Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 189 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

ee eS - EE /! “ @ bow, for she could nof but admire the hand- some young dare devil. **Good-by, scalpers,” he said gayly to the stolid warriors, and patting his. horse affection- ately, he passed on and soon disappeared from sight down the canyon. ‘The White Chief smiles,” said Red Dove, inquiringly, for she read in the face of Wild Bill that he was playing a part. “Yes, I have just played my trump card,” cs How?” “That man’s horse knows the way to the stronghold and I shall ride him there,’? was the calm response, CHAPTER XLII, A DUMB TRAILER, Rep Dove paled at the avowed intention of Wild Bill to boldly and alone enter the strong- hold of the Desperado Dozen, and, as he spoke in the Sioux language, and was understood by the warriors, they expressed their admiration of his great daring by grunts of surprise and encouragement. “The white chief is mighty, but he will have to meet many foes, and with no one near to aid him. ‘Let the Red Dove and her warriors fol- low him,” she said, trying to dissuade him from his purpose. “No, I will just go and see how the land lies, and the Red Dove and her braves can await me at the nearest point available. ‘Come, I will get ready to start at once, and the Red Dove will see that I am another man,” He went to his saddle pockets and drew out the disguise which Red Ruth had given him, and began to put it on. The wig and beard, of long, iron gray hair, were faultless, and fitted his head and face to perfection, while a little rampling up about the cheeks and temples, prevented any possibility ef its being discovered to be a disguise. Taking some Indian paint from a pouch, he colored his eyebrows, and then made his face a eberry brown, which gave it the look of old age, Red Dove aiding him to makes his toilet with the skill of a French hair-dresser, A rough-looking suit of buckskin, patched and fringed, was drawn over his own clothing, and his boots gave place to moccasins. Then he put one of the Indian saddles upon the outlaw’s horse, and mounted. ‘‘Red Dove, I leave Midnight in your care, and [ will expect to find you at the head of this canyon,” he said as he turned and rode away, giving the intelligent animal the rein. The Indians watched.his departure with the greatest interest, and sa that the horse took the trail, as though he well knew the way. Red Dove sighed, for she was in hopes the animal would show an uncertainty of what he was wanted to do, and that it would compel Wild Bill to return and all to make the at- tempt together. But she at once set off with her warriors to find a camp off the trail, near the head of the canyon, while Wild Bill continued on to carry out his daring design. At first the animal did not seem to relish his change of masters, and full of spirit he became restive; but he was quickly taught a lesson, and subdued, went on his way, The animal followed the trail, Wild Bill giving him full rein, even when he took paths that were dangerous in the extreme, and seemed wholly impassable. “T can now understand why the trail was so hard to follow, for no one would believe a man in his sober senses would take such chances. ‘Well, what now?’ The horse came to a stand-still near a dense thicket of pines. Wild Bill tried to urge him on but he would not go. ‘“‘I'here is something he stops here for which I cannot fathom; but I will reconnoiter,” and Wild Bill dismounted and made a careful search of the trail. But no cause of the halt could be discover, The horse stood by patiently waiting. Wild Bill then went to the pine thicket and drew aside the branches, sé Ab!”’ As he uttered this exclamation he stooped and took out what appeared to be some bun- d.es of rags. ‘here wes a number there, u.d a closer in- apection -howod him aocir use, 22 Wild Bill’s Gold Trail. = “They are mufflers for the hoofs, to keep thc animal from slipping. * Old horse, you are right.” He bound four upon the hoofs of the animal, and mounting, he had not then to urge the in- telligent steed on his way. It was not long before he came to asloping rock, going down at an angle of forty degrees, and extending over a hundred feet. Upon either side were precipices, and in heavy rains a large mass of water must have gone in a torrent down the rock. But now it was dry. For a horse to attempt to hare ascended or descended it with bare hoofs, would have been madness in a rider; but, with his feet securely muffled to prevent slipping, the animal slowly went down the rock in safety. But he remained still at the bottom, and knowing that he had a motive, Wild Bill dis- mounted, and, looking around, found another receptacle for mufflers. “Ah, yes, these must be taken off now,” and suiting the action to the word, Wild Bill found that his dumb trailer was once more willing to press on. Around dizzy precipices, through strange and dangerous ways, the faithful horse went on, until suddenly, just at sunset, the arch of rocks before spoken of came in view. Beyond Wild Bill saw the tents of the ban- dits, and knew that he had reached the retreat of Captain Tiger. “Eureka!” he cried, joyously. ‘But I passed no sentinel, and they certainly keep a man on duty, though they need not as far as the approach to their stronghold is concerned, for the way I came is barrier enough to keep back almost any one, “Ah, Ihaveit. Westruck the trail this side of the sentinel, he being nearer the stage road, by way of which they expect their foes to come, “Now to enter the stronghold, and Wild Bill remember you need all your nerve now, for a mistake will cost