Beadle's Dime Library No. 237 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

- — — ae ee —__-_- ‘‘ Not the slightest. I had no chance to look through the door,” ** And you know nothing of the Black League?” ‘*T never beard tho name before.” Max believed that he was telling the. truth and asked no more questions. The mystery of League was still unsolved, still puzzling and be- yond his power of analysis, but once in the sub- terranean abode, and they would goon learn all. The entire party, including Castro and Miss Arnold, left the house and hurried toward the mission, The work of vengeance was fairly in progress, and their female ally would not leave them until the end was reached. On reaching the mission they found every- thing as quiet as before. Silence and darkness brooded over the crumbling pile and the broken walls had never looked more somber and for- bidding. They entered, and all eyes became fixed upon the vee The test of his good faith was at an For a moment he hesitated and they began to fear that he intended some trick, but, making Silowance for the darkness, they gave him time He looked carefully at the fragmenta of ma- sonry which strewed the floor. The broken pil- lars and shapeless blocks formed labyrinthine ges, and it was not easy for a novice to read the right track; but be finally moved on a after a short time, paused near the eastern wa ‘This is the spot,” he said, confidently. Max gained fresh courage. They were near where the ghostly monk and yonne girl had en- acted their pantomime on the wall, and he felt sure all was progressing well. Tim Foley uncovered the lanterp, and as its Ligh: fell on the floor, Castro brightened percep- wh stepped upon one edge of a square flagging stone and pressed as though he expected to see ifturn. It remained motionless, ** Are we blocked?” Eaton asked. **No, senor. Do what 1 tell you and all will be well. Under yonder broken pillar you sbould find a flat bar of iron. Look for it!” Foley speedily produced the article. ** Now,” continued the Mexican, ‘‘insert it be- tween those two blocks and move it from side a side, There is some sort of a secret spring there.’ Again he was obeyed, but though Tim worked faithfully, several minutes passed without = sult. Just as all were becoming impatient, sharp Click sounded, ‘* Ha!” eried Castro, ‘‘ the way is now open. Step again on the equare stone!” ax obeyed, and at his touch the rock rolled half way over, remaining secure at the center, but leaving an opening through which a man could easily descend. A damp current of air rushed up and all was ‘darkness and silence below. With the way at last open, the searching party wondered if they bad done wisely to come with so smalla force. Perhaps a score of desperate villains lurked in the darkness, ready to pour in a deadly volley, and they were but eight in number, ‘111 lead ther way,” said the alcalde, firmly. ‘Ther honor 0’ my sonriep orudence must be bung onter ef ther eagle o li rty is left a wid- der. Foller me ter ther beforum o’ iniquity!” His Honor moved boldly to the opening, and when Tim’s lantern showed a number of regular st descended with a resolute air. Te had not fairly disappeared from view, however, before there was a sound from below which indicated that he had found some previ- ous occupant, Tim, staring blankly, saw two objects engaged in a desperate encounter, but that was all he could tell. CHAPTER oR XXXVIL THE LAIR OF THE BLACK LEAGUE. LonG-HAIRED Max did not wait to see the re- sult or the struggle, but, pushing Tim aside, leaped down into the pit ‘and hastened to the alcalde’s aid, It was a matter of great import- ance that no sound should arise to alarm those who migbt be inside, and he regretted that he had not led the way himself. By the time he reached the ground Tim was also on the way, and the light of the Jantern showed Mr. Jones and another man in a close gre pple. The sinewy alcalds seemed to be hold- ing bis own well, and as Max saw his hand on his adversary’s neck he knew why no alarm had been given. Quickly adding his strength to that of his ally, the unknown was soon on bis back and helpless. Max placed his knife at his neck and Jones removed bis hand, for both wished to question bim, but the fellow’s eyes had closed and they saw that he was really insensible. The alcalde’s grasp had nearly choked out his ife. ‘Durnation wildcats!” said the victor, in a subdued voice, ‘‘ I didn’t know I was so thun- derin musk’ler, Purty business fur an alcalde ‘an’ victor. Ef any one presents a complaint, Pll