Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 472 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

= ess) 7 : ioe. ons nw meu ee Six-Foot Si. ** What’ll I say to him, boss?” **-You know him better’n I do, an’ kin handle him better. Only, ef you fail, up you go!” That set Jimmy’s wits to work, and he was not lacking in a certain crafty knowledge of human nature, as he proved. Stumbling down the ‘eone leading to the defile, as if in a great hurry, he called out: ‘* Hey, Billy! Billy Maddern, whar be ye?” ‘“Who goes thar?” Is that you, Jimmy Ken- ney ?’ came the response. ‘You bet it is—what thar is left o’ me. Say, hot foot. I’m Billy, the Cap’s a-wantin’ of you Ye hain’t seen to hold the fort down hyar, nothin’ yet, have ye?” ‘* Wantin’ o’ me? What's the Cap wantin’ me fur?’ ‘** T'll never tell ye. But he’s madder ‘n a wet hen about somethin’, Ef a galootof about your size don’t git a curryin’ down before you’re much older, I lose my guess.” Now this was very cleverly put. It roused Maddern’s resentment, and by so much blunted his natural shrewdness. **{ reckon I hain’t done nothin’ that he should be kickin’ about,” he growled. * That’s your own lookout,” replied Jimmy, indifferently. ‘* You settle that withhim, But I reckon he won’t improve none by keepin’. [ll squat down right hyar, an’ keep out o’ the way o’ stray bullets, fur that thar galoot, whoever he is, may have a keerless way with him.” The fact was that, while speaking, Jimm Kenney had stopped beside a tree, and let Si fs) his back to the ground. But he was not released from the iron stip of his captor, and he felt the keen point of his bowie just between his shoul- der-blades. He squatted down in order to give Si a like opportunity, which would make their discovery less likely. Billy Maddern growled something unintelligi- ble—probably an objurgation against his leader, which he did not care to have reach other ears —and set out to obey the supposed command. “See that you don’t let the galoot steal b you an’ git that hoss o’ mine,” he said. ‘ reckon Vd better take the beast back with me, “Ef he he by me,” replied Jimmy, ‘‘ thar won't be nobody alive in this hyar gulch fur to stop him takin’ anythin’ he has a notion to.” Billy hesitated, but the sound of excited voices in the direction of the fire decided him to lose no more time. Everybody knew that Hank Budlong’s tem- er was not the most reasonable when he was * riled.” Maddern was not yet out of hearing when Six- -foot Si said: ‘*You done that better *n I ‘lowed would.” ‘“*{ was workin’ fur a hull hide, boss,” replied Jimmy. ‘‘But I’ve put my foot in it, This hyar won’t be a healthy country for me, after this. Budlong won’t take no excuses fur what I’ve done.” * ‘*'You won’t stay to give him none,” answered Si. ‘‘ Now, mind yer eye—no trippin’, For- ward march!” ** Waat do you ‘low to do with me, boss?” Don't a borrer no trouble about that. I’m goin’ to take the best kind o’ careo’ you.” There was no time to lose. The moment Maddern reported to his captain, the deception would be detected, and the whole band of out- laws would be pouring toward the defile, Simade his burro carry him to Maddern’s horse, where both mounted, Jimmy in front, Then away out of the defile, the sandy road- bed close at hand deadening the sound of their horse’s hoofs, But they had not got out of ear-shot, when they heard a concerted yell from the direction of the fire, and knew that all was discovered. **Now,” said Si, in firm tones, ‘TU handle these hyar ribbons,” d reaching round his captive, he ¢ you the reins, and thus assumed control of the horse they rode, : In spite of the pain in his knee, he urged the animal to bis highest speed for perhaps a quar- ter of a mile, when he branched off from the road, plunging into a bridle-path to the left. Then began a scrambling climb, over a way that seemed designed for nothing but a moun- tain goat. Higher and higher they rose, until they heard the sounds of pursuit far below them. “We've shook them like rollin’ off a log,” ob- served Kenney, “We ain’t done yet,” replied Si. ‘Your work, my Christian friend, bas jest begun.” He then dismounted, tied the herse, and went on: ‘We can’t use him any further than this, Now you've got to play burro ag’in,” There was no use in growling, Whatever he felt, Jimmy submitted himself to his task. Mounted on his back, Six-foot Si was carried along a ledge which skirted the mountain, the way fortunately