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Entered as Second Class Mutter at the New York. N. Y.. Post Office. Copyright 1b91. by BEADLK AND Alums. August 11. 1891.
NO  $2.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS. Price. V01 
’ ' a Year- No. as WILLIAM STREET. NEW YORK. 5 Centso ' " '

 

 

 

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: =¥  y A Romance of the Loco Island Mystery.

BY LIEUT. A. K. SIMS,

AUTHOR OF “ THE MESMERIST SPORT,” “ BILDAD
BARNACLE.” “ \VARBLING WILLIAM,”
“BILLY, THE GYPSY SPY,” THE
“ TEXAS TOM-CAT ” NOVELS,

ETc., ETC., ETC.

 

CHAPTER I.
L o c o 1 s L A N D.
A HORSEMAN, mounted on a jaded beast, drew
, ,. 7 a , rain on a slight eminence, and adjusted a field-
'   glass to his eyes. Behind him lay the desert
“I GUESS ITS GBIM DEATH AND HIS DAUGHTER?” DILLON SUGGESTED. hills and sand wastes of Southwestern Arizona;

 

      

 
   

2

Tel'tec Torn, the Mad Prospector.

 

 

before, the wide-spreading mesa and the narrow
valley of the Colorado. There was little in the
landscape tnat was pleasing. The hills had a
dead, burnt-out, chalky appearance, the result
of intense heat and lack of moisture; and ovel‘
all the plain and rolling country there was source
a green thing to gladden the eye. Yet there
were brilliant; pitches in the river valley; and
at one point, where a large island lifted itself
above the water’s edge like a great, stranded
turtle, the color (lccpellcd and thickened until
the island gloWed with a purple fire.

More than once the horseman lifted the
glass to his eyes. Then be replaced it in the case
that was swung by a leather strap from his
shoulders.

“ Get up!” he commanded, pricking the tired
horse with the big rowels of his spurs. “ If I’m
not mistaken there’s a bit of smoke down there
on the Island. if so, we may find some sort of
hOspitality and perhaps a bite of sweet grass for
your empty stomach. At any rate, there’s
water in the river, and you need water about us
much as you do grass."

The horse was as eager to advance as was its
rider, for the scent of the singing water was tan-
talizing to its parched throat. The dust lay
deep along the trailless slopes, wherever there
was enough earth to be powdered into dust, and
an impalpable cloud quickly enveloped them.
When they emerged from it they were among
the rugged and precipitous bluffs that here
flanked the river.

Crazed With thirst, the beast hurried toward
the water, but the banks were too steep and the
rocks t0o shaly, so the man spurred it on along
the perilous brink, looking for a safe place to
descend. The island was near, now, and in
plain view, but no sign of drifting smoke could
be seen on any portion of it; a thing enigmati-
cal and perplexmg to the rider, as evinced by
his frowning glance of disappointment.

“ Ho!” he exclaimed, pulling sharply and
half-angrily at the bridle-rein, for the horse
showed a disposition to rush toward the stream
regardless of the forbidding character of the
banks.

The wrench caused the animal to slip on the
rotten ledge, and in another moment both were
in the river. The water was deep at that point,
and marvelously swift—so deep and swift that

‘ the green current curled far above their heads
and seemed bent on drowning them before they
could make a struggle.

When they arose, the man was clinging des-
perately to the horse’s mane. The animal was
wild with .‘he sudden terror occasioned by the
fall and plunge. But the rider, recovering as
quickly as he could from his involuntary bath
and supporting himself partially in the waves
with his free hand, uttered coaxing and quieting
words, and succeeded in stilling its fears. Then
he guided it in the only direction open to them,
and it was soon swimming with strong, steady
strokes toward the island.

A large portion of the island was of a sandy
character, but here the rocks rose from the wa-
ter in gentle terraces that were yet granite bar-
riers against the beating flood. Upon one of
these terraces the horse scrambled, while the
man drew himself up beside it.

“ Quite enough water for once, eh?” he asked,
stroking the animal’s wot neck. “Enough of
anything is enough, and more is a rank nuisance.
I feel as if l’d played camel and swallowed suf-
ficient to last me a week.”

The horse, howsver, (lid not feel that way, for
its skin was scarcely dry before it was back at
the water’s edge drinking as if famished. Then,
having satisfied its thirst, it began to nibble at
some unpalatable and innutritious desert grass
that had found a foothold in a crevice of the
rocks. ‘

As for the horseman he wrung the water from
his wet clothing as best he could. The both had
not been acold one, for the stream had had a
long run through blazing sunshine from the icy
mountains that gave it birth, and the man knew
that the heat and the drying atmosphere would
quickly make him comfortable. The plunge had
not injured his water-proof cartridges. Having
satisfied himself of this he drew the horse away
trom the coarse, unwholesonie grass, and, mount-
ing, rode toward the center or theisland, watch-
ing keenly fOr a suggestion of the smoke he
thought he had seen.

But, the island was deserted, and there were
no indications that the foot of man had ever
trodden it. There was nowherea sign of life;
and the only thing that grew there, which an
animal could e :t, with the exception of the use-
less desert grass, was the p018! inous and crazing
plant known as loco. It abounded everywhere,
and its bright blossoms had given the island

 

 

that glowing, purple bus which the horseman
had observed from the distance.

“ Nothing but loco, loco!" he nvcrred, a frown
settling again on his handsome face. “That’s
the reason, I suppose, [his part of the country
has HUVcI‘ been taken up by stockincn. The
hills are full of it, wherever anything grows at
all; and this island hasn’t anythingr else.”

He was right in his guess about the stockmen
—partly right at least. They had attempted,
some years before, to establish ranches on this
section of the Colorado, below its continence
with thc Gila, and had quitted the field in dis-
gust because of the great abundance of loco.
0n the plains and in the mountains it is almost
eVerywbere a menace to the well-being of the
herds; for once an animal contracts a liking for
the deadly thing that animal’s usefulness is
ended. A locoed beast is worthless. It rerses
to eat that which had once been grateful to its
palate and wanders the country over in search
of the baneful plaiir. A sort of insanity ensues,
accompanied by ennicintion; and if the habit is
persisted in it leads to death. There are many
ranches on the Col u'ndo, but at this p-irticulor
point, at the time of our story, there were none.

The horse put down its head and tried to
snatch a mouthful of the deadly herb as it walk-
cd, pulling at the bit. which restrained it, but the
firm hand of the rider held it in check.

Along one side of the island, and coming well
down toward the water’s edge, was a growth of
Chaparral and met-quite, and toward this the
horseman directed his way. Vthn he had gain-
cd it, be tied the animal to one of the mesquite
bushes, muzzled it with his handkerchief so it
could not get at the abounding loco, and then
took a turn about the place.

He was puzzled by the disappearance of what
he had deemed a column of ascending smoke. It
had been light, and was only revealed by the
poWerful glass he carried. If it had really been
a smoke column, then there must be somewhere
evidences of the recent existence of the fire that
caused it; but, though he walked the island over
and looked carefully everywhere, he could dis—
cover nothing.

“My eyes deceived mel” was his muttered
comment. “It was a puff of dust whirled up—
ward by a gust of wind, or a spiral of vapory
spray. It couldn’t have been smoke.”

Satisfied of this he remounted his horse and
sought a spot where he might leave the island in
safety. Having found it, he rode the animal
boldly into the stream, guiding it toward the
shore side opposite to that from which he came.
The copious draughts of water it had taken bud
strengthened it greatly, and it now breasted the
current, which was not so licrce as that into
which it had fallen, with very little indication
of fntigue or weakness, and soon stood in safety
on the further rocky bank.

In a. manner that was somewhat aimless, and
which seemed to prove that his mind was in an
undecided state, the horseman entered the hills,
which rose frowning and abrupt.

But, after a time, he came to a faintly-defined
path or trail, such as might have been made by
some wild animal in ascending and descending
the slopes. The sight of it brought a change of
demeanor, and he rode on with the steadiness of
one who has found the route he has been seek-
ing. __

CHAPTER II.
THE HOME OF THE LEAGUE.

ALTHOUGH the movements of the young rider
had been apparently unobserved, such was not
really the case. Keen eyes had been upon him
at every turn, eyes filled with a jealous and
murderous suspicion. From the time he appear-
ed in sight on the eastern ridge until he vanish-
ed into the opposite hills these cruel eyes never
once lost sight of him.

Bencath the island over which he had so care-
fully ridden, and within less than a stone’s throw
of the pomt on which he landed, a number
of men were concealed. The place they occupied
was a large, and at the time, dark cavern. Its
spacious area covered quite a third of the visible
portion of the island, for it was beneath the
water fully as much as above it. There seemed
but one entrance, which was a dark tunnel
stretching away into the unseen depths. Near
the river’s brink and beneath the water-line was
another opening, if opening it can be called. It
could not seemingly be used as a means of either
egress or ingress, hOWever, for a fierce and
strong eddy of the stream dashed furiously
against its granite sides, throwing a. constant
spray into the subterranean chamber. But it
serVed, in conjunction with the black tunnel, to
give ventilation and 9. marked degree of cool-
ness to the gloomy depths.

 

The point from which the glitte
ed was a cleft in the rocky wall of the
narrow cleft, fringed about and hidden
growth of coarse grass and stunted greasewo I
There was more than one pair of ex es, although
the owners of but two seemed greatly interested
or excited. Oucof these Owners wnsn swarthy
man, of herculean build, and evil, furroWed
few. The other a lithe, dark -faced demon, who
seemed either a Chinese or an East Indian.

“Do you suppose ’twas an accident entirely.
Paou, that threw the scanip into the stream?”
the first queried, the lines in his wrinkled face
twisting with the fury of his suspicious hatred.
“ It don’t seem that he’d tumble in that way on
purp0sc, but it’d be a mighty cute scheme to
avoid suspicion l”

“Ah! who can say?” and the reply of the
dark-visaged man was couched in words in which
there was scarcely a trace of the accent of his
nativity. ,

The stranger was on the island, now, and near
the point from which the eyes Were peering.
The man who had first spoken stepped back into
the darkness of the cavern, returning soon With
a repeating rifle. After him crowded several
men who were undoubtedly Chinese, as their
faces and dress proclaimed.

There was cause for excitement in the manner
of these men, which was shown, however, in a
very quiet and suppressed way. They were fear-
ful lest the new-comer should prove a spy of the
Government, in which case, if their hiding-place
were revealed to his inqui>itive gaze, they should
very likely have to contemplate a disagreeable
return to their native China. For the cavern
beneath the island was the headquarters of a
band of men engaged in the nefarious business
of smuggling Chinese coolies across the boun-
dary-line between the United States and Mexicq
in defiance of the law excluding the Chinese
from this country. 0 0

There were more yellow-faced coolies in the
shadows further back, but the majority of these
were lost to all things mundane, being buried
deep in the rose-colored and lethargic dreams
produced by the opium-pipe, and happily obliv-
ious to any dangers that might be threatening. ,

" Shall I take a shot at him?” asked the cap-
tain, who was known as Basil Flint. “It may
save us a deal of trouble hereafter. Ashe stands,
now, 1 can bowl him over’nicely.

The Chinese lcadei‘ shrugged his shoulders.

- “ Fate is fate. If he is to die that way, shoots.
But may not the smoke be seen?”

Flint lowered the half-raised rifle.

“ Where is Valentine? Perhaps the fellow
has seen our smoke! If he has, I’ll put this ball
through Valentine’s body. Send Val this way,
Will you ’9”

lie did not raise his voice to a pitch that would
send its tones through the opening. Captain
Basil was too shrewd and wary to do a thing so

foolish as that, no matter how angry or irritated ,

he might be.

The man, Valentine, shuffled forward in an-
SWer to the cull-a hang-dog, unkempt villain,
for whom hemp was certainly growing.

“ Have you been careful about the firewood,
Valentine?” Flint asked, a suppressed tremor of
rage in his Words.

“ Yes, sir,” the man answered quickly, giving
a sort of military salute as he jerked out the
words. “ it’s been o’ the driest. A cord of it
couldn’t make a hatful of smokel”

The man was lying, but he did it in such a
brazen way, and with such an air of injured in-
nocence, that the suspicions of the captain were
stayed. Valentine had been among the first to
observe the strange horseman. He had not
been as careful as usual in his selection of wood
that morning; and thinking the smoke might
have been seen, he hastened to rake the embers
apart and subdue the fire. And now, that there
was no possibility his laziness and carelessness
could be discovered, he uttered his falsehoods
unblusbingly.

“ You’re sure of it?” with a searching glance.
“Very u ell; but if I knew you had, you’d pay
for it dearly, my man.” I

“ You can look for yourself,” said Valentine,
doggedly, “ There ain’t my fire to speak on,
an’ what there is Wouldn’t let out enough smoke
to be smelt, let alone to be seen.”

But the captain was again watching the move-

, ments of the horseman, having turned from his

inferior as soon as the threat was uttered.

“Seel He’s searching tlieisland,,Paoul What
in the name of all the fiends can that mean, if
he hasn’t seen or heard something to make him
suspicious? Answer me that, will you i"

It was strange that he should thus address the
Chinese as an equal; though not strange, when
it is known that the latter was his trusted and

 

  
    
   
 

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43.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
  
  
   

Toltec Tom. the Mad Prospector.

 

 

 

. tenant, and as useful a man as there

| all the band. In fact, Captain Basil
t would not have known how to carry on
is extremely risky and perilous business with-
out the aid of the clever and astute oriental.
Paou was so capable a fellow in many ways that
he must have ranked high, whatever the nature
of his calling.

“Now he’s beating the Chaparral!” the excited
and anxious Flint called out, ignoring the fact
that all could observe the actions of the myste-
rious stranger quite as well as could the captain
himself. “ There’s surely something back of all
this! Take a look over the hills, you fellows,
and peelyour eyes sharp, now. If he has coin—
rades anywhere, perhaps you can get a sight of
them. My! I’m half tempted to take a shot at
the rascal, anyhow.”

Twice he lifted the rifle, only to lower it with
a muttered curse. He feared to fire. He could
have slain the stranger with the greatest case;
but the thought that there might be, somewhere
in the near hills, e es to see and ears to hear,
caused him to stay is hand. If there were any
such eyes and ears, the killing of this man at
that time would be the greatest folly. The secret
which he had been able to keep from the oili-
cers of the law and all their myrmidons for
these many months would be revealed, and the
cavern hidden away beneath the island could
protect and shelter him no more.

The slant-eyed Chinese “ peeled” their orbs of
vision and looked, but nothing could they dis-
cern save the gray and brown rocks, the patches
of mesquite and gi‘eusewood, and the occasional
lines of pinones which marked some draw or
arroya.

Still they could not say that no men were con-
cealed among those same hills. No one could
say that. The eagle soaring far above could
not. have told, for there were many places that
defied the penetration of even the keenest eye.

And thus uncertain, the captain staid the
deadly rifle, though his fingers twitched and he
longed with an infinite longing to send a ball at
the man who had thus dared set foot on the soil
sacred to villainy.

Again the stranger approached them, peering
this way and that, in a manner that to Flint
seemed remarkable ani altogether unaccount-
able. When he drew out the handkerchief for
the purpose of inuzzling the horse the captain
was for a moment firm in the belief that a sig-
nal was intended. And be was not wholly con~
vinced of his error even when the handkerchief
had been knotted into a muzzle.

“ You see, Paou, he may have fixed on that
as a signal! If he did, it only goes to prove how
shrewd a scamp he really is, and how danger-
ous. I don’t like the looks of the thing a bit.”

“Shoot, then!” said the cat-like. I’uou, show-
ing his white teeth.

“ \Vhich you know I dareii’t, you rascal! The
fates, as you call ’em, are against me. Italmost
makes a fellow think there may be something in
that feel belief of your-, after all. Now, there
ain’t a thing to keep me from plugging that fel-
low. so far as any of us can discover, and yet I
don’t. thg/don’t I? Because I can’t! That is,
I’m afraid to, which amounts to the some thing.
And yet, there may not be another man within
miles of here. It does look like all these little
things were decided by fate, or something other
than chance; though I’ve always held to the
last notion. If I believe in a (lodl But I don’t:
and I’ll not talk such nonsense. I don’t shoot
the fellow because my better judgment tells me
it may not be a safe and wise thing to do.
That’s all there is of it. And if you can bolster
your fool fatalisui with that, why you’re wel-
come tol” _

The man had retraced his way and regained
his horse by this time, and was on the point
of remounting. Such of the Celestials as had
roused themselves sulliciently from their opium
dreams to take an interest in what was tran-
spiring, now crept back to their hard beds in
various portions of the cave. But Flint and
Paou remained at the aperture, watching With
anxious glances every movement of the un-
known. And there they stayed until horse
and rider again (lured the current, and also -
peared in the rugged hills.

CHAPTER III.
THE TOLTEC LEGEND.

BEING apparently reassured by the discovery
of the dim trail leading toward the higher
ranges, the horseman continued his way at a
more rapid gait. Occasionally, when the trail
was more than usually rough and bowlder-
strewn, he got down and walked besule the
animal until smoother and firmer ground was
reached.

 

 

Suddenly, on rounding a bend, he found him-
self face to face with a keen-eyed man in the
rough dress of a prospector. This individual
had evidently been waiting for him; for he
had taken a firm stand in the Center of the
trail, and as the horseman came in sight he
brought to his shoulder a IVinchester riile of
heavy caliber.

“Stop jist where you bcl” he commanded,
in sharp, quick accents. “ I ’low you don’t.
know that this is the ’special trinnpin’-groiin’
of youxs truly! \Vell, ’tis; an’ they luiin’t no-
body else any rights to go rovin’ over it.”

A Smile ca mo to the rider’s face.

“I’ll leave it, my good friend, if you’ll only
Show me the way out."

“Then you ain’t lookin‘ fer no treasure, ner
nothin’?” without lowering the threatening rifle.
“Honest Injun, now a”

“Cross my heart if I am!” was the smiling
reply.

The gun came down.

“That’s somethin’ like. Though you do beat
all, if it’s so. I mus’ say you‘re the fu’st I’ve
struck that ain’t been hunting fer somethin’ o’
the kind. My name’s Toltec! Maby you’ve
heern 0’ me, Toltec Tom!”

The smile expanded.

“There are not many who haven’t, where I
hail from. Everybody has henrd of Toltec.
And, now, if you’ll allow me, I’ll go on up the
trail. You live hereaway, eh?”

“Jist beyont the divide,” answered Toltec,
pleased with the other’s manner. “ And, incan-
in’ no offense, what might be your handle, of I
may ask ?"

“ Philip Dillon, and I’m from Fort Mesquite.
I‘ve been on a sort of hunt out here, and got
turned ’round someway and lost. When I
S'riick this trail a bit ago I felt better, knowing
it must lcad somewhere, even if it was to a
bear’s den.”

The prospector’s eyes flashed.

“Not meanin’ anything by that, now, I cal-
c’late'i”

At this Dillon broke into a hearty laugh.

“ You’ll have to pardon me, Toltec. I didn’t
think how that sounded till the words Were out
of my mouth. Of course I couldn’t think of
calling your home a bear’s den. It was the un-
certain character of the trail I referred to.
You’ll say yourself that one can hardly tell what
made it.”

“That’s so!” and the frown vanished. “ Come
on up to my I ouse, and I’ll make you to home.
That is, my dartcr will: for a rough ole cuss like
me ain’t no great shakes at entertainin’. You
look ’sif a little rest nii’ somethin’ to eat wouldn’t
go amiss, now. Au’ that boss is plum tuckered.”

Dillon was glad to accept the offer, and as he
rode along at 'loltcc’s side he wondered what sort
of creature the daughter of this prospector
might be. He had heard of Toltec frtqncntly,
for the man was well known at the military post
from which Dillon came. lint he Lad never
heard of the daughter, and until this, had no
knowledge of her cxistcnco,

The, cilicci‘s of l“~ilt.l.lrlé'$(‘{lllttl, which was on
the Mexicali boundary, iiitcen miles or nioro
away us tho crow ilics, bud spoken of the pros-
pcctoi'maiiy times since young llilloii had been
assigned to duty tlici‘c. Br thcin l c was con
sidei'ed a harmless sort of fellow , a monomnniae
0n the Sui)_i”('t of treasure-bun!ing, and by them
called the“niud ti'casiirc-sockci'.” Toltec had
been at the little post town on several occasions,
and was always pointed out to the curious as
something of an oddity. Dillon had Seen him
once, and thus had recognized him when he
stood so sternlv in the trail with that uplifted
and menacing rifle.

“Do you say there is grass up there?” the
young man questioned.

“A bull valley full of it. I picked out the
place for my house for that reason. I hain’t got
a c \w ner hoss ner anything to cat the truck,
butit looks purty, and my gal likes to see it; so
there I put down my stakes.”

The abundance and richness of the grass in
this sequestered spot in the sun-baked mountains
“'HS "Pl‘al‘ent as soon as they crossed the high
ridge w hich Toltec had spoken of as the
“divide.” Below them the valley lay like it
bright, green emerald, made verdant and SWeet
by the waters that leaped to itfroni some springs
along the hillsides.

Toltec’s home stood in a sheltered nook in the
midst of this little Eden. To the surprise of the
horseman he found it a commodious house, built
of logs and adobe. It was truly no bear’s den;
no cave in the hills!

The prospector, who had been glancing side-
w15e at his guest, noted the surprised look with
a secret pleasure. He had made the home sub-

 

stantial and had heautifled it because of the love
he bore his daughter, and the stranger’s appre-
ciation was very gratifying.

But the, young man’s surprise was heightened
when, at his host’s bidding, he crossed the
threshold and found himself in the presence of
amatnre and charming woman, whom Toltec
proudly presented as his daughter, Mar aret.

“ This is indeed ii pleasure!” Dillon eclared,
sinking into the rude chair offered him.

“ You expected to had a squaw, I presume?“
and Margaret’s eyes iwinkled with amusement.

“No—~that is—I liirdly expected—I mean I
had no expectations in the matter!” Dillon
stammered, growing Very red and nervous.
“But you Were not reared amid—amid such
surroundings?”

“ Oh, these hills? They are very beautiful, I
think. But I was not reared here. We have
been here only a few months. Father has got
the idea into his head that there is a vast treas-
ure somewhere in this region, and thatit’s worth
searching for. That’s why we’re here.”

Dillon felt confused, and not knowing what to
say further, found it convenient to excuse himself
for the purpose of lnriating out his horse. He
wanted time to get away and think. What did
all this mean? was the query that perplexed
him. Here was a woman, obviously educated
and refined, and unquestionably beautiful. And
she was living in these desolate hills, and Toltec
Tom was her father—Toltec, the crazed seeker
after mythical wealth! It was too much for
him. Cool thought was necessary, and cool
thought could not come to bini in that house and
iii the presence of that woman.

Toltec, on introducing his daughter, had stated
that his real name was Thomas Grant and his
daughter’s name Margaret Grant. But this ex-
plaincd nothing.

“My head spins round like a top!" the youth
declared, as he found himself alone with his
horse. “I never struck anything like that in
the whole course of my c xprricnce. Why does
she let Toltec shut her up hero in this God-for-
saken place! The grass is pretty and the rills
are refreshing, but one can find water and grass
where there are people to talk to and look at.
Vl’hat does she do to shoon her dresses toother
women? She must nearly die! for she has
dresses! That was a pretty one she had on.
And she looked as svw-et as a peach in it. I
wonder now if she keeps dressed up all the
while? Sthouldn’t have known that her old
badger of a father was to bring any one home
with him.”

Dillon’s thoughts were running riot. He could
make neither bend nor tiiil « f the mystery thus
suddenly prcscnted. Ile felt that surely there
must be a mystery. Yet, he asked himself,
what was there so Bt"ungo m the fact that a
young woman had chosen to follow and remain
’wml her father wherever hc might select to go?
]t “as diit il‘iilnesa in ii high degree, that was all.
And then, his mind trawling the circle of all
pessiblc guesses, he returned to the thought
which had come lo him at first: 'l‘liegirl’s beauty

was “but made the matter seem to him mys-
terious. if she had been as homely as the half-
bi'ccd pcons and others whom he “as accustom-
ul to sm occuiying ndolus and rough houses
and living loi cly lives, llicl‘c Wt-llld have been no
mystery at all.

With a mind cleared of its fogs, but With no
lacy to the iiddlc, he returned to the house,
nib-r Inuit): consumed on outrageously long
tiii‘e in attending to the needs of his horse.

Uii again entering he was surprised to dis-
('O\'( r now occupants. A pron-looking serving
woman, introduced as Ina. and said to be of pure
Toltec origin; and a (log, a large, shaggy, kind—
cycd creature, called (Iringo. (i ingo had been
in the hills, chasing jack riibl its probably; and
Ina had In en intending to Some domestic duties
in one of the other apartments of the house.

The addition of these to the membershl ) of the
household was a blessing to Dillon. ecorld
employ himself in patting and stroking and
talking to the dog, and in addressing his re-
marks to liri. Any diversion was a relief, for
the presem e of Margaret was provocative of em-
burrassment.

