Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 40 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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26 ‘the tunnel, and after inany a painful effort, suc- -ceeded in making himself heard. And thus Ben Watson came home! By snatches, and broken by many a painful ‘gasp, he told his story. How he had deceived the soldiers, how he had stolen away under ‘cover of the rain-storm; how he had remained hidden during the hot and persistent search, more than once peering out upon the men as ‘they ranged almost within arm’s-length of his overt, until the quest was abandoned as hope- less. hen wounded, unarmed, without food ‘or the means of procuring any, how he had dragged his heavy limbs over the long, weary trail, suffering a thousand deaths before he reached the end. And after Watson came, Baby Tom thought harder and more persistently than ever, but making slight progress. The end—the result to be accomplished, stood out clear and plain enough; but the prelimina details as heattempted to cn 3 them, sent his heavy brain whirling and reeling, until he felt likea drunken man. And one day Ben Watson, whom plenty of food and repose had wonder- fully restored, fairly bewildered Baby Tom by ts ae the very subject that had so long puzzled the giant’s wits. “Thar’s only one way you kin make things sure, now, boss—marry the gal. Do it up in style—no slop-work, but the clean, ginewine arti- cle! It kin be did, now the old woman is out o’ the way. Take her critter—back to Laramie— git the chaplain todouble yo up. Then strike the old man, her pap, fer somethin’ heavy. He cain’t well hang his own son-in-law, you see.” ‘‘She wouldn’t have me,” muttered the giant, his face glowing hotly, his big eyes Pia before the cat-like gaze of his com- e. ‘She mought do wuss. Fine ladies like her think a heap of honor. Say the word, an’ Pll agree to settle the case. ‘en minutes’ talk "Il be enough. IT’ll skeer her into sayin’ yes—” ‘‘ Yousay one crooked wor to her, Ben Wat- ‘son, an’ I'll cut your heart ous!” said Baby Tom, with deliberate emphasis, a blazing devil in his eyes. The decoy uttered a low, long-drawn whistle, but drop the subject. But his words sti rung in Baby Tom’s ears. They haunted him by night, and furnished him with food for thought during the long, dull days that crept so slowly by while Kate Markham lay struggling with death. And when the crisis came and pass- ed, andthe Indian nurse told Baby Tom that her patient would be perfectly restored within the week, he entered the little hut one afternoon, and motioning the squaw to withdraw, squatted down beside the low pallet of blankets and skins. One glance showed him that Kate was awake. Then he averted his head, staring steadily at a bloated spider at work in the corner, and like a school-boy ‘‘ speaking his piece,” un- burdened his mind. ‘* Mebbe you hain’t forgot what I said to you tother day when we was ridin’ over here. I said I was thinkin’ arden of making you my wife. I was jokin’, then, ’cause I was al- ready married. ut things is changed now. She’s dead—Marthy, I mean. An’ the boys is growlin’ ’cause we’ve run so much resk an’ got nothin’ to show for ’t. "Your pap won’t pay us money. The boys think we're runnin’ too much resk in keepin’ you here—” ‘‘Set me free—return me to my friends and rou shall have money!” eagerly interrupted te, her pale face flushing with hope. “The boys won’t agree. They say you'll ay ‘em out. The soldiers’d hunt ’em down an’ ill ’em like dogs. They say better fer you to go under then them. They say ’t ’d save trouble ef we putt you in the river. They say you cain’t never go out o’ this hole alive onless you're so bound to us that you won’t dare split. They say there’s a preacher man over to La- ramie. "Tain’t so fur to ride. They say ef you gree to do that, they’ll let you go back to our pap. ; me I don’t understand you,” faltered Kate, but the flush of hope faded from her cheek, and a look of terror filled her eyes. “‘The boys say that thar’s only one here as has hed any ’sperience in reg’lar, sure-enough marridge,” continued Baby Tom, his big ae never moving from the bloated spider. ‘That man hed a wife, but she’s gone dead. I won’t k no names, but you was ’long o’ her when she was shot an’ drownded. The boys say you must marry that man, ef you ever keer ’bout seein’ your folks ag’in. ey said fer me to tell ye. They said he'd try to make you a good hus- an’. He’sa rough cuss; I won’t gainsay that, but the boys said mebbe you’d try to git along with him ruther than the river. ey said you could hev ontel to-morrow to thinkitover. An’ —that’s all they said, I think,” and Baby Tom arose, still staring atthe bloatedspider. “‘I jest thought [d tell ye, seein’ the boys was so sot on it. e water’s colder, sence the rain, I think. You don’t look overly strong, an’ it might give you a cold—the river, I mean. An’ that fool man—he loves you harder’n a mule kin kick down-hill!”