Beadle's Dime Library No. 386 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

ng fe - =~ owe =. ee ~ -_ body lay before him, had recently effected a con- siderable improvement in ltis garb. The clothing of the body was rough and cheap, but new and clean, while the great- brimmed sombrero would go far to finish off a disguise. ‘‘T have it!” said Hawk. ‘I shall first as- sume this dead wretch’s garb over my own. Then, if I can cut my way through yonder wall, my counterfeiting powers may enable me to pierce some new penetralia of my subtle foe, even to the very heart of his undoing.” With our hero, to determine was to act, to plan was to execute. In a few moments he had assumed the dead ruffian’s outer garments over his own. Then, before donning the sombrero, he grimed and blackened his face in as near an imitation as he could of the swarthy and forbidding feat- ures that were stilled forever. Then he set to work at the wall. After an hour of torturing labor, a breach was effected. Retaining his crowbar, he gave a sigh of re- lief as he stepped into what the dim rays of his lantern revealed as a vast cellar. A brief exploration showed it to be empty, save for some cases and casks heaped at one end, There was an inclosed space, like a spacious flue, at the side opposite the breach he had made. At one side of this flue ascended a rude flight of wooden steps. He began to climb them, Half-way to the top he came to a small door, evidently opening toward the flue, It yielded to his grasp. Opening it, he threaded a short corridor, opened a panel and looked in and down. Then he started back with a thrill of horror, such as he had seldom before experienced. Had he gazed into an abyss of the infernal regions the effect could scarcely have been more ‘ _ horrifying. The flue, as he had thought it, was a pit of fire! The walls and bottom were not only gilded with dazzling fire, but were likewise bristling with innumerable bayonet points. Overpowering sulphurous fumes saluted his nostrils. From somewhere in the depths issued demoni- ac groans, combined with the clanking of chains. Hawk reeled back, closing the friendly panel. ‘‘ What awful mystery am I on the threshold of?” he muttered, Regaining the steps, he continued the ascent. At the top, another small opening in another direction admitted him to a carpeted corridor, which conducted him to the foot of a winding staircase, Ascending this and passing through another door, he found himself in a broad, illuminated and superbly-furnished passage. A closed door was at either end. From one of these there came the sound of voices in angry dispute. These voices he recognized with a start. The purport of their discussion, which he could plainly distinguish, was even more start- ling “T tell you,” said one voice, which was that of Clarisse, ‘7 will not have a hair of the girl injured!” ‘** But,” said the other, the hated voice of Kotz- ka, ‘if Olga’s prison should be traced by that infernal detective—” ‘‘ Hawk Heron, you mean?” ae Yes.” “But you told me you had burnt him to death.” ‘* He escaped, curse him!” “What?” There was a joyful ring in the utterance of this word that caused Hawk to palpitate with pleasure. Yes,” Kotzka’s voice went on, “‘ the man’s a salamander. I saw him descend a fire-ladder, uninjured.” “Thank God!” ‘¢ What do you mean by that?” “‘ No matter.” ‘But I insist on knowing!” ** You insist!” ec A 9 ““Count Kotzka, remember that you are my master only in a political sense.” ‘““ Remember your oath!” — ‘Ha! Do you remember it, too, Count! IfI only thought—” ‘© What?” “That you had descended to private crime, independent of the Order’s commands, by Hea- ven— * Well, go on!” : ‘* No, I shall not.” ‘But you have either said too little or too much.” ‘*No more; you know me.” * In what way?” **Asa stainless woman, who merely aims at heroic distinction in the cause in which my sire laid down his life.” “But you forget that I hold you in my per- Hawk Heron, i = sonal power by the onesecretof your past, which is in my possession alone.” * Forget it! Am | likely to?” ** 7 should think not.” * But for that, would I conspire with such as ou? ** Woman!” Kotzka’s voice thundered forth the last word, and ended in a sort of snarl. A scornful laugh was his response, ‘‘Let us return to our first subject,” said Kotzka’s voice, ina calmer tone. ‘‘ There is no reasoning with you, Clarisse.” ‘* As you please, then.” ‘‘ Well, then, I do not wish to destroy the girl, unless upon necessity. But if her prison up here in the tower should be discovered—” Hawk gave another start. “What!” he muttered, joyfully; *‘ Olga con- fined here—here in this very house!” ‘‘No matter,” he heard Clarisse interrupt. ‘* Not a hair of her head shall be injured.” **'You say so?” “*T swear it!” “ec Ha !”? . You have partly persuaded me that Olga’s abduction was necessary to the cause. submit. But I shall defend her life as I would my sister’s.” Kotzka burst out in some furious retort in Russian. Clarisse answered, and the dispute was con- tinued for some time in the same tongue. Then there was a movement as if they might be coming out into the passage. Hawk hurried to the door at the other end, so as to seem to have just entered by it. He had left his lantern on the stair, but still retained his crowbar, and his revolver and dag- ger were within easy reach. — Just as he turned, and began to advance, Kotzka, followed by Clarisse, stepped into the passage. Both were splendidly dressed, as at the secret convocation. ‘*What!” exclaimed Kotzka; Tibbs?” ‘‘ Ay, maister,” replied Hawk, scraping his foot, and imitating Tibbs’s voice and manner to perfection, but taking care to keep on his hat. Followed still by Clarisse, Kotzka advanced, observing him narrowly. ‘‘ How did you get here?” said he. ‘‘ What's the odds how, maister, so long as the job you set me onto is did?” “* Ha! the tunnel?” ‘Ts bu’sted up, or rather down!” ‘¢ And the detective?” * Is under the ruins, with my bullet in his ‘* You shall be suitably rewarded,” said Kotzka, after a long pause. ‘*Remain here till I re- turn. He retraced his steps, re-entered the room at the other end of the passage, closing the door be- hind him. Clarisse moved toward the pseudo Tibbs, her eyes sparkling with excitement. ‘‘ Hawk Heron, I know you,” said she, simply. Hawk gave a surprised start. ‘“'Yes,” she continued, ‘‘ your disguise is clever, but I penetrated it at a glance.” 