Dinner was soon announced, it having been
prepared early out. of consideration for the half-
famished condition of the guest.

After dinner, Toltec, produced and lighted his
pipe; then going to a little tin chest be ex.
trncted a paper which he evidently treasured
highly.

“ Bein’ as you’re not lookin’ fer a lost gold
mine er anything of the kind, I don’t mind show-
in’ this to you!” he declared, seating himself at
the young man’s side.

Dillon took the extended paper and glanced

   

  

 

4
 a. .mu,,...-.-,m, 

‘, Toltec Tom, the

.W-mo. ’57.

Madwli’rospector.

 

curiously over it. But he could make nothing
of it. It resembled the specimens of Indian pic-
ture writing he had seen at various times, some
on bark and some engraved solidly in the stony
cliffs of the Colorado Valley. There were lines
which might have represented almost anything
from mountain ranges to rivers, and there were
rude drawings of men and of animah In addi-
tion there was something which resembled a
road or a line of embankments, and at the end
a. circular drawing, curiously made and speck-
ed, that looked like nothing he had ever be-

old.

“Can’t git the hang o’ it!” Toltec smilingly
questioned, as Dillon handed back the paper.
‘ I ’low I couldn’t have neither, if I hadn’t had
help. It’s Toltec writin‘, that is; an’ queer stnfl’,
too. The hen-tracks of a Philadelphy lawyer
ain’t nowhere alongside of it.

“You see, it’s this way: A year er two ago
I was down toward the pueblo that lays near
the fur range 0’ hills, acrost the line in Sonora.
I got throwed from my hoss while pokin’ round
that section, and purty bad hurt. The pueblo
chaps took me in and made me comfortable, an’
I stayed wi’ ’em till I got well. The ones at that
pueblo claims to be descendants of the 016 Tel-
tecs, an’ they have many cur’us customs an’ be-
liefs; though they’ve seen so many whites and
rubbed ag’in’ so man new tangled notions that
a good many of ’em vs about lost all faith in
the’r ole religion.

“ As it happened I got on tol’able good terms
wi’ one 0’ the head men. Ina, there, is his
niece. One day, while we were talkin’—
fer I staid there long enough to get a kind' 0’
hang 0’ their lingo—he showed me a bit of Tel-
tec writin’. ’Twas on antelope-skin. an'so ole
that the skin was ’mOSt droppin’ to pieces. And
he told me what it all meant: or at least what
the believed it meant. And I took a copy of it;
an this hyer bizness is the copy.”

Dillon had been giving the prospector close
attention, and now looked again at the mysti-
cal writing, which Toltec had spread out on a
table before them. I

“ You see them lines,” the old prospector con-
tinued, tapping the sheet with his forefinger.
“They look as if they might be a road. An’
hyer’s people and animals comin’ an’ goin’. An’
the road leads to this round, puzzle of a place.
Well, ’cordin’ to the idee 0’ the Toltecs—an’ the
idee has been handed down, they told me, from
their great-great-grandfathers—them lines‘stand
fer a tunnel, an’ the roun’. ueer-lookin’ place
fer a cave. An’ these men an animals air com-
in’ an’ oin’ jist fer to show that the tunnel can
be navigated, as ye might say; an’ that it’s the
openin’ to the cava. .

“The cave is said to ’a’ been the place where
their ole priests kept the treasures o’ the tribe,
an’ is jist jam full 0’ gold an’ silver an’ diamonds
an’ sich truck. Seems like the priests were killed
suddent. They was the only cha that knowed

ist where this mm was. Atr be 0’ red-skins
come down frum the North—an’ that part sounds
reasonable, fer it’s jist like the ’Paches to do a
thing 0’ that kind—an’ killed the priests an’ most
«3’ the pie.

f‘ The rest left the country as quick as they
could, sn’ moved furder south, to the p’int where
they air now. An’ the place where they come
frum, ’oordin’ to their ideas, ain’t twenty miles
frum where we’re settfn’ this minute I”

The old man’s eyes were flashing and his breath
was coming quick and hard as he concluded and
faced toward his listener.

“An’that’s what I’m huntin’ ferl It’s hyer;
an’ I’ll find it jist as shore as you’re a livin’ man!
I’ve alread foun’ the place where the ole pueblo
stood, an’ ‘11 find the cave!”

So earnest and contagious was his manner that
Dillon himself grew excited over the thought of
this great treasure, lying so near. But, his in-
terest vanished when he remembered what he
had been told at the fort concerning Toltec. And
as he looked into the flushed fees of the speaker
he thought the people of the post must surely be
right. . oltec was a monomaniac, made sodoubt-
less by his long-centinned and unsuccessful quest.
The belief in this long-buried treasure was
, absurd, ridiculous! And yet, there was an
earnestness in the words and bearing of the pros-
pector, that clung to him and haunted him for
many along day.

 

CHAPTER IV.
was: Dr:er nows'mme.

.TEE yonn horseman was no sooner in the
hills thanthe eader of the League, Captain Basil
Flint instructed his lieutenant Paou, as follows:

“fion’t lose him, Paoul Keep close at his

 

heels—as close as you can without danger of dis-
covery. Watch every movement he makes; and
if you think he’s sure one of these Government
spies, see that he never gets back to make a re-
port to his superiors. And mark you! There
may be more of the same kind loafing about.
Don’t let any of them catch you napping.”

The command had scarcely been given before
Paou was prepared to obey. He cast aside the
ordinary citizen’s dress, which he usually wore,
and arrayed himself in a. single, loose, flowing
garment, which gave the greatest freedom of
limb. On his feet he slipped the soft, white-soled
shoes of the Chinese, and within a fold of his robe
he (ioncealed a knotted and queer-looking bit of
con .

By training and adoption Paou was a murder-
er. His instincts were of the cunning, treacher-
ous order. Lying in ambush and safe, he was a
brave and courageous fighter. Flitting on the
trail of a foe he was alert, silent, and as elusive
as a shadow. Striking from the rear and in the
darkness he could only be likened to the sudden
thunderbolt that prostrates without warning.
Such an enemy is the most terrible, the most to
be dreaded of all enemies.

As soon as he was reasonably sure he could
not be seen by the man he intended to pursue,
and possibly sla , he vanished from the cavern
and disappear in the gloom of the forbidding
tunnel. Ten minutes later he appeared, crawl-
ing over the sand of the river-bank a quarter of
a mile below. Without a moment’s hesitation,
he plunged into the water and swam to the oppo-
Site bank, up which he scrambled with the nim-
bleness of a crouching tiger; and so crouching,
he slipped into the greasewood thickets and was
lost to the view of the watchers in the cavern.

This bloodhound of the Orient was in realitya
Chinese by birth. But his earlier years, up to
the age of fifteen or sixteen, had been seed in
Burmah and Hindostan, where he had 11 cast
by one of the accidents which he chose to de-
nominate fate. His father had been a profes-
sional conjurer and Juggler. At his father’s
death, which occurre from a fall and in Hin-
dostnn, Paou fell into the hands of a snake-
charmer, who belon ed to the sect of secret
stranglers known as t e Thugs. Instead of kill-
ing his char e, as he was probably tempted to
do, he broug t the young Chinese up as his own
so

n.
Being a wanderer thus by training and birth,
PaOu early came to America and naturally fell
in with the most vicious of his countrymen; and
so we find him n0w the second in rank in com-
mand of as des rate a set of scoundrels as ever
disgraced the merican frontier, and by his su-
rior valued as the most useful man in the

Di .

When Dillon was stopped by Toltec Tom’s
rifle, Paou was not a hundred paces in his rear,
and when he continued on with the prospector
to the latter’s abode, the thug followed as closely
as a r ard for his own safety would warrant.

All ay the Chinese lay crouched on the hill-
side with the house in plain view, watching and
waiting with a patience worthy a. better cause;
and when darkness fell he approached the build-
ing and sprawled himself among the very shad-
ows at the door. Yet so stealthy were all his
movements that Gringo even was not aware of
his proximity.

It was a pleasant do. that young Dillon 3 nt
in the home of the o d prospector—one offhe
pleasantest, he told himself. of his life. The
charm of it lay in the presence of Margaret,
whom he found more winning and womanly the
ion er he contemplated her varied attractions.
An he found himself more than once wishing
he might always bask in smiles that were as
sweet and look into eyes that were as bright as
were those of the prospecwr’s daughter.

Hence, when Toltec gaVe him a cordial invi-
tation to remain for a longer period than a. single
day he found no difficulty in convincing himself
that this was the most proper and agreeable
thing he could do.

When supper had been eaten and the old man
had seated himself for his customary smoke,
Dillon got up and left the house for a quiet stroll,
alleging that he wished to see how his horse was
faring, but in reality from a desire to be alone
awhile with his own thoughts.

Scarcely for a moment throughout the entire
day had Margaret been out of his mind.
Whether caressing and teasing Gringo, talking
with the treasure-seeker, or conversing with Ina
on the customs and legends of her people, the
voice and the face of Margaret had constantly
obtruded to drive away all other memories and
impressions. And so he desired to withdraw
from this otherwise pleasant company that he
might have nothing come between him and the

 

roseate visions and fancies that w. ‘
upon him. ' ~

As he left the house and dropped ‘1 .
trail leading toward the lower slopes, .2.
arose from his recumbent attitude and crep
softlyafter.

Entirely forgetting his horse, Dillon continued
on and on, every step taking him further and,
further from those who could aid him when the-
threatened blow should fall; and, as silently as
the summer wind that wandered over the grass—
es the thug kept close at his heels.

or an instant Dillon halted, so absorbed in
his thick-coming fancies that he did not know he
had stop . ; and in that instant, quick as the
lightning 8 flash, the thug sprung upon him. Sc»
sudden, so overwhelming and unexpected was
the shock that the young man fell forward as if
stricken bya rifle~bull. And as he did so, the‘
long, serpentine fingers of the Chinese shot out
and downward in a hawk-like sweep, and
around the neck of the fallen 'man was the coil
of the deadly bowstring, that fearful instrument.
of death so popular with the executioners of
oriental lands.

There was no time, no opportunity to strug-
gle. The coil tightened with the choking griglp-
of a python. The youth’s breath was stopp ,
and before his starting eyes there swam a blood-
red cloud which faded speedily into darkness.
and insensihility.

A low, gurgling laugh issued from the twitch—
ing lips of the thug—n laugh of hate and fiend—
ish triumph. But its echoes did not float beyond
the fringe of the nearest bushes. Pnou was too
careful an assassin for that. He never for a
moment forgot that his strength and the secret-
of success for him lay in silence and secrecy.

Satisfied that he had performed the work for
which he had remained, he vanished amid the
shadows as stealthin and as noiselessly as if he
were only a shadow himself.

He was scarcely gone from the place, how--
ever, when a third party appeared on the scene
—a man of heavy features and powerful phy-
sique. His face was barely visible in the semi—
darkness that lay on the landscape. But it was
a round, fat face, placid and good-humored—the-
face of one who looks after the good things of
life, and who proposes to let care go hang!

Such, indeed, was Jumbo Griggs, the sergeant
of the military post of the border. Jumbo he
was called because of his bulk, which was almost,
ele hantine.

is hands were thrust into his pockets, and he
was swinging along very leisurely, having
caught sight of the light from one of the win-
dows of the prospector’s abode some time
before, but seemingly careless about how soon
he reached the shelter it indicated. He was
wondering if he would be fortunate enough to
secure a warm supper and a comfortable bed,
and debating whether he preferred tea to coffee,
in case Toltec had those luxuries and should ask
him to make a choice between them, when his
foot tripped against the body of the prostrate
man, and he sprawled full length in the narrow
trail. -

“ By the great Caesar! What was that, now?”
he questioned, rubbing his bruises ruefully and
staring into the gloom.

A faint moan came as if in answer to the in-
quiry.

Jumbo, in spite of his large frame. was quick
to act in an emergency. He “pulled himself
together” and stepped to the side of the un-
known. His fingers detected the strangling
cord, and his knife severed it at almost the same
moment. Then be flashed the light of a match
into the face of the insensible man.

“Phewl” and a 10w whistle escaped the ser—

eant’s lips. “ By all that’s mysterious! that’s

illon, as I’m a living sinner! And what is he'
doing here with that devilish cord around his
neck?” '

He did not waste time in vain questioning,
however. He drew the young man away from
the trail as a measure of precaution, and then set
vigorously to work to bring the life back to the
almost inanimate form. There were faint pulsa-
tions at the heart. enough to show that he had
not come too late, if he worked with speed and
judgment.

Jumbo had seen more than one man who was-
considered as ood as dead and who had been
restored to his ormer vigor, and he had had ex-
perience with such cases, which was just then
worth more than all else. And so he set about
his task with a hopefulness that promised the
fullest measure of success. I

In a few minutes the pulsations became firmer
and stronger. and a regularity in breathing was
set up; did in a quarter of an hour Dillon,
clothed in his right mind, was sitting at Jum-

 

  
   
 

  

Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector. 5

 

    

7

in a voice that was faint
was constantly becoming

bo’s side conversin
and weak, but whic
fuller and less husky.

“ And you don’t know who did it?” Jumbo
questioned, with an air of surprise.

“ Haven’t the ghost of an idea!” averred Dil-
Ion. “ But he was a sly one, for I never so much
as heard a sound.”

“ It’s a good thing I came along just then, for
.in a few minutes more you’d have been past all
hel '. How have you found things?”

illon’s first thought was of Margaret, but he
hesitated to speak of her.

“ Finel” was the reply, after a moment. “ I’m
on first~class terms with the old gent, already.
He’s just as they say at the post: Crazy as a
bumblebee about a lot of lost treasure. He
has invited me to stay at his house, and we can
make it our headquarters.”

“ And the Chinese?” Jumbo queried.

“ Haven’t seen a single Celestial !”

This rather regretfully, for he had come into
those wastes for the express purpose of running
"to earth the men who were en a in the crimi<
nal business of transporting hinese across the
border.

“ They can’t be far from here, though!” Jumbo
:asserted. “ Parties of them have been seen on
a few occasions in the hills; and the men who
are helping them across must hole up here some-
wheres.”

And Jumbo was as much interested in find-
ing some trace of these rascals as was Dillon,
for he was Dillon's ally and assistant.

r Both came from the same post, were acting
'under the same orders, with only this differ-
ence: Dillon was in command. He was to carry
on the search, while Jumbo was to hold himself
ready to bring a squad of men acrOSs the moun-
tains to gobble up the band, whenever Dillon
should succeed in locating it.

“ We’d better go on to the house,” Jumbo sug-
gested, remembering his supperless condition.
“‘I’m hollow, clean to my boots. That was it
terrible tramp, and I made it since sunrise. I
hoBe old Rainbow-chaser keeps a good cook.”

illon arose rather unsteadily, and found that
he was too giddy to stand, not to mention walk-

:in .

5‘ Then I’ll have to carry you l” Jumbo de-
clared, with easy complacency.

And, without furtherado, he lifted the injured
man gently to his herculean shoulders and
trumped heavily on toward the house.

CHAPTER V.
THE POST TRAITOR.

“ DIP those paddles a little less clumsily, will
ye?” snarled the harsh voice of Captain Basil.
“You’ll wake the soldiers at Fort Mesquite, at
that rate!”

Captain Basil was in an exceptionany bad
humor that night. Matters had not gone pleas-
antly. In the first place one of his men had
reported that the young fellow whom Paou had
tried to put out of the way, the night before,
was still alive. And in the second, the men he
had sent to convoy a body of Chinese from a.
point on the California Gulf had been chased by
a lot of troopers and made but a narrow escape.

This same body of Chinese he was now ferry-
ing across the Colorado from the Lower Califor—
~nian side to the soil of Uncle Sam’s dominions,
and had just been listening tea. detailed account
of the chase and the brush with the soldiers.

The craft used in making the passage of the
river was a large, flat-bottomed, unwieldy con-
cern, which when in the center of the current
was almost unmanageable.

“ Mind our eyes, there!” he_ called out,
sharply. ‘ You’ll have all of us in the river!
Now, pull! Pull hard l”

The men bent obediently to the oars, and after
a. protracted struggle drove the nose of the boat

_ against the American shore.

“Now, out with you. And, Paou, keep these
boobies well together. If on don’t, they’ll get
lost, sure. They’re the Guru est lot we’ve handled
at} How; they’ve ever managed to get this far

a 5 me

Paou huddled the bewildered Celestials into a
compact body; while Flint continued to ejacu-
late his instructions in that vexed, rasping
tone.

There was no light; and though-the wind was
chill, no fire was there on the shore to giVe out
its warmth. Save the dip of the paddles, and
the captain’s commands, together with occasional
whispers among the men, no sounds arose. In
addition the night was dark and starless: and
the stream raced beneath the boat’s keel like a
river of ink. '

It was a night favorable for such a venture.
A night for secrecy and dark deeds.

 

And yet, when Basil Flint arose from his
position in the stern of the boat and turned his
eyes shoreward, he saw the faint outline of a
horse and rider among the shadows.

His revolver came out instantly.

“ It’s all right, captain!" the shadow hastily
called, as the “click, click” of the Weapon
sounded ominously. “ I’m Silcott, from the
post!”

Captain Basil leaped from the boat and ad-
vanced toward the horseman.

“ Look after things, will you, Paou? And get
everything ready for traveling. Hide the boat
in the old place, and make sure its concealed so
no one can find it. And keep your heathen
friends from babbling too much. They’re be-
ginning to chatter like sparrows. There’s no
telling who may be around.”

Then, taking the bridle-rein in his hand he
turned the horse away from the camp, halting
when he had reached what he considered a safe
distance.

“How in thunder did you manage to find us,
Smith?” he asked, with some uneasiness. “ W0
crossed at a new point to—night! We haven’t
been making too much noise, have we?”

“I didn’t hear anything till I came almost on
you,” said the horseman. “Then I heard you
growling away like a bull-dog!”

Flint accepted the criticism with good grace,
though he disliked to be told of his faults. But
Smith Silcott was a man who could criticise the
irritable captain with perfect safety; for Smith
Silcott was a. more valuable man than even
Paou, if that were possible.

“Yes: you were growling away like a bull-
dog,” Silcott repeated. “You ought to keep
your temper, Captain, on a trip like this! I
don’t think there’s anybody around to-night;
but we can’t always be sure of that. And an-
other night there may be. I’m just from the
post. Came down since dark. I told the colonel
I wanted to run over to the little town across
the range. I didn’t stay there only long enough
toprove I’d been there, if such a thing should
become necessary, and then cut sticks for the
river.

“I’ve ridden like an Apache, captain, and
will be stiff as the deuce, to-morrow, I’ll war-
rant. I didn’t find you at the old place, and so
ke t on down, and struck you here.”

e was rattling on in a rapid way, but in
low tones, when the impatient captain cut him
short.

“ Stow all that, Silcott, and come to the point!
What’s up? Something, or you wouldn’t be here
on such a night as this!”

“Right you are!” the horseman averred.
“ There is something up. The colonel has taken
it into his Ili ad to send out a couple of men to
see if they can’t locate the band that’s loading
the Chinese onto the country. They’re in this
vicinity, now, or my information is wrong. One
is the post sergeant, Jumbo Griggs, and the other
is Philip Dillon.”

Captain Basil uttered a bitter curse.

“I’ve seen one of them,” he declared; and
then went on to tell of the visit of the stranger
to the island. ~

“ That was Dillon,” answered Silcott. “ Jumbo
didn’t take a horse. And, besides, Jumbo’s a
much larger man than the one you describe.

“Well, they’re laying for you, and you’ll
have to be mighty careful about your fires and
all that. It’s been reported, too, that two or
three squads of Chinese have been seen crossin
the hills. But it was always in the night, an
they couldn’t be followed, which is a very fortu-
nate thing.”

As the reader scarcely needs to batch], Smith
Silcott was a member of the little force of
military stationed at Fort Mesquite. He was,
also, a man trusted by his superiors. The Col-
onel. MObel‘ly Yates, held him in high regard,
and never for a moment dreamed that the man
was so wholly unworthy of the confidence thus
re sed in him.

ow and where Silcott became connected
with the disreputable band under Flint was
never certainly known, and is a matter of no
presentimportance. But be was, in fact, a mem-
ber of that band, and receiving a liberal share
of its dishonest gains; and masked behind the
blue coat of a. soldier was acting as a spy for
Captain Basil.

“ When I found that men were to be sent out
to make a hunt for you I asked the colonel to
let me be one of the number,” he went on. “ But
I volunteered my valuable services just a little
too late. He had already picked out Dillon and
Jumbo, and given them their instructions, and
didn’t want to increase the force. He would
have let me gone, anyway, I feel sure, only that
Dillon objected to my company.”

 

There was a tinge of wrathful ire in the tones,
at this juncture.

“ He’s never liked me. Dillon hasn’t; though
just why I can’t discover. I’ni half afraid, some-
times, that he suspects what I’m really up to.
It would have been a bi thing if I could ave
worked myself in as the coder."

“ You bet!” Flint assented.

“But you see, I couldn’t seem too anxious
about itl” in an explanatory tone. “ The col-
onel sets a good deal of store by me, and a wron
move might rouse him to distrust and so spofi
ever thing.”

“ f I just could have got in, though 1” and he
rubbed his hands nervously together. “ Whata
chase I would have led them 1”

“ But ye didn’t!” declared the captain. “ And,
now, what do you propose to do?”

“ I‘ve brought a warning, which ought to be
worth something.”

“ And ’tisl Worth a good deal!”

“And I’ll manage, in some way, to keep you
posted concerning the reports they send in.”

“ And it‘ they should make a discovery!” Basil
questioned anxiously.

“ Why, if it goes that far, I’ll volunteer to
lend the force that will be sent against you; and
I’ll lead it so it will not find you too soon.
Trust me to work that all right. I’ll get word
to you, somehow. And then ou’ll have to lay
snug in the cave till the troub e and excitement
blows over. Of course, I’ll not be able to find
you in the cave!"

“ No, of course not!” and Captain Basil
laughed in spite of his low spirits.

“ And had I better try to lay these fellows
out?” he continued.

“ If you get a good chance, and there’s no dan-
ger but you can make sure work of it. But,
there must be no bulksl”

Then the post traitor wheeled his horse about
and was soon lost to sight in the darkness.
leaving Flint to ponder over the news he had.
brought.

CHAPTER VI.
CLEVERLY CAUGHT.

J UMBO GRIGGS was as much taken by surprise
as hud been his friend Dillon, on discovoring so:
beautiful a girl as Margaret in that lonely mounfi
taiu cabin. But his heavy features ant lethar-l
gic manner emibled him to conceal his surprise_
much more effectually.

“ I say, Phil! she’s a beauty!” he whis ered to
his friend at the first Opportunity. “ y Jove,‘
it’s a shame to keep her up here! \Vhat do you‘
say to punching the head of old What’s-his-
name? He deserves it!”

Dillon’s only answer was a sigh, and a glance'
in the direction of the object of Jumbo’s re-i
marks.

“ Hit hard, eh i” and Jumbo laughed musically4l
“ Well, I don’t blame you. I was about to fall
down and worship her myself; but it you’re feel-
ing that way—”

“ Don’t be silly, Griggs!” Dillon protested.‘
“ Wait till anybody falls down, Wlll you i"

“ No need to wait, my dear boy. There’s a
fellow about your heft who is flat, prostrate in ‘
the dust! Why, it’s writ in red mar s all across
your forehead: ‘ Here’s a fellow shot through!
and through by a feather from Cupid’s quiver. ”‘

Dillon flushed guiltil , and avowed that his
friend was mistaken. ut all the while he was
tnkin g secret pleasure in the thought that Jumbo
had lthus as good as promised not to become his.
rivu .

The latter had been made as heartily welcome
by the old prospector as Dillon' and the kind-
ness of Margaret and of the Toltec serving-
woman was lavished et ually on both. They
were asked no disagreeub e questions as to their
intentions, but were “ made at home ” after the.
fashion of true Western hospitality.

Dillon believed he would be able for duty on’
the following morning, but when that morning
came he found himSelf almost unabletomovo'
his head. The cord of the strangler had pressed.
heavily and cruelly against the muscles andl
veins of the neck and throat. In consequence
be was wholly unfit for duty, and was forced to:
postpone indefinitely the work he had come
thither to prosccute. But the blackest cloud has
its silver lining, and Dillon found much tore-l
concile him to his fate.

“ I suppose it’s Providential,” philosophically
decided J umbo. heaving a massive sigh. ‘Some-v
thing ought to be done, in this case, and you’re
chosen as the instrument. I’m never chosen for
anything! But, it don’t matter. Just look your
best and talk your prettiest, and in a. week you
can carry her dawn to the post. She’s wasting
all her sweetness on the desert air up here!” ' ’.

 

 

|

l

 

 

 

6 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector.

 

 

“I wish I might; hanged if I don’t!” Dillon
declared. heartily.

“ Go in, then; I’m backing youl” and Jumbo
lighted his pipe and whistled a bar of a favorite
air. “()ld Mrs. Miggs is getting too uppish.
We need another woman down there. The
colonel’s wife don’t count, you know, for Mrs.
M. just walks over her like a hard-footed burro
On a mountain trail. You can let old Rainbow-
chaser conie and see her once in awhile, and
that will pacify him.”

