Beadle's Dime Library No. 199 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

20 —_ Diamond Dick, the Dandy from Denver. yells and clatter of man rushed into the chamber he had left. Pick soon found a place from which he could get a fair view of what was going on. Great was his relief at having escaped the vengeance of the outlaw horde who now met his gaze; for he felt sure they wouid have torn him in pieces had he remained, Wild with drink, and thirsting for revenge, they having to all appearance, ascertained in some manner the fate of those who had before visited the apartment on the same errand, a score of the most brutal crime-marked ruffians that ever disgraced humanity rushed here and there in search of their intended victlm; but, asa matter of course, without success, which maddened them the more. CHAPTER XXV, IN DEATH UNDIVIDED. feet, as the bandits | edge his exact position in the range. ment, an eda break in the wall of the chamber. After some deliberation Big Medicine groped his way along the passage, making a mental map as he ke ee age and soon discovered bars of light to is left. Great was his surprise, upon creeping up to the point of illumination, to hear the voice of a woman, and, upon peeping between the cracks where the light shone, to see the Woman in Black pacing up and down in great excite- talking wildly to herself. Examining his position, the Indian found that he was beneath a box-like structure that aes e lis- 'tened intently to the words which fell from the lips of the bandit Queen, and, when Dick awoke, heard everything that passed between them. Big Medicine was greatly puzzled at the course of Lucile when the bandits rusbed in upon | Dick, but he followed along the passage and soon discovered the chamber of the Queen her- Wuen Dolores was aroused by tle shriek that | self. Although the latter was not in the apart- «unded from the range, Captain Halfhand had | ment, he knew by the style in which it was begun to show signs of returning consciousness. Forced on by an irresistible impulse, she left the captive whom she had been set to watch. erhaps it was fortunate for her that she did so; for, had she remained, she would have been in pes danger. In a few minutes.after she had gone, the bandit chief opened his eyes, and stared around him. His countenance soon be- trayed the fact that he recalled the near past, and realized that he was no longer in com- mand of the outlaw band. He ground his teeth in intense rage, and tore his flesh until he groaned from the pain. The perfidy of the woman who had been his evil genius and made him what he was, maddened him, and made him long for some mode of revenge. Finding himself secured to a tree, he con- cluded that George McClellan had captured him, and knowing he would receive no mercy, he made frantic efforts to break loose. At that moment he heard sounds approaching through the thick branches, and soon the limbs parted, and ibe blood-smeared head of an enor- mous grizzly bear protruded through the screen of leaves, its eyes glaring with sudden surprise, caused by the sight of man. For an instant, Captain Halfhand was as one paralyzed; then, as the bear stepped forward, | | | fitted up that it was hers, From this the Kioway returned to his former ost of observation, and revealed himself to iamond Dick, as we have seen. When he re- turned to the hole in the wall Captain Halfhand was busy packing his valuables for removal. Big Medicine watched until the bandit had carried the bags of gold and jewels to the open air, the Indian judging that his intention was to conser them away under cover of the coming night. After the catastrophe of the previous night, the consciousness that an avenger was upon his trail, and the fact that be was no longer in com- mand of the Wild Cats, were reasons sufficient for Halfhand to levant, as bis preparations indi- cated he was about to do; but the Kioway was not prepared for what followed — indeed, he could hardly believe the evidence of bis own senses. He was forced, however, to conclude that he was now gazing upon one of the most cowardly wretches that ever breathed, and he resolved, as soon as he’realized the intentions of the outlaw, that the latter should suffer death at his hands before he should succeed in accom- plishing more crimes,” That which chained the attention of the In- dian and caused these resolves was seeing Half- with a 4 Sena pe effort, he sprung erect, | hand roll from a cavity several kegs of powder, snapping the cords which bound him, just ashe felt the hot breath of the monster upon his cheek. With a wild cry of terror, he bounded away toward the canyon, in time to escape the horrible embrace that had so nearly been his. On he flew over the hot sands of the basin, and darted into the cool canyon, soon passing the very spot where the lasso had encircled Diamond Dick. Panting from fear and exertion, having now made some progress, he turned and