Beadle's Dime Library No. 199 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

. on , of Big 12 x battle charge, following Diamond Dick as their leader toward the retreat of the Kioway; he having decided mentally the direction to travel in order toreach the scene of the firing, and” forming his conclusions from the sounds he had heard as he left the lodge. But a short time did they proceed thus at full gallop, when a party of five horsemen were seen to their right, near the canyon, and Dick quick- ly guided his horse into their midst, knowing by their yells and gestures that they were the miners who had gone out to protect Dolores. ** Well, gentlemen,” he said, touching his hat as he drew rein; ‘‘ what has occurred? I heard firing’just now. Have you seen the girl, or the Indian?’ Soon the details of the chase and fight were related, and the strange disappearance of Dash- st ponn her li were filled with surprise and concern. _ “Have you found her trail, boys?’ asked im. **'Ya-as; she p’inted up ther canyon bank, ridin’ a heavy hoss what war fresh shod, an’ left some sign in spots.” ** Did she have my horse?’ inquired Dick. ““Ya-as,” replied anotber of the miners. ‘‘Have you seen Big Medicine, any of you?” - “Nary Big Med’,” was the answer. ** Where iid the Wild Cats point, and how many are there?” demanded Dick, urging on his horse as he spoke. ““They hes levanted up ther canyon. Thar war nigh onter twenty, but I reckon we sent *bout a quarter on ’em ‘‘over ther range,” countin’ what Dolores ‘‘bored.” She said she puta ball inter ther cuss what skuted through our burg, an’ I’m a gamblin’ thet thet’s her biz upcountry. She wants ter make a dead sure thing on cuttin’ off ther wind o’ thet Reckless Rube, es she called him. She hes ’bout a half- dozen devils in her peepers when anybody slings a word ’bout ther spy from Denver. Reckon he’s ther human what she’s bin so danged eager ter run ag’in’ for some consid¢r’ble moons.” ‘Was Captain Halfhand with these bandits?” inquired Dick, who had pulled rein to hear what the miners had to say. ““'Ya-as! he held his reg’lar persish, es king- pin o’ ther Wild Cats,” was the reply. The young man waited to hear no more; but, regardless of the reasonings and warnings of Square Sim and the citizens, who knew that further action against the bandits was for the time useless and dangerous, he urged his horse down the trail into the canyon, and then spurred at headlong speed up the chasm, followed only by Jim Jams, who was only eager to prove to the dandy from Denver that he was true to the That the advance of Dick up the canyon was botb foolish and dangerous, and without proba- ble chance of any success toward the capture of the Wild Cats, or the rescue of Dolores, was ee ain to the sheriff and the citizens; indeed a e y all felt sure it would defer, if not defeat any plan which, upon reflection, they might adopt toward a combination of available forces, and an advance up the range. However, Square Sim admitted that possibly _. Dick might gain some knowledge in regard to the movements or fate of Dashing Dolores, and also of the outlaws, should he escape being shot down by some ocr any | assassin, or killed in his mad, reckless lop coming suddenly into the midst of the Wild Cats, as he turned one of the many curvesin the canyon. The absence edicine, and the fact that none of the citizens who had been in the fight and retreat had seen the Kioway, led them all to believe that the Indian would follow, and ascertain the location of the stronghold of the bandits. Bowlder Bill, after the departure of Dick and Jim Jams, sat his horse for some moments in a state of bewilderment; then, throwing all pru- dence to the winds, he spurred his steed away from the citizens toward the north-west, along the bank of the canyon, in an endeavor to keep watch of the movements of the dashing dandy from Denver, who had so favorably impressed him from the first. uare Sim ‘and the citizens, amazed at the foolishness of Diamond Dick and his two followers, lariated their animals to grass on the ara and proceeded down the trail to bury heir dead townsmen, whose remains the sur- vivors of the party pointed out, and all held themselves in readiness at a moment’s notice, to gallop to the assistance of their reckless friends, CHAPTER XIV. AT BAY. HANGING in a torturing position, suffering agonies from the bullet wound in his shoulder, which was rendered doubly painful by the way in which he was bound and the violent motion of the steed, the bandit spy, whom Dashing Dolores had captured, gave vent to deep groans at every bound of the steed. But these sounds were the sweetest music to the girl whom he had wronged, and she laughed in glee, laughed with a wicked, metallic ring that caused Keck- less Rube to shudder, for the laugh proved to him that he was in the power of a woman whom his villainy had driven to insanity. Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. Little hope had he of escape, for he had, in his great suffering, failed to hear the clattering hoofs of the approaching Wild Cats. It mattered little, however, for soon his cunning captor turned into a narrow branch of the canyon formed by the mountain torrents, and left all danger far behind her. Big Medicine had followed in a wild run, in hopes of getting speech with the girl, and inducing her to abandon her horse and captive, and save herself from the death which, he felt Losing sight of them, the Kioway arrived at the wash-out, and with difficulty clambered down its side, Halting a moment in the bed of the gully, the Indian detected the sound of a horse fast gallop- ing toward the range, along the narrow passage. Feeling positive that Dolores had left the canyon, the Kioway climbed the west bank, and concealing himself in the little thicket, awaited the approach of the Wild Cats. He had not long to wait. Soon he discovered, coming up the canyon at an easy lope, the masked riders, some of whom were leading horses on which were bound those of their number who had fallen in their encounter with the citizens. Just to the west of his position was a large basin, of several acres in extent, and into which the canyon led. In its banks were several large openings, marking the entrance to huge wash-outs; but these ‘were nearly concealed by the cacti and scrubby mes- quite which grew in profusion. When the bandits reached this point, the leading horseman slacked up, those in the rear with the corpses of the slain turning to the right, evidently with the intention of burying their dead. Big Medicine scanned closely the bad whites as they rode beneath his covert, and to his sur- prise failed to discover Pueblo Pete among the ranks; but before the burying party joined their comrades, his absence was explained, for he was seen galloping up the canyon and guid- ing his horse directly to where the bandit chief was, and turning around, gesticulating wildly as he pointed down the trail along whickt he had come. The eyes of all the band were now fixed upon Pueblo Pete and Captain Halfhand, for. they saw the latter raise his gloved fist, as he uttered a fierce oath of satisfaction, followed by quickly delivered and imperative words of command. Before Big Medicine had recovered from his surprise at this, he saw the band divide and se- crete themselves within the mesquites on either side of the point where the canyon formed a junction with the open basin. Doubly aston- ished at this new move, the Kioway was now at a loss to conjecture who among his friends could be so imprudent as to follow the bad whites, and ride in this way into the very jaws of death. With this thought darting through the mind of the Indian spy, his wonder and concern were soon increased, for, coming like a leaf before the gee up the canyon, was his white brother whom e had left in safety in his lodge. On, on, came Diamond Dick, riding headlong into the death-bordered basin, where nearly a score of cowardly curs were crouched awaiting him with hate and exultation flashing from the holes in their sable masks. ‘*Take him alive!” yelled the bandit chief. ‘*Death to the man who scratches his hide with ball or knife. Shoot low, and kill his horse!” These commands, though distinctly heard by Big Medicine, did not reach the ears of the dandy from Denver. The Kioway clutched his rifle, and although trained from childhood to mask his emotions behind a stoical indifference, his face was now frightfully contorted, and a murderous light flashed from his snake-like eyes. No one had ever mace so favorable an impres- sion on his mind as this stranger youth, who had stepped between him and insult—perhaps death—but afew hours before. The man’s sav- age nature was doubly touched, as he witnessed the daring advance of Diamond Dick into un- known regions, where he himself must be well aware that danger lurked, and that death might come at any moment. Big Medicine had braced himself, prepared to warn bis white friend by a death-dealing fusi- lade from rifle and revolver into the bandit band below, when the words of Captain Half- hand caught his ear and caused him to abandon his desperate plan of warning, for he quickly reasoned that such a course would only insure the death of Dick, who would in that case make an attempt to escape, and thus draw the combined fire of the band, as well as jeopardiz- ing his own life to no purpose. As matters stood, the young man was to be taken captive, and there was a possibility of rescuing him, and at the same time of discover- ing the secret retreat of the Wild Cats. he Kioway sprung to his feet, as the dandy from Denver approached the basin, and stood ready, if aught sbould occur to show chat the orders of the outlaw chief were to pass un- heeded, to shoot any one who should harm Dick; and then