Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 513 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

od a a ar) ra ~ » Mas. 7) Ae , 12 sarve, ef you look close, whar they shifted the persition 0’ their feet as they stood an’ waited.” *‘ While they waited, this handkerchief was dropped by one of them,” ‘* Looks like it, by hurley!” “You stated in a vague way that that the handkerchief had not been here over a week. Oblige me by being more precise.” ‘‘1t’s as fresh as a rosebud, an’ I allow it ain’t b’en ’round these parts more’na single day. I take it dew, an’ lake mist, must fall oncommon heavy here, an’ what with that an’ blowin’ winds, it wouldn’t go unsoiled very long.” ‘‘T should be a poor detective if I did not see a way to get light on this subject.” w **T shall skillfully question Miss Westerley. If she really gave this tell-tale article to any person, we want to know who it was,” ‘* An’ ef it proves ter be Kendall?” Texas Tartar shook his head slowly. **T'm afraid we shall have to wichdraw our aid from the young lady. Possibly, however, wecando her no greater favor, if Kendall is Lan than to convince her of the fact; though am not sure that she would so regard it. Women are not apt to be grateful when one opens their eyes to the failings of the object of their affections.” *That’s because it harrers up their soul, Texas, faithful, an’ a blighted affection is wu’ss than the malignant newrolgy—it is, by hurley! But P}l go on with the s’arch, now, an’ see what I kin diskiver.” CHAPTER XV. THE LAKE MYSTERY, THE arrival of night found Yank and Texas Tartar still on the shore of the lake, The former had followed the trail until be learned all that it would tell, which was not much. He had learned that the slayers of Tabor’s com- panions had come to a point on the shore, one- fourth of a mile above the Point of Pines, ina boat, and had then secreted their craft and stolen down upon the unsuspecting officers, To this knowledge was to be added the clews afforded the mountaineer’s experienced eyes by the footprints, and the evidence of the hand- kerchief, and then the whole story was told, After finishing this work the two adventurers sought a favorable point near the lake and lay down to await the fall of the vight. They were in no hurry to return to Powderhorn Mile, They had a boat concealed near at hand, and intended to use it after dark. The ominous report given by the villagers of the state of affairs on the lake after dark had no terrors for them, and they were going out, not with the hope of escaping a meeting with the terrible Horned Fish, but, on the contrary, with the hope of encountering the mystery of the lake. As the hour drew near they began to feel fresh interest. 2 acai you made yer will, Texas?’ asked ank. “T regret to say that I have neglected that very important step.” “Same hyar, but I dunno as it amounts ter much. Iain’t got no treasures but Moses an’ my rifle, an’ nobody else could handle ’em. Moses would bite the shins off’n the man who tried ter own him outside the Yellowbird fam’ly, no matter how good their pedigreen was; while as fur the rifle, it’d be took with an’ egregious newrolgy in another man’s hands. *T would act like the mischief with anybody else foolin’ ‘round the trigger, the rifle would.” **T expect it to make a good record to-night.” ‘* Ef we see the big fish.” “Exactly.” - ‘* What’s the size o’ the critter, anyhow?” ** According to all accounts it must be six or eight feet long.” ‘ A fine sort 0’ a fish; good ’eal like the whale which Jonah Yellowbird swallered. This crit- ter, I b’lieve, sarculates mostly under water.” “ Yes,” “With a sword stickin’ up out o’ his head like a rihosnerros, which will cut a boat in two like it was a aig-shell.” “ Just so,” ‘* Texas, I have a mortal hankerin’ ter see that fish. It’s clear he’s a great onnat’ral. Le’s git inter our boat an’ go out. He may be fairly weepin’ ter find a boat ter sharpen his nose on, the fish may; an’ it ain’t right fur us ter keep him waitin’. “We will go at once.” They walked down the shore to where the boat had been left. It had not been disturbed, and they prepared to embark, At this point the dog looked at them earnestly, and manifest- ed some concern. He understood their intention to go out, and was afraid that he would be left d, **'You'll go, Moses, of course,” observed his ¥ Moses seemed to comprehend perfectly, and he condescended to vibrate his tail in a thank- ful eee ** We may need helpin the grapple with the ous fish,” added Nevermiss, “‘ an’ from the ‘way the dog kin tackle an’ Injun o:’ a bar, I Texas Tartar. ‘ consait he could thrash a