Beadle's Dime Library, No. 261 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

es Ee » ‘>. a at ee . Indian, had occupied but a moment, and had e a few bundred deate body. — —— lieutenant took careful aim amid the group with his best revolver. A sharp explosion—then, for a single instant ** Nonsense, Sam; you are mistaken. He lays as senseless as a log.” ‘Don’t you fool yerself. He am playin’ ’pos- not a sound disturbed the solemn stillness of the | sum, shoah.” Before any otber remark could be made, the { ity before putting bimself a second time in the twilight. CHAPTER XII. AN EXCITING STRUGGLE. band of raiders burst into the grove. A stout of mingled rage and wonderment arose as they beheld the dead bodies of their For a little while Sam was sure the lieuten- | three comrades, ant’s aim had been directed at the bandit chief, Balboaz. His astonishment was great, therefore, on seeing that individual still stand erect and Further movement on their part was checked, for Balboaz at this instant jumped up from bis recumbent position and shouted: ‘Up, men, to the top of the cliff! Those two uninjured after the swift bullet bad sped its | infernal scouts are there. Climb like squirrels, course. It was quite a different phenomenon that met ‘his gaze. The bullet had been destined for no human | body, but for the rope, drawn taut by the three Mexicans, and to which the cruelly- tortured Indian hung suspended by the thumb. It bad struck but a foot above his outstretched arm, and divided the slender rope as neatly as though cut with a knife, or your prey is gone!” ‘Jerusalem! I jes’ knowed it,” muttered Sam, as he made a backward movement that nearly sent him to the bottom of the steep slope. “Quick, Sam! there is no time to lose,” came Richard Moore’s low whisper. A thick growth of bushes on top of the ridge bad till now screened their bodies from view. These same bushes now sheltered them as they The three men pulling upon the other end fell | turned to make a swift descent. backward, sprawling. The new state of affairs thus ushered upon the | betrayed their presence. They hear scene was something wonderful. The Indian, who, a moment before, had been the image of patient suffering, no sooner felt his feet touch the ground than he became trans- formed to a very demon of vengeance. Balboaz, rushing forward to prevent his escape, received a terrific blow between the eyes that stretched him senseless, Then, springing forward, he seized a dagger from the bandit chief's girdle, and with a swift, Poa ten bound, was upon the other three fore they had fairly risen to their feet. The wrongs of all the Montezumas glittered in his black eyes as he raised the sharp, bur- nished steel in his right hand—once, twice, thrice—so swift that the three motions seemed as one, and his three tormentors lay writhing on the green sod. The fourth Mexican, whom these swift and startling changes had utterly bewildered, gave one yell and darted away toward the camp of cattle-raiders, The Indian glanced around on the senseless Balboaz and the three dead Mexicans, the same cold smile of contempt on his features. Once he advanced a step toward the former, a deadly intent gleaming in his black eyes, But he thought better of his resolution. He turned away with a muttered exclamation. Confused noises from the camp above caught bis ear, Another moment wasted and the whole band would be upon him, ‘*T must away,” was his exclamation; and shaking his right hand, which still clutehed the bloody dagger, defiantly in the direction of the raiders’ camp, he darted away with long, swift bounds in the opposite direction. As it happened, the green vale terminated but ards to the left—the direction taken by the Indian—in a narrow, tortuous pass, hemmed in by towering cliffs, rugged and moun- tainous in the extreme. Near the entrance this pass divided into two branches; down one of which foamed and sparkled the little rivulet that furnished mois- ture to the little valley. Another turned off to the east, winding up- ward and onward amid a bewildering mass of rocks, trees, and deep crevices, Up this latter path the Aztec bounded and orem disappeared into the recesses of the moun- tain. . These events, so swift were the actions of the occurred in plain view of the two scouts. From their commanding position they