Beadle's Dime Library No. 386 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

‘(12 murmurous war arose to them from the street ow. “‘Hurrab!” shouted Hawk; ‘‘ the fire laddies | have got on their streams. for us!” Here he applied his shoulder to the scuttle with a force that caused it to bend and creak, but without giving way. “Ha, ha, ha!” again rung out the demoniac voice from the roof. ‘‘ Hope on, thou fool, but there is no hope! I smothered hope to death when I fastened down this trap with screws and rivets, after firing the stairways in twenty places! Ha, ha, ha! You are battened under hatches, like roasting rats in a burning ship! Ha, ha, ha, my falcon! where is the hunted vul- ture now? Such is the triumph of Count Kotzka the Proscribed !” The terrible voice had gradually grown fainter, indicating that the exulting fiend was consulting his own safety by taking himself off. ~~ Iga. my poor Olga!” murmured Seagrave, in half-stifled tones. ‘‘It is her fate, I deplore, rather than my own!” ‘* Never say die!” laughed out the indomitable detective, making another powerful but ineffect- ual assault on the scuttle. “By Jupiter! I be- lieve I could die without a pang, if I could meet that arch-fiend once more, hand to hand and front to front!” ** Are you there yet, boss?” called out Nixey’s piping voice, and there was another dash of water that slightly freshened up the air. sg OSs” replied Hawk. ‘‘ Have you got the ax? ‘*No; there’s none there, or I would have There is yet hope found it. But come back into the rooms, both of you!” ‘Back there! Are you crazy?” ** No, boss, but solid on the goose! Come on, I tell you! The air ain’t half so thick in there an’ the water’s comin’ in like a river! Here I am at the bottom of the ladder! Get on your hands an’ knees, an’ foller me!” He spoke so confidently that both Hawk and Seacrave lost no time in following his advice. That it was the very best under the circum- stances was soon made apparent, As they regained the room they had quitted, which was being fairly flooded by the hose- streams from the street, a glance backward showed n.ore than half the passage a mass of flame, which had already licked up and cevour- ed the ladder upon which Hawk had stood but a moment before. ‘‘Here’s something of a change, anyway!” sputtered Hawk, the last one to stagger back into the room and close the door behind him, ** By Jupiter! it’s a Russian, Turkish and shower _ bath, all in one.” Though twice knocked off his feet by the in- rushing streams in the attempt, he at last reach- ed a window and leaned out. A fireman, with a tbree-inch nozzle in his clutch, was glued to the upper rungs of a ladder about ten feet below the window-si t ‘*T say, young feller, don’t think of jumpin’ out!” the fireman called up, ‘ All ain’t up with yer yet!” “*T wasn’t thinking of jumping out,” replied Hank, coolly. ‘‘ What is that sort of pagoda on wheels down yonder in the crowd?” ‘* Bully fur you, colonel; you’re one of the right sort!” was the hearty reply, while a shift- ing of the nozzle in the fireman’s erip sent up a stream that ripped out the remainder of the window-sash over Hawk’s head. ‘* That pagoda down yonder’s the water-tower, young man.” “ When will it get to work?” ‘*In three minutes—just as quick as some fel- Jers on the roof can chop holes through to give it a show— Hi, there! stand back, young fel- ler! She’s gittin’ to work right this holy min- ute! Hawk had already heard vigorous blows being deult overhead, And now, just as he shrunk back into the cen- ter of the room where Sig i and Nixey had remained standing, three holes were simultane- ously knocked through the ceiling; and then fol- lowed such a drenching, down-rushing deluge of water as if the flood-gates of heaven had been suddenly let loose. ** Jewhillikens, boss!” cried Nixey, flounder- ing about like a rat in a sewer, while his com- panions were no better off. ‘‘Do they think we're thirsty?” ‘* Alas for poor Mr. Schmidt’s household ef- fects!” said Hawk, essaying to look about him. ‘*T can only hope he is insured,” Just then the end of a fire-ladder was thrust through one of the windows, and a fireman vaulted into the room. “Saved ag’in!” he cried. ‘‘ Can you~uns find your way down the way I got up by (i Hawk’s answer was a grasp of the sinewy hand, and then he sprung toward the ladder, followed by Nixey and Seagrave, The night was cold, their garments wringing wet, and they were consequently chilled to the bone upon reaching the street; but otherwise un- in ‘ ‘Have you any idea how the fire occurred?” asked a fire marshal, as our hero stepped off the Jadder. ‘‘What! Hawk Heron, is it you?” ‘*T only know,” he replied, ‘‘ that, while I was | trying to break through the scuttle, some vil- Jain on the roof called out that he had battened it fast, after kindling a fire in twenty places on the stairways.” He then made a significant sign to his two companions, and darted off through the crowd, oe following. nder his guidance, they presently brought up in a private room at the rear of a small drinking saloon. Here they were uninterrupted, with a warm stove to keep them company. ‘What next?” asked Seagrave, after the had discussed their adventure and got their clothes dried. ‘*The exploration of the tunnel, as a matter of course,” said Hawk. ‘What! to-night?” “To be sure!” “c But—” “Why, what other time could serve us as well, especially if that superlative monster, Kotzka, failed to linger in the crowd, and so cannot know of our escape just yet?” ‘*That’s so, boss,” said Nixey. ‘He felt so sure of havin’ us toasted, that I don’t believe he hung around in the crowd.” ‘Even were it otherwise,” said Hawk, calm- ly, ‘‘ there is no time like the present.” Ralph Seagrave gazed at the detective in un- feigned admiration. ‘*You must be of iron—iron will, as well as body!” said he. ‘‘ Of course, you can count me with you.” The preparations were soon made. The ade ila sr of the place, with whom Hawk was well acquainted, provided them with some flasks of brandy, together with a large Supply of sand- wiches, which Hawk thought might prove ac- ceptable amid the damp recesses of the secret tunnel, and they at last set out. weer was the guide for the time being. He at last led them up a dismal street that rose steeply from Third avenue in an easterly direc- tion, Lofty tenement-houses of a mean class rose uninterruptedly on the right, or southern, side of this street, but, on the opposite side, a similar row of buildings was intersected midway by a rough precipice of natural rock, which had not yet been blasted an Perched on its lofty edge was a miserable white-washed shanty, of a type that still flourish- es,along with numerous goats and geese, in the u per wards of the city, while a small livery stable occupied the first floor of one of the tenement- houses at its side. ‘The glory of this here place, gents,” said Nixey, pausing with a glow of pride at the foot of the bluff, ‘*‘ has departed.” “True,” said Hawk, smiling. ‘‘I remember when it covered several blocks, and was known to the police as ‘ Sebastopol.’ ” ‘Right you are, boss, an’ they might just as well have dubbed it Giberalter, too, seein’ as how so many thieves and toughs defied the cops from among the hundred an’ one shanties that cur- rowned the rock-ribbed hights in them days of departed glory. Ill be with you ag’in in the shake of a sheep’s tail.” The little fellow darted away as he spoke, and disappeared into the livery stable. It was now late at night, and thestreet wholly deserted. Nixey reappeared, accompanied by a rough- looking man, with a cast in his eyes, whom he addressed as Rocksey. Between them they carried three dark-lanterns and three small crowbars. **T hopes,” said Rocksey,. touching his forelock to Hawk and Seagrave, with an oblique sort of leer, ‘‘as how yer won’t furgit I’m a pore but honest cuss, eff there’s swag in the wind.” Hawk took a lantern and crowbar, without making any reply, as did Seagrave likewise. _ ‘‘ Now look here, Rocksey,” said Nixey, angri- ly, ‘‘1’m the daisy you’re under obligaticns to, an’ if you attempt to insinuate—” ‘That will do, Nixey,” interposed Hawk, not unwilling to keep up a false impression as to the work in hand; ‘‘ win or lose on our part, your friend’s services shall be remembered.” Rocksey snorted like a horse, stamped his feet as ee fetlocks itched, and faded back into the stable, Nixey led the way along a steep, zigzag path up the face of the rocks, ‘Blast the gall of that galoot, after how I stood between him an’ the cops at his last racket!” he muttered, still intent upon the stableman’s leering request. ‘‘ May I kiss a pig fur luck if I ever see the like!” The fierce barking of a dog, accompanied by the rattling of a chain, in the primitive shanty inclosure, greeted them as they emerged over the top of the rocky elevation. This was nearly as high as the towering tene- ments on either side. It extended back through them a distance of two blocks, the adjoining cross street not having yet been cut through the mass. Three other miserable shanties, likewise pro- vided with barking dogs, were scattered here and there. Nixey led the way to a deep fissure, half-over- grown with noisome weeds, at the side of one of Hawk Heron, the Falcon Detective. the houses, and seemingly half-filled up with broken bottles, old tomato cans and other