fish like all creation. | line of trees distinctly, yet not near enough Don’t blame ’em, Women are mighty | He’s an oncommon dog, is Moses, an’ I’d resk him ter flax anything but a ghost, Ever see a ghost, Texas?” ** Never.” ‘* Nor me, though 1 knowed a man once who did, ’Twas his mother-in-law, the ghost was, an’ she come back on a ticket o’ leave, or some- thin’ o’ that sort. He was alone when she ‘rived, an’ she’d changed so sense her demise that he didn’t know her. ‘¢* Who in hurley be you? sez he. ***T’m a phantom shade,’ sez she. ‘*¢ Ain’t Lucretia Borjus, be ye? sez he, ‘<¢T’'m yer wife’s mother,’ sez she, ‘¢* You’ve improved,’ sez he. “¢]T hev come ter say you're a brute ter abuse an’ harass my da’rter so,’ sez she, ‘* ¢ You've said that afore,’ sez he. ‘**] say it ag’in’, sez she, ‘¢* Wal, I want you ter know you can’t run this ranch no more,’ sez he. ‘I put up with it when you was in the flesh,’ sez he, ‘fur you weighed more nor my Durham heifer, but no spook kin bulldoze me in my own house,’ sez he. ‘*Tt was a reckless thing fur him ter say, fur the words was barely out o’ his mouth when the ghost picked up a rollin’-pin an’ hit bim a lick across the head. He caved right away. ‘“¢*T give up,’ sez he, shakin’ in his boots like the mischief. ‘You’re my mother-in-law, an’ you are still boss o’ the roost,’ sez he, piteously. “* Will you *buse my darter any more? sez she, ** « Never,’ sez he, ‘“ * Whar’s the cold vittels,’ sez she. ‘“You see her mind still run in the old chan- nel, ef she was a spook, an’ when he’d direckted her, she went inter the pantry an’ ’bout cleaned it out: an’ she drinked lots o’ ice-water, too. I consait they didn’t bave much o’ these things whar she lived. She come reg’lar arter that, an’ a more cowed man than he was you couldn’t find. You see, he’d thought his triberlations an’ distresses over, but they wa’n’t by a good ‘eal. That ghost was right ov band, an’ at last accounts she was still runnin’ the whole outfit.” Texas Tartar bad been waiting patiently for the conclusion of this story, and when Yank reached the end, he turned again to the boat, “Jump in, Texas, an’ you, toc, Moses, Lay down right thar, dog, an’ keep yer eyes open fur abnormal fishes. I’m glad, Texas, thar ain’t no whales ’round byar, or we might git swallered, an’ ef a whale once got mein his kitchen ’stab- lishment, he’d be jest mean enough ter keep me thar. That'd be onpleasant, though it might sweat the newroley out o’ me.” The mountaineer pushed the boat away from the bank, and then began to use the oars. Texas Tartar had seen his veteran friend in a good many roles, and admired him in all, and as an oarsman he was not behind his record. Many a time had Nevermiss used the blades when hostile Indians were all about, seeking his life and, with equal poor luck, seeking him, and such experiences running the gantlet on water had given him wonderful skill. Now, the oars arose and fell with such re- markable ease, regularity and silence, that the craft might have been thought a pbantom-boat, ‘‘ Which way?’ Yank asked. ‘Use your own judgment,” ‘¢?Tain’t worth much now; I ain’t no fisher- man.” ‘¢The Horned Fish is not to be sought like other things. Perhaps it would be as well to circle slowly around the lake. It is alla matter of chance, anyhow.” ‘‘T hope we sha’n’t be obleeged to ride on the fish’s horn,” quoth Yank, whose humorous fancy was not to be put down by any circum- stance. —s supposed a Yellowbird could ride any- thing. ‘* They draw the line at horned fishes, Texas, Adam Yellowbird got inter trouble with snakes, an’ he left a written exhortation ter all o’ our fam’ly pedigreen never ter mix with varmints we didn’t onderstand. Adam was right, too, as become a highly-eddicated man.” Despite this light conversation, the men were in a serious mood. Whatever the Horned Fish was, it was a creature to be feared. Its record was one of destruction, Since its appearance in Rifle Lake boating had been rendered so dan- gerous at night that even hardy men, like Tim Purcell, would not go out. Boats had been run down, split and sunk by the monster, and several lives had been lost. Yank and Texas Tartar were not prepared to say just what this monster was, but they knew it was not a myth, and they did not seek it in any scornful mood. They knew they were risk- ing their lives, but they were determined to know more about the mystery if they could. Nevermiss rowed on in his inimitable way. Almost without noise the boat glided over the water, and both men watched closely. Texas Tartar held his rifle ready for use, and Moses, evidently impressed with the belief that