leaf. ‘*'You have heard his doom; no earthly power can reverse it,” was the stern reply, and Jean Leo arose and gazed upon the struggling man who was writhing in the grasp of four power- ful men. But his struggles, fierce as they were, were of no avail; he was securely bound, placed in his coffin and the lid screwed down. “Now for the burial rites!” came in the same deeply-impressive tones of the chief, and the rock was rolled away, upon which be and Muriel had been seated, and a grave-like cavity beneath was revealed. Instantly the coffin was lowered into the grave, the heavy rock was shoved back over it, and the cries of the victim were smothered, while the torch-bearers marched around the tomb, chanting a weird song that sent back thundering echoes thamugh the canyon. ‘*Come, Miss Merle, I will see you back to your rock-chamber, and to-morrow night we start for the city of our people,” and Jean Leo turned to where he had Jast seen Muriel; but a cry of rage broke from his lips, for she had gone. CHAPTER XXIX, A ROCK OF REFUGE. THOUGH almost pare ae with horror at the scene before her, Muriel Merle did not lose her presence of mind; but, sickened at the burial alive of a human being, by men who were his comrades, she shrunk back from sight and sunk down upon the bear-skins, which had been re- moved from the rock and thrown one side. But hardly had she been there an instant, when she felt something fall upon her, and, starting up, she saw that it was one of the long black gowns and the mask worn by an execu- tioner, and which, in his fierce struggling, Paul Reno had torn from him. A ery of joy almost broke from her lips as she seized them, and seeing that every Danite his spe was eagerly watching the placing of the oomed man in the coffin, she arose silently and crept out of sight. Once out of the glare of the torches and she lighted aisle, and not knowing or caring which way she went se that she could hide from her fearful foes, she continued on her way, until, at last, in i.e dim obscurity of the cavern, she found a huge bowlder, which seemed to have dropped in the aisle from the vaulted roof above. The sides were rough, the top broad, and here was a hope of escape from the Argus-eyed Danites. With a great effort, and after twice slipping back, she managed to reach the top, and, to her joy, found that it was hollowed out, so that it formed a kind of nest for her to hide in, Struggling down from the high roof, through crevices in the rocks, came a few faint rays of light, and enabled her to see that she was safe from discovery, unless some most inquisitive Danite thought of looking on the top of her place of refuge. , With her riding-habit and the gown she had taken, she made herself passably comfortable, and tuen cuddied down to await the result, for she felt that she would soon be pursued, ‘It is a desperate chance, but I'll take it, and accidentally I may find the mouth of the cavern by which I entered— Ha, I hear voices, and there is the flicker of lights,” and she crouched closer down in her retreat. 4 Nearer and nearer came the flickering lights, and louder and louder resounded the voices, and soon ascore of men came in sight, all of hem bearing pine torches, and carefully search- ing every crevice of the aisle as they came ong. “ Din sure the chief was wrong about her coming this way, as accident only could have caused her to enter this passage, but we'll search it thoroughly,” said a voice. ‘And then which way, Buck?’ asked an- other, “We'll go back and take the right passage to the cavern entrance; if she took that, she gained the valley, and those who went on horseback will overhaul her.” **Guess not, for she can hear their horses’ hoofs and hide; I tell you she’s a game one, for I was with the chief the day he captured her near the Paradise Valley, and she didn’t scare’ worth a cent; what was it, the chief told you, Buck?’ ‘To fetch her back, dead or alive, for she holds the secret of the Death Cavern, now, and knows how to get here; well, a bird couldn’t have hid from us here,” and the speakers passed out of hearing, still diligently searching as they went, During their passing the rock Muriel had scarcely dared breathe, and once, as a man struck his torch against her hiding-place, she almost lost consciousness; but the next moment they passed on, and a sigh of deepest relief broke from her heart. Yet still she remained quietly in her retreat, Velvet Face, th and waiting, scon saw the flickering lights re- turning, and once more she heard the words of the searchers: ““She’s not in this passage, that’s certain, Buck.” ** No, she’s taken some of the other aisles, and the other search-bands will be her up; but we'll follow the passage to the eavern mouth before we return, and I’ll leave Sandy there as a guard.” ‘Waal, who are I ter let go out, or come in, I'd like ter know?” But before an answer could be given a hoarse voice back in the shadow hailed: ‘*Ts thet you, Buck?” sé Yes.” ‘Waal, hev yer found ther critter?’ ** No,” and, as the man addresséd as Buck re- rig the tall form and cruel face of Carl the ier came in sight, and halting within ten feet of the rock upon which Muriel lay con- cealed, he said: ‘‘T has orders ter tell yer ter hunt all night, and I takes ther cavern entrance until mid- night Sunday night, an’ ef ther gal don’t turn up then, she’s tumbled into some o’ the holes or jumped in from her skeer at Paul’s buria sarvices in ther trial chamber.” ‘* Then you are to be guard at the entrance, lieutenant?’ “‘l are, and you is ter fetch me my grub fer ther time stated—twelve o’clock Sunday night; now s’arch well an’ find ther gal. fer I hain’t fond o’ standin’ guard.” The men now moved slowly away, and Carl the Killer went on to his post, while Muriel said in a voice of almost despair: ‘* Until Sunday night, and this is Thursday— oh, the light bas gone from the crevices, night has fallen, and I am alone, all alone in this hor- rible spot.” She buried her face in her hands and was al- most overcome with grief; but at last she went to sleep, and when she awoke there was a ray of sunlight falling through the crevice above her, and she said joyfully: ‘One night gone already! oh, if I only could sleep the long and dreary hours away I would be content.” Her limbs were cramped, and hearing no sound in the cavern she slipped down from her perch and took a walk down the rocky passage until she came to one that was lighter, and Loris crossed the one in which she had sought refuge. Glancing at the stone flooring she saw that it was marked with iron hoofs, and she felt a pang of joy, for she knew that it led to the outer entrance. as a to her retreat once more, she found that her little walk had given her an appetite, for she had a craving for food; but she knew she must conquer the pangs of hunger, and again she sought repose. All through the day she slept and lay awake in turns, and when darkness came, she deter- mined to discover if the other passageway did really lead to the cavern entrance. Coming down off her place of refuge, she felt her way along the halls until she came to the other aisle, and then her every step was taken with the utmost caution, for she remembered what she had heard about the holes, or pits, into which she had been supposed to have fallen, or sprung in her despair and fright. Slowly and cautiously she went along until after what seemed hours to her, she saw a dim light ahead. ©.’ Silently she went on, and then the huge open- ing to the cavern came before her eyes, for she saw the star-gemmed skies beyond. But then she paused, for, pacing to and fro, and strongly relieved against the star - lit heavens, was the massive form of Carl the Killer. | : “I. know my way out, when Sunday night comes,” she said, hoarsely, and slowly she re- traced her way, and once more, though the darkness was almost tangible, found her rock of refuge, and. prostrated by her daring under- taking, sunk into a deep sleep, from which she did not awaken until the sun again rode high in the heavens. ‘‘ Saturday this is, and to-morrow will be Sunday—and then—” She said no more; for she dared not give ut- terance to her thoughts. CHAPTER XXX. TRAILED TO DOOM. ‘< By I finds thet gal ther chief will make me rich with gold-dust, an’ I’ll go up ter Mormon City fer a time, ’m thinking.” The voice of a man within a few feet of her caused Muriel to awake with a start, and her eyes were blinded by the glare of a torch in them; but, with remarkable presence of mind, she restrained the cry that arose to her lips, and Jay quiet and trembling, though she recog- nized who the speaker was, as he went on with bis self-communing, ‘‘T hes a idee thet Buck failed ter look inter one place, an’ as it are now arter twelve o’clock Sunday night, an’ my duty as guard are over with, I'll jist s’arch this heur rock on my way back, tor I remembers standin’ up in my e Border Bravo. seat one time an’ findin’ a snug leetle nest on p. Again Muriel started; but still her nerve did not forsake