being much better than that which they had just passed. : time to time the human burro was granted a breathing-spell, and they so proceeded 2? yey Six-foot Si now bound his prisoner with strips torn from his own garments, and they both slept for an hour, Jimmy Kenney, as you may believe, without rocking. Having no breakfast, they reinforced their flagging powers with a pull from Jimmy’s can- teen, and resumed the tedious task that had con- sumed the night. By the middle of the afternoon, Jimmy stretched himself at length on his back, and wished himself dead. ** Tt ain’t no use, boss,” he pleaded. ‘I can’t move another step. [I’m played out, I tell ye!” Like a prudent master, Six-foot Si had been as considerate as possible with his ‘ burro.” But he had gauged Jimmy’s strength ver me and had not permitted him to shirk his work. ‘*'You’ve done nobly,” he said, with grim humor, ‘‘an’ we're nearly through. But you’ve got to stick it out a mite longer. Take another pull at the canteen.” ‘* Whar air we goin’ to? What air you goin’ to do with me?’ whined Jimmy, querulously. ‘That's what you asked before,” replied Si, itd: and paid no further attention to the de- mand. Jimmy drank his whisky in despair, and throwing himself back, stretched his arms above his head with a sigh. = a moment he was snoring like one dead- Si let him rest, while he proceeded to rub his own knee. Without being dangerously injured, it was in no condition for immediate use. ‘“* That’ll cost me two days at the least caleula- tion,” reflected Si, ‘‘ jest when I can’t afford the time, nohow,” But nature pays no heed to human exigencies. If all his future depended upon immediate action, he must forego it, Having roused his burro, he proceeded to blindfold him. ‘** Boss!” cried Jimmy, dismayed at this last requirement, “‘have I got to lug you with my eyes shut?” **T reckon,” replied Si. ** How fur?” ** Until I tell you to quit.” ** Waal, I might as well give it up now.” ** Not quite.” ‘*T can’t do no more.” ** We'll see about that.” And Si coolly drew forth his bowie, and put its ene where he thought it would do the most ood. The result proved his wisdom. ** Hold on, boss!—hold on! [ll try it a spell longer,” was Jimmy Kenney’s hurried assur- ance. Blindfold, the way seemed interminable to him, and indeed it was no easy task to bear such a burden for two hours, with short intervals of rest, where almost every step had to be guid- ed by the direction of another, Jimmy stumbled about, growling and ing, but be made his destination at last oan- now- ing absolutely nothing as to where he had | come, When the bandage was removed, he found himself in a cave. There were evidences of past occupancy—a fire-place, a bed, and provisions. These last were most welcome, and both men did ample justice to them. Then, without asking a single question, the ex- hausted “ burro” stretched himself out, and went fast asleep. He did not know when Six-foot Si put him again in bonds, so that he himself might sleep without the danger of awaking to find the ge turned upon him, and his burro in the sad- ©, CHAPTER V. FAST BIND, FAST FIND, For two days Six-foot Si virtually lay on his back, doing nothing but bathe his knee with hot water. At the end of that time he was himself again. SS rauastiles Jimmy Kenney had a plenty to eat and drink, and nothing to do, by way of compensation for his recent drudgery. During the day, while they were awake, he was free from bonds, and privileged to move about the chamber in which Six-foot Si lay, within certain prescribed limits. Having the munitions of war in his ion Si knew how far it was safe to trust his pris- oner, with a certainty of being able to bring a nati for liberty to an abrupt and final termina- ion. Jimmy had already shown that he had a re- spectful consideration for deadly weapons in the hands of a man who knew how to use them, and Si was disposed to give him all the liberty consistent with his own interests, But when they slept, Jimmy had the securest kind of bonds in the place of a night-cap. Again and again he appealed to Si to know what was to be done with him, but Si always inti- mated that sufficient unto the day was the evil thereof, and that it would be better for him to learn his fate as he went along, as we all have * \ _* v : : . 7s > : “~ ay > Pay ta fon He found that he was confined in a cavern which had several passages leading out of the chamber which they occupied, but as Si seemed to guard especially but one of the corridors, he inferred that this was the only exit to the open air. At the end of the second day, Si proved that he had regained perfect use of his injured knee, and then for the first time spoke in the ener- getic tones of a man who was at last ready for action. ‘* Now,” said he, briskly, ‘‘ we'll go to work.” ** Anythin’ fur @ change,” responded Jimmy, and indeed it was a relief from his long sus- pense. He was soon to learn that change is not ne~. cessarily improvement, Each bearing a torch, Si made his prisoner walk before bim down a corridor, directing him which course to take as they came to suc- ceeding ramifications. ‘*This hyar’s a reg’lar honeycomb,” remarked Jimmy, before they bad gone very far, “Tt'san easy place to git lost in,” answered Si, sc grimly that Jimmy felt cold shivers creep u pod down his back, as he gazed anxiously about. **But you know it like a book, boss, don’t ye?” he asked, with a wistful grin. ‘“*T know it well enough te look out fur ne self,” was the consoling response, ‘‘ but I might not be able to find anythin’ as I’d lost in byar, ef so be it was a troublesome thing to have about,” ‘“'Ye ain’t meanin’ to lose me, boss, be ye?” asked the prisoner, glancing at his torch as if he were weighing the chance of his compamion blowing it out, and leaving him in the dark. **Oh, no,” replied Si,so positively that there might be a double meaning in his words, ‘I ain’t “lowin’ to lose you!” In an inner chamber Si halted, and stuck his torch in a crevice in the rocky wall, instructing Jimmy to do the same with his, In this part of the cavern there were many loose bowlders lying about, and the walls were full of 4 reambeat cracks, so that with a lever other fragments could be detached. ‘ Si had his prisoner assist him to roll a huge bowlder before the mouth of one of the corri- dors, so that, a space wide enough for entranve of aman being left, the barrivade could with- out much difficulty be completed by a single man on the outside. It proved that this passage led to a small, cell-- like chamber, from which there was no other exit. Into this retreat Si next caused his prisoner to carry food and water sufficient to last a man’ several days. ** Hold on, boss!” pleaded Jimmy at this point, ‘fair you ‘lowin’ fur to shut nse up in hyar?” ** That's jest what I’m ‘lowin’,” answered Si, ** Don’t do it—don’t do it!” begged Jimmy. ‘This hyar’s worse’n the stone pitcher!”—by which Jimmy meant the penitentiary. ‘** 1] hate to do it,” admitted Si. fur the pure cussedness o’ human natur’, I wouldn’t have to.” ‘**But you don’t have to. Tie me up anywhar else. Ill swear to anythin’!” ‘**No go!” objected Si. ‘‘I want to know whar to find you ag’in when I want you.” “But Pll go ravin’ crazy in hyar, in the dark.” **Ob, no you won't, ef you don’t want to. Take it cool, an’ you'll come out all right.” ‘“‘ Tt’s worse’n murder, boss, Maybe you hain’t tried it, an’ don’t know.” ** Worse’n murder, eh? That reminds me o’ Bob Cady. Your crowd has got him in a tight-\ er box than this.” ‘*Not my crowd, boss. We didn’t have noth- in’ to do with it, He went up the flum before we took a hand. We wa’n’t in with Moran— honor bright—when he finished him off.” ‘*Tt was only because he didn’t ask you. I know you chaps. Hank Budlong an’ the rest o’ ou has had a free rein a good while. Waal, *ve snubbed one o’ you up at last, an’ that’sa fact. No more chin-music, In you go!” ** But, boss, hold on, one heavenly minute!” * Out with it, in short meter. I can’t hang — around byar all day,. I’ve lost too much time already.” ** Ef they rub you out, nobody’ll know whar I be. I'll starve to death in hyar!” **Oh, no you won’t. I'll look out fur that.” ** But how'll they know? You may not have a chance to say boo!” ** Tt’ll be along o’ your crowd ef I don't.” ** But that don’t let me out, Cap. I ain’tin the crowd now, so it won’t be me after ye.” ‘** Waal, it’ll only make a difference of a day or so with you, ef they don’t git away with me I ain’t the only one what knows about this cave, an’ I'll leave word so’s my pard’ll know when he drops in.” ; ‘** But ef they should happen to rub Aim out, boss!” urged Jimmy, his hair almost standing on end with grizzly fear. , **Oh, you want too many chances,” said Si, impatiently. “But it’s only one life I’ve got, boss, an’ I (@} don’t want to gamble it, nohow.” re COMED O 7 ° ray \ ~ bul ray FSS 4A: ‘Ef it want — . < ~ > a el a eae. ‘a