Frank Reade Library, Vol. VIII, No. 191 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

— ‘* Shure thim are riglar steps alongside the eatharact, sor." Barney was righ’. When they bad come up through the canyun it had of course been very dark. Bat it was now quite light, as dawn was rap- idly breaking. Frank saw that up the side of the waterfall the rocks were roughly terraced. There was no indication that anybody bad ever ascended them before. But Frank saw at a glance that it was by no meaos impossible to do so. Satisfied of this he said: ‘* We will try it, Miss Rollin. We will have to ask you to submit to being lifted up from one step to anotier.” ‘‘Ob, would that I were a man! I coald not give you the trouble,” said Katie. ie la rather a pleasure,” said Frank, gal- antly. Barney sprang up on the first ledge. Frunk lifted Katie bodily, and the Celt brought her lightly over the edge. Then Frank also sprang up on the ledge. In some places a single step would suffice, but in other places tne height was fally four feet, and it was a precarious job 10 make the ascent. But though slow and laborious, the feat was accomplished. Just as the sun rose above the horizon the topmost ledge was reached. hey were now on a level with the brow of the cataract. It looked a tremendous distance to the foot of the fall. Even as they stood there above the roar of th» waters Frank heard the report of a rifle. He held up his arm and showed a bullet bole in his sleeve. ‘I fear it is uneafe for as here,” he said. ‘‘We had better move on.” Then down the canyon full half a hundred of the train robbers were seen to be coming. They -were furious over the escape of the girl captive, At their head was Mike Mosely, the person!- iication of fury. They saw the little party at the brow of the cacaract. Just in time they sought the cover of some bowlders. A perfect storm of rifle bails came up the steep. Then the train robbers dashed into the cataract. Frank knew that once they were upon the other side they woald scale the cliff wall an danger most imminent threatened. He saw that it was a perilous way which led throagh the hills back of them. Ordinarily he woald not bave though! of this, but at once beat a retreat. But with the exhausted girl upon their bands both felt that they would be speedily over- taken. Here they had the advantage of the foe. With their repeaters they could hold the terrace for some time. At least, they could make it very costly for the ontlaws. So Frank filled the magazine of his riffle with car-ridges, and said to Burney: ‘Don’t you think we bad better hold them? ‘¢ Bajabera, I kin see no other way, Misther Frank.” ‘‘They can’t come up here until our cart- ridges have given out.” «That they can’t, sor.” “Then I think we'll stand.” *¢ All right, sor.” Through the cataract came the enraged train robbers, Upon this side they at once started to scale the terrace. But Frank brought bis rifle quick- ly to his shoulder. ‘“‘Now, Barnes!” All roizht, sor!” ‘Let go!” Crack-ack! The two rifles spoke sharply. Two of the train robbers went tambiing down the terrace. The otbers at first did not heed this. Crack-ack! FRANK READE, JR., IN TEX The click of the lever was heard as the mag: azinea worked. Crack-ack! Every shot told. It was a frightfal sacrifice of life for the train robbers. Six of their number bad been shot down. At this rate, it looked as if the whole band would ve decimated. But Mike Mosely, though iaconsicerate, was not a fool. He suw that he was likely to sacrifice all of his men. With a voice of thunder, he gave the order to fall back. The train robbers sought refuge among rocks in the defile. Then a desultory skirmish was kept up. But the party above hag the advantage. They bud not received a scratch thus far, and did not seem likely to. They were co- pletely protected. ‘“‘ Bejabers, | guess we have the vest av the spalpeers!” cried Barney. ** Jt looks jike it,” agreed Frank. ‘* May Heaven ald us!” said Katie, fervently. ) ‘Tt is iny prayer.” After an hour of this sort of fighting, sad- denly the stentorian voics of Mosely was heard. “If ve will surrender.” he shouted, ‘* we'll give ye yer lives! Wht do ye say?” Frarna Was more than amused at the cool as- surarce oi the villain. He exchanged winks with Barney, and then replietl: ‘‘Tbha’ is a very generous ofler for a man like you.” “Til stand by it,” replied Mosely. ‘I'ma man of my word.” ‘*1 should judge that you were, and a map for yourself, too.” ‘* What do you mean by that?” ‘- Ig it not plain?’ retorted Fraok. ** I don’t feel like foolin’!” said the train rob- ber, angrily. ‘‘ Ye must understand that it’s not going to be easy for ye to escape. No outsider ever went ont of these hills alive.” “We ask no qnarter, nor will we give any!” replied Frank, sternly. ‘* We decline your offer.”’ This settled the queation. ed and cursed and stormed. . Frank felt that he could stand the siege as long, as the train robbers. So time went by rapidly. To attempt to retreat while the foe was io this position Frank knew would be fatal. So they remained where they were. The houre passed slowly until the sun ap- nounced that it was high noon. **I don't see why Pomp don’t show ap with the Steam Man,” said Frank, impatiently. ‘I should think that be would take a run up thie nba anyway, since we bave been absent 80 ong. ‘** Bojabers, J think it’s afrald av the ghosts be is,” said Barney. ‘“*What a foolish ideal” cried Frank. ‘I bave no patience with bim.” Bat the aun beyan to decline in the sky and still no relief came. It was beyinuing to grow monotonous, and Frank had begun to think of accepting desper- ate chances and beat a retreat, The robbers remainel below in silence. What their game was Frank had no means of knowing. Suddenly Barney started up and exclaimed: ‘*Shure, Misther Fraok, did yez hear that sound” ‘© What?” asked Frank. ** Why, it sounded a bit loike the wheels av the wagon drawn by the Stheam Man.” ‘‘Pshaw! No such good luck as that,” said Frank. Bat the words had barely left his lips when he repented them. Up the gorge shrill and clear came a sharp, piercing note. It was the Steam Man's whistie. Mosely threaten- CHAPTER XI. A RICH DISCOVERY. Pomp, ian the Steam Man, was lesding the way across the plain for the Vigilaaw to the stronghold of Mike Mosely. The darky felt sure that he could take the purty very accurately to the mouth of the puss. But he was bound to discover how eary it is to make a mistake. Jack Fair and James Rollin rode atthe head of the Vigilants. Tha Steam Man kept along at a pace with which the horses kept up easily. For a time it was easy work, for the trall was quite plain. But suddenly they came to a atretch of the prairie where for a long distance the ground was bard and flinty. — it became quite impossible to find the tral Not 2 <estiga of it could be discovered. at length the quest was abandoned. Pomp believed that he could find the pass easily enough, however, and a direct line was taken for the bills, In due con:se of time they were reached, but the spot was some ways frum the Haunted Pass. In vain Pomp looked for the pass. At lengtu a defile was found which the darky believed to be it. This supporition was strengthened by the fact that, as they approached, a single horee- mao was seen to dash into it. at once Jack Fair arose in the stirrups, and cried: ** Forward, boys! down!” The Vigilants gave a cheer and rode forward at fall speed. Into the pass they went. But a surprise wis in store for them. Suddenly and without warning there was the crash of firearms, and several of the band fell from the saddle. The pex'. moment down the pass came a band of armed men riding at full speed. It was evidently their intention to charge the Vighlants. Indeed, eo sudden was the attack, that the Vigilants had hardly time to prepare for reelat- ance. The ranks were split and the outlaws in part aweul completely through and out of sight be- ow. So astonished were the Vigilants that for a moment they could not act. Then Jack wheeled his horse and shouted: ** After them, boys! Don’t let them escape!” Down the pass after the train robbers went the Vigilante. They rode out of it and upon the plain, but the bold riders had disappeared. Not one of them was in sight. Here was a mystery. But there was not time to attempt its sola- tion. Jack turned his horse up the pase. He felt sure that It led to the train robbers’ stronghold. ‘* Forward!” he cried; ‘‘ we will ferret out the dogs this time.” Pomp, in the Steam Man, had remained in the pase. He now went abead at as rapid a pace as pos- sible; but a t surprise was in store. Suddenly the pass was seen to come to an end in a blank wall of stone. For a distance upward of several hundred feet it rose, insurmountable and impassable. It was now understood readily enough why the outlaws charged down the pass and through the Vig:lants’ ranks. They had been driven into a trap, and it was their only method of escape. It was a dampening realization to the Vigl- lants, bat there was no way bat to make the best of it. ** We will hunt them down yet!” cried Jack ab confidently. ‘Come on, boys! Follow me op The daring youth would have started away Let us hunt the villains GOMGIOO SS (SO)