5 \ ell,” said Hawk, ‘“‘you will not betray me? ** Indeed!” with a hard laugh. ce No. ”? ‘Why will I not betray you?” Hawk snatched off the sombrero, and looked her full in the face. ‘‘ Because I love you!” A rich color mounted into her cheeks. It was succeeded by a troubled look. ‘You are in deadly peril,” said she, “for Kotzka has likewise recognized you.” ** Are you sure?” ‘“Yes; his manner and words were merely a pretense.” ee Well, if Iam ina trap, I can fight my way out. ‘“You cannot! This is a fastness of desperate men, A stamp of Kotzka’s foot would bring them upon you in swarms. Impossible!” ‘Then you will save me.” “1? But if it be not in my power? How- ever—” She started back, for just then Kotzka burst again into the passage, with the aspect of a demon. ‘‘QOho! Hawk Heron!” he roared; ‘so you would venture into the lion’s den? Be it so, for this time your doom is certain!” Hawk threw off his hat and twirled his crow- bar over his head. But he was entrapped! At a ep of Kotzka’s foot, armed men started into life at every hand, almost from the very floor at his feet. ‘“Seize him, bind him!” thundered Kotzka; ‘the is a spy, a traitor!” There was a wild and desperate struggle while it lasted, which was scarcely a minute. As the conspirators precipitated themselves pe Ss him, Hawk laid about him with telling effect, but he was quickly overpowered. Then Clarisse’s voice rung out over the hubbub like a clarion. ‘ ‘you here, | he Fal on Detective. ‘‘Bind and gag that man, if you must,” she cried, ‘‘but harm him not on pain of my dis- pleasure!”’ ** Woman!” yelled Kotzka, in a white rage; ‘*dare you dispuvte my authority here? The man is a spy, a traitor!” **'He is neither, and I'll answer for it!” she re- torted, defiantly. ‘* Fellow-conspirators—” Several of the men interposed, and, as well as Hawk could make out—for he was now bound and prostrate—they were trying to persuade her to be quiet. At length they seemed to succeed. Then there was a confusjon of voices in a for- eign tongue. ut Hawk was meanwhile busily but silentl cutting his bonds with a tiny knife-blade, whic he always kept concealed in his sleeve for just such an einergency. He had been deprived of his erowhar, but his: revolver and dagger were yet available. Suddenly, finding himself free, he bounded to his feet, pistol and knife in hand. Bho did that instant of liberty reveal to im? Clarisse had disappeared. The conspirators were grouped about their chief, and, excepting him, they now wore masks. Taking advantage of their surprise, Hawk fired his first shot full at Kotzka’s breast. Then he sprung among the group, playing yoth weapons, right and left, for all they were worth. There was another wild struggle. ‘‘Upon him!” yelled Kotzka, who had for some mysterious reason escaped the shot. ‘Down with him! but spare his life, on your own lives— spare him for the torturing doom!” Our hero was onee more speedily overpow- ered. ** Whither shall we drag him, master?” asked a voice, in English. The answer curdled the blood in Hawk Heron’s veins. ‘‘ Whither!” roared Kotzka, in a terrible voice; ‘whither but to the pit of fire and steel?” Hawk’s eyes were then bandaged as he lay ner cers hen he felt himself borne swiftly away. His next sensation, after a halt had been made, was as of hooks or grapnels being fast- ened between his shoulders. Then he felt himself hoisted from his feet, and dangling in the air. Near at hand sounded a roaring and crack- ling of flames, and he again experienced the sickening sulphurous smell. ‘“Now,” cried the terrible voice, ‘‘swing back the brazen doors, and float him down into the pit of fire and steel! Ha, ha, ha! Hawk Heron, you must indeed be more than salamander if aie survive this torturing test!’” Simultaneously with the words, there was a clang of opening doors, Hawk’s limbs were unbound, and the bandage was torn from his eyes. "Then he found himself suspended, face down- ward, literally swimming in space, over the horrible pit. ‘ Horror mastered him. The walls around him were glittering with fire and bristling with bayonet points. Far below yawned a gulf even more appal- ling in its suggestions. ‘*Stand by the running gear,” continued the terrible voice from somewhere overhead, ‘* and await the order to cut the rope!” CHAPTER XIV. THE IRON TOMB. THE rope was not cut, however, and Hawk remained suspended over the pit. This fact and one other served to reinstate his courage. ‘ : The other fact was that, while the sulphur- ous fumes rising from the glittering depths were aya overpowering, there was no correspond- ing heat. Scill our hero’s situation was sufficiently mysterious and dreadful to have appalled the stoutest heart. Presently he began to be swung violently to and fro, in a manner that threatened every instant to impale him on one or more of the bayonets protruding from the sides. Then the terrible voice rung out once more from overhead. ‘Hawk Heron,” it cried, ‘tin consideration of that past in which you were not the enemy you now are, your life may still be spared, on one condition, Do you hear?” ‘‘Yes, I hear,” Hawk managed to gasp out in response. ‘Swear, then, to give over your fell pursuit of Kotzka, the Proscrihed!” Hawk vouchasafed no answer. ‘Swear this instant, or you shall be precipi- tated into the fiery, bristling gulf yawning to ‘receive you. Swear!” — Our hero felt that his life trembled in the bal- ance, but he was indomitable, ‘* Never!” he exclaimed, The oscillations now became yet more violent. But in one of these, which brought him almost. com Cc 300 ‘S_COor Bee geal