Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 294) (1883 03 13)
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& J CEE LOCA WO ffi, aw \ sles el ietintiataiarataa we DAT G0 i et i i i! ot a i! i! at a! a Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., at Second Class Mall Rates. Copyright, 1883 , by BraDLE AND ADAMS, March 18, 1883. Single PUBLISHED WEEKLY. BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, Price, & Vol. XII. Number. No, 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. 5 Cents. No. 204. DYNAMITE DAN; or, THE BOWIE BLADE OF COCHETOPA, By Ri aOe' EEA RBA Oe, AUTHOR OF “PLUCKY PHIL,” ' ARKANSAW,” “BILL BRAVO,” “OAPTAIN APOLLO,” ‘CAPTAIN BULLET,” “OLD FROSTY,” KTC,, WMO. Ti Uy U, = : See: SST CED Ps Stee = * i TY a WITH A CRY OF PAIN THE MINER SURGEON LOOKED AT HIS BAND. Jr HAD BEEN PINNED TO THE LOGS BY A TWELVE-INCH BOWIK,.
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Dynamite Dan; The Bowie Blade of Cochetopa, BY T. C. HARBAUGH, AUTHOR OF “BILL BRAVO.” ‘ DANDY DICK,” **OLD WINCH,” ‘GOLD TRIGGER,” ‘‘ CAP- TAIN APOLLO,” ‘‘ CAPTAIN BULLET,” “ KIOWA CHARLEY,” MIDNIGHT JACK,” ‘OLD FROSTY,” “TORNADO TOM,” BTC., ETO. CHAPTER I. ENEMIES OF THE PAST, In the midst of a thunder-storm that swept the trails and passes of the San Juan mountains in southwestern Colorado, a human figure ap- peared suddenly on the borders of the roughest of stage roads, and crouched, as if for protec- tion from some enemy, under a ledge of rock, The almost incessant crashes of thunder seemed to rend the inky sky overhead, and the forked lightning ever and anon revealed the man’s surroundio “Velvet Foot is here—now let the yellow er come!” hese were the only words that dropped from the croucher’s lips while he kept his position with his head turned in a listening attitude to the south, or toward the New Mexican border. A summer day renowned for its rare beauty had lately closed, and the fearful storm had followed the going down of the sun. The uncouti stage road beside which the man under the rock crouched, ran northward to the borders of the Gunnison country, while south- ward it extended to the confines of Santa Fe. It was not the safest of thoroughfares, for it ran through the road-agents’ choicest territory, and the Indian did not hesitate to arrow the driver and rob the passengers. There were few men brave enough to drive the stage that Jumbered over the road at uncer- tain intervals; and they were dark-faced fel- lows inured to dangers, and daring enough for any calling. Not far from the croucher, but deep in the mountains was Clea? Grit, an extensive mining- camp, where the stage always unloaded and where fresh horses were obtained. Tten the driver would swear and crack his whip, and the team would start for Gunnison. The man on thestage trail kne~ all this. He was expecting the stage despite the storm. The lightning revealed a dark Indianfied face with keen piercing ‘black eyes, long hair and velvety hands. He was clad in half-civilized garments, 4 homely buckskin jacket, trowsers that reached to bis kaees, amd moccasins. His cap was a whole ooonskin, and his weapons—if he carried any—a revolver and a k the last-named moss like a stiletto than the bowie of the far esc, He posse-sed a wonderful deal of patience, for, as the time wore on with the elements still war- ring overhead, not a murmur escaped his li He seemed to feel that if he waited enough the stage would come, No one would have looked under that rocky ledge for an enemy, and an assassin would have chosen another place. The croucher with “the no face was not there to kill. Where was the stage? Several miles to the south four horses were toiling slowly up a rough incline with their neads bent to the tempest. The man seated above them no longer plied the whip, nor added a driver’s oaths to the harsh rattle of tbe thunder, “We'll gis thar if you give the hosses a chance,” be said, apparently addressing some one on the inside ‘of the stage that creaked over the mountain trail, threatening at times to top- hid over in spite of the efforts of the gallant * I’ve seen storms before, but this is the boss un. When will we strike | Cl’ar Grit? Some time afore day, if we keep on.” “Then keep n, for heaven’s sake!” answered a man from the interior of the vehicle, “ Won't we strike the leve] soon?” ‘*Thar’s no level to this trail; it’s up ax’ dowsi ong all the time. pamepee vou've never struck the se Juan kentr nore. b The mutte reply that this observa- tion did not reach the driver’s ears. ‘* { needn’t tell you if I have,” were the words. ** Yes, sir, 1 have seen the San Juan country be- ; | er ee Dmemaise Dan. fore, and, if I am not inisinciicth more than one man will know it before I’m many days here. Dan?” There was no ead toe ‘You ain’t asleep, Dynamite?” ‘*No, I’m not asleep,” said the deep voice of an uncultured man from one of the dark corners of the stage. ‘I’ve been wishing that we war at Cl'ar Grit. I don’t likestor ms—I allus bated ‘em. I never could see what they’re good for.” A slight laugh greeted the 74 word, but it ended pa y, for a flash of lightning that lit up the whole interior of the stage, as well as the mountain road for a goodly distance, caused the two passengers to recoil from the windows with exclamations of terror. “That's boss lightning, cap’n,” said the man ynamite, ‘This San who had been called Juan kentry bests the world in more ways than one, I’m glad you’ve come intoit. You'll like it by an’ by—when you git used to the boys an’ their ways. But you’ve seen men catamounts afore, cap’n.” rah , yes,” and a chuckle followed the last Dynamite Dan leaned forward as if to catch the expression on bis companion’s face, but keen caf a eyes were, he could not make out any- one interior of the stage was dark again, and the mountain rough fell back to his old position in the corner, not at all satisfied with his inspeo- tion, ‘There! heavens! did you see that?’ sudden- ly exclaimed Dynamite’s comrade at his ear. **See what, cap’n?” “ Something just crawled up on top of the 8 Yer dreamin’, cap’n.” “No! I got but’a glimpse of the thing for its foot touched my hand. It wasn’t the foot of a catamount, Dynamite, for I've felt that before now: but it felt like the soft moccasin of an In- dian.” If the speaker could have seen Dynamite Dan’s face at that moment he would have been confronted by an expression of unbelief, The mountain rough had traveled the trail before, but an ineldent of the kind just men- —_— by his companion he had never met with bate: a moment neither of the men spoke again 4 human figure had made its way to the top of the stage, why had not the driver dis- covered it? The horses were now drawing the vehicle over a comparatively fair road, but the vivid lightnin mec impr’ revealed towering masses of jagged rocks which at places threatened to descend upon the stage and crush it, “‘Something’s up there—I know it!” sisted Dynamice’s companion, breaking the si- lence that reigned in the stage, ‘‘1 certainly felt a foot.” ““If you say so, cap’n, I’)! look.” As there was no response, Dynamite Dan opened the door at the rear end of the vehicle and almost instantly disuppeared is fel- low travelers’ gaze. thai ran around the top of the stage, and swung himself clear of the one step under the door. . ‘He'll find an Indian up there—I know it,” ejaculated the man left in the vehicle. “ It’s the red skin who has stuck to the trail with tko aaclase wpe of a blood-hound. He knew I was travel the trail to-night. My God! I'll pen- sion Dynamite for life if he pays my debts while he’s up there.” The last wor] had scarcely left the speaker’s lips when a wild oath grated on his ears, and something not unlike the body of a man shot past the windows toward the road “Dynamite found bim, as I knew he would!” be agdeiroed. starting up and drawing a re- volver as he sprung to the door. ‘ If the fall- ing man was Dynamite, I'l] settlé with the red- skin myself. ings bave got to reach a crisis ee now aban after awhile per- ae was on the outside of the vebicle, and his voice sounded like the hiss of a snake, “Tm here, devil!” he exclaimed, as he dex- to the roof of the trou-ly drew bis sh Bowie Blade a long stage. ‘You have bun time. The trail ends here!” At that moment a flash of lightning rent the sky, and he sew to bis s , that he was the only rson on the stage. Tred coward. you would not stand and face Bowie Blade,” be grated, raising his veiee. “You stole to the stage roof like a sneaking mountain et you left it like a whipped wolf! a The next moment hecaught the iron railing: I have come to the San Juan region for a purpose which a thousand cowardly Velvet Foots cannot balk. I’m the same man who got the best of you when you were the coward of Sitting Bull’s camp—the same person whorobbed you of the only thing ou ever loved—and that thing you _ stole, evil, 1am Bowie Blade! The knife I carried then I carry now, but J can use it better than I did the night we parted in the canyon.” : To these mad words there was but one reply— a loud mad whoop that awoke the echoes of the mountains, ‘*” accept the challenge. Stand where you are—Im coming down!” answered Bowie Blade. “Stop the sta y driver, till I pay forever a debt of hate ar bleod !” But thestagelumbered on. “ Don’t you hear me?’ cried Bowie Blade; turning toward the driver’s seat. ‘*I won’t keep you here five minutes for— Heavens! there’s no man on the seat!” This discovery revealed by another lightning stroke, was certainly startling. Bowie Blade was the only occupant of the stag e roof, o!” he ealled out opin f to the horses, as he flun himself forward and gathered up the lines pulling baek with all bis Strength, which was prodigious. ‘‘Just wait a minute, red coward! I'll be there!” The foremost horses were dragged back u their haunebes, the hindmost ones. forced aga ah the stage, and the vehicle itgelf made to reeoil, “ Now for the settlement!” biased the man as he gave up the lines, and clambered over the edge of the roof from whence he leaped over the front wheel to the und, As he struck the trail, he turned to the south, for the stage had traveled some distance since his words of defiance hurled at his red foe, He had put up, the revolver, and, bis right hand gripped the weapon which had given him a title known over many leagues of the wild Southwest—Bowie Bl de. A few bounds took him down the trail. ‘Here I am!” he said, balting suddenly. * Velvet Foot, Bowie Blade, the man whom you have hunted like a bloodhound, is ready to end the trail. Come forth! Webave fought before in the night. You sought me then; I seek you now. But if you would live a while longer to die at last like a dog at the point of my knife, stand off and die thus. I have come to the San Juan region to win in a new ae Neither you nor the powers of perdition shall baffle me,” The onl ly to this challenge was the grasp- ing of Bowie’ Blade’ ’s arm by a hand that bad the ressure of a vise, elvet Foot— **No, it’s me cae amite,” was the in- terruption. “t thought * ta war Bowie Blade, but I warn’t sar’tin. I found the Injun upon the stage, but I left von I had time to inspect him. You'll poe fight him any more to- night, but ef you’re spit fur a scrimmage I kin accommodate ye.” Bowie Blade looked astonished. ** You?” he exclaimed. ‘We're not enemies Dynawite.” “Thar’s whar you ite it, Bowie. Ten years ago I wasn’t called Dynamite Dan. I got thet name among the San Juan mines. Thar’s war to the knife an’ the knife to ther hilt between us. You shouldn’t fight the Injun ef he’d come hyer fur thet purpose. I’m yer man, Bowie. You'll never elt t to open the game you came hyer ter play. Now let us go to work. Ther hosses will stand. Ther man what lives kin take cmt: stage on to Cl’ar Grit. Ther driver is eA Dynamite Dan released Bowie Blade’s arm and stepped back. At that moment the forked fire revealed his position to Velvet Foot’s foe. Dynamite Dan stood five feet off ready for -- Satis fourteen inch bowie in his right and! I know you, Indian. CHAPTER IL A DEVIL’s THROW. I pon’T care a continental for the southern stege. I want to hear frem the north.” In fact, every denizen of Clear Grit Camp was anxious te hear from “the north.” The night whose storm witnessed the events narrated in the foregoing chapter was nearing its end, but not a man of Clear Grit had closed his eyes in slumber. miners’ camp was situated more than twenty miles north of the spot we have just