? With which words, spoken in a tone far different from the one in which the oth- ers were uttered, Baby Tom strode from the Beadle’s i Sf hut, leaving Kate to herself and her troubled re- flections. The afternoon faded, the stars began to peer down into Black Hollow as though anxious to read the secrets of its gloomy depths. The out- laws cooked and ate their supper, smoked their pipes and then crawled into their rude huts or stretched themselves out beside the cheerful fires, to sleep—the last sleep that they were to know in this world. The hours rolled on. The moon climbed the mountain-side and looked down into Black Hol- low. Did its full orb observe that dim, phantom- like figure so silently creeping through the bushes, into the clearing? The faint light of the dying embers were re- flected from a bronze, shining skin, nude from the waist upward. Crouching low to the ground, the shadow stole from hut to hut, pausing for a brief space by each, entering more than one, as if in search of some particular object. And as a half-burn- ed brand broke in twain, its ruddy glow revealed the shape of an Indian, bending over the form of Baby Tom, who was muttering restlessly in his sleep. A long knife hung over the outlaw’s heart, but his mutterings ceased and his life was spared, for that moment. The shadow crept on and paused beside the hut in which lay Kate Markham. Through the brush door came a tiny ray of light. Nodding over the dying fire crouched the Indian wo- man. Gently the door was pulled open, not the faint- est sound betraying the action. Then, at a low hiss, a second figure appeared, and the twain crept into the hut. The new-comer crouched behind the “ye The first, passed on to the pallet where lay the maiden, sleeping. Aslight motion of his hand—and each shadow grasped its prey. There was a brief, almost noiseless struggle, Kate’s eyes opened, but a firm hand was upon her lips, and, before she could realize her peril, a soft gag was forced into her mouth. She tried to shriek—but in vain; and then her brain reeled. She had fainted. The Indian caught her turned toward the door, less, bound and gagged. The man who had se- cured her glided to the door. All wasstill. The outlaws lay sleeping, little suspecting the strange drama that was being enacted in their very midst. In silence the bold abductors stepped over the prostrate bodies, crossed the clearing, gained the river and forded it without an accident or mishap. The shadow whose arms were free, fumbled around in the dark for a few moments, then si- lently placed the end of a stout raw-hide rope in the hand of his companion, and began climb- ing up the steep hillside, at the very point where Martha Bascom had made the attempt, days before. When the lassowas drawn taut, the man who bore the senseless maiden upon his left arm began climbing up, aided by the rope, wer he gained the point where his comrade stood. Twice was this repeated, and the twinklin stars above seemed to be growing nearer, anc the roaring of the waters below to recede. But then, when only a few feet of the lasso hung be- low his hand, when he felt the moist earth crumbling beneath his feet, and the entire weight of himself and that of the maiden depend- ed upon the grasp of one hand, a frightful font menaced she Initia: A sharp hiss startled him. Two glistening diamond-like of he suddenly 9 peared just above his head. id then a cold, clammy substance touched his hand. low, culiar skir7 sounded in his ears, And he ew that a rattlesnake was preparing for its fatal stroke! ‘* Blackbird!” came a cautious whisper from above. As though startled by the sound, the serpent crawled Saas his hand and its head rested upon the Indian’s neck, its angry hiss filling his ear! CHAPTER XXXII. FOUND AND LOST. HieGuH above the roaring of the little river, whirling through the arched passage, reverber- ating from peint to point of the pine-clad moun- tain, rung the echoes of that withering volley, of the shrieks and groans of the fallen, the ex- ultant yells of the ambushed savages—and pg above all pealed forth the wild war-cry of the terrible te Sioux! Baby Tom sprung to his feet, thoroughly awakened, as the ringing yell filled the valley. He glared arouud hi ae and even made one stride toward the frien ly bushes, so at was the dread with which that wild ogan inspired him. The friendly dark. ness covered his ghastly face, his se bein limbs and starting eyeballs. For the momen he was utterly unmanned by the remembrance of a past crime and its solemnly-promised pun- ishment. . “It’s Injuns an’ soldiers!” exclaimed Ben Watson; so close beside him that the giant start- ed. ‘‘Ef they'll only chaw each other up! I reckon we'll hev to git out o’ this—” “You think they’re after us?” in his arms and e squaw lay help- Dime Library. —— — —. —_—__——_= ‘““Sartin! What