Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

Don Sombrero, the California Road Gent. eee ne ee which is well lighted, and a sweep will carry all before us. They are scattered about, smok- ing and joking, so we need not fear anything. We will make a dash at the very first, and then | if they resist, remember they are outlaws and use your weapons freely, The first blow always tells.” His matter of-fact manner was beyond even the Californian average, but it had its effect on the men and they were eager for the battle. They crawled ahead until the int was reached, and then Roberts looked back with glittering eyes, ‘* Are you ready?” he asked, ‘* All ready.” ‘Then charge |” . Like unchained tigers the man-hunters darted into the chamber, and as the startled outlaws sprung to their feet a tremendous yell echoed through the room. It was the war-cry of the rescuers. ; San Antonio had been greny smoking, with his back against a rock and his eyes lazily closed, but the shout brought him to his feet like a flash. ; y He saw the intruders rushing toward him, with Roberts and Austin at their head, and in the sight he must have seen the destruction of bis band; but only a brief view was given him. The eyes of the sheriff were on him, and as the surprised but fearless robbers began to draw thelr weapons, a single revolver-shot awoke a thunder-like sound in the chamber. It was Roberts who had fired, and San Anto- nio flung up bis arms, staggered and fell to the floor. A cheer arose from the rescuers, but it was drowned in fiercer shouts as the combat became general, The outlaws had no thought of yield- ing, and both sides began to fire with a rapidity more noisy than deadly, but more than one man fell, and they surged together while keen bowies glittered in the light. ; No mode of fighting is so bloody and aap as a battle with knives. The shoriness of the blades renders parry and guard almost out of the question, and those who fight must expect to be badly hurt, ' So when the rival parties closed like gladia- tors, it .was a scene too desperate to de- scribed, though fortunately their gn to close made many rush to a grapple rather than to use their knives. Rivers had pulled trigger on a stout ruffian but the cartridge failed to leave the barrel, an a blow from the shoulder then sent it whizzing across the room. . : The Cavalier was not dismayed, and, seeing that the robber desired a grapple, he sprung forward and they met like tigers. He h secured an advantage of hold, but his opponent was twenty pounds the heavier man and the prospect looked dubious. Evidently, the outlaw had expected to throw his man at the start, but Rivers kept his feet well under him and secured a lock which nearly won him the first fall. The outlaw perceived that he had not met a weak boy, as he thought, and a series of at- tempts on his part showed him that Rivers was oo only very muscular, but quick and skill- ul. Back and forth they struggled, sometimes knocking against other men, but seeming to be very well matched, though the robber began to breathe heavily. F Anon, the Cavalier saw his chance—he caught the other in a cunning lock, and then, after a brief twisting, the fellow was, thrown heavily to the floor. Before Rivers could take advantage of the fact, the crowd surged against him and he saw the enemy were in full retreat. ee n’t let any ‘“* Pursue!” shouted Roberts. of them escape.” The order was easier given than obeyed. The outlaws darted into passages which were rough and dark, and though promptly followed, not one who succeeded in leaving the main chamber was captured, The rescue party returned to the scene of their victory, but it had been suf- ficiently bloody to dampen their enthusiasm considerably. ; Five of the robbers had remained behind, four dead and one mortally wounded, but their destruction had cost two lives from the victors and others had ugly injuries. They looked in “vain for the ney of San Antonio. It had disappeared, but a large pool of blood lay where he had fallen, and when one of the wounded Mount Taborites stated that he had seen the chief borne away aS a dead weight, if looked as though he had met a deserved end. Search was made for the prisoners and the first door opened was that of Wilder’s cell. He had beard the battle and came out in a phil- osophical mood, and he breathed freer when he saw no signof Marah. He had not been able to persuade her to free him, but sbe had wavered, and, if time had been iven him, he believed he might