Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 484 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 have been glad to pass forafox. The thing | won’t work with us, Captain Ready!” | these statements.” declared He placed Nick in a comfortable position with | had concluded. ‘ You say that you must have his back against a tree, and resumed: | ridden at least twenty miles in your character . “There is just one way in which you can re- | of Mazeppa. The first comment I will make on turn unbarmed to your band, Mr. Red Ran- | your story is that we are not six miles from the | somer, and that is to tell us what you have done Rolling Tavern at this moment. Your horse | ‘with Mr, Roger Hamlin!” | must have run in a circle, as the camp of your Japtain Ready, the Ransomer. | ° “Fortunately we're in a position to verify | plodder with all the regularity of the ticking of askell, when Nick | a clock, ) There still continued to be a perceptible trail. At times Nick even noticed other footsteps beneath bim than those of the two horses now present—footsteps pointing in both directions. Gradually the scene around Nick grew wild and rugged, and the route became billy. ‘*Hamlin?’ gasped Nick, looking more and more puzzled. — **Oh! this feigned sured Captain Haskell sternly. ‘‘ We know that you captured Mr, Hamlin while he was on his way home from California, and that you have shut hinrup under threats of eternal captivity if he does not tell you where is the money left by bis deceased brother, and also give a large share of his own personal fortune!” Nick could only stare in bewilderment. Hamlin—fortune—captivity !” The words conveyed no meaning to him. ** Yes, Captain Ready,” pursued Haskell, this much is known, and if you will restore Mr. Hamlin to us, under proper conditions, and with all necessary precautions, we, in return, will send you back in safety to your band. Freedom for freedom, Mr. Red Ransomer, or else we hand you over to a court-martial, to be tried and shot within twenty-four hours as a robber and assassin! Choose and quickly! In just five minutes 1 must have your final deci- sion!” And with this Captain Haskell seated himself upon the fallen trunk of a tree, drew out his watch, and fixed his eyes upon the dial. "In just five minutes, Mr. Red Ransomer,” he repeated sternly. ‘‘ Life for life, and free- dom for freedom!” He waited for his answer. CHAPTER X, ON A BLIND TRAIL, Nick’s answer was hardly of the na ture ex- pected. He simply laughed hysterically. Between his two terrible riders, his whole body had become as sore as a boil, and his brain was reeling with long pent-up anguish and over- excitement, About the only hold he still preserved upon his identity was born of the pain that convulsed his whole ree Then, too, that he should be addressed as Captain Ready, and required to account under pain of death, for the whereabouts of a man of whom he had never heard until that moment, was altogether too much! He laughed wildly again and again, while Haskell and his two soldiers looked at him as if yf thought him delirious, o teJl the truth, be was not far from it, But Captain Haskell knew his business, Or at least he thought he did. ** It’s of no use, Captain Ready.” he hastened to assure his writhing prisoner. ‘‘ It’s the cheap- est and commonest sort of gammon fora rogue to deny his identity. But you'll give up the at- tempt when [.remind you where we found you. That tent couldn't be nicer if you were a king! If you're not Captain Ready, how did you hap- ignorance will not an- | swer your turn nor ours, Mr. Red Ransomer,” as- | '_ robber-band is not eight miles from the present | site of the Tavern,” | | | Nick, with a yawn. “Well, what does all this prove?” ** It proves that I can easily send a messenger | to old Barter—tbat’s all,” replied Haskell, “I can soon learn from his lips how much truth | there is in your story.” ‘** Just the thing! Send to him!” One of the soldiers was accordingly dispatched on tbis errand, ‘* How long will he be gone?” asked Nick. ‘** About an hour.” ‘* Then I may as well catch a nap,” remarked ‘*It seems as if my head would burst open.” He had scarcely stretched himself at full length upon the dry leaves covering the ground when the fatigues of the previous night sent him off into a profound, if not very peaceful slumber, | Haskell and his man said nothing until their attention was attracted to Nick’sdeep breathing, and then the latter remarked: *To be frank with you, cap’n, I have my doubts about his identity. Why not go through his pockets, and look at any