Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 519 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

LO ‘Yes agreed Kingsley, laughing, ‘“‘ that is certain,” ‘* Ay’ it follers that since that critter isa friend to us, he can’t be much of a friend ter th’ Night Hawks. What have ye got ter say on that head?” yen G agree with you there,” answered Wood nd. ‘*Then we must conclude that th’ critter is either runnin’ independent, or else is a traitor in their camp, Which is it?” ‘Give it up,” said Kingsley. ‘* You are good at riddles, let us have the benefit of your opin- ion,” ‘* Wal, my opine is that he is a traitor in their camp. As ter whether it isa he ora she, how- sumever, I ain’t Spe ter say. Th’ critter had reason fer not showin’ himself here, that is sartain, or else why send th’ note in’ th’ queer way he did?” ‘*“That argument is sound enough,” assured Woodland. “It don’t amount ter anything,” added the old ranger, ‘‘so fur as that goes, but it does amount ter somethin’ ter know that we have a friend in their camp, an’ I think it will be well not ter let our prisoner— By ther way, he is all right, ain’t he?” ‘* Yes,” assured Kingsley, ‘‘ he is with us.” “Good, As I was about ter remark, we'd better not let him find out that we have been warned; fer I take it that he is one of th’ Night Hawks, an’ if he gits holt o’ th’ fact that we have a friend at court, it may git our friend in- ter trouble. See? All this, ye see, is countin’ that my idee is right.” **That is a very good suggestion,” coincided ‘Woodland, ‘‘and we had better act upon it; eh, Kingsley?” “Yes, so we will. your own adventure?” “ That’s so, I did have somethin’ ter tell, didn’t I; but I was so interested in your story that I forgot all about it. ll tellit now, an’ while I am doin’ it you keep yer eyes open fer danger, fer there is goin’ ter be music in ther air here afore long.” ** You think so?” “‘I know so, There will be lively times here afore mornin’, sure as ye’re born. But, Jet me get on with my story, fer mebby I won’t have time ter tell it if I don’t git down ter business purty quick, When I left you I went around an’ up thar where th’ shot kem from, makin’ my way mighty keerful like, an’ purty soon I got my eye onter th’ p'izen critter that fired at me. I poked my rifle over th’ rock an’ let him feel it under th’ ear, an’ he turned ’round as though he war skar’t ter death, I invited him ter put up his hands, which he did; an’ then I asked him peel ter step around ter whar I was, which e didnot. He motioned that he would have ter go around, fer he was another feller that had lost th’ power o’ his tongue; an’ I told him ter go. He started, an’ that was th’ last that I see’d 0’ him, e stooped down, an’ that was th’ last of him. I[ waited a miaute, mebby, keepin’ my eyes well open fer him, an’ then as he didn’t show up I went around after him. When I got ail bh’ rock he wasn’t thar, an’ thar was no e But, old man, what of sign ter show whar he had goneto. It wasa uzzler at first, but purty soon Napoleon dis- vered th’ way he had gone. He had jest slip- down th’ face of a slantin’ rock in front *o’ im, an’ had lit out as nice as ye please, Na- poleon an’ me set out on his trail ter once, but we didn’t git him, We tracked him home, though, an’ his home, I take it, is th’ headquar- ters of th’ Night Hawks,” ‘“*Ha! then you have been to their camp, eh?” exclaimed Kingsley. “‘T have fer a fact,” the old man assured. *‘An’ thar is whar I got th’ p’inter that they are comin’ here ter-night, They are bound ter rescue their pard that we have got priz’ner, an’ then if they kin do it they want ter git a crack at me an’ lay me out fer dead. Oh, they have ot it all cut an’ dried, but I reckon there will two sides to th’ question. I reckon they will find old Zeb Horn on deck, an’ ready ter receive ’em with all honors,” “Then they did not discover that you were there?” questioned WoodJand. ‘“‘Nary time. Yeseeme an’ Napoleon don’t blow a trumpet when we set out ona trip 0 that sort, an’ they’re none th’ wiser than they was. I am afeer’d there is lively times ahead fer us, afore we git safely out o’ their hands,” ‘* Perhaps you had better let the prisoner go,” suggested Woodland, ** Nary a let go,” avowed Old Riddles. ‘* That feller kin talk, an’ he has got ter talk, too, afore he gets out o’? my hands. He is my buffler, he is, an’ [ want ter comb th’ dust out o’ his hide afore I let him go. He is got ter tell what they are after me fur, an’ don’t ye fergit that.” ‘It was only a suggestion,” said Woodland. ao Sols dag that might avert the attack and save us trouble, and perhaps blood.” “They would no doubt attack us anyl.ow,” : observed Kingsley. - “ That’s what they would,” declared the old ranger. ‘‘They have got their eyes sot onter