Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 531 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

Saddle-Chief Kit. rs ee ee ee em ee oe 27 Saddle-Chief Kit, who was the equal of any man of his years at prairie-craft, rode to Driver’s side and they went on together. There was a table-land ahead of them which, free from stones and chasms, was yet quite undulat- ing and covered with irregular groups of mind. ‘The kidnappers did not make much haste,” he remarked, ‘** No,” Driver responded, ** What do you argue from that?’ ** Plenty o’ time, | reckon.” ‘*There must be more to it,” ** What more?” ‘They had a definite plan, and were not anxious to get far away. Had they been they would have galloped fast and far through the night.” ‘* They may be full o’ bravado.” “They were full of something else, in my opinion. Dike Harrington is a cautious man, as | well as tolerably level-headed. 1 infer that he | had the flight carefully planned, and did not need much time. Looks to me as though we should find our lost ladies carefully secreted, rather than taken far away.” ‘¢ Your head ain’t a bad ’un, Kit, an’ it may be you’re right; I won’t go ag’in’ you. Howso- ever, it won't do no harm ter git over the ground as fast as we kin.” ‘* Nor ter wash the dust out o’ our throats now an’ then,” added Con Byrd, jovially. The trail was not hard to follow, for the prairie grass was tall, and five miles more were left behind, Then the rescuers had a surprise, | Emerging from a belt of timber they saw several | horses a few rods in advance, and thkt they were those of Harrington’s party was evident | when they were recognized as those stolen from Si Gotch during the night, But where were the men? Kit gave the word, and his party made a dash to surround the immediate vicsnity. They did this and then closed in, but the contraction of their lines showed nothing within but the horses. . No human beings were to be seen. The trailers looked at each other sheepishly, ‘* Duped!” exclaimed Driver. ‘“‘There’s a trick somewhere, and we are on the wrong track. Where is the loose screw? Boys, there is one less horse here than made tracks along the trail. Where is he? Scatter and look!” The order was promptly obeyed, and discoy- eries followed. The trail of the missing horse was found leading away due north, and from that point he had been ridden at full speed, A careful examination of the back-trail led to a conclusion upon which all agreed. Only one of the horses had been ridden, and the others had undoubtedly been conducted by asingle man. A trick had been played upon the trailers. The party they sought had at some point abandoned their animals and taken to a refuge by the way, while one of their number had taken their riderless horses along to make a decoy trail, abandoning them perma- nently at the point where they were found, This was a dampener upon Kit and his {riends, for no end of trouble might arise from it, Wherever the fugitives had found refuge, it was only reasonable to suppose that they bad taken every possible precaution, and if they were ex- perienced bordermen, it might be exceedingly difficult to find them. Saddle-Chief Kit, however, leaped to a con- clusion. ‘* In my opinion, they should be looked for in the Bottomless Pits region,” he announced. ‘‘ Wild as the country is, there is no other place as wild as that. I believe they are nearer Si Gotch, now, than we are to them,” ‘It’s pooty tough on us ter be sold,” answer- ed Driver, with an air of deep mortification; ‘but it’s a long road that ain’t got a turnin’. We're in the swim, an’ ef we don’t find ’em yet, I want my dog-goned head pounded !” ‘Les wash the dust out o’ our throats an’ go fur them like a cyclone!” suggested Con Byrd, Nothing could dampen the speaker’s high spirits, but Kit Jameson, though he kept up a cool outward show, was not in a happy mood, Peculiar as his wooing vad been, he had as strong a fancy for Czarina as men usually ac- quire in such short time, and he was troubled about her. She was in the hands of lawless men, and if they had succeeded in blinding the trail well, it might be some time befcre she and Jessie would be found. There was only one thing to do; and that was’ to retrace their steps and try to penetrate the kidnappers’ trick. The professiona] pride of the borderers was aroused, and they turned back in a determined mood—a mood dangerous, too, to Dike Harrington and his comrades, Kit took opp to speak encouragingly to Hall Pembroke. The latter was almost un- nerved by the check to the pursuit. He was not a trailer, and he had to rely upon the others; and this gave him ample time for melancholy forebodings. = He pictured Jessie in danger, surrounded by her lawless captors, and the expression upon bis | trees. One fact