Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 202 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

1 slid inter their blankets,” said Zeke, ‘ 8 Cactus Jack . ~. +. —<$$__—_ a — dance on the floor, but the old scout stripped off the mask and they saw the face of a man not older than Jack—a man who did not look so very wicked, but he certainly did seem wild and reckless—but he was a stranger to both. It was no time to talk with him, so he was gagged and laid aside. ** Now, then,” said Cactus Jack, ‘‘ how are we to get out of here? Do you suppose there is more than one place of exit?” ‘We kin only tell by tryin’.” “And, maybe, ruu onter ths gang.” ** We kain’t stay hyer.” ‘“No. . Well, let’s poke out at once. Of course, the main entrance is over where the Black Masks are, but we can’t pass them un- seen. If we can find a place of exit at the rear, we are all right.” They left the captive robber in the den and went on through the narrow way. Neither of them had any intention of becoming a prisoner again. They bad a rifle, two revolvers and two knives, and, with these, they were prepared to make a fight if they could not avoid it. Just how he knife to which they owed their freedom came upon the couch was not clear; but, as they had seen no sign that they had a | friend in the band, it was probable it dropped from the belt of some robber. Their long strides took them rapidly through the passage, but it narrowed abruptly and, at last, they paused where it would admit of no _further progress, Even asmall boy could not have gone more than a rod further, so their hopes of an exit at the rear were dashed to the ground. ‘‘Durn ther luck!” said Bozeman, ‘‘ What shall we do now?” “There’s only one way of leaving the cave. We must pass the guards or stay in.” ‘‘How kin we pass? Ther buzzards are roostin’ down thar thicker’n fleas ona yaller dog’s back.” Cactus Jack scowled and stared at vacancy. He was resolved to escape, even if they had to resort to a dash, but he preferred to do the work in a quiet sort of a way. Was sucha wer open to them? othing promising occurred to him and they on slowly back to where the guard had been eft. ‘“'T’wo or three o’ ther skunks 0’ misery have un’ ef ther thing gets ter be an epidemic thar may be some hope fur us,” ‘We must make a hope.” **How?? 5 ** An idea begins to surge through my noddle which will either make or break.” | ** What is it?” ‘*T propose that one of us put on this fellow’s mask and walk afew yards toward the otber varmints, but not far enough to be very plainly seen. Having done this, we can hail them as though something was wanted. The hail will bring one of the men to this place. When he comes, we can set gently down on him, as it were, and then wind afew strings around his carcass to keep him quiet.” ‘We would be durned lucky ter doit without his givin’ ther alarm.” ‘“ Weanustrisk it. Having bound bim, one of us can put on his clothes and saunter back to- ward the crowd, but not to join them. Instead, it will be necessary to keep to the right, where all is dark, by which course they can be assed.” ‘* But that leaves one o’ us hyer,” remon- strated Bozeman. ‘‘True, but, in a short time after, he could put on the other mask and saunter along the same course, pass the crowd as the first man had done, and then both could escape from the cave.” ** Tt can’t be did.” “ Why not?” ‘‘ Ther chances are all ag’in’ it.’ ’Tain’t likely we could capter ther second galoot without an alarm, an’ ef.we did, you don’t s’pose they would lét balf a dozen men walk past them as you suggest, do ye?” “‘Don’t exaggerate on the number, Boze, for I won’t agree to take more than two through. Seriously, admit it is a squeakish plan, but we have our choice between it and a dash,” ‘By ther Etarnal, we'll try it first, an’ then Sage fur a dash if it fails.” , The scheme looked wholly impracticable, but both of the adventurers had seen equally simple onessucceed, and they began their work. Bozeman put on the mask erstwhile worn by the captive robber, and then boldly advanced a few paces toward the band. At least half of them were lying down or nodding in a sitting ition, and though he spoke gruffly and fear- essly, he took pains not to raise his voice too ** Hallo, thar!” he said, No one gave any attention. ‘*] sav, hallo thar!” | This time, one of the men looked around sleepily. Both the lieutenant and Zina had sought their respective apartments off the main chamber, and the robber knew some one must -aoswer the call of the supposed guard. **What’s wanted?” be crossly asked. F pape another torch