Beadle's Half Dime Library — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

—_ Yellowstone Jack. 11 More like a bodiless phantom than substantial flesh and blood. Just as he gained the entrance to the little valle in which we first beheld the outlaw band, Campbell, with a warning gesture, sunk quietly down behind a large bowlder. 6 was closely imitated by the trap- ss who had also caught the muffled sound of orses’ hoofs. Lying thus, within ten feet of the narrow trail, the four scouts clutched their weapons, resolved to strike one blow before death, in case they should be dis- covered. Riding two abreast, the horsemen filed past, speal- ing not a word, only a dull trampling sound betraying thelr passage, for their animals’ hoofs had been mufiied. And the scouts lay there outlined against the gray rocks, scarce daring to breathe, lest the sound should betray their presence. The edge of the swiftly-moving cloud grew lighter and lighter; still the shadowy riders ghded sd like some never-ending chain. th the first moon , discovery would be inevitable, unless—thank God! ay are past! ot one moment too soon—the silvery rays of the moon already outline the prostrate figures, But the night-riders do not glance back—they pass on, bent npon their mission of death and plunder. ‘A close shave,” muttered Campbell, with a long breath. ‘' But a miss is as good asa mile. Andnow the trail is open to us—though I fear we will have little reward for our trouble. I counted them as they rode by, and I don’t believe any were left behind at the camp. If so, and there were no captives with them just now, Iam puzzled to guess what has hap- pened to your friends.” “Waal, sence we’ve come this far, reckon we'd bet- age 8° on an’ make sure,’’ interposed Yellowstone ack, ‘Keep close to me, then. The camp is—or was— close by, in the grove, yonder.”’ Half an hour Jater the scouts stood within the de- serted camp, moodily eying the few dying embers. A thorough scout through the valley left no room for doubt. The allied outlaws and Blackfeet had left, apparently for good, and had taken their cap- tives with them, if any they had. “Tt’s useless looking for a trail or to waste time in trying to read sigus on such anight asthis. Besides, ‘tis growing late, and the fun will open up over onder before long. We can do no good here—per- aps we can be of use to these emigrants.” “It’s poor manners to open a new trail afore the old one’s wound up—but I don't see what else we kin do. Besides, they'll be kinder lookin’ fer us, an’ ll need all the help they kin git ef the lot we see’d all do thar best. I reckon you're right, boss.” ‘Without any more words the scouts retraced their steps, and were pee ea along through the deep ass, using all possible caution to avoid running to the enemy, at times forced to pause until the moon again hid itself beneath a cloud, lest the keen- eyed savages should glance back and discover them. Suddenly they found themselves almost in the midst of alot of mustangs, who snorted and pawed the ground suspiciously. These had been abandoned by the Indians and outlaws when the scout sent in advance brought in their report. Though the wagons were parked, everything was quiet in the camp, and the usual fires had been lighted. Hoping to surprise the emigrants, the savages had dismount- ed, leaving their animals unguarded, though secure- ly tied to the rocks around, The scouts quickly understood this, and Yellow- stone was in favor of stampeding the herd, but Campbell demurred. “That would spoil our plans, don’t you see? The reds would know then that the whites had friends at hand, and would be on their guard. As itis, when they are at it, hot and heavy, we will come down on them with revolvers, and as we've all Ss prett sound lungs, we can make ’em believe they're a tacked by a regiment.” “Your head’s level, old man! I knuckle under— Treckon I'll jest call you boss all the time!” said YellowstonewJack, in a tone of admiration. Campbell still led the way, and a few minutes more of cautious creeping carried them out of the pass and into the broad, level space before the cor- ral. Crouching beside a bowlder, they patiently waited for the moon to show itself, in order to gain an accurate idea of the enemy’s 2 gs eee ey were not kept long in suspense. e light came, revealing to them the same sight that so astonished Pethonista and Ada, Then came the single shot from the wagons—the clear, deflant shout, mingled with the death-shriek of the stricken savage—the wild, charging cry of the enemy as they darted forward—and then the with- ering volley—the strange sight upon the peak; and then the moon hid itself once more, as though loth to gaze upon such a terrible scene, “Keep close to me—not a word until I shout; then o in for all you’re worth!” hurriedly muttered Jampbell. The men glided rapidly forward. They had not noticed the weird being above, and were puzzled by the abrupt pause in the fight. But this was only momentary—then the horrible death-struggle for possession of the barrier was resumed. A clear, Lid gtet iano voice rose high above the devilish din, and carried a thrill of terror into the Blackfeet hearts, One of their number fell, pierced with arifle-shot. Then a wild cheer, long and seem- ingly composed of many voices, arose, and a death- hail swept through their crowded ranks, The avenger was upon them! Raging like a very flen Cae