Beadle's Dime Library, No. 261 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

gazing on the placid stream before him, all un- conscious of the impending doom. He sees not the tall, slender form of Monte- zuma gliding stealthily around the white can- vas wall—ie sees pot the deadly knife grasped in the strong, nervous fingers. L Once he hears a faint footfall and is turning his head. But, with the spring of a tiger, Montezuma ‘Vs upon him. The deadly knife sinks into the Indian’s body. The blow is mortal and the dusky form sinks to the ground, a slight asp being the only sound accompanying the dread summons, Sam and the lieutenant hear the slight noise of the Indian guard’s fall, and the latter at once ippepen the thin canvas. 1rough this opening they enter the inclosure cat the same instant that Montezuma springs in ‘by the first entrance. The noise thus created, slight though it was, aroused an old Indian crone who had been ‘sleeping on a pile of skins in one corner, At sight of the three strange men, one white, one black, and one of her own coppery com- lexion, she gave a scream that might have een heard the whole length of the little valley. “Great Jerusale’:!” cried Sam, springing forward. ‘She will hab the whole gang on us in a few minits!” He clapped one of his buge hafids over the Indian hag’s mouth, effectually stopping. her noise, The other two hastened to bis assistance, and in a few moments the ancient crone lay gagged and bound. They bad now time to turn their atteation to the remaining occupant of the tent. The tumult occasioned by this sudden inva- sion had by no means been unnoticed in that quarter, A young maiden just quitting her teens had sprung up from the iron camp-bed at the oppo- site side of the tent on the first entrance of our three friends. Their strange and sudden attack at first ut- terly bewildered her. Terror took possession of her heart at sight of the negro and Montezuma. But a second glance revealed to her Richard Moore’s manly form, and the sight of a face core American roused a vague hope in her eart. She had been taking but a temporary nap, one rose fully dressed from the narrow camp- After disposing of the old squaw, Richard Moore turned to the maiden, and said as he respectfully doffed bis fur cap: “I trust we have not disturbed you over- much, We have come to save you,” The gentle yet manly tone of the speaker completely dissipated the young girl’s fears. His voice sounded strangely familiar, end taking courage, she glanced more closely at the young soldier’s features. She saw a pale, clear-cut visage, dark, silky hair and mustache, and dark-gray eyes that shone with singular resolution, yet gentle- ness, Richard Moore met the glance and his heart thrilled with a new, strange emotion as he ob- served the lovely features and form of his old- time playmate. | The spirited, graceful, blue-eyed girl had developed into a woman, possessing remarkable personal attractions. ** Birdie!” The old familiar name fell involuntarily ei? lips as he met the maiden’s The latter no longer doubted. “It is Richard! Oh, thank Heaven!” she ex- claimed in the depths of her gratitude. “Oh, Richard! save me from that demon’s power! Do this—and no‘fayor on earth can recompense you.” The sudden relief from the depths of despair overcame the girl, and clasping her hands to her face, she burst into tears; but they were tears of joy. ‘It’s high time we be goin’,” broke in Sam, whom too much sentiment made restiegs, ‘Trae; the joy of this meeting has made me 7 our danger,” said the lieutenant, e forthwith tenderly lifted Birdie Lester in his arms and hastened rapidly through the opening in the rear, = — ™ Indian followed. ey Sad just reached the little vew the sound of distant voices told client thie cate raiders were returning, CHAPTER XVII. A BAFFLED BANDIT. It is row time that we return to Balboaz and his small remnant of followers, whom re “i before the secret entrance of the natural unnel. The wonderful phenomenon of the of the cliff opening to receive the a a pressed scouts and then instantly closin again caused even the cunning bandit to stand for a moment balf stunned, erinsad aly t “eal aisha a the French Black Sam, | —— —— caninum amen TT —_—_—_—_————— As the reader will remember, one of the Mex- icans had fallen along with Sam into the strange cavern. The remaining three, more fortunate, after beholding what they devoutly believed to bea miracle, gave one howl of superstitious terror; and turning, scrambled back at full speed over the huge bowlder. As with nearly all half-savage, ignorant people, the strange, the unknown, had for them a certain terrible import as being the manifes- tation of a power infinitely superior to the feeble will of man, Hence the scene of this ae incident was ever afterward shunned by the band of raiders as being consecrated by a Presence hostile to themselves. ’ It was otherwise with Balboaz. His keener intelligence would not allow that anything superhuman had to do with the oc- currence so long as a natural solution was possible. Having recovered from the first shock of amazement, he called upon his subordinates to r turn and assist bim in ferreting out the mys- tery. In vain. Noinducement could prevail upon them to pass behind the bowlder a second time. He became angry. He commanded instant obedience or they should receive punishment as traitors. “Tt’s useless, cap’n,” responded one, ‘‘ The place is haunted. It’s death to any one to fool eround that spot. I, for one, woud rather die like a human being, than be whisked through a cliff by ghosts, like poor Sancho,” The others mutely echoed this opinion, The captain swore in good round Spanish. Balboaz had good reason to be out of sorts with him-elf and all around him. Of the fifteen men be had led against the oma scouts only four were left, including him- self. Ten had fallen victims to the deadly weapons of the army scouts. One had fallen through the mysterious opening in the cliff. Balboaz himself had received a pistol-wound in the shoulder which was beginning to smart painfully. _ And after all, just as the victims were seem- ingly in his grasp, they had been snatched from him, as it were, miraculously. When he found that his men were past listen- ing to words. of his, he himself examined by feeling in the dense darkness the stone face of tbe cliff. He beat against it with his hands—he pushed with all bis force, which was somewhat consid- erable, He might really have been pushing against conan