Beadle's Dime Library No. 417: Tucson Tom — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

if Cg: 6) meee’ Tucson Tom, the Bowie Bravo. — | . re 29 his friend and yet unable to lend him any | a question of time before they again set about assistance. Perhaps Tom did not need any help—per- haps—ah! the lightning at last. It was a flash of unusual duration. What Arizona Abe saw was enough to give him a true insight into the situation. Tucson Tom and a cate ¢ Apache were en- gaged in a hand-to-hand conflict for the mastery, and at the very instant of the flash the Bowie Bravo had succeeded in getting his enemy where he wanted him, and had his arm drawn back to deal him the fatal blow. This wretch was undoubtedly the fellow whom Dancing Feather had been struggling with, for she was near by, on one knee, her hands clasped and her face wearing an ex- pression of anxiety as she saw the scene be- | fore her. F All this the old ranger saw instantly. Even more presented itself, Just back of Tucson Tom was a tall brave who had a tomahawk in his hand which he meant to bury in the brain of the ranger. Beyond this the ledge was clear, as Tom had sent the other fe'lows over with bullets lodged in their bodies. It was not necessary that any great length of time should be wasted in Arizona Abe’s bringing his revolver to bear upon this worthy. Sucb an action can be carried out in the wink of an eyelid, As the brief illumination caused by the elecric fluid passed away, Abe's finger pressed the trigger, and another sharp report rung out upon the night air. ‘ It was a lucky thing for Tom that the old ranger aimed well. at tomabawk must else have done its terrible work. As the bullet crashed through the brain of the Apache, he whirled blindly around and fell heavily to the rock. At the same instant a gurgling cry from the fellow whom Tom had hold of told that the latter’s bowie had done its awful work. Heaven was kind to the whites. The red wolves below as though realizing what the fate of their comrades had been, now gave up their mad attempt to reach the ledge through the defile. This had only been a blind as was now made clear. When Abe realized that there was no longer any immediate danger to be feared from this quarter, he made his way back on the ledge and presently had the hand of Ducepn Tyas in his own horny palm. He could hardly believe things had come to pass in such a strange manner, and that he was still in the land of the living when he had given up the case as hopeless, Tucson Tom quickly gave the ranger all information necessary concerning his com- rades, what tbey had done and what it was intended to do in the near future. Tiney had found the Apaches too strong for their force, and after a brief engagement had wisely withdrawn with a loss of one man killed and several wounded. When the situation of Arizona and his charge vas made known to them they had left their horses and mounting the steep ele- -vation managed, by taking a roundabout way to reach a point above the situation of the two who were at bay on the ledge. Then it was not a difficult matter to fasten acouple of lassoes together and lower Tucson Tom over the ledge. He had come down during a period of darkness and flattened himself out against the rock when half-way to the bottom, so that any of the Indians who might be lookin upward would not see him, as he woul present a fine mark for their guns if discov- ered. We have already seen how he was near the ledge at the time the Indians appeared in Arizona’s rear, and with what wonderful sagacity and nerve he had assaulted the dusky dogs the very second of his arrival. Dancing Feather clung to her lover with all the fervor of a true heart that had felt the terror and alarm of death clutching at _ her soul when she saw him in danger. His last act had endeared him to her more than ever, and she was ready to obey his slightest wisb, such was the love and rever- ence she felt for Tom. The Indians had met witb a rebuff, but _ they were not defeated, and it would only be LL some of their deviltry. Before this could be accomplished it be- hooved our friends to devise a plan of escape, and they could not set about this any too soon. CHAPTER XLI. SMOKED OUT. Tue Indians believed they had those whom they sought to destroy in a position where there could be no escape. If they held the pass above so that the red wolves could not ascend, the Apaches had control of the lower part so that the whites could not leave their elevated position. When, therefore, they found themselves defeated in one sense, they turned their at- tention to another point. Our friends above had just reached the conclusion that something must be done be- fore daylight came and found them in such a position, when the old ranger began acting in @ queer manner. He raised his head and snuffed at the air in a singular .way. ‘* What is it?” asked Tom. ‘‘ Smoke,” replied the other, laconically. ‘‘That means a fire.” ‘Yes. Take a smell an’ see if ye recog- nize ther odor.” Now that his attention was called to the matter, the young hunter could recognize the pungent odor of a weed which if burned when dry, would be sufficient to make a bear weep. He mentioned the name of it. ‘‘Thet’s correct, boyee. Thar’s another thing. Ye don’t see much light.” LA saw that the old ranger spoke the truth. The real nature of the case broke fn upon him emmpan ye Fires had been started by the Indians, who had grown desperate and were determined to have their priestess dead or alive. The smoke from these fires was expected to ascend and envelop those on the ledge in a dense cloud that would