But Dillon was not in a'joaing «mood, and
Jumbo took a pull at his pipe, and changed the
subject.

The big fellow was not insensible to the
charms of Margaret. But he was not a “la-
dies’ man,” as he had often declared. If he had
not seen how hard hit his friend Dillon was, he
might have entertained something like serious
thoughts toward the fair Margaret. But he was
too loyal a friend for that. Still, it was pleasant
to tip his chair against the wall, when conversa-
tion lagged, and view the many charms of their
hostess through the veil of tobacco smoke that
drifted across his face. And at such times, a
monster sigh would now and then escape from
his huge chest. But the sigh would be instantly
concealed by a. yawn, and his broad face would
give no sign.

Dillon improved very slowly, and for three
days was scarcely able t1: leave the house. Tol-
tec Tom was absent much of that time, on that
interminable hunt for the lost treasure. To
Jumbo this state of affairs began to grow intol-
erable. It was worse than the inactivity of the
post, for there the daily drills and routine exer-
cises helped to fill up the hours.

He could not forever sit in his favorite corner
and puff tobacco smoke up the wide—throated
chimney while watching the glOWing beauty of
Margaret. And Dillon, since his infatuation,
had become the poorest possible company.

“I’ll make myself scarce awhile!” he mused,
one day. “I ain’t giving the young fellow a
square deal. How’s he ever going to make up
to the girl if I sit around and watch her all the
time? I’m a blooming idiot!”

With this, he took his hat and strolled out
along the mountain-side.

It was almost suiidOwn. The ranges were
afire with the glory of the fading day, and the
shadows were already deepening in the valley.
There was almost as much poetry as there was

ood humor in the bulky frame of Jumbo; and

e greatly enjoyed a stroll at such an hour.

“I hope he’ll make hay while I’m gone!” he
declared, as he walked on toward the rooky bar-
riers. “ She‘s as fine a specimen of woman as
I’ve seen in manya day. ’Twould be a good
match. ’Decd it would. Not man finer. If
matters had only been otherwise! ut,lpshaw!
they are never otherwise with me. guess
my cake was dough before it ever went into the
flour barrel.

“ But I’m a soldier and shall always be a sol-
dier, very likely; am I’Ve always held that a
soldier should not marry.”

Then he began to speculate concerning the
movements of Toltec. He had been shown the
mysterious writing, and his inflammable fancy
had been somewhat ii red by the story of the pros-
pector, though he had not given so much as a
sign. Now he wondered if there could be any
truth in the old Toltec legend. If there was,
and the “Rainbow-chaser,” as be frequently
designated the old man, should stumble on its
Eleace of concealment, the latter would be rich

‘yond computation.

‘Hanged, if I don’t keep an eye out for that
cave, too i” be mentally ejaculated, seating him-
self onastone beside the trail. “Such a find
would bea windfall to your humble servant in
the present depressed state of his exchequerl”

He endeavored to recall the description of the
place. as it was described by Toltec, and to spec-
ulate on the probable amount of wealththose
old priests had gathered about them.

He was deep in these i-oseate dreams when a
slight rustling came to his quick car. It had not
been louder than the flutter of a wind-blown
leaf, but Jumbo’s hearing was of the best.
Wheeling quickly, he caught a. glimpse of a
dark form as it writhed into concealment be-
hind the nearest greasewood. It was the form
of Paou! 1

Captain Basil had taken counsel of his fears,
and had reached the determination to sacrifice
the men who had been bold enough to advance
upon him thus in his own territory for the pur-

of bringing to naught his carefully-laid
plans. And Paou, the thug, shod with silenca,
and armed with his favorite cord, had been
de uted to the dangerous work.

ithan agility remarkable for a man of his

 

bulk Jumbo leaped to his feet and darted to-
ward the concealing greasewood. Seeing he
was discovered, Paou sprung lightly away, flee-
ing up the slope with the speed of a deer.

t was an unequal race, for the thug was
much the fleetest runner, and would unques~
tionably have esca ed but for one of those acci-
dents which sometimes interfere to change the
regular course of events. Looking back to as-
certain if he was outstripping his pursuen he
set his foot into a narrow aperture in the rocks.
In this opening the foot was caught and held as
if in a trap, and With a sharp cry of pain and
surprise, he tumbled headlong. Before he could
rise, Jumbo was upon him.

“Ah! you brown—skinned, slant-eyed, little
devil, you!” lie growled, grasping Paou by the
long queue which had escaped from its c011.
“ I’ve a good notion to knife you where you lie.
\Vhat did you mean by sneaking on me in that
way? Answer me that, will you?”

Paou was writhing and twisting in much anx-
iety and pain.

“You’re the villain that tried to choke the
life out of Dillon, eh?” catching sight of the

cord. “ And you thought to serve me the same
way? I ought to send you over the divide for
that!”

Paou, realizing he could not break away, had
become quiet and motionless, but his eyes roved
in a restless way from the face of his captor to
the thickets near by. They sparkled dully as
the settled on a kniie at Junibo’s waist.

he sergeant caught the 100k and quickly
transferred the weapon to an inner pocket.
Then he drew and cooked a revolver.

“You’ll find I ain’t sleeping, you lily-livered
curl and if you try any more nonsense on me,
you’ll wish you hadn’t. Now, what’s your
name, and what sort of a lay are you onto?”

He had shoved the Chinese from him, but held
him covered with the threatening revolver.

Paou remained doggedly silent, and refused to
answer any questions.

“ Likely you can’t speak ‘ ’Melican.’ Of course
you belong to the band of rascals that has been
up to so much dirt lately. I suppose I ought to
take you into custody and send you on to the
post. But I won’t 1”

He grasped Paou again by the queue and lift—
ed him to a standing posture.

“ If you can’t understand good English, as it’s
rendered by yours truly, perhaps you can under-
stand the language of signs. Take that, and
that! and tell your master, whoeVer the scamp
may be, that if I catch any more of his Hessians
in theSe parts, I’ll make them up into sausage
for the. coyotes!”

He gave the thug two such heavy kicks that
the latter howled with pain, and when released
darted into the greasewood and disappeared
with almost inconceivable speed.

“No doubt I’ll be. sorry I let the fellow go!”
Jumbo mused, as he looked at the point where
Paou had vauisLed.

And future events hastened to prove that in
this he was something of a prophet.

CHAPTER VII.
sraason HAPPENINGS.

DILLON impiowd but slowly in the days im-
mediately succeeding. lie was able to get about
the homo, and felt that he V‘ as improving, but
was in no condition to prosecute with vigorthe
work he had been sent to do.

In this state of affairs Jumbo volunteered to
take up the task assigned to his friend and carry
it out to the best of his ability.

“ If you only will, Jumbo!” said Dillon, his
face lighting. “It’s worrying me to death to lie
around this way, of no more benefit than a stick
or a clod.” .

“ Perhaps I can cut out the way,” Jumbo ven-
tured, modestly. “ Clear off the brush, as you
might say! I’m not up to this kind of work, as
you are: but I can do my best.”

He set about his self-appointed task with great
carefulness. feeling he must make up in thorough-
ness what he lacked in experience.

His first act was to draw the old prospector
into a long conversation concerning the country
adjacent to the river, and to make cautious .in-
quiries on lines that might aid him.

“ Are we the first visitors you’ve ever had
here, Toltec?” he asked, puffing placidly at his
pipe.

The answer was in the aflirmative.

“ And you’ve never seen anybody else in these
bills? Seems to me that would make it terrible
lonesome.”

The prospector gave him a keen glance.

“ I never said Jist that, did 1? I’ve seen a.
good many people in these hills. More’n I’ve
wanted to see, by a jugfull”

   
 

 

O

“Ab!” and there was the faintest trace oi‘
curiosity in J umbo’s tones. “ Then, I misunder-
stood you. Were they white or red?”

“Neither!” snarled Toltec.
ler.”

“ Um-huhl Yellow 1” rubbing his chin thought-
fully. “ A queer place for cattle like them.”

Jumbo had not told Toltec of his encodnter
with Paou.

“ Yes; am not so very queer, eitherl”Toltec
declared. “ Them Chinese likes gold, name’s do
the whites.”

“ Oh! Hunting for gold?” and Jumbo sager
nodded his head.

“ How they ever heerd it, I don’t know,” the
old man went on. “ But they’ve got wind of
this hyer treasure-lay I’m onto, an’ I reckon
they ’low there’s a chance to git ahead o’me.
I‘ve seen ’cm several times; sneakin’ through
the hills, an’ slidin’ ’round like shudders.”

“ Why didn’t you follow them?” Jumbo ques
tioned.

“ Foller ’em? I did!” and a sly smile crept in-
to the prospector’s face. “ I follercd ’em as fur
as I could. Then they’d whisk off, er slide away
in the dark, and leave me to pick my way homo
the best way I knew how.”

Other cautious queries drew from Toltec the
points at which he had at various times seen
these parties of Chinese; and having ained this
much information, slight as it was, unibo set
about his work.

By much mental calculation, and a study of
the topography of the country, he came to a
conclusion as to the place where the Chinese
would be most likely to Icross from the soil of’
Mexico to that of the United States. Then he
Setoii‘ down the river, watching and narrowly
inspecting every foot of the way.

For dreary days and nights he lay on the bleak

mountain slopes, or crept from divide to divide,
and depression to depression. Yet he. saw noth-
ing to convince him that he was making any-
heEidway, until late one evening, when he came
on fresh footprints in the river sand. There was
also an indentation which looked as if it might
have been made by a canoe.

Jumbo grew somewhat excited at this find,
though his outward calm did not forsake him.

\Vithdrawing to a point in the hills whence a
good view of the river and the valley could be
obtained, he remained there throughout the
day. Nothing occurred to reward him. With
intense pertinacity he continued his Match on
into the night; and when he began to think the
night was also going to pass without bringing
him any reward, a party of men suddenly ap
peared on the shore.

They Were priiic1pally Chinese. He Could see
that, though the lignt was far from good. And
they were led by white men,

‘ Struck ilel’ heascherated, controlling his
joy and flattening himself lizard-like upon the
rocks. “ If that ain’t the crowd I’m looking for,
then I’m not worth a cent at guessing!”

As he watched, alarge boat, the one that had
made the imprint in the sand, was rowed into
view, and in it the party slowly embarked, and
were rOWed toward the opposite shore.

Fearful lest he might lose the game, now he
had sighted it, be burned to the water’s edge,
and plunging in, swam quickly across.

Then, without stopping to squeeze the water
from his dripping garments, he stole silently to-
ward tlie point where the Chinese had made the
passage of the stream.

They were there, still, being compacted into
an orderly body by Paou.

“ The scnmpl” wheezed Jumbo, choking hack
a curSe. “ I ought to have shot the fellow when
I had such a fine chance, and an excuse that
would have eased somebody’s conscience. But
mv finer sensibilities are always getting away
with me."

The Chinese were in motion: and as they
trailed away through the hills, Jumbo dogged
their footsteps. .

Day was near at hand. This both aided and
retarded the pursuer. The increasing light en-
abled him to follow the party with more ease,
but it at the same time exposed him somewhat,
as there Were many open places he was com-
pelled to cross. But he kept on, notwithstanding
this. determined to run the party down, now
that he had them in sight.

He was painfully made aware of the extreme
peril of this, a half an hour later. Creeping be-
neath a pinone for temporary shelter while
watching the Chinese as they toiled over a ridge
far in advance, he failed to note the forms:
crouching low in the branches. His first intima~
tion that an enemy was near came when the»
forms loosed their hold and dropped on him.

They were Paou and another Chiuaman; and

i
«s g—v, , g}: ,' :‘a.:.u:£i..il-:

“They was yal- ,

 

  

 

 

    

 

Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector. 7

 

as they came down on the unsuspecting man
they tossed over his head a pair of net-like bags
that dropped down over his arms and limbs and
bound him the tighter the more he strove to
escape.

It was useless to struggle, even worse than
useleSs, as he was soon discovered. The folds of

- the bags enveloped him more and more at every

turn. So he gave up the attempt and scorufully
stared at his captors.

“ Oh, it’s you, Old Almond-eyes?" looking
straight into the face of Penn. “ I’ll kick my—
self for a blamed foo], just the first chance I
get. See if I don’t! If only I’d laid you out
that day i”

To his great amazement he received a reply in
very good English.

“ It was not to be. Fate favored Paou !”

But he was not permitted time in which to
speculate on this. A number of Chinese swarm—
ed out of the nearest scrub and came running
nimbly to the aid of their countrymen. Obvi-
ously they had been lying there waiting for
their friends to eti'tct the capture of the bold
American.

At a word of command two of these stripped
from the captive the enveloping bags, looping
at the same moment some cunningly-knotted
ropes about his arms and legs. Almost before
he was aware of their intentions Jumbo found
himself strongly bound, so strongly that he
could scarcely more his hands. But his feet
Were comparativer free, the bonds being so ad-
justed that he was able to take short and minc-
ing steps, a fact which would be of small aid to
him should he try to break away.

Then, with Jumbo in their center, the crowd
set off at a slow walk, turning aside from the
direction taken by the first party.

Flint had given his Chinese lieutenant carte
blanche as to the disposition to be made of their
pursuer, in case of his capture; and Paou,
smarting under the indignity he had received
at the hands of the post sergeant, had determined
to reap a terrible revenge.

When the trail taken by the first party had
been left a half-mile behind, Paou’s men turned
into a rocky gorge, which had at its further end
a narrow, black opening, wholly invisible a few
feet away. This opening they pressed into; and
the sergeant, looking about him, saw that it
widened away into a dimly-lighted cave.

There were several galleries putting off at
various angles, but they did not endeavor to ex-
plore or look into any of these, but contented
themselves with stopping in the central cham-
ber. This was a low-vaulted afl’air; with a
light which made it passable, once the eyes be-
came accustomed to it.

To J umbo’s surprise, there was an ancient-ap-
pearing post of dark, time-stained wood, set in
the earth not far from the middle of the cham-
ber. To this post he was bound, without hav-
ing been allowed time to speculate as to its
former uses.

The first rays of the newly-risen sun were
lighting up the outer world; and, catching sight
of a dancing beam which found its way in some
mysterious manner to that underground place,
Jumbo wondered if he would be permitted over
to look again on the radiant face of day.

Paou had collected the knives of his com-
panions, which he placed in two equal heaps on
the ground. The sergeant, watching him ques-
tioningly, noticed that there were just six knives
in each eap. .

“ W hat are you geing to do with them i” he
asked, bravely, though he felt an inward, nerv-
ous tremor.

Paou smiled—a sardonic, ghastly smile, which
made his countenance seem fiendish in the un-
certain light. _

“A wise man does not uestion the future.
The present has ills enough. ’

In the midst of his anxiety the sergeant could
not fail to note the marveloas accuracy of
Paou’s speech. He had never heard anything
like it, and he had met hundreds of Chinese. He
wondered if the fellow was really a native of the
Celestial Empire.

The thug and his partner, the one who had
been concealed with him in the branches of the
pinone, now took up the. knives, stationing them—
selves ten or twelve feet from the bound man.
Then PRO“, With a. quick, dextrous twirl launch-
ed one of the knives at the sergeant. Like a.
flash of light it sped through the air, struck
the post, and remained fixed and quivering,
within an inch of the prisoner’s head!

In Spite of the firm control which he fancied
he had over his nerves, Jumbo dodged and
gringed, as he saw the knife leave the thug’s

an .

The ring of excited Chinese set up a pleasur-

able shout, in testimony of their appreciation of
the skill of the threwer; and Jumbo, who had
seen similar performances on the sawdust arena
of various circuses, was also struck with Paou’s
dexterity, notwithstanding the uncomfortable
sensation it had given him.

Another knife whizzed through the air, flash-
ing like silver as in its passage it was touched
momentarily by the vagrant sunbeam. It struck
the p05t on the side opposite to that touched by
the first, and likewise remained quivering in un-
comfortable proximity to J'umbo’s cranium.

“ If you dodge that way, you’ll be hurt!"
Paou cautioned, for the sergeant had flinched
this time as before. “If you’re to be killed,
though, you can’t help it. It is fate!”

With this pleasant reflection he again poised a
knife in his tapering fingers and shot it through
the air.

Jumbo believed they intended to put his nerves
to the severest posisible test, torture him to the
verge of insanity with those cruel, threatening
knives, and then end his misery by a swift,
well-aimed thrust, which should come with the
unexpectedness of fate. And believing this he
endeavored to steel hisncrvcs and meet death
witha heroism becoming a brave man and a
soldier.

After that, though the knives frequently
grazed his flesh and cut through locks of his
hair, he never winced, nor by so much as the
movement of a muscle showed that he fancied

each thrust might be the fatal one.

Suddenly this delightful occupation of the
Chinese was brought to an abrupt end. One of
their number, more curious than the rest, had,
in poking about the central chamber, come up-
on a strange object in the opening of one of the
galleries.

With a cry of astonishment he drew it forth,
and with some difficulty bore it toward his won—
dering countrymen, who gathered about it with
much chattering.

They had never seen anything like it, and were
inclined to regard it with fear, as they did all
the curious inVentions of the strange, new world
into which they had come.

But Jumbo, although he was as much aston-
ished as any of them, knew at a glance the na-
ture of the strange thing that had been so sin-
gularly brought to light. But how bad it come
there“! for it was nothing less than that wonder-
ful talking instrument known as a grapliophone!

There was on it a, roll; and perceiving this,
new hope rose in his breast. Perhaps the roll
had been used, and so would reproduce the
sounds that had been given it.

“ It is the talking-machine of the gods!” he
declared, in a voice that could be heard by all,
and which was understood by others than Paou.

The latter cast on him a glance of scorn,
thoagh the natural superstition of his race,
which had not been eradicated by time and
alienation from his country, caused him to re-
gard the instrument with a feeling akin to awe
and fear.

“ Press the treadle up and down and see if I
am not right!” urged the sergeant, thinking his
fate would only be death, even if his guess
proved incorrect. “ That thing there at the
bottom. W'ork it up and down, and see if what
I say isn’t the truth.”

The instrument was one which had evidently
been used for exhibition purposes, for it was
fitted with a funnel-sha ed device forincreasing
the volume of sound. umbo also saw that the
diaphragm was properly placed for reproducmg
Sounds.

With an air that was half fearful, but which
yet held something of bravado and scorn, Paou
pressed the treadle up and down. For an in-
stunt there was heard a humming and sputter—
ing; then Words issued from the marVelous little
machine with startling distinctnesa. Paou took
his foot from the treadle and started back with
 cry of fear, while the others seemed on the
point of flight. And yet, not one there could
understand a syllable of what had been uttered,
not even the sergeant! The Sentences SPOken
by the graphonhone were in Spanish!

This much Jumbo knew.

“The gods declare they are angry!” be ex-
claimed, quickly interpreting the communication
in his own Way. “They will slay you, if I am
not released 1”

It was an over-bold declaration.

“ ’Nlelican man tellee heap big lie!” asserted
the knife-thrower who had assisted Paou.

The statement brought back Paou’s Courage.

“ We’ll kill the lying white man first! Then,
if fate wills, we’ll die together!” he averred,
drawing his knife and poising it for a throw.

He was Interrupted by a whizzing sound, and

 

out of the darkness of one of the side passages

 

shot a rocket. It ricochetted along the floor
struck the wall with a dull thud, exploded, and
fell almost in their midst.

its advent had been the most startling thing
that had yet occurred. Yet, strangely enough,
it did not frighten the Chinese as had the num-
telligible words of the talking-machine. They
had, in their own country, been familiar with
rockets and fire-Works from infancy, and were
not to be scared by anything so commonplace.

“ The gods will avenge me if I am slain,” Jum-
bo thundered, as much puzzled as they, but
bound to take ad vantage of' every circumstance,
without stopping to inquire into the cause of
mysteries. “ It is a sign of their displeasure!"

“ Bah !" and Paou gave a contemptuous toss to
his head.

Then he commanded his assistant to accompany
him, and started toward the passage.

Another rocket whizzed out, passing danger-
ously near their heads; then another and an-
other!

“ The gods will slay you all i" screamed Jumbo,
fearful that his unknown friend would be dis— ~
covered and dragged to the light. “They will
kill you all!”

His words scorned prophetic. A blinding flash
lit up the caVorn, followed by a jarring roar that
made the mountain rock. Stones flew like mis-
siles hurled from the throat of some. giant can-
non. Then Jumbo knew no more. He had been
stricken senseless. '

CHAPTER VIII.
GRINoo’s COMPLIMENTS.

To return a few hours on the traces of‘ this
story.

Captain Basil Flint was far from being reas-
sured by the report brought in by one of his
spies, to the effect that the young man who Was
thought to have been strangled to death by the
cord of the Chinese was still alive. These fears
were augmented by knowledge of the presence
of another stronger at the house of Toltec Tom;
and the fears turned to hatred and dread when
the character of the men and the nature of their
misswu were revealed by the post traitor, Smith
Silcott.

I’aou, who had heretofore been equal to any
emergency, had not been able to strike a fatal
blow at either; and so Flint set his own crafty
wits at work to devise some plan that should rid
him of these dangerous foes.

But aside from waylaying and picking them
off in the hills he could think of nothing promis-
ing success. He had about decided to do this
when it occurred to him that pessibly Toltec Tom
was in their secret. How to ascertain if this
might be true he did not know; but he finally
sent one of his men to the cabin to investigate,
thinking Toltec might betray himself by some
inadvertent Word or action.

Unfortunately for the success of the mission
the man selected by Flint was not at all such a.
man as so careful a lender should have ‘chosen.
He was shrewd and crafty, but his instincts were
as coarse and evil as his face; and he had an un-
conqueruble Weakness for fiery whisk .

This man, who was known only as handy Bill,
thought it necessary to brace his courage with
some potent rum which he had surreptitiously
conveyed to and concealed within the cavern:
and as Flint had departed with most of his men
to convey a body of Chinese from the Mexican
side, the fear of the captain did not act as a check
upon his thirst.

And thus it came about that by the time the
fellow had gained the vicinity of the prospector’s
cabin his ten frequent potations had so “ mellow-
ed” him that be quite forgot the instructions of
his chief. He did, however, remember that ho
was to play a part. _

“Lemme sheel” he owlishly soliloquized,
steadying himself against a rock and staring
down at the cabin nestled in sequestered valley.
“Who (hit) am I, ’nwav? Yesh! I re’ec‘lcc’l
I’m a gen’lm’n f’um V ‘ginny City! Thash what
I am, Agen'lm’n i’nm V‘ginny City! An’ I’m
down thish-a-way lookin’ after my gol’ mines.
You bet. Whoop!” .

With this he jammed his hat over his ears and
started at a reckless, reeling gait down the

310 .

’i‘filtec was not at home, and Jumbo was
absent on that mission which was to result so
strangely. Dillon was still in a feeble and
scarcely convalescent state.

Margaret Grant heard the whoop and saw the
drunken ruflian as he staggered down the hill.
Her hrow clouded, but she gave no sign of fear.

“Hic—mornin’, ma’ami" said Sandy, bring-
ing up in front of the door with alurch and ‘
steadying himself by catching hold of one of the
logs. “ I’m a gen’lm’n f’um V’ginny City 1"

 

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She was staring hard at him, which he observ-
ed, returning the Stars with a wink and a leer.

“ My father is not at home!” she replied some-
what curtly.

“Thash all right!” with another leer. “I’m
agen’lm’n f’um V’ginny City, an’ I’m lookin’
after my gol’ mines down rhis-a-way.”

Dillon overheard the conversation and was
coming to lend his aid to Margaret, but before
he could do so Sandy Bill crowded by the girl
and entered the room. This accomplished he
dropped into the nearest chair and surveyed the
belongings of the place with a gravity that was
decidedly ludicrous.

Having entered and showing no aggressive
ness, frontier etiquette forbade that he should
be summarily ousted. And so he sat there,
drumming the chair with his fingers, and puck-
ering his lips, while he vainly assayed to collect
his scattered ideas.

The effort was futile; and after informing
Margaret again that he wasagentleman from
Virginia City, down that way looking after the
interest of his gold mines, he gave up the attempt
and contented himself with staring at her as she
moved about the apartment.

“Jes’ one kissh, me darlin’, f’um them ruby,
ruby lips!” lie implored, catching at her skirts
as she passed near him.

“ NOW you get out of here, without more
ado!” cried Dillon angered beyond all bounds.
“ Ygu get out, or I’ll take measures to put you
out!

Sandy Bill stared at him, and noting the puller
of his face and his evident weakened state,
settled back in his chair defiantly.

“Pooh!” putting his hand to his mouth and
then motioniug it toward the young man. “ I’ll
jes’ bpr my breath onto you (hic) an’ knock you
over!

“ You might,” asserted Dillon. “It’s strong
enough to knock d0wn an elephant! Now, clear
out of here! We’ve had enough of you 1”

He drew his revolver and placed it threaten-
ingly on his knee.

