Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 308 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

' Taun ““T guess we won’t let that worry us, Char- ley,” coolly replied Hank. ‘* Won’t let it worry you? You've got to let it worry you. Do you know what that fire is? There is no stopping it or standing before it. We must fly immediately, and try to find a place of safety.” ‘“Guess we’ll stay right here, Charley. It’s as safe here as any where,” ** How can it be safe?” “Don’t you know that hole in the rock, back of the cabin? Wecan crawlin there if we have to, and let the darned old fire goby. It’s Mr. Marley’s cellar, you know.” **T bad forgotten that.” ‘Jest. so. .What we’ve got to do now is to look arter our things, so’s they won’t git burned up. if the house should happen to go, and we’d better hurry about it, too.” The hole in the rock against which the cabin was built had a door that opened into it, and mee generally used, as Hank had said, as a cellar, It was not large enough to hold all the be- longings of the entire party, but could be relied on as a safe retreat from fire. All set at work under the direction of Hem- lock Hank, and worked with a will. The most valuable and necessary portion of the joint ‘‘ plunder” was stowed away in the hole in the rock, and everything else was car- ried out and piled in the middle of the cleared space on the plateau. This labor was no‘ finished when the fire came around the side of the. peak—not creep- ing, but rushing around, as if it meant busi- ness and wanted to carry everything before it at once, In a little while the timber at that end of the pistes had caught, and soon that at the other nd was on fire, Mattie was sent into the cave, which the others reserved as a refuge in case of need. In the mean time, they devoted their atten- tion to 8 eon Apes the cabin and the property exposed on the plateau, ortunately the side of the peak above them was nearly bare of timber, there being notbing but a scanty and stunted growth for tue fire to take hold of. Flying embers and the burning trees on the plateau were what they had to fear, From a distance it must bave looked as if the entire mountain-side was wrapped in flame; but in fact there was an open space on the plateau between two fires, which could be watched and guarded. In a spring that flowed plentifully from the side of the peak the workers dipped blankets, with which they covered the pile of property that was so valuable to them. With buckets of water from the spring they drenched the roof of the cabin, and 2t the same time guarded it from burning sticks and flying embers, | . The heat and smoke were so oppressive that they could not long endure the outdoor air, and they relieved each other at tbe labor, taking turns in retiring into the hole.in the rock, Gradually the fire burned out; but it was not until morning dawned that they were able to rest in the consciousness of safety for them- selves, the cabin and tbeir property. CHAPTER XIX. | © °° PRE ROW AT HUBBARD’S, THERE was a jolly but by no means harmoni- ous crowd collected at Hubbard’s tavern on the | quoit. - Hubbard’s was a rude but substantial and comfortable log-house, with such outbuildings as were ne ary, situated where the road that as followed b the supply. eams crossed the er, and not far from the Penobscot. _Entertainment for man and beast was to be had there, such as it was, and Hubbard’s was a noted rendezvous for loggers, as well as for ers, as the ton were styled who rought supplies from below. ~The most popular of the luxuries afforded the tavern was a stock of liquors, which never failed to find favor in the eyes of the ' woo°smen, _ Zeb Carter was there, with Sol Barnes and Luke Schooley and another of his party, to re- ceive and take charge of a load of supplies that bad dns been brought up for them, . emlock Hank was also there, on an errand of, bie own, concerning which he had no com- cations to make, The day was wintry, and the warmth of the big fire was agreeable, and so was the warmth ° Hubbard’s rum and whisky, of which all rank freely but Hank Ward, who never fosched otberwise than lightly the cup that ine- riates, Tbe more Sol Barnes drank, the deeper be- came his state of melancholy, but bis camp comrades-showed the effect of their potations, Four drogers were also present, who had just arrived from below with the load for Carter’s _ They were tall and bardy men, who bad