leaped into their midst, nobly seconded by Yellowstone and his comrades. They rained death from every side, but not for long. A cry of terror went u with one accord they broke and fled, the white out- laws iy td imitated their example. But, close upon their heels trod the avenger, terribly vindicat- ing his name and reputation. CHAPTER XU, THE SAORIFIOE. WirTH a strength and activity that was little short of marvelous, the weird woman, still holding the half-senseless maiden in her arms, glided i a away from the spot where lay the still quivering form of Mat Mole. Porting aside from Le oon trail, she breasted the steep incline, leapin om point to point with the activity and sure foot of a mountain goat, or lightly scaled the piles of broken rock, seem- ingly gifted with the powers of a cat, in more senses than one. : Abruptly she paused, allowing Minnie to sink to the cold rock beside her. Leaning upon the heavy staff that had stricken Mat Mole senseless, the weird ch stared fixedly before her, into the dense gloom. Minnie stirred uneasily. Theshock of her fall had, in a measure, broken the spell that had fallen over her mind. She stared wildly around, She could barely distinguish the form of her strange captor, and might probably have taken it for another of the fantastic rock piles that stood upon every side, only for the words that dropped unconsciously from the weird woman's lips. “Speak plainer—how can I understand when you whisper so low? It makes my head hurt—my brain whirl and dance and ring—yes, it rings now! I can hear the bell—Dolly wore it—my cow. That was be- fore I died—when I was happy with him/ Ah! why don’t you speak clear—you are hissing like a snake —andIseeitnow! A snake! see it crawl—it comes nearer—it touches me—it winds about me—ah! 'Tis a snake—slimy and hideous, but wears his head—the devil who killed me! Down—down! Hal! hal you creep in the dust—your head is bruised and bleeding —like my heart!” The weird woman dealt fierce blows upon the rock with her staff, then sunk suddenly back, with a low moan of intense suffering, both hands pressed to her breast. Minnie had been a terrified witness of her raving, but there was such a tone of suffering in the last words that she forgot all else, and strove to comfort the weird woman. “ You are ill—can I help you?” she faltered. There seemed a magic in the words. The woman's tremblings ceased, a low, | geo) cry broke from her li and two bony hands clutched the maiden’s ai foie hess figure, drawing her forcibly forward, until their faces nearly came in contact. The weird woman’s ee filled with a phosphorescent light that seemed to burn deep down into the terrified girl's brain. “Now I understand—now I know what my good master meant! Hesays sacrifice—sacrifice! Thatis why he has sent you to me—I can read his sign stamped upon your forehead. It tells me that you must die. Come—don’t you hear him calling? He will be angry if I delay. And then he will put an- other queen over my head,’ muttered the weird woman, lifting ie to her feet. “‘Merey—mercy! do not murder me! Spare me— I am too young to diel’’ moaned the terrified maiden. Too ee was is once. Young, loved and fair bo look upon. Yet I died—yes, I died—yes, Idied! He killed me. He made me sleep first— where I had such bright, blissful dreams—where all seemed love and happiness—where his voice sounded like the softest music—his features those of an an- el. Ah, had it only lasted—could we have only ifted on forever in that land of dreams! But that was not to be. Something broke the spell. The music was the chorus of drunken devils—and then his mask fell off—it was the horrible head of a ser- ent that Isaw. And then I died—yes, I must. have Ried. because I never saw him again—for whom I gave up my immortal soul. The serpent came in- stead—slimy and loathsome. And then—my head turns round and round and mixes the words all up. I can’t tell what came next—only I know that he killed me. He struck me on the head—here,”’ and the weird woman pressed Minnie’s finger into a deep furrow upon her head. “That's what makes it so light. Sometimes I have to tie it down to the rocks, to keep it from flying ’way off up there—where the bright star shines, Those are the times that my master comes to me—and we go floating all over the world, noting down the names of his new slaves. Tis glorious sport! He talks plain, then, while now he only whispers—ha! you hear? He SAYS sac)tfice— sacrifice/ Lama pare i he is my master and I must obey his commands.” oi ‘Tis only the wind that howls through the ‘Hal ha! eo silly fool—to think to deceive me —think you I know not the difference between his voice and the muttering of the wind? No, no—ye want to escape me and make him angry—you think that he will make you queen of this land, over my head, then, But I say no, you must go when he With a low, grating laugh, the weird woman dragged the maiden forward a few steps, then rote holding her erect with that wonderful strength so many maniacs are gifted with, despite Minnie’s desperate struggles to free herself; and then, exhausted, the poor girl lay half senseless in the weird woman’s vice-like grasp. BM “Look! yonder is my master—he is wait for youl See Lima floating in the air below us? t is a good sign. Cease your trembling—there ignothing from the savages, and as to fear. He is in a good humor to-night—see him smile—he does not mean that you should die—he will catch you as you fall. Perhaps he has need of another queen—yes! see! he holds a crown for = Tis er than mine—but that is just, since 1 am his favorite vassal, Do yousee him? Answer me— I command you!” ‘““Mercy—have pity on me! I can see nothing, nothing but death!”