this way,” Bozeman said, : The robber yawned, slowly arose, stretched himself, a arek up a pine knot and shuffled toward the disguised guide. ‘Why ther blazes didn’t you look out fur sech things before this?’ he asked, rubbing his eyes. “*©Ther torch they give me was no good.” The man extended the pine knot, but just as Bozeinman’s hand closed upon it, Cactus Jack suddenly wound his.strong arms and legs about the robber and bore him to the stony floor. His band was on the fellow’s neck, making im- possible any cry which might have sounded, and few men ever get out of bis crushing hold sooner than he allowed them to escape. Hardly were they down before Zeke Bozeman took a hand in the game, and in a short time the man in the mask was securely bound and gagged. - They took a look «ft his face, but it was a strange one, and he was at once stowed away beside bis comrade. All was then ready for the next step in the venture, and Cactus Jack put on one of the masks and sauntered down tbe cave, No one noticed him particularly. Such of the robbers as were not sleeping seemed to have business of their own to attend to, and the guide’s confi- dence increased. Keeping close watch, he walked along to the right of the party, where all was dark, and in this way passed by without causing alarm. It was perbaps five minutes later when a second figure came along the same course, one thicker and shorter, and when it had disap- eared in the shadows, both guides were on the ower side of the cave, Bozeman had gone but a few paces further, when be encountered Cactus Jack. ‘‘ How’s this for luck?” the giant asked. ‘* We ain’t c’ar yet,” Zeke answered. ‘ But we will be mighty soon. The place of exit is just ahead.” “ Ain’t thar a guard?” “Thar was one, but I laid him down and put strings on his fingers and toes. Ob! it is all right, Boze, and the way to freedom is clear.” ‘* Lead on immediate.” Cactus Jack was in equal haste, but be paused to put a rifle in the mountain man’s had ‘‘Here is your own shooting-stick, and bere are yoursixes. I’ve got all our weapons back.” It was a piece of good luck which only an old borderman can understand, but it was no time for words and they hastened along; the en- trance was reached and passed and they were standing in a low gulch, The moon had arisen and a silver light was over plain and mountain. Only in the places where the rocks flung shadows was there dark- ness, but it was in one of these places that they had emerged and there was little danger of dis- covery. Cactus. Jack turned to the right and they went on for several yards in sllence. “Can yer find yer way back hyer?”” Zeke asked. ‘*“You bet I can; and I’m going to do it mighty quick. In an hour [jl have Captain Brigbam and his men on this ground.” “Ts that ther schedule?” si Yes.” ‘‘Then we are makin’ a mistake. Ef you want ter find this gang again, you had better let me stay and watch nigh the mouth of the den. The chances are they will diskiver our escape afore long, an’ ef they don’t git up an’ dust then, they are fools. So, ef L watch, I kin trail them down ef they skip. There was wisdom in thie suggestion, and Cactus Jack at: once agreed to it. He said good-by and hastened toward the fort while Bozeman slowly retraced bis steps toward the mouth of the cave. Securing a good place a few rods away and where the shadows were deep, he sat down and waited patiently. “Such a watch would have been a nervous one to an inexperienced person, but Bozeman had seen so many years of wild life that he betrayed no emotion whatever. | The moon was striding up the sky and its light seemed like liquid silver. It touched the mountain peaks caressingly, while on the other side the shadows of the rocks were almost startlingly dark and somber. In such a place a lover of the beautiful in nature could find his dreams ail realized. . An hour passed, and then came Cactus Jack accompanied by Captain Brigham and two score soldiers, Their triumpl seemed near at hand. Tbe mountaineer had not seen the enemy leave the cave, and it looked as though the dreaded Black Masks were about to be cap- tured. The cave was entered with some caution, Even for men who make war a trade, there is no pleasure in seeking a foe in a dark, under- ground hole, and no man could call the defend- ers of Fort Black cowardly because they liked not their work. Still, there was no danger, They entered and found the placeempty. Masked queen and male followers had gone, and in a way for , the Giant Guide. \ ' —_—— which no one then there could account, but the | unconsumed torches were found at one side