Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

34 Beadle’s Dime Library. Saeed wi’ incliried "to Be indre cHaritable toward the islanders from, “You will do so at your peril, sir. Two men ¢an hardly con: the tact that he had become enamored of the beautiful maiden, tend with four. 1 presume, however,” the old man said, by way A feeling had sprung up in his breast, which he knew full well. of testing their cunning, ‘‘that if I send the spegsea out to ees was the beginning of a first love. that, will suffice.” As he sat alone in his tent, busy with his own ‘thoughts, the There was no reply, and the truce-bearer and his douapaintot stillness of the night was suddenly broken by a stern voice call- appeared to be holding a consultation. This silence lasted for ing out, clear and distinct as a trumpet blast; several moments, when the man finally shouted back *“'Who comes there?” of “TI desire to search your island.” It was Hubert Leland’s voice—deep and full as the lion’s roa. “‘ Then, sir, your desire cannot be gratified.” | “Officers of the law,” was the response that came from out «You will all suffer the consequence of harboring a criminal, upon the bay, clear and distinct, _ now mind,” threatened the man. ‘“‘ What seek you here?’ demanded Leland. “‘There is no. criminal here,” and the words were flung back “A fugitive from justice—a boy criminal—whom I know to with defiant scorn. ‘‘ You are a base coward to skulk behind a a be with you,” replied the “‘ officer of the law.” Frank was startled by this announcement. He knew that. there was some mistake, else the man was lying—trying to de- ceive the islanders. He arose, and, dressing himself, was in the act of stepping out when he heard something like a sharp knife cut through the rear of the canvas tent. He turned in time to . see the outlines of a human head thrust into a long slit in the os canvas, and hear a soft voice say, in an excited whisper: “Frank, flee! They are after you!’ Take one of our canoes in the harbor, and fly for your fet ‘It was the voice of Zoe. “T am no criminal, Zoe; therefore I have no fears, That man, whoever he inay be, is a traitor and villain trying to de- ceive you all. I am ever so much obliged to you, Zoe, for your kind warning, but I shall not leave. Your friends, will need my assistance, and—” Further words were here cut short by the deep, stentorian voice of Leland: Go, I implore you!” “There is a youth here,” he shouted to the “ officer, ph ‘and it : you can prove that he is the one you are after—” “They cannot, father; they are trying to get aboard our isl- and to murder us.” It was Zoe who, creeping slyly to her fath- er’s side, spoke thus. At this juncture Frank appeared from the tent. was in the zenith, and the bay lay all aglare with dazzling splen- dor. Out upon the water, not over a hundred yards from the island, the youth saw a canoe standing. Two men were seated in it, one of them holding a white object evidently intended as a flag of truce. “What have you to say, young ‘man?’ Leland demanded, turning to Frank. ie Frank scanned the canoe and its occupants tor fully a minute, then replied: “There is a movement on foot to murder you all. That man is no officer, but a villain—one of the party, I dare say, that at, tempted to kill me to-day. His story is an infamous plot to get aboard your island.” “What evidence have you for such a bold assertion?” Leland e asked. ‘“‘The simple fact that I am no criminal.” “But you cannot prove this to be so.” “No, not now, Mr. Leland; but if you permit that canoe to. come ashore here the truth will demonstrate itself; especially as to the treachery concealed behind that flag of truce. You are not a frontiersman, Mr. Leland; that I Know from observation ;, neither am I, but I have Gartiol by a short experience not to srust every stranger I meet. The border is a refuge for lawless characters, and so half the men we meet are possessed of the _ characteristic treachery and cunning of their associates, the sav- ages, I°know that man is a Villain, for he has told a base false- _ ae on A moment’s silence ensued. Frank heard a faint clicking sound in