letters or other documents we may find upon his person?” ‘All right. Do so.” A few minutes were devoted to the task, and then Haskell became singularly disquiet. But he would net own up until bis messenger came back from the Rolling Tavern. ‘* This man is really what he claims to be, cap- tain,” was the soldier’s report. ‘‘ Miss Barter confirms all he has said, and so do the old folks, What’s more, the girl has given mea photograph of the real Ready, who, she says ‘ has been sweet’ on her, and here it is.” One look at the picture was enough for Cap- tain Haskell. ‘* We've blundered, sure enough,” he avowed, ‘* Let’s leave the man where he is, and get back to camp.” ‘*Where we'll say nothing of this ‘feat of arms,’ captain?” ‘* No—unless you want to be slain without benefit of the clergy!” The captain wrote a few words of excuse, which he attached to the lapel of Nick’s coat, in such a way that the youth would be sure to see it as soon as he should open his eyes, and then the three men stole away from the sleeper, soon mounting their horses and riding away at a furi- ous gallop. They had scarcely vanished when Nick awoke, shivering with cold. Gathering himself up on his knees, he bent a startled anit wondering glance around, ‘What! Alone?” he exclaimed. ‘‘ Have they left me?” A single living object met his gaze—a horse that was quietly browsing near bim. It was the horse he had last ridden. It was still saddled and bridled, and had evi- dently been left for his use. LL Several narrow passes in as many ravines were slowly passed. On several occasions the leading horse came to a brief halt, showing that he had been in the habit of carrying such loads upon this route as to necessitate these periods of rest, Finally, the sagacious creature turned into the bed of a creek in which was considerable water, Avoiding the deep pools, and taking his way with as much circamspection as a man could bave shown, the horse advanced several bundred yards along the creek, which were characterized by banks of jagged rock hundreds of feet high, and at length came to a halt upon a little reach of shelly stone, upon which the hoofs of the ani- mal left no perceptible impress. Nick regarded him attentively, drawing rein, ‘* He’s evidently at the end of his journey,” he muttered. ‘‘ But, where is his consignee?” - Nick was just as sure the horse was waiting to be relieved of his load as if the fact had been stated ia so many words, In the silence that succeeded, as Nick waited for further developments, a human voice sud- denly fell upon his hearing in barely audible tones, proceeding from a point in the face of the cliff within a few rods of him, Looking in that direction, Nick saw a hand and arm tbrust forth from a fissure in the cliff, and waving a piece of white cloth agitatedly as a signal, What did this mean? Tt could only mean that some person in that place was endeavoring to attract the new- comer’s attention, As weak and sore as he was, Nick did not hesi- tate to respond to the summons, Securing the two horses so that they could not give him the slip, he began climbing the face of the cliff. Curiously enough, he found that the task was not so difficult as it had at first appeared. There were projecting rocks and bushes that came readily to hand, and signs and traces at every step to attest that he was following a route which had often been traversed before, At the end of a long and severe effort, which left him panting aud powerless, he found him- self upon a small shelf of rock, just below the hand and arm and signal which had fixed his attention. CHAPTER XI. THE REAL ROGER, ‘‘ ARE you there?” called a voice freighted with keen anxiety. Nick gasped assent, quite exhausted, ‘‘'Who are you?’ pursued the voice, honest man or a robber?” ‘* An honest man,” was Nick’s answer. ‘Thank God! My prayers are heard!” A nervous rattling of chains succeeded, and then a grim silence, ee An * ee ae to be lolling on a silk-covered lounge in Cap- ‘* [ see,” muttered Nick, as he gained his feet, ‘“'You are a prisoner, then?” asked Nick, as ph n Ready’s tent? You see that theve is no use | painfuily and slowly. ‘ They have finished by | soon as he had partially recovered from the ex- of trying to carry this fraud further. You battering what I told them. Yes, they’ve left | ertions it had cost him to reach his present were in the captain’s tent, and hence you are | me to myself. I’m free to resume my journey | position. the captain!” to my famous ranch.” ‘* Yes, a prisoner,” . The prisoner laughed again, carrying his His eye rested upon the slip of paper which “Whose, may I ask?” & hands convulsively to his aching forehead. had been pinned to. his lapel, and he hastened ‘* Captain Ready’si” . ‘** Your reasoning is good,” he replied jeering- | to read it. Nick comprehended on the instant, dy. “If IT should find you in a wolf's den, Cap- ** Just so,” he growled. ‘ Nearly kill a man, This was doubtless the prisoner Captain Has- _ tain Haskell, you would of course be a wolf.” and then say ‘excuse me!’ If that isn’t cheek, | kell had been so anxious to release, Haskell was disturbed by this raillery. what is?” In other words, Roger Hamlin! Perhaps he despaired of obtaining an avowal He moved toward the horse, forgetting in his| ‘Can’t you climb up to the mouth of the from his prisoner. excitement—for a brief interval—how weak and | cavern?” came from the voice within. At any rate, he arose, replacing his watch in sore he was, ** ] will try.” his pocket, After several vain attempts to mount, he| The effort was duly made, and it was crowned . ‘* If you are now prepared to listen to reason,” | found himself again in the saddle, and in anoth- | by success. | spoke Nick, with foreed calmness, ‘‘ allow me to | er moment had Jaid his course anew for the Nick found himself at the narrow mouth of say that I am not Captain Ready.” Dead Man’s Ranch, as near as he could calcu- | a cave, into which several large stones bad been th ‘We're sure that you are,” returned Haskell. ** But, suppose we humor your pretensicn for a late its bearings. He had ridden slowly about a mile, not with- rolled wedgingly from without, in such a way that even a giant’s strength would have been powerless to dislodge them from within, . i moment? If not Captain Ready, who in thun- | out considerable pain, when his gaze encoun- der are you?” tered a pack-horse which was proceeding leis- Between these stones were narrow openings, / g At this prospect of an opening for an under- | urely in a direction nearly at right-angles with | and it was through one of these openings that f i standing, Nick hastened to declaim his real | his own. the prisoner had thrust his hand and arm. 3 i - mame, character and quality. ‘** That’s odd,” he muttered. Peering into this aperture, Nick caught a ‘‘A likely story,” was the comment of the The situation was all the more odd because he glimpse of a white face, x military gentleman, with biting sarcasm. ‘‘ You | saw nothing of any rider or driver. ‘** Thank God!” repeated the prisoner, st sight | are Nick Peddie, of Ironton, and are on your ** Why shouldn’t I follow him?” he thought. of the youth. ‘‘I saw you as you read the | way to Dead Man’s Ranch? This is all “oy To think was to act. creek, and realized that you are not ony of my _ reasonable, no doubt, if you can once see throug At the end of a few minutes he was within | jailers. 1 have been chained a hnundy-d feet it, but beso good as to explain how it happened | half a dozen rods of the riderless horse. from here, in the very depths of ti® cave. | that we found you in Ready’s bed!” He was accordingly near enough to see that | But after long effort I have broken mw chain, 3 ‘That’s a matter easily explained,” replied | the huge leather pouches slung across the back | and have advanced so far toward life!lnd lib- Nick, “JIfell into bad hands at the Rolling | af the strange steed were literally crammed with | erty. Can you not remove these stones‘and let i Tavern last evening, and was the victim of an | various commissary stores and supplies. me out?” _ adventure which threw me into the midst of the *He seems to be following a sort of path,” | ‘I canat least try—as soon as I hav. rested _ robbers!” said Nick, to himself, looking along the direction | a little. I, too, have had terrible experiences, | hy ‘‘ Indeed!” sneered Haskell. ‘I presume | the horse was pee, ‘*Here’s evidently a | and am as weak as a child. What is your ; you'll have no objections to giving us a brief ac- mystery! Ill follow the horse, and see whither | name, sir?” a Ma: count of that adventure?” he leads—taking care not to let him run me into ‘* Roger Harulin.” “ i | “ Certainly not, sir.” trouble.” The t Nick gave attested to the jtisoner | ___ And with this, Nick narrated his involuntary | The business proved duller than he had ex- | that the youth had heard it before. ‘ aod “el ooo of Mazeppa, giving the facts as | pected, as well as more ler genre. ‘“* Captain Ready is the man who shut ne up ve efly as possible, - Mile after mile was left behind the quiet ' here,” pursued the prisoner, ‘ As you rinay be . mG