Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 194 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 may as well come to business. I see you have posted a reward for my capture, dead or alive,” £ ' “Yes, I have,” was the savage reply, _ Phat is folly.” . ‘‘P)] show you whether it is before I am through with you,” snarled the sheriff. " What do you propose to do?” ‘Capture you.’ * Now?” “You dare not give mea chance, curse nu.” ; *T should be a fool todo so, but, my good man, if we ever meet again, you are at liberty to try.” ‘“ Rost assured that I shall.” ; “Tf the darkness does not deceive me, you have a very dangerous look. However, sir “Ah sheriff, I advise you to let me alone. It was to give you this advice, and to let you know how oy little Icare for your placard, that L stopped you to-vight. are not sharp enough to capture Don Sombrero, and you may get into trouble by trying.” ‘*Tt is war to the death, anyway,” Roberts declared. “ Just as you say, but remember one thing; I know you and you don’t know me.” iF ““ My day will come.” Don Sombrero laughed in his peculiar hoarse ¥ oO Quite dramatic, Roberts Have you any- shin more to say?” 0. “In that case, we may as wellsay good-night. Don’t shed any tears over the parting, for you say we are to meet again. Your horse will find his way to the village unguided, after which 7 you will be allright. Vamos !” He struck the sberiff’s horse a sharp blow on _ ‘the flanks, and as he started off at a gallop, the road-agent’s taunting voice was borne to his master’s ears. Once, the baffled sheriff looked back and saw his enemy sitting calmly on his black horse e but the sight was not a pleasant one and he did +» not care to look lon | The jong strides ly ey im toward the village, and he began to consider what he should do when he arrived. His ultimatum was that he must to the te Casino, as no other place was likely to be open at that hour, and when he reached the town he : managed to guide his animal to the door. te It wasa very humiliating position when his ‘< loud shouts bad brought out the convivial ~~ ‘ Pa. hati? possible and was soon released. He told his story with ah unnecessary sprink- ling of oaths, after which he called on volun- teers to bunt for the road-agent. The crowd f was willing but horses were lacking, and when - g@ dozen men finally’ rode out on the war-path Ls the venture seemed fatedtoendinsmoke, = ~ It did end thus. Don Sombrero was not es seen, and when they turned back, Roberts went in a pet-grizzly mood which made his followers tremble. He had been beaten and humiliated | and nothing but the blood of the outlaw could fe heal his own wounds. | ‘Before he slept, he had made a dramatic vow to cet Don Sombrero or die in the at- 2 ‘tempt. CHAPTER XI. THE CAVE. . one Tae sheriff fully intended to keep his vow i oe followin oii something occurred ea ® w . changed his p . -way up the mountain, report said there ry was a valloy where ruins of an old city were to be found, and since the a had been brought _ ,by some miners who stumbled upon it by c , men had often spoken of ‘‘ Aztec Val- ‘ ley,” but no attempt had been made to explore f it until Judge Aus in, in his passion for such matters, formed the idea of taking a party of oe and gentlemen to the place as a pleasure -. When Roberts learned that the Misses Aus- tae | tin were to be among the number, he entered Ke _ heartily into the scheme which soon became a fe When the start was made, many of our char- ss acters were among the cb emgage - entire Austin family, Rivers, Winship and Roberts, while Dick Meeker had been added as a “‘ guide,” | -———s though he knew nothing about the valley. | r a laborious climb they reached their , fed Mecca, but it proved to be only a dliff-encir- - cled valley, beautiful because filled with {trees | and wild flowers, but lacking all signs of ruined _ buildings or previous habitation. They collected in a group after a vain search, 4 pom and not a little tired, but Dick _ Meeker came to the front as a benefactor by suggesting that there were probably caves in the higher places worth exploring. he His words were like a match to firewood, hey and, in a moment, the younger people of the ra part were making a dash for the rocks, (ia ‘s ’em go,” chuckled Dick Meeker. ‘ Ef va this child knows anything o’ the nature o’ this iat region, we'll find ’em huddled together ag’in ae ther cliffs like sheep, when we jioe them. Es They will find it bard climbin’ beyond.” aie ‘‘Perhaps Rivers will find a way up. He 4 Lah ’ \g 5 “te . ° Let me say, right here, that you | of bis own horse were rapid- - crowd, but he swallowed his rage as much as_ | has shown more than ordinary skill ever since we started.” ‘IT more nor half believe he has been hyer afore. Mebbe it war a treasure-trip with him.” Nevertheless, Dick’s first prediction was veri- | fied when they reached the limit of the valley ; | the young people were found looking in vain for a way to ascend the cliffs, Meeker soon settled this matter. Austin, Winsbip and a few of the ladies bad no desire to plunge into dark caves, provided any were found, so they remained to guard the Saeee and the guide was not long in finding a way of ascent, Once at the top, they paused for a short time to admire the view, with the snow-capped mountains to the east, and the lowlands to the west, after which, a systematic search was be- | gun for a cave, : As Meeker had prophesied, they were noti long in finding what promised to one, and they stood in eager expectancy before a great, black hole in a towering ledge. The guide went a little distance and secured a Fat ng of pine knots, suitable for torches, and with these lighted and in the hands of the men, they entered. At first there was only a tolerably regular passage, but the way grow wilder and they found bowlders and ledges in their path, in profusion. ‘‘The place is large enough to hold an army,” said Roberts. ‘‘Tsn’t there an army here, already?’ Viola asked. ““We are a formidable party, at any *“T should think pilgrims of darkness would be a more suitable name for us,” said Rivers. “Or seekers after the truth,” suggested a wasp- waisted clerk. . ‘‘‘Where does your joke come in?’ some one asked, **The joke is, that he should be seeking for the truth,” said Roberts, good-naturedly. With such attempts at pacosantre they pressed on until the way widened into what seemed a vast cave. They could not at first see its dimensions, but though there was no evi- dence of human handiwork, all were struck b the manner in which Nature had erected col- umns to are the vast roof, their form being irregular but firm. They separated into small parties and scat- tered. about the place, and as chance would have it, one of these parties was composed of Laura, Octavia, Viola, Rivers and Roberts. For nearly a hundred yards they went with- out finding a wall to stop them, the light from the torch flickering on rocky columns and ragged roof, and then a spot was reached where their track ascended abruptly in a sort of ledge. ‘* Shall we go on?” Rivers asked. * Why not?’ returned Roberts, ‘* There is laborious climbing ahead, I think.” “That is just what we came for,” said Laura. ‘‘Certainly,” cried the sheriff. ‘‘We must not be dismayed at sight of a steep grade.” And so they went on ina place which was like a stairway and not more than ten feet wide, and the ladies began to express their wonder. ‘Can all these things be the work of nature?” Octavia asked. ‘‘1f men had any part in the work they must have been admirers of the piccadilly style,” said Roberts. ‘' Yes, nature has done this surely, or we would not see so many ragged points,” “Tt is the giants’ causeway,” said Viola. **And now we seem to be approaching their punch-bowl,” said the Cavalier. It was the sound of running water which had brought forth his remark, and, at the end of a few P peste! they reached where the left- hand wall sudd-nly gave place toa chasm, at the bottom of which roared the unseen stream, — they had only a ledge along which to pro- ceed. Rivers’s prudence would have made them pause there, but the sheriff, glad to see his rival weaken at last, scouted the idea of danger, and they were soon moving along the narrow way. Octavia, usually very calm and methodical, seemed imbued with a new and reckless spirit. ‘*Mr, Rivers,” she eried, “*I want to look over into the chasm, Please hold your torch down for my henefit.” The Cavalier hesitated for a moment. He had not liked the idea of being on the ledge at all, and it seemed like tempting fate to go near the brink, but he caught berts’s gaze fixed a him with the old expression and set his teeth. ‘‘He wants to make me appear a coward in their eyes,” he thought, ‘but he shall not succeed,” So, while the others went a little past, he took Octavia’s hand and went to the very verge. Then he held his torch down, but they only gh the rushing water and saw black, damp rocks, **T wish we could descend,” said Miss Austin. The words were scarcely spoken when there was a sharp crack, the rock seemed sinking under