? moaned the poor girl. ‘“Then—but no—he motions for me to wait. The moon is just coming from under that black cloud, He means for me to wait until you can see what the future has in stove. Stand up—he hates cowards,” impatiently added the maniac, roughly shaking Minnie The dark cloud swept swiftly on, Its ragged edge grew brighter and brighter, until the broad silver moon moved majestically from behind the murky vail “Now, you can see—look quick]! he is growing im- patient—he beckons—you must obey!” jeked the weird Tone eee Minnie by the shoulders clear of the rock, holding her at arm’s-length over the sas ye abyss. hey were upon a narrow point of rock that over- hung an almost fathomless canon, -A fall from this would be inevitable death. The breath of life would have departed the body long ere it touched the jagged rocks below. One terror-stricken glance did Minnie give, then closed her eyes in horror; almost unconsciously a ~ gy Jains her lips. ‘* Mother in heaven! protect aby. poor child!” These simple words produ a strange effect upon the madwoman. The wild light faded from her eyes, the frenzied look abruptly fled from her wrinkled features; and with a gasping cry she tot- tered back from the dizzy verge, sinking to the rock beside the maiden, “You have a mother—you pray to her?” “My mother is dead; an angel in heaven,’ Min- nie faltered, almost fearing to speak, though a won- derful change had come over the weird woman. “JT had a mother once, and she died; he told me that it was my bad conduct that broke her heart. She was good and pure and holy. Often when my brain is well, 1 wake up from a pleasant dre and feel her warm kiss upon my brow, just as she placed it there when she bade me good-night, She didn’t dream how wicked I was, or ‘twould have been her curse instead! And that night I stole away like a thief. I was a thief, for I robbed them of their eaithly peace for all time to come! And I was called mother, too, by a little angel; I don’t remem- ber why she left me. I was very. kind to her. I would have died for her sake, and for his. But she went atl maybe mother called her. She thought I would teach her to be wicked like myself, per- haps.” ‘There was something peculiarly touching in these words, uttered as they were in a subdued, mournful tone by that strange being, as she sat rocking to and fro, wringing her hands ceaselessly; and Minnie felt a ouch at her throat, as she mastered her terror sufficiently to say: ““ As you love P pec: child, by the memory of the mother that loved you, I bee you to have pity upon me; Inever did you harm. I would like to be your friend, and help you if I could. I pray you let me return to my friends.” ‘* Who are ‘ge that begs mercy of me?" abruptly interrupted the weird woman, springing to her feet, her eyes again filling with the fires of insanity. ‘Ha! I remember—you are one whom my master de- manded as a sacrifice? Come—he is all-powerful— he must be obeyed!” and she dragged Minnie for- ward to the edge of the rock, paying no heed to her broken sobs and prayers for mercy. The moon was again hidden behind a cloud, but the madwoman bent far forward, as though trying to pierce the intense gloom below. Then she rose erect, and passed one hand across her brow with an impatient gesture, “‘T can see nothing—he is gone—there is only that hideous 4 nS writhing around, biting itself with its bruised, bloody head. Master! I am here, read to obey your will. I will give way to no more foolis dreams of the dead past. Tell me what to do—ah, thanks, good master! I was afraid you were an- gered with me. See—here is the sacrifice you de- manded—I send her to you—”’ but the weird woman held Minnie half suspended above the abyss for a moment, without relaxing her iron grip. “Hal he shakes his head—he points toward the Enchanted Valley—he vanishes! What does he mean? He rejects the sacrifice—or wishes it at his home. That’s it—at his home!” and laughing shril- ly, the weird woman flung the helpless girl across her shoulder, and darted from the spot, crossing the rough country with an ease and celerity fairly mar- velous, avoiding the many pitfalls, as if by instinct. Minnie was aroused from her stupor by the sound of shrill yells and rifle-shots, and as the madwoman dropped her to the rock, she caught a brief glimpse of the plain below. She recognized the white tilted wagons, and knew that friends were almost within reach. She stretched out her arms with a pitiful ery for help, for the moment forgetting that the emi- aunts were in nearly as great peril as herself; and en, as the moon hid itself, the weird woman ceased her mad ravings, and again lifted the girl in her arms, pressing on with unabated speed, despite the distance she had already traversed. : innie took no note of the lapse of time, go utter- ly peor. was she, both from bodily exhaustion and mental anxiety. At times, when the ground was more level, the madwoman set her upon her feet and half led, half ed her along, never pausing after leaving the pinnacle above the outickcds n- train until she reached the valley of the Boili Iq nn Ghoo CO S co