“ Don’t!” implored Margaret.

"Pistols, is it?” and Sandy began to tug at
the big navy that swung at his hip. “ All—ail
—hic—i'ight! All right! I’m yer mutton!”

Wnat the result might have been can not be
told. But an interruption came in a most un—
lookedofor way—unlocked for at least by Dillon
and Sandy Bill. Gringo, who had been lying
unnoticed behind the door, gave a furious growl
and sprung upon the intruder, forcing him out
of the chair and to the floor. No doubt he had
been for some time watching the proceedings
with an angry eye, and now thought it time to
bear a hand, or rather a tooth.

Sandy Bill gave a yell of terror and strove to
get at the maddened brute; an'l thus struggling
the dog and man rolled into the yard. The ruf-
fian’s revolver, which he had previously lugged
from its case, fell to the earth, and he was thus
rendered helpless.

So savage was the brute’s onslaught that in a.
very few seconds Sandy Bill must have render-
ed up his earthly account had not Margaret
sprung to his rescue. The dog, docile to her
even in his rage, released his hold at her com-
mand and retired, sullen and growling.

And Sandy, as soon as he was free from those
lacerating teeth, tarried not, but broke into a
brisk run, heading for the mountains.

Considering his drunken condition, it was sur-
prising how the rascal could run. Time and
again, striking his feet against some obstruc-
tion, he fell headlong. But he scrambled up
quickly, and with a backward glance of terror,

plunged on.
“Good Gringo! Good Gringo!” exclaimed
Margaret, patting the dog’s head. “You

thoughtit time to put in, did you? You should
have waited for orders, sir!”

But Gringo did not understand the nature of
the rebuke, though he knew the tones were
kindly, and so wagged his shaggy tail and frisk-
ed about his mistress in playful delight.

Dillon had been in a thoughtful mood all day,
and his thoughtfulness was increased by the en-
counter with Sandy Bill.

For some time he sat in silence, his eyes fol-
10wing the movements of Gringo. Ina was
awa , gathering herbs in the hills.

“ should think you’d find this a very lonely
and almost unendurable life,” he ventured,
finally, his face at the same time flushing in a
most unaccountable way. “You can never tell
when you may be insulted by such scamps as
that one.”

" I have Gringo,” she said. “ And you have
observed that, as a guardian, he has excellent
qualities.” ‘

There was something in his tone that caused

’3" .inéeggi‘l’w‘r '.

 

 

her to flush, too; and abandoning Gringo to his
own amusements, she stepped again into the
house and began to busy herself about the
housohold duties.

“I have offended you,” asserted Dillon, in a
deprecatory tone, following her within the
building. “ Believe me, it was unintentional.”

“ No offense at all!” she replied.

“I have been thinking all day how I might
speak to you!” made bolder by the confession,
and yet scarcely daring to look at her. “ You
must know what I mean, Margaret! What has
been in my heart all these days.”

She did not reply, though the tell-tale color
mounted hotly to her brow.

He drew near, seized one of her hands and
bent over her.

“I cannot let so excellent an opportunity es-
cape,” his face pale, his hands trembling, and
his breath coming in short, quick respirations.
“ I 10 10 you, Margaret; and have from the day
I first saw you! Do not tell me that it is in
vain l”

Her slight form swayed like a reed and she
dropped her face to her hands and began to sob
violently.

Dillon was not an experienced hand at love
making and knew not whether to take this as a
good or ill omen.

Hewever, the fact that she had not absolutely
repulsed him strengthened his shaking courage;
and taking advantage of her posture be bent
forward and imprinted a kiss upon her cheek.

She lifted her head as does the frightened
fawn and drew away.

“ 0h! Do not talk to me that way!” she
pleaded. “ Think how short a time you have
known me.”

“I have thought of it!” Dillon persisted.
“ Thought of it till my head has spun round like
a top. And I can say that if I had known you
for a thousand years instead of three weeks I
could not love you any more than I do now i"

This was strong language, but lovels do not
measure words by line and rule.

“Tell me that my love is returned !” he per—
sisted. “1 know, I feel that it is; but I want
the assurance from your own dear lips!”

Her breast heaved tumultuously, but she re-
mained silent.

“You do care for me, just a little, do you
not?” he pleaded.

“ I do!” was the low answer, but keeping her-
self at arm’s length. “But, father is all in all
to me. You must talk to him, first. I cannot
say more, now. Please do not urge.”

“And if 1 can gain his consent you will
promise to become my wife?”

“I cannot promise anything until after you
have talked with him. There, I must finish my
work. Now, do not bother me any more!”

With this. she gave a captivating toss to her
head and tore her hand from his, smiling be-
witchingly and defiantly as she hurried across
the floor; and Dillon, pierced through and
through by the arrows of the little god, loved
her more than ever.

CHAPTER IX.
THE ABANDONED SHOWMAN.

HOW Jumbo Griggs got out of the cave he
scarcely knew. He remembered, as in a dream,
the terrific explosion, the flying of stone frag-
ments, the rocking of the great walls. Then
camea blank, from which be partially recovered.
He recollected that one of the knives which had
been buried so near him by the juggling knife-
throwers had become bent down so that his
bound band could readily grasp it. 'With that he
savved asunder the cords that held him, and so
stumbled from the cave, which was as quiet and
apparently as untenanted as it must have been
at creation’s dawn.

He was now in the open air, with the cavern
far behind him, and so weak he could barely lift
his aching head.

All that had passed appeared so like the phan-
tasmagoria which troubles a restless dreamer,
that he found much difficulty in convincing him-
self he had not really been asleep and imagined
it. But his aching head and the rents in his
clothing where the knives had pierced and
scratched the skin, told him that what he had
seen and heard was indeed a reality.

“ Just knocks the spots out of anything I ever
thought of!” he declared, rising to his feet with
difficulty. ,“ What will happen next?. I’m clean
past being surprised at anything.”

Then he recalled the flight of the rockets, and
wondered who his unknown friend could be, and
what had become of him; for he was sure some
one with intentions kindly to him had been in
the assage.

“ aybe he’s dead!

 

That explosion was

 

enough to have shaken the life out of the Old
Boy himself. I ought to look him up and say
‘ thankee,’ anyway.” I

But he found his strength unequal to the wish.
If he could manage to crawl to the home of the
prospector, it was all he could hope to accom-

lish.

p In spite of his shaking limbs and throbbin
head he forced himself along the path that le
up the mountain-side. It was a wearisome way,
but he had the day before him. So with many
halts and frequent restings he kept on, and
about the middle of the afternoon looked down
on the home of the prospector from the swelling
divide.

He had gained strength with the passage of
the hours. His head no longer throbbed so
painfully, and the weakness had in a measure
passed from his limbs. But he was thoroughly
tired out, and so hungry that, as he declared, he
could have eaten “ raw dog.”

Toltec Tom had returned, and when the latter
saw Jumbo descending the slope in that limping
and feeble way, he hurried to meet and assist
him to the house.

“ I’ll tell you all about it,” the sergeant said
in answer to the string of inquiries which fell
from the lips of the old prospector. “ But, first
I want to get to the house, and see if I can find
something with which to wedge up the yawning
cavity that exists in my stomach. Hungry?
Toltec, I’m famished. If 1 can once more
thrust my legs beneath your mahogany and
clasp a chunk of the staff of life I’ll feel that I
haven’t struggled on this far in vain.”

Toltec saw the earnestness beneath the banter-
ing manner, and forbore further questioning
until the house had been gained and the sergeant
had in some degree appeased his raging appe-
tite.

“ I’d eat more,” surveying the empty dishes
with a wistful look, “ if I wasn’t afraid of bring-
ing a seven-year’s famine on the whole outfit.

“And, now, I suppose you want my story?”
wheeling from the table and facing the anxious
group before hin‘. “ Well, my lords and ladies,
you shall have it.”

And forthwith, in his inimitable way, he gave
a running account of all that had befallen him.

Toltec was much impreSsed with the descrip-
tion of the cave.

“ Was they a tunnel leadin’ to it?” be queried
at the first opportunity. “ Maby it’s the cave
I’ve been n-lookin’ fer all this time. Say. was
they a tunnel?”

Jumbo was obliged to tell him he did not re-
member seeing one.

“Tain’t the place less’n they’s a. tunnel,” the
old man persisted. “ Queer, though, how I
never knoWed they was sich a thing there, and
me been a-huntiu’ the country over above
ground and below. as ye might Say.”

But Dillon and Margaret, and even the Toltec
serving woman, were more interested in the
mysteries connected with the sergeant’s story;
and especially were they taken with the theory
that some brave and unknown friend had coped
with and beaten oil? the furious Chinese.

“ And he may be dead, or suffering terribly
this minute!” and a tear of pity dropped like a
pearl from Margaret’s eye.

“ l’d lead the way back, if I was able to walk 1”
declared Jumbo, anxiously. “ If Dillon was
only strong enough you might sling me on a
stretcher. and so take me along to pomt out the
way. I can’t tell you, for I’d have to keep a
mighty close watch if I found it myself. But,
pshaw! Dillon couldn’t tote nothing, now.”

In addition, the day was drawing to a close-
and in consideration of this, and the weaknesso
Griggs and Dillon, it was decided to postpone
any attempt to reach the cave until the follow-
ing morning. .

At daylight, however, they were astir, and
Dillon having declared that he was much stron-
ger and proposed to accompany his friends, the
three set out from the little cabin before the sun
had fairly touched the tops of the tall mountain

aks.

Jumbo did not experience the difficulty in
finding the cavern which he had antici ated.

As they neared its narrow ports 3, Toltec
scanned the rocks closely for traces of the tunnel
be hoped to find. There was nothing of the kind
visible. Instead, the walls quickly opened upon
a gloomy cave.

There was nothing to indicate that Paou and
his Chinese had ever been there, as related by
Jumbo, with the exception of the severed r0
strands and two or three knives sticking in t 9
central post. No person could be seen. Obvi-
ously if any of the Chinese had been slain by the

hurtling stones they had been borne away by,

their friends.

- ‘11"

    

 

‘.

 

    

 

 

Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector.

 

 

The graphophone was found overturned, but
uninjured, near the spot where it had delivered
the mysterious Spanish sentences.

“This is the gallery from which the rockets
vcame!” explained Jumbo, leading the way over
the uneven surface, piled with loose stones.

Dillon and Toltec crowded close at his heels,
their faces showing even in the dim light their
intense eagerness and anxiety.

" For God’s sake, will you devils not let me die
iin eace?”

he words, accompanied by a hollow groan,
came from within the passage, and the trio
huddled into a startled and half-frightened
group.

Jumbo was the first to recover. Whipping
out his weapons, he hurried in the direction
from which the voice came.

“Bring a torch or two, Toltec!” he shouted
back. “ There are some near the post.”

Toltec obeyed; and soon the torches were
:flickering in the tunnel draft.

Looking down they saw the haggard face of a
man staring at them.

“Saved!” came from the pallid lips, as the
poor creature attempted to start up.

There was no need for words or explanations.
Jumbo and the prospector lifted the man ten—
derly and bore him to the entrance of the cave.
Then some water was brought for the stranger,
which, mingled with some liquor from the ser-
geant’s flask, brought the color again to his
cheeks, and put new life into him.

Then the friends were privileged to listen to a
strange story:

The man, whose name was Guy Somers, was a
showman, and with a small company had been

iving exhibitions in the mining towns of the
._ outhWest. They had started across the coun-
try for Mexico, where they expected to open in
a short time. Near the cave they had been at-
tacked by bandits.

“I think it must have been the men you speak
of as engaged in the importation of coolies,”
said Somers, thoughtfully, at this point in the
narrative. “They probably mistook us for oili-
cers or agents of the Government, and thought
it wise to put us out of the way.”

A stanch and gallant fight had been made.
The showmen had sought refuge in the cave.
.Somers was wounded, and supposed by his com—
rades to be dead. In the night the latter slipped
out and away with the animals. When Somers
revived he found himself alone, with nothing
for company save the graphophone. WbiCh had
been overlooked or abandoned in the haste of
flight, and a quantity of rockets that had be-
longed to the supplies of the show.

The abandoned man had crept as far into the
tunnel as his weakness would permit, and had
there fainted from exhaustion.

When he revived again he had made a. search
of the place; finding a small quantity of pro-
visions, and a water-bottle filled with Water,
these also having been left by his friends. By
this means he had been able to subsist.

Only once had the Chinese paid the place a
visit, and then they did not remain long enough
to make any discoveries. Only a short time be-
fore Jumbo had been brought there a prisoner,
Somers’s supply of water had failed, and he had
been thinking seriously of venturing out for
more. Then Paou and his band had come with
their captive, and to save the life of the latter
Somers had fired the rockets and the powder-
train, which had produced the great explosion.

“We fixed up that powder magazine in the
rocks to blow up besiegers as Well as ourselves if
it should become necessary !” and the showman
smiled grimly. “ I didn’t really think, though,
that it would create such havoc in the chamber
where you were, or blow down the gallery roof
over my own head.”

“A piece of flying granite knocked me out
of time, and I haven’t been fit for much since.
In fact, when I heard you coming, I thought it
was our Chinese friends come to finish the job.
I suppose I was raving a bit, tUO, if I Cried 0115
as you say!” _

CHAPTER X.
THE DAUGHTER OF DEATH.

SOMERS was made comfortable and left where
he could keep watch over the outer entrance
and thus give the alarm in case the place should
be again visited. Then torches were prepared,
and a search of the cavern and the various pas-
sages was commenced. This was lar ely at the
instigation of Toltec, who was still half—con-
vinced that he was not far from the mystery
bound u in the strange characters handed dowu
by the o d priests.

“That tunnel bizness may ’a’ been a. blind,”
was his shrewd comment. “Them ole Toltecs

 

wa’n’t to be sneezed at, I ’low, when it come to
right down lyin’.”

“ And they may have lied about the treas-
ure,” retorted Jumbo. “But We’ll take a look
about. Something may turn up worth finding.”

The passage in which Somers had been, only
led a. short distance, and the same was true of
all the other galleries, save one. It connected
with another cavern, larger than the first. This
second cavern was so buried beneath the moun-
tain, however that no gleam of sunshine ever
reached it. The floor was of fine, white sand,
that yielded to the tread like costliest carpeting;
and the roof and sides were of some firm—textured
sandstone.

“ Empty as blackness itselfl" exclaimed
Dillon, as he flared his torch into the gloom.

But no sooner were the words uttered than he
started back with a. cry.

The gigantic figure of a skeleton had started
from out the darkness that was pierced by the
light of the torch.

A chorus of exclamations broke from the
three.

“It’s rock!" whispered Jumbo, awed by the
sight, but advancing. “ it’s a skeleton cut out
of the solid rock. And there’s another figure by
the side of it.”

Crowding closely together, the explorers stood
in front of the grisly shape, and turned their ex-
pectant glances from this figure of Death to the
equally strange figure which kept it company in
the solitude, and then stared into the suggestive
gloom behind as it" expecting other phantoms to
spring into being.

“ J es’ knocks my time!” mumbled the old
prospector, scarcely daring to lift his voice
to an audible pitch. “ I’ve see’d sights an’ won-
ders in the course 0’ my uirthly pilgermage, but
I never expected to come onto any ha’nts like
them!”

The words and the quaiutness of the tones
broke the spell that chaimd them.

“We’ll take a look at these, first; and then
we’ll see what else there may be!"

Dillon held his torch so that the light fell full
on the store images. As has been said. one was
cut into the semblance of a skeleton. It had
been rudely hewn out of, and was supported by,
the wall at its back, and bent forward and above
the smaller image. One stony arm seemed out-
stretched and beckoning to the intruders, and
the eyeless sockets were bent full u n them.
The entire aspect of the uncanny t ing was
grotesquely and horribly suggestive.

“Looks like the old chap was inviting us to
come nearer!” decided Jumbo, vainly striving
to thr0w into his words their customary good-
humored cheeriness.

And in this statement the sergeant aptl ex-
pressed the attitude which the unknown sculptor
had given to the work of his hands.

The other figure was apparently that of a
female, as there was an attempt at what seemed
feminine drapery and ornament. She stood in
a rigid, upright posture, with one hand thrust
stiflly forward; and in this outtbrust hand she
clasped a heavy stone knife. Before her was a
circular stone resembling a table, in the center
of which was a. small hole.

“ I guess It’s Grim Death and his Daughter!”
Dillon suggested.

The were beginning to breathe freely again,
and t e irrepressible Jumbo declared that the
smaller figure was that of Ajax defying the
lightning.

“ You remember him?” turning on his friend.
“D0wn at the post, you kn0w! The drunken
Indian we saw there less than a moon ago!
He had a whisky-bottle uplifted, just as this
stone caricature has a knife. The pose is identi-
cal. And wedubbed the fellow, ‘Ajax Defying
the Lightning !’ ”

Dillon broke into a hearty laugh that made the
echoes roll through the blacknes-i as they proba-
bly .had not rolled for scores of years, and the
spirits of the little party were quite restored.

It seemed strange to stand in the presence of
thOSe mute witnesses of a race long since passed
from the face of the earth, and to con and criti-
cise the work of hands that were in all likeli-
hood dust before the great Genoese explorer set
his conquering feet on the shores of a New
World. It emphasized the littleness of human
life and the shortness of the span of existence,
even when the scriptural three—scorc-and-ten is
rounded out.

The old prospector did not long allow his mind
toruminate on such things. There was eVer-
more in his thoughts the wonderful treasure
written of by the priests of the old religion.

“I reckon, now, these fellers couldn’t ’a’ been
put hyer for to watch over that gol’ an’ dia-
monds! I’ve heern of nnlikelier things!”

 

Jumbo had approached the flat stone in front
of lizhe female figure, and was examining it curi-
ous y.

“A queer-looking contraption!” he asserted,
and forthwith began cautiously to mount it.

When he had gained the rim he drew himself
up on his hands and feet. Instantly the stone
table dipped with a sharp jerk, and like a de-
scendin thunderbolt the female figure fell for-
ward, t 0 hand clutching the heavy stone knife
shooting straight for the prostrate sergeant.

It happened so quickly that the latter would
have been slain then and there, but for the cool-
ness and agility of Toltec ’l‘om. With a move-
ment as swift as that of the descending image
be grasped the imperiled man and bodily drag-
ged him from the table, just in time to escape
the deadly stroke of the knife, which was thrust
hilt deep into the hole in the table made to re
ceive it! But for this it must have passed
through the sergeant’s body.

“ A regular death-trap!” and Jumbo shivered,
even while the sweat stood in beaded drops on
his face. “ Toltec, I owe you my lifel”

“ A narrer squeeze!” Toltec observed, warmly
returning the hand-clasp, but paying no appar-
ent heed to the words. .

“ I’m afraid that search for 'l‘oltec’s gold
mine is liable to lead one into difficulty.”

Jumbo did not reply to Dillon’s observation,
but again approached and scrutinized the pros-
trate image.

“ I ought to have seen that before!" squinting
at the knife where it showed in the opening.
“ This is something connected with the old Tol-
tec or Aztec religion. The stone was a sacrifi-
cial one. You know, they sacrificed human be-
ings in their religious services! Well, right
there is thre the victim is placed—right in the
position I Occupied a minute ago. No doubt he
was bound and lifted up there. Then his weight
set the stone in motion, the image fell, and the
knife was driven through his heart. And there!
you can see the little channel trade to drain
away the flowing blood. It’s all plain as noon-
day, now.”

The explanation was so clear and conclusiver
proved by the appearance of the table and the
present positions of the fallen image and the
knife, that no doubt could be entertained about
the theory of the sergeant.

The were truly in a temple or place of sacri-
fice of one of the strange races that peopled the
region so long ago.

Jumbo continued to scan the images and their
surroundings, and as he did so the conviction was
forced upon him that there was more than idle
fancy in the belief held by the old prospector
concerning the story of the mystic writings,
and be determined to watch more closely than
ever, if possible, for indications of the secreted
treasure.

Prompted by this he suggested a further explo-
ration of the cavern,'the sug estion being at once
coincided in. But, though t ey searched faith-
fully, spending a number of hours in the gloom
of the caves and passages, nothing of great in-
terest was come upon.

 

CHAPTER XI.
TOLTEC’S DISTRUST.

“ FATHER, I should like to speak with you!”

Toltec Tom looked up quickly and inquiringly,
for there was something in his daughter’s voice
that struck strangely on his ear.

It was the evening of the day the abandoned
showman had been found. and in which Jumbo
had made such a narrow escape from the knife
of the Daughter of Death. The party had re-
turned to the house, bringing with them Somers.
the graphophono, and the few rockets left. It
had been a great day to all parties, for the
wonderful talking-machine never grew stale in
pleasure-giving ualities, and the incidents of
the trip furnisied a fund of interesting
and amusing anecdote.

Margaret drew her father away from the
house and beneath the screening branches of a.
pinone. Tl‘e night was bright and calm, and
the place free from the possibility of their con-
versation being overheard.

“Anything wrong, eh?” and Toltec looked
down into the eyes of the girl, wondering that
they should shine so brilliantly and that there
should be such an unwonted dash of red in her
face.

“ No;—that is, nothing serious!” and she
smiled. “ Oh, you dear, old hear of a papal”
placing a warm palm on each shaggy cheek.
‘ Of course you could never guess in the world
what it is'I want to say to you! Men aresuch
dumb creatures!” ‘

“ Dumb, eh? Well, mebbe they be, and mebbo

  

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Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector.

 

 

they ben’t. We’ll see ’bout that, later. Some
on em air cute ’nuflf; and some too blame cute!”

She was not disposed to argue the point.

“ There was once a girl,” taking a horny hand
in both of her soft ones, “and this girl lived all
alone in the Arizona hills; all alone, except her

apa and her maid. And she was Vt‘l‘y happy.
gut by and by there came along a young man who
won her heart and whispered nonswse into her
earsg—and then—and then she was happier still,
or would be if she was sure—”

She stopped short, for Toltec had grunted out
some monosyllables which might liiiVo meant
almost anything from disgust and disapproval
to consent and congratulation.

“Now, you know what I wanted to speak to
you about, papa,” pleadingly, “ and—and—”
with a tearful quavcr—“I hope you won’t feel
tor) badly about it, and that you will con—con-
sent!”

“ Which one o’ the Chaps is it!” Toltec asked,
somewhat mournfullv, but without any trace of
anger in his tones. “ Which one has been steal-
in’ the love of my singin’ bird?”

“I thought you had guessed that long ago!
Why, it’s Mr. Dillon. But he hasn’t stolen the
love of your singing bird, papal No matter how
much I might care for Mr. Dillon, [could never
love you less than I do. Never, papa! never!”

This assurance was very grateful to the 01d

rospector, whose life was hound up in that of
is daughter, and he stroked her hair gently as
he paused for reply.

“ I ought to have known something like this
would happen :—that it. was hound to happen in
course of time. It’s the way of hater, and I’veliv—
ed long enough to know that ye can’t run ag’in’
nater. Still, I wish’t it hadn’t come now an’
jist in this way.”

She clasped the hard hand a little tighter, but
remained silent, waiting for him to proceed.

“ It’s jist this way,” looking cautiously around
to see that no ono else was near. “The young
chap’s a fairish lookin’ feller, an’ may be straight
as a string. Mind ye, I ain’t sayin’ ’t he ain’tl
But they’s some things I don’t like the looks of.
I ort to ’a’ spoke to ye ’bout all this a good while
ago. But, gosh! I’iil an ole fool an’ never
thought of that!

“ 1 can’t help havin’ my s’picions ag’in’ all of
’em. Mebbe these three air pardners au’ have
been playin’ a game. Mebbe Jumbo wa’n’t
captured an’ carried to that cave by the heathen
Chinees an’ tied up fer a knife-pitchiu’ exhibitionl
I never see’d it, her you never see’d it!”

“But the evidence is too plain to admit of
doubt!” she protested. “ There were the knives
and the wounded showman.”

“ Yes, I ’low the fuller were hurt l”

“ And the graphop'aone! It seems to me
that it proves the truth of Mr. Somers’s story.”

“ But s’posin’ all that’s true,” he argued, “it
don’t jist clear up ever’thing to me, it don’t.
They may yet be pardneis. They may be
members of the band of Chinee smugglers that
we’ve talked about.”

“ But the sergeant, father! He came from
the fort, and it will be very easy to ascertain if
his story is true. ”

“ Yes, so fur as the off’cers may know ’bout
him. But I’ve been thinkin’ over a goodish
many things connected with this Chinee bizness
lately, an’ I've found out there’s some mysteries
gathered ’round it that I can’t jist see through.
Now this sergeant may be a spy of the leader 0’
theChinee smugglers, an’ these others may be
his pards. It’s o’curred to me that suthin’s
wrong somewhere, fer I’ve heered things in my
wandei'in’s lately that makes me ’most know
that the Chinee leaders has a man or men at the
post in their pay.”

They had frequently discussed the movements
of the mysterious parties seen in the hills: and,
as he had told Jumbo, on more than one occasion
he had followed these Chinese bands, but with-
out becoming much the wiser thereby.