their feet, and the others, hearing a cry from Octavia, looked around just in time to see both go down into the darkness, followed by a part of the ledge. It had broken short off and precipitated them into the chasm. Then the rosy cheeks of Laura and Viola grew pale, and the trio gazed in horror at the fatal ot. ** Good heavens!” exclaimed Roberts, ‘‘I fear their rashness has cost them their lives!” ‘**Let us go for aid at once,” faltered Laura, ‘‘ Wait,” said the sheriff, ‘‘It may be they are not injured.” Testing the rock under his feet, he advanced to the brink, but nothing was to be seen and no sound came pS rom the depths except the roar- ing of the water. ‘Call to them,” said Laura, leaning against the rock for support. He shouted their names, but there was no re- ply. if Merciful God! they are killed by the fall!” Viola faintly said. “Do not despair yet. Hope to the last,” the sheriff advised; and then he shouted the names again and again, In vain! Only the water answered his call. _ Little did the girls suspect that he was thrill- ing with joy at the calamity, but such was the fact. For Octavia he cared nothing; and if Rivers was out of bis way the greatest visible obstacle of his life was removed. Dashed to pieces in the chasm, the Cavalier could no longer rival him in the suit for Laura’s hand. Giving up the attempt at last, the trio hasten- ed back to spread the alarm. The news fell like a thunderbolt on the gav party, and, as Roberts secretly maraged to whisper blame upon what he termed ‘ Rivers’s madness in being so reckless,” there was more than one harsh comment made aloud as they hastened back to the fatal spot. CHAPTER XII, OCTAVIA’S ADVENTURE, = Hap the accident proved a fatal one for the two who went over the ledge? Octavia was filled with horror when she felt the rock give way beneath her feet; she tried to turn and gain the solid footing, but the at- tempt was a failure, and she went down into the darkness. Then came a severe shock and her senses de- serted her. How long she remained unconscious she did not know, but it was not the oblivion of death, and after awhile consciousness returned. Her mind at once leaped back to the accident, but there was nothivg to indicate that she was any longer in peril. On the cuntrary, though evidently still in the cave, she was lying upon some sort of a couch, a pine torch was blazing not far away, and it seemed rather as though she had been rescued by her friends. Still no one was visible, and she sat erect with a thrill of uneasiness. : She had hardly done this before a man came ia from the darkness and reassuringly said: ‘‘ Have no further fear, Miss Austin; you are safe, and you shall soon be with your friends.” At the first words he had been but dimly vis- ible, but as he finished he came fully into the light, and Octavia was dumb from amazement, She did not see one of her own party, as she had expected; but—what did she see? A man of most remarkable appearance, taken all in all, and well calculated to alarm the fair sister of Judge Austin. Perhaps it was her fancy, but he seemed to be of gigantic hight and proportions, but more than that it was hard to tell, for, over his shaul- ders, was a serape, and, above it,a great hat which almost entirely concealed his face. If she had been standing she might not havo seen any more, but from her present ition, she saw that a black mask covered his features. She sprung to her feet with a face which grew even paler than before. ‘‘Be calm, lady, be calm,” the stranger quickly said. ‘‘I repeat, your danger is over.” ‘¢ You—you—” begrn Miss Austin. “T am eo friend,” he gently said. “You have called my name, but I do not know you. If you are my friend, why is this masquerade?” : ‘‘T will soon explain. Before doing so, let me acknowledge that I am not one of your ex- ploring party, but, 1 solemnly swear that you shall soon be with them, as safe and unharmed as when you left Mount Tabor. Now, dareyou hear my name?” : ; Octavia’s mind was in a whirl. Nothing could be more kind, gentle and chivalrous than his manner, but why was he thus disguised? Despite her twenty-eight years of life, there was a strong current of romance in ber nature, and, if she could but persuade herself that there was no danger, the situation would be rather interesting of the two. The courteous man of the mask knew her— she would hear what he had to say. “I think an introduction would be proper,” she said, with mild ene se ‘ioe ‘‘Then—do not start, Miss Austin!—I am Don Sombrero!” | AMC ) com éT>