Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 414 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

- “ncreasin eee “ Now, Buck Bradley, we are on more cqual terms.” Seeing that the Bravo offered no resistance, Kendall hastily disarmed him, and then threw him vackward with a force that sent him flat upon his back. ‘‘Is yer goin’ ter kill me dead?” whined the bully. ‘*] should do so,”was the cool reply. ‘*! is wounded now and I wonder who firei this arrow?’and the Bravo drew from his arm, »where it had buried itself to the head, a long arrow, which had struck him just as he thought of pulling trigger on King Kendall. ‘““J do not know who fired it; but it came just in the nick of time for me, and I thank the one who did it,” and Kendall glanced in tho di- rection from whence had come the shaft, but saw mo one, “It came from yonder thicket,’’ said Brad- ley, pointing to a clump of underwood nearly a aad yards distant, ‘* And it was well aimed.” ‘** Yas, and I knows ther shooter.” ‘*'Who was it?” **Does yer see thet leetle fox carved on the side?’ “Yes.” ‘‘Itare painted red, yer see.” ‘* Ha! the Red Renard?” “Yas, he hev his weepons marked with a red fox, and he were the one as jest shooted me.” “Then be on your guard, for his aim may be truer next time. ‘‘Now I'll spare your life once more, and give you fair warning not to cross my path again, ““ Here are your weapons, so mount your horse and go!” The Bravo’s face shone with delight, for he had certainly not expected mercy; but he was of a brazen nature, and said: “You don’t want me fer a pard in yer gold- amine, does yer, cap’n?” 46 0.” “« Thet are honest, but—” The Bravo stopped short, for he did not like ‘tthe look in Kendall’s eyes, He knew that he deserved no mercy at his ‘hands, and he feared that he might go too far, and he picked up his weapons and walked to- ~ward his horse. King Kendall already had recovered his own _ vifle and held him covered with it, and the Bravo seemed only anxious to get away. Mounting his waiting horse, he rode off with- out another word, though the look on his face spoke volumes, As he disappeared from sight, Kendall mut- ‘tered: ““ Now I will hunt out a safe camp for myself, for I have work to do. “ But first let me see if I can find that good Indian te whom I certainly owe my life.” He went toward the thicket from whence had «come the arrow, but found no one there. Nor could he discover any trail whatever, ood trailer that he was. “This is strange, for the arrow certainly came rom here,” he said, and again he made a thorough search of the thickets; but without avail. There was no other spot within a quarter of a ‘mile from whence the arrow could have come ‘to strike the Bravo as it did, and yet not the ‘slightest trace could he see of any one having been in the little clump of timber. ‘* It is certainly one of Red Renard’s arrows, for here is his mark upon it, ‘“ And yet Black Jack says he killed the In- ‘dian yesterday, so what does it all mean? ‘‘ This seems to be another mystery for me to clear up, and I'll begin by going to the spot where Jack says he fired upots the Sioux.” With this Kendall went back to his horse, and collecting the animals together, mounted Gom- rade and set off for the canyon. The fact that he had seen strange sights there during the past night did not deter him in the least; but rather urged him on, for, scouting all “su ition, he was anxious to find out just what it was that could approach so near the hostly and yet be of earth. ; From what the miners had told him, he read- ‘fly found the cliff on which Red Renard had ‘been when Black Jack fired at him. But to scale it he found was no easy task, yet sas he re ed the wall of rock he muttered -confidently: ‘* Tt can be done.” Having arrived at this conclusion, he staked his horses out to feed, and then taking several lariats bound them securely together. The cliff projected out from the main spur of the mountain almost in the shape of a huge steamer, being some seventy feet in hight, nar- row at the valley point, and broad at the base where it joined the higher cliffs. Fastening an iron stake-pin to one end of the lariat, Kendall began to swing it in a circle about his head. He had already coiled the line at his feet, and, the velocity of the pin more and amore, suddenly sent it flying upward through vthe air. It fell upon the top of the cliff. Pullingit back again he tried again, and again it was a failure. His third attempt sent it clean over the point of the cliff, and there it hung on the other side, dangling