Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

“Wisi Idaho: Bore beod a *¥ Beg you’ will pardon my unceremonious intrusion, and allow me to introduce myself ias Thomas Taylor, a romantic young vagabond by occupation.” i Ah, then you are Idaho. Tom?’ replied Mr, Leland, advance. ing toward the youth. of Yes, sir; the same,” was the youth’s sepounss:. *‘T am glad, very glad to meet you, Tom, for) you have ren-~ dered:me an inestimable kindness in saving my Manghier. Mr. Taylor, my daughter, Zoe Leland.” In her moment of joy and embarrassment, Zoe inadvertently extended her hand to the youth who had saved her from savage power; and in the silent language of a blush, acknowledged the pleasure of his acquaintance, The touch of her little soft hand thrilled like magic through the form of the impulsive young outlaw; and for a moment his senses swam in a sea of. infinite delight,. He was confused with joy. It was the happiest momentof, his eventful young life, and, in his attempt to escape an exhibition of his embarrassment and overflowing, joy, he, stammered and blushed like an over grown school-boy. Fortunately Hubert Leland came to his rescue. , : = ‘‘T am'surprised, Tom, that, you even dared to venture +here- aways, to say nothing of your success in effecting a landing.” ..“ Sir, I took. advantage of you, I must admit. When you were engaged with those outlaws and Indians, I stole over here from the west shore. I did not come, however, without permis- sion. ‘Che Mad Trapper furnished me a canoe and gave me in- structions to enable me to reach the island, if challenged by you.” *‘ Then, it’s all right, Tom. The Mad Trapper is a kind of a privileged character in these parts. So,make yourself at ease, young man. This is Mr. Frank Caselton—a youth who came here through an aceident which came near terminating his exist- ence,” | ‘Mr, Caselton, I am pleased to meet you, and pitaratntate you on your escape,” said Tom, extending his hand in a cordial manner; ‘‘ are you a hunter, Frank?” . ‘‘ An amateur only,” replied Frank. Zoe withdrew, as did Jamison and Roberts taal Leland and the two boys,sat down to talk and watch for some new demon- stration of the foe. ‘‘Then the old trapper,” said Leland, : thinks that Molock is at the head of all this mischief, does he?’ ‘“‘ He is positive of it,” replied Tom, . ‘Why is Molock permitted to carry on all this deviltry un, disturbed by any one?’ questioned, Frank. “TI might answer, your question, by asking another: why is yonder mountain permitted to tower, above, us when if it was away we could see the sun rise?” ‘*But Molock is certainly not as immovable as, yonder n moun n.” m He might be conquered if we xnew where his den is. “But everybody is so busy in this land of hidden treasure that they can’t take time to hunt down an outlaw.” “J judge then,” replied Frank, ‘‘ that you have not been long in this country—neither, you nor the trapper—else you would know where Molock’s headquarters are located. 7 “Do you know?” asked Leland, I do, most assuredly. I have been there—been a captive in bis den, and know whereof I speak.” ~ ¢€Can this be possible?” exclaimed Leland. “When were you in his den?—where is it?j—and how did you get out? Tell us all about it, Frank!” “ “Yesterday morning we made our escape. The stronghold is in a north-easterly direction from here, and in an almost inac- cessible part of the mountain. To reach it we first enter a nar- row valley which terminates in a dismal canon. This canon leads to a cavern or long tunnel opening into a little round val- Jey shut in upon all sides by high shelving or perpendicular cliffs from thirty to 4 hundred feet in hight. This valley is where Molock’s quarters are. It can be reached on foot only by way of the cavern, although we escaped by means of a rope lowered ‘from the top of the cliff by a friend, _We were trying to escape from a party of savages when we ran into the outlaw’s den.” “Well, this is surprising news,” said Leland. “It is good news—glorious news: ”” exclaimed Idaho Tom. “Tt will afferd an opportunity for,a little excitement. I have- n't had a fight since the night 1 was caged with old Zedekiah paar? the trapper.” E .4“Tbat was no. boy’s play of @ fight,” said Leland, fixing his oe upon tne young outlaw. . “Then it was you and poms Solace moe 