th’ wimen, an’ they want ter git ready ter try an’ steal some of ’em,.” . > -% 4 *« < . oP Ms ° - - « * ied aoe Ale “gro Pere Fae rr ne 4 SUC NSA “* Heavens!” cried Woodland, ‘‘ what is to be done?” ** We have got ter fight, if it is necessary,” was the response. ‘‘ We have got ter buckle on our armor, ez it war, an’ sell our lives fer th’ wimmin, if it comes ter that. I don’t keer much fer wimmin, but when it comes ter fightin’ fer th’ weaker vessels I am right there.” “We can’t count much on Duff and Sniffin, I am afraid,” observed Woodland. ***Bout what I thought,” the old man con- fessed. ‘‘They will have ter take a hand in, though, if it is necessary. But I didn’t git quite dons with what I was sayin’. There was a party got ready an’ started fer here, an’ as soon as they had got on th’ road I sot out too, an’ here I be, Now, that gang will be here in less’n no time, an’ we had better hustle round an’ git ready fer’em. Th’ fu’st thing ter be did is ter make double sure that that priz’ner is all safe, an’ then git our men an’ put’em under arms. We kin do both ter once, I will go an’ take a squint at the priz’ner, while you go in an’ git out th’ men. Don’t ’larm th’ wimmin.” But little more was said, then, and the three men set to work, and in a few minutes the men of the party were all out and armed, and the old ranger soon joined them, taking charge of his forces like a veteran warrior, CHAPTER XII. TAKEN BY SURPRISE. ‘*On dear me,” complained Socrates Sniffin, as he handled his rifle rather gingerly, ‘‘ are we going to have a fight?” ae sincerely hope not,” faltered Barrington u . ‘You are hopin’ against hope,” assured the old ranger, ‘‘ an’ th’ best thing fer you ter do is ter brace up and let us see what you kin doin a scrimmage. Ihave no doubt of yer bravery, you know, but that is th’ advice I have ter offer, none th’ less,” “*Oh! I have been in fights before this,” boast- ed Sniffin, ‘‘and 1 am not a bit afraid, What I was thinking about was this being rooted out from sound sleep. I have handled implements of war before to-night.” ‘Well, even if you have,” advised Priestly, ‘** vou want to keep that rifle pointed away from this quarter of the camp, if you are going to monkey with it like that. You had better let some one show you how to use it, It is no doubt a kind that you are not used to, or else its use has slipped out of your mind.” ‘* Tf you attend to your own part of this fight, and do no worse than I shall do,” was Sniffin’s retort, ‘‘ you will do well. I only wish I had my case of samples here with me now.” **So do I, sincerely, if that is where you carry your courage,” sneered Priestly. ** Why, would you like to borrow a little?” was the retort. ‘* Come,” cried Old Riddles, ‘‘ this is no time fer you to be fightin’ like two young bucks; we have got other things ter attend to. You come on with me and I will put you on duty.” ‘* What is the matter?” cried a voice from the door, and there stood Miss DeVere. ‘Is there danger?” It was the loud talking of Sniffin that had apprised the women that something unusual was going on, “Tt will be nothing,” Sniffin hastened to say. “The Night Hawks are coming, but we will do them up inno time. Retire in all confidence, fair lady.” ‘**'Yes,” added the old ranger,in no gentile tone; ‘‘ git in thar, gal, and bar th’ door after ye. And what is more, don’t you open it fer no one until you hear th’ order from me, D’ye on- derstand that?” ce must obey strictly,” added Mr. Wood- and. ‘‘Then there is danger?” inquired Miss Dray- ton, who now joined Miss DeVere. “Yes, there is danger, Miss Drayton,” an- swered Kingsley, stepping forward; ‘‘ but we think that we can turn it aside. Do not be alarmed, but retire and fasten the door secure- ly, and do not allow it to be opened unless you recognize the voice of our guide, or Mr, Wood- land, or myself.” ‘*{tshali be as you have said,” was the re- sponse, and the two girls withdrew, and the door was closed and secured. re pers tried it and found that it was fast- en **Come on, now,” called out the old guide, “and make as little noise as you can. They ought ter be near here now, and we don’t want them to know that we are on th’ watch fer ’em. Fall in ahind me and foller.” The old man started off, the others following right after him. iddles led the way to a point at a little dis- tance from the cabin, and there stopped. As has been stated in another place, the cabin could be attacked only from the front, so it was not necessary to guard the rear. ** Now,” said the old ranger, ‘‘ jest form in a line right here, an’ l’ll unfold my idees ter ye an’ ye kin tell me what they are worth. There, that’s it; an’ now, let me have yer ears, as th’ farmer said ter th’ corn. In th’ fu’st place, from what I know about this part 