soon impressed itself upon Kit’s face aroused all of Kit’s pity. He put aside his own fears to console Pembroke, and the latter’s gratitude knew no limits. Along the backward trail went the party, and the skillful bordecmen were on their nerve, Mile after mile was retraced, but still nothing was seen to warrant a halt, The opinion be- came general that the fugitives must be looked for in the Bottomless Pits, What would be the result of a search there no one could say, Nobody knew anything about that desolate area, aud hiders and seekers would be on equal footing. The energy of the trailers bore fruit in the end. When they reached the northern side of the Pits they found where the party had separ- ated. Efforts had been made to blind the trail, but they were so clumsy that it at once became clear that no experienced head was among the kidnappers. In spite of all precautions, it was reat table easy to trace them to the edge of the Pits region, and the footprints of two women showed that Czarina and Jessie had been kept together, <it and his friends now necessarily abandoned their horses, and the search was continued on foot. It wasa grim, determined-looking party. Each man carried his rifle ready for use, and his belt bristied with small-arms, The mere sight of the rescuers would have frightened timid fugitives out of their wits, System became out of the question. The numerous ledges, cliffs, canyons and crevices, crossing and recrossing each other at all angles, made the work slow and hard, but if the trail was lost at one point, they spread out and re- covered it further on, The sun bad been at the zenith when they left their horses, and while it seemed to sink with unusual speed down the northern sky, the pro- gress of the trailers was painfully slow. Once, the trail seemed utterly lost, and was only re- covered after an hour’s search. The Pits area did not belie its reputation, and Driver, a man of long experience, declared that he bad never followed “ signs” under more unfavorable cir- cumstances, The passage of time brought new trouble, for night advanced with relentless steps. The sun neared the Western horizon, and already the shadows began to gather in the gulches. Up in the region more favored by nature it would be light for two hours, but the area where lay the trail had laws of its own, The difficulty of working became greater, and the men gathered on a cliff to consult, When there Kit grew abstracted, He faced away from his friends and dropped out of the discus- sion altogether, a fact which finally arrested Driver’s attention, ‘** Do you see anything?” asked the big bor- derman. “es No. ” ‘* What’s up, then?” ‘* Will you use your nostrils and see if you smell anything peculiar?” Each of the other men did so, but all failed to discover any unusual odor, *‘ Hither my olfactory organs are better than yours, or [ am deceived,” Kit gnnounced, ‘I smell smoke!” _‘* Bars an’ buff’lers! it must be looked ter!” Driver declared, ‘‘Whar away? Let’s beat her up!” All caught at the idea, and, the wind having been diagnosed, they pressed forward rapidly. 1t bad grown too dark to discern the faint trail, anu it was wholly avandoned, but the new clew was promising. On they went, and not many rods had been covered before all could smell the smoke, | A discovery of some sort was at hand, and they became more eager than ever, but the ne- cessity of caution did not escape their minds, They finally halted, and Kit and Driver went on to investigate, They v ere gone but little over five minutes, and when they returned, their manner told a part of the story before they spoke. ‘** Beyond doubt, we have ’em!” the Centaur announced, ‘‘A small fire is burning among the rocks—just enough, probably, to cook sup- per—and I distinctly saw a man not a stranger tome. I bave seen him with Harrington at Si Gotch. We also saw other figures indistinctly, aud are almost positive that a part of them are women, We are up with the gang, and will lose no time in making the attack. We'll creep as near as possible, and, when discovered, make arush, There's no need of shedding blood if we can help it, but if they begin the work, do your level best, boys!” ‘3 dasa me : permet declared Con Byrd. as e dust out o’ yer throats, feller y then wade in!” : . at Anxious as Kit was to bring matters to a crisis, he would not object to this step, for his allies bad done good service; but when those who were thirsty had satisfied themselves, they were as eager as the leaders. Once more Kit led the way, and the light of the fire was soon seen shining dimly from among the rocks, “Keep on!” direeted the Centaur. ‘‘ We shall probably have to fight for it, but let noth- ing knock us out of victory!” oY he OK Vy —_— LT TTT CHAPTER XXXVI, WHAT WAS FOUND