bev ter fine myself fur unprovoked assault. aunt are is right; tote him up ter ther fresh Long-Haired Max. Max. The stranger was carried above and then the panty prepared for the next move in the game, eyond them, on the south sido, was a wall of masonry with an iron door which opened in- ward. Tbe great question now became, was this door fastened? Major Eaton tried it—it yielded to his touch. He pushed it open and saw another dark cavity but at the furtberend a gleam of light appeare ed as from acrevice. They had reached a passage which was five feet wide, but at the further end was another room and there, doubtless, was the secret of the Black Leagu Creeping forward they. vt fat to another door. The faint murmur of voices reached their ears; beyond was a lighted room—the lair of the Black Brethren. Eaton called bis men well to his side, and then the door was pushed open and the whole party marched through. The gaze of Long-Haired Max flashed like lightning around bim. He saw a room forty feet long and balf as wide, and as it was well lighted he saw, too, the ‘half. dozen men who were seated near a fire and, evidently, deep in the mysteries of some game of gambling. They at first looked up carelessly, but atsight of the intruders one and all sprung to their feet in alarm. The crisis was at hand and Major Eaton did not hesitate, At hiscommand the muskets of the soldiers came up promptly and a series of sbarp clicks announced that they were ready for business. ‘Halt there!” cried the major, sharply. ‘‘If you raise a hand my men willfire. You are my prisoners!” The explanation was clear and decisive, The men of the cave were not cowardly of look, but their common sense told them that this gray- haired man in blue meant jost what he said, With the odds against them, it was clear that they must yield to the will of the invaders. Having thus decided they began to think of their future, ‘‘ What does this hyar mean?” one of them asked. ‘It means that your race is run,’ ‘* What do you mean, gener al? nothin’ wrong.” **Of course not!” Eaton sarcastically said, “Then why are we arrested?” “Fur high crimes and misendeavors!” cried the alcalde, pressing to the front, ‘* You’re charged | with arin’ tail- feathers out o’ ther quiver o’ the bird 0" freedom, an’ youre wanted in ther boodwah o’ jestice.” During this dialogue Long-Haired Max had been using his eyesight well, though he gained little information. ‘The den was anold cur ‘iosity shop ona new scale, From end to end it was filled with articles of various kinds, Beds, clothing, cooking-utensils, tools and a great va- riety of other things, but still no ligut on the mystery of the Black League, S me distance away, however, he saw evi- dence that at leastone man wasin bed, A head was slightly raised, as though furtively survey- ing them, and Max was sure it was that of Cap- tain Peters. As the soldiers gathered around the late gam- blers, the cavalier walked toward the bed and saw that be bad indeed been right, ‘“‘ How do you do, Captain Peters?” he blandly asked, The man replied with a groan. ‘* What’s the trouble?” Max continued. “ Hope your change of hotels hasn’t harmed yuu any. The ski per looked at the soldiers and then back to Van cna on tew the breakers at ten knots to the hour,” he answered, hoarsely. ‘* That infarnal movin’ did the business fur me; it brought on a hemorrhage, an’ I’m a gone goose. 1 jedge from the lookso things the hu'l business has gone tew the dogs, but I don’t care a darn; ees ot to skip fur my last v’y’ge right soon, whetber or may There was vittle room to doubt the statement. The once bronzed face of the skipper had grown very pale, his cheeks were sunken, his eyes dim, and the Loarse voice in which he spoke wes surely the forerunner of death. ‘i'm sorry for you,” Max mechanically said. ‘‘T blame nobody but myself. Ive lived like a fool an’ like a fool I must die, The wages o’ sin isdeath. That's what I hearn the old miu- ister preach when I was a boy, an’ it comes home to me now. I ain’t a.coward, and I kin die with a straight face, but when i git intew the last harbor and they ask at the grand cus- tom-housa fur my log- -book, what will there be in my favor? Nothin’; lve lived likea fool and like a fool I shall die. 9? While the skipper spoke, all the party had gathered about bim, but he did not heed them. After the last age there was si- ee for a moment, but he suddenly looked at We ain’t did “ i shall never see the Water Witch ag’in,” he said, ‘You certainly never will, for she bas gone to her 5 ae