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om ee left. The rough stage road that wound like a gerpent’s path over the San Juan mountains ran through it on its way to Gunnison, a town of some importacce on the Gunnison river, The last mentioned place lay north of Clear Grit, and wild was the mountain scenery and rough the many trails that stretched between the two towns. The ‘‘north” referred to by the citizens of Clear Grit, whom we have just quoted was /bat, in other words was called the Gunnison ‘wcountry, although it might mean the weird Cochetopa Hills, ‘None ov us cares about the stage,” said another of the dark-shirted miners, who formed a ring about the camp-fire that burned in the ewenier of the camp, where there was a roughly laid-out square. “It’s time fur Montezuma an’ his pards to come in, It all depends on the news the boys bring back. If it’s gold, we’ll leave Cl’ar Grit to the coyote an’ the crow, an’ break fur the new diggin’s. Mebbe it’s an Injun yarn— a red-skin decoy an’ nothin’ else,” ‘‘Tt’s gold—hard rocks an’ hard to git, Bliz- zard!” put in another, glancing at the last speaker, known throughout Clear Grit as Bliz- zard Bil. ‘*I know the Cochetopa Hills, fur warn’t I lost thar once? An’ I never dreamed that I war wanderin’ over miles on miles ov gold mines, bu. I war!” ‘*‘Thet's only opinion, Nugget; but we'll wait till the boys come in.” ‘*They’re comin’ now.” Several men sprung up and listened for a mo- ment, but soon sat down again, di ted. ‘It’s the infernal Mexican stage!” they said. “We want news from the north—nothin’ from Greaserdom |!” The men of Clear Grit had some days before sent several miners to the distant hetopa Hills for the purpose of sounding the truthful- ness of the reports that gold existed in great quantities there. The mines about the camp were, in western arlance, “‘ playing out,” and the citizens of lear Grit were anxious to pull up stakes and leave for a more fruitful gold-producing re- gion, What, if coupled with the reports of treasure in the new country, was a ory of a band of mysterious men, who guarded the mines? What if the story teller had poured into the ears of the men of Clear Grit a thrilling narrative of hair-breadth escapes in that country? The gold-hunters never thought of such things. The Cochetopa Hills might swarm with In- dians and h men, the latter sup to be road-agents in new employment—if Montezuma and his friends, the investigating committee, re- ported gold among the hills, sag would forth- with abandon Clear Grit—leave it to the coyote and the crow, as oue bas said—and invade the ne of death and gold, ’ t was time for the spies to return, But instead of them there came the sounds of & team approaching from the Mexican border. It was the stage. “(T wish that stage an’ its passengers war in the Styx!” ted one of the miners. “ Hyer Tve sat listenin’ to the bosses b’lievin’ thet it ‘war Montezuma an’ his pards. Thet route ou’t ‘to be bn’sted up fur foolin’ us thet way. What does it amount to, anyhow? The only passen- gers it brings to CPar Grit ar’ a few New Mexi- cans an’ Injuns—fellers what stay an hour, poke their noses ’round, never set ’em up, an’ on to the Gunnison kentry, where they all git rich, an’ go home another way.” **That’s so, Chincapin. Let’s tell old Zeb thet he needn’t go on to-night, nor in the mornin’ ‘er, While we're waitin’ for Montezgama, tin bu’st up thet stage-route, which never 1.bt one payin’ passenger to Cl’ar Grit.” ©e@ last speaker’s proposition was received ich a good deal of favor, and, as the heavy stage approached, giving forth elear notes of its progress in the clear night-air, the majority of the sitters round the camp-fire got up, eager to break up the route. obody counseled restraint, for it was evi- dent tbat the route, which,was a private enter- prise managed by men in Gunnison, bad no friends in Clear Grit. “What does Zeb mean? He's comin’ this way, as if he had no passengers to unload at the old stoppin’-place,” suddenly said one of the ronghs. ‘* Look onder! Thet’s not the old feller on the seat. “Not by a long shot!” exclaimed several, for the whole crowd was staring at the driver, who was pane the lines on the seat usually occa- by best-known stage man in stage was a man whose appearance Claimed the attention of every one, He was strikingly arrayed, in the first place, in a loose Mexican jacket, embroidered with wide silver braid; and his leggings, loose but not baggy, opened at the lower extremity, where there were several gilt buttons. He wore a wide-rimmed sombrero, which was upturned in front, displaying a handsome face, ornamented by a pair of glittering black eyes, a wavy mus- tache, dark as a raven’s wing, and framed in a sea of black hair that fell over his shoulders, “ Buffalo Bill!” ejaculated Chincapin. “That man Buffalo Bill?’ echoed several. ‘Whar ar’ yer eyes, Chincapin? Take another look. Ah, you see now!” * Ov course ldo. { don’t know him.” By chis time, toe man on the seat had guided the i «-es alongside of the fire, and was gazin down 'iyon the rough crowd with as much oarh. osity as was being bestowed upon him. ‘Ts this Clear ? he asked, in a half-satis- fled tone. “That’s what it war at sundown,” was the uick retort; ** but it’s not likely to be Cl’ar rit forever. Whar’s Zeb, stranger?’ Instead of replying to this question concern- ing the old driver, the man in the sombrero be- gan to come down from his perch. He struck the ground with his face turned to the crowd. ; Those who had noticed him carefully from the first saw that he’bad not averted it for a moment, ‘‘Tam driver and passenger all in One,” be said, as he smiled. ‘I came near being left be- hind; but it fell to the other man’s lot to stay.” He spoke the last words so significantly that the men of Clear Grit exchanged glances. ‘‘Thar’s been a meetin’ somewhar,” muttered Chincapin. ‘I don’t like his looks, but he’s a game one—thbe blackest, killin’est eyes the stage ever fetched from the south.” The stranger drew a long breath after bis last ord. ‘*T don’t know where the old driver is,” he said, replying to twenty eyes at the same time. **T didn’t have time to go to look for bim. You baven’t such a thing as a surgeon in camp, have you?” ‘** Yes,” said Chincapin, stepping forward. “TI guess I’m the only chap what knows the differ. ence between a lesion an’ a bruise! I’m Chinuca- pin. Ar’ you hurt?’ The new-comer eyed Chincapin closely for a moment. The self-styled surgeon was not a bad-looking an. He was slightly above the medium hight, well built, gray-eyed and quite intelligent look- ing, although he used the vernacular of the r= ey He might have passed his twonty-third year, and it was possible for him to bo nineteen, s0 young he looked. The stranger’s scanning with his piercing eyes seemed to end in Chincapin’s favor. “TI am burt, how badly I don’t know, for I can’t see,” he said, smiling faintly. “‘1 got into w my a fracas gon over the trail. I think the driver lost bis life.” This sentence was ad- dressed to the crowd in general. ‘* Where will you examine my wound at, Dr. Chincapin?” ** At my office,” answered the youth, grinning, as he glanced at bis companions, who noted his humorous emphasis of the last word. ‘Come with me, You kin leave the stage an’ the hosses, The boys ’1l take care ov them. As Chincapin turned away, he was followed by the dark-featured Apollo, who walked un- steadily, but with bis coal-black eyes fixed on the young doctor. Ye, the men of Clear Grit would “ take care” of the team and the stage, for had they not just resolved to break up the route, so that ro more ame Mexicans should be carried over the bor- er? Chincapin and his follower did not exchange a word during the P vem hia to the former's cabin, which stood a few rods from the square illumined by the camp fire. : The young miner-doctor ushered bis patient a dark room which he soon relieved by a g ‘‘ This is my office, though I don’t have many jobs,” smiled Chineapin. ‘* Yes, sir, they use the knife an’ pistol here just as they do every- Cnet but the doctor never gets anything 0. The listener smiled, for Chincapin’s words were not hard to understand. 3 eS embroidered jacket, and Chincapin saw dark stains on the gray sbirt thus exposed and right behind the right shoulder. ‘*A knife wound. Ah! I see!” exclaimed the young doctor as he began to expose the shoulder, The wearer of the sombrero ground his teeth, and braced himself; then he said; ‘*Don’t handle me as though [ was a child, Chincapin. I’m aman who has been thar be- fore. I wouldn’t be Bowie Blade the sport if I flinched bere.” Why did Chincapin start back with an illy suppressed cry and stare at the speaker asif a ghost had risen at his feet? What magic was there in the name of Bowie Blade? ‘Why don’t you go on?” asked the handsome patient impatiently. ‘‘I want to get out of Clear Grit as soon as possible.” With the last word be wheeled upon Chin- capin who recoiled as their eyes met. ** Are you Bowie Blade?” the young surgeon asked in a tone that betrayed his great excite- ment, ‘ ‘I’m nobody else, but who are you and why do you nail your eyes to me? You have called yourself Chincapin, but—” ‘‘’m only Chincapin, but I have a right to take your life!” ** You?” “*Yes—I!” : ** Another man tried that since sundown, but ere You may have heard of Dynamite an, Chincapin uttered a startlin é ‘He was my friend!” ap ** And my foe!” . ‘Devil, I will avenge his death! I always felt that we would meet some dav. When discovered that you were not Buffalo Bill, I thought that you might be Bowie Blade.” As Chincapin uttered his patient’s name, he sprung forward, all the lion in his nature glar- ing from his flashing eyes. ‘This for Dynamite’s blood!” be shouted with uplifteu bowie, ‘*I dress - wound forever by inflicting one more deadly!” The next instant the two men came tegether. Chincapin’s vengeance-guided arm came down with force enough to drive the heavy bowie through bone as well as flesh, but it was met by the sport’s right hand, and effectually checked nT dow t blood, Chincapin—you’re ‘I don’t want your nea nothing to me!” said Bowie Blade. calmly as he held the frenzied youth away. ‘‘ But I will ad- monish you that I’m not to be trifled with.” An instant later the astonished Chincapin was flung across his cabin by a strength that seemed to belong to a giant. He struck the wall, dropped his knife, and threw one hand up for support. At that moment Bowie Blade made a move that dazed him; something hissed through the air across the space that separated them, and a hundred needles seemed to pierce his palm. With a cry of pain the miner-surgeon looked at his band. 4 It had been pinned to the logs by a twelve- inch bowie! ' ‘ **Good-night, Doctor Chincapin,” said Bowie Blade, “I'll get my wounds dressed elsewhere, You're young, but don’t be a fool. Don’t fol- low me crying for blood. T’ve had all of yours that I want. If you lose your head, the next throw may not transfix your hand. A twelve- inch bowie cau find a heart as well as a hand.” Chincapia heard the man through. Then his feet seemed to slide from under a whole weight’ was on that dreadful nife Is it a wonder that he swooned? CHAPTER IL MONTEZUMA’S REPORT. “Conrounp it! I had to admonish the Se ey that I must not be trifled with,” said owie Blade, in audible tones, as he stepped from the cabin, leaving the swooning Chinica- pin to his fate. ‘(I didn’t want his heart, which I could have had as easily as I got his hand, The next time, as I told bim, it may not be his hand—that is, if he fools with me. My wound doesn’t hurt any longer—neither do I feel weak any more. I’m Bowie Blade yet, and the men I cr! in the new gold region will see their leader s00n ; He looked over his shoulder as he finished, ag if a sound had startled him, but he saw no ona.