some thirty feet from the top Then taking a lariat, after a number of un- successful throws he at last caught the pin in the coil and drew it down “Ae reach. Making one end fast to a’: 1 pine, Kendall then went to the other side. and began to climb up the lariat. With the agility of an old seaman, he went Red Renard, the Indian De vective. ' ii Then he quickly came to a halt as the idea struck him that she might bs behind some tree | or rock calmly drawing a bead on him. i upward, hand over hand, and at last reached a | footing near the top, from whence he easily climbed upon the summit of the cliff, As be reached the top he fairly started, for | his eyes fell upon the body of an Indian lying hear, ‘‘ Great God! itis the Red Renard, and he is dead! ‘* Who, then, fired that arrow into the arm of the Bravo?” he cried, with evident emotion and surprise combined. CHAPTER XX. DRIVEN FROM THE TRAIL. I WILu now return to the time when we left Buck Bradley, the Bravo, in bis effort to follow the trail of the strange and beautiful young girl ' i The pony stood looking at the miner in sur- prise, and awaited his approach without fear. The reins were tied up, so as not to get under the animal’s feet, and there was no indication that the pony had either thrown bis rider cr broken loose when hitched. Suddenly, as the Bravo got within a few feet of him, the pony uttered a loud neigh, wreeled as though on a pivot, and darted away through the timber at a breakneck speed. Buck Bradley was well-mounted,and put spurs in pursuit. ould he catch the fony he did not doubt but that he could mount him and he would carry him to the home of his fair rider. But catching the little animal was no ea | matter, as the Bravo soon discovered, for bis * horse was distanced, the pony running through the timber at a pace which his pursuer dared not force his horse into to follow bins: 5 After awhile the little horse disappeared over — a mountain ridge, and, upon arriving there, what was the surprise of the Bravo to discover -§ him, a long distance down the other side,and ~~ behold upon his back none other than the young girl. i ‘Of all things this do beat,” he muttered, in ; who had come upon him so suddenly and unex- his amazement, as he gazed upon the pony and pectedly in the mountains. his rider quietly descending the mountain, and pression that he intended to at once Jeave the | upon her trail. be Having seen her depart, and given her the im- | the latter apparently unconscicus that he was mountains, he drew rein and began to * consid- er ther sarcumstances,” as he expressed if, Watching her from this point of lookout, he : saw her enter the valley and disappearina He had, it is true, penetrated into the Death | clump of timber that grew in the mouth of a at Mountains twice before, for ho took big chances | larse canyon. and then it was that he for the finding of gold Haunted Bridge, had discovered the miners had called the span across the mountain | river. Who had built it the Bravo did not know; but bad weather had driven him aney on one occasion, and the loss of his stores by his camp getting on fire at another, and thus he had not been able to follow up his gold trail until the opportunity offered to go with the Kendall arty. The secret of his discovery he had kept to himself, and upon his third visit, when driven out of the camp by King Kendall, be had sud- denly found out that the Death Mountains had one occupant, at least, and that one wasa young girl. She had held the winning hand against him, in their meeting; but he did not doubt but that he eould readily trail her to her abode, and find out who her companions were, for he could not believe that she was there alone. As to her being there, and those with her, he had but one idea, and that was that they had found a mine and were working it in secret. He had, however, discovered the secret of their being there, and it was now his intention to find out who they were, how many he had to deal with, and the value of their gold find. “ They’ve struck it rich, Pll bet high, and it w’u’d be a nice thing to scoop in thar leetle pile. ‘* Ef they is too many fer me, I'll let ther boys inter ther secret and claim lion’s share on doing so, and then we can make a clean sweep. ‘* Now ter trail thet gal, fer ef she are foolish enough ter think she hev driven me out o’ this country; she are a sadly mistook leetle one.” It did not give the Bravo any trouble to fol- low the trail left by the young girl, for he was a thorough plainsman and mountaineer, and read- ily kept on