“There! there! I’ve hurt yer feelin’sl” as she
did not reply to his suspicious strictures.
“ Ever’thing I’ve said may be wrong. I’m shore
I hope it is. But”—and his voie» g: eiv slightly
harsh, “ I shall keep my eyes open, come what
comes!”

“ I understand you, father,” she replied un-
consciously dropping the endearing term of
“papa” which she had so Witchineg used but
a few moments before. “And, knowing just
why you are so anxious I can’t blame you.
But oh! I did so want you to be pleased with
—with this matter!”

“It’ll be all right. I hope. I’ll keep my eyes
open as I’ve promised. Reec’lect I haven’t said
an thing like ‘ no,’ yit.”

nd with these unsatisfying terms she was
forced to be content. .

 

CHAPTER XII.
PANIC-STRICKEN ASSAILANTS.

WHEN they returned to the house they found
Jumbo and his friend, Dillon, amusing them—
selves w'ith the graphophone, while Somers, much
recovered and almost himsel fagain, was draw-
ing from Ina one of the many legends of her
people. Not a shadow rested on the face of
either father or daughter to show aught of the
nature of the conversation they had just had;
and Toltec, the mysterious old prospector, greet-
ed the young men as warmly asif his breast had
never harbored a suspicion against them.

Scarcely ten minutes had elapsed after they
re-entered the building when Gringo poked his
iiOse questioningly into the air and gave an
ominous growl.

“ What is it, boy?” Toltec asked, looking to-
ward the corner where his rifle stood.

For answer there came a shot which pIOWed
through the heavy timbers of the door and
buried itself in the wall near the treasureseek-
cr’s head.

Quick as a flush he extinguished the light,
but without moving from his position.

“ They can’t come that near ag’in wi’out
sonletliin’ to guide ’em in their aimin’. Now,
you, Margaret an’ Ina, git into the cyclone
cellar, where lead can’t reach ye, iin’ me an our
frien‘s ’11 find out what this means.”

The knowledge was obtained, however, before
the women could obey, for a pattering of feet
came Swiftly upon the vanishing of the light,
the squeaky, treble voices of Chinese were heard
and a heavy log crashed against the door.

“It’s an attack!” cried Jumbo, drawing his
revolver, but waiting for orders from their host
before venturing any mOVemi-nt. “ How I wish
I’d laid that thug out when I had him undir my
thumb! It would haVe saw-d trouble.”

Dillon, having never before heard that there
was a cyclone-cellar or place of refuge connected
with the house, was paying more heed to the
movements of the women, and “as much pleaSed
when he saw a door open in the floor, at a point
where he had not known a door existed, and ob-
served them vanish into the iii-pills lwlow.

There were some loop-holes along the sides and
ends of the house, and from these Toltec and his
companions fired a few shots, which, whether
they did any damage or not, caused the assail-
ants to temporarily withdraw.

“They’ve gathered into a crowd out there on
the hillside,” advised Dillon, screwmg an eye
against one of the small apertures. “ We could
sling a shower of loud into them, now, and make
them scatter like scared sheep.”

While he was speaking, one of the attacking
party dismigugod himself from his fellows and
advanced, waving a white rag above his head.
It was l’uou; and he came close up to the house.
Then, instead of speaking, ho swung one hand
quickly around his head, and the next instant a
stone crashed through the small window which
looked out on that Side,

“ Some’nt reckless o’ winder—glass, that feller
is,” growled Toltec, picking up the stone which
had fallen near his feet. “ Cost like thunder to
git it hyer, and I don’t like to have it smashed
that way by no yuller heathen. I don’tl”

Paou had remained motiOiiless, after sending
the stone, and waved tl'e white rug above his
head as if confident of its protecting pow ers.

“ I’d be willing to bet a month’s pay that the
scoundrels out there wouldn’t respect such a
flag to minutes!” blurted the sergeant. “ But
of course we can’t play sneak just because they
would. I’d like most awfully to take a shot at
the scamp, though l”

“ Sore over the fact that you let him go wl‘en
you had the cinch on him, eh?” queried Dil-
lon, good-humorcdly. “I don’t blame you. I
haven’t quite forgot how he twisted my neck.
All things come, however, to those who wait.
“'e’ll”get the thug by and by, or I miss my

upss.

Toltec and Somers were stooning ovor the
stone, and an exclamation from them now drew
the attention of the others.

“There’s a bit of writin’ on it!” averred the
prospector, cutting the string and removing the
paper. “ Some 0’ you that’s good at sich take it
an’ see if you can read it.”

Dillon reached for the writing, and read
aloud, bending near the candle" which Toltec
lighted for the purpose:

“ To THE MAN KNOWN AS ms TREASURE-SEEKEnz—

“ You have with you three men. who are neither
your friends nor ours, and we. ask you to deliver
them up peaceably. They are renegades from our
band. t ongh we presume they are new represent-
ing themselves as something far different. We
know you to be a g od man and true. and have no
quarrel with you whateVer. As an evidence of this

 

we ask you to remember how we have allowed you
to remain in this vicinity and seek for gold to your
heart’s content, without so much as disturbing on
or even asking of you your business here. ut
these three men whom you are no~ sheltering we
must and will have; if not by a. voluntary surreii»
der by you or of their own accord, then by the
power of iorce and numbers. You must be aware.
that I can muster cnougn men to tear your house
down over your head and drag these men out, Will‘-
ther you will or no. But in doing so some one
will be hurt, doubtless killvd; and 1 do not wi~h to
sacrifice any of my men. nor do you wish to risk
the life of yourself or daughter. I make n : war on
women, but in case of an attack on the building of
Coul‘Sc 1 cannot assu'e you that your daughter‘s
life will he sparcd. Surrender these men. and :ill
Will DH avoided. Will you do it? Utlicrwis - l shall
at once take measures to get possession of tlie- irui‘
tors, Tie your answer to this stone and IIL'IIVT‘ it

. 0m; and think twice before you decide, that your

 

decision may not be hasty Lul‘ ii “LIEU-UNI by the
men with you, but be your own expression of wk 1?;
you Wish. CAPT. BASIL l~ LiNT.”

“ Renegadesl Hear that, ye winged wings!
Was ever such gall witnessed?” howled Jumbo,
Swelling with indignation. “ I’ll twist that eup-
taiu’s neck, sure, if ever I get my fingers on it.
Runaways from his band of cut-throats!”

Dillon had given the prospector a look of keen
questioning when the opening sentences had
been read. Surely, he declared to himself, Tol-
tec would never believe such slanderous nrcusa-
tions against them. He wondered, however, if
it would not be the part of wisdom for the three
to leave the shelter of 'I‘oltec’s abode and tight
for their lives and liberty with the horde of
wretches assembled on the slope. In that event.
all danger to Margaret would be averted, and he
was willing to risk his life a dozen times over
rather than bring ii. shadow of peril to the wo-
man he Worshiped, and whom he hoped some
day to make his Wife.

“ IVhat's to he done about it?”
Somers, a shade of anXiety on his face.

“Send the scanip back with a good-sized bee
in his ears, and if he don’t walk fast enough
liurry him a little with a shot from a Winches-
ter!” was the sergeant’s indignant suggestion.
“ Such insolence deserves punishment: and in a
case of this kind, where we’re dealing with
thieves and liars. I’m not at all sure that a w bite
rag has any call to be respected.” .

“ But think of the women i” urged Dillon.
“A fight here may bring ihem into danger;
may Cost their liVes. l’iii not sure but we Ought
to go out and take our chances like men, and not
bring trouble on our good friends here."

“ That question is one which ought to be left.
to Toltec,” suggested the showman. “ \Ve are. his
guests; or at any rate I count myself one: And
if my presence is to bring trouble to him and
his, l’ui for cutting out ju=t as quick as I can.
I can’t say that l specially like the lOoks oi the
crowd out there, but I’m willing to take my
chances.”

The words were so generous, and the senti-
ments they expressed so correct and just that
the others hastcned to place themselves along-
side.

“Of courSe! That’s right; and I’m a fool for
thinking of anything else!" asserted the wann-
hearted Jumbo. “Here! you fellow—” lifting
his voice so that his words could easily reach the
waiting Paou.

“ No you don’t-i” growled the prospector, who
had listened rather impatiently and bewildered-
1y to the running fire of suggestion and com-
nieut. “I couldn’t never look a white man in
the face again if I’d let you go out there.
’Twould he as good as tossing ye into the mouths
of a pack 0’ mountain wolves. No! nothin’ 0’
that kind for ole Toltec Tomi ‘

“Hyer, you taller-faced son of a sea-cook!
Listen to me a minute. You can understan’
plain American well ’nough to kerry the mes-
sage without it bein’ writ! Tell yer cowardly
cut—throat hossthet if he wants theso runnygates
of his’n, he‘ll jist liai’ to come an’ take ’em, fer
I would’t drive a yaller dog out like he wants
me to do them! Do you ketcli the hang 0’ that!1
If ye do, out sticks purty tol’ablo soople, or ye’ll
wish ye had I”

There was such bitter emphasis, not to say
menace in the words, that Paou, who compre—
hended full we? the character of the threat, and
the firmness o the man making it, drew back
into the shadows with a haste that bordered on
the ludicrous.

He had scarcely disappeared when a shower
of bullets were rained on the house. Only those
striking the planking of the door cut their way
through, and as the inmates of the building
were careful to keep well out of range of these,
no injury was done.

A volley of shots was fired in return; and a.

queried

   

 

 

  

A. »\-._..¢ 

. ol-

 

t’m ‘

Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector.

11.

 

 

sharp cry of pain proved that one at least had
not been without a billet.

After this all was still for a number of min-
utes.

“ I guess they’re up to some new game,”
whispered Somers, who had been assigned to
watch the west end. “ Come over here and see
what you make of this.”

There was but one loop-hole in this end, and it
was consequently the most difficult portion of
the walls to protect, a fact which seemed to
have become known to the leader of the
Chinese.

Toltec hastened to that end, and applied an
eye to the hole.

“ I’ve been some’at afeared 0’ that!” he declar-
ed, moving away, so that Jumbo, who had fol-
lowed him, might take a survey.

What the latter saw was a huge, walllike
structure, that was being slowly moved forward.
It was, in fact, a. hastily-improvised, but strong,
movable breastworks behind which a large
body of Chinese were doubtless safely ensconced,
and by the aid of which they were advancing to
the attack on the house fully screened from any
shots from the loop-hole.

“Jist to see what they’ve reely got there—”
and the prospector shoved the muzzle of his
heavy rifle through the opening, and with a
quick aim fired.

The shot was answered by ayell of insolent
defiance.

“ The thing’s made of logs and they’ve mount—
ed it on wheels that they must ’a’ brought wi’
’em. Can’t no rifle hycr faze it, if mine don’t.
[ ’low when they git clost enough they’ll try
what fire will. do.”

“ Do you mean they’ll likely fire the build—
ing?” asked Dillon, whitening to the lips.

“I calc’late that’s the’r plan!” and although
the prospector must have been as anxious for the
safety of Margaret as Dillon Could possibly have
hem, there was not a quaver in his tones as he
made reply.

“ If there was just a window or a hole of some
kind in this end 1” grumbled the showman.

” So they is,” asserted Toltec, laying hand on
one of the logs and pushing it easily in its bed.
“ It can be shoved out 0’ place from this side,
but it’d take a purty good jolt to fetch it from
t’other.”

Somers did not explain his meaning, but with
asigh of relief hastened awa . He was back in
an instant, and with him he had the graphe-
phone and the rockets. The others comprehend-
ed his purpose and stood back out of the way as
he placed one of the rockets in position, struck a
match and made ready to move the log.

In anrthei‘ moment the log had been shoved
aside, and the spiteful rocket, like a demon of
fire. leaped into the darkness without, and sped
away over the beads of the mob behind the
movable breastwork.

It was followed instantly by another; and the
startled exclamations home to the besieged
showed that this novel means of repelling an at-
tack was not without advantages.

But the showman had not exhausted his ma-
terials. Striking a torch, he held it near the
opening, and then hoisting up the graphophone
where it Could be seen by thOsO whom he wished
to terrorize, he caused it to hurl into the gloom
the Spanish sentences that had been heard by
them on a previous occasion.

Following this came the threat, uttered in
his clear, ringing voice:

“Leave! Leave at once! Or the thundei's
will descend again to wreck and slay!”

The threat was answered with a howl of fear;
and from behind the log structure the Chinese
tumbled, panic-stricken and fleeing as if for
their lives.

In vain Paou and Captain Basil raved and
commanded. Their words were as powerless as
the winds to stuv the flood of fear.

“ it’s a trick!" shrieked Flint, beside himself
with rage, “ You, Paou, make your men
cbm‘gel Snoot DlH‘lI) down if they don’t.”

A few 0f the Gimme. of sterner stuff than
their fellows, remained faithful to the lieuten-
ant; and with these, Paou, obedient to his iii-
structions, tried to stem the tide and rally for
an assault.

Springing across the logs, with a courage that
was admirable, he led thOse in charge. They
were met by a volley from within that streatched
half the number on the sward. Then the others
broke into flight, and all Fliut’s ravings were
not sufficient to induce them to make another
effort.

“ Now, while they’re scared to death, give it
to ’eml” cried Jumbo. his warlike ardor flaming
forth. “Chase ’em like rabbits. Rustle ’ein!

Rout ’em 1”

 

His companions were nothing loth to obey,
and with shouts and yells and the quick rattle
of firearms, to which were added the hissing
rush of rockets discharged by the showman
they tumbled from the building and dashed
toward the demoralized Cclestials. This was
all that was needed to complete the stampede.
The wretches, tessing away their weapons,
streamed in wild disorder toward the sheltering
hills.

But some were left behind, the slain and
those too sorely wounded to make their escape.
Among the last was I’uou. His hurts were not
of a serious character, but he was insensible, a
ball from a Winchester having cut away the
skin along the base of the brain.

“Tie him up and fetch him into the house!”
commanded the sergeant, who seemed to have
taken control during the sortie. " \Ve’ll have
use for him, likely. And, besides, we don’t
wantnto be fools enough tolct him get away this
time.

And so this slippery representative of the
Flowery Kingdom ti'ussed up like a fowl ready
for basting, and tossed unceremoniously into
the house, where, when he came to himself a
short time thereafter, he doubtless found much
to think of concerning his pet theories of destiny
and fate.

 

CHAPTER XIII.
HELD As nosTAGES.

THE wrath of Captain Flint was something
terrible, when, after his return to the cave be-
neath the island, he proceeded to take stock of
the results of his campaign. and to plan an even-
ing of the score. His maledictions fell like rani
on the heads of the rccreant Chinese. Nor did
his white associates escape. A desert lion roused
to frenzy, and shaking his jungle home with the
fury of his roarsl This was Flint, the King of
the lioco League, as he marched back and forth,
hurling his anathemns on friends and foes alike.

The whites muttered strangely among them-
selves, not liking his words, nor the manner in
which they were uttered. But the Chinese only
crouched before him like slavish and beaten
curs. They were of the servile, 00olie class, and
if he had clubbed or hastinadoed each in turn,
they Would never have voiced a protest. They
were used to harsh words and harsher treat-
ment, and accepted his abuse dumny and
weekly.

lie was interrupted in his storm of curses by
the appearance of a man, who came forward,
pulling a grizzled forelock and bowing with
much ohsequiousness.

Flint turned on him ineuacingly.

“Well, why don’t you report?” roaring the
question, and clutching at his throat as if utter—
ance choked him. “ What has happened? Speak,
you idiot! and don’t stand there bowing and
scraping as if you’d taken leave of what little
sense you ever had l”

“ If you please, sir!” drawing back a pace to
be out of harm’s way, in ca~e his irascible chief
should utterly lose all control of himself. “If
you please, sir, they’ve taken Paou to the fort.”

The loss of his Chinese lieutenant had been to
Flint the most bitter thing connected with his
recentdcfcat. He could illy afford to dispense
with the services of tho astute thug. No other
man in the band, not even the redoubtable CHI"
tain himself, was so fertile of resoui'Ccs and ex-
pedients as was thedark-faced Celestial who had
fallen into the hands of the men at the cabin.
Hence this untoward circumstance had annoyed
8"“ l-{l'ieved Flint sorely; and he had left a spy
behind, when the retreat could no longer be
avoided, and had given instructions to this spy
’30 report at once anything occurring which
might prove of interest or importance.

And now the fellow had appeared, and his re-
portt was as distressing as had been the late de-
fea .

“ You lie, you villain!” Flint howled, fearng
to credit the truth of the statement. “ Tell me
it’s a lie, or—or I’ll choke your black heart out.
You’re making it up for some purpose! Is it
not so?”

But in spite of the captain’s ravings the man
stuck to his story, and reiterated the fact that
Paou had been conveyed, or rather was then be-
ing conveyed, to Fort Mesquite.

“He’s in charge of the big chap they call
Jumbo. Paou was bound to the boss of the
other feller, Dillon, and so wropped an’ tied up
that he’ll never be able to wiggle awav, slick as
he is at them kind of tricks. I reelly have my
doubts if he kin so much as git a good, healthy
move onto his eyebrows.”

“How long ago was this?” Flint inquired,
stopping his cursings and endeavoring to take a
calmer survey of the matter.

 

“’Bout an hour, I sh’u’d jedge. I know I cut
sticks jes’ as soon’s I could do so ’thout bein’ dis-
kivered.”

The captain made no further inquiries, but»
ordered out a body of men, hoping that it might
not yet be too late to rescue the thug from the
hands of his foes. This body he led in person
under the guidance of the individual who had
brought in the report. But Jumbo had taken
measures to evade such danger, and had hurried
on at so rapid a pace that Flint found it impos-
sible to come up with the two.

This failure only added to the fire of hate that
was consuming him; and he began, on his return,
to map out some method of reaping summary
vengeance, if he could do no more.

Then, too, he was afraid that Paou, notwith--
standing his loyalty, might under pressure of
fear or punishment reveal the secret of the island
and thus lead the entire band into the bolls of
the officers of the post.

Meanwhile Jumbo pursued his way with all
celerity, placed his prisoner in safe keeping, and
hastened back to his friends in the mountain
valley.

He found affairs much as when he left. There
had been no further demonstration on the part
of the Chinese.

“ They’ve had enough to make ’eni sick for a
time, I take it!” was his pleuScd comment. “ And,
now, if you’ll hearken to yours truly, I’ve
some plans to lay before the committee of the
whole.”

The others had been doing some thinking
also; and the result of the conference then he (I
was that search ought to be again commenced
for the hiding-place of tho outlaws.

Toltec Tom, the man who was more interested
in the locating of the mythical treasure of the
priests, took no part in this conference. He had
given these men shelter, and in times of peril
had aided them to the best of his ability, and
now seemed to wish to follow out his own course,
from which he had been so far led since their
coming. From appearances, and to judge b
hi~ innnncr, his thoughts ran in this channe ,
though he gave no expression, contenting him-
self by remaining aloof from the others when
the pursuit of the Chinese was under discussion.

Thus it came about that on the second night
after Jumbo’s return, the post sergeant, Dillon,
and Somch left the home of tho prospector
under cover of the thick darkness and stole
away in the direction of the river. They rightly
surmised that the building was under constant-
surveillance at the hands of some of Flint’s
minions, and did not wish their movements to
become known to him.

But they were known, nevertheless. Captain
Basil had found among the coolies a man who
was almost \\ orthy to stand in the shoes of the
unapproachable l’aou, himself. And this man;
was lying in wait in the grass not a dozen steps
from the door when the trio crept so softly out
into the night.

With suuky movements, keeping well under
coVer, he followed them, so near at times that
had he been as Well up in Engliin as Paou he
(‘oul-l have understood their whispered talk.
Fortunate it was for their plans that the-
Euglish language was to him a sealed book.

“ If we can Just blunder onto the place where
they hole up!’ exclaimed the sergeant. “The
rest of the performance will be easy I"

And he proceeded to run hastily over the
plans he had outlined, and on which he had
expntinted at lenth a half-score of times.

“Old Yates is as anxious us he can hetolay
these fellows by the heels, for it‘s not to his
credit, you know, that they shouldcarry on their
villainy this way right beneath his nOse and he
be ab'e to do nothing to stop it. And so he readily
enough acceded to my demands. it we can just
find out where the scamps have their headquar-
ters, then, as I said, he stands ready to send a
body of troopers to mop up the earth with
them.

“There are two men now waiting for sl rials
fro-n me. One of them is on the top of able
Mountain, in good sight of this region, and the
other is located on Tower Hill, nearer the post.
A beacon light from any eminence hereaway
will light similar fires (in those bills and bring
the soldiers to our assistance.”

He stopped, for a suspicious sound reached
him. It was the dislmlgeinent of a piece of
earth by the foot of the Chinese. The latter had
followed far enough to enable him .to looate
their line of route and was now slipping away
to make report of his disCoveries to int.

“ Some animal moving in the chaparral!” af-
ter hearkeuing a, moment; and then the three
moved on, all unaware that a spy of the men
they were seeking had been so near them.

    

 

   

 

12 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector.

 

But, if they did not know of the proximity of
¢he s y, the result of his late presence was made
manifest to them when they reached the vicin-
ity of the river, which they did just as day was

inning to faintly illumine the east.

ere, before they were aware of peril, they
were surrounded by an overwhelming horde of
NChinese under the command of the angry cap-
tain himself. They attempted a resistance, dis-
chargin their Weapons and then using them as
~clubs. iiut it was futile. A number of their
assailants were wounded, but the three were
borne down by the impetuous rush of numbers,
and before their brains had fairly ceased spin-
ning from surprise they were lyin bound
and helpless on the sands by the river-side.

“Thought you would come to hunt us eh?”
snarled Flint, showing his teeth wolfishly.
“ Two can play at that game.”

“ Now that you have us I presume you’ll make
short work of us?” and the imperturbable Jumbo
essayed to smile.

“All in due time, my good friend!” turning
from shouting a command at his lieutenant.
“ Don’t hurry me, though, or you’ll live to re-
gret it!”

“Ah! thanks. We’re to live, then!
just thinking of making my will.”

“ Don’t anger him needless] ,” cautioned
Dillon; at which sound advice umbo checked
the words that so strongly welled for utter-
ance.

When the river had been crossed, Captain
Basil, without more ado, had his prisoners tossed
Emu hastily-improvised litters. All but Jumbo.
» im he stood up before him as if to command or
sentence.

“Now, hark ye, you dog! You’re the chap
that carried mV Chinee friend, Paou, to the post
over onder. For doing that I ought to kill you;
and may when the right time comes! But just
now I have other uses for you. You see these
pards of yours, all tied up till they can’t budge!

f you care. anything for their lives you’ll pay
heed to what I say.

“ I’m going to let you go, now. I want you
to make tracks for Fort Mesquite. When you
get there tell the commandant that I have these
men here, in a place where he can’t find them if
he hunts till doomsday, and that I’ll release them
only on one condition. If within the week Paou
is safe and sound and with me I’ll let these men
I o. All the commandant need do is to turn

aou loose; he’ll come to me of his own accord
and I’ll risk any of your trailers following him.”

“But what guarantee are we to have that
you’ll do as you say?” the Sergeant questioned,
suspiciously, ap arently forgetting or not car-
ing that a bit 0 quibbling might prejudice the
liberty just offered him.

“Just this. I can’t afford to play false, for
the good reason that I may want to take ad-
vantage of or make an offer of an exchange
.again. If I play false, now, it will block the
doors to everything of the sort in the future. I
.don’t ask you to take my word for anything.
You wouldn’t, if I asked. All you have to do is
to consider me not quite so big a fool as not to
know what is best for myself. Will you go?”

Jumbo needed no urging. He realized that,
as matters stood, he and his companions stood
small chance of escape; and so, in the gray of
'the early morning, and without a backward
look, he allowed himself to be again rOWed
across the river—and then struck into the hills
in the direction of Fort Mesquite.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE SIGNAL FIRES.

As soon as he was hidden by the growth of
«Chaparral, and by the eminences, from view of
the Chinese, Jumbo Griggs changed his course
and headed for the prospector’s home.

He reached itin due time, but was disappoint-
«ed to find the old man absent. He hesitated to
tell Margaret of the occurrences of the morning,
knowing how great her distress would be; and
after some evasive replies again Went his way,
but not until he had secured a supply of eatables

Iwas

 

v and refilled his water bottle.

Then he crossed to the other side of the val-
ley, where Philip Dillon’s horse was croppin
the rich grass, secured the animal and moan
and rode off.

But fate was against the fjolly sergeant that
(day. He had barely put ve miles between
himself and the home of Toltec when the animal
ushied at a long-legged jack rabbit which lea ed
like a flash from a bunch of sage-brush, an he
found himself on the ground, badly bruised and
injured by coming into cOntact with a rock.

“ Curse the luck!” he growled, tr in torise.

Buthefound, when on his feet, t at e could

' mot walk a dozen steps. His ankle was sprained

 

and the weight of his body on it gave him most
excruciating pain.