9, Sea ance?” t in ; Uli j %: ; : : ig . ‘Leland smiled,, but, made; no reply. His, silence to Tom mae an affirmative answer. “Frank, do you think a dozen men well armed could capture Molock and his band?” asked~heland: ‘Tt would be doubtful, unless you could surprise them. One man concealed in tha ¢avern that leads /to! the valley could hold it against a reziment, of, soldiers... They might, however, be low- ered into the valley by means oO: .0pes and tAKe TAS tune wares,” wou lliw aw “ Ts'it true that he Kcepe a herd of wolves’ there, or * it only an invention?” “It is true. He has a pen built of stone, and in it are not less ‘than one hundréd wolves, old and young; and they are all that human ‘mind ‘¢an conceive of half-starved, ravenous, hun- gry-eyed beasts. The very stones that compose the walls of the pen have been gnawed by te nungry pack, ana aeath feet rises from the pen in poisonous vapors.” “This is worse than’ I had ever dreamed,” replied Leland; “T never credited the report tor the reason that there seems to be extant among the Indian tribes ef the Pacific a traditionary story that a man herded wild beasts in the mountains and sent them forth throughout the country in an invisible guise to de- atroy the red-men. In other words, that he was the keeper and disseminator of death. And so the name of Molock has become synonymous with that of the grim monster.” “Tt is synonymous, with Satan, anyhow!” said Tom; “ but, friend Caselton, what did the old vampire propose to do with you?” ‘Give us over to the tender mercy of his pets.” “He would not have done so, though,” Leland said, “ it would have been diabolical, in a savage even.” ay believe he would, for human bones lay in the pen.” _ “Oh, Lord)” exclaimed Tom, in horror; “of all the stories of crime attributed to saint or sinner, Jew or Gentile, this is the most hellish.” aL Inhuman—monstrous !” cried Leland. “ Let us in the name of humanity and the great Jehovah, de- clare war upon Molock | and his minions,” said Idaho Tom, wax- ing eloquent with the spirit of adventure. “Yes,” he con- tinued, “let us wage & war of extermination against them, Such a curse should not be permitted to see his shadow in God's mirror, this Jake of the clouds.” _ ‘‘T indorse your sentiments fully,’ ” added Frank, as the prety face of Zoe rose up before his mind’s vision, and ‘filled his spirit with new, stnength and courage, In fact, both Frank and Tim ad become inspired with the same feeling, by the same object. Both loved Zoe, and in warring against Molock and his band bad her personal security in view. Each one, however, mis- trusted the other of his re for the fair girl. Love is keen- sighted and intuitively becomes warned of the regards and mo- tives of other hearts toward the object of its affiliation. ‘Thus forewarned of a rival, jealousy and enyy follow the least advan- tage in favor of that opponent, . Idaho Tom felt that his claim to the hospitality of the island- ers was paramount to all others; yet he saw in the handsome face of pleasant Frank Caselton a formidable rival. . The balance of the night was spent by the three wat in desultory conversation; but. by the first atyeaks of dawn all were astir. After, breakfasting ; with the folks on the island, Frank | and Tom took their departure in in thé canoe which had brought the Jatter over. The boys. had grown quite intimate during their short sojourn together. Their naturally impulsive spirits flowed harmonious- ly together, notwithstanding < each considered the other as his rival... As they glided out ‘from. the little island into the bay, Zoe waved them, adieu. Each acknowledged the maiden’s parting salutation by a wave of the hand. . They soon, reached the shore, | and having landed and concealed the canoe, walked into the forest, both, maintaining an unusual silence. _, They finally, came to where the prostrate trunk of a fallen pine, disputed their passage, — Without a word Tom sat down upon it. His face had as- pumed a flushed, excited look, and his eyes burned with some in- wward fire. . He drew, his revolver with one hand, while with the tat don ti Fane Bak and then said: : “Sit down there, Frank. n’t refuse. I want to talk to *you.” it His voice sounded seiiad pohonty and bs utotebed band trembled like a leaf in the wind. “ey Gomichooks.co EB