Beadle's Dime Library, No. 261 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

a ) - amined the volume. 3 14 ‘than bimself in the use of that weapon, would inevitably end in his own fall. The first attack had already resulted in a slight cut ia the arm, while his assailants were untouched. His fertile brain soon conceived a novel mode | of defense. Suddenly, without a moment’s warning, he darted off at full speed toward the mouth of the ravine. CHAPTER XXIII. GONE! RICHARD MOORE possessed great swiftness of foot and for a few seconds made the ground fly from under him, The two Indians raised a yell at what they took to be the cowardly fligbt of their victim; and without a moment's hesitation bounded after him, one leading the other by a few yards, They were mistaken if they thought the white scout was going to indulge them ina long race, He had not run pomens fifty yards, durin ‘which brief interval he had drawn and cocke his revolver, when, quick as lightning be wheeled and dropped to bis bands and knees. H» had calculated the mome: t to a nicety, The foremost Apache was almost upon him when this to him, astonishing maneuver oc- curred. He could not stop himself in his headlong speed, and striking the unforeseen obstacle was eae in a series of somersaults along the soft turf. At the same instant almost, the lieutenant’s revolver spoke sharply fortb, and the second Indian, also rushing upon him at full speed, fell lifeless, Then turning quickly the same deadly wea- a was directed against the other Apache who ad just risen from his terrible fall. ‘**Stop where you are,” said Richard Moore tin Spanish. ‘* You are at liberty to go if you choose; but another step against me will be ~your last. I hold your life in my hand.” Whether or no the Indian understood he did not Leed. The sight of bis lifeless brother frie zied him. With a fierce yell resembling that of a wild beast he rushed upon Moore with upraised knife. it was his last attack upon a living foe. ‘The deadly bullet arrested him before he ‘had taken two steps, and he fell. his bronze features stiil contorted with the mad passion ‘that bad driven him to his fate. An expression of sorrow rested upon the pale features of the lieutenant as he replaced the weapon he had used so effectively. He would willingly have spared the fiercs red-men who had sought his life could he have done so without sealing bis own fate. As it was he could only cast one glance of ‘regret on the tall muscular forms stretched out on the green sod, Then be turned and retraced dhis steps to the horses, The result of the fight had been equally for- ‘tunate in that quarter. He found Sim slowly wiping his knife on the grass, while the third Indian, the eldest of the brothers, lay stretched rout before bim, An ugly knife-thrust in the side showed in ‘what manner he had encountered death. ‘* I’m heartily glad to find you’ve conquered, Sam,” said Moore. ‘* Yer may well say so, Mars’ Moore. It am de toughest scramble I’se hai fur a long time.” “*Tt was a tight pinch all round.” “* Sartin, d as lief tackle a well-grown ainter as one ob dem same red-skins, A koife dn dere han’s am like a streak o’ blue lightnin’.” “You were lucky in coming off with a sound , in.’ ‘¢ Mo’ luck dan sciens by a long sight. Jes’ look at dat, Mars’ Moore, if yer wants to see an egzample ob Provydenshal introferences.” Whereupon Sam pulled forth from a breast- pocket a much- worn copy of the New Testament; for the negro scout was a steady-going Baptist and zealous in bis religious belief. The sacred book thus displayed to Richard Moore’s gaze showed plainly where the sharp point of a knife had pierced the leathern cover, almost exactly in the center. The force of the blow must have been great, for as Sam fluttered the leaves the very last showed a faint imprees of the weapon's point, ‘* What sez yer to that?” asked Sam. ‘* Wonderful!” said the lieutenant as he ex- ‘‘So thought the pesky red-skin. He wer’ struck all of a heap when he found, as I s’pose he ’magined, dat my body wer’ knife-proof. Ef it hadu’t been fur ’is ’stonishment, I’d ’a’ neber foun’ a chance to land the blow I did.” ‘* Well, the affair is over and it behooves us to return as quickly as possible to Birdie Lester and her protector.’ ‘“Sartin, ’sides, de rest ob dem rascals will be trooping back d’recktly, mad as stirred-up hor- nets.” | ‘‘ We'll see that they do not catch us here. While I am untying the horses, you may get the _ Fifles,” . {or No time was lost by the lieutenant. The sie lh? horses were loosened, and he was just mounting his own black mare, when a startled cry from Sam stopped him. ‘“What in thunder’s up now, [ wonder?” thought the lieutenant, who was becoming angry | and beauties of the caverns, at so many delays. With a hasty word to the horses to stand, he hurried in the direction Sam bad taken. Their rifles had been hidden in a hollow log, which they had discovered on one side of the ravine, When Moore was near enough to see the negro in the darkness, he found the latter stand- ing motionless a yard or so from the log and gazing at it as if it contained some deadly foe. ‘* W hat is it, Sam? hope?” ** No, sah,” replied Sam, scratching his woolly | trance a short time. ‘* But it am somethin’ a pesky deal like ' of a fight with two such men as Sam and the head, ’em.” **But what is it?’ ** Rattlesnakes,” ‘* Where—-in the log?” * Yes, sah,” ‘Why don’t afraid of them? ‘*T ain't ‘feared ob de sarpints,” said Sam, in defense of his courage. ‘‘A knock on de head will settle ’em every time. But dat amn’t all.” ** Why—what else is the matter?’ ‘One ob de rattlers hab crept into your gun,”’ The lieutenant stared a moment. Then the novelty of the situation, together with Sam’s perplexity, struck him asirresistibly comical, In spite of their many perilous surroundings he could not restrain his mirth at the situation, ne he had partly recovered himself, he said: . **Can’t you get him to come out?’ **No, sah. When I tuk hold on de barrel to pull out de gun, he commenced bissin’. I hadn’t got it mo’ dan balf-way when his tail began to peep out, an’ I dropt it.” ‘* And he crept back?” ** Yes, sah.” ‘He has a fancy for the smell of powder. The gun is loaded, is it not?” sc Yes, sah ad Moore looked at the half protruding rifle. To al] appearance it was empty of any unusual contents. ‘*T have an idea, Sam, how to expel the un- welcome guest.” ‘*Out wid it den, fur I’se gettin’ tired ob dis interruption bizness,” The lieutenant stepped forward, and with a quick movement drew the rifle from the log, and, placing it to his shoulder, fired. Where that serpent went to remains a mys- tery to Sam to this day. The other rifle being procured without fur- ther trouble from rattlesnakes, the two friends returned to their horses, and mounting, rode once more thoroughly equipped out of the little ravine. They turned up the sloping mountain- side toward the point where Montezuma had been left to act as guard over Birdie Lester. They left the ravine just in time for theirown safety. Tbe report of the rifle fired by Moore had reached the ears of the raiders lea by the Mexi- can, and had hastened their steps to the scene of their late ambush. They found nothing to reward their haste save the sight of vacancy where had stood the two horses, and the cold forms of the three In- dian brothers. We leave them to vent their rage on the empty air, while we return to the two scouts. hey rode silently but swiftly uP the steep slope—a narrow bridle-path afforded a passage to the rough mountain road above. The distance is short and they soon reach the point where Montezuma had been left with his utiful charge. Eagerly Ricbard Moore rushes into the se- cluded glade where towered the lofty chestnut. He uttered a cry of grief and astonishment. The Indian and the maid are gone. you drive them out? Are you CHAPTER XXIV. BALBOAZ IN THE SECRET TUNNEL. THe explosion heard by the four fugitives as they were escaping from the sec'et caverns baal as they rightly guessed, destroyed the only barrier between them and their foes. The dark entrance suddenly revealed by the force of a powerful blast was immediately thronged by the forms of men pressing eagerly into the strange underground passage. Balboaz himself was at their head. : Various members of the gang were provided with torches which bad been gathered outside during the preparations for blasting. The only question that troubled them was what direction to pursue. The numerous branches to the right and left would searcely fail to lead them astray. — ‘This difficulty was solved by Balboaz. A small pocket-compass in his possession would enable him to choose the rignt course, as he knew exactly the location of the other en- trance. Thus provided he cautiously advanced at the r Tac” 6) cs ee t : ,* , ony ie? « —- Not Apaches this time, I | Black Sam, the Prairie Thunderbolt. head of his gang in the wake of the three men and the rescued girl. His mind was bent too earnestly on the ob- ject in hand to give much heed to the curiosities Finally, baving succeeded in keeping the straight course so far, they come into the nar- row passage near the ceuter of which lay the treacherous bridge, To the eyes of the gang of raiders all appeared solid ground before them, It bappened, just as they were a few yards from the false bridge, that the shot fired by the Mexican at Montezuma, reached their ears, coming from the direction they were pursuing. 