“ A pretty outlook, this !” suppressing a groan
and supporting himself by clinging to a gnarled
cedar. “If there’s a bigger fool in the world
than a scary horse I suppose it’s a rabbit. and
Fililen txvo fools come together trouble’s bound to

o ow.

The horse had galloped away a few hundred.

ards and stopped, and was now feedin .

umbo whistled and called to it, but in vain. {ft
had evidently made up its mind to go no further
on the route to the post.

Then, the ser eant got down on his hands and
knees and trie to crawl near enough to it to
grasp the bridle-rein, which hung loosely and
sometimes became tangled about its forefeet.
Hour after hour did he spend thus, the beast
leading him a most exhausting and exasperating
chase, and taking him further and further from
the direction he wished to pursue.

Finally, as if tired of being thus followed, the
horse gave a taunting toss to its head, and gal—
10ped over a ridge an out of sight.

To continue the effort to ca ture it was now
out of the question; and the uckless sergeant
was almost in despair. The lives of his friends
seemed to hang on the chance of his reaching the
post, and to do this appeared now to be an utter
im ssibility.

ith a groan he sunk upon the sand, and
tried to take a calm survey of the situation. If
he did not succeed in his mission, if Paou was
not released and allowed to return to the band
within a reasonable time. then Dillon and
Somers must pay the penalty with their lives.
For there could be no sort of doubt that the
bloodthirsty captain would go to extreme
measures in a case of this kind.

Jumbo was not of a despairin tempera-
ment, however, and for a long t me he lay
there in the glare of the hot sun, racking his
weary brain for some means whereby he might
carry out the mission that had been imposed on
him.

Only one way suggested. That was to light
the beacon-fires, and call the soldiers to his aid.
But, taking everything into consideration, this
seemed worse than folly—in fact, suicidal. The
outlaw leader could not know why this was
done, and would very naturally suppose that
the commandant had refused to comply with
his request for an exchange, and proposed to at-
tempt his subjection by force. And the chances
would then be very good for a short shrift for
the men in Flint’s power.

“I’ve got to get there, some way i” the in-
domitable sergeant exclaimed, expressing his
thoughts aloud. “ 1 "us just got to !’ '

Drawing out his knife, be dragged himself to
the nearest asp-tree, and from it cut some
branches. With much difficulty and infinite
trouble he fashioned these into crutches. He
found that he could support himself by their aid
in a painful manner, and could even hobble
along at something‘ a little better than a snail’s
pace. But, unless is strength increased, or the
pain subsided, so that he could use greater exer-
tion, it would take a good week to reach the

Nevertheless he toiled on, stopping now and
then to rest or to rub his swollen and throbbing
ankle, which from the treatment it was receiv-
ing had turned almost purple in hue.

An hour dragged by in this manner, then an-
other; at the end of which time the sergeant was
reeling from faintness and fatigue. But he kept
onin spite of all, until giddiness OVerpowered
him, and he sunk unconscious in his tracks.

With a groan he came to himself, to find the
shadows of night closing about him. His
muscles were sore from the exhausting strain,
and his hurt ankle throbbed with knife-like
stabs.

“Oh, that miserable beast of a horse!” and
something like a sob shook the herculean frame.

It was plain now he could neVer reach the
post in time to be of assistance to his friends.

He took a long pull at the water-bottle, then

ured some of the recious fluid on the

andages about his ank e. The last brought a
soothing sense of relief; but water was of too
great value in this dire extremity to be used
even in this way. There were no springs within
miles, and the few dro 3 yet remaining to him
must suffice to keep life within his body until
help could come.

‘ I’ll have to do it.” he said, “ whatever the
result may be. It’s all I can do I” 4

He drew himself to a sitting posture and
looked about, while he ate of the provender he
had brought. He was almost tarnished, the
pain and exertion seeming to have given him an
appetite as well as increased his thirst.

 

“ Yes; there’s no other way l”

In the thickening darkness he surve ed the
hills that lay about, and selected one for is pur-
pose. Then, having gained some strength from
the rest, and the food and drink. he got upon his
crutches and stumped painfully toward the
eminence he had singled out.

It required quite an hour’s toil to gain its
summit, and by this time the gloom was impene-
trable. NevertheleSS, he succeeded in gathering
a quanti of dry boughs and heaping them into
a pile. e then took a match from his pocket-
case, ignited it and applied it to the pine needles
and inflammable material he had placed be-
neath the pile.

A tongue of flame shot athwart the stygian
darkness, caught at the resinous wood, and
curled upward in a burst of fiery glory.

Jumbo watched it with or eyes and pant-
ing breath, praying the whi e, as most sober-
minded men do in times of need—if at no other
——praying that it might accomplish the thing
which be so greatly desired, and so bring life
and help to his imperiled friends instead of the
death which now menaced them. And as he
thus lifted his thoughts to the great Ruler of
the Universe, 8. calmness of soul and confidence
came to him which was strangely out of keep-
ing with his circumstances and surroundings.

Like a great fiery eye the flame he had kin-
dled glowed through the night, and when it had
burned thus for a few minutes an answering
flame leaped into view on a far-away mountain

ea 1

“ Thank God!” was the faithful sergeant’s ex—
clamation, “Help will come!”

And, assured in his own consciousness that he
had acted for the best, he sunk down near the
dancing firelight and strove to form plans for
outwitting the outlaw captain when the troopers
should arrive.

 

CHAPTER XV.
A DESPERATE VENTURE.

WHILE these hurrying events were taking

lace Toltec Tom was by no means idle. As has
Been stated, he was absent from home when
Jumbo Griggs visited the house; and absent for
a very good reason, as will presently appear.
The night previous he had struck the tr i1 of
fresh Chinese arrivals—an event which led to a.
series of remarkable adventures.

The Chinese had been transported by means
of the clumsy boat to the American shore, and
were being arranged in order for the march by
a man deputed by the captain for the purpose,
when Toltec became aware of their proximity.

“ Ahal more yaller devils lookiu’ fer the
treasure of the old priests!” he growled, and
forthwith placed himself in position to observe
their movements.

The night, like the one that followed, was ver
dark, a circumstance much in the old man s
favor.

“The chancelo’ a lifetime!” he whis red,
worming his way to a point where he coul hear
all that might be said.

He was soon repaid for his trouble.

“ Now, keep clost together, all you!” he heard
the guide order. “ An’ no talkin an’ jabberin‘;
an’ I’ll take ye right to the captain hisself.”

A daring thought came to the treasure-seeker
at this moment. He knew that but few of the
Chinese could understand a word of English;
and as few, in all probability, had ever before
seen their guide and his white associates. Could
he not, therefore, insinuate himself among them
and accompany them to the secret hiding-place
of the band?

It was worth the effort and the risk.

Thus impelled, he crept closer and yet closer,
and when the command was given fora forward
movement he was in the very midst of the bud-
dling Celestials.

Having gained this much the rest was eay
enough. He had only to maintain an attitude
of complete silence, and so long as the darkness
held out all would go well.

The march, which was in its course devious
and meandering, lasted upward of an hour; and

then a halt was made, while some kind of a.“

conversation was conducted by the guides for-
ward. Then the advance was recommenced.
Toltec’s heart gave a great bound as he be-
came aware that a tunnel of some sort was
being entered. What if it should prove the
long-sought avenue to the treasure-chamber?
Bushes were pushed aside, a door was reached,
and passwords and countersigns were exchang-
ed. After which the door creaked heavily, and
the close air, as the column moved on, showed
that they were in an inclosure between walls.
Ten minutes later a second door was reached

 

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Toltec Tom, they‘Mad Prospector.

   

 

 

n the same way; then a third, and
had closed behind them they found
- selves in a large cave.

A low fire of wood was burning in the center
of thisa artment. Toltec Tom, although hedid
not yet now it, was in reality within the home
of the outlaWS, and never had he been in a place
sofllled with peril to himself.

As the column filed slowly into the cavern,
Ca tain Basxl Flint arose from a bed of skins,
an came forward with some commands.

In spite of the knowledge that discovery
might mean death, Toltec could not resist the
desire to look about and speculate as to chances
of this being the treasure-chamber of the priests.
Surely it could not be, he assured himself. And,
if such it was, then all chance of his ever com-
ing into possession of the treasure was gon-a.

uch riches, if in that place, occupied as it
was and had been for so long, must have been
unearthed and dissipated.

He ground his teeth in a rage as he thought
of this. That the captain of so odious a band
of renegades should come into so great wealth
as be conceived this treasure to be, was a
thought unbearable.

“I’ll not believe it tell I jist haf’ to!” he

royvled. “ This ain’t the place! It jist cain’t

‘l

He recalled his present position and the danger
he was in, and sunk into the shadows near the
wall back of him, where the chance of discovery
was least.

He could see better, too, without imperiliug
his neck.

The Chinese were being shown their quarters,
where they were to be lodged until a favorable
opportunity came fer sending theni into the
mining districts further north. The guides had
joined their cronies and were talking over the
events of the night. The treasure-seeker had
not sought the shadows any too soon!

Slowly he allowed his eyes to wander over the
walls of the cavern, faintly illumined by the
low fire, takin in the details of every project-
ing point and dark depression. There were
some passages leading he knew not whither.
How he longed to explore them and wring from
them their secrets!

Ohl for one hour in that place with none to
molest or make afraiil

This was his mental cry.

80 absorbed did he become in this study of
the walls and the physical peculiarities of the
place that he almost forgot where he was and
what character of men surrounded him. But
he was recalled to all this in a manner far from
pleasant.

The Chinese, who had taken Paou’s position,
fearing that some of his newly—arrived country-
men might have failed to find their way to the
place intended for them, made a tourof the cave
for the purpose of investigating. He was as like
Paou in his movements as possible, being built
on the fur-footed, cat-like order; and in conse-

uence stepped so lightly that he was on Toltec
om before the old man was aware of it.

It was useless to try to escape his observation.
This Toltec saw at the first glance. So. to
counteract the effect of the discovery, he sprung
at the surprised Celestial, clutching him by the
throat in a grip of steel.

The Chinese tried to cry out, but could not.
He did, however, by the Violence of his struggles,
attract the attentiOn of some of the outlaws, and
these came running to his assistance, filling the
air with questioning exclamations as they ran.

The treasure-seeker knew now that the fight
was one of life and death, with the chances
largely against him. And, besides, should he
succeed in breakin from the'reaegades, where
could he fly to? l hat place in all that under-
ground den of vice could offer him even a mo-
ment’s refuge? ,

As these queries flashed across his.mind, he
caught the gleam of water at the pomt where
the river chafed against the bank. It was the
only other way out of the cavern, but a way
that by every member of the band was con-
sidered but the gateway to a watery grave for
ghiiiaver should attempt to leave the chamber

3'
Dragging the Chinese with him, he dashed
t0war the seething and yeasty flood. As he
neared the stream, a second Celestial interposed,
flourishing a keen-bladed knife for a throw.

The cavern was now a scene of the wildest
confusion. The occupants poured from every
gallery and chamber, some half-dressed, and
came hurrying, screaming and calling toward
the int where the struggle was taking place.

“ p still, you fools!” roared Flint, spring-
ing into their midst. “Do you want to bring

the soldiers down on us from Fort Mesquite?

 

You’re making more racket than a pack of yelp.
ing coyotes.”

At his words the tumult somewhat subsided,
though enough noise was still being made to
have revealed the location of the retreat to any
ears on the island or the adjacent shores.

A dozen men crowded around the commander,
waiting for his instructions, though their atti-
tudes and the manner in which they swung their
revolvers, showed that they much preferred to
rush headlong on the intruder without stopping
for orders.

This confusion was favorable to the old man.
Every moment he was dragging Puou’s suiicos-
sor toward the water's edge. The, Celestial with
the knife Saw this, and believed that without
prompt action Toltec would yet make his escape,
or atvleast succeed in drowning himself and the
man he was holding.

Like a flash light, therefore, the keen knife
cleft the air. It was aimed straight for 'l'oitec‘s
bosom. But the old man was wonderfully quick
for one of his appearance, and when he Saw the
deadly blade leave the hand of the thrower, he
drew himself erect and thrust the body of his
prisoner between himself and harm.

With a sickening thud the knife was buried to
the hilt in the breast of the unfortunate Chinese,
causing aluiOst instant death. And Toltec, feel-
ing the form grow limp beneath his hold, drop-
ped the body, and with a defiant shout plunged
boldly into the stream, not knowing whether it
would lead him to death or be the means of his
salvation.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
THE ronrac TREASURE.

THE strong current bore the treasure-seeker
rapidly from the opening. Fortunately he was
a powerful swimmer, and as soon as his head
came to the surface, he struck out boldly. All
was silence and gloom. Nota light shone any-
where, and no sound was heard save the swish
and rush of the waters. But for the strange po~
sition in which he found himself, he would have
been strongly tempted to believe the whole thing
merely a dream. ‘

Getting his bearings, he headed in the direc-
tion of the shore on which he wished to land;
and having reached terra firma in safety, he
scrambled into the shelter of some bushes and
sat down to dry his clothing and await develop-
meats.

In the course of a few minutes he heard voices
on the island; then a boat put into the water
and was pushed off. The strokes of the oars
came to him plainly, and fearing discovery if he
remained where he was, he crawled away up
the slope, and soon left the river far to the rear.

Nevertheless it was morning before he returned
home, be having by that time removed all traces
of his late wetting, that his daughter might have
no inkling of the peril he had been in.

His guests, who had departed in the night
before he himself had left the house, were still
absent. Margaret mentioned the fact that
Jumbo had been there but a short time previous
to her father’s coming, but that he had gone
away again without having left any message.

This was not strange, as the sergeant came
and went general] without giving any whys or
wherefores. So oitec placidly ate his break-
fast, and then smoked his usual morning pipe,
making no mentionof the stirring events in
which he had just played a part, thinking it the
part of wisdom not to give his daughter cause
for uneasiness.

But he never for a moment forgot to scan the
hills that lay about the building and to take
note of every movement in the sagebrush and
chaparral, not knowing but at thatinstant his
enemies might be advancing upon him.

Placid as the old man seemed, his mind was
really in a state of great ferment. _ The wonders
of the treasure-house of the priests strongly
stirred his imagination. He had dreamed Of It
and thought of it night and day. Had he at
last found it? Was this abode ofputlaws the
place meant in the. old Toltec writings? There
was the tunnel leading to a cavern! And if this
was the place, then what had become of the gems
and precious metal?

When he had smoked out his pipe, he drew
writing materials before him and scrawled a
hasty etter. It contained an account of his
adventures and discoveries, couched in the
briefest terms, and also gave a descri tion of the
cavern and directions as to how an where the
tunnel entrance was to be found. A request
that if he did not return within twelve hours
search should be made for him, closed the com-
munication. This he addressed to Jumbo, but

 

told Margaret to give it to whichever of their
friends should first come back.

To her he said nothing of the contents of the
letter, nor of his intentions, merely saying he
was going out into the hills Ior a time, and that.
if he remained a little longer than usual she was
not to worry on that account.

Then he kissed her and turned away from that
building.

All day he lay outon the hills with the river
and the island in plain view, but himself screen-
ed i'rom sight of any one. But not a thing did
he see to reward his patient watching. The».
river and the island were apparently deserted.

When night came, he made his way again to
the mouth of the tunnel, determined to investi—
gate more fully the secrets of the island, if the
effort should cest him his life. He expected to»
find the mouth of the tunnel guarded, and was.
not mistaken.

Crouching low in the grass he waited, reason~
ing that a sentry would not be posted in front of
the hidden door if parties were not expected to.

'be coming and going. He had not long to wait.

A man suddenly arose in the gloom close by his:
side, advanced and uttered the single word,
“ Peon.” The sentry touched a concealed spring:
the door—which seemed but a part of a solid
wall of stone—moved on its hinges, and the new—
comer vanished.

Five minutes later Toltec Tom arose in the-
same manner out of the bushes, whispered the:
magical word, and was permitted to pass with-
out question. The door closed softly behind him
and he realized that now he must go forward
whether he would or not.

Feeling his way with great caution, lost a false
step might betray him or precipitate him into
unknown dangers, the old man advanced along
the foul-smelling passage. When he had gone
over thc route with the band of Chinese he had
carefully counted the steps; now he recounted
them, to be able to tell when he was near the
second door.

He had not reached it, however, when foot-
steps in the tunnel behind warned him that.
others were coming. At this be crowded against
the wall, scarcely daring to breathe for fear his
presence should become kn0wn. But. to his,
great distress, he found be (bold not press so
closely against the wall but that one of two par-
ties walking abreast must touch him. Of those
advancing there were a number; and discovery
was, therefore, inevitable.

There seemed to be no sentry before this door,
and as the on-comers were yet some distance-
away, he began hastily to run his hands over the
walls in the hope that he might touch the spring
controlling the movement of the door.

He rcssed this way and that, becoming alv
most rantic in his eagerness. The crowd of ,
talking man were now very near, and he was
serious] thinking of drawing his weapons for a.
fight. lien—oh, the joy of it! the stone yield—
ed beneath his heavy pushin , and a section of.‘
the wall swung inward. l ustily he squeezed
through the narrow aperture. Then the door
swung back of its own accord, and for the time
being he was safe.

But his amazement was great when the men
passed by his place of hiding, as he could tell by
the sounds of their voices, and continued on.
without coming into the chamber or tunnel in.
which he found himself!

“There mus’ be tWo doors! But, where (lees
t’other lead to? I reckon I’m in the right cue—
the one that goes to the main cave!”

He felt about, to discovsr that, the walls.~
widened away, very difl'erently indeed from the
cramped character of the walls of the tunnel.
He got up and advanced slowly, feeling out the
path for his feet. He was in a large roomy
place—certainly not in the tunnel, whose char-
acteristics he well remembered.

Bewikiered beyond measure, lie ventured to
strike a match that he might look about and de-
termine where he was. It showed acavern, with.
a low ceiling, and walls dust-covered and fee,
tooned with cobwebs. It was plain that the foot
of man had not pressed its sandy floor for a long:
time, for there was not anywhere the imprint.
of a step.

The treasure-seeker had indeed stumbled
upon a rtion of the cavern beneath the island,
of which0 even the outlaws had no knowledge.
The rock door leading to it had never been
found by them. and the chances were just about.
one in a thousand that it never would be.

Toitec tried to cause the door to move a sin
on its hinges by grossing against the project ons.
on that side. 9 failed; and though he went.
over the wall inch by inch he could not find the
cunningly-hidden spring, if such a spring there
W88.

 

 

l

.~_..—._..,-~ -

 

  

 

14 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector.

 

“ My God!” and the sweat came out in great

beads on his forehead. “I’m shut in here!
Buried alive!”

 

prosperous, and who yet fight and toil and
struggle for wealth far beyond their needs, and
which can do them no gOod. éy! scramble

He had burned outadozen matches and now I madly for it even when on the brink of the

began to realize that he ought to husband his
store. Bits of pine branches, so dry they were
almost ready to drop to pieces, lay upon the
floor, and of these he fashioned two torches.
One he lighted, and carrying the other with him,
set out to discover the nature of the place he
had so strangely stumbled on.

After walking straight forward for five min-
utes he caught the sounds of voices. They Were
not in the chamber with him, but came from
some point without or beyond. A little investi-
gation sh_0wed that they CflIIIB in reality through
the wall in front of him. The apartment he was
in adjomed that occupied by the outlaws, though
there was no means of passing from one to the
other.

“ This is worse an’ worse!" he groaned, after
making a hasty survey of the cave and finding
that there was no way out save by the door he
had entered. “ [’m trapped like a ratl”

But, as he stumbled forward, scanning the
floor and the walls, his eyes caught the gleam of
some brilliant ob'ect at his feet. He kicked
it, and as it rolleii forward, the light from the
torch was reflected from it in points of fire, and
he saw that it was a diamond!

CHAPTER XVII.
CAGED IN.

WITH a low cry he sunk upon the sandy floor,
picked up the shining article, and examined it
critically. There could be no doubt as to its
character. It was as purcadiamond as ever
came out of the mines of Brazil.

“ Eureka I” he exclaimed, lifting his voice to
an unguarded pitch. “ I’ve found it. If this
ain’t the treasure-chamber, then I’ll eat hay fer
a liVin’l”

With that he got down on his hands and knees
and carefully examined the floor. No more
diamonds were to be found there; and he flash-
ed tlie light upon the walls. There were no
shelves or niches crammed with treasure, such
as be half expected to see.

“Sing’larl There’s bound to be more where
that come from. And I’m oin’ to find where
it come from, n0w, before do anything else.”

He had apparently forgotten his position
and circuinstances—forgotten that only a mo-
ment before he had denominated himselfa caged
rat, and had felt that the death of a caged rat
lay before him.

Clutching the diamond in one hand and lifting
the torch high above his head with the other he
went slowly around the cave. He had almost
completed the circle when he stopped and stared
into the semi-gloom beyond the ring of light. A
bit of worm-eaten hoard projecting from the
sand riveted his attention.

He hastened to it, and attempted to draw it
forth, but the sand was packed about it and it
resisted his efforts. It laynenr the wall; and
running his eyes over the bed of the cavern, he
made a discovery. There was a Well-defined
elevation of the floor, as if, through the lapse of
years, the sand had been drifted above some
shelves or boxes. The elevation resembled in
shape and size that of a grave Worn down by
time and the elements.

Sticking the torch in the wall nearby, Toltec
drew his knife and attacked the sandy grave
with frantic energy. It required but the Work
of a few seconds to unearth the bit of board.
Draning it out he thrust down the knife, and
was electrified when the point touched some-
thing which gave out a. metallic ring.

Fired by dreams of the wealth beneath him,
he again attacked the sand, digging it loose
with the knife and shoveling it out with his
hands. In a little while he had removed enough
to enable him to clutch the box, of which the
board had been a fragment; and with a mighty
wrench he drew it from its bed.

With bated breath and heart throbbing wildly
be tipped the contents out upon the floor, and
tore away with trembling fingers the coverings
of rotten deerskin. There was at least a quart
of bright, gold nuggets.

Toltec did not stop to count them nor to esti-
mate their value, but again turned to the sand
in which they had been found.

Within an hour he had unearthed six of these
boxes, each containing about a quart of nuggets
and gold-dust, packed in rotten. deer~skin bugs.
And still he toiled on, not satisfied; and forget-
ful of the fact that he was to all appearances a.
prisoner condemned to death in that place.

Yet, when all is considered, his conduct was
not so very much stranger than that of thou-
sands of men whom the world calls sane and

 

 

grave, and knowing that to the land whither
they must soon go they cannot take. it. It is one
of the incongruous things of this odd world of
ours.

The furious toil of the trensurc-sccker brought
no more boxes to light. Thoroughly the sand
was searched, but without result.

He sat down to rest, and, if possible, to think
over the matter. IV here were the precious
stones mentioned in the old writing? That they
had once been in the cavern was proven. it
seemed, by the one discovered. He was inter-
rupted in his reflections by the torch' which,
having burnt out, fell to the floor, plunging him
in total darkness.

He lighted the second,and took another sur-
vey of the cave. The f~-stooning cobwebs, hang-
ing as they did in dusty folds, showed that no
breezes from the outer world ever disturbed this
death-like chamber—a fact tier proven by the
closeness and oppressiveness of the atmosphere.
How then had the sand been drifted over the
boxes he had unearthed?

He went back and looked again at the place
from which he had removed them, and the con-
viction was forced upon him that they had been
buried there by the priests. Why the bit of
board had been left to project he could not tell,
unless it may have been as a future guide to the
place.

If the old Toltecs had taken so much pains to
hide the store of nuggets, he reasoned that they
would take as much or even greater pains to
conceal the gems. So he again traversed the
cave, scrutinizing the floors and walls minutely.

Suddenly it sharp cry leaped to his lips. A
portion of the wall, near an angle, seemed to be
sloughing off, alarge crack being visible. He
sprung to this. The wall there was a false one,
cunnineg fashioned of coarse mortar! The dry-
ingair had caused it to separate from the true
rock, leaving the tell-tale gap.

Tlirusting the end of his torch into the fissure,
and careless of the fact that the flu me scorched
his face, Toltec gave a heavy surge, and the
mortar-made section of the wall dropped at his
feet. Behind it was a pocket, filled with bags,
as had been 'the boxes.

With feverish haste be dragged these from
their ancient resting-place. He counted them.
There were just ten. Running a hand into one
he drew forth a store of beautiful emeralds!
The remaining nine, with one exception, alSo
contained emeralds. The odd one was filled with
diamonds much like that found in the sand.

Here was Wealth sufficient to satisfy even the
Wildest dreams of avarice. Sitting by his
treasures, Toltec ran his hands through the
shining piles, and gloated with miserly mien
over the riches that were now his.

Everything else was for the time forgotten,
and he “as only recalled to his position by the
burning out of the torch. Gathering up a hand-
ful of the gems he thrust them into his pockets
and then went in search of more material With
which to make torches. He found this readily
enough, but when he sought for a match be dis—
covered, to his horror, that the case with its
Contents was missing.

Thinking he had dropped it near the gems ho
hastened back in that. direction. But the in-
tense gloom of the cave bewildered him and
caused him to loan his way; and soon he was
wandering in a circle, not knowing in what di-
rection to turn.

