Frank Reade Library, Vol. VIII, No. 191 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 FRANK READE, JR., A Frank was pushing abead, when saddenly a light was seen just before them. It was u moving ligh*, like a swinging lan- tern. At feat Frank was puzzled to know what it meant, but finally concluded thut it was a signal of some sort. Suddenly Barney clutched his arm. ‘* Whisht!” he gasped. ‘‘Do yez bear that. yossoon?”’ Frank did hear it. Just in their rear down the canyon there came the tramp of horses’ feet. A number of horsemen were coming up the canyon. That they were a part of the train-robber gang tbere was no doubt. Here was a situation which was most peril- ous, What was to be done? To remain in their present position meant certuin discovery by the train robbers. There seemed ro hiding-place at hand. However, Barney did spy a cavity in the can- yon wall and into this they crept. The light of torches was now seen down the canyon. Then in this light the figures of men and horses were visible. Frank even fancied that he recognized the form of Mike Mosely in advance. Up the canyon came the robber band. They were evidently jost returoiog from some sort of a plandering expedition. Frank and Barney watched them breathlees- ly. Nearer they drew every moment. Now they were opposite the two crouchlog men. Frank wonidered why they were not seen ag the glare of the torches illumined the defile. But they were not, as it proved, and tke cavalcade on by then so near that they could bave almost touched them. There were fully tifty men in the party, and they made a formidable array. They were soon past, however, aod then cautiously the two watcbers emerged from their co:cealment. There was no longer any doubt In Frank’e mitid that this was the real entrance to the robhbere’ stronghold. They proceeded to follow the party at a safe distance up the canyon. Soon they reached a turo In the defile, and now to their ears came a strange sounc. At first it seemed a dull rumbling like dis- tant thunder. But Frank’s trained hearing told him at once what it was. It was beyond doubt the falling of water over a height. The roar of the cataract could be plainly distinguished. “ tra, Misther Frank,” exclaimed Bar- ney, ‘‘ it's to a river we're coming, I'm aftber thinking.” ‘* So it seems,” replied Frank. The horsemen kept straight on. At this point the gorge seemed to take a slight downward tren Then by the glare of torches ahead Frank saw the gleam of water. ' a ground shook with the weight of this all. How high the cataract was, of course Frank was as yet anable to estimate. But now a strange thing happened. The ane disappeared suddenly and as if by Mawgic. The spot where they had stood was all black- n ess. With their disappearance, the light of the torches had gone, too. Mystified by the tarn in affaire, Frank and Barney stood for a moment irresolute. Then the young inventor erept forward a brief way. He came to the foot of the cataract. Agairat the sky he saw that it was fall fifty feet high. The river owed through a gorge which ex- tended at right angles to the dry canyon. The stream was swift sod filled with torta- ous rapids. That horsemen cocld cross it was out of the question. Yet that they had done so seemed certalo, IN for there was no other way for them to take. Frank knew that it wae useless for him to try to cross the river at that spot. **Whurrvo!” excluimed Barney, in mystifica- tion. ‘‘Phwereiver did the omadhouus go to cross over thie plac2, Misther Frank?* “That is a conundram,” said Frank, com- pletely ata !.-3 to auderstand the situation. “¢T am all at ses in the matter.” “Shure, they could niver through thim swift wathera.” v,” agr-e Frank. ‘{ don't believe that they could.” oe they cudn’t jump over .t aither.” 66 o.”” ** Phwera the divil «did they go to, thin, I’d loike to know?” Frank was ns much at a loas to accoant for the thing as Barney. It was an uofathomable mystery. But while they were pondering the matter, a solution came aneought. Suddenly, from the distance down the canyon, there came the clatter of hovfs. “Luk out fer yersilf!” exclaimed Burney. ‘¢Some wan of the divils is comi:’!” Both crouched down in the deep shadows. A moment later the horsemen cume up the gorge. For a moment his form was distinguishable against the eky. Then a strange thing happened. He rode straight toward the cataract. There was a clattering of hoofs apo» slippery stones and a splashing of water and then the rider disappeared. tau moment Frank sprang from his con- cealment. **T have got it!” he cried. What?” ‘‘There’s a way back of the cataract. They go through to the other side by it.” Then to Barney’s amazement Frank ad- vanced to a point where the veil of water was mist like in its thinness. He boldly passed through it ard was out of ahzht. ‘‘"Tare an’ ‘ounds!” gasped the astounded Irishman. ‘‘Phwativer is the meanin’ av that? I say, Misther Frank!” An answer came back in muffled tones: ‘Follow me, Barney! Come right through the cataract.” ‘‘Bejabers, I'm not the wan to sthand back!” exclaimed Barney, resolately. ‘* Here goes, an’ may the Mither be with me.” So saying he boldly plunged joto the sheet of miat. In a moment he was upon a broad shelf of rock, with the rocky face of the descent upon one side, and the thundering volume of water apon the other. There was fully a dietance of ten feet be- tweer tha face of the descentand the fulling body of water. It was an easy matter for man or beast to pass safely through this passage under the cat- aract. In a few moments the two explorers had reached the opposite side. They were n trifle wet from coptact with the water, bat this did not hinder them io their action. They were in another canyon similar to the one they had left. But Frank fed the way through it, and they had vot gone far when strane sounds were heard. They came from the Cistance, and sounded much like the cheering of a large body of men. Satisfied thnt they were near the stronghold, Frank aod Barney pressed on. have crossed CHAPTER VIITI. POMP’S FIGHT IN THE DARK. Pomp, left alone with the Steam Man, was ip by no means a cheery frame of mind. The darky was courngeous enough in open TEXAS. Lethe to the wouderful soughbing of the night wind. ‘*Golly, if Marse Frank an’ dat l’ishmans ain’ carried off by dem ghosteses dey’ll be lucky,” be muttered, with a shiver. Every sound, the breaking of a twig, the cracking of a tree branch, or the whistling of the breeze gave Pomp a fresh shiver. The minutes seemed to him like whole years of time. He could not reconcile himself to the unkind fate imposed apou bim. ‘I don’t see wha’ fo’ Marse Frank do each ating!’ he muttered. ‘Jes’ tink how easy fo’ dlem ghosteses to come right down on dis po’ nigger. Dey mou't jes' come right through dem lvopholes an’ dat would be de end ob Pomp fo’ a suthin’ fac’.” But as tine passed no sign of the ghoats be- Cuhe apparent, Tie Stcam Man atood sileatly in the cover of the trees, noiselessly breathing sleam and waiting only a touch of the throttle to be off once more. Suddenly a sound came to Pomp’a hearing Which aroused bim. It was not a suund to be associated with ghoats or anything of the sort. It was the unmistukatle beat of Lorses’ hoots upon the floor of the pruirie. Every moment they drew vearer. Pomp sprung np. ** Golly!” Le muttered, *‘ what am dat? Dey ain’ no ghosteses.” This was certain, but the darky was quite unable to understand it. His practice! exr told !im that there were fally half a hundred men in the troop whoever they were. Pomp listened attentively a moment and then arrived at a logical conclusion. ‘+1 reckon I jes’ an’sians that!” he mattered. ‘¢ Dey am jea’ dem vad train robbers gwine to deir hidin’-place.” Neurer the hoofbeats came, For u moment Pomp fancied that the riders had discovered the Steam Man and were riding down upon it. But sober second thought disabused his miad of this ulea. A few moments later he could see over the plain, oatlined against the sky, the forms of a troop of horsemen. He bad taken the precaution to close the furnace «loor so that the light from the Steam Man cuald not be seen. aaue trcop passed on quickly going toward 8 In a few moments they had goza from view entirely. Pomp drew a breath of relief. That Canger was certainly passed. What would come next? The darky had now in part regained his courage. He ventured to once turn the Man's headlight on and illumine the vicinity. He saw by this a small brook of sparkling woler trickling down the moantain side from a clear spring. He was suddenly smitten with thirst and muttered: ** Golly! I jes’ like fo’ to get a drink ob dat water. I’se mos’ parched to death, [ ta.” Pomp disliked to risk leaving the Man even for a moment. Yet he wanted the water bad. After n time he resolved to make the at- tempt. First he proceeded to cover all the lights about the Steam Man. Satisfied that his movements could not be observed by any one in the gloom, Pomp left the cage. Stenlthily he made his way to the ng. He had a drinking cup with him, and fil ft He drained twice, being very thirsty. ‘ Ah!” he granted, after the second d G “dat am right good watah, an’ I can't ind a0 fault wit dat, elther, I am jes’ giad I risked ht, bat to be lef: alone at midnight in such | it—— ove proximity to the baanted canyon, was a state of affeirs which jarred upon bis nerves. Sleep was out of the question. He buddled down in a curner of the cage and —— rrr EE — — ——— —— Or SS — ——_—_—_—_—_—_———_—— Ss ee He did not finish the sentence. Aa incident at that moment tended to prove the prematureness of his remarks. He aia- cerely repented them. MICLMOOKS COMNMUC (SO)