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4. He was more than a.rod from the miner’s cubio, and through the still open door he saw a light burning on the rough deal table, If be had looked shar per he might have caught sight of poor Caiacapin., i **The boy’s out of the way for the present, and Dynamite Dan forever, I chink,” he re- sumed, starting forward again, ‘' The stroke I gave him after he cut me ended the fight, for he reeled away and fell-headlong over the cliff at the edge of the stage trail where we fought. Heavens! to think that I rode twenty imiles with a man who has wanted my life these ten year's. I never dreamed that Dynamite was Dan Tbun- derbolt, the man whom [ outwitted when I beat the Indian—the red-devil that climbed up onthe stage. I must get out of the San Juan country: 1 must go back to the boys among the Cochetopa Hills; but Coincapia will follow me— there’s enough lion in him for just such child- ishness,” and Bowie Blade ground his teeth. “Well, let him!” he hised. ‘* By Heavens! I want all of them to trait me—Chincapin, Vel- vet Foot, every one of them! 1am willing for the battle-ground to be the Cochetopa region. Iam at home there. Yes, in that land of gold Bowie Blade is king!” He uttered his last words with the pride and defiance of a fearless man. He carried himself like a conqueror, his step firm, and:his eyes shone like diamonds. From Chincapin’s cabin he walked straight to the square where be had left the stage and its team a few minutes before. The men of Clear Grit had carried their threats into execution; they had commenced to break up the stage route, for the horses had been nnbarnessed and taken away, and the flames of the camp-fire were fast devouring the Véhicle. An oath fell from Bowie Blade’s lips when he saw this. His hopes of getting from Clear Grit that night by stage had to be abandoned; be would have to séck another method of exit from the camp. It was more than idle curiosity that impelled him toward the crowd that surrounded a grizzly giant who was mounted on a whisky barrel in the center of the square. - The commit or one of them at least, had returned from the Cochetopa Hills, and was making his report. Bo Blade advanced until he stood within — of the coarse voice of the man on the “Gold! why the whole kentry’s full ov it!” said the giant. “ We warn’t thar three hours afore Jim picked up a nugget that war almost the e’lar stuff. An’ places fur minin’! no hee everything handy. Thar ain’t a nw whack, in my estimation, pards—not ~one Did a faint smile appear at the corners of Bowie Blade’s mouth? “How kin that be, Montezuma?” asked a man in the-crowd. ‘ Yousay thar ain’t any draw- backs up yonder, an’ yet you left the other boys tbar—hunted down an’ wiped out by a gang ov men who are not Injuns, An’ thar is no draw- Montezuma, the giant, let a deflant laugh part his before he answered. “Tbat man’s more than a devil!” murmured Bowie Blade, fixing his eyes on the Hercules on the barrel. ‘I would rather that the boys had finished him and let the rest of the committee come back with a report. What on produced that fellow?, Montezuma, they call him. I never heard of him before.” It was true. Bowie Blade, the rasta now saw and heard of Montezuma for the first time! He seemed to realize that he gazed upon one who was destined to give him as much trouble as all the rest. of his enemies put together. It is not strange, therefore, that while he lared at the giant bis right hand should glide ward the deadly Mig teed in his belt. The laugh that shook the gray hairs of the giant’s drooping mustache was more the laugh of a fiend than that of a man. “The boys ar’ back thar—thet’s a fact,” he after it had ended and he had turned upon . the man who bad spoken from crowd. be died with their boots on, as men should die, Thar may be drawbacks to minin’ in the Cochetopa xenury to some men, but thar’s none to Montezuma, Ef it warn’t fur comin’ back - ter rey by Jove! i would have stayed. I’m zoin’ back et 4 hey to go alone, an’ play a lone iand with the men who claim the region!” A loud shout, not from one throat but from many, went t up from the crowd. it told Bowie Blade that Montezuma would a a ere Re tp < Dynamite Dan. mene of men as fearless and as desperate as him- self, ** We’re ail goin’ back with you, Montezuma!” cried the spokesman of the crowd. ‘‘ We'll leave Clar Grit to the coyote an’ the wolf. If thar ar’ a thousand masked devils ia the gold kentry, we'll go an’ win it. Boys, all ov ye what vote to go to the Cochetopa Hills hold up yer right hands!” It is needless to say that every bronzed right hand instantly went up. ‘‘ That means an invasion of my fifty men who cannot be scared off,” said Bowie Blade, ‘‘ They will have to be killed. The boys should know of the intended raid. If they think they have seen Montezuma for the last time, they are destined to wake up some morning and find themselves terribly mistaken,” He stood in his tracks a while longer. He saw the men of Clear Grit throw their hats into the air at Montezuma’s suggestion, and heard them give three cheers for uhe new land of riches. lear Grit was to be abandoned the following day, and Moutezuma was to lead the band to the new mines! All knew that the gold that lay buried in the depths of the Cochetopa Hills and along the water-courses was not to be obtained merely for the digging. Each nagget might cost the blood, if not the life, of a human being—but what of that? The miners of Clear Grit were men who had risked life for gold and silver before; they were ready, eager to do it again. ‘“«To the Cochetopa Hills!” was the cry. The guardians of the mines there should be driven from the treasure, and the men of Clear Grit would win the new Eldorado at the bowie’s point and the revolver’s muzzle! ‘‘Hold! What will we do with the last pas- senger?” suddenly asked a rough fellow, just as Bowie Blade was in the act of turning away. “ He can’t go on in the stage.” ‘Leave im bebind, er give ’im @ boss an’ let im go on,” was one of the replies. ‘‘ He’s no- body’s fool, if I read his eyes kerrectly. Mebbe he’ll die on Chincapin’s hands,” ‘‘ Who camein ther stage?’ asked Montezuma. ‘““A Bouthern dandy, Monte—a chap with a sombrero, long heir, an’ eyes that said ‘shoot! shoot! fifty times in a minute.” The giant uttered an exclamation that almost made Bowie Blade recoil. ‘Where is that man?” he cried. “I want to see im. Is he stil] in Cla’r Grit?” * He’s at Chincapin’s,” “War he burt?” ‘* Cut somewhar.” - whom?” ‘*We don’t know thet.” *‘ What did he call himself?” ** Bowie Blade.” Great God, boys! to catch byer!” catch him.” *“ But you will not : Tove last sentence fell in determined tones from Bowie Blade’s lips. He saw the giant dash through the crowd while his last exclamation still quivered his ; lips, and filled his eyes with flashes of re, “The not find. will find Chincapin, but they shall i me—not here at any rate!” the sport continued. ‘They have chosen their battle- ground. I will meet them on it. The blood of every man yonder shaJl water the soil of the Cochetopa country. By Jove! it was a lucky moment when I[ poe, § to return to the boys by way of Clear Grit.” Bowie. Blade withdrew whence he bad witnessed the scenes described. Montezuma, followed by one-half of his audience, had already disappeared. erritory by He’s the man we want from the spot from just few eager bounds would take him beyond the threshold. : What was to be done must be accomplished quickly. The sport turned toward the North, Was 3 going to leave Clear Grit on foot? Fate or intuition, no difference which, brought him soon to the rude stables. where the relay of stage horses had been kept since the establish- ment of the route. ‘“A fool for luck!” exclaimed Bowie Blade. “J might bave spent an hour hunting for a horse. Ah! I will beat all you devils to the Hills, and when you reach them, you'll our equals ready for the tussle.” strong doors were shut, Bowtie Blade to pick. Although the rough, there were no locks for not go back alone; he would have at bis back a He would soon reach Chincapin’s cabin—a, | —and one his hand touched, and led bim forth. In a short time the light of another day would again beautify the San Juan valley. Triumpb flashed up in Bowie Blade’s eyes as he threw himseif upon the back of the fresh horse which he had already clothed with bridle and bit. Spurs he had none, saddle he did not wait to secure. ‘Now for the death tussle in the Cocheton lands!” fell from his tongue as he urged tho horse frem the spot. A laugh so near that he turned his head was the sole reply. “That infernal Indian!” hissed Bowie Blade. ‘‘He would not meet me when I dared him to the tussle on the stage road, By heavens! Il) wep and face bim here in spite of Montezuma and his pards who have found Chincapin by this time,” He reined in his horse so suddenly that the animal was forced back upon his haunches, snorting with rage. “Velvet Foot no fight here!” said a voice from the gloom that surrounded the uncouth stables. ‘ He will be with Bowie Blade in the gold CONSE 5 but he will not enter it with the vellow rock bunters of Clear Grit. Velvet Foot will follow his enemy to the end of the irail where blood will make the grass red. Does Bowie Blade wonder how Velvet Foot followed him so rapidly# Ah! he does not know that while he drove the borses Velvet Foot rode in the white man’s stage.” An exclamation of mingled rage and aston- isbment was Bowie Blade’s retort, “Gods! if I had known that, your trail would have ended before this!” he grated. ‘‘ You dare not end it bere. Coward! red som? you dare not face Bowie Blade where he is willing to meet you! ‘Velvet Foot bhasspoken. Him no fight bere. The pos will be red before long in the new Id land. Hark! The men of Clear Grit want wie Blade’s blood. Velvet Foot will not strike here!” The voice ceased, but other sounds strack the Spor t’s ears. A crowd of mad, revengeful spirits was surg- ing toward the stables. “*T will go in order to meet the Cochetopa Hills!” flashed the ou don’t want my life any more than I wan't yours. The beauty I robbed you of still lives, Velvet Foot. She's no girl now—no little child er home isn’t a smoky wigwam; but she’s a woman—the fairest flower in this wide America—and Bowie Blade’s devoted wife!” A howl of anger parted the lips of the unseen in. ‘« Bowie Blade can’t force Velvet Foot into a you Dey : fight now,” was the reply. ‘‘ He holds back his hand until he is yoy d to strike.” —~ ** You'll strike too late!” “ Bowie Blad see. The oath of the red-man is in the hands of the Great Spirit. He will keep it until he kin hand it back to Velvet Foot over the dead heart of Bowie Blade.” “ Come to the gold bills and try it!” exclaimed the sport, giving bis horse voice and rein. “Come, coward, if you dare!” “ Velvet Foot will come,” was the reply. CHAPTER IV. CLEAR GRIT'S. BOOM. MontrzuMA and bis comrades had found Chincapin bleeding and senseless in the little cabin where Bowie Blade’s knife bad pierced his hand, pinning it to the rough a Several stayed torevive the youth. The res with border oaths and threats of vengeance, bounded away. But they reached the stables too late. The man they wanted was gone. If Velvet Foot, the Indian, saw them, he did not show bimself. The exhibition might have worked him injury. : “Thar’s no use follerin’ him ef he took a hoss,” said Montezuma. ‘‘I wish I had knowed thet he war so.near. I wouldn’t hev made my report until we bed made a sieve out ov him. Who is Bowie Blade? Who but the boss ov the devils what guard the gold mines ov the chetopa Hills?” “ Ah! if we had known thet!” ejaculated one of the listeners, regretfully. ‘‘ I never thought him more than a balf-breed. dandy on his way to Gunnison. He didn’t hey to come this way to get to the Hills,” “Ov course not.” “He wanted to see if we hed heard ov the new gold kentry.” ye Thet's it—thet’s what fetched ‘im to Clar
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pin the way he bez. He might hev let the alone. Thar isn’t a man hyer who wouldn’t die fur the youngster.” _—¥ ‘Not a man, Montezuma.” ‘Dynamite his pard ain’t hyer—he hezn’t got back from the South, bat we'll stand by the boy an’ makes Bowie Blade pay for every drop ov blood he shed to-night, just ez ef Dynamite 4 var hyer.” “ We're fur Chincapin ag’in ther world!” More than one man spoke the last sentence; is tell from the lips of every one who had listened to the bronz3 giant Montezuma. A moment’s silences tollowed. “The men up yonder will hear all from their eap’a,” said the Hercules, pointing northward, toward the far-away Cochetopa Hills. ‘* When we git thar, we'll fiad them prepared, but what ov that: They'll find us ready! Pm eager to pull up stakes and leave Cl’ar Grit. What's the use oy stayin’ hyer another minute? Ef Chineapin ain’t able to travel he kin stay be- hind an’ wait till Dynamite comes. By Jove! { wish we hed tha old fellar with us now. We'd make things bum up yonder, with bis revolver among ther rest. I’m off fur the Hills afore the sun creeps over the peaks.” A wild cheer which told the speaker that every man who heard was with him was the reply, and the crowd drew back from the stables. By common consent the steps of all were bent toward the cabin where Camecapin, having recovered from his faint, was relating to a few his encounter with Bowie Blade while his hand was dressed, . The sport’s bowie had inflicted a terrible gash, but the wound had b2en closed by several stitebes, and lint and bandages applied. The youth smiled grimly when the rougbs headed by Montezuma, appeared at the door, each one with a solicitous countenance, and re- venge lurking tiger-like in their eyes. ‘“A hand, not a heart, boys,” he said. “The next time I play doctor Pl know something about my patients.” ‘“ What turned ’im on yen asked Montezuma. “T attacked him first. “You?” ‘Yes, I suddenly discovered that he was the man who robbed Dynamite and the Indian years ago,” The listeners exchanged looks of astonishment. ‘‘Robbad ’em oy what, C incapin?” Instead of replying, Chinecapin’s face lost color, ant he started like a person caught in the act of revealing a secret. ‘Thar! you needn’t give anybody away ef you don’t want to,” said Montezuma kindly. ‘‘ We «lon’t care fer you to go on if you bev to let out @ secret o7 soms kind. We don’t care a conti- mental what Bowie Blade stole from Dynamite an’ a rad-skin years ago. Wo know tliet he’s chief ov the gang thet rule in the gold kentry, an’ thet he drew some ov yer blood, an’ thet’s all we want ter know. Kin yer travel, Chinca- in?” The youth’s eyes seemed to dance with eager- mess. “My hand is the only injured member I have, an’ it’s the left hand at that, thank for- tane. He left mo ths right,one that I might settle with him one of these days.” ‘Tn ths Cochetopa kentry?” ‘*T care not where!” ‘Wal, we're goin’ to say good-by to Car Grit, an’ thet ae away,” said Montezuma, ‘“Thar’s more gold to the sqaar’ foot up thar than anywhar elsa on ther continent. Ave've haen gettin’ mad occasionally hyer, an’ killin’ y 29 another. Up thar we'll have enemies to _Il—a gang ov man who obey Bowie Blade's “ry wink. Ob, I heard ov him when I war thar. In mora than one placa among the Hills they posted moticas thet say: ‘Tbis gold mine is mine! Death to the dog, white er red, who touches a augget.