evi- dently been drinking on the road, as they were - Hemlock Hank. somewhat exbilarated when they reached the tavern. Of course their arrival caused further de- mands to be made upon Hubbard’s stock of | te aa and the party became noisy as well as | Jolly. They swapped news and gossip, and chaffed and quarreled with each other, until Zeb Carter, who had not got rid of his supply of hard sense, announced his intention of loading up and re- turning to camp. This was the sticking-point. There was a keg of rum among the supplies brought for Carter, and he was strongly inelined to suspect the drogers of having tapped it. As they had. dipped into it on the way more or less extensively, they were naturally desir- ous that their depredations should not. be dis- covered—at least not until they were well out of the vicinity. ‘“* Allright, old man,” said Ed Binn, the leader of the drogers, ‘‘Just sign my receipt and we will help you load up,” Zeb Carter looked over the receipt, and hesi- tated about signing it. ‘This makes me say,” he remarked, ‘‘ that the stuff has all arrived, and in good order, I must know that-before I sign it.’ “They are all out there, and you have seen ’em,” insisted Binn. ‘: L have only seen a load of goods, and I don’t know whether they are all right or not.” “Of course they are all right. Didn’t I receipt for ’em_and bring’em and watch ’em all the way! Don’t be pinch fingered and mean tem- pered, Z-b Carter.” But Zeb had just enough liquor aboard to make him stubborn, and he insisted upon exam- ining the goods, declaring that he would sign no receipt until he bad gone through the Jot, 8S they all adjourned outside, with the ex- ception of Hemlock Hank and Josh Hubbard, the tavern-keeper, Luke Schooley brought up his ox team, and the goods that belonged,to the loggers’ party were loaded by shempalves. the drogers standin 5 by and scowling while Zeb Carter inspecte every article, All went well, however, until Zeb came to the cask of rum, and he frowned as he lifted it, Then he shook it, and the liquor “sloshed” about in a manner that convinced him that the keg was far from full. The rum’s short,” he remarked. ‘‘ As much as three gallons gone out e’ this keg, I should say.” Ka Binn flared up at once, in the style of a man wlio knows that he has been caught, buf means to brazen his way out. The keg is “‘If that is so, we didn’t gone it. just as we received it.” ‘That can’t. bea fact,” insisted Carter, ‘ Seth Sloman never was known to send upa keg o’ rum that was part age He ain’t the man to do that sort o’ thing. You fellers have been drinkin’ our rum on the road.” “That's a lie!” exclaimed the droger. Zeb’s face turned red, but he was naturally slow to anger. : **] believe it to bea fact,” he answered, ‘tand I will measure the rum and willcharge you with what’s gone.” “TI tell you it’s a lie!” shouted Binn, ‘‘A mean, sneakin’ underhanded lie™ This was too much for Zeb Carter's patience. He drew back his right fist and Jet it fly into the.face of the man who had insulted him, Binn was quick to retaliate, and the drogers rushed to su pars their leader, while the log- gers hastened to the assistance of Zeb Carter. That is, to say, the loggers rallied to help their comrade, with the exception of Solomon rnes. He not only failed to come forward, but re- tired to a little distance from the scene, where he sadly surveyed the ekrienmage as if he had not the least al interest in it. This defection put the odds decidedly against the loggers, pay as Luke Schooley had not been built for a fighter. He meant well enough, and managed to get in the way of as many blows as anybody; but his short arms and legs, as well as his shortness of body and breath, prevented him from taking an active part in such an athletic contest. None of the combatants had recourse to any lethal weapon, Probably they did not think of such a thing, preferring to trust to the arms with which nature had furnished them, and to whip or be whipped in a fair fight. But the loggers soon began to get the worst of the battle, and would doubtless have been compelled to submit to a severe drubbing, if it had not been for the timely mterference of Hemlock Hank, who ran out of the house with Josh Hubbard. It was natural, if he was going to take part in the fray, that he should side with bis own acquaintances and vorevious comrades, and he promptly did so. He seized Ed Binn by the collar, and gavo a Bete that