Beadle's Dime Library No. 305 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

| | pO 7 4 ; i i 22 CHAPTER XXX, GRIZZLIES’ BRIDGE, Wuen the rover recovered his senses the population of the gulch had increased. He at once remembered the scene preceding his down- fall, and as he hurriedly opened his eyes he saw two men before him, ' One was his ragged-looking acquaintance; the other, a man very much like him in appear- ance, ** Ah!” said Judas, ‘friend Solomon opens his eyes ag’in. How goes it, pard?” The rover bad tried to sit up, but found his wrists bound together behind him, and it need- ed no explanation to convince him that he had, indeed, fallen intoatrap. He looked keenly at the two men, but their faces did not seem familiar, and he was at a loss to know to whom he owed his troubles. In the meanwhile, he did not get needlessly alarmed about it. “Tm feeling tolerably well,” he answered; **so well, in fact, thut there is no necessity for strings on my arms, If you'll cast ‘em off, Tl walk around and take the knots out of my i 13 udas chuckled gleefully. **No you won’t, old man; not ter-day. We're runnin’ this hyar circus, an’ we prefar ter hev you ez you be.” _ ** Why the blazes have you tied me up?” ‘TI shall be happy ter explain. We hev a grudge ag’in’ you, an’ you was decoyed hyar on purpose fur this. We arranged it a)lcutely, an’ while I chinned with you down bhyar, my pard stood at ther top o’ ther gulch an’ dropped a bag o’ sand down on yer head, We thought at first it had knocked ther life out o’ you, but you seem ter hev a tough head, an’ you’ve come out on’t like a man!” Sol had been carefully using bis eyes during this speech. ** Your explanation needs explaining. What aracae have you against me?” ‘*That’s our business, an’ we ain’t goin’ ter tell all we know.” ‘You might as well, for your secret is not half so iepipinved as you think itis, [know ou both! I defy your companion to speak—to et me hear his voice!” He looked at the second man, who promptly averted his gaze. ‘* He’s deef an’ dumb,” said Judas, burriedly, | ‘Oh! And are you lame and blind?” ‘*T’m not so blind ez some I know.” ‘* Well, gentlemen, I must admit you got the _ best of me in this game, nor will I trv to account for my failure to keep out of the trap. How- ever, as I said before, I know you both—Bur- bank and Danforth are your names!” Judas laughed in what he tried to make an amused way, ** You're ’way off, thar! I don’t know them bey mention, an’ I don’t want ter. We're able r manage our own affairs, an’ we are goin’ ter do it, Zach, we'll help him up!” They did so, and then he was marched up the gulch between them. He made no effort to re- ist, for he knew it would be folly. He must bear whatever they had in store for him, unless some chance interfered in his behalf. That they meant to kill him seemed probable, but he had faced many dangers before and gone through them all right; it would not be advisable to de- spair while life was left. Despite the denial of his charge, he had no doubt but his captors were Burbank and Dan- forth. True, their disguises were good, but his eyes were keen. The former, a man of the world in the fullest sense of the word, carried out the manners of his disguise in good form; but Joseph lacked confidence, as Sol had sus- peeted when he challenged him to speak, At the end of ten minutes they paused. They had gained higher ground, though still below the level of the Seven Pines, and were standing on the edge of a narrow canyon. ‘** Look!” said Judas, or Burbank, as we may as well call him.: ‘‘ Here you see a log which ag ther canyon. That piece o’ wood is ter play an important partin yer career. Ef you was ter look close you’d see it was curiously scratched. That was done by ther claws 0’ y bars. It is a bridge by which all sorts o’ animals cross ther canyon. In this wild re- gion ye can find about anything in ther quad- ru line that Montana boasts on, an’ over this log they go, day an’ night, Ther most cele- brated travelers is bars, an’ from ther fre- uency with which they p’rambulate, it is called rizzlies’ Bridge.” ‘You seem well informed on natural hbis- tory,” Sol observed, hiding his arising uneasi- ness. **'You’ll think so before mornin’!” chuckled Burbank, still clinging to his dialect. ‘‘ Now, we'll show you what we kin do.” And they proceeded to do so. A quantity of ropes were uced froma niche in the rocks, and Burbank set to work with the easeand confidence of one who has tried the same thing before, but as there was a ood deal of work to be done, at least half an our was consumed before all was finished. When it was done, this was the situation: The banks of the canyon were wooded, and, in some places trees projected huge branches events. nearly across the cleft, From one of these branches Sol was suspended, by means of a rope tied around his waist. But this rope was only a small purt of the elaborate plan. His position was horizontal; he might be said to be lying face downward, but held in air by the rope; and to each wrist and foot an addi- tional rope was tied, they being then drawn to the banks of the canyon until his position was that of a spread-eagle, The ropes proceeding from his wrists and hands were tied to trees on the banks, and were the main features of this elaborate idea, but the one tied about his waist had a purpose, as Burbank, dropping his dialect, proceeded to explain. ‘*You are now nicely arranged, my dear Col- ton,” he said, ‘‘and ina ition to enjoy the society of the grizzlies, ou will observe that you are about the hight of a full-grown bear when he stands up and waves his arms like a campaign orator. The purpose of this is clear, When the grizzlies know you are here they will desire to make your acquaintance by eating you, Tbis they will do ultimately, but not at once,” ‘‘In other words, I am to be the second course, I suppose,” suggested Sol, coolly. ‘‘Standing on the log they will try to reach you,” continued Burbank, unheeding the inter- ruption, “ but youare hung so high it will not be easy. When the largest stands erect, he will barely be able to touch you with his paws, and he will probably play foot-ball with you, To make the case certain and keep you from in- stant death, the rope around your waist was added. This keeps you from sagging down, and Old Eph, unable to get you in his grip, will prob- ably cut you to shreds with his claws,” ‘I think Icatch your idea fully,” Sol said, as coolly as ever, thongs far from being pleased with the prospect. ‘‘ You are to be congratu- lated on having arranged all so elaborately, and the world thereby secures another brilliant genius of the inventive order.” ‘*T am glad you like it.” **T like it so well that I shall know how to deal with you when I am out of the fix,” the rover said, in a tense voice. “Do you expect to get out?” “*T certainly do,” * You'll find yourself infernally mistaken. The prime will cut you to pieces.” ‘Not if I know it, I was never born to die that way; boots off and feet in bed is to be my lot when I go over the divide, I’m_ goin through this, and when I get out I'll make it so hot for you that brass buttons will melt,” Burbank did not answer, and the shadow of a doubt was on his face, He bated Silver-Plated Sol and wanted him out of the way, but he also wanted bim to feel his position and know he had been playing with fire before he went. But was it wise? A chance had saved him from death in Mad river; might not another chance save him from the grizzlies? The rover was some distance above his com- penlons, but, looking down, he could see their aces, and he was discerning enough to read what was passing in Burbank’s mind. He saw that he must change the drift of “Now, here is Danforth,” he added; ‘‘ he knows better than to leave me here. e’s a coward, is Joseph; and it would make him shake in his boots, day by day, if he thought I was on his trail.” ‘ ‘It’s a lie!” declared Danforth, breaking silence. ‘‘Ifearnoman. If you can get out of this you are at liberty todoit. I defy you! Come, partner, let’s go.” He addressed Burbank, and the latter aroused from thought and prepared to depart, <A few more taunting remarks were addressed to their victim, and then they retreated to the bank of the canyon and started for Bowlder Bar. Silver-Plated Sol was alone, and in a most novel and uncomfortable position. Thus far, it was not sap for his weight was so distribut- ed that it was little felt, the rope about his bod bearing the greater part, but he knew that it would not long be agreeable, Above him waved the branches of the trees, The limb to which extended the rope around his waist was a buge one, and capable of bearing five times his weight. Had bis arms been free he ht almost have touched it, but, as it was, he might as well, or better, have been twen- ty feet distant. Looking down, he had a less pleasant view. He was directly over the huge log—Grizzlies’ Bridge—but, below it, yawned the depths of the canyon, with a rocky bed far below. He realized the fact that he was in extreme danger. As has before been said, the vicinit was one to which men seldom came. No dwell- ings were to be found for a long distance; he might shout himself hoarse and gain no relief. What, then, would be the end? Burbank had said he would fall vietim to grizzlies, or other wild beasts. If he escaped them, he would have to endure pbysical pain both from his position and from want of food and drink. How long could he endure this? Clearly, not for auy great length of time, and the prospect was one which would have made a weaker man’s ~~~ ees -Silver-Plated Sol, the Montana. Rover. heart quail. Sol, however, remained. cool and resolute, though far from being at his ease. Perhaps twenty minutes after the departure of his enemies when the case assumed anewform. A slight sound at one side caused him to look around, and he saw a grizzly step upon the log. The hour of danger was at hand! CHAPTER XXXII. TROUBLE FOR GIANT DAVE. Tux following morning Jason Bunker, owner of the Eighteen-Carat Mine, was seated in his office when Joseph Danforth entered. The lat- ter looked as though he bad not slept well, and the smile on his face seemed forced, but he man- aged to talk lightly and cheerfully and current events were duly discussed, Joseph, however, had come with a fixed pur- pose, and he was not long in working around to the subject. *“T have called to ask a favor of you, Mr. Bunker,” he said, pateneenty ‘Consider it granted,” Bunker at once an- swered, He was one of the rich men of Bowlder Bar, and, in his own opinion, be was one of the great men. Healso ranked Joseph as one of these lucky few, and as be bad begun to have political ambitions, he regarded bis visitor asa man whose friendsbip and support were invaluable. Being of a weak, none-too-scrupulous nature, he would do anything for such a man. ‘‘Thank you, sir; I thought I could depend on you,” said the postmaster, much pleased. ‘*The foremost men of the Bar ought to hold together.” ** Decidedly so, Mr. Danforth.” *““That’s my theory,” said Joseph, craftily, “and when you want aid from me you have only to ask for it,” aving said this he knew it would be hard for Bunker to refuse, and he at once added: ‘‘In plain words, my dear sir, you bave a man in your employ whom I wish numbered among the ex-inhabitants of Bowlder Bar, and to that end I have come to ask you to discharge him. He is aneye-sore and scourge to me.” ‘Tt isn’t Superintendent Alvord?” **Oh! no; Alvord is a gentleman.” ‘‘The man leaves my employ to-night then. Who is he?” ‘His name is David Bond!” Bunker’s face bad fallen perceptibly. ** Dave Bond!” . ‘ $ Yes. You don’t seem pleased, Mr. Bun- er. **T confess I am not. Bond is my most val- uable hand, next to Alvord, and the latter’s es- ecial favorite. He is a quiet, peaceable fellow. hat can he have done to worry you?” ‘‘He is notas peaceable as you think. Out- side the mine he is a noisy, quarrelsome fellow, and be bas insulted and assaulted my friend Burbank. Worse than that, he has bewitche my sister, and 1 would not see her tied to such an ignorant, brutal fellow for a cool million. Yet, the only hope is to get him away. Ettala one moment declares she loves him, and, the next, weeps and says she is terribly afraid of him, begging my protection.” Joseph spoke with an energy which showed that he was fully in earnest, and Bunker knew — only way was to fall into line and oblige im. It was no slight favor to do, for men so val- uable as Giant Dave were not easy to find, but he must sacrifice him to secure Danforth’s fu- ture aid, ‘‘Say no more, friend Joseph; Ill do any- thing for one I esteem as highly as I do you; and though I shall probably never find so valu- able a man as Bond again, this day is his last at the Eighteen-Carat. TP set him adrift.” The postmaster had really pever doubted his ability to influence Bunker, but he was so pleased that he shook bis hand and thanked bim warmly. ‘ He remained for half an bour later and en- larged on Dave’s alleged offense, and then, when he deemed the nail driven to the bead, took his departure and went to report to Bur- bank that their plot was succeeding well. Bunker, bowever, was not so well pleased. Left alone, be rubbed his chin ruefully and stared at vacancy as though grappling with an abstruse problem, “‘Don’t like the case at all!” be muttered, ‘*Bond is the best laborer I ever had, and it’s money out of yl pocket to let him go. What is Danforth’s object? 1 don’t believe his ex- planation in the least,and I reckon it’s all a cov- ered game. Again, I’m sure Alvord will ob- ject strongly. nd is a favorite of his; he has even hinted that he ought to be promoted; and he will do more than bint that he ought not to be disckarged. Yet, Bond must go; I want Danforth’s influence when I go into tics, and a common miner shall not stand in the way.” Rovertholen, it was with an awkward air that he that afternoon accosted Alvord, his superintendent. f Y Yon a leynigtt ‘Is the money all right?” | - Eomichbooks ;