Beadle's Dime Library No. 417: Tucson Tom — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

26 o> = ee — and though a few trees and bushes gave them some assistance, it was not much to rely on. Once Tom felt positive the game was up. his back toward the blaze. So close were they that they could even see his beady black eyes, Tucson Tom, the | nearest camp-fire, else they had now been | surely discovered. Near them a burly brave sat by a fire with | once twined about the neck of an Indian, it | was taken completely by surprise. Those cunning orbs were now fastened | upon the grass at the very point where the > two white scouts chanced to be at that mo-— ment, Evidently he had seen something that had | attracted his attention. An Indian’s suspicions are aroused by the most trivial circumstances. It would seem as though nothing could keep them from discovery, for even if they remained quiet, the fellow was very likely to investigate, in order to satisfy himself. Arizona was equal to the occasion, how- ever, and while Tom’s hand was seeking a revolver so as to be ready to give the dusky devils a series of shots, he saw his companion suddenly sit upright in the grass. Abe had a smooth face, burned by the sun as brown as any Indian’s, and as the blanket was bundled about his head and shoulders, it was the most natural thing in the world for the keen-eyed Apache to mistake bim for a fellow-brave. Perfectly satisfied he turned away. that above all things Tucson Tom’s desire —— _ Abe tcok advantage of the situation to | drop once more to a flat position, and hunch himself along in the direction of freedom, Tom was at his heels. He had great respect for the old trailer, and although irritated by Abe’s chuckling at times when to him the situation appeared the most serious, manifested no disposition to quarrel with his good friend. _ Their progress had been necessarily slow, but by this time they had passed over the most difficult part of the business. The gantlet had thus far been safely passed, and every foot of ground covered now, took ' them out of the danger instead of into it. Looking back, Tom could not see any fur- ther signs on the part of the Indians that would indicate a speedy intention of moving, and he hoped that after all his belief in that direction had been without foundation. It was at this moment he heard a low ex- clamation from in front. Turning his eyes hastily in that quarter, he realized that a new danger had appeared to threaten their safety. Arizona Abe had run suddenly upon a brave who was sleeping in the grass, and as his attention at the time was wholly taken up with what lay in the rear, he did not know of the fellow’s proximity until he ac- tually laid his hand on his face. Under distressing circumstances like these there was but one thing to do, and this must be done with exceeding quickness, The brave must be prevented from giving the alarm, no matter at what cost. Abe knew this full well. He was accustomed ‘to having emergencies such as this fly in his face. The touch of his hand had been enough to arouse the slumbering warrior. Looking up he beheld, as he believed, the form of a feliow brave bending over him, and a low “‘wagh” escaped his lips, as though he were surprised at the method taken to arouse him. Possibly, had he been given time, the fel- low would have discovered his mistake and aroused the whole camp in quick order. Time was too precious just then to be given to any one, and Arizona Abe had none to spare. e believed his own interests and those of his companion would best be served by pla- cing it out of the Indian’s power to do any harm. This was pretty rough on the Indian, but when a man’s life is in the scale, it is aston- ishing how utterly insignificant some other man’s life becomes to him, Besides, Old Abe was a genuine Indian- fighter, and he believed he had good cause for taking the life of every Apache that drew breath. The first thing he did, therefore, was to let his hand glide up to the throat of the brave, about which his iron fingers were instantly clutched. Then his whole weight was thrown for- ward so as to pin the fellow to the ground. ‘ Bowie Bravo. eee On one side was the wall of rock, on the other the deep abyss. No man could have moved with more cau- tion, and when he finally precipitated him- self upon the astonished red man, the latter It was lucky for the two scouts that some little distance now separated them from the When those fingers of the Apache-hater was all up with that unfortunate being. He had been straining his senses to detect So in this case. ! what the other was about, when the ranger The sensation of choking and the weight | suddenly descended upon him like a thun- of the scout’s body upon him so paralyzed | derbolt. the faculties of the Indian that he could So astonishing was Tom’s assault that the offer little resistance to his fate. outcry that involuntarily arose to the lips of When Arizona withdrew his grasp the | the Apache was cut short. brave was beyond the power of doing harm, The struggle was decisive and fierce. for he had been choked to death. Truth to tell, it was the same warrior Their way was now clear}! whom Arizona had hurled over the edge of the abyss. It was not often the old trailer missed his man, but in this instance fate conspired against him, and in spite of iron fingers, steel blade and the fact of the man’s being hurled into the pit, he had been saved by a friendly ledge, and had crawled out of it when his senses returned. Once Tom came very near going over the edge along with his enemy, and it was only by a tremendous exertion that he saved him- self. He was more powerful than the