looked be- hind him, as if expecting to see the dreaded beast in pursuit. Away he sped, t the en- trances to many branching ‘* wash-onts”” near one of which, in a clump of cacti, Big Medicine, who had lost the trail of the Wild Cats as the canyon neared the range, now crouched, As the fleeing form of the bandit chief met the view of the Kioway, the latter uttered a nt of satisfaction, for he felt confident that alfhand was heading for the secret strong- ol Although Big Medicine was well acquainted with the lay of the land, there were so many caverns, canyons and ‘“ wash-outs,” and the range was so broken and irregular in the vicinity, besides being too rocky to trail easily, he had been somewhat perplexed and disheart- ened when he found himself without any clew to lead him on, and was therefore rejoiced when captain Halfhand acted unconsciously as a de. Luckily for the Kioway, the outlaw chief was forced by one to proceed more slowly, and the former glided here and there after the bandit, taking advantage of every bend and break in the canyon to avoid being discovered. The extreme caution of Halfband at length forced the Indian to conclude that he did not intend to join the band openly, but to enter the retreat by some means known only to himself. This inference proved to be a correct one; for, by the course followed, Big Medicine, by a study of the ground, knew that it had not been tra- ‘versed by any body of men or beasts. For some distance he followed on, and at last saw the out- law disappear in a clump of cedar bushes at the base of tne range. Pausing for a little while the Kioway crawled beneath these bushes, and discovered an entrance to an underground pemaee. Following its windings syncs by a rch, which he felt positive was held by Ca tain Halfhand, he traced him until he suddenly ‘vanished, lea ng but a faint glimmer of light, which a small hole in the rock, Reaching this t, Big Medicine peeped through and saw the bandit chief within a small cave-chamber, reached by a branching passage, From his manner and actions the Kioway a cided that this apartment was unknown to the band, and was used as a secret hiding-place by the chief. He inferred that the main cave of the Wild Cats must be near at hand, and he sat for a moment or two calculating in bis mind and trying to recall from his previous knowl- ot which he placed in the middle of the apartment, at the same time smashing in the heads. The devastation and death which must follow the explosion caused Big Medicine to utter several guttural grunts and to meditate a quick retreat, as he did not feel sure that the bad white man might not, in a fit of madness, fire the mine at a moment. ut the mind of the Kioway was soon re- lieved, for he next saw the bandit procure a glass lantern, which he ignited, and then tram- pled out the pine knot he had been previously carrying, in order to work with entire safety. This done, he pulled some long hollow reeds from a dark corner and filled them with pow- der, laying them from the kegs along the pas- sage. Big Medicine crawled stealthily after him, displacing the reeds as he went: and, when all became silent outside, he glanced once more along the passage. No one was in sight, and the Indian stepped out into the cedars just in time to catch a glimpse of the bandit chief as he disappeared anes the rocks. Observing now that the bags of gold were lying in a pile at the entrance of the passage, the Kioway knew at once that the outlaw had gone to procure a horse; he there- fore hastily threw them, one after another, into the middle of the clump of cedars, and then made his way in the direction the ex-chief had taken. Fearing pore Big Medicine climbed into a tree, beneath which was a well-defined trail, and awaited developments. He had not long to wait, forthe bandit soon appeared, mounte upon a powerful horse and fully equipped. cog hat he might enter the passage and in- spect the powder-train, at the risk of being killed or captured, the Kioway decided upon immediate action. To his gratification, Captain Halfhand guided the horse directly under the tree in which he was; and, as the animal passed beneath, Big Medicine dropped astride, behind the bandit, and clasped his arms tightly around the aston- ished man. The horse, with a snort of terror, whirled quickly about and bounded down the path. Captain Halfhand struggled and endeavored to throw himself from the saddle, but he was held as in a vise. On dashed the horse, without horse under itsstruggling doubleload. The ioway soon began to see that he was as much of a captive as the man he had taken. Not only this, but the latter had the advantage, for he could draw his knife and might by a side twist wound him severely. But this advantage did not occur to the outlaw. Still, the Indian was at a loss how to extricate himself from the eg ae and dangerous position. Meanwhile he horse sped onward, left the ‘‘ wash-out,” and galloped