the large tent. The battery there was at work, but it goon ceased, Then Zoe burst from the tent and bi ohana her father’s side cried: e , 3 “ Father, I have heard from Scout! He seys look out for five, Indians, and two white men—that they embarked from the_ aorth side of the lake, and, hugging the shore, turned into the bay. They are enemies,” “Then you are right, my boy. Those two men are villains,” said ‘Leland, come, ut affected ignorance of the fact, boat, ‘I have reason to doubt the truthfulness of your Tos and must decline to allow you to land.” _ San Seer ere ae maa in the boat, The coe “The five Indians are concealed about the canoe.” ; ; knew the source from whence this information had “Sir Officer of the Law,” shouted Leland to the man in the . _ down, he saw Zoe, |with':e:pale, yet erento weno, i plied. . Yh ¥ J TOSI § _ oriminal.” | —Zoe—inasmuch as I am/am entire stranger to: you., And Iam.) I hope I will get, amey before, I, become a burden, yin ae _ into trouble.” Se wevte | yours.” . _ stepped from behind a “gg and cammiakaies 63 mee namngnpeng covery’ ‘seemed ‘almost incredible;, and “yet there was the De ‘some, daring youth before them; while a canoe rocked on the flag of truce—a treacherous poltroon! Begone at once, or, by the gods, I will blow, you out of the water!” - The;man dropped his flag and picked up ‘a rifle from the bot- ’ tom of the canoe. The polished barrel glimmered ominously in © the moonlight, as the villain threw it into position. A bright jet of flame shot from ita muzzle, and a bullet, whistled close to the ears of Hubert Leland. “ A poor shot,” muttered the old man, and turning, he walked calmly to the upper end of the, island, where he threw aside the brushwood that guarded the entrance. to the long, low, tent standing there. He then, stripped, the canvas from its frame, and busied himself about something that an intervening bush. . concealed from, Frank’s view.) ‘ The men in the hoat,. strange to say, disappeated the. had wes the shot was fired, , while, the canoe,, swinging. around, began moving sideways | toward the. island. | “ Ah, I see into it now!” said ely «you | can caulie distin. guish half a dozen gun-barrels glimmering, over the,top of the Scarcely had the last word fallen from the youth’s lips, ere.a . broad sheet of flame was belched forth from the spot:where Le- land stood, and the thunderous crash of a cannon, burst through the night, calling forth a hundred acthce Arcee the recesses! of, *’ the grim old mountains, p I” The island almost rocked under the terrific Pay of the iron-.. lunged monster, and the recurring, sound-waves eompelled Frank to Mbt. eae a LAPD ar roar...) dy 0 All eyes naturally peat toward the canoe, or pe salianas it. . _ had last; been seen, forionly pieces of it were now visible, float: ' ing about, upon the, water... Hubert Leland had; in a measure, kept his word—had destroyed, the canoe,and, for all ‘he knew, had blown the treacherous truce-bearer , out'of existence, | At { least, shy 0 Dba Hag bc Pe Rs at PRT | the solid shot of the little howitzer had made. yor 1 ‘*.am so glad matters turned out thé way they have, tor sill it is bad enough,” said a soft voice at Frank’s side; and. gazing | ‘+The villains wait —_ a terrible Printhead he re’ ‘| I knew! you: ‘were aati Prénk—that Sia were not - “1 aecept your, words,as a veny high Seiinlienanie Miss Leland: almost hourly being placed under obligations to you folks here,|| “Do not give yourself, uneasiness = haietdiedstmeslahes on our. ee! pitality, It is one.of papais;virtues to be generous and kind to eeraeeTey WHO: Hnoee bear, such evidence of true ergs te «Indeed, Loe,”, Frank Poeanukow diet lithe fee: sticts man F Iy:waaisho.Tom, the Outlaw of verian 1 Of molinsi a CHAPTER XXIL tbaH0"Tom “FACE TO FACE WITH z0R THE sudden, silent and unexpected appearance of Idaho Tom. on the island, struck Hubert Leland and his friends almost dumb with astonishment. ‘That he had effected a landing. without dis. “iz div i} ' tiny waves that chafed the shores, of the island. “ Goo i- ee 2 friends.” the oN aLoeR i youth said, with a polite bow | comicbooks:con