have conquered er. : Laura and Viola were soon found and re- leased, and then the triumph of the rescue party was complete. The object of their expedition had been accomplished, and, besides, the band had been given a wholesome lesson, if not de- stroyed. : All would baye been very different had not Rivers and Jve Pike discovered the smoke, but, in spite of that fact, they found Roberts the hero of the hour, as usual. Austin suggested three cheers for him, and they were given with a will, while the Cavalier and his friend re- ceived none, Rivers, however, bore it philosophically. He had received Laura’s thanks, and, as her hand lay in his, there had been a look on her face which the sheriff failed to awaken. Wilder had not forgotten Marah, and, as he did not like to leave her unprotected, he sought for her while the others talked, but there was no trace to be found. It was deemed advisable to remain in the cave over night, so their horses were brought near and placed under guard, though there seemed no danger of further trouble from the outlaws. Roberts was anxious to find the body of San Antonio, but a careful search with torches failed to bring it to light, and they decided that it had been concealed in some hole in one of the passages, The cave was found to be a spacious affair, with another entrance more sizable than that through which they had entered, and it was b this way the survivorsof the band had escaped. No one was in condition to sleep, but they congregated around the fire to get what rest they could before morning, and every one seemed in a tranquil mood, Roberts did not recognize Wilder, and the latter made himself at home, and, only for tbopainte of Marah, would have been entirely ease, CHAPTER XXX. WILDER'S DISCOVERY. THe rescue party desired to start om their return at daylight, so, before that hour, they made a hearty breakfast on the outlaws’ stores and prepared to go, Only Wilder left with regret, but even after they were in the outer air he did not forget Marah, and he found himself earnestly hoping they would some time meet again. _ No one had thought of the necessity of bring- ing extra horses, but a careful search discov- ered two which had once belonged to the rob- bers, These sufticed for Laura and Viola, but Wilder, as usual, was left out in the cold. He accepted the inevitable composedly, and started for the nearest town on foot, declaring he would be in Mount Tabor as soon as the others. After the start, Roberts continued to make himself so conspicuous that Rivers and Joe Pike grew disgusted and went on ahead at a gallop. The Cavalier was in a thoughtful mood, and said so little that Joe at last suspected the ca “Te don’t want ter interfere with your busi- ness, pardner,” he bluntly said, “but Ive a word ter say about thet darned sheriff ef you wn hall be glad to ha speak. Wha ) ve you t about Sheriff Roberts?’ ge t he is a durned rascal ef he is a sheriff, an’ I smell,mischief ahead fur you ef you don’t cut his comb.” 4s Wh so?” “Wal, between you an’ me, he thinks you are his rival fur ther affections o’ Miss Laura. I ain’t forgot what you said about her, but ther fact remains that be is jealous 0’ you, Now, 1 consa@it he is jest ther kind o’ a p’ison sar that would cut your throat on ther sly or run her: inter some trap, an’, unless you look sharp, e is goin’ ter do it.” ; ‘* Do you think so?” “c Yas.” “‘ Well; he ean try his luck. We areenemies, as T have already be wit against wit. inly told him, and it shall ; / ‘“You know he won’t strike open an’ man- fashion.” ‘Undoubtedly you are right.” ‘Glad you think so. Wal, jest keep your eyes open, an’, ef he tries ter ring in a cold deal on you, use your six es an argufier.” “Thanks for your warning, and I will heed it,” Rivers answered, more than ever pleased with the veteran, . . : They reached Mount Tabor in due time, and, as heralds of the rescue, achieved some little glory which might have made amends to vain men; but neither lost much time in getting to his own quarters, f Afterward, when. the main body arrived, there was a good deal of enthusiasm, and, from a dry-goods box, Roberts told the whole story in glowing terms, during which time the word ‘““T” polled off his tongue as.often and as sono- rously as though it had been a choice morsel ony to be enjoyed by constant mastication. ruly, he was the heroof Mount Tabor! By means of hard riding, after securing a horse, Horace Wilder had succeeded in reachin the village with the others, and the leader o