could look over the whole valley and the movements of the cattle-‘raiders were discernible as well as the dead bodies of the Mexicans in the grove. Up to this time they had preserved a pro- found silence. They were thrilled and wonder-struck. ‘‘ What think you of that, Sam?” was Moore’ remark after he had seen the Indian disap- ear. es Beats all creation, it do.” ‘*You’ve found your match at last. Even you could not have played the ‘ knock down and clean out’ game to such perfection.” ‘* Don’t talk, Mars’ Moore, When it comes to kvifin’ fellows in dat style, ’senowhar.” __ » **There come the rest of them,” exclaimed Moore, as he saw the band of raiders running toward the little grove. The two men had unconsciously raised their thinking there was no one in the grove ear them, mmitted a great mistake, their cost. ed his last remark, Sam tone: a“ Ma * What is Moore, lowering his tone in surprise. ‘*Shoah’s you am libin’, I saw dat Bilboes wid his eyes open jes’ now!” _ The lieutenant looked anxiously at the pros- . . TT —— Ee Unfortunately the noise of the rolling stones eager shouts from the other side. “They will see us if We go straight on,” said Moore, taking a swift, bat thoughtful, view of the situation. ‘* There is a thicket to the right. Let us make for that.” They sped along the side of the steep hill, and soon reached the thicket indicated. It proved to be a small but dense growth of cedar. They had scarcely plunged inte the grateful shade, rendered more dense by the coming on of darkness, than another sbout of triumph told them that the enemy had reached the summit of the cliff. This cry soon changed to one of rage when they could discern no trace of the fugitives. **On!” cried Balboaz, who had scaled the cliff with the best of them. “On! Thev cannot have got out of sight in thistime, They are hiding somewhere, Stay; a portion of you will take the left, another will go straight down, while I will lead the rest to theright, We shall not fail to catch them.” These orders were obeyed to the letter. Moore, looking back, saw Balboez turn off di- rectly toward him, followed by a third of bis followers. The bandit shrewdly guessed that the two scouts had taken refuge in the thicket. Sam and the lieutenant pushed rapidly for- ward through the dense timber. The limbs, growing close ther, formed a serious im- pediment; and while it effectually shielded them from view, blocked their own scope of vision forward and on either side. They bad gone probably three hundred yards bie an opening disclosed itself through the oliage. ; They pressed eagerly forward, thinking to find some outlet or mode of turning off tueir pursuers from the trail. : Their only hope was in front. Behind them they heard Balboaz and his men, scattered the whole width of the thicket and beating it as if for game. But on entering the clearing, what was their surprise and probably despair to find it com- pletely walled in by two towering cliffs, per- pendicular as a house-side, and joining directly gis a ina mney angle, here eppenr no outlet to the other side, They were in a natural cul de-sa*, to which the only entrance was through toe thicket they had just traversed. ““Hebens! We am lost, shoah}’’ exclaimed m. ‘* Lot us press on. The angle runs in some distance, and may afford us a hiding-plac?.” Close behind they heard the sound of voices and the noise of rustling limbs. Quickly they omen the recess between the ~~ cliffs. In vain! no opening disclosed it- sell, ’ : CHAPTER XIII. . CORNERED. RICHARD MOORE cast a last despairing look around the unlucky trap into which he had run. It was a veritable pocket, built after the sub- lime architecture of oature. On either hand the cliffs towered straight up, inaccessible even to the wild goat. A smal] clear space occupied the angle formed by these cliffs running together. Further out the dense growth of cedar and other trees filled up the scope of vision, Rugged masses of rock were scattered about the recess, behind which the two scouts might shelter themselves for a brief season, At the extreme vertex of the angle, where the rugged face of the cliff op all further hd a a huge bowlder had fallen, almost locking up the recess, bere not more than two yards across, Bebind this a small space was left, not more than sufficient for tbe bodies of the two