of a precipice forall the impression he made, Not a tremor could he produce in the myste- rious rock. He finally gave up in despair. ‘*One of you must stand sentinel here,” he said when he came forth. ‘There is a passage through that rock. I shall credit my own eyes in spite of all the witchcraft in existence.” The men responded not to the commission oe “ a py om inom. psa ae at eir glances, furtively exchan inl told Balboaz that it sonia be vain to a f any one of the four to remain alone within sight of the mysterious passage. Their leader tried another plav. “Since neither of you have the co e totry italone I shall leave two. You, Juan and Gomez watch thiscavern wall. Hide yourselves be- hind the rocks, and the first one that comes forth, shoot him dead. Should it prove to be the American officer, you may expect a thou- sand pesos to divide between you,’ It was this last promise that decided the ban- dits; the two men named at once stepped forth and secured suitable posts for peatohing the nook between the cliffs. This point settled to his satisfaction, Balboaz, accompanied by the remaining Mexican, re- traced bis steps through the thicket of cedar. The passage occupied some considerable time on account of the darkness and the interlacing branches, under which they were compelled to creep. When they at last issued upon the open part of the steep ridge, they were just in time to see the otber two divisions of the band meet each other in the road below, Balboaz and his companion hastily descended to inquire the result of their search, though, of course, he knew it had been unsuccessful, so far as the two scouts were concerned. To his questions, he learned from the leader of the band that had made a direct descent of the mountains, that two handsome steeds, ready saddled as if for a araey had been found tethered in a deep, secluded ravine beneath some magnolia trees, 1 The bandit leader could scarce restrain his Joy at this information. ‘They are theirs,” he exclaimed, “and their rifles—did you see them?” “ No. ” “They were doubtless hidden in some hollow log. You left everything undisturbed?” the Prairie Thunderbolt. oe NOM a ra meee acer ** Didn’t touch a ei ‘**Did you leave a trail to show that some one had been there?” so cae» ye of that very thing, cap’n, and was careful as near as I could, not to leavea trace of one,” ‘You did right. You have more foresight than | gave you credit for. To prove my cenfi- dence I shall make you leader of the expedition I have planned.” Pausing a moment Balboaz continued: “You will take this same party and return to the ravine in which you found the borses, Be careful that no trace of your movements be left on the way. Place yourselves in ambush and when these two men show up for their horses, don’t give them a moment's notice, but fire into them on the spot. The American is a tricky scoundrel and will slip through your fingers on the slightest chance,” ‘“‘He will make his last slip,” said the Mexi- can, with a grim attempt at jesting, “if he shows up within reach of our rifles. He will gi into his grave,” be party of some fifteen men then turned to retrace its steps down the steep mountain side. This movement bad scarcely been made when a wild shriek was heard, coming from the little vale in which the raiders had encamped. **Carambo!” exclaimed Balboaz, “ some- thing has bappened in the camp! I remember now, | for gat to leave a guard, Curses! if any- thing should befall the Senora Lester!” Full of vague anxieties he called to the re- mainder of the band to follow him, and hastened rapidly around the ridge into the little valley. CHAPTER XIX. THE PURSUIT, THE voices and the tramp of aes men that heralded the return of Balboaz and his train of followers were borne with ominous sound to the ears of Richard Moore and bis lovely burden. Had he been freed from that dainty burden with only himself to care for, not the faintest tremor would have stirred the brave lieutenant’s heart at the near approach of his enemies, Now, the situation was quite different. The presence of his beautiful charge would he a serious chs ig case of a rapid pursuit; and, should they be forced to turn at bay, as had actually ha pene only an hour before, would scarcely fa ing attended with the most seri- ous consequences. Pig These thoughts flashed through Richard Moore’s mind, and probably something of bis anxiety was depicted in his features, for he pir, Tee ed borne in his strong arms sudifén- observed: of Richard, you have formed a strangely low Opinion of me,” . “@ ' Eicher s pare oe chs ins gg as- sertion for an instant impede reply, . he KP pe oe A PYaunatien ow! alow opinion of you? What unfor- tunate conduct of mine has Bat that notidn into as sie to bh feal zou ; eun as my s wers,” - tinued Birdie. “You have forgotten that Tam a plain countr pil, I am used to running over hills and plains and driving the wild horses and cattle like any cowboy. rar you. have come and picked me up as daintily as though I were one of those cily dolls who. spen in: If their time in a rocking-chair, and the other half in sleep; and who grow short-winded walking round a square.” _ The lieutenant laughed. It was evident this information by no means lowered the fair girl in his estimation, He at once released her, though reluctantly we must confess, and along side by side he said: — ‘*T must acknowledge my mistake. know into what a paragon you had here we are at the foot of the that leads u into the mountain, This, I fear, will test all your agility, Miss Le ter. Ate They had, in fact, just reached the end ip tte little valley, and arrived at the entrance same path scended a few minutes we? x The Indian and Sam bad followed close be- he ep acting as a rear guard to our hero, and his And at this moment a ory..of rage from the little tent told them that Balboaz had reached me.ccane of their late exploit and discovered s loss, mow indeod, they realized that no time was os . ¥ Already mingled shouts and commands frc the rear announced that a pursuit was. ee ore this critical unfo this c juncture an rtunate inci- dent occurred. . br a re In reply to Moore’s last remark, Birdie L-ster sprung up the narrow, pass with the agility and of an antelope, and reaching a jutting point of rock, turned and sent back a pealof silvery laughter. It was a mere impulse of the moment; buat trifling as it was that peal of laughter brought somewhat as they ran I did not rown, But down which the three men had me Eomicbooks*co — - eit