Indian, who had been weakened by his previous ex- perience, but the fellow was fighting for his life and writhed and twisted in the grasp of the scout until it took all of Tom’s energies to hold him. Determined that the fellow should not have the chance he desired, to awaken the echoes of the pass with a shrill yell, the ranger threw every atom of strength he possessed into the conflict, and was gratified to find that slowly and surely he was pushing the unfortunate Indian to the wall. This time when the Apache went over the edge it would be to stay. When he had reduced the fellow to a state of utter insensibility, Tom cast him from him, and was gratified to see him go into the depths, just as a last flash of lightning illu- minated the scene. He breathed a sigh of relief. The danger had been, not so much person- al, for he was able to cope with the Indian at any time, but he had feared lest the fellow should destroy all their plans by giving the alarm. There was no telling what damage a shout from him might not do, Perhaps old Arizona would be in a ticklish place where discovery might be certain in the event of an alarm, and a movement on the part of the Indian, Tucson Tom groped his way through the balance of the gap. | Once on the other side he made his way to the spot where the balance of the band had CHAPTER XXXVII. A MAN WITH THE LIVES OF A CAT. In five minutes they were clear of the camp. Then they came to a halt in order to have a brief consultation. It was best to know exactly what to do be- fore starting in. In this short talk Arizona Abe learned i was the rescue of the young girl, held a cap- tive in the Apache camp. When this had been done they could talk about ‘‘sailing in” and cleaning out the reds, but not before. It was speedily decided that one of them should return to where the rest of the boys had been left end bring them to the spot. While this was taking place the other was to rescue the girl. Who should stay? Tom knew that the old trailer would be of more value than himself under such circum- stances, and though above all things he would have liked to be the one who sh uld appear to Mabel in her distress, he believed it to be to her advantage that Abe should do it while he went for the others. This being decided, each of them set about the task assigned to him. Tom moved away so as to make a half-cir- cuit and pass around the camp. Thus he could gain the gap without any fear of discovery. It was not a very pleasant prospect to think of, but necessity compelled him to enter upon it, and he went forward boldly. The darkness was fearful save when the lightring flashed and rent the vail for a brief space of time. This dazzling light only served to make the subsequent gloom more intense, Tom had no misgivings. His thoughts were wholly upon the help- less girl in the power of the Apaches, and yet he kept a sharp lookout, for he had no desire to tumble into that yawning gulf that seemed to be a part of the pass. Groping his way along in the gloom, and taking advantage of the occasional periods of light, he made good progress. In this way he drew near the spot where Arizona Abe had had his encounter with the Apache who was guarding the pass. When the next flash came, Tom saw di- rectly in front of him a crouching human figure. There could be no mistaking the fact that it was an Apache warrior. Thoughts fly quickly on such occasions, and he did not ponder long over the matter. One of two things must be so. Either an Indian from the camp had come to see how it fared with the sentry in the gap; perhaps ordered to take his place, or else the man whom Abe had choked and stabbed, after- ward throwing his body into the gulf, had | in some miraculous manner been saved, and was now on his way to the camp to give the alarm. Had he been seen? horse, This Tom could not say, and yet ashe had} To make assurance doubly sure he groped caught sight of the Indian it was but fair to | his way along with one hand pressed against presume that the discovery was mutual. the wall. Tom drew a bowie. It was not long before Buckskin gave a An alarm would in all probability mean | low snort, and acted in a way Tom knew too the death of poor Dancing Feather, or at well. least her continued captivity. | Possibly the yellow steed had gotten a He gritted his teeth at the thought and | scent of the Indian guard’s blood. resolved that such a thing must not be. Judge of the ranger’s intense amazement The Indian was crouching before him so when he saw, by the next flash of lightning, that nothing seemed to be in the way of his | the same Indian guard, twice hurled to his taking possession of him. death, crawling up over the edge of the He glided forward. abyss! | , ; com scout. ay. The had succeeded in muffling the hoofs of their horses, and bandaging their heads so that they could sound no note of betrayal, and were now listening for the coming of the two upon whom they looked as leaders. Tucson Tom glided among them like a specter—indeed, they had no idea of his be- ing near until he strode into their midst. All was now activity. The little band moved forward to the pass. It had been decided to bring the horses on as there might be some need of them. Perhaps this was not the wisest move that could be made, but this question could only be settled by experience. They believed it wise to be on the safe side and have the means of pursuit or flight at hand in case they were needed. Tucson Tom led the way. Each man was on foot and led his own ne ty ty yyy nnn sn ieeeeneeneeen ee Tso ——, been left, while he and Abe went forward to. He found them impatient at the long de- ' GDOOKS 5 — - — — oe Sa TL. a ae Nok one = "2 i . ¢