the Triad was soon shaking his allies by the hand. —— ‘*My faithful corners,” he said, “Sit thrills my bl-od to see you once more, Ihave been in the lions’ den, but, like the other Daniel, I hav come out with a whole skin. Ilsee your faces beaming with rapture, and I feel Uke smiling myself. Let the riad imbibe!” ‘*The ‘‘corners” expressed their intense ad- miration for their leader, and the three went. into the Casino for refreshments, after which Wilder assumed his ‘* Cheerful Abe” disguise and people looked in vain for the handsome» young man who had been among the rescued. That evening, Wilder’s curiosity took bint near the Austin homestead. In fact, he bad become a sort of monomaniac in regard to the mound. Perbaps, if such a thing had been sible, he would have slept and drank on the spot, but the fence intervened, and the judge had built his threatened stone wall about the ey of dirt and surmounted it with a stout iron ence. ‘** When next the Triad moves,” muttered the prowler, ‘it will be necessary to dig in under the obstruction. Ha! ha! Austin thinks he has cone a big thing, but treasure-hunters laugh at stone and iron fences.” A cough sounded just behind him and he wheeled suddenly. There, not twenty feet away, sat a man upon a black horse, and though the night was dark, he caught a suspicion as he saw a serape and big hat as the most prominent features of all. ‘Why do you mutter, Horace Wilder?’ the horseman demanded. ‘‘My name is Cheerful Abe, pard,” the ex- bare-back rider said, quickly recovering his presence of mind. ‘*Cheerful Grandmother! Don’t try to fool me. Do you know who I am?” ** No; but 1 am open to conviction.” ‘*T am Don Sombrero.” “ Tve heerd 0’ you.” ‘* Anything to my credit?” ‘* Not an iota.” “*T thought so:” and the masked man laughed eat ‘** But that is neither bere nor there. I would like to know why you are so interested in that mound.” “What mound?’ ** Over yonder.” **} can’t see any mound. “Nonsense! Don’t play with me. I know you are the man who tried to open it the other night, and a word from me would put Judge Austin on your track like a bloodhound.” | ‘* Reckon ther word won't be said though.” ‘Why not?” ** Because you, too, live in a glass house.” “Well argued, and you have nothing to fear from me, but I am curious to know what you . want of the mound. Is there treasure there?” ‘*Treasure? Good Lord! who would put treasure in sech a place? Ther idee is absurd.” Don Sombrero made an impatient ure. ‘‘Have your own way, if you won’t trust me, but don’t try to make me believe you are not the would-be mound-robber, I know you too well. Likewise, it would be as well for 7 wg: our Cheerful Abe lingo. You are orace Wilder and I know it.” wre ‘*] wish I knew as much of you.” mae **T don’t doubt it.” “What is to hinder me from shooting you as you sit and earning the offered reward?” ‘ There is much to hinder. Tn the first place, if you should try it, I would perforate you with a orty-one c straightway. Agile as you are, I am your superior with a six. 234 Wilder, you and I should not be foes, — both have axes to grind, and the fact makes ® ‘bond between us.” Gg _ “ Now he bit me plum’-center. Your way is rather to my liking, Don Sombrero, and you will never get a stab, in face or back, frogs tite gentle gorilla of the N. BE. & C.” any “I’m glad 1 have one friend in Mount Tabor.” a “My motto is ‘Always help a lame dog over Se fence,’ I may be unfortunate myself, some ‘You are a brick, Wilder, and I will see you again sometime, but, for now, I must bid ‘you adieu. When you get that’ mound open, you may report your luck, if you will.” wet With these words Don Sombrero turned his . horse, but, just then, a strong gust of wind. swept upon them, and ina moment more his hat went flying from his head and his mask was turned half around, Wilder, standing cieee of his face in the gloom, but he whirled e mask back into place hastily, and without pe er word, rode toward where bis hat had en, Once there, he swung over the side of ‘his horse, Indian - fashion, picked it up without pausing, adjusted it on his head and rode away at a pace which was soon increased to a gallop. Wilder was standing like a statue, nor did he move until the road-agent had disappeared in the darkness. . : ‘‘Good Lord!” he then muttered, blankly. ‘‘ Am I dreaming or drunk? Teould almost swear that was the face of Theodore Rivers, but—” near bim, bad a brief : e - ~ + hd - » ee —— — ——— — — y - “> . ~ ES Ee - ‘ SE Oe ee —_ sa a G(O)] 0 EDOOKS: GOM