her, and into the pocket of her riding-habit she thrust her hand and drew forth a small ai! while upon her face was a look of stern determination, as revealed by the torch Carl the Killer held in his hand. ** Pl jist stick this heur firebrand in this leetle hole, an’ crawl up an’ see ef I don’t find suthin’ on this rock, as I dreampt I did,” and, as the huge Danite spoke he placed his foot on the rough edge of the rock, But there he paused, for there suddenly came to his ears a sound that caused him to sayin a tone of alarm: ** What in thunder! hes ther chief turned them durned bloodhounds loose on ther scent? ‘*Fire an’ furies! they ison my trail, an’ ‘li tear me ter pieces,” he cried, in alarm, and he made a spring to scramble up the rock; but, as he clung there with both hands, his eyes nearly started from their sockets, for the muzzle of a pistol looked him squarely in the face, and a woman’s voice, but as firm as a clarion note, said: - ‘Drop back, sir, or I will kill you!” ‘‘Thunder, gal, I hes found yer, hes I?” he cried. ‘* Yes, and the bloodhounds have found you; see there!” _ He glanced back over his shoulder, and fear- ing the two huge brutes rushing upon him more than the pistol, he made a gigantic effort to scramble upon the rock, and, in sheer mercy for him, Muriel refrained from firing. But, with a huge bound one of the blood- hounds seized his leg, and he was dragged back to his doom. Then followed piteous, smothered shrieks, savage growls, and then several pistol-shots in rapid succession, with yelps of i gn whines, a eroon or two, and silence reigned, while Muriel erle eh back into her retreat, crying: “They have killed him; but I could not fire sooner— Ah! some one is coming.” Down closer she now crouched, for hurrying feet were heard, and soon a dozen men came in view, and at their head was Jean Leo, whose. face was still masked. ‘‘Great God! it is Carl the Killer!’ came from his lips. ‘‘And he are dead meat, cap’n,” said one, bending over him. ‘Yes, I had forgotten when I turned those dogs loose that he was on guard at the entrance; they have tracked him here, and he tried to sor a ae this rock, when they dragged him uc = Pity he didn’t use his shootin’-iron quicker.” **'Yes; but I suppose he did not wish to hurt the houndsif he could keep them off, and the fierce brutes mastered him, and he shot too late to save himself; but I would rather have losta dozen men than these brutes, for they cannot be replaced,” ‘*'What’s ter be done, cap’n?” ‘Carry the bodies to the camp and bury them, and then give up search for the girl, for she’s either dead from starvation, fallen into some one of the pits in the darkness, or escaped from the cavern that night of her flight, and that is hard to believe.” Breathlessly Muriel listened to all that was said, and then her heart beat high with joy, as she saw Jean Leo and his Danites move slowly tye Until the last sound died away, she remained in her retreat, and then she slowly arose, and, with a great effort reached the rocky flooring for she was weak from the loss of food, an fearfully cramped from her bent-up position on the rock. At first she could hardly walk, but her limbs becoming more supple.with exercise, she crept along the side of the passage, and reaching the other aisle leading to the cavern entrance, she turned into it. ts . At last the light was visible ahead, and the welcome stars met her gaze, Here she paused, looking to see if any one else had been stationed on guard at the mouth of the cave. No oue was visible, and with a heart full of hope, and returning strength, as she breathed the pure air; in spite of her long fasting, she moved on more quickly, and soon stood im the very mouth of the cavern. ‘*“Thank God!” broke from her lips aloud, and the words were hardly spoken beforé repented of, for up from behind a rock suddenly came a tall form, and in a joyful tone he cried: “it’s the girl, as 1 live; now, Buck, to win your lieutenancy.” With the spring of a tiger he was upon her, urmindful of her thrusting her hand forward with a pistol in it, which she well knew held not a single load, and reeling in despair at bein again in the power of the Danites, Muriel fel herself becoming unconscious, when, before her blurred vision a tall form suddenly bounded, and she caught the gleam of steel, and heard the cutting, crunching sound as the metal met bone and flesh. . One glance, and Muriel Merle recognized who it was that had come to ber rescue, and she Sit ECOMIEHDOO * ie wae +