to prove the guides’ story in part. Had it not been for that, the mysterious man- ner of their going might have made some of the soldiers doubt. : CHAPTER VIII. THE TOWNSEND RANCH. THE night was well advanced when the guides and Brigham’s little army neared the fort on their return. They were not coming as victors, with flying banners and the spoils of war, bi - very modestly, as became men who had faile in their undertaking. ; Neither the mysterious ‘‘ Zina” nor any o1 member of her band had been found. The cave and its vicinity had been thorough |; searched, and that, too, by men of great keenne —for Bozeman and Cactus Jack were nothir less—but they could not even tell bow or whe ‘s_ the band had gone. The cave was very irreg1 lax in places, so there was nothing remarkable in the disappearance. Only one thing seemed clear—the two guide, had seen the f- mous ‘‘ Black Masks.” There was little room to doubt that. The garbs ha‘ been like theirs, and, as it was not likely Bla Bend had another mystic league, the captain of i post regarded the probability as a setts. act. Cactus Jack was annoyed at the result of the adventury, but it had served to awaken fresh interest on his part, and he reiterated his re- solve to find and bring them to justice. Captain Brighem was inclined to be well sat- isfied, for one step had been taken forward, and he trusted that continued watchfulness would soon bring all to light. The power and means of the outlaws were illustrated by the fact that they had succeeded in disposing of the body of the man Sturgis be- fore the canyon was reached. Thespo where he struck when_ he fell from the cliff was marked by a deep furrow, but, like the man who had hurled him to his feet, he had left no merk of identity bebind. Cactus Jack and Bozeman sought their ‘‘ hotel” to get a little sleep before day, and the soldiers went on to their quarters. Captain Brigham did not undress again that night. He had business in hand for the coming day which required some preparation, and he wanted to be early astir. Everything worked with clock-like regularity. It had been arranged to devote the forenoon to a search for the Black Masks, and the plan was conscientiously but fruitlessly carried out, No one had expected anything more, least of all the guides. They had a veteran border- man’s lack of confidence in regular soldiers— they were well enough in an open fight on a dead-level plain, but not worth a picayune where strategy, mountain work or subterfuge was in order. ‘Tek your critters home, cap’n,” said Beze- man, ‘‘an’ leave us ter fight down ther road- agents alone.” ‘*T think it the best way,” Brigham admitted. ‘*Sartin it is. This must be a game o’ cun- nin’, an’ two men kin play it better nor two hundred.” So the soldier bade his allies go ahead, and himself went to his quarters to prepare for the event of the day, | Mr. Townsend, the geologist, had invited him to call at the ranch, and it was an invitation the eaptain had no thought of refusing. He had been there before, and always with pleasant result, and he might have said that he was drawn as by a magnet. The ravchman was no lonely sojourner in the West. With him when he came were his sons, James and Lucas. and bis daughter, Marian. Marian was a beauty, and it was the concen- trated power of her face, eyes, smile and voice that made the magnet which drew Captain Bingham to the ranch, and it was because of her, too, that he bad heard with regret that the family would soon return East, Because of her again, he made his preparations for the visit with great care. The blue uniform was brushed until his arm ached, and it was a very model young cflicer that finally wended bis way to the Townsend home. The building was the largest about Black Bend, surpassing even the fort, and people had laughed when it was built, but the geologist had never been accustomed to contracted quarters, and did not wish to begin then. Bingham was soon in the presence of the family, which was composed of Mr. Townsend, distinguished-looking, gentlemanly, kind and courteous; Marian, queenly in her style of beauty, stately—so much so that many thought her proud and hauyhty—but tender-hearted and devoted as a d-ughter and sister; James and Lucas, strong and manly of form, bandsome, too, as men go, and with ways which had ever mede them friends. The brothers,were much alike in appearance, except that Lucas was shorter and broader- shouldered than his elder brother. This gave bim a more rugged appearance, but when their abilities had been tested in a playful contest, 00 ~ comic Ss : hd * .» * es