—Bowie Blade.’ Thet’s what them notices say, an’ every last one is pinned to the trees wita a fourtesn inch howie, some- times with two, jist ez if thar ar’ mines ov sech blades up thar, We'd hev ye with us. Chin- capin, bub we thought yo’ want to wait fer Dynamite, who'll be comin’ back soon.” “‘Taar 1829 Dynamite any more,” said ove of the mon who had remained with the young snrgeon after the finding, ‘No Dynamite?’ echoed Montezuma. “Come, Colossus, we want no chaff.” : “* Ask the boy.” _ The Colorado giant turned to Chineapin, but id not speak. uestion. His glance was & ““Thoe cut below Bowie Blade’s shoulder was Dynamite Dan. Grit! But he didn’t hey to go an’ save Chinca- | Dynamite’s legacy,” Chincapin answered. ‘They mei somewhar along the stage road, an’ after the tussle the man who won drove on to Cl’ar Grit.” : “Killed Dynamite, eh?” grated the giant. ‘*He said so, ov course, but he lied! I wouldn’t b'lieve a thousand Bowie Blades ef each one swore he wiped Dan out, I tell ye, Chincapin, Dynamite ain’t to die in ther presence ov sucha dog?” ** He surely fought some one.” ““T don’t dispute thet, fur ther cut proves it. But he didn’t kill Dynamite,” “T wish t could think so.” “You will, by-an’-by, Now, what will you do—go with us or stay an’ wait for Dynamite?” “J will go,” answered Chincapin, telling all by his decision that Montezuma’s words had not raised his hopes. “Then we're off. We'll leave the place whar ther shanties stand so hot fer ther wolves thet they’ll burn their feet ef they come sneakin’ round. Come, boys. We kin paok up an’ git ready afore sun-up!” Led by the giant, in whom they put implicit votre the men of Clear Grit turned from the cabin. Chincapin stood alone like a man in a trance, He glanced at his bandaged hand, and felt with a quiver the sharp pain that darted through every nerve. His eyes flashed madly as he looked. “T am going away from Clear Grit,” he said unconsciously speaking aloud as. if he had a listener. ‘‘I have been happy here, for Dyna- mite bas made life enjoyable. But T am goin to tread the path of vengeance—to li my hand against the man that has taken his life. I don’t care a snap for my wound, It only serves to iokensity my hatred. I must step into Dynawite’s life trail. I must bunt for Floss—the only being Dynamite ever wholly fixed his heart on. What if she once occupied a smoky wigwam? It was because Dynamite had no house for her. What has become of the Indian Velvet Foot, heaven knows! He has left Bowie Blade’s trail lon ago. Maybe the sport hurled him aside with one of his knives, Time will tell, Good-by Clear Grit. Dynamite will come no more an I may see you for the last time when the sun rises, I spurn Bowie Blade’s warnin’. I am willin’ for him to make it heart not haud, next time, if be can!” The youth stood in the door of his cabin while he uttered the last words. Daylight was breaking once more over the miners’ town. The campfire in the square was smoldering, and the last remains of the cumbersome stage were blackened sticks, Chincapiz knew that the miners were nearly ready to leave Clear Grit in a body for the Cochetopa Hills—that unknown land of gold and death, They had few goods to pack, and these con- sisted principally cf mining tools which could be transported on the backs of horses: the min- ers themselves bad few effects of their own. “Hurry up, Chincapin,” called out a voice, “ We're about ready to vamose the ranch.” The youth stepped back intothe cabin and armed himself with knife, revolver, and re- peating rifle. He took nothing else for he had nothing else to take, A sigh escaped his lips as he stepped across the threshold of the old cabiu, and turned bis back upon it, then laughing lightly at this dis- play of feeling, be sprung away and joined a number of men who were loading the horses, He was greeted pleasantly for the youth was a great favorite of the camp, but all noticed the serious expression which had again settled over his face. j ‘ ‘We're ready now, Chincapin,” said a voice at his side anda lighted stick fell at his feet, “Who war the pard you once told me about that burned all bis ships so thet. his men ‘couldn’t tarn back from the enemy's kentrv?’ Chineapin did rot reply, but stared into the bronzed face of the speaker who was Montezu- ma, * We're goin’ to make Ci'ar Grit too hot to hold ther prowlin’ coyotes when they come.” continued the giant. “Look yonder! thet’s my cabin. I gava it ther blaze myself. Ther ae boys ar’ doin’ ther same to their shan- es. Chincapin turned from Montezuma and saw volumes of dark smoke ascending sky ward from the roofs of various cabins. Clear Grit was being consumed! The miners were determined to occupy the a 2.2 Goa EE Sudeed 2-8 Ss s 1 (a 2 -Ses 2S we See Es t } | ee | new gold country. 5 There was to be no turning back. : ‘* We mean bizness!” grated Montezuma, ‘TI left a notice fur Dynamite when he comes, Chin- capin, He'll know whaér to come when he gits it. We'll not stay to see ther old camp go. We've all been happy hyar off an’ on. We'il build a new Clar Grit in the new mines, an’ «! Bowie Blade keeps his word, someov us wi | plaster up tbe chinks in the shanties thar wiih our blood. But we’re goin’ all the same, Thar’s B. fpommend bonanzas among ther Cochetopa 8! The giant ceased and watched the curling smoke and swirling flames with eyes aglow with demoniac joy. CHAPTER V. A VENGEANCE HUNTER’S OATH, Tue sun came up and found Clear Grit in flames. Roof after roof fell in, the heavy logs gave way, and showers of sparks flew heavenward, adding a thrilling grandeur to a scene which had not asingle human being for a spectator. The miners led by a giant in stature and cour- age, had turned their backs upon the burning camp. They were traversing a trail which had lately been traveled by a man who rode a sad- dleless steed, which he constantly urged forward with shouts, blows, and the point of a bowie, The smoke of the burning camp rose far above the mountains that hemmed it in. If Bowie Blade had glanced over his shoulder as the sun came up, he might have seen the dark cloud forming in the sky, and guessed its creation, Several hours passed away before a Hving being of any description appeared near the ill-fated camp. * last a man approached it, coming from the south. He was alone and on foot, and as be neared Clear Grit, an expressicn of doubt and rage strangely commingled, formed on. his swartl y countenance, In person he was rather tall, compactly buill, with broad shoulders, and arms which a gov! judge of the human form might have px - nounced a trifle long. His face was covertil with a thick, matty beard, which semewhet resembled the unkempt mane of an old lion. Be wore rough but serviceable garments of gray,. and looked like a man who had roug) edit fur many years over a large part. of the wi'd West. If he was armed he showed no weapons. . Probably he had lost them in some combat. “Tt beats my time all holler,” be Lo ae | halting and leaning egainst a tree just beyo the line of beat where he folded bis arms and gazed at the burning camp, “IT bet chances for paradise that he had suthin’ to with this deviltry. Gods! what a fool 1 war . last night, but I didn’t know what I held in my - hands all ther time, I hed a thousand chances at his throat an’I didn’t know that he war Bowie Blade. Why didn’t I know him? Be cause I saw him but once nigh ten years aga an’ then arter dark in acanyon. I mighi hew suspicioned sutbin’ when he told me that +n In- jun bed got up on the top ov the stage, for thar's livin’ a oo what would hunt him to the Styx an’ back ag’in. Like a fool, 1 went up te find thet Injun an’ got pitched off fur my ‘ {t couldn’t bev been Velvet Foot arter Cur he wouldn’t hev sarved me thet way.” The man paused and reflected for a moment. “T'll not be so sartain about this,” he said, continuing: ‘‘ It might bev been the red traior, arter all—the warrior I gave Floss to beceae 1 hed no home fer her an’ I knowed he’d treat ber well if he war a red-skin. Thea, when © onod out that my feller passenger war Bow. ther man I want—how my heart best .. > « geance, and how my hand shot ton y hed him oxce Curin’ the fightin the stage © °" but he slipped away an’ struck one ov them bio which no man kin parry. He leaped back a threw bis infernal krife—-a game of his evi, sipee he robbed n> ov Floss, Ef it, hadn’t been fer the horn button at my throat, | wouldn’t be hyer seein’ ther old camp burn. I couldn't kee my feet arter the knife struck, an’ thet’s why found myself hangin’? to a tree-top half-way down the cliff thet fringes the trail at thet peint. T didn’t know whar I war fer awhile, but it all eame hack to me—the fieht, the throw, the head: lone tumble. Dynamite, ve war born undera lucky star, snite ov Bowie Blade’s knife!” It is true that the man communiny thus in an audible tone with himself while he leaned against the tree was Rynamite Dan, the one man m ing from Clear Grit camp when it was fired and abandoned.
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He had miraculously escaped from Bowie Blade the night before, and as soon as possible had made his way to Clear Grit to gaze upon a scene which naturally startled him. “Whar ar’ the boys?—that’s what puzzles me!” he exclaimed. ‘ Thar’s been no scrim- mage ov any kind thet I bin see, but mebbe I haven’t gone far enough.” He moved forward and went down tho heated thoroughfare, with burning cabins on his right 92d on his left. “‘Thar’s been no fight—thet’s sartain!” he ex- claimed, halting at the northern confines of the camp, ‘‘Suthin’s took the hull crowd away, but I thought Chincapin would have stayed. Mebbe,” and Dynamite Dan seemed to hold his breath over the thought that was about to find expression on his lips, ‘‘ Mebbe they heard the reports about gold in the Cochetopa region; but they wouldn’t burn the ngs 4 if they hed, would they? Can’t you get at the mystery, Dyna- mite?” Dynamite Dan was nonplused, mystified. He had at first laid the doom of Clear Grit at Bowie Blade’s dvor—now he knew not whers to put it. ® Hello! what’s that?” he suddenly exclaimed, and, with the last word still on his lips, he dart- ed toward an object which at that moment had claimed his attention. About twenty paces from where he had halt- ed, was a large tree whose main fork was about ten feet from the ground. In this fork lay a bowlder almost as ‘arge as a man’s head, but a white object as large as his hand flattered from bener*h it. : A minute sufficed to put the fluttering object, which turned out vo be a piece of paper, in Dy- namite’s hands, “ois ar’ none oy Chincapin’s work,” he said ‘“*He wouldn’t do such a clumsy job. Hello! they’re gone!” In a moment Dynamite had mastered the rough scrawl on the paper, with the ease that one reads a familiar chirography. This was the message: “We're off fur Cochetopa—all ov us. Yer man—- not Chincapin, but the other *un—hez gone ahead to git ready fur us. The hull kentry up thar is a gold mine. We left just afore sun-up. Foller, if you git this. Monrezuma,”’ The signature was not needed to tell Dyna- mite the name of the writer—that was written in every line. “It’s ez car ez day now,” he said, looking up. ‘(They never intend to come back to Cl’ar Grit. Thet’s why they Jeft the torch behind. They’re goin’ to win the new gold bills or die. Some men ar’ fools, an’ ef I didn’t know every one ov them, I might apply thet word to ’em; but I t. ‘T'll be thar, Montezuma, fer Bowie Blade claims them hills. Whar he is, thar runs Dy- nainite’s trail. Started afore sun-up, eh? Then *ve got a good start ov me; but I'll hev a hand in the big tussle when it comes off!” Dynamite Dan, as he finished, put the rudely- scfambled letter away beneath his buckskin jacket, and looked toward the far-away Coche- Hills. Padonew my oath, Bowie Blade, among the smokif? ruins*of Car Grit!” he suddenly ex- claimed. ‘‘I swear to foller you to the end of the trail I struck ten years ago. You have es- ecaped- nity vengeance. To hundreds of men—to Chineapin even—I have been Dynamite Dan; but to you Tam Dan Dunbold, the avenger of a blighted home among the Nebraska hills. “You stole the child, but I got her from you. She could not, and would not, tell me where that home was. I took Floss to my old hut, but it wasn’t home. Then I gave her to Velvet Foot, who promised to keep her for me. Ha! you came again, and robbed us both—Vel- vet Foot and me! ‘‘ Hear-me, Heaven! Here [ again devote my life to the work of vengeance—here Iswear to hunt Bowie Blade to the bitter end! I am oath-bound to Floss. She is not his wife; he lied when he told me this last night. I go to the Cochetopa Hills. I will find him—lI will tear Floss from his power. If he hez a thousand bronzed devils at his back, I will win; an’ the men ov Clear Grit shall possess the big bonan- zas that the Hills now hide. I belong to Floss an’ to vengeance! Forward to the Cochetopa Hills! Bowie Blade, a thousand knives will not save you. A tiger named Dynamite Dan is on your trail!” ~ Having tbus delivered himself, with his right arm raised toward heaven, the man among the ruins of the camp stepped back and prepared to is whole aspect seemed changed. Dynamite Dan. He looked ten years younger, and his step when he walked away was as agile as the tread of a young roe-buck, Had the oath given