bound into the basin by way of the wash out, and sacrifice his own life in aveng- ee whiie friend. iamond Dick sat erect in his saddle, his bri- dle-reins hung loosely, and the neck of his horse was outstretched in a line with the animal’s back and the ears pricked forward as if sus- picious of danger, but galloping on at terrific speed; the rider plainly on the alert, and ready to fight desperately for life at any instant. The Indian felt positive that Dick’s motive could be no other than to save some one from impending danger, and it at once oc- curred to him that his present rashness was caused by a knowledge that Dolores had gal- loped up the canyon. On, however, galloped Diamond Dick. One quick glauce ahead showed that the coast was clear; but as the border of mesquites and cacti caught his view, he glanced suspiciously on either side, as his horse bounded from the can- yon. At this moment a dozen rifles belched fire from the shades of the mesquites, and witha piercing shriek, almost human, the steed of our hero sprung into the air, and then fell to the earth, its head thrown forward, and its life. blood spurting from a dozen wounds over the glittering sand. Gathering himself up in an instant, Dick let fly half a dozen shots from his Winchester rifle, | in quick succession, into the crescent of masked riders, who now galloped from the mesquites. Wild yells of command, mingled with groans, filled the night air; for Big Medicine, timing his movements by those of Dick, also fired as many shots from his covert on the bank above —the two killing several bandits, wounding many more, together with their horses, and filling the survivors with consternation. Cast- ing his empty rifle to the earth, our hero now drew a revolver in each hand, and stepping backward, stood ready to poura hurtling shower of leaden death into the bandit horde. Dumfounded at the sight of their dead, and at thus pe, | held at bay by a mere youth, who, as they had been told by their chief, was a *‘ fresh” ase the States, the Wild Cats wera for the moment incapable of action; but yells and curses soon burst from the throats of the survivors, and as one man they rushed toward the dashing dandy from Denver. At this critical moment, a coal-black horse came dashing at terrific speed over the sands, and was guided between Diamond Dick and the outlaws. None could fail to perceive by the form of the new-comer, and her long flowing bair, that she was @ woman, notwithstanding the fact that she was attired in close-fitting trowsers and a jacket of black velvet, and wore jauntily upon her head a sombrero, the bue of which matched her horse, and her long sable plume upon which was held in place by a silver star. In each hand she held a revolver. ** Back, cowards!” she exclaimed. ‘‘ The first who pulls a trigger dies! Are you so depraved | that you cannot respect desperate daring? Have the Wild Cats turned foot-pads, in place of ‘clearing out’ mining towns, and blowing open the express safes of Wells, Fargo & Co,?” CHAPTER XV. COME AND GONE. It was a terrible, but a grand and imposing sight that was presented for a moment, after the soeee eg words of the fair rider of the sable steed. Captain Halfhand, with but a remnant of his band, came toa halt, and stood bewildered and furious, Behind them lay dead and dying men and horses, groaning and struggling, while in their front gleamed the deadly tubes held in the firm hands of a beautiful woman. There, too, stood Diamond Dick, still braced for fight, grasping his revolvers, and his gaze frozen upon the one who had thus suddenly come between him and the certain death that awaited him. Far above, his rifle ready, stood Big Medicine, looking down upon the strange scene; a scene soon to be changed once more, for a yell sound- ed from the south-east side of the basin, and Bowlder Bill appeared, leading the black horse. of Diamond Dic As Bill whirled his lariat high in air, and allowed it to fall to the earth, both Dick and the Kioway comprehended his object. The former gave a peculiar signal, and his noble steed quickly slid down the bank, and galloped toward his master. At the same instant, from one of the dark chasms in the bauk, bounded Dashing Dolores at headlong speed, her long hair flying behind her, and her eyes blazing with insane fury. As the girl dashed past, she discharged her rifle, bringing the horse upon which the bandit chief sat to earth, as well as his master; and Bowlder Bill, who had gained a position within range, let fly half-a-dozen shots in quick succes- sion into the outlaw band from the rear. Thinking themselves attacked by a force of miners from Big Medicine City, tho Wild Cats whirled in their tracks to defend themselves, thus giving Diamond Dick an opportunity to spring upon the back of his horse, which now bounded to his side. Just then, a sound of deafening yells came 9OO ‘cS (E(@) ; (ECO AME