He got down on his hands and knees and felt
over the floor, striving in that manner to make
his we back. By following along the wall he
came nally to the point where he had unearth-
ed the gold. There were the bags, just as he
had left them, and the piles of nuggets. But
their touch was hateful to him. All of the
golden store Would he have given at that mo-
ment for a single match.

Nowhere could be light upon the missing case,
search as he might. Then he tried to guide him-
self to the place where he had left the gems. In
this, however, he failed; and though be searched
for hours and hours, and until his head seemed
bursting, the case evaded his aching and eager
finders.

Hunger began to tell on him, likewise, com-
biner! with the pangs of thirst. Ohl for a
draught of life- giving water. How quickly he
would have exchanged the gems in his pockets
for just a cupful. But there was no water in
the cavern.

And thus, when unnumbered hours had fled,
in darkness and loneliness and silence—for the
voices from the other cave had not reached him

 

, ~ \~

since he heard them first—he lay dow __
sand, believing that for him death was I .
hand.

 

CHAPTER XVIII.
IN THE NICK or TIME.

ALL night long Jumbo Griggs lay upon the
hill-top, feeding the fire from time to time that
might not go out. Sleep did not come to him
through all those tedious hours, because of the
pain in his injured ankle.

Near morning he drained from his flask the
last of the water and ate what was left of the
food. Then he piled the fire higher with dry
boughs, that the light might guide the troopers
to him should they have reached the vicinity.

\Vhen day came he added damp earth to the
boughs to create a heavy column of smoke.
This, like the fire, might draw enemies as well
as friends. But the chances must be taken.

Scarcely had the spiral of smoke risen above
the tops of the trees, however, when he became
aware that it had been seen. There was a clat-
ter of hoofs on the stony turf far below; then
the bail:

“ Ho! the hill-top!”

At this Jumbo scrambled to his feet and
with the assistance of his crutches placed him-
self in a. pOsiticn to observe the author of the
bail.

It wasa man with the shoulder-straps of a
captain, and mounted on a magnificent beast.
At the base of the hill there were more men.

“ Hurrah!” and Jumbo flung his hat in air
and fairly hugged himself with delight. “It’s
the soldiers from the pest. Now, we’ll do some-
thing. At least, as the Sister-in-Law urged
so strenuously upon Mrs. Dombey, we’ll make
an efl‘ort I”

Then he stumped down the hill toward the of-
ficer, hoping against hope that Paou had been
brought with the troops, a thing he had no rea-
son to expect.

But Paou was not there, as he discovered all too
soon.

“Paou? Oh, the Chinee!” and the captain
purSed his lips. “IVhy, the disagreeable truth
is, he got away last night, and could not be re-
captured."

“ And is in this neighborhood, then l” Jumbo
exclaimed. “It’ll go hard with Dillon and
Somers if they fall into his power.”

All of which was so evidently true that the
troopers were got under way at once, and gal—
loped at their best gait toward the river, the
gritty sergeant, in spite of his bad ankle, acting
as pilot.

When the river was reached,- which was
within an hour after sunrise, Jumbo led the
troopers straight into the water, swimming the
beasts across. He believed it; not only possible,
but probable, that the prisoners had been con-
veyed to the cave where he once came so near
death, as the outlaws seemed averse to taking
any one to their secret lair.

Wh--n the vicinity of this cave had been gain-
ed, the men were dismounted, the horses left in
charge of a few, and the others led direct to the
concealed entrance. And this movement was
not efl’i'ctt‘d a moment too Soon. Paou, with his
heart filled with bitter hate, had arrived at the
cavern but a few moments before.

Even as the troopers were crawling stealthin
forward, he was taunting his captives with their
helpless condition, and preparing to take sum—
mary and swift vengeance upon them. He had
had them bound to the post, and to judge by ap—
pearances, the. knife—throwing ()I‘dLfll was soon
to follow.

At sight of this the sergcniit’s eyes blazed.

“ Charge them!” he commanded.

The soldiers obeyed with a a hoop and yell.
There was a rattling fire, as the outlaws endeav-
orcd to repel the charge. But it lasted for only
a moment. When the smoke cleared away
manydcad were seen upon the floor. The others
were flying to freedom through a means of exit
before unknown to Jumbo.

Among the slain was Paou. No mere flesh
wound this time from which to return by quick
recovery to villainous deeds It was a terrible
ending ofa career of crime: Cut down in the
prime of manhood, and in the enactment of
cruelty! Yet it was an end to have been antici-
pated, and a fitting close to the life he had led.

The fight was scarcely Over when Margaret
Grant unexpectedly appeared upon the scene.
She was mounted on the horse that had escaped
from Jumbo, it having returned to the house;
and her skirts were dripping wet from contact
with the river. Yet, even in this plight, Dillon
thought her the most handsome woman he had
ever seen.

“ I saw the soldiers as they crossed the river,”

l

 

 

    
 

 

  
 
  
 
 
   

.
b.

l

 

I

Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector.

15

 

, “ and by the aid of my glass re-
u r. Griggs. I have a letter for him
. ather. I caught the horse and came as
. ckly as possible.

Her features Were pale and anxious, showing
that she feared the worst from the contents of
the letter. Her father had said it was to be
delivered, if he had not returned within twelve
hours. Since then tWeiitv-four hours had passed.

The sergeant hastily tore open the envelope
and glanced down the sheet of writing.

“There’s more Work for us to do!” he said,
passing the letter to Margaret. ” Get the men
ready to move at once. i hope those Chinese
were so scared by the little tussle new just had
that they’ll take to the hills, and not go near
this other place with news of our presence.”

Somers and Dillon, and the captain of the
force, were made acquainted with the nature of
the writing, and then the purport of it u as Cillll'
municated to the men. A knowledge or the
probable peril in which Toltec was placed stirred
.all to the greatest activity.

When the advance was ordered on the hidden
tunnel spoken of in the letter Margaret accom-
panied the force, her anxiety being too intense
to allow her to return home.

B.y means of a cautious approach the guard at
the tnnnel’s mouth was swiftly and silently
overpowered, and then was forced at the muzzle
of a revolver to open the hidden doors leading to
the home of the League.

Thus the troopers were able to appear before
Flint and his associates in a manner that was
terrible and startling in its suddeiiness. There
was no time for flight, neither was there oppor-
tunity for effective resistance. A half-dozen
men, takingr advantage of the bold example of
Toltec Tom, escaped by the river. The others
were either captured or slain.

Basil Flint was among these taken alive; and
for his many crimes he suffered an imprisonment
that will be for life, for him.

Toitec Tom, imprisoned as it seemed to him
for cruel days although only one night had fled,
heard the sound of firing and of combat, and
rightly guessed the cause. He had laid himself
down to die, but hope now revived, strength of
body and mind came back, and he determined
to live.

.His stentorian calls were heard and the direc-
tion located. A cartridge of giant powder for
mine blasting was found among the stores of
theoutlltWS. Under the supervision of Jumbo
it was placed in position to shatter the inter-
vening walls.

“ All ready 1” the post sergeant called out,
when he was prepared to light the fuse. “ Gs-t
back somewhere, TUltl'C. The rocks will fly
when this gocsoil‘. The mountain from its iirui
base will start. All ready?"

Toltec replied in tneailiriiiative, a cheerful ac—
cent in his tones.

A minute later the very island shook with the
treineiidousness of the explosion. The separat-
ing wall was torn down. Not only that but a
portion of the Side wall facingr the river was re-
moved. Into the apartment occupied by 'l‘olti-c
poured the resistless iloo'l. By the flaring lights
of the torches the old man was seen on its crest,
being swept as itseeiucd to death! But, Jumbo,
the over-reliable Jumho, forgetful of bruises and
sprained ankle, stretched forth a helping hand,
and dragged the treasure-seeker to safety.

There is but little more to tell, though that
little will reveal a secret which the reader has
probably not guessed.

Thomas Grant, alias Toltec Tom, had been,
in all his dealings with friends and foes, largely

laying a part. He was not what he seemed.

no he was a treasure-seeker, and believed
firmly in the story told in the. old Toltee writ-
ings. But he was more. He was a cool, long-
headed agent of the Secret ServiCe, sent to that
region for the express purpose of hunting down
the Loco League.

It was known by the general in command that
the League had paid spies among the people at
Fort Mesqune. So, while the commandant sent
Dillon and Jumbo—a fact known almost instant»
1y to Basil Flint, as we have seen—the general
sent Toltec Tom in the role of the Mad Pros-
pector. And this, with the knowledge of the
traitorous character of Smith Silcott, will ex-

lain to the reader why Toltec had looked upon
Ejsself-inVited guests With such distrust. Tol-
tec was never himself suspected by any one,
and what be accomplished it has been the aim of
this story, among other things, to tell. But for
his cunning and boldness the home of the island
Imagine might never have been found.

The immense treasure which so near] cost
him his life and his reason was ingulfed y the

 

 

flood. Nothing was saved of it but the handful
of gems he had thrust into his pockets. But
these were worth a king’s ransom.

A portion of the proceeds of their sale was in-
vested iii an Arizona cattle-ranch; and in car-
ing for his herds, and in making welcome and
happy the many guests who flock about him
each winter, the old treasure-seeker has his
heart and hands full.

Dillon, with pretty Margaret as his wife, has
settled down in an (Xi‘lZ‘Hllail home of his own.
It is only a stone’s throw from that of 'l‘oltec
Tom. Thev are frequently visited by the jolly
sergeant, Jumbo Griggs. Even Somers, the
showman, stops his wanderings occasionally and
takes a run do “'11 there.

Jumbo is still a soldier, and tells himself he
Will always be one. He is a typical soldier,
too; honest, brave, loyal! But whatever glory
awaits him in future fields of adventure he will
never forget the dangers and excitements of his
fight with the Loco League.

THE END.

 

Beadle’s Hafllime librarV.

"Y Li EXIT. A. K. SIMS.

(‘Iipillill (‘thII-t, the (‘Iinparrnl Cock.

The Dandy oi Dodge.

The Silver Sport.

Nllirl'ull .‘Ol. ill" \liui \“lill it Shallow

'l‘oin-(‘nt and Paul; or. The lh-nd Se! in sun, on,
Happy lions, tln- imii-h \‘hl...-.,

Hildiul "Ilrlllll‘lt‘. tln~ ll-‘II'I‘IlVi' ilerculi-n.

’l‘oxuu 'I‘om-(‘nlr’n 'i'rlod

'l‘om (‘nl'n 'i'orrlhlc 'l'unk.

’l‘oin-i‘ut‘u Triumph; or. lllw'k Dan's Great Combine.
i (‘owiioy Gill. lin- (‘nillr-Ruiigi- “elective.

? “'nrhlllig “‘Illlum, ihr Muimmin Mnumcbwih

' Jolly Jeremiah, the Plain» lh-lvcllvu.

' filgunl Sum. th.- Lookout Sim”,

lillly lhc Gypny Spy.

lenple Silll. tln- llrniu-iio lluuti-r.

The .“cniiicrii-t Sport: or, The Myrtil‘nid Detective.

 

“Y “'31. G. I’A’l‘TEN.
489 The Diamond Rpm-t ; or, The Double Face of Bud Rock.
519 Co item .1] ynlery : or, Flw in Ono.
031 "u u) nurt- the Sport from Denver.
53"? "Id liolnhnht-ll, the Ranger Detective.
60 i [run li‘crn, the Man ol Fire.
(H9 The lioy ’l'rnlnp lieu-olive: or.’l‘lie Double GripWiinm
629 VloIt-l Vane, thi- Volvui Sport.
641 "Inuit-l Dino’s Dandy I'nrd.
om llonnd lioy Frank. the You”): Amateur Detective
662$ "Inll‘I Viuu-‘n Victory.
6H2 ‘Viid Villmui, tho Lonellanue Rider.
iii." Violet Iilltl "HI-‘3', thi- l'nnv l’nrda.
705 \ Iolet Yunt-‘n Vow; or. The Cruiiy Detective'ii Craft.

HY .HDHI‘II'II ii. RAINIER. JR.
2 Yellowstone J m'l. : or. The 'l‘riippi-r.

4N lilm‘l.‘ John. tlw lload Agent; or, ’l'h.- ()utlaw’s Retreat.

6.”. Illll'rll‘lilli‘ Iiill; or. Mustang Sam and His l'ard.
H‘J )lII-inilg Nam : or.'l‘ln- King oi the Plains.
liiii Night-Linwl. Kit: or, The llauglilur oi'iho Ranch.
144 Dainty Loner thu lioy Sport.
15! I’niIHu-r Paul: or. lhiiliiy lnuw- to the Rescue.

liii) 'i'lu- iiiiil-l. iilniil: or. lhdniy Lumi- in Jeopardy.
103K Ih‘iully Hui-II: or, l“l:ll|illIL' l“ll'1'\\'llll Fire.
IN i. The Iioy 'I‘rnilcrn: or, lhnniy linm-n on the “'ar-l’atli.
203 The liny I’nrdn; or, lhiiniy Laure lliiuuisits.
2|] i‘rookcd Colo, iln- l‘dllliiiil ui'i‘elvsiiul (‘.ii\ .
3|“ 'I‘he liurrnm-n “'oli'; or,'l'he lh-nutil'iil lh-roy.
Sill! 'I'Iu- Hint-L Hider; or, The linrser'l‘liirvt-s’ League.
88.» ([ld Double I"lntz or. The Simnui-(v‘uldv
'I'hi- kin-r oi tlu- “'oml-i or l’llllul lioollu'r Last ’l‘rall.
_ ixii. Fox. the "order lini- Deli-Mire
N ('hliit-upin "on. lllt- Iioy 'I'rnilcr.

(‘hlnt-iipin IDiiii‘n M-cond 'I‘i'nil.
i‘liliIi-upln Hull's Homo i‘irt-lcll.
~ "Id i'riizy, ilw .\i:in \\ vihout a “Hill.
.08 Light-"curl. I.llii"~ Legacy.

BY J" P] i‘lliillC.

   
 

89"? “oh 0‘ the Bowery : or, 'l‘Iu- Prince of Mulberry Street.
4|.» ’I'Iit- \ Ilu'ilbollil l’i'It‘i'liVC‘: or. lluwery Bob's Boom.
4:32 '!I)IH|'IIII' lioh. the sin-i-i—lh-y lloim'llvr.

4M) 'I luv .uwycr’n Sluulow; or, Luke's Leann?-

472 .Imiiily Joe, tln- Young Horne-King.

494 hlli'ly film. iln- Y mu; Forrvnmu Detective.

no: li‘Iu- I’oinlu I’hil. ‘

509 Jot-i. Joggers, tln- iluivln-r lbw ill-ii'i‘thi'.

5H? 'I‘nrlur ’I'im: or. l"i\‘r Point. Phil‘s l\i.~miu«rle.

526 North Iliu-r Nut. tln- l’i.-r lli'II‘l'llVl'.

51H \\ rculling "0X, thw l'rid.-..fih.- Sixth Ward.

5 ll .l't-ii' Flicker. iln- Sinhlu hay Ill-It‘t‘llvu.

5m Mel.- Nellie. ti... Ilov shim“...

559 Ilnrlcin Jan-L. ih.~ (inim- hay immive.

569 Brooklyn lit-n, the 0.. iii.5.(iwn-ilmlt Detective.
577 I'iu'einciil i’clc llll'Si‘l'll'l Sifter.

588 .liy~i.'-0‘-L:tlilt-i-n. tin- l'mh i sin l'rn-iperior.

OHM! \\_ ldc-A “‘an "vi-l. ii... slant—Sharer.

til i \\ lily-tiling .lnnoh, the lien-i li\i-'s Aid.

“23 “lli'L "Illlliiloluy , iii.‘ ll‘l'l 'llI lliiiiiiilv'r.

639 Hiliirl-nc Soul. lln lawn. 'l‘min il‘ei'ri-t.

(Hi) Guinln Ilolmhn lion: i'\ I'. i--. ..r_ Swooning I Slippery Set.
“BR fikx-Iiclt-ltvl Iioh. the Lil. Jim-r.

6‘43 Hnllpt-lcr Sol. ihi- New Yuri. .Viivluutor.

(lit 1 h‘ploy .Ilm, the Univ oin- or Hie Kind.

706 Tom Tilinile. llii- Road-Housi- in-lerilve.

It" CAPTAIN FRED. \YIIITTAKIt

'l‘hc Fl'u-(‘iilz or. The “‘iti-h of Donna.

The linmh Page: or, The hogv'a Daughter.

I’li'k l’lll‘llllu. illr l’ony prrrna Riili‘l‘.

150 Lulu-c niul lain-o: nr,'l‘h« i‘iiiidn-n oi'tlic Chm-n.

154 The fiwtvrd Hunters: or, The Land ofthe El» ham. Riders.
159 The Loni. (‘nntallu or, Skipper Jain-z Collln’s rules.

.00 'l he iioy Bedouin-z or. The Brothers of the l’luinsd Lance.
214 “'oli’gunz. the. Robber of the Rhine.

249 Milo Rolm-r the Animal King: or, Round the World.
fl65 The. Tiger Tamer; or, The League oi the Jungle.

331 Black Nflok. the Demon Rider.

395 California 1043’: “'ar Trail.

16
29

3
n

“Y JAM EH L. IMHVEN
107 fine-Fl 0d film: or, The Abandoned Forest Home.
110 The B ucl. Steed ol'the Prairies. A Story of Tom.

 

l

m m' on. enemas.

5 Vagabond Joe. the Young Wandering Jew.
18 The Dumb h‘py.
‘27 A llli‘lfl’Il‘ Abe, the hey (lnld...
Ii Keen-knife, the Prince of the l'lllll‘ll'l.

  
 

  
 

4| Ln~~o Jot-1.. ihn' You"); Muntnngi-r.
EN The llordcr Kin“; iil','l‘ilo Secret ll‘oo.
7| l’i‘lil“ Ill’i‘ "lulu the Young Ranger Spy.
74 "lurk-(w r- Hurry the Young 'I‘iupper Ranger.
Hii Iiollo,l no Iioy llama-r.
lflrl Hun- h'hul. Foil], lin- Iloy l'tilli-iiuiii.
1-13 Ni'llr-I“l|l‘o haul. the .sih-ni llunti-r
14“ Silver thr, ll loi liiiixli
153 I‘lllfl‘ii‘ kit, llii- nu} l'viiioii.
163$ Lillie 'I‘exnn, illi‘ Young Mustnngor.
17% old Hollinry. llir lll'llllll ’l‘i'uppvr,
1N2 Little Ilurrl - -. tin- lio)‘ i‘npmln.
202 I'I'Ol tot-i. l’t-I u, l‘hr Younu Unilaw Hunters.
20! The My "( rt nil-u: or, ’l l:.- I'i'ulrlu ’l‘rainps.
2Il'l 'I'Izt-r Tom. the ’l was 'lmri-r.
22i "nilllilur Dirk: or, 'I rapper 'l'oiii'n ('nsllv.
92H Lillie “’iidilrr, the Y- unu l'inirii- Nomad.

28! The I'nrnon I'i'i.v('ii\ c: or. 'I he i.iiil~- Ranger.
218 The I'I‘EII|I1‘1‘ iiuldpg or, \\ ild ltnxnn, the Ranger.
2”" Duff-“(Wu "IHI, llll' liming l'iiiii'li~ lliiligcr.

272 Mink-Lin Alike. tln- llm sharpshooter.

290 Litllc Foxilro, il'w “my .\[i\'.

800 The hliy IM-mon; oi, itninlmit, the Ranger.

3“} ‘VlliD-killfl J00. lll!‘ llm Rulii‘llvro,

40" Hercules: nr. lliiL, llll' lb.) llniiui-l’.

I”? \Vohi'ool Mono, lln- 'l'riuup liutiwiivo.

4'22 "1th Mun. llm Iii-y l-‘iunl ol iln- Yellowstone.

4n uni.- itm-i...i.in. i... Yoiiiii.’ l'rnirlei'eniuur.

457 \\ Ingetli'ool. Fred: or. Hid l'olnr Saul.

4illl 'I'ulnnriw Tom. the illg 'l'ni mm liuy,

47:! "Id 'I'oiu Iinltler. the iii-d lilvur Epidemic.

4&2 Nloncu'ull liob. lln- Imp Train“.

5032 lilumierlnu liiiull, the Hermit lioy Trapper.

652 Don Iiurr. ill" l'lalns l‘rvrlnnrv.

(Nil "Id Kit Iioiidy'u Deliverance.

670 Norwin Nola. tln- lllu llny Mountaineer.

6H0 Dnunllcun Dun. thi- Fri-i-liincu. or old Kit Bandy in Arcadia.

I!" I’IIILII‘ fl. “'AIINE.

o1 Pugent.'.(‘lli.llt‘l' Joe: or, old Rattle-nuke, the Charmer.
176 (mprnrn Arizona: or. l'uteiii-i..~iolmr Joe'. Big (lune.
HHS i‘uplnln Monk: or, l'uh‘llhlmnihur Joe's Defeat.
219 lM-upnrd. the Din-lint; 1". The Mountain Vampires.
88% A 'I‘ou II Ion: or, The “war” iii-venue.

iliiii Little ‘orimdo: or. The (lllU'llhil of the Glen.
8?" Little dingo; or, the Qum-r l’nrd.

ilfiH Lilllt.I (HI-my! or, Caught In His Own Trap.
40] Lillie hhon-l‘ ly or, A Rare for n Ranch.
40R Little Leather-l rem-lire: or,()id Junibo'ICuru.
43” Link- All “in: or, The Curmoi lllood.

41H (‘olorudo Rule. A Title ofth nlliiul.

4H1! Three Jolly I’nrdn.

5|? .Iiin (ilmldclv‘u Deputy.

527 Tim Jolly l’nrdi- lo the lie-rue.

1H? Mindy Andy; on A Good Man Down.

55“ Lnrliil Lil: or. Th-~ ("at for n Lilo.

[.71 "Id “'cmu-l-lop. the Mun with the Dogs.
593 Km-il (‘It-In. tln- Itnm'li imp.

599 Jim Dandy iln- Nn-Nium- snort.

(Hit Billy lilnzcu: or,’l‘ln~ Ski-inton'u Legacy.
0'85 ‘Hiiflhilllln lli. illi' ill'n-J‘nut Scout.

6-“! Happy Ihirry‘n "In Find.

“64 (‘Iicoky ( Inn-Icy, the Special.

.liY ALIil'lli'l‘ “'. AIKEN.

ii The Two Detective-n: or, The Fortunes oln Bowery Girl.
76 Abe Coll. the Crow-Killer.
7" Hui (Ginger, illl' Hiuiii 'l'rn iper.
288 Joe lint-I. ofAnm-lu nm "in iioy Part].
447 New York an. A Tale ol 'l‘rli'ku and Traps in Goth-m.
45H N cw England Niel. : or. 'l‘hv Fortunes oi a Foundling.
4‘91 .Vlllllbil‘ Nii-Ix. ill" ('ircua Prince.
49“ 'I'uon 'I‘c-d. ill" Arlroiiu Sport.
510 l‘ool (‘olorndm lln- Ilulf-Ilm-d Di-t.~cilve.
518 (lool Colorado in New York.

I“ lHill‘ll.l.AN I’llillfl All'l'lllbiifl.

4 The “'lld-llorm- llnnlt-rn. by Capt Mayne Rain and
Frederick “'hillnl..-r.
0 Ad u-nlnrc- ol‘ llnron Monehniincn.
I2 iiiilliu-r‘n Tron-In. ll\ llrnn \wil'i.
It]. [\lluldlux or, The \\'ond.-i'lul Lamp.
16 Iiohiiinoli Urn-nor. ('."l lllusirutlonn.)
IK Hindi-nil llu- Hullor. His Sew-n \' iyugel

22 The Hut Florin-Iii: wh'l'lm Iii-y Ruhlnaent‘rtilos. By Jun

Lewis.
88 The "(‘(‘IIII Bloodhound; or, The lied Pirates oi the
(’hrriln-i-ii. l“ S. l'. l‘ii-rrr,
iiil ’l‘lic lloy Clown: or, The Ari-mi Qui-un. lly F 8. Flm‘
8N Nod \\ yltlr. the lioi Si'lilli. lly 'i'vxne Jack.
[vi The "0) L’ii‘cn: Iv 'l'h-v Undergroundl‘iuup. ily A.C.lronl.
05 The "lvul How-rm: or, The I‘ri'obooiviu ol the Mississippi.
lli' l.ioiii..l'ol. Huwllinr.
93 liobin Hood. iln- Uu'hiwod Enrl;or_'rlm Merry Mon of Green-
\Vlllill. Ilv l'roi', Hildi-i'nb-nvg.
105 (Did iiubc. the Hunter; in, The Crow Cantlvu. By Captain
llniiill'wii llnliIu-ii.
I12 The Mud Ilunirr: or, ‘lenw of Death.
‘24 'I‘Pipy. the 'I'exnu: or, The Young Champion.
G emu-ii.
123 The Young l'rlvntct-r; nr,'l‘hu l'iriitu'ii Stronghold. By
“any (‘iH'l'illllfllL ‘
14K Hiinrp Hum: hr, The Adm-plums of n l‘riendless Boy. By J.
Alexander l'itltrii.
227 hunky pun-ML Tm per; or, The Green Ranger of the Yel-
l(|\\'l<lillll‘. Il\' Edward .marsun.
20] rpm“... ll“.nrl|“llxhl the New Y irk lloy., Ill’ G. L. Ali“:-
2mi Killh’nr. tn.- Guide: -r.l"-\'>'Urnvkvu- Crooked Tull.
lly Ensign C. l). “'arrq-n. .
293 "Hi claw, the (hie-Eyed Trapper; or, Tim Mnid oi the Cliil‘.
llv (‘aptalii Connilm'lt.
317 pmwook page, llio Lively Lin-l from Lendvlile. By Lion-
tv-iuiiil Alired TlIUTlW‘ ,
8”“ Tim sky "otflqhier or, A lley nFlglii lor Life and Honor.
lly .\lu'inr Mich-y Fret--
350 imi liniph. ou- "Iver Rover: 0r.'l‘ho Brother's no.
iiv Nod linnillne.