friends. In his rapid glance over the situation, Richard “fr “> eg ee tren err 8 emma eee" — Moore selected this point as the best possible for repelling the enemy, at least while his ammu- nition lasted. He had determined to fight to the last extrem- power of Balboaz. ‘* Here, Sam, is our post,” he said, squeezing bimself between the smooth face of the cliff and the bowlder. ‘‘We must defend it to the death.” “De 'trenchments is excellent,” answered Sam, ‘if only de ammunishun holds out.” ‘*Or until they capture us by storm, which they will find some trouble in doing.” Thus the two brave men, with their backs planted to the smooth cliff behind them and their stern faces set toward the band of raiders, calmly awaited the struggle. ‘*Tf we only hadn’t lef’ our rifles!” said Sam. ‘**That was unfortunate. However, there’s no use crying over spilt milk. We bave still twelve shots apiece,” There was no time for further speech. Their pursuers bad just emerged from the thicket and were looking around the cleared space with eager glances, Balboaz perceived at once the nature of the xe ility, with which he was probably acquaint- e ** We've got them, my men—canght like rats in a trap!” he exclaimed in a triumphant tone. ‘* Scatter at once, so as to take in the space be- tween the cliffs; and let each man make that dark corner bis goal.” This movement was inimediately executed, By this time darkness had fallen over the scene. The two scouts, sheltered behind the broad bowlder, were invisible save to one coming di- rectly upon them The irregularities of the ground made the progress of these man-hunters slow, ln the disposition that had been made, it was a matter of course that the one in the center would soonest reach the narrow angle in which crouched the two fri-nds, This man happened to be a Mexican, and a trusted follower of Bualboaz. Cautiously be a: vanced in a stooping posi- tion, bis steps bicoming slower and slower as he advanced further into the dark recess of the mountain. He reaches the bowlder. Still no sign of the foe hidden behind it greets bis senses, Meantime his fate had been decided in a pores ge exchanged whisper between the two scouts, The Mexican hesitates at the narrow entrance thaé leads to the rear of the thick bowlder. He listens intently. Srill he hears nothing. With cautious step and a somewhat flicker- i ag Conta he prestes into the narrow passage, . clutches a long bunting-knife in his right and. Another step will take him behind the bowl- der, That step is his last. A peeve thud, end without even a gasp, the Mexican falls with Sam’s knife in his beart. ‘** Dat was a mean job,” muttered Sam, as be withdrew his hunting-knife; ** but it couldn’t be helped.” ‘To rid the world of such fellows is a social kindness, If you do nothing worse, Sam, you’re safe for ‘ kingdom come,’” ‘¢ But what’s to be done wid de body?’ ‘‘ Leave it lay. There is no room for it bere.” ‘*But der next one will stumble ober it, ’n’ gib de alarm.” * We can prevent that.” “ How?’ “One of us must stand at the entrance. That one shall be me, as if was my fault that we were run into this trap.” “No, sir; dat won’t pass by a long sight! I’se de eldest and strongest, an’ dere’s no settin’ Sod in de background, like a four-year-old aby. The lieutenant saw that Sam was immovable on this point. Apeys: ‘We'll compromise then,” said he. “ You take the top of the bowlder—they cannot see you in the darkness—while I defend the entrance.” Sam readily agreed to this and the two at once took up their positions. Just in time. Twoother dark forms were seen cautiously advancing but a few feet away. By lying flat on the level top of the bowlder Sam concealed bimself from view, The lieutenant crouched bebind the corner of the same barrier. Both awaited their foes in silence. Each one’s attention being directed on his own victim he could not observe the move- ments of the other. > Both grasped their deadly hunting-knives, the chosen weapon so long as it was possible to pre- serve silence. ey The bandit advancing from the left came | stealthily along just beneath the u edge of the yawider. j fd 5 Once he glanced 3 Had he repeated the He saw nothin glance a second, after he , would have seen a huge, brawny hand clutch- | ing the deadly knife poised for a strike. ety Lucey ) \ : Bs ¢ * oo on Bae it TZ, 7