fer else would them pesky critters be so fur from the fort?” snarled the de- coy. My oe git the boys together—tell ’em to pack up whatever they keer ’bout takin’ along,” said Baby Tom, once more himsclf. ‘Til go take a squint at these critters, an’ fix the trail so they cain’t come in on our backs. Tell’em to keep cool—but make haste!” Baby Tom crossed the river and entered the tunnel, holding a drawn knife before him as a guard against a possible surprise from some in- trepid enemy, threading the narrow, perilous trail, paar 13 in inky darkness, with a sure and confident foot. Cautiously he peered out, and through the faint gray light of the dawning day, he could distinguish a mass of writhing, poke, sey, * serpamd close locked in a dante grapple. There were flashing revolvers, though these were but seldom used; the fight was too close and deadly for anything like deliberation; the cold steel was doing its work, instead. The giant’s eyes sought for one particular form, and the manner in which he fingered his revolver shadowed forth the deadly wish that filled his heart. “Jest fer one minnit!’”’ he muttered, as he peered through the gray mist. ‘‘Jest one glimpse, an’ I’d be a free man ag’in!” He listened for the voice of the White Sioux, but it was silent. If he could only know that the man whom he so feared was dead! And yet he dared not step forth to ascertain—he dared linger no longer, and turning, he retraced his steps for a few yards, Pausing here, he crouched down and slipping his fingers into a deep crack, threw his whole strength into one effort, tearing a section of the ledge from its position and toppling it over into the water. For full six feet the trail was com- pletely destroyed. ‘‘Let ’em try to come in now!” he chuckled arising and resuming his progress. “ Ef he'd only try, fust!” During his absence Ben Watson had not been idle. Several fires had been rekindied, and the little clearing was now fully illuminated. The outlaws were hurrying to and fro, preparing their loads for a hasty flight by the upper pass. Ben Watson reached Baby Tom’s side and has- tily muttered: ‘Promise to give me half you make, an’ I'll help you give the boys the slip. ’I'won’t be hard—they’re skeered hafe out o’ thar boots as *tis. How is it—quick!” ‘Good enough! come—we’ll git the gal, an’ make a break. Ef only those devils hain’t thought o’ sendin’ round to the upper pass!” Ca os op a blazing brand, Baby Tom sprung to the hut where he had left his captive, and flung open the brush door. One glance— and he stood like one petrified. Ben Watson dodged under his extended arm. He saw the bound and gagged form of the Indian woman— but no more. The girl for whose possession they had dared and suffered so much, was one! = ‘* Whar is she?” he snarled, whirling around with bared knife threatening the stupetied giant. ‘“You’ve run her off to cheat me out o’ my rights! Tell me whar she is, or PU cut your heart—”’ The air was filled with a series of yells, blood- curdling and awe-inspiring; the ringing war- whoop of the merciless Sioux! And through the line of shrubbery burst the painted horde, led by tall Leapah, whose revolver rung out the death-knell of a brawny outlaw as he sprung within the circle of light. This sight seemed to break the spell which had fallen upon Baby Tom when he found that his prize had vanished, and with a loud, bellowing rour of encouragement to his men and defiance to his enemies, he dropped the torch, drew his pistol and dete into the thickest of the melee. Great as was their numerical superiority, the Sioux fell back before this human avalanche who seemed to court death as a pastime, and with a show of returning courage, the outlaws aes to fight for their lives. wice Baby Tom EY ae his revolvers, and each time they failed him, having been thor- oughly wetted when he destroyed the trail through the tunnel. With an angry curse he flung them at the heads of the savages, and snatching up a heavy, blazing log from the nearest fire, whirled it above his head and brought it down with terrific force full upon the shaven crown of Leapah. Without a groan the des nt fell, his skull crushed out of all semblance to humanity. Again and again the ponderous weapon was whirled aloft and each time it descended, there death followed. With every stroke the giant gave vent to a dull, heavy roar of fierce hatred. He seemed like an avenging colossus—like some horrible machine of destruction rather than a simple mortal, and the bravest of the Sioux warriors shrunk from before him, though plying their weapons deftly from behind. With knife, tomahawk and pistol they vie to avenge the fall of their leader but turning to flee whenever the raging giant —. toward them. lood flowed in streams from a dozen wounds, and the movements of Baby Tom grew less swift and-certain. He began to stagger—the Eomicboo (C S) (E(0)| |