some- thing exciting was ahead, crouched between the other voyagers and watched as sharply as they. Following the course decided upon, Yank pro- ceeded to make the circuit of the lake, ay kept near enough to the shore to see the dar 4 ‘ts 2 4 Liat agate ok és Maka ee ine | | | to make their own boat visible from that point. In this way considerable time was consumed, bat the Horned Fish did not appear. A change was at hand, however. Moses had maintained his position and mani- fested some uneasiness, but bis attention had never been long directed toward the same point. Anon, however, Yank noticed that the dog was ey pointed suggestively. Nevermiss had before then had proof that Moses possessed remarkable powers in this line, and all the mountaineer’s at- tention became fixe! upon him, The dog’s uneasiness increased. He arose to his feet fully, and a low growl sounded from his throat. ‘* What is it, Moses?’ asked bis master. Moses answered with another growl, and his uneasiness became surprising. He had never shown anything of the kmd when working against Indians or wild animals, and the ques- tion was natural: Were supernatural things at work? ‘‘ Hark!’ added the mountaineer; ‘‘I hear somethin’ !” There was an audible splashing of water directly abead, but Texas Tartar looked in vain for the cause. Perhaps Yank’s eyes were sharper, but ke suddenly exclaimed: ‘‘ The Horned Fish, by hurley!” CHAPTER XVI. A SKIRMISH ON THE WATER, Texas TARTAR grasped his rifle more closely and strained his eyes to the utmost, nor was he long left in doubt. White lines and patches suddenly becaine visible in the darkness, the splashing increased, and it became evident that something was forcing its way through the water at great speed. ‘Give if a shot when I sound the word, lad!” cried Nevermiss, as he poised the oars and pre- pared to avoid a collision. There was time for no further words, for the unknown creature of the lake became visible: only a few yards away. Its course was such that no danger was to be apprehended unless it made a deviation, and even Yank could look all he pleased. In the midst ef a white, bubbling area of water they saw an Deg dark spot like the arched back of a monster fish—and that was all. But this thing was rushing along at great speed. plowing up the water furiously, and keeping a direct course. A moment:more and it was abreast witb them, and only a few fathoms away, and Never-. miss again raised his voice. ‘‘ Fire, Texas, fire!” he exclaimed, The detective's rifle leaped to his shoulder. He was an excellent shot, and he bad neven taken more pains than then. He pulled the trigger; the report followed promptly. There was a sharp ping! and then the mountaineer caught. up his own rifle. The speed of the unknown creature had not been checked, and he could not miss the chance of a shot. He fired, but the Horned Fish kept on its way without the least change in its manner, Yank dropped his rifle and grasped the oars: again. The lake monster was in a new role as a runaway, but he was equal to the emergency. He swung the boat around, and then began pulling in pursuit with all the strength he could command, Texas Tartar hastened to reload, while Moses: pointed his nose toward the Horned Fish and, with parted lips which showed bis strong teeth growled again and again. Even he knew they had to contend with no ordinary foe, and he had never been more belligerent. Nevermiss sent the boat shooting over the water with remarkable speed. If his skill had been surprising before, his execution was even more wonderful now. The boat was heavy, but it cut the water gallantly. ‘* Be ready fur another shot, Texas!” uttered Yank, disconnectedly. ‘‘T am all ready.” ‘'The varmint don’t seem ter be on the fight,, ter-night.” ‘¢ Tt may yet turn.” ‘* Lead don’t seem ter ’fect it.” ‘“‘ T am sure I hit the mark.” ‘¢ Same hyar, an’ I heerd your bullet strike.” ‘The Horned Fish is no myth.” ‘* Skeercely.” Conversation ceased, for Texas Tartar was: devoting all his time to considering how he was to get the better of the creature if anotber chance was vouchsafed him, He had tried lead and failed, and it was probable that an- other attempt of the kind would be equally fruitless. The Horned Fish stood revealed as an object: proof against lead, and such a thing was k to fight. That was no sign that it intended to turn at. bay; it was rushing away at full speed, and Texas Tartar was not long in seeing that it was. distancing them. : Remarkable as was their own speed, the Horned Fish was drawing away from them every moment. The intervening distance grew greater and sharply down the lake, with bis ears