4 : . Hs, Faw | ; e ~ of . “i rr me \ ~~. ;, The noise of the report excited Balboaz. He relied upon the two guards to hold the en- But he knew that in case pir raga the odds were greatly in favor of the atter. Hence he shouted as he sprung forward. ‘Quick, men! they are out already.” But the last word had scarcely left his lips when he felt the ground sinking beneath him. With the quick instinct that danger gives he felt that be was lost if he paused an instant. He made two swift but light bounds even as He treacherous structure was breaking beneath im, By almost a miracle, be struck the solid ground beyond, clearing by barely an inch the edge of the fatal chasm. But as he landed he heard shrieks and cries bebind him, It was these shrieks of stout men falling into the terrible abyss that caused the escaping fugi- tives to shudder with horror, These men bad been following immediately at the heels of Balboaz, and when he uttered the ery—‘‘ Quick, men! they are out already,” they rushed impetuously forward. But while he reached the opposite side in safety, they fell with the crumbling bridge into the depths of the fearful chasm. Those in the rear, some sixteen or seventeen in pumber, warned in time by the cries of those falling, paused in horror on the edge of the abyss, On one side stood Balboaz, on the other the remnant of his ill fated band. From the seemirgly impassable gulf between rose the groans of the wounded who had not been favored by instant ceath, It was an anxious moment for Balboaz. Provided the two scouts bad not yet left the tunnel there was nothing to prevent them re- turning and slaying him as he stood alone and defenseless. He could see no way of passing the chasm, without ordering his men to return back and secure some sort of a material for a foot-bridge. This would possibly consume an bhour’s time, during which the two scouts with the rescued prize would be far beyond his reach. He had by no means given up the idea of re- capturing Birdie Lester and punishing ber res- cuers. His fiery Spanish heart had been attracted to- ward the beautiful girl with an intensity that would not be thwarted, In his present difficulty it occurred to him that the fugitive party must bave had some se- cret means of crossing the chasm, With the aid of his torch, which he had not dropped even in his thrilling escape, he exam- i me each of the walls towering straight up om either side of the abyss. He soon discovered the flat structure of boards that lay snugly against one side. Then the torch-light revealed the iron lever, the use of which he at once guessed. Pressing this down with considerable force the movable bridge descended, and onee more the awtul depths it concealed were as if they had no existence. Balboaz retained the bridge thus, while the others passed over, : _He then suffered it to rise to its former posi- tion. ‘“ What is that for?” asked one of the men. Re To see if any poor fellow down there is still alive. He pointed into the yawning gulf of darkness. He then called several times in a loud voice but received no answer, ‘‘Now for their slayers!” he added, fiercely turning and hastening forward in the direction he had taken from the first. The members of the gang, who still survived, followed. Without further halt they reach the chamber containing the rocking-stone. Some time was spent by Balboez in ferreting ast this pee of ve rch aes ‘ y recalling carefu e locality as he re- membered it tom the Batalde. and comparing it with the needle of his compass be succeed finding it. What, with all his strength he could not stir on the outside, now moved with a slight push. They all passed through the strange entrance. — glanced around on the narrow starlit e, As far as he could see over the shadowed landscape not a soul was visible, iP - A fe Ae © +t Se!