re- fuse characteristic of New York squatter sov- ereignty. Neither were the goats wanting, two or three of those picturesque animals lazily shifting their sleeping accommodations, as the trio of ex- plorers picked their way down into the disagree- able crevice. The party, having already lighted their Jan- terns, continued to descend slopingly till they came to the end of the cleft, where the mucb- broken mouth of a tunnel opened directly against the side of the building. ‘* Here we are, boss!” said Nixey, flashing his bull’s-eye into the half-choked opening with @ triumphant gesture. ‘‘ Lo an’ behold the door of the Toughs’ Retreat, or the Cop’s Puzzler, as we Short Tails used to call it by turns.” Hawk peered into the tunnel, and then de- liberated as to its probable trend. ‘*Tt’s course must bend considerably,” said he, ‘‘or it cannot connect with the house in Melton place.” ‘* But it does bend to the northward, boss, not more’n a hundred feet from here,” said Nixey. ‘¢ After that it dips down mighty deep, skirts the foundations of two old houses, in one of which them foreign lunatics what wants to burst up thrones an’ murder all the crowned heads used to hold their ee ce chebangs, an’ then bores along under three streets an’ business blocks, right into the bow-wowels of Melton place.” ‘Good!” said Hawk, passing into the opening with some difficulty, followed by the others, ‘* Nothing venture, nothing have!’ Their progress was very tedious for the first hundred feet or so, the tunnel being in places so choked with fallen stones and rubbish as to ne- ey considerable labor in clearing it to one side. | But after passing the bend of which Nixey had spoken, where the passage made a steep de- scent, the way was much improved. The arched roof, nevertheless, continued so low as to compel the explorers to proceed in a. half-crouching attitude which was very fatiguing and the air was damp and oppressive. They continued to edvance and descend, how- ever, slowly, but with little serious interrup- tion. At last, asa number of huge rats scampered off before their approach, they came to a pause as a mysterious rumbling sort of roar began te roll toward them through the tunnel, which. slightly trembled. ““Tt’s an earthquake!” gasped Seagrave, who followed last. ‘‘I once heard und felt one justi like it in a Peruvian silver mine.” ‘¢ Nonsense!” said Hawk. ‘‘ We’re more likely passing under a street, and that is the jarring rumble of some heavy wagon passing overhead.” Nixey burst into his elfish laugh. **’You’re both out!” said he. ‘*I know what it is—I bet I does!” ‘¢ Tell us, then,” said Hawk. ‘* We must be near the house where them for- eign frauds is holdin’ one of their secret che- bangs, an’ them sounds is the enthusiastic roars of applause, as the theayter crickets say.” This, or something like it, proved to be the true explanation. Going on a little further, the explorers began to skirt a rough, half-broken foundation wall, through which the sounds were plainly distin- guished as multitudinous voices. ‘Look, boss!” said Nixey, beginning to pick away part of the wall with his crowbar. but with little or no noise. ‘‘I can soon make a peep-hole, by which we can look in on ’em.” ‘** To what end?” asked Hawk impatiently. Nixey leaned on his crowkar, and gazed at him with a comical look of mock contempt. ‘* Well, now, boss,” said he, ‘* fur a lynx-eyed, hawk-billed detective, you can sweep the deck, joker included, fur downright lunkheadedness Nien be want to!” ‘‘ What is the matter with me now?’ said Hawk, laughing. “Why, wasn’t Mr. Seagrave here attacked by foreion Jooneys? Weren’t they set on to it by the big duffer we’re runnin’ down? Mayn’t he, therefore, be mixed up in their ’spiracies? Ain’t there a ’spiracy goin’ on right behind this ere wall, what we might get a peep at? An’ mightn’t these things catch on to each to other like the links of a dog-chain?” “Yes, they might, but most likely co not,” said Hawk, giving a start. with your work, and I'll lend you a hand.” Seagrave also assisted, and an aperture wes soon effected by which they could see into a vast cellar. Tt was loftily vaulted, illuminated by numer- ous gas-jets, and provided with rude benches, which were occupied by a noisy and excited as- semblage of both sexes, but with the men greatly in the majority. The latter appeared to be mostly foreigners, rudely dre and in many cases with forbid- ding faces, though there was a scattering of well-dressed persons of an intelligent aspect. Red flags and gaudily painted mottoes and emblems of a highly inflammatory nature draped the walls. acing the audience was a small stage, from ** However, go on - ~ Eomichoo G (E(o) S