sent him whirling away from e fight. : Another droger received from him a right- ~ handed blow that ‘‘ keeled” him over upon the / ground, decreasing his immediate interest in | the difficulty. The tavern-keeper also rushed into the thick of the melee, commanding and imploring the men to quit fighting. ‘Hank Ward" he shouted, “why don’t you help me to keep the peace here?” ‘‘Keep the peace?” replied Hank. ‘“* Ain’t I tryin’ to keep the peace? Do jest as I do, Josh, and knock down every man who lifts a finger to fight, and we'll soon have peace.” As he spoke he tripped up another droger, and sent him sprawling upon the ground. His style of peace-making proved effective, and a sudden stop was put to the fight. The loggers, who had already had enough of it, were quite ready to quit, and the drogers, reeiving what a formidable ally their an- Probate Had gained, were not disposed to con- tinue hostilities. The affair of the keg of rum was satisfac- torily settled, and Luke Schooley’s load was completed, ben this task was finished, the loggers turn- ed their attention to Sol Barnes, They still had a good supply of anger on hand, and he was a good subject to discharge it upon. His cffense was that when his OPE comrades had become involved in a fight, be out, and had not offered to lirt a finger to help them. This was a crime in their eyes, and their re- cent enemies were equally loud in their con- demnation of the sneak. When he was asked what excuse he could offer for his pusillanimous behavior, he pre- sented what was considered a very Jame one, ‘* I'm a member of the church—Presbyter’an,” said he, ‘and it’s ag’in’ my prenciples to engage in a fight,” ““T don’t believe a word of it,” replied Zeb Carter, ‘‘If it’s ag’inst your principles to help your friends when they are in trouble, you ought never to have come up here and gone in- to.camp with ’em,” “T didn’t git them into trouble, and I never purtended to be a fighter,” ‘*Let’s kick the'darned sneak out 0’ camp,” said Luke Schocley, ‘‘It’s hard to find any- thin’ to kick; but I will chance him once.” Luke suited the action to the word, advanc- ing upon Sol Barnes with intent to kick. He did kick, But his attempt was not successful. As he had said, there was not much to kick at, ant he was too short-legged for that line of Work, As he raised his foot, Sol caught it and raised it a little higher, lifting the teamster off bis balance so that he fell backward on the ground, This unexpected exploit raised a roar; but anger prevailed over amusement, and the log- gers rushed forward to finish the job at which Luke had failed. Sol Barnes cid not await any further attack. Though he did not boast of prowess as a fighter, he was aware of his superiority in the matter of legs, and believed ia his ability to get over ground at a rapid rate. He ran away at the top of his speed, and soon disappeared in the forest, followed by the jeers of his incensed companions. _ Let him slide!” ordered Zeb Carter. ‘‘ That is as good a way as any to git rid of him. We will go on to camp without him, and when he comes there ag’in we will take a vote to decide whether he shall stay.” Before be went off with his comrades, Zeb had a word to say to Hemlock Hank. | “Tt was real good of you, Hank, to come to our help,” said he. mi 7 was only keepin’ the peace,” replied nk, “Jest so. I understand that, But we are much obliged to you, all the same, and if we can ever do you a good turn, we'll be glad of the chance, By the way, Hank, you remember my tellin’ you about Dick Risden, comin’ up the “Yes,” answered Hank, suddenly becoming interested. ‘“‘He is somewhere about here. He struck our camp awhile ago, and was askin’ about you, anted to know where you were, and said he would like to see you. I had my doubts about what a man of that sort might be wantin’ cf you, and kept a stili tongue in my head. That sneakin Sol Barnes spoke up end tried to tell somethin’, but luckily he didn’t know but ittle.” **So Dick Risden wants to see me,” obse Hank, ‘ Well, I would like to see him, too.” CHAPTER XX. : DICK RISDEN’S BIG CAPTURE, Hemiock Hank soon bad his wish. Zeb Cartcr and his party were hardly out of sight when Dick Risden arrived at Hubbard’s, accompanied by bis Indian, Auguste. With them came the recreant Sol Barnes, who seemed to have already Ey himself on familiar te with the detective, : Under a shed were stored a number of bar- ad backed ° —- Geom Ebooks: