Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

7 “Do you know them, friend trapper?’ * They’re friends,” responded Zed, in,a\rather evasive man- ner; ‘‘but,. read that, Tom,” he continued, taking the slip) of paper from the dead man’s hand and passing it to the youth. ., ** Vengeance is mine!” he read aloud. “Ts that all?’ “ That’s all; but it’s a miserable scrawl,” ‘* Tt’s Molock’s work, Poor boys! they’re gone under Sarin They’re done toilin’ here, and their death will be a terrible blow to—to me, They’ve been away up to Virginia City for several days, and jist got home yesterday, Curses on that Molock! I will kunt him and his Ingins as I would a deer.” ' _ Tom removed the hats from the heads of the two lifeless sien. and gazed upon their ghastly faces. Instantly he recognized — ‘them as the two strangers he and Jack Hill had played with at the ‘‘Ophir Exchange”—the very same men who, had -won his diamond ring, and whom Hill had declared were, detectives, But of these facts he said nothing to the trapper. The old borderman was grievously afflicted with the death of his rriends, Tears trickled down his sunburned cheeks from eyes that seemed to have been wrung dry by long years of isola- tion from aught that would stir a feeling of tenderness in the human heart. With the assistance of Tom, the ‘dead were oeatared for burial. ‘ Under a stately pine in the valley, two graves were dug; and in the gathering twilight of a glorious summer evening the two men were put away to their final rest, And all the while the Mad Trapper was sorrowful and silent. He spoke of the men in no way whatever, nor did om question him, for he saw that the old man’s lips were sealed concerning the. two dead friends. 4 Darkness had fallen ere the two returned, to the cabin. Wolves. had begun their mournful howling, away off in the mountains. The towering hills came out in bold relief against the blue, starry sky, and the somber pines rustled their drapery like the shrouds of the dead. CHAPTER XVIIL DANGER AHEAD, THE sun had just crossed the meridian when five persons ap- peared on the south-eastern shore of Silver Bay, and, pausing, swept the glassy sheet before them with an admiring, enthusias- tic gaze. They were our young friends—the heroes of the Wolf-Herder’s ranch—the Boy Hunters. _ For the first time I behold the wonderful Tahoe!” exclaimed Frank, with a flourish of his hand. ‘‘Mother av Moses, and isn’t she a rale beauty, though?” added Billy Brady, his eyes distending with delight, . ‘* Magnificent—grand!” put in bu Sh his whole face beaming with a smile of admiration. “Och, me love! and it’s a perfect swate darlint of a little uck-pond,” again gushed the irrepressible William. Brady. “Over yonder you can see that. floating island of which 1 have been tellin’ you,” said Wild Dick, “‘T see an island, but one would naturally auppese 5 it was sta tionary—a natural island.” ‘¢ There’s no wind to move it now, but by Solingeat o Hatin or even by night, it may be rods from where it now is,” ‘‘ There’s egies queer as well as romantic about the isl and. ” “ve always said so, Frank,” responded Wild Dick, “‘ but how would you like a row out on the bosom of Tahoe?” ¢T would like it very much indeed, if we only had a Garice,” ‘‘'There’s an old leaky concern around here a little ways. “Af- ter awhile we'll take a row in that, for I want to show you "something else—the men that inhabit this lake like fish—actual- ly live in the water and walk about upon the bottom of the lake as you and I walk upon the earth.” ‘“‘ Preposterous, Dick,” said Frank. , “Well, we'll see,” was the Boy Hunter's good-natured 1 re- _ sponse. They moved around the lake-shore until they came’ to where the canoe, spoken of by Dick, was concealed under some trailing willows. It was a crazy old affair, dangerous for more than two to venture out in; but Wild Dick was'so anxious to cdn- vince Frank of the truth of what he had been telling him, that these two youths at once embarked in Lp caeas, wetted the _ other three to await their return ° — + ve ii , Waaho Tom. As they glided out upon the deep, young Caselton became en- raptured with the almost ethereal beauty of the element be- neath, them,.. He leaned, over the side of the ibaa and gazed steadily down into its transparent depths, ' ‘‘This is grand, glorious, Dick!” he cried, sionbieaisaicatiy. “T have often heard of the clearness of Tahoe’s waters, but could not fully credit the report. Now I find it even more grand than I had anticipated... This Jake is a wonderful freak of nature, Dick.” “Yes, it is, Frank; but now look out. It was right sbous here that I seen them dritterts two weeks ago.” Frank Kept a close watch down in the deep. Dick paddled ‘hither ‘and thither, ‘all the while’ ‘working well in towsrd ‘the | floating island whieh; for the time’ being; Had been on ‘by Suddénly the latter started up with an entclinvation of my “There; by heaven!” he cried. “See ’em?? was the cool interrogation of Dick.’ 1 see something as true as I can see at all; and, by heavens! ‘its a man—a living’ being!—walking upon the bottom of me lake. He is dressed in a queer sort of armor.” Wild Dick ceased paddling, arid leaning over the side of the boat gazed down into the Heep, and there upon the a naw what Frank did. The water at this point was not over twenty feet deep, and so there could be no mistake as to what they saw. Upon the rocky bed of the bay stood 'a living man, or a creature so nearly re- sembling a man clad in armor, that the youths felt satisfied that - it 'was'a human being possessed of some supernatural power. The strange creature, whatever it was, seemed fully cognizant of the attention it attracted. It stopped, and raising its face upward stared at them with its great, glassy eyes until a feeling of horrible fascination appeared to fix the gaze and we, the tongues of the two boys. ; It was a mystery far beyond the comprehension of the young hunters; and while they sat contemplating the same, a faint call reached their ears, Both started up and involuntarily glanced toward the island. “A cry of surprise burst from each one’s lips. On the southern extremity they saw a young girl ee aera 8 white ' handkerchief above her head. They were not over a hundred yards from her, and could - easily see that she was looking towatd them and gesticulating in a manner that denoted excitement. “ What does it mean?” Each of the youths asked himself the question while he sat with - eyes a miPy the er form on the island. » A fascination about the girl held the youths enchanted. She was dressed in a robe of sky-blue material which contrasted well “with her white throat and rosy cheeks. Her long hair hung loose at her back and floated out on the breeze like silken skeins of gossamer, = ‘ In one hand she held the handkerchief that’ she had — wav- ing, and in the other a ‘small field-glass. ** Look! you are in danger!” she suddenly cried in @ clear, ~ distinct’ voice, at thé same time pointing away toward the pén- insula that nearly separated the bay from the lake: W aoa ‘The boys looked in the direction indicated, and saw a canoe, with three Indians in it, coming up the strait toward them. It was not over two hundred yards away, and two of the savages were already getting their rifles into position for immediate use Dick seized the paddle with a view of putting distance fie- tween them and the foe, for the youths had left their ‘rifles in ‘ care of their’ friends, ‘and they were in a manner defenseless; but the first stroke was so vigorous that the old paddle was shapped in two, and the ‘boys were ‘left helpless and at the ~~ mercy of the approaching enemies; while the wind was cea 5. them nearer and nearer the menacing danger. “By Jerusaleni, Frank! we're in a” pickle,” cried Dick. “We've got to jump out of this and swim for it, or die.” ‘Shall wé maké for the island?” ee ‘Not by any means, Frank, That girl may’ be a siren luring us on still deeper into danger under pretense of—" 4] cannot ‘think’ bo, Dick,” interrupted Frank. ° “ She looks ‘too much like an angel for that; but, suppore v we stry'to' téciipe ashore, will the foe’ not head us of?” ‘The long-ranged rifles of our friends will cover our retreat.” “Then, go ahead, Dick, and I will ne ph you, though IT in the attempt. - Dick sprung overboard and struck” boldly out for the hors, swimming on ‘his back. Frank arose to his feet and was about to follow, when @ "savage 'riffé'riing out sharply over the water, Eomicbooks.Gco