make life so utterly unbearable that they would either leap into eternity or else descend the defile. Of course in the event of this latter com- ing to pass, the Apaches would be lying in waiting ready to seize upon them. The situation was far from pleasant—in- deed, it promised to become desperate. Tucson Tom went to the edge of the rock to learn where the smoke came from. Far down below he could see three red spots that looked like the glowing orbs of a triple-eyed monster lying in wait. e needed not to be told that these were the fires that were expected to accomplish their destruction. The Indians had covered them with green weeds and grass, wet from the recent rain, and thus they smoldered, throwing up an ever-increasing volume of pungent smoke. He was compelled to draw back his head because of the choking and painful sensation brought about by the smoke. A Ereath cf air would have been a relief, but a dead calm seemed to have settled over the place, so that the smoke curling up the face of the cliff, enveloped them in its olds, Abe and Tom looked at one another when the light of a flash from above came. The situation was indeed grave. They found some difficulty in breathing and this grew worse rather than better as the time went by. Were they doomed to meet such a death? Was there no escape? Possibly the strange things that had fol- lowed one another in such quick succession had served to demoralize Tucson Tom, He was not exactly himself. When a man loses his mind even partially, he becomes like wild turkeys in a trap, run- ning blindly uround the sides in their en- deavor to get out, and never thinking of look- ing at the hole in the middle, by means of which they had entered. So Tom, in trying to think of some un- usual means of leaping the sedge, wholly ignored the one method which he had had in view when coming upon it. It was left to Arizona Abe to think of it. ‘Ther rope!” Tucson Tom gave vent to an ejaculation when he heard these words fall from his companion’s lips. He knew then that a chance still remained —that all was not yet lost. The rope, by means of which he had dc- scended—was it still dangling there? As though to answer his question, one of the fires below flashed up at this moment, and there, swaying to and fro, was the rope. e put out his hand and clutched it. As a code of signals had been arranged with his companions above, he could now communicate with them. There was a loop at the end of the lower lasso, and this had held Tom’s foot. He now called Dancing Feather to his side, and explained to her what it was intended she should do, The brave girl did not flinch, although it was an ordeal that might have made the bravest turn pale. To make assurance doubly sure, Tom fastened the rope to her waist by means of his belt, so that, even though she grew oaae and let go her hold, she would not all. This done, he made a signal to those above, and felt them draw his loved one out. of his reach. He held his breath with suspense. The smoke was too dense to admit of see- ing her progress, and he was fain to imi- tate the example of old Abe and hold his face close to the rock in order to secure bet- ter air. ‘*Tom, yer turn next,” said Abe. ‘* Never, old friend! I shall go last,” re- turned the ranger, firmly. Arizona Abe grunted. “This hyar won't do. When ther rope comes, not a second is ter be lost, ’cause ther last un must hey a poor show as ’tis, See hyar, I’m ther oldest. Let me stay.” ‘‘’m the younger, I'll be last!” ‘‘Then thar’s only one way. We must draw fur it.” Abe found a pebble. ‘“Which hand, Tom? Ther feller az gits ther stone stays.” Tucson Tom, without hesitation, slapped the cld ranger’s left hand, and opening it, took out the pebble. Arizona: Abe grunted not say anything, for all done. in, but could ad been fairly ‘‘ Makes me think o’ ther time, years ago,. when I drew a black bean down in Mexico, | and war ter be shot along wid ther rest o” ther poor boyees; but I reckon I guy ’em ther slip.” They said no more, for 1t was foolish to open their mouths when the smoke came so» densely. Minutes passed by. They seemed hours to the men who crouched there and gasped for breath; still no sign came to their ears to indicate that Dancing Feather had gotten safely up. It was becoming unendurable. The pungent smoke penetrated their lungs. in spite of all their efforts to restrain it, and breathing became difficult and painful. Tucson Tom looked up as a faint flash of’ | lightning momentarily illumined the scene, and he saw the rope cutting the light like a. black seam down the face of the cliff. Gladly he seized hold of it, and placed the, noose in Abe’s hand. The old ranger, knowing that nothing: could alter the determination of his compan-. ion, did not again attempt to urge him to take his place, but made use of every second | of time so that Tom should suffer as little as. possible. He slipped his foot in the loop, grasped’ hold of the rope, and was drawn up. Tom again threw himself to the rocky flooring, and endeavored to get a breath of. air. He even contemplated moving into the de-. file, as this was perhaps more free from. smoke, but upon investigating he found that a fire had also been built in thischannel, and a new column of smoke was winding its sin- uous way upward, to add new torture to his. position, Only where cliff and ledge met could he get any. relief whatever from the torture. His eyes seemed bursting from his head. and his tongue was so parched and dry that. it appeared ready to crack open. How terrible it was! com by hugging the rock at the point. Ebooks ee hb ri ‘ o News col ¢e~* ted 1