before yon. This morning I was at San Lo and I saw the schooner driven on the rocks nied then torn in pieces by the break- ing billows.” | ———— ee SC 2) Peters made an effort, and arose to his el- Ow. ‘‘Do you mean the Water Witch?” he asked with such evident distress that Max regretted having spoken. ‘Yes. No two planks of her bull remain to- gether. ** And the crew?” Max besitated, “Tell the truth, messmate,” “They are all dead!” Poters fell tack on the pillow with a groan. ‘**Gone—all gone!” he muttered, hoarsely. ‘‘ Schooner, crew, captain! A curse was over all. Poor old schooner! poor old Water Witch! Yet it may as well beso, In any case, I should never tread her deck again, Yes, it is well that vessel and captain should float intew the last harbor on the same day.” The explorers were becoming impatient, but x made gestures forthem to wait. He wished to hear the story of the Black League from this man if possibie; be would tell it clearer than the subordinates. Suddenly he aroused again. ‘“*T see the lightnin’ has struck,” he said, ‘You are in this den, an’ it shows that Jim Bar- stow won't live taw crow over me.’ ‘You will die a natural death; he will hang,” said Max. ‘By the way, will you aid us by explaining the ways of this cave?” ‘This room is only where the men live,” said Peters. ‘‘Them passages you see yender lead tew tbe aap where we hey dug the gold. What we ot sence the schooner was block- as be’n buried somew here—the The jig is up, an’ we may aded ontaiie, men will show you. as wal strike our flag.” The dying skipper closed bis eyes as though the conversation fatigued him and he wis! ed to rest. Max turned to the Pfoeuaee ‘*Show us around, the place,” he said, as ¢ ietly as though he knew all about the League. ud then, as they hesitated; ‘* You shall not regret your course if you oblige us.” t was enough, The men, whatever their faults, were a grade better than cut- throats, and with the know edge before them that ruin had come to their enterprise, they concluded that it- was better to win what favor they could. Accordingly, all volunteered to act as guides, and under their lead our friends explored the | Black League’s lair. Only a few steps bad been taken when they saw several picks leaning against the wall. ‘* What are these for?’ Eaton asked. ‘To dig the gold.” “Do you mean that the old monks left a trea- sure here?” “No; it is unmined gold,” Light began to dawn on the cavalier’s mind. He followed the guides closely, and wus led along a narrow passage for a hundred feet. Then they came upon the scene of extensive mining operations. The men had worked in ever oy direction, and honeycombed the bill. 5 Ee nothing lawless about this,” said Ea- You forget,” answered Max, dryly, ‘* that we. are on the premises of Don Ramon Vic- oria, ‘Ha! Isee now, The vail of mystery lifts.” The whole of the excavation was visited, but nothing except the abundant evidence of mining was found, and at last they went back to the main room to hear the story of Captain Peters. They felt sure he would talk. CHAPTER XXXVIII. THE SPRINGING OF THE TRAP. COLONEL BarsTOW had laid bis plans for the closing act in bis drama with all possible skill. Of late, in tracing the fortunes of his enemies, we have so lost sight of the plotters that bis own cmon have been presented in an unfavorable. t. use perseverance and luck had over- thrown his side-plays, it does not follow that they were poor, and in going to Casa Victoria that evening for the grand finale he did not sus- pect that misfortune was at bis heels. So far as the drama on the cliff was con- cerned, whica began with the decoy signal and ended with the violent death of Buck Eagan, ho believed that he had kept all knowledge of the affair from his enemies by killing Buck. Again, as he had not known of the return of Long-Haired Mex, or the arrival of Marcy, he had age to believe both bad been killed by his agents, while he relied on the little vial to: silence Miss Lingard. By this explanstion it will be seen that he had no reason to apprehend trouble when he pre- sented himself at Don Ramon’s residence that evening. Lieutenant Mellough, too, believed himself gliding oi a tranquil sea, metaphorically tenis No whisper of the arrival of Major ton had resched bim, and when he that even- ing left the jail and walked to the casa, bis head was high in the air, and he did not once remem- ber that it was only at a second measuring tbat he had been pronounced tall enough to serve as & soldier. On entering the house he received the usual Gomichdooks ee