him a new lease of life? Five minutes later the man turned his back on the burning camp—left it to the coyote and the wolf, or perchance to the sneaking grizzlies in the fastnesses of the mountains round abeut, Nobody, apparently, had heard the vow. The flames roared on, new columns of smoke soared skyward, and the sun mounted higher. Dynamite Dan was on the trail that led to the Cochetopa Hills. He was also on the path of peril ‘and revenge. There was gold under those lofty hills, but death lurked in every shadow. The shining nuggets were guarded by charac- ters as desperate as Bowie Blade himself, for he was their acknowledged leader, He claimed the mines, his men were his guards —his devils. To face them and fight for the new bonanza the men of Clear Grit had burned their camp and marched northward. Dynamite Dan was at their heels. But he was oath-bound. CHAPTER VI. THE KNIFF AGAIN. Ir the Cochetopa country was one vast gold- mine, as Montezuma had reported it, it was the lair of the wolf and the home of the bear as well. It contained deep canyons, dark trails, roar- ing rivers—in short, it was a great domain in which everything was wild, its scenery and its inhabitants. An old miner, in prospecting, would have been struck by the character of the lofty hills and the looks of the igreerc. bottomless gul- lies. Everything said ‘gold! gold!” in a lan- guage not to be mistaken. Why, then, had the country not been explored before? There were mines in the San Juan region mines in the wonderful Gunnison country. and the voice of the gold hunter was heard on the northern borders of Colorado, Ah! the Cochetopa Hills had been discovered even before the fearless Montezuma and his companions entered the wild domain, the most of them to die there with their boots on in a series of desperate conflicts, with which we have not to deal. Deep ina darkened pass among the hills short- ly after sunset three men leaned against several iuge bowlders which bad apparently dropped - — day from the threatening cliffs over- ead. They were stalwart fellows with swarth skins, and eyes that proclaimed them veritable mountain desperadoes. ““Somebody’s comin’,” said one, as he leaned forward for the purpose of listening down the ass. “ Tt’s either the cap’n or a grizzly—the cap’n, I hope,” was the response from one of his com- panions. ‘‘Ha‘n’t we better put on the hoods? The devil called Montezuma may not hev left the kentry.” ‘*Pshaw! he made himself scarce arter we settled with his pards. If the cap’n’s comin’, we don’t want the hoods on; but if it’s another white man—” “Heavens! look yonder!” All three of the men started back, for the slender figure of a young girl had appeared in the path a few feet ahead. ‘‘It’s Floss, walkin’ in her sleep ag’in. ‘Sh! she’s not to be wakened. Hug the stones, boys, for she’s comin’ this way.” The figure which had stopped for a moment advanced again, and the three stalwarts hugged the rocks, while they stared at the beautiful somnambulist for such the young cresture was. The girl advanced slowly, of course, entirely unconscious of the men’s presence. She was very lovely and not more than seven- teen. Her eyes were opened wide, but were expressionless, and her rich hair uncombed, and beautiful in its wild abandon, fell over her shoulders, and reached to her shapely waist. ‘¢That’s ther ghost I saw ther other night!” said one of the men in a whisper when the sleep- walker bad passed them. ‘She war standin’ on the very edge ov Gold Cliff, betwixt me an’ ther moon; but I didn’t look for more nora minute, I never thought ov Floss: but seein’ ’s believin’, boys.” ‘“Ov course, Mardo. I don’t know what the cap'n ’d say if he saw her walkin’ in sleep this way.” ‘* Doesn’t he know it?” “*T think not.” The somnambulist was still visible, but her figure was fast diseppes sine the eyes of the trio were still following her prs f ‘Whar will she bring up at?” asked Mardo. ‘* In bed ov course.” **She’s not goin’ thet way now!” "No, but she’ll git thar; let hergo. If we fol- lowed her, we’d wake her up, an’ frighten her to death.” Mardo was eager to see the end of the adven- ture that had astonished bim. ““Pve heard ov sleep tramps afore, but thet irl’s my first,” he said. ‘‘Pshaw! to think thet ran away when I saw her standin’ on the int ov Gold Ciiff—ran from a gal like thet. har did the chief git her, Domino?’ Domino Dave as the man addressed was called among his companions—the hooded guardians of the Cochetopa mines—glanced at his other comrade before he replied. “Whar did the cap’n git her, eh?” he said, turning to Mardo. ‘ Thet’s a question thet’s mighty hard to answer, but I reckor it’s none ov our bigness. Fer my part, I’m willin’ to do my duty an’ ask no questions.’ *‘ Mebbe it’s none ov my bizness, either, but I don’t take back the question,” growled Mardo, whose eyes flashed threateningly as the words rippled over his lips shaking the long hairs of the mustache that covered his mouth even when he spoke. ‘‘She’s purtier nor a picter—Floss is; an’ many’s the time I’ve stood an’ watched her when she didn’t see me an’ pitied her ef she is the cap’n’s gal.” ‘You never talked to her?” ‘*T never got a chance to do thet.” **T wouldn’t hunt one ef I war you.” ‘See hyer, boys,” and Mardo’s great bronzed hand fell on Domino’s arm, as he looked him squarely in the face with the angry glare of a tormented tiger. ‘‘I’m one ov Bowie Blade’s gold guards, like the rest ov ye, but when I enlisted under his leadership, t didn't toss all my manhood to the mountain winds. I don’t b’lieve thet the cap’n’s got ther best right to Floss, an’ I say it open an’ above-board. Ef he war hyer, I’d say it since you've said what yor hev. You know whar Bowie Blade got Ler, bm. I will find out!” ‘‘ What’s £0 into you, Mardo?” exclaimed Domino. ‘ What’s yonder gal to yout” “‘ Nothin’.” ‘Then let well enough alone,” Mardo gazed over the trail on which Floss the beautiful somnambulist had vanished, but said nothing. He was not satisfied. Something about the girl—her beauty or shapely figure—had captivated him or enlisted his attention. His corhpanions saw despite the hour the eagerness that seemed to be consuming his deep black eyes. : All at once he darted forward as if controlled by an irresistible impulse, ‘* Hold!” said Domino, sternly, at the same time seizing Mardo’s arm. ‘We belong to Bowie Blade—all ov us. We hev sworn not to tech any thing thet he owns. Keep yer oath an’ live, Mardo; break it an’ die!” ‘“* Who said I war goin’ to break it?” “You war goin’ to foller Floss.” “Yes, an’ 1 will!” : With the last word which rung with mad de- termination Mardo broke from Domino’s grasp, and whipped out a revolver as he started baek. His eyes were no longer those of a human be- ing; there leaped from them all the passion and rage of a jungle demon. “1m Masdo ef Iam Bowie Blade’s man!” he hissed. ‘*Floss may walked over a cliff, fer I don’t b’lieve in these sleep-walkers allus gittin’ back to their beds alive. I’m goin’ to foller ‘*Not while I’m hyer!” “ Yes !? ° “* Never!” Mardo stepped backward a pace, and raised his weapon. Domino’s revolver went up at the same time. There would have been a deadly report if the third man bad not thrown himself forward. ‘“* Fools!” he exclaimed, knocking Mardo’s weapon upward and striking Domino's down. “The cap’n didn’t bire us to eat each other up like wolves. Hark! somebody’s comin’ ag’iu— no Floss this time.” The two desperadoes, abashed but not cooled down, turned toward the south and listened, but with their fingers at the trigger. The galloping of a horse was distinctly — “It’s the cap’n at last!” said Domino. “ We'll keep mum, Mardo,” . “T ask no favors,” was the grated response. fhe
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“T’m liable to ask Bowie Blade whar he got thet gal.” ** An’ break yer oath?” ‘* Yes; ef thet’s breakin’ it.” : It was a singular tableau that the three men presented in the mountain-pass, with a pale moon peeping over the edge of a dark cloud al- most directly overhead. Nearer and nearer came the horse, still un- — although every hoof-beat was distinctly eard. Mardo and Domino eyed one another madly while they listened. All at once the animal and his rider came in sight. ‘The cap’n! jes’ ez I expected,” dropped from Domino’s lips, and the next moment he spoke a “halt!” in a tone that made the new- comer spring erect on the buck of the horse and rein bim in. ‘‘Tt’g Mardo, Domino, an’ Lige,” continued Domino; ‘an’ you’re the cap’n—home ag’in!” ‘Thank Heaven! I have found you,” ex- claimed the rider, as he leaned forward and scrutinized the faces of the rough trio, ‘‘I am ameng the Cochetopa Hills once more--I am in my gold land!” “We've been expeetin’ you, cap’n.” “*T knew it. I know a good deal about Monte- zuma an’ his parde, for I’ve been where [ had a chanee te hear much.” “Thet war in—” ““Crar Grit!” ** Montezuma got back, then?’ “T left him thar, but he’s nearer us than you think.” ‘*Ts he comin’ back?” “He is comin’ back!” ‘Not alone?” “The men of Cl’ar Grit are at his back. The eld camp is broken up forever.” “T like thet. We'll hev work to do now, eap’n.” ** Work—death!” flashed Bowie Blade, for he was the rider. ‘‘ Iam here to se you. Those men shall never carry a nugget of gold beyond these Hills. While I rede hither I took an oath to that effect. They are marchin’ to Co hetopa te die; they are comin’ here to let us bury them or leave their carcasses to the wolves. We'll give the scavengers of the air a feast. Are you all heref” ** All but four, cap’n. with a revolver.” ‘“‘T wish I bad known this when I had the iant at my mercy in Cl’ar Grit,” hissed Bowie lade. ‘‘ But, never mind, we'll entrap him here. I.lead men who can look over a leveled pistol into the regions of death. How is Floss?” This interrogative was put so suddenly that the three men instinctively started. ‘*She’s hyer, jes’ez you left her, cap’n,” an- swered Domino, after the interval of a second during which time he had taken occasion to glance furtively at Mardo. ‘*Good!” exclaimed the sport. ‘‘ Now let us go down to the Palace. I’m anxious to see the restef my men. We must get ready for the tussle for the golden bed we sleepon. It’s no child’s play, Domino. The men thet Montezuma leads are like him in more ways than one. A eoward never lived in Cl’ar Grit.” Bowie Blade was urging his horse on again as he uttered the last words, but the hand of Domino seized the bridle-rein. ‘“‘Let’s take the other road, cap’n,” he said. ‘Tt is the longest way.” “ That’s so, but it suits me best.” Bowie Blade gave the speaker a puzzled look but did not reply, and allowed Domino Dave to turn his horse into a narrow trail between the bowlders. The next moment the four men had left the spot, and were traversing a rough path between lefty walis not unlike the sides of a canyon, Domino did not want his captain to reach home before Floss, the somnambulist, had re- turned te her couch. This is why he led Bowie Blade’s horse down the roeky trail. ? Marde and Lige walked a short distanee be- hind Bowie Blade, at the head of whese horse stepped Domino. c Suddenly the spert was touehed by his com- ion’s hand i voice. Pe Cap'a = , and he heard Domino's ‘‘ What, Domino?” “Pat your head down hyer a minute.” : Bowie Blade obeyed, holding his breath while hoe waited for Domine to eontinue. “Mardo’s got his eyes on the gal,” said the gold guard. “He wants to know what right you hev to her. That was enough. Montezuma is no slouch Dynamite Dan. Bowie Blade started up with a mad, although half suppressed exclamation, ‘Don’t tackle ’im hyer, cap’n.” The sport did not bear. As he turned toward the two men walking be- hind him, his right band drew a bowie from his 6 lb. “This for fools who ask questions in Coche- topa!” he exclaimed aloud. : on means me!” said Mardo, springing ack, A knife left the sport’s hands and whizzed through the air. There was a shrill shriek asa man staggered back, and then a laugh was heard. ‘* Heavens! you've hit Lige an’ not Mardo, cap’n!” exclaimed Domino. Bowie Blade did not speak. CHAPTER. VIL. THE FIGHT FOR FLOSS. For a moment after Bowie Blade’s fatal throw—fatal because the figure lying motionless in vhe trail told that a human life had been ta- ken—neither Domino Dave nor his companion moved. ‘*Go an’ see, Domino!” said the sport. “If I have killed Lige, the man I missed shall die a thousand deaths for it.” Domino went forward and stooped over the fallen man. “T war right, cap’n—it is Lige,” his voice said. ‘By Jove, I wish you had missed!” ‘“Ts he dead?” * Dead!” ** An’ Mardo?”’ ‘‘ He sneaked off like a coward.” “To come back again some day!” said a voice, so near that the two men started and turned. They recognized the voice. ‘¢ Come now, coward!” shouted Bowie Blade. ‘‘ Pye another knife for your heart.” ‘*Not now, cap’n!” was the response, ‘I prefer to keep off f ra while. Thet’s an angel you call Floss. Whar did you git her, Bowie Blade?” An oath and a pistol-shot followed. Domino had fired at the speaker, guided in his aim by the tantalizing voice. ‘*You hit the villain, Domino!” said the sport. “Not quite, cap’n; but I can’t stand any more such close shaves,” shouted Mardo, back, ‘Pll come round ag’in, probably, when the men ov Clar Grit git hyer. I’ve taken a fancy to Fioss, an’ i’m likely to give you trouble, Bowie!” Bowie Blade ground his teeth as he slipped _ the horse and put the reins into Domino’s and. “Go on, clear to the Palace,” he said in whis- rs at Domino’s ears. ‘ Don’t disobey, for you ave sworn tocarry out all my commands. [Pm goin’ to settle with Mardo now.” Domino would probably have remonstrated if Bowie Blade had not reminded him of the oath which all of his followers had taken. His fingers closed on the lines and he led the horse doggedly forward, while the sport stood still in the trail. **T didn’t think it would come to this,” he said to himself. ‘‘Here I am, killing my own men before Montezuma an’ his pards have set footin Cochetopa. Mardosaved hisown life by the meanest of acts. He pulled Ligein the way of my knife,” He went forward with the last word toward the spot where Mardo had probably stood while he uttered his last words of defiance. The sport had the tread of the mountain lion, and as he walked noiselessly through the dark shadows of cliff and tree the moon did not reveal his gleaming eyes nor his long black hair. He had stepped over the body of the man he had killed by mistake, with a single glance of pity. In his right hand he carried a weapon he could use as well as the bowie—a revolver. Domino and the horse had already disap- poarte, and Mardo was not to be seen; still Bowie Blade kept on. Q If he could have looked some distance ahead he would have seen the man he was eager to meet, _ Mardo was burrying along a trail which, leav- ing the low ground, was gradually ascending toward the tree-tops overhead. “Hit the wrong pard fer once, didn’t he?” the man said in tonesof triumph. ‘‘I knew what Wur comin’ when he hissed stthin’ about fools an’ ther questions, so I caught Lige an’ pulled im inter my place. Gods! it war a close shave, an’ then Domino’s shot in ther dark! Bowiekin hev the lock thet bullet carried away if he finds it. An’ the bull fall out’s about a gal, too. But \ 7 she’s a daisy—worth her weight in gold ef I knowed whar the right market war, Thet’s what bothers me; but I’ll find out. Sbe knows whar she b’longs, an’ P’ll make ber tell me, They'll all hunt me now—the bull set ov ’em, fer the killin’ ov Lige will rile ther hull gang, an’ Cochetopa will git all-fired hot even afore the Clar Grit men come.” Mardo bad halted some distance from and many feet above the spot where Bowie Blade’s knife had been used so fatally. He did not see the half-catamountish figure , which was listening with human interest to his words as they dropped from his lips. All at once there was a slight noise at his right. The desperado wheeled, lifting his revolver as he executed the movement. “ A b’ar! a—” His sentence was cut short by a leap that car- ried a human figure over a buge stone, and planted it squarely on his breast. ‘*No wora! no move!” was hissed into his ear as he caught a glimpse of his assailant, “An Inbjun, by hokey!” flashed across Mardo’s mind. ‘* Yes, an Injun?” was the response, uttered in a tone that proclaimed the speaker proud of his red skin. ‘‘ Velvet Foot’s hand is at Mardo’s throat, an’ his hand can send a knife to bis heart. Bowie Blade has got to Cochetopa, eh? Does he know that Velvet Foot is here, too?” ““T don’; know about that, but I think not,” gua Mardo. ‘ He’s not far off if you want him.” ‘* Not now,” said the Indian. an’-by.” ‘‘An’ then he'll git one ov his infernal knife ‘*We meet by- drops on ye, mebbe,” A strange smile curled the Indian’s thin lips, but he did not reply. “ Not long ago Velvet Foot met Bowie Blade in the San Juan country. Him on his way home then. Velvet Foot ride in stage, while Bowie Blade drive the borses to the gold-hunt- ers’ camp, but he never think of Velvet Fuot then. There isa short way from Cl’ar Grit to Cochetopa, a way known only to Velvet Foot an’ the crow. Bowie Blade’s horse bring him here quick, but Velvet Foot travel the short way, an’ he is here, too.” ing this time Mardo was held by the In- dian. Bowie Blade’s red enemy—whose hands possessed the pressure of two vises. He saw the glittering eyes of the red-skin— how they flashed when he talked of his coming to Cochetopa, and how they darkened balefplly at the mere mention of the sport’s name. | Such an enemy, Mardo mentally hoped, he would never have. ‘¢ Does Mardo know where the Cochetopa Rose is?” suddenly asked the Indian. ‘“Nobody knows it better,” was the answer, ‘¢ Where is she?” The desperado hesitated, spite of his situa- tion. Velvet Foot wanted Floss—the very girl he wanted himself, not for his wife, but to make money by. He felt that Floss was a stolen child, and he believed that sbe was a rich man’s darling. Her wonderful beauty told him that it could not be otherwise. The Indian evidently knew the secret he wanted to fathom. His anxiety to know the whereabouts of the beautiful sleep-walker was convincing proof of this in Mardo’s eyes, What! should he tell Velvet Foot where Floss was? The red-skin would find her; his cunning would baffle Bowie Blade and be (Mardo) might whistle for the reward upon which he had set his heart. “Why does Mardo hold his tonguet” asked the Indian, iriitated by the desperado’s silence, ‘‘Him no tell Velvet Foot where Cochetopa Rose is?” “You would take her away, an’— “‘ Velvet Foot will take ber away!” was the eager interruption. ‘‘He bas found the land she lives in at last, The Great 7 is guidin’ the Indian’s feet along the trail he bas hunted so leng. Now speak, Mardo!” Tn less than a minute Mardo had formed a plan of action. He had taken desperate chances more than once during his wild career, and that when nothing of importance was at stake. ‘ He bad looked the Indian over as well as he could in the uncertain light of a poor moon and a few stars. Velvet Foot was far from being his equal in rysique. Payee was robust, well-limbed, six feet in ”
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his mountain moceasivs—in short, almost a mateh for the bronzed giant Montezuma. ‘S1"l] risk it,” he said to himself, inandibly, and the next instant he attempted to tear him- self from the Indian’s grasp. Though taken by surprise, Velvet Foot soon _—— but not until Mardo was nearly ree, I'll tell you about Floss another time, red- skin!” he exclaimed, in tones of triumph. But be was not vet free. Suddenly the leng arms of the Indian encir- cled him, and Mardo to his dismay discovered that his triumph had been of the briefest de- scription. Then he exerted all bis strength which was prodigious to free himself again, but he found that be had in Velvet Foot a foeman worthy of his steel. It was muscle to muscle now, red against white back and across that lonely mountain trail, woich was backed by lofty walls at one side, and fringed by a precipice at the other. Almost one hundred feet below ran another trail as dark and forbidding, but no men were battling there for the mastery. Kiowie Blade was not far away, coming on cautiously, lest he should startle the human ajnarry be hunted, “Aha! that was my chance!” fell from Mar- do's tips as he watched his opportunity, and threw the Indian against the rocky wall with a force that seemed to stun bim. Velvet Foot’s ro - Mardo-with burning eyes followed up his vic- i) “y. A moment later the Indian’s feet was at the edge of the cliff. — the desperado spare him? ol “Go an’ hunt Floss an' may good luck foller yous exclaimed Mardo as he released himself y a desperate effort from the red-skin, and s/w him topple on the brink. All of Veivet Foot’s senses seemed to come back to him that terrible moment, but he could not prevent his fall. Suddenly withcut pes Mardo’s sight, but his rim of the wall, The desperado sprung forward to cut them loose with the knife he had drawn, but when he reached the spot they hed disappeared, * ‘Floss is mine!” he exclaimed. ‘The men ov Cl’ar Grit will fix Bowie Blade when they come, an’ I will sweep in the stakes ov the game.” Prompted by a natural curiosity, Mardo leaned over the wall and looked downward. Flere and there along the sheer descent grew numerous bushes strorg enough to uphold a wan’s body. Math did Mardo see about thirty feet below m Two red hands clinging to one of the these bushes and an.upturned face—the face of Vel- vet Foot the red hunter. The moonlight fell against the wall and showed him this scene, * Pll loosen yer hands!” he grated. ‘I'm go- in’ to take no more chances!” Mardo covered the Indian with his revolver for a moment, then he fired, At the echoing report, Velvet Foot’s hands opened, be uttered a wild ery and fell again, but not to die. The victor turned away satisfied. CHAPTER VIII. WARNED BUT DEFIANT. “Hyer we ar’. Look all around ye, boys. This is the Cochetopa region. Thar’s gold— plenty ov it—in every bill ye see. We stand ou hidden mines ov it. It shall all be ours; but we've got to fight fer it.” Need we say that the speaker was Montezuma the giant, or that be stood before the fearless gold-hunters whom he had guided to the won- derful Jand of gold? Bowie Blade had ridden fast and without cessation toward the Cochetopa Hills after bis escape from Ciear Grit Camp; but the march of the fifty invaders had been slower and occu- pied more time, But they were there—in the midst of Coche- topa, ready to begin the war for the hidden muggets. Their camp was situated at the foot of a lefty hill densely wooded even to its crest, and Montezuma had addressed them as we have just recorded just as tbe sun was sinking upon ir first day in the coe region. Nobedy disbelieved Montezuma; they had | geem good gold country before, and the aspect he disappeared from hands caught on the | Dynamite Dan. — ee es en ee Ta that surrounded them attested the truth of the giant’s observations, **Ef Dynamite war hyer, we’d be fixed,” eontinued Montezuma after a brief pause. ‘* But he'll come,” and he glanced assuringly at Chincapin, whose wounded hand was still ban- daged, causing the youth’s countenance to light up with hope. “I’ve knowed Dynamite to be missin’ afore—when you didn’t know ’im, Chin- capin—an’ he allersturnedupQ.K. I kin fancy him sw’arin’ over the burnin’ camp, but when he reads the paper I left for ’im in ther tree, he'll come on. Thar’s no discount on Dyna- mite, pards,” When the giant bad concluded he walked to where Chiocapin stood and touched the youth’s arm. ‘*Come with me,” be said, in a low tone, ‘I want you to see suthin’ afore it gits dark.” Wondering what Montezuma had to show him, Chiucapin signified his willingness to ac- company the giant, and the twain glided from the crowd almost wholly unperceived. A short distance from the camp Montezuma turued into a trail that zig-zagged up the bill. Chincapin followed without a question. Night closed slowly about them, but the giant kept on. He pores forward like a person familiar with the ground which he traversed. Perhaps he bad been there before. ‘* Hyer we stop, Chincapin,” be said, stoppin suddenly and turning to the youth. ‘“ It’s mos too dark to show you what I want you to see, but look yonder—thar it is!” Chincapin looked over Montezuma’s out- stretched hand, and saw what he bad not noticed before a rough board fastened to a tree about ten feet above ground. ‘‘ Thar’s one ov em notices to trespassers what I saw when the boys an’ I war hyer pros- pectin’,” Montezuma continued with a grim, defiant smile. ‘*Go up an’ look at it, Chinca- pio; it won’t bite.” The young western surgeon advanced to the tree, and stepped upon a stone conveniently placed at the root, as if for the purpose of ac- commodating persons of medium stature. The last streaks of the short mountain twi- light fell upon the board but Chincapin could not make out the inscription upon it. “Tl help ye, youngster!” suddonly exclaim- ed tbe bronzed giant, and the next moment Chincapin was lifted bodily from the ground as if he were a mere child and eleva until his head was on a level with the board. ‘¢Now read what Bowie Blade hez written ‘thar, Chincapin. Thet notice might scare some enone but for us—bab!” : hile Montezuma Ned Chinecapin deci- yhered the rather well shaped letters that ormed the words of the inscription which was as follows: * Notice to trespasser’ -—~ ‘* Havin’ a right to the gold of Cochetopa by discov- ery, I forbid any man, red or white, to touch a nug- | or stake a¢laim. Death will follow either act! 16 heart of every trespasser will be bowie-pierced and bullet-riddled. Beware! I mean bizness. Iam here in foree to guard my claims and to kill! “ Bowre BLADE.” This notice was pinned to the board by two formidable bowie knives whose hilts were rusty, showing that they had performed their duty for a long time. Asmile played with the corners of Chinca- pin’s mouth while he perused the notice he!d up by Mootezuma’s strong arms. * Read it fer my benefit, boy,” said the giant. *‘T went to hear bow the fool's words sound on the tongue of another.” Chincapin proceeded to gratify his companion and read the sentences in a clear tone. Saddenly, and just as the youth was pro- nouncing the name appended to the warning, @ loud report awoke the echoes of the locality, and the board was shivered into a thousand splinters! > ** Jehosaphat!” exclaimed Montezuma, recoil- from the tree forgetful of the person be held aloft, and the result was that Chincapin fell in- gloriously to the ground. ‘ Tbe ball hez opened an’ I’m hyer to helo if on! Whar’s the skunk that fired that shot? It war intended fer yer head, Chincapin.” ; The youth by this time had scrambled to his feet, proof enough that he had escaped injury, and, revolver in hand, was gazing in the direc- tion from which the almost fatal shot had come, “He dar’n't show his carkiss, ther white-liv- ered wolf!” grated Montezuma in tones intend- ed for other ears than Chincapin’s. ‘‘Ef he can’t shoot any better than thet, he’d better break his rifle, an’ let a grizzly chaw ’im up.” There was no response to these words, and - $$$ — ESSE ee eee ee a ee Montezuma and Chincapin stood in the deepen- ing shadows with their fingers at the triggers of their revolvers, waiting vainly for a grapple with their foe. “ Wal, he bu’sted Bowie Blade’s warnin’ all to thunder, anyhow!’ resumed Montezuma, a twinkle of merriment relieving the flery flashes in his eyes, ‘Come, Chincapin, we'll go back to camp, an’ let ther boys laugh at ther poor shot.” The a brus head, The darkness had saved his life and destreyed the board, no thanks to the coward’s aim. The touch that Montezuma gave him when he advised a return to camp roused him as though a snake had hissed in bis path and then glided away. He started forward impulsively, a sentence of deflance on his lips, ‘Tam here to stay until I see fit to depart!” he flashed. ‘I will never leave Cochetopa at Bowie Blade’s warning. No threats sball intimi- date me! My name is Chincapin, coward! an’ tell your master that Iam here, marked for life by one of his accursed bowies.” “ An’ ’m hyer to back Chincapin in all be says!” excleimed the giant, springing: toward the young mav. ‘ Thar’s fifty ov us hyer, an’ every mother’s son ov ’em bez come to stay!” At that moment from a point fifty yards down the trail a jet of flame leaped from the gloom. It was followed b man’s mad oath, capin. ‘he youth threw one glance backward; te saw Montezuma staggering away with the oath still nro bis lips—the giant had stopped the second bullet! Without stopping to see Montezuma strike the ground at the foot of the tree where lay !i'> shattered pieces of Bowie Blade’s boxrd of warning, Chincapin darted forward. “Tbe figat for Cochetopa and revenge might as well begin here as elsewhere!” fell from bis lips. 7 few eager bounds took him far down the trail, but be found no one. “Tt was a coward’s shot, an’ the villain dares not face a wounded man!” be said aloud, as be halted on a spot wild and strange, and totally unknown to him. Tall trees lifted their cones far toward the heavens, and rendered the hill trail darker and lonelier than ever. i The youth imagined Montezuma lying dead back where he had been struck, and this thought heated his blood. The men of Clear Grit had already lost their guide and tower of strength. Nobody could fill his place but Dymanite Dan, but where was that worthy? ‘ It was a question in Chincapin's mind whether he was living. The young miner-doctor reflected until he heard the unmistakable neigh of a horse. He instantly turned, because the animal was between him and Montezuma. “'ll see what it means!” he exclaimed, clutch. ing lis revolver more firmly and striding back with undaunted step. ‘I shall keep my word if I lose my life. Bowie Blade and his minions shall not drive me from these hills!” Chincapin went boldly in the direction to- ward which he had turned, as eager to meet his enemies as they were to clear Cochetopa of its invaders. “‘ Halt, thar!” rung out so suddenly and sbrill that the youth instinctively recoiled. At the same time there appeared in the trail not one horse, but four, and on the back of each sat a stalwart figure whose head and face were epereee with a grotesque mask and hood com- nea, “The men whom Montezuma and his fellew spies fought when they were here before!” said Chincapin to himself. “If they think they have corraled me, they may find thec:selves mistaken.” Standing erect before the horses of the masked gold-guards of Cochetopa, with his revolves cocked in his right band, and bis faultless figure drawn to its true stature, the youth presented a picture of fearlessness that would have com- manded an enemy's admiration. ‘* Wal, you chaps hev come,” came over the horse’s ears after a brief interval. Yes,” said Chincapin, “ we ar’ here.” ‘Hyer to stay?” ‘* Yes!” Did the eyes of the four men glitter mali- ciously? pant’ was reluctant to turn away without with the man who bad just fired at his the whiz of a bullet and « he latter just behind Chin-
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2) Dynamite Dan. ae Sees a Se Before another word could be said one of the men applied a lighted lucifer to something like a tightly wrapped ball of tow and tossed it for- war It struck the ground at Chincapin’s feet, and blazing up, reveulall him to the quartette. : “Don’t step on thet fire, boy!” said the thrower. “Itmight be onhealthy ferye, Drop thet revolver an’ up yer hands!” Chincapin’s lips met; his eyes flashed. To drop his wea and. stand helpless before those men would eating the words of defi- ance to which he had lately given utterance. He did not obey, but held the revolver with steady nerves, “What! do you want to die afore you’ve toueshed a nuggett followed the command to drep the deadly weapon. ‘Ain’t yer name Chincapin?” “Tt ist” “T thought so, You’ve = a bad hand thar— @ present from Bowie Blade.” An exclamation of astonishment fell from Chineapin’s lips. “ An’I have six presents here,” he flashed, sending his revolver up by a single movement. “T refuse to obey your command, you hooded guards of Cochetopa! I defy you an’ the des- perado whom you serve. es, I am one of the men who ar’ goin’ to wrest this gold region from the grasp of your captain. Face about! or by heaven! I'll open the battle here—now |” These were words that could not be misunder- stood; they came over the threatening weapon with an emphasis seldom beard in Cocheto The hoods had been taken at a sudden 3 vantage. The fire-ball at Chincapin’s feet showed him their figures; they had not a weapon lifted, ** About face, I say!” continued the youth as before. “I give you ten—not another count. At the last number, if you are before me, I will begin to kill! In killing you I strike the man I hate. One—two—three—four—” Chineapin’s count was interrupted by the erack of a rifle. One of the hoods pitched over his horse’s head like a man shot instantly to the death, and fell quive to the earth! The ot turned toward the unseen slayer. Chincapin did not stop counting. At the ninth numeral the three wheeled their steeds but not until one had leaned forward with the dexterity of a Commanche and the strength of a giant to lift the fallen comrade. The youth withheld the tenth count. “ We'll meet ag’in, Chincapin!” exolaimed one of the hoods. “Any time! Remember that T am here for the of accommodatin’ men like you!” At that moment the deadly rifle spoke again, and another hood fell forward on his steed’s neck where his hands closed on the mane, ‘“‘T wonder,” said Chincapin to himself, “ who is doin’ that killin’?” CHAPTER IX, FLOSS. In less than five minutes after the last deadly shot the two remaining masks had disappeared and Chincapin stood alone on the trail. The fire-ball still blazed at his feet, and his finger had not left the trigger of his revolver. Having escaped the gold guards of Cochetopa, he was waiting for the unseen slayer as if cer- tain he would come. But Chincapin waited in vain. “ ['d like to see him,” murmured the youth; “but if I cannot, wh T must go back to Monte- zuma. Lowe the killer whoever he is a good turn for the future, if the opportunity ever oc- curs. I trust Montezuma lives. Ah! wecannot spare the giant thus early in the game.” Seeing no prospect of encountering the mys- terions marksman who had rendered him such efficient service, Chincapin retraced his steps to ae where the warning board had been shat- and where he had left the giant at full length en the ground. n © dreaded to reach the place, for he ex- ted to find Montezuma dead where he had allen, but instead he saw a man leaning against the tree, as motionless as a statue. “Tt war @ Close shave, Chincapin, fer I see it’s you,” said a well-known voice, which drew an exclamation of joy from the youth’s heart. Jes’ put yer hand alongside my face, Thar! thar’s a reg’lar furrow thar—made by thet skunk’s bullet. Did yer meet any one? I heard two shots.” Chincapin soon told his story. “Pye got an idea who thet killer is; but we must go back to camp first,” said Montezuma, ‘ at the conclusion of the narrative. “‘ The fight fer the Cochetopa bonanza opened to-night, They must shoot better than they hev if the want my life. Pll get my work in from’ this moment; then iook out, Chincapin. Chineapin could not see the blazing eyes of the stalwart gold-hunter; but he could hear the grating of teeth after the last word, The pair turned their faces toward the camp they had lately left. The masked gold-guards were no myths, and Cbhincapin felt that the | struggle for the possession of the new gold | country would prove desperate. If he could have followed the masked horse- | men of the bills, he would have seen them ride | into a dense thicket-like copsa, a goodly distance from the scene of their discomfiture. Once beyond the fringe of the thicket, they | dismounted, and led their steeds by the bridle- reins deeper among the slender trees that grew in profusion on vvery side, making an dime able retreat for mountain brigands or wild beasts. Across two saddles lay the men whose lives had been taken by the unseen slayer; the bodies were held to their places by living men, who had discarded their hoods, revealing dark, brown faces and flashing eyes. “Halt!” rung suddenly out on the night air, One of the men answered the command with a word which seemed a countersign, for the sen- tinel, until that moment unseen, stepped aside, and the twain passed on. At last they abandoned the horses and their | ghastly burdens and kept on alone. Five minutes later they stood on the floar of a large, well-lighted cave, whose entrance was concealed by a good-sized cabin built of rough ~ ore than twenty men —— the under- ground compartment, around the walls of which were hung firearms of every gat og but for the most part elegant repeating rifles o the most modern pattern. The men themselves were mostly handsome, but wild-looking fellows, dressed in gray shirts and dark brown pants, which together seemed to be a regulation uniform of some kind. With few exceptions they were athletes, typ- ical desperadoes of the West, men who com- bine strength and physique with fearlessness and cunning. 5 The cave was large enough to hold twice the number that occupied it when the twain en- tered, their countenances proclaiming disaster before a word had passed their lips. Instantly, those who were reclining on the ground, sprung up, and the pair found them- selves surrounded th the twinkling of an e **They ar hyer!” said one of the party. lng th Cochetopa hez opened.” , ixclamations, oaths were heard on every sid e. “ Whar ar’ they? We ar’ ready ter keep up ther tussle. Bowie Blade ain’t byer—thet’s a fact—but what ov thet?” ** We'll bury ther boys first, I reckon,” “What boys!” * Puma Jack an’ Tampa Tom.” ** Whar ar’ they?’ “Out yonder,” and the speaker pointed to- ward the thicket, “Dead?” ** Dead!” “Who did it?” asked twenty voices as forty eyes seemed to emit sparks of fire. “Thet’s what we don’tknow. Wedidn’t git to see the killer fer ther skunk wouldn’t show himself.” ‘But we'll find ‘im! He b’longs to the Cl’ar Grit band ov course.” “Tf it warn’t Mardo.” At this suggestion, there was a coarse laugh, which came from toward the mouth of the cavern. “ Every eye was instantly turned in that direc- ion ye. % The “The cap’n himself!” exclaimed several. es, the man who had laughed was Bowie Blade, and he stood in full view under the stone arched door of the cavern with the light fairly striking him, and his arms folded upon his breast. He had come so noiselessly, like a specter, that his approach had been noticed by no one. Don’t talk about Mardo the meddler shooting any one!” he continued. ‘ He’s beyond that, He hasn’t been able te lift a rifle for two days. I didn’t have to trail the traitor long; it took but one throw!” ‘‘ But who dro Jack an’ Tom, cap'n?” Bowie Blade’s brow darkened at this question. “One of the bravest men that lives,” he ee “Montezuma!” exclaimed several; bul the sport did not reply. “T need not tell you, men of Cochetopa, that the invaders have come,” he said, after a mo- ment's silence. ‘They bave cam y one hundred rods from the mouth of Catamount Mine, but that is not all, The Indians have come back.” “We don’t care fer them, cap’n,” exclaimed one of Bowie Blade’s auditors. “The men ov Clar Grit ar’ wolves, ther red-skins coyotes. Don’t mention them.” “ But { must, because they are here,” said the sport, firmly. ‘We must take account of all our enemies—the white man first ov course.” ‘‘Sartinly.” ‘The buryin’ first—then the attack!” ‘On the camp?” “a Yes.” “To-night, cap’n?” * To-night.” To these words a beautiful young girl listened in the cabin which had been erected before the mouth of the cave. She stood but a few feet behind Bowie Blade, and among the shadows so that he saw her not, Her eyes dilated with wonderment as she lis- tened, her heart seemed to stand still. A new revelation seemed to dawn upon her mind. Who had invaded Cochewopa, and what was going to take place? As Bowie Blade spoke for the last time, and the occupants of he cavern started toward the opening, she retreated to a small apartment at one side of the narrow corridor in whicb she bad list: ned, and threw herself upon a couch that touched the log wall. ‘“ ‘No noise goin’ through the hut, boys; «loss is asleep,” said Bowie Blade as he led his gold guards through the cabin. The girl simulated the breathing of a sleeping person while the men filed past the door. She could hear the touch of steel to steel, and now and then a half-moffled word—no' more, until the last man bad apparently out. : Ke He will come now,” said the girl, half addi- y. 5 ‘As if in answer to her words, the door leading to the uncouth chamber opened, and she was conscious that some one had evtered, ‘‘ She isn’t hyer,” said a voice after a moment of the deepest silence. ‘‘Hyer’s whar she oughter be, for this is Bowie Blade’s home, but I find it empty!” It was a strange voice, and it kept the single listener glued to the couch with her heart in her throat. Had one of the gold men come back for berf No, it could not be, for she knew the voice of each one, and the names of all, but the tones in which the words just heard bad been spoken were strange and unknown to her. ‘*Tt’s kind o’ queer,” continued the invader of the cabin, after a moment’s silence. ‘* Mebbe Yd better bunt her elsewhar. She might be out thar whar ther light is—I’ll go an’ see.” Floss beard the speaker withdraw, and after a winute’s reflection she crept to the door and looked out into the corridor whose walls con- sisted of logs like the main walls of the hut it- ! self. She saw the fire burning on the floor of the cavern lighting up the interior of the place, but she saw more than this. In the full glare of the blaze was the figure of @ man—a man with broad shoulders, and fully armed. He was alone, and to the girl he seemed aston- ished at the extent of the cave he had doubtless entered for the first time. Floss watched him with intense curiosity. She could not take ber eyes from bis person. That be was Bowie Blade’s enemy she well knew, for she had never seen him before. “This ain’t keepin’ my oath very fast,” sbe heard bim say suddenly. ‘I’m in the lion's den, but ther lions ar’ out. Mebbe Vd better leave my compliments, but in what shapet— thet puzzles me. I’d hev given everytbing if I heft found the girl. Floss! Floss! you don’t know who l am, nor what 1 want, er you'd be hyer!” With a light cry, the almost breathless I'sten- er started forward, but suddenly stopped and shrunk back again. The man had moved; he was drawing some half-burned sticks from the fire, and was ar- rancing them on the floor of the cavern, He was engaged more than five minutes at this work, then he stood erect again, surveyed his completed task with eves aglow with a tiger's satisfaction, and turned abruptiy away.