0’ th’ kentry, \ - Old Riddles, the Rocky Ranger. this is th’ way they will come. Mebby they won’t bring their hosses this fur, an’ mebby they will. That don’t make no difference, so fur as our leetle skeem is consarned, Ye notice that th’ moon is jest comin’ up inter sight, an’ we will soon have jest th’ light that we want ter carry out our plan. We will stand right here in th’ shadder till we hear them comin’, an’ then we will step out an’ be ready fer’em. We will let ’em come on till— Hist! I hear some- thin’ now,” All listened, and sure enough the sound of horses’ tread was plainly heard, Just a little way from where the defenders were standing the moon cast her light upon the ground for a space of perhaps twenty feet, where her coming found an opening between the bills, and the old ranger quickly moved his force up to that line, stopping them just in the shadow. ‘* Now,” he whispered, ‘‘every man ready, and as soon as I give the word I want every man of you ter holler out ‘ Hands up!’ all to- gether, an’in a tone that will show that ye mean business, an’ then we will let em see our guns in th’ moonlight. It will do’em wonders 0’ good, Iknow. Now, all still, an’ not another The little line of eight men stood steady and silent, some of them—no need to name the ones —trembling a little, but.the others as firm as rocks, The sound of the horses’ tread became plainer and plainer, as the enemy slowly approached, for they were coming at a walk, and ere long they could be seen. ‘** Ready, now,” whispered Old Riddles, *‘ and as soon as I give the word, step out an’ show yerselves, Let every gun cover a man,” In about one minute more the horsemen came up, and the old ranger gave the looked-for signal. Out into the edge of the moonlight stepped the line of men, their rifles at their shoulders, and all together they uttered the command: ‘Halt! Up with your hands!” If there was ever a surprise-party, that was it, The horsemen were just out into the full glare of the moonlight, there was pot the least chance for them to get out of the trap, and with muttered curses they brought their horses to a sudden stop and put up their hands as ordered. ** Good-evenin’, Night Hawks,” the old ranger saluted; ‘Show d’ye find yerselves ter-night? We hope ye are well, but we ain’t prepared ter say how long ye will be onless ye do jest as we tell ye ter do.” The rascals had their masks on, so there was no chance for them to deny their identity, ee they were foolish enough to try to oO so. ‘ Night Hawks yourselves,” cried their leader; ‘who in blazes are you?” ‘* What,” ejaculated Old Riddles, in feigned surprise, ‘‘ ain’t you a band o’ outlaws called th’ Night Hawks?” **No, we ain’t; but who are you?” “Then who be ye?” the old man demanded, still ignoring their questions, “Why, we are Repay -snarkte, out after this band you speak of. If you is them you had better surrender mighty quick, or it will be th’ wuss fer ye.” ‘** Ha, ba, ha!” the old ranger laughed, ‘‘ this is th’ first time that I ever see men o’ th’ law ashamed ter show their faces. What have ye got masks on fer?” “Why, we wanted ter hide our ‘dentity, fer good reasons. But, who in blazes are you?” “T am old Zeb Horn, commonly called Old Riddles,” was the reply, ‘‘ an’ this is my party. We're glad ter see you, sheriffs, right glad ter see ye indeed. Sorry ye didn’t find Old Zeb asleep, but he ain’t ter be caught that way.” ‘* Well, put up your guns and let us ride on.” ** Ha, ha, ha! you p’izen varmints, you infar- nel fools! what d’ye take us fer? Don’t ye spose we knows ye? Don’t ye s’pose we know “ee ye’re here fer? Yekem here with th’ idee o gittin? away with our priz’ner, an’ then ter git a crack at my kerkiss if ye could. An’ not only that, but = p’izen leader told ye ter take th’ measure of our strength an’ see what th’ chances would be fer ter steal one of our wira- men critters from us, Oh, we knows ye, we does, an’ there is no use in yer tryin’ ter choke no sich stuff down our necks as ye are tryin’ ter choke down.” The rascals looked from one to another in sur- prise and disgust. What was the meaning of this? How had this man learned of their com- ing, and how had he learned what they were there for so accurately? It was something they could not understand. Old Riddles knew enough of human nature to know what their thoughts were most likely to be, and he said: ‘*T am somethin’ of a know ’most everything. in tell ye what ye’re thinkin’ about now. Ye’re wonderin’ how in the Old Boy I found out that ye was comin’, an’ what ye was comin’ fur. Oh, ye can’t fool Old Riddles, an’ th’ best thing ye kin do is not ter show yer homely mugs around here a . That is a fair warnin’, an’ we hope ye will have sense enough ter heed it.” * x “comieb ’ é , eS Becees I am, an’ I