you your life, though it may thin out the Dozen some before life leaves you.” He said this grimly, and, in the gathering gloom, rode on toward the larger tent. The dumb trailer had brought him unerring- ly to the goal of his hopes, and upon the man, not the brute, depended the rest, CHAPTER XLIV. THE RETURN OF THE HYENA, THat Captain Tiger gloated in cruelty his men well knew. A man with a heart that was prone to evil from his boyhood, he was also selfish and un- scrupulous in gaining his own ends. The unfortunate woman he had made his wife, he had married hoping to gain a fortune by her, and hatred for her filled his heart as soon as he knew he was thwarted in that. His crimes drove him to the far West, and there he turned all of his wicked energies to the getting of gold. Gambling was a pleasure to him as long as he won, but he never played but one game if luck turned against him. He had gone to the mines, not so much to dig for gold as to plot to take from some brother miner all that he might get. Mr. Insley had been the victim he selected, and having buried his treasure, he had thwarted the man whom he had believed his friend, but whom he had found to be his most implacable foe. Knowing that Edna would inherit her father’s gold, he tried to bind her to him as his wife, and thereby get her gold, feeling that Mr. Insley, whom he had a prisoner, would then tell the secret hiding-place of his fortune. Failing in his plots by Edna’s discovering him to be a deeply-dyed villain, and with the aid of Wild Bill saving her father and herself from the power of their cruel foe, Hugh Harcourt, under the very appropriate name, for a man of his nature, of Captain Tiger, set to work and organized a band of cutthroats known as the Desperado Dozen. From the treasure-boxes sometimes carried by the coaches, and by robbing the passengers, Captain Tiger and his men made considerable money, or rather came in possession of it. If one or more of their number were killed, some of the band had pards who would gladly fill their places, and thus it was, from his im- pregnable stronghold, Captain Tiger sallied forth to commit what deeds he wanted to, and defied punishment and capture. At last, through opening the letters, he dis- | covered by one mailed to Wild Biil, that Mr. |Insley and Edna, believing him to be dead were coming out West to get the long-buricd treasure. He disguised himself, as the reader will re- member, and*when his band halted the stage he came out in his true colors, and was happy in the capture of the father and datghter, as he believed. But instead of Edna Insley he was confront ed with bis wife, then on his trail, and having doomed her to die, and left her in the iron cage, and sent his two recruits, with Hyena Harry to capture Edna, he felt very well satis- fied. He was taking his siesta after his dinner several days after the departure of Hyena Harry, Captain Corduroy and Kit Carr on their devilish mission, when he was startled by a horse dashing up in a gallop. He sprung out of the hammock and confront- ed Hyena Harry, his horse covered with foam and dust, and the man himself looking as though he had passed through gome severe ordeal. “Well, Harry, you back?” ho asked quickly. ‘Tt seems so,” * And alone?” ** Yes, alone, captain.” “Then you failed to get the girl?” **No, we got her.” ** And she is coming with the other two?’ He spoke eagerly, and his eyes flashed with oy. ‘Not much, captain, for it was a dead failure.” ‘Curses! then thoso devils proved traitors. ” **Kasy, captain, anc don’t damn the dead, ** Dead!” is Fact!” “Curse you, Hyena Harry, why don’t you relieve my suspense and tell me what has hap- pened?” “Got your flask?” sé Yes.” He took off of a limb a silver liquor flask and handed it to Hyena Harry who now dis- mounted, turned his horse loose with provok- ing coolness, and then took a long draught. “You'll be too drunk to talk, if you drink like that.” “T need it for my nerves, captain. “There, that ¢s good, and now I can talk,” ‘* Well, lam waiting.” ‘ We went to Poker City.” “In disguise?” “Of course. I was Count Carlos and Cor- duroy was Baron Bronx, and that queer border- man played our servant Pierre to perfection, ‘* We tackled the stage back at Breezy Point Station, and with our dogs, or rather your dogs, got on board, and arrived in safety. What we saw in Poker City you do not care to hear, but the lady got tired of staying in the hotel, and shortly after our arrival, started out for a ride, with a Heathen Chinee as an escort,” ‘‘ That was your chance.” ‘¢ Yes, and we took it.” ‘‘ And captured her?” “Oh yes, but don’t get me ahead of my story. ““ We got horses, to take a ride we said, and started on the girl’s trail. ‘When the Chinee caught sight of us be skipt lively, but the maiden held her ground, and all was lovely, for we became her escorts, and led her on up into the mountains in search of the heathen cavalier. ‘‘At last she wanted to go back, and we urged, but it was no use, she started, and then we seized her. ‘‘ Bless you, she fought like a tigress—would make you a good wife, by the way; but we had it all our own way of course, until there came a crashing of the brush near by, a chot, and a horseman dashed out,”’ ‘¢ Wild Bill! Pll wager a hundred.” ‘¢ You will?” ‘¢ Yes.” “Give me your money, Cap, ‘or it was no such thing.” ‘* Who, in Satan’s name was it?’ “ A pu:pit-pounder,” “ What?’ “A Bible-banger,” ‘*Quit your slang, Hyena Harry, and tell me who it was.” “Tdid tell you. It was a young preacher, whom you ought to remember, as he was the one who gave you the wound that so nearly —* ee ae —< om re | >. comicbooks.com