Hy Burial: flan.
By George

\‘oIiL' '.
3‘”; “ulhmon. “on the lloolhlarli Detective. By A. P. "0771'-
311 “ohhnuu Ton” or, iii-n’ii lloiililv Mali-h. Bye H. M0".-

376 (‘aili‘ornlu Joe's ll‘irul. 'l‘rnll.
Hon-r \lonuinry.

4‘3 Billy lionIIMIH-ll, tlin (‘llll‘(‘limher. lly F. 8. Winthrop.

475 The Iliiwk Ship. ilv John S “'iirmir.

4H4 (‘oiniim-lu- "ll-l. and "in Three lnvinciblen. 3!
"an". J. 1‘Iioiiml.

582 The (‘owho ' llulm. Ev Edwin Brooke. Fermi.

552 Ariel llw M Hub-- Hr David Druid.

5’15 “'III “'ntern, tie liov Forum [iv Ii. Eninn.

682 The Dead lleteellvc’s Double. By Gerald Carlton.

A New Issue Every Tuesday-

ily Colonel Thoma.

The Half-Dime Library In for sale by ail newsflash-mfln
«Its per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each.
BEADLE AND ADAMS. Publishers.
08 William Street. Row York.

 

      
    

 

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AL’EtLt‘fiiiAi... ..

Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double N~ .,

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BY EIHVARD L. “WHEELER.
Deadwood Dick Novel».

1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince at the Road.
20 Deadwood Dick'n Dcllnnce; or, Iiouhle Dagger].
28 Deadwood Dick In Ill-Igni—e: or, liullal; tit-n
85 Deadwood chk In III» (‘autie.
42 Deadwood chl.'~ Bonanza: or, The ..:nntoui Miner.
49 Deadwood Dick in Danger: ninthnanatill.
57 Deadwood chi.‘a ifagieu: or, The Panic oi Flood Bar.
73 Deadwood chl.‘ on Deck: ur. Calamity .' ‘lle,ille Ileruine.
77 Deadwood Dick‘~ Lani Act: or. Corduroy Charlie.
100 Deadwood Dick in Leadiillc.
10-1 Deadwood Dick‘s Det ice: or, The Double Cross Sign.
109 Deadwood Dick an Detective.
129 Deadwood Dick‘n Double: or. The Gorgon’a Gulch Ghoat.
13" Deadwood Dick‘m Ilome Bar-e; or. lilondc ltiil.
149 Deadwood Dick‘u Illa Strike: or, A (iamuoi‘tiold.
156 Deadwood Dlok oI' Deadwood: or. Thu i’icked Party.
195 Deadwood Dick'n Dream; or, The Rlvula oi'the Road.
201 Deadwood Dick’n “'ard: or, The ltlnck iilll'nJezehel.
205 Deadwood Diek‘u Doom; or. Calamity June'n Adventure.
217 Deadwood Dick'n Dead Deal.
221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant.
282 Gold-Dust Dick. A linlimiice of [taught and Touzha.
266 Deadwood Dick's Divide ' or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake.
268 Dead wood Dick’n Death ' ‘rail.
809 Deadwood Dick’a Deal; or, The Gold Brick oiOreiron.
821 Deadwood Dick’n Dozen; or, The Fakir ui'i’hnntoml’lata
647 Deadwood DIck‘u Ducatu: or, Days in the Diggingn.
851 Deadwood Dick Nentcneed: or,'l‘no Terrible Vendetta.
362 Deadwood Dick'n Claim.
405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City.
410 Deadwood Dick'u Diamondu.
421 Deadwood Dick In New York: or, A “Cute Case.”
480 Deadwood Diek'a Dultt nr,’]‘he Chained “and.
448 Deadwood Dick, Jr.
448 Deadwood Dick, .lr.'~. Defiance.
456 Deadwood Dick, .Ir.‘n. Full "and.
459 Deadwood Dick. .Ir.‘n. Big Round-Up.
465 Deadwood Dick, .1 r.'r~. ilaeket at Claim 10
471 Deadwood Dick, .lr.’n. ('ori'nl: or, llozcliian Bil.
476 Deadwood Dick. .1 r.’~. Dog Detective.
491 Deadwood Dlek. Jr" In Death! 00d.
491 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘~. Compact.
496 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’~. Inheritance.
500 Deadwood Dick. drin. Diggingu.
506 Deadwood Dick. .l r.‘u, Deliverance.
515 Deadwood Dick. Jr.'n. Protegee.
522 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’il, Three.
529 Deadwood Dick. .1 r.'a, Danger Dackl.
564 Deadwood Diek, -lr.'n, Death Hunt.
639 Deadwood Dick .Ir., In exalt.
544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., thi- Wild \Yeal Vidooq
549 Deadwood Dick. Jr., on Illn Mettlc.
554 Deadwood Dick. .Ir.. In Gotham.
561 Deadwood Dick. .lr., In Bouton.
567 Deadwood Dick. Jr., in Philadelphia.
572 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. In Chicago.
578 Deadwood DIcL. Js, AIloat.
5-64 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. in Denver.
590 Deadwood Die ' Jr.‘n. Decree.
595 Deadwood Dick, Jr.. In Beelzehub'fl Basin.
600 Deadwood Die Jim at Coney Inland.
606 Deadwood Die Jr.'n. Leadviilc Lay.
612 Deadwood ch ‘ Jr., In Detroit.
613 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. In Cincinnati.
624 Deadwood Dick. Jr., In Nevada.
6150 Deadwaod Dick. .lr., In No Mau‘ii Land.
636 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer.
642 Deadwood Dick. .Ir.. in Buil’alo.
64s Deadwood Dick, Jr.’n, Chane Acroun the Continent
654 Deadwood Dick, .lr., Among the Smu‘glera.
660 Deadwood Dick, .Ir.’n luunrance Cale.
666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back In the Mince.
6T2 Deadwood Dick. Jr.. In Dara-got or, " Gathered In.”
676 Deadwood Dick, Jim's, Div-eatery; or,FonndaFortune.
6H4 Deadwood Dluk, .lr.’n. Dazzle.
690 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’II. Dollars.
695 Deadwood Dick, .1 r., at Danger Divide.
700 Deadwood Dick. Jr.‘e, Drop.
704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot.
716 Deadwood Dick. .Ir., In San Francisco.
316 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘u, Still Hunt.
2 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘n. Dominoeit.
728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’n, Div-guise.

rrr
...

BY CHARLES MORRIS.

18 Will Some", the Buy Detective.
22 Phil llard ', the Bonn Boy.
26 fileayune Him; or, Nicmlemul, the Dog DOMIIVO.
0 Detective Dick; or, The Heroin Rage.
2 Ilnndlome Harry, the Boothlnck Detective.
7 Will Wildfire, the Thorou hbred.
“1301‘ Bean. “'1” “'ildfire I Racer.
Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy.
Kill} Vfiildflre In thegfi’ooélfi
I e, tie ron v .
A Tzumu‘ :fid; or, Will “'iidiiyre Winn Ind Lone.
Bob Redhead or, Myiiterioe of New York.
Bob llocketti the llank Runner.
The Hidden land or, Will Wildflre’l Revenge.
Fred llolyard. the lie that Boy: or. The Smuggien.
Bob Bockett; or. Driven to the “'11”.
.hadowed; or, Bob ltnckett’ii Fight for Life.
lurk Paul. the Tiger King.
)anhing Dave, the Dandy Detective.
i‘om Tanner or, The lilnck Sheep oi the Flock.
225 Elam Charcoa the Premium Darky.
265 Shadow Earn, the Messenger Boy.
242 The Two “ Blooda”; or. Shenandoah Bill and His Gang.
252 Dick Dnnhaway ; or, A Dakota Boy in Chicago.
968 The X'oun“ Shurpu; or, Rollit‘king Mike’l ilot Trail.
974 Jolly Jill]. the Detective Apprentice.
289 Jolly Jim’s Job; or, The loan: Detective.
298 The Water-Hound: or, The Young Thoroughbred.
805 Danhaway. ofDaknta: or, A Walton: Lad in Quaker City.
824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective.
84-1 Tony Thorne. the Vagabond Detective.
858 The lleporter-Detu-tIVet or, Fred Flyor’l Bllmrd.
867 “lde-AWIIKC Joe: or, A Buyoi'the imol.
879 Larry. the Leveler: or. The Blood. ot the Boulevard.
403 Firefly Jack. the RivenRat Detective.
428 The Lont Finger: or, The Entrapped Ouhier.
428 Fred Flyer. the Reporter Detective.
462 Invincible Logan. the Pinkerton Ferret.
456 Bl“ ' Brick, the Jolly Vagabond.
466 WI e-Awake Jerrv, Detective; or, Entombed Alive.
479 Detective Dad e: or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty.
438 Wild Dick llnc ‘et.
501 Bootn. the Boy Fireman x or, Ton Sharp for the Sharper.
b6“ The Secret Service Boy Detective.

596 Jimmy the Kid; or, A Lamb Among Wolvel.

627 Torn Bruce oi Arkannal; or,The Woli'in the Fold.
655 Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator.

667 Bob and Sam, the Dal-y Detectivel.

{09 The Curb-tone Detective; or, Harry Hale'l Big Boat.

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Other Novel: by E. 1.. \Vheeler.

26 Cloven lloof, the BuiTnlo Demon.
' Bob \Vooli': or, The Girl I).-ml-Shot.
89 Death-Face, Detective; or, Life, in New York.
45 Did Avalanche: or, Wild Edna, the Girl iirigaud.
53 Jim illudnoe. J r., the Iioy l‘lwuix.
6| Backhorn Bill; or, The Red ltith- Team.
69 Gold "Die, the hhar mimoter: or. The Hay Detective.
80 lloilelind Iloli: or, Hugo-t Ned, thr- Knight.
94-1- Idyl, the liirl Miner; or, Rum-hull Rah on Hand.

Fl Photogra h Phil: or, ltmehud Ron's Renppenranre.
92 Canada (7 let x or, Old Alineondii iii Sitting: liiill'a Camp,
96 “'aicII-l“. e; or, Arabs and Angel! oi'a Great City.

116 Jack "0)" e the Young Siieciilutur.

17 (Hit-Edged Dick. tin- Spart livtectlve

21 (‘innainon Chip, the (Girl Spun.

25 Bonanza Bill. .\liner.

33 "mm Bob the Kinkr of ilonthlacks.

41 Solid Ham, [lie Ho‘- lloudq’tgeut.

45 Captain Ferret. ihr va Yorlt Detective.

6! New York Nell, tile It..y.t.‘irl Detective.

7'? Nohh ' Nick of Nevada: or. The Sierras Scampo.
“1 \Ylld ‘ruuk, the [luckihin ilrnvo.

200 Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective.

213 Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquiut Hunter.
226 Snoozer, the By Sharp; or. The Arab Detective.

236 Apollo Bill, the Trail Tornado.

240 C clone Kit. the Young (iladintor.

241 H erra Ram, th.» Frontirr Ferret.

24.“ Sierra Balan- Heeret: or, The Illomlv Footprints.
256 flierra Sam’u Purd: or, [he Angui oi Big Vista.
258 Sierra Sam’a Seven; or.’l‘he Stolen Bride.

276 Jnlnbo Joe, the lloy Patrol: or. The Rival iieire.
27’? Denver Doll, the Detective Queen.

291 Denver Doll’n Victory.

2945 Denver Doll’s Decoy: or. Little Bill's Bonanza.
291 Turk the Boy Ferret.

296 Denver DoII‘n Driil : or. The Road Queen.

299 A No. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker.

808 'I.Iza Jane. the (Girl Miner; or. the lion-Nerved Sport.
825 Kelley, Ilickev A: 00.. the llv‘tu'vtiwa of Philadelphia.
330 Little Quick-Eliot: or, in.» Dead F... ol'DaggerIviilo.
68-1 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miner.

.89 Kangaroo Klt’u Racket.

B48 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood.

856 Flrnt-(llmoo Fred, the Gent lrum Gopher.

86“ Yreka Jim. the Gold-Gatherer: or, The Life Lottery.
872 Yreka Jim’s Prize.

67H Nahoh Nod: or, The awn-t of Slnh City.

862 Cool Kit. the Kink’ “1' Kids: or. A Villain’a Vengeancg,
335 Yreka Jim’u Joker; or. The Rivnln of Red No".
6’19 Bicycle Ben; or. The Lion oildghtning Lode.

894 Yreka Jim oi’ ana Dani.

400 \Vrlnklea. the Night—“hitch Detective.

416 High llat Harry. the Base Ball Detective.

4.26 Sam Rlflhlldel. the Beggar-Boy Detective.

484 Jim Beak and Pal, Private Detectivel.

‘38 finnta Fe Sal, the Slasher.

‘86 Seal-kin Son. the Spurkier.

R
h

“Hi—HHH‘H

BY T. C. IIABBAUG“.

28 Nick 0’ the Night; or, The- Boy Spy oi ’76.
67 The Hidden Lodge: or The Llllll‘ Hunter.
4’? Nightin ale Nat ' or, Tne Forest Captains.
64 Dand ' . ackz or, The Outlaw: or the Oregon Trail.
82 KM urei‘oot the “Wind-Hawk.
94 Midnight Jack or, The Boy Trapper.
106 Old Frouty, the ‘ulde; or, The White Queen.
126 Kiowa Charley the White Muslnngor.
189 Jud e Lyndh Jru or. The Bov Viziiiinte.
155 “01‘ Trix er. the S nvrt; or. The Girl Avenger.
169 Tornado ‘oI-t nr, njun Jack From Red Core.
188 Ned Temple, the Border lloy.
10" Arkauilaw: or, The Qilm-n oi Fab-’3 Revenge.
20? Navajo Nick. the [luv Gold Hunter.
215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Tin-hmt‘a Crusade.
231 I’lucky Phil: or. Rona, the Re! Jezebel.
241 Bill Bravo: or, The [taught at the ltorlden.
255 Captain Apollo, tne King-Pin of Bowie.
267 The Backukin Detective.
279 0].] “Hugh; or, The iillCIiIKIn Desperado“.
294 Dinamile Dan: or. The Bowie Blade of cochetopa.
802 T e Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully.
816 0ch Ecllpne, Trump Card of Arizona.
626 The Ten l'ardux or. The Terror of Take-Notice.
366 Bit: Ben-on; or, The Queen of the Liv-Mi.
B45 l’Itichm Matt; or, Red Thunderhoit’s Secret.
B56 {looi Him and I’nrlit o- The'i‘errihie Six.
666 Velvet Foot. the Indian Detel‘tlt'e.
8R6 Cantaln Cntlaut or. 'I he llrccnneor’s Girl Foe.
896 Rough Rob or. The 'l'whi Champions of Blue Blane.
411 The. nuke-n .ano: or, The Rose of Ranch Robin.
4194 Felix Fox. the lloy Spotter.
425 Te.wa Trump. the Border Rattler.
486 Phil Flat-h, the New York Fox.
M5 The City V amnirclt or. Red Roife’l Pigeon.
461 Due Again-t Fifly; or. The Last Man oiKeno Bar.
470 The Boy Shadow; or. Felix Fox's Hunt.
477 The Exceluior hport : 0r. The Washington Spotter.
499 Single sill". the llliein'mi Sport,
502 Branded Ben. the Ninht Ferret.
512 Dodger Dick. the Wharf-$in Detective.
521 Dodger Dick“:- Bent Dodge.
528 Fox and Falcon. [he in... i'ri‘Shadowl.

ii "Dodger Dir-1.. it u Tim-l Ferret. .
Dodger Diek’u Iioahle: or. Tfle Rival Boy Detecttvu.
558 'lOlliZl‘l‘ Dick’u l‘I'IIH'rllil‘ C no.
 llllllfl‘l‘l' I’ll'l“. the [luv Yidiot‘q.

573 The Two Shiidown.

592 Dodger Diek'n Iii-on.

594 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective.

610 Did Skinner. [he (laid Shark; or, Tony Shop on Gold.
626 The Champion l'ardu.

667 Dick Doan. the Dock linv Detective.

645 Kit. the Pavement Sharp.

658 Billy Bantam, the Boy Beagle.

6?! Jerney Jed. the Ilm' Hiintler: or, Shadowing the Shadow".
665 Happy flu in. the Boy Musician Detective.

701 Plantain“) Fred. the Camera Shar .

715 Wide wake Len, the Quaker City r12"...

 

BY “'M. G. PATTEN.

489 The Diamond snort: or. The outdo Fm oiBod Rock-
519 On tnln Mystery: or, Five in One.

531 Da 1 Dare the Sport from Denver.

587 01d Bambi-hell, the Ranger Detective.

604 Iron Fern, the Man oi Fire.

619 The Rev Tramp Detective: 0r,Tho Double GripWitneu
629 VIoIet Vane, the Velvet Sport.

641 Diurnal Dave'n Dandy Pard.

651 Bound Boy Frank. the Young Amateur Detective

66B Violet Vane’n Victory.

6132 Wild Vulcan, the [Anne-Range Rider.

698 Violet. and Daily, the Pol Pnrda. .

“)5 Violet Vane’a Vow: or. 'i‘ e Crafty Detective’l Omit.
714 Old Misery, the Man from Mineral.

724 Violet Vane’e Vengeance.

BY 00LONEL PBENTISS INGBABAM.

T The Flying Yankee: or, The Ocean Oiitcaat.
17 Ilalph llov, the itoy Buccaneer; or. The Fugitive Yacht.
24 Diamond Dirk ' or. Tln- Mystery ot'the Yellowstone.
62 The Shadow Kliip; or. The Rival Lieutellalitl.
75 The Boy Dnellut; or, The ('ruin- oi" the Sea-Wolf.
102 Dick Dead-Eve, the ltoy Smuunier.
111 The flea-Devil; or, The Midshlpnniu’s Legary.
116 The llnunar Curtain: or, '1 he Hermit nt Ileil Gate.
197 Little Grit; or, lerbie. the Slack-'l'ender's Daughter.
204 Gold l’IuIIIc: or. iliithiio llill, the Pony Ex ireaa Rider.
216 Blnon Bill. the Prince oi the eins: l-r, luii‘ala llill'e Finch
222 Grit, the Bravo H0011: or, The Woman Trailer.
229 (friinnon Kate: or, Thr ('owhny’s Triumph.
2i 7 Lone Star. the (Towhoy Cu itilill.
245 Merle the Middy or,'l‘|ie Freelance lleir.
250 The .‘1‘ldfllllplllllll Intineer; or. Brandt, the Buccaneer.
264 The Floating Feather: or, Merle Muiite'n Tron-lire.
269 The Gold R'hip; or, Merle, the Condemned.
276 Merle Monten- (lrnlilet 0r, “ The Hold Ship ” Chane.
2N0 Merle Monte‘n Fate; or. Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride.
284 The Sea Marauder; or, Merle Moute’n Pledge.
257 Billy Blue-Eyed, Ilic ill-y llovcr ni‘ lhe Rio Grande.
604 The Dead Snot Dandy; or, lieuitu. the Boy Bugler.
808 Keno Kit: or. head Shot. linndy'a liuuhie.
814 The .\l ynteriom- .\I araudert 0r. The BOY Bu ler’l TnlL
67? Bonodel, the Boy Rover; or. The Fluzleaa Sc IOODBI'.
8.68 The indian Pilot; I-r, Tim Search for Pirate Inland.
\I'urpath “’ili. the lloyr Phantom.
. l‘eawaii'. the iioy Lieutenant.
402 laodor, the Y onng Connpirntorx or, The Fatal League.
40? The Boy lnunrzentg or, l'he Cuban Vendetta.
412 The “'ild Yachtunian: or, The War-Clond'e Cruise
429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee.
438 A Cabin Boy’n Luck; or,Tim Corsair.
48? The Sea Raider.
441 The Deean Firefly: 0". A Middy‘u Vengeance.
446 Ilanhazard Harry; or, Tne Scapeqrnce of the Sea.
450 “'Izard “'iilz or. ‘he “0" Ferret 0! New York.
454 “'Izard \‘I'ili’u Street Beouta.
46' The Born Guide: or. The Sailor Boy Wanderer.
46H Neptune Ned, the tiny Cmuitcr.
474 Flora; or. Wizard Will’s Vagabond Ford.
488 Form-t,“ Aflont; or. \Viznrd “'Ill’ii Last Case.
48? Nevada Ned, the Revolver Ranger.
495 Arizona Joe the lloy l‘nrd m‘Texm Jack.
49? Back Taylor, Kim: oi the Cowboys.
508 The Royal Middy: or. The Shark and the SOI Cut.
50’? The Hunted Midi-hi man.
511 The 0ntlawed Mid y.
520 Buckakln Bill. the (‘mnunche Shadow.
525 Brothcrn in Bucknkln.
530 The Btu-kiddo Bowern.
585 The Buc- akin Rover!»
540 (‘aptain Kn—Klux. the Marauder oi the Rio.
5-15 Lieutenant Leo. the Son of Lafitte.
550 1.aiitte'n Lelue)‘: or. The Avenging Son.
555 The (‘reole (‘ornain
560 Pawnee Bill. the Prairie Shadower.

565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King.

570 Camille, the (‘ard Queen.

575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective.

580 The (butt-ant Cadet: or, The False Detective.
686 The Buckskin Avenger.

591 Delmonte. the Young Sen-Rover.

597 The Young Texan Detective.

602 The Vagabond oi'the Mines.

607 The Rover Detective: or, Keno Kit’a Champion.
61? Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scout; or, The Rio Reiderl.
644 The llerculcu llighwnymun.

650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Rider Detective; orI Bnfl'elo
Blil’l Boy l’ard.

656 Butterfly Billy‘s Man llunt.

662 Buttcriiy Billy‘s Bonanza.

668 The Buccaneer Midnhipman.

6?4 The “’iznrd Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover.
679 The Sea Shadower: or, The Freebnoter’a Legacy.
686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flag; or, The Tilmlllled Name.
692 The Rival Sharpe; or, Rediern. the Serret Service Scout.
697 The Scarlet Sombrero; or. The Sharp from Tex“.
702 Blue Jacket Bill; or, The Red Hat Rnnzers’ Red Hot Racket
707 The Bed Sombrero Bangers; or, Redfern’l Last Trail'
718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen.
I2’19 Pawnee Bill'u Pledge; or, The Cowboy Kidnapper.
725 During Dick, Pawnee Bill’s Ford; or, The Red Cavalry Enid.

  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  

$39
:1
fl’l

BY BUFFALO BILL (non. Wm. F. Cody).

8 Kansas King; or, The Red Right Hand.
19 The Phantom Spy: or,The Pilot of the Prairie.
55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout.
68 Border Robin flood; or, The Prairie Rover.
158 Fancy Frank of Colorado: or, The Trapper’n Trim.

LATEST AND NEW ISSUES.

T29 Silver-blade. the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Buy.
By Jon. E. Badger, Jr.

780 Violet Vanc’u Verdict; or, The Crooked Game at Coflb
City. By Wm. G. Patten.

781 Bath Redmond. the. Girl Shadower; or, The Rival. In.
Buckskin. lly Col. Premise lngraliam.

732 Daily Dell. the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping Big Game.
By T. C. llarhnugh.

788 Toltee. Tom. the Mud Pronpectcr; or, Unearthing the Cavern
League. By Liciit. A. K. Slim.

734 Deadwood Dick, Jr.‘n, Double Dealt Or, The All—
Around Surprise. By Edward L. “’heeler.
Ready Auguet l8.

785 Broadway Billv’u Bunineu; or, Waking Up Wind Can-1
you Camp. 3' J. C. Cowdrick.
Ready August 95.

T86 Larry, the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side.
By George C. quiu.
Ready September 1.

A New Issue. Every Tuesday.

The Bolf- Dime Library II tor sale by all now-deals“. In»
cent. per copy, or lent by until on receipt of six cents each.

BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pnbfllherl. ‘

98 William Street, New York. ‘