madly toward the south, over the At length the bandit seemed to recover from his amazement and to comprehend his position ’ + more Jag His plan for revenge had evident- ly been foiled. His gold, he believed, lay ex- osed at the mouth of the secret passage, but iable at any moment to discovery, and he him- self was in the power of a war-painted savage. As he realized his danger, he bent forward in the saddle, forcing his captor into the same pos- ture; and then, working his hand backward, drew bis knife. ee himself again, he strove to thrust the blade of his weapon upward to cut the hands that were almost crushing bis ribs; but the Kioway, springing to his knees, bent the head and shoulders of his captive, at the same time retaining the firm gripe that he had taken. With a groan, Captain Halfhand dropped his knife, and Big Medicine recovered his position. But at this moment burst, as from the earth in their front, a piercing cry of agony and de- spair, and the terrified horse made a bound to one side. Both men fell from the saddle. The Kioway loosened his hold as he fell, to grasp the bridle, and as the outlaw rolled under its legs, the horse gave a vigorous kick which laid him senseless, Rising to ‘his feet, the Indian unloosed the ae secured the horse, and then gazed around iim. Within a few feet of them, he saw a human head projecting from the earth, the features of the same being convulsed with terrible suffer- ing. Instantly Big Medicine comprehended the riddle; and he walked around, giving a grunt of satisfaction as he detected the trail of Dash- ing Dolores, and decided that she had at least ae the man for whom she had sought so ong. As the Kioway stood contemplating this hideous torture, his gaze was drawn upward at the brazen sky, where, through the hazy air, soared the red-jowled carrion-seeking birds’ craning their necks, and turning their heads sideways, to gaze gloatingly down upon their expected feast. As he recalled the events of the near past, he felt that he could detect a strong resemblance between the buried man— terribly contorted though bis countenance was —and the bandit that Dolores had captured in the canyon. Watching for a time the sufferer, who ap- peared unconscious of his presence, the face of the Kioway suddenly lighted up with an ex- pression of the most vengeful satisfaction, The man thus buried alive, and whose brain, exposed as it was to the burning rays of the sun, must seem as molten lead, was one of Cap- tain Halfhand’s followers; and, if he deserved such a fate, his chief did also. No sooner did Big Medicine arrive at what he considered such a just decision, than beat once proceeded to dig a hole, using his long scalping-knife to loosen the earth. He fixed upon a spot about eight feet from the frightfully convulsed head which projected above the plain; but, before he had worked five minutes, he was forced to secure Halfhand, who gave signs of returning con- sciousness, It was a long and tedious task to sink the hole to the depth required, but Bi Medicine at last accomplished bis object, an slid the bandit chief feet first into the excava- tion, and quickly filled it in, leaving the outlaw leader and his tool and spy facing each other in their misery—one fated to see the orbs of the other film in the agonizing death which must rack his own last moments, As the Kioway trampled down the earth around the neck of Captain Halfhand, who was only just regaining his senses, the former ut- tered an exultant guttural chant for a short time, and then sprung upon the horse, and with a wild whoop galloped toward the south trail, where he hoped to meet Square Sim and the citizens, ready for an advance up the canyon to the cave of the Wild Cats. a. CHAPTER XXVI. ANOTHER TURN OF THE WHEEL. Tue arched cave-chamber, whioh Diamond Dick so speedily vacated, resounded with fierce and vengeful oaths, and the drink- maddened bandits fired their revolvers at the wax candles around the walls, the re- ports reverberating through the cavern, and causing Lucile Luzerne to rush from ber apartment in the most dread apprehension, to the scene of commotion. Three or four fierce knife-fights followed, and several of the out- laws lay bleeding on the floor when the woman in black, with a revolver in each hand, rushed into the cavern. One glance showed her that Dick was gone, and her face turned the pallor of death, while her teeth closed fiercely over her lips, bringing the blood. . As she appeared, one of the bandits, observ- ing her, gave a yell, and then all became silent. The conviction flashed upon Lucile that she could only control this drunken mob by instan- taneous action. She felt she so madly worshi had followed the corpses which she had directed him to throw from human sight. ‘‘ Where is the captive?” she demanded. | Drunk as they were, most of her band real- ized that their Queen was murder- The } ~ *"eom cS ositive that the one © (e OO : - 5 | | | ‘