her pony’s tracks, After riding several miles he came to a halt. ‘* Waal, she are lost sart’in, fer I hev been riding zigzag fer an hour. ‘* Wonder ef she’d thank me fer showing her ther way?” Again be rode on, and after several miles more once again drew rein. **Rats o' ther Rockies! ther gal makes me dizzy, fer I hev been riding in a circle fera hour. ‘* Fn’st it were zigzag; now it are round and round, and I wonder what will be ther next racket?” Once more he resumed his way, and for the next hour he seemed to be doubling upon the trail, until suddenly he halted in deep amaze- ment. He had come out just where he had started om. ** Waal, thet gal hev been lost, thet are sart’in and, as far as ther good I have done, I might hev waited fer her here. ‘* Waal, waal, it are a hard thing ter find out jist what a woma’ is going ter do. , ‘* Hello, thar are ther trail leadin’ off in an- other direction now, so I guesses ther gal knows ther way to her home, and I'll know it, too, afore long.” | The trail now branched off obliquely from the way it had before led, and following it for a few miles straight into the very depths of the moun- tains, the Bravo suddenly drew rein, while he gave a low whistle as his eyes fell upon the pony the girl had ridden. But the saddle held no occupant. ‘‘ Whar is ther gal?’ he muttered, as he rode toward the pony. A Leetle gal, yonder are your home, and Tl os as the | be thar this night ter visit yer,” said the Bravo, and he dismounted to rest his horseand himself. The sun was just setting as he again started upon the trail; but he had no need of following no the pony tracks then as he had seen where the . pony had disappeared. % Straight to the timber he rode, but it was / x growing dark rapidly, and he did not strike the trail there as readily as he expected to do. wee A search failed to find any tracks, after they me entered the timber, and he felt compelled to ~ camp for the night. . Selecting as good a place as he could,in the darkness, be wrapped himself in his blankets and laid down to sleep, for he dared not build any fire there, not knowing how far distant the girl and ber friends might be. Pe How long he had siept hc did not know; but => he was.awakened, he thought, by a groan. ais: = started to his feet and grasped for his Py rifle. fire It was gone! oem: He then felt for his revolvers, but his belt of arms was not about his waist! , ‘“Good Lord! am I dreaming, or am I awake?” he cried, as the perspiration stood in beads upon his face. oa He moved about, to convince himself that he was awake, and upon turning beheld a white- one form standing by the tree where he had f Fesivert have marcy, it are a ghost!” ho — fairly groaned, and he stood riveted to the spot, his eyes glaring upon what really seemed to be © a dead form risen in his shroud from the grave. A A moment the shadowy-looking being re-— ny mained motionless, and then one arm was raised slowly and pointed out towardthevalley. _ ‘**Oh, I'll go, ef thet’s what yer mean, and Tl a o soon,” fairly moaned the Bravo, and nerv- ing himself, for he was all of a tremor, he » © started to leave the timber by the way he had“ __ entered it. fies Looking back, he saw that the white figure was following him, and he cried out: te ‘Don’t yer see I is on ther back trail,pard? = so don’t come arter me.” ” Suddenly it flashed acrcss the Bravo’s mind that he was unarmed, and was leaving his horse, so he called out: — ‘*Can’t I get my weepons and horse, Pard Ghost?” 3 = is Oa ” Again the arm was raised in silence, poin oe = - toward the valley, and Bradley stepped ahead oo at a lively pace, calling back: “* Never mind, you kin hev ’em.” 7 As he reached the edge of the timber, to his pos spar ahs glee pace —_- and — re as he sprun is saddle, be foun ging to the horn his rifle and belt of arms. : fo Se Driving his spurs deep into the side of his faithful horse, he away at full - oe “neon a glancing back to see if he was fol- Et: hy owed, 5, -- But the spectral-looking form had not left the timber, though this circumstance did not cause the Bravo to slacken his speed until his tired horse could go no further. ~ Ake ** Waal, old horse, I's’pose I hes ter give yera rest; but IT hes seen thet this night I didn't be- lieve in afore, and ef any more ghosts puts in an appearance, you may expect ter see me git and leave ver. aoe” ‘** Now I'll build a fire, and a rousin’ one, fer fires skeers off mosquitoes and snakes, and may- be it will ghosts,” and the Brayo soon hed @& comicbooks:com * S / « s Fy —) . igi * q » ye , . t