UNDER THE TREE, TYRINGTON PERHAM passed a restless, anxious night, No news had come from the rescue par- ty, and his fears for Czarina’s safety had ren- dered him painfully nervous. After breakfast he beard the first report. A miner who had a huf some distance to the north came ip and stated that he bad beard fir- ing in the Pits at dark the previous evening, He had come to ask what it meant, and the men of Si Gotch could think of but one explanation. They inferred that the kidnappers had been brought to bay there, and that a fight had oc- curred, The fact that the rescuers had not appeared was not to be wondered at, for they would be foolish to try to get out of the Pits by night. No doubt they would soon arrive—if they had been the conquerors in the fight. A rumor was current that Hall Pembroke bad been seen near the village at daybreak, but it could not be traced to its source, It was gener- ally disbelieved, but his worst enemies advanced the idea that he had deserted Kit’s pary. These enemies, too, saw Sheriff Quinn and demanded toe blacksmith’s arrest, and the official, obsti- nate as he was, perceived that he would he obliged to comply, or lose his position as Sheriff of Si Gotch. When Mr. Perham heard the news about the firing he left Si Goteh and wandered toward the Pits. He had no inteution of penetrating there, but wished to see the returning rescuers at the earliest possible moment, It was but poor consolation to wander on the dividing-line, and look at the bleak rocks of tae barren region, but the exercise was preferable to being shut up in the town, and, it must be confessed, he had some fear of remaining in his. house while the Bastions were still on the scene, He moved back and forth for some time with- out hauing any definite course, Several times he passed to the south of a certain tree, but finally, varied his course and would have passed on the north had he not been brought to a halt by a atartling sight. Under the tree lay a man, and the first sight of him gave Perham a shock, The position of the body was not natural; it was not that which a Jiving man would be likely to assume. Conquering bis natural emotion, the minister went forward, and the change of poemen gave hima clear and alarming view. The faceof the mav was ghastly white, except where it was spotted with blood, and a terrible tragedy was at once suggested to Perham’s mind. But the worst was yet tocome. He took an- other step and saw that which seemed to ac- tually chill his blood, The man was Judah Mardwin! Yes; white and cold Mardwin Jay there witl a wound in his temple which told how his life had gone out, and Perham knew that he stood upon the scene of a murder, ** Dead!” he uttered, in a whisper. ‘* Dead, and by violence. What terrible secret is half- told-here? The wages of sin isdeath! All his crimes and all his plots are over, and he bas died. in the midst of his sins. Oh! man, man, whata flickering flame is the breath which makes up your insignificant life, and how easily it is ex- tinguished. Out of evil shall come good, and Hall Pembroke’s great temptation is forever re- | moved—": He started, paused, and the color fled from his face, He had remembered the report that Pem- broke had been seen near the village at day- break that morning. Another moment and be saw again, in im- agination, the stalwart figure of the blacksmith with upraised hammer, ready to strike Mard- win, ad he struck then, be might bave made a wound similar to that which had at Jast de- prived the man of life. Perham began to tremble like a leaf. Had all his efforts to save Pembroke from crime been unavailing? Had the enemies met, at Jast, and settled their feud? Had the pointing finger of the Tempter, and the pantomimic command of bis silent lips been obeyed? Had the alleged © fate been accomplished? ‘Oh! my poor friend!” murmured Perham. “May Heaven grant you are innocent of this!” He tried to believe that the blacksmith was innocent, but remembered the oft-repeated as- sertion of Pembroke that, sooner or later, he was destined to kill Mardwin, and that no power could avert it. Perham was sick at heart, but, whether Pem- broke was innocent or guilty, he had a duty to perform quickly. News of the murder must be conveyed te Sheriff Quinn, and he turned and walked quickly toward the town, Heavy, in- deed, seemed the burden which rested upon him, and he grieved for the blacksmith as only one of his nature could. No one else would ever know how Pembroke: had been tempted, nor how he sti uggled against. that temptation; and if the poor fellow ever stood at the bar, there would be few so poor as to give him pity. His course to the village took him near his own house, and as he was passing, Mrs. Granger (E(o) came hurrying out, cComicbooks ' ; ' } '