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10 Floss sprung buck into the rcom and waited fer him to pass out. She hi his footsteps go by the door. He was gone at last. Almost devoured by curiosity, she glided in- to the eave, and stood over the stranger’s work. The blaekened sticks had been curiously placed by the man who hunted her, and she was not long diseovering that they formed rough letters intended to be read by some one. After a little work, which was up-hill toiling at first, Floss mastered the lettering, which formed three words: “Mw HyER—DYNAMITE!” To the girl these words seemed a challenge, but for whom? For Bowie Blade, of course. “Dynamite! It isa name he bates!” she ex- claimed, ‘I overheard him tell Domino last night that this Dynamite, whoever he is, would never come to Cochetopa, but he is here. Bowie Blade has counted without his host. What did he tell me once about Dynamite? They are old enemies, and he said that this man would try to take me away one of these days. Ah! I know now. Dynamite knows wholam. He may be my father. Heavens! why did I not think of this before?” With ber question unanswered, Floss turned and rushed from the cavern; she went past the door that led to her room and out into the night, but not unarmed! She had stopped in the cave long enough to arm herself, and now she stood on the trail lately made by Dynamite, the mysterious man. He could not be far awey. Sbe would follow him and satisfy her doubts. All at once a figure rose in her path and eaused her to start forward with an exclama- tion of discovery on her lips. The next momeit a hand closed on her arm, and she looked into a face darker than any she had seen for many a day. “The Cochetopa Rose at last!” ejaculated a voiee which sent a shudder through the girl’s frame! ‘‘Oneof Velvet Foot’s trails is near its end—the other leads to the white chief’s heart.” In vain Floss tried to break from her captor’s era She could not use the weapon she had from the cavern, for a red hand en- circled her wrist, and she was lifted from the greund as though she had been a mere child. CHAPTER X. GREEK MEETS GREEK. Vetver Foot—for Fioss’s captor was the red trailer whom we left at Mardo’s mercy—hast- ened from the spot by a trail that did not bring him in contact with the men of Cochetopa, who, ia the thicket in front of the cabin, were orming the rites of burial over the two men ’ ghot by the mysterious slayer. Where was Dynamite Dan? Tf Floss did not get to follow him we will— Fd his hand is to perform deadly work before awn. _ Failing to find the girl whom he expected to eneounter in the cabin, and pleased with his ar- rangement of the half-burned sticks on the cav- ern floor, he hurried’ through the thicket and down a path which, two hours later, brought kim une dly upon a camp, at the outskirts ef which he heard the clicking of rifle-locks, followed by a ‘‘Halt!” which he instantly obeyed. “Ther boys!” he ejaculated. ‘TI war the last ev ther old crowd ter leave Cl’ar Grit, an’ ’m mhyer ter see the end ov the war.” He was instantly surrounded by the roughly- dressed pickets, who recognized him with ejacu- Intions of joy. ~ Incamp the greeting was equally warm. “'Whar’s ther boy?” asked Dynamite, “ Here!” and Chincapin appeared to the old om Vengeance-hunter. Fer a moment the eyes of the twain regarded each other in a manner that riveted the atten- tion of all who watched them. “Tm sure ov it now,” said Montezuma, who Jooked on over the bandages that covered bis faee, “They ar’ father an’ son—I don’t care what the others think about it. To me it’s ez ra ez day. Thet’s why Dynamite’s stood by 6 boy through thick an’ thin. Jes’ look how he swallers bim with his eyes, ez if they hevn’t seen each other fer a year!” All at once Dynamite turned to the men of Clear Grit. ‘I blamed ye fer burnin’ ther old camp when I first saw the fire, but [ don’t now,” he said, “ We will stay byer an’ win Cochetopa, or die! I arm with you ef I hev got other bizness on my Dynamite Dan. hands. Bowie Blade ar’ hyer, but you know it, Remember that he b’longs to me!” “Yes, to you—I allus thought you hed a right to him, Dynamite,” said Montezuma. “He is mine!” said Dynamite, loeking at the giant. ‘‘ Let no man forget that. I have been to their cave. She warn’t thar!” The men started. ‘“‘Thar’s a gal mixed up in his bizness some- how,” muttered Montezuma. *‘ I never thought ov thet, although I might hev knowed thet thar ought ter be a woman somewhar along the line, You didn’t find her, then?’ His question was addressed aloud to Dyna- mite Dan. The avenger started and glanced at Chinca- pin.. If was evident that the boy, too, was astonished. ‘“ No more!” he exclaimed. ‘' The girl part is my bizness, not yours, men ov Cl’ar Grit! A funeral war goin’on when I left the cave, I nets twice to-night an’ at each crack a man fell, “Then I owe my life to you!” cried Chin- capin. ynamite smiled. “Think so if you want to, boy,” he said, with the smile still lingering on his lips. ‘‘I opened the ball an’ made two graves at the same time. The hoods had you foul, but they didn’t keep you thar long, eh, Chincapin? Men ov Cl’ar Grit—” Dynamite Dan paused abruptly, for a loud voice assailed the ears of all. : ‘*Death to the invaders of Cochetopa! Give ’em graves instead ov gold. Fire!” Before the camp could recover from the ef- fect of these thrilling words, a volley that seemed to shake the everlasting hills obeyed the command just spoken, and men tumbled right and left, It was a deadly volley, for few of the gold- hunters who struck the earth ever rose again, and hard upon it came the rapid shots from the chambers of repeating rifles, which were flred from a point above the camp. “Graves instead ov nuggets fer Clar Grit’s spawn!” cried the same voice that had just as- sailed the invaders’ ears. ‘‘Not a man_ shall touch a yeller stone! Pour itinto’em! Death to the San Juan wolves.” Dynamite Dan was among the namber who had not been touched. “They ar’ hyer before I looked fer ’em,” he said, as he leaped to Chincapin’s side, for the outh had miraculously escaped death. te Come, hincapin, we must git out ov this. It’s Bowie Blade’s day now—ours will come.” Tine youth, who bad drawn his revolver at the first word of the leader of the attacking party, hesitated, and threw a defiant look upward where the night was being cut by swords of fire. “T thought we were going to fight for Coche- topa,” he said, ‘So we ar’, but we can’t now; the odds ar’ ag’in’ us?’ answered Dynamite. ‘‘ Hyer’s Mon- tezuma. We must go.” ‘‘Fer the present—yes,” grated the bronzed giant, ‘‘ The rest ar’ savin’ themselves to fight another time. Who looked fer a tussle to night?” Chineapin found himself being dragged away by the two men before he could frame a reply, and a minute later the three were safe from the | balls which the gold guards of Cochetopa were still pouring mercilessly into the camp. The rest of the gold-hunters who had escaped had already sought safety in flight. It did not show cowardice, for to stand still, even if they had resisted, would have resulted in death cer- tain and speedy. Not a shot replied to the destructive volleys, and presently the last repeater ceased its play and a loud cheer of victory soared sky ward. ‘‘ Let ’em shout!” grated Montezuma whose eyes blazed with defiance as he listened to the echoes of that startling cry. ‘‘ 1 wouldn’t stop it ef I could. But the boys back thar will be avenged, eh, Dynamite?” “This victory will soon be forgotten by them hounds up thar!” was the reply. ‘‘The boys ar’n’t all dead. We kin muster a respectable number to-morrer.” ‘“*T don’t want another man,” said the giant. ‘“‘The fewer we ar’ in numbers, the bigger will be the divide when we get the bonanzas of Cochetopa. You an’ me, an’ Chincapin, Dy- namite, thar "ll be millions fer each one.” Chincapin did net reply, but he gave Monte- — a of reproof of which no notice was taken, ““Ov course while we fight for Cochetopa we'll not forget to night’s work,” continued Mos- tezama. ‘‘ I’ve hunted fer gold an’ vengeance / S —- afore at the same time an’ got both, but it. warn’t in this kentry. Shall we wait hyar fer the boys?” «** No! foller me,” ‘To the death, Dynamite!” Without speaking, but with a glance at Chin- capin, Dynamite Dan started from the spot where they had halted after the fight, and began to climb a narrow path tbat led up the hill, Chincapin and Montezuma follewed at his eels. “Don’t I know jes’ what he’s goin’ to do?’ murmured the giant. ‘Dynamite never war known to let grass grow under his feet in a cali of this kind. We’re in fer some hot work, an’ Ili stand by the old chap. Gods! my face burts jes’ ez if it wants sativfaction, an’ it’s likely to get it soon!” Dynamite Dan did not pause until the three had reached a place which was situated many feet above the gold-bunters, camp, All at once voices assailed their ears, “They're whar I thought they war,” Dyna- mite said. ‘‘ You didn’t know, Montezuma, that I’ve been byer afore,” ‘On this trail?” asked the giant, astonished. ity Yes. ” “'Thet’s news to me.” “Tt war years ago, but no more ov this now. Stay hyer. Tl reconnoiter,’ Chiscaptn and Montezuma saw their com- panion glide ahead and soon disappear. Dynamite crept forward with the noiseless movements of the panther, and carrying a re- peating rifle at full cock. It was not real dark, for a pallid moon showed the scout the dark trees overhead, and the trail that wound like a serpent round the ill. Suddenly Dynamite halted and listened and looked intently as he leaned over a huge moss- covered bowlder. He saw a dark moving mass about twenty yards from the stone, and voices reached his ears. At that moment the moon went behind a cloud obliterating all traces of the men who had poured volleys of deadly lead among the gold-hunters. Dynamite looked up and waited for the moon’s reappearance. or the first time in his life he was impatignt, ‘When the moon shows herself again, some- body dies!” he said, sternly. ‘* Montezuma an isinonpip kin come up ef then, want to; but I’d rather the bey’d stay ck.” Three minutes later the white queen of night came forth again, and Dynamite Dan ed ahead once more. He saw the same objects he had seen a mo- ment before. ‘‘ This fer the graves you’ve made to-night in Cochetopa!” he grated, with all the rage of an avenger, as he threw the repeating fire-arm against hisshoulder. ‘‘ ’m Dynamite, an’ more than that—l’m death!” The next instant he was emptyin tents of the deadliest rifle in Color the gold guards of Cochetopa! He fired with a rapidity that was startling. ‘‘They’ve got behind us!” came from the men who, taken by surprise, recoiled from the continuous flash of Dynamite’s rifle, ‘‘ Stand yer ground, pards. Norunnin’ from the wolves ov Clar Grit. “This is war to the knife!” ‘* An’ ther bowie to ther bilt!”? shouted Dyna- mite, as two figures reached his side, and swelled the attack with their weapons, ‘You hyer?” cried the avenger, seeing Ohin- eapin at bis elbow. *“Why not? Those men ar’ my foes as well as vours. We er’ all fightin’ for Cochetopa.” ‘‘ 'm bhyer fer more than that!” Chincapin did not. reply, for the gold guards had recovered and bullets were whistling about the trio’s heads. Hatless and looking more than wild, with his bandaged face and long hair clotted with his own b/ood, Montezuma, the giant, kept firisg at the enemy. “‘ Charge ’em, men!” rung out above the heavy firing: The men ef Cochetopa answered with a wild cbeer and rushed forward, Dynamite turned to Chineapin., “We must go!” he said. . No! I retreated once to-n‘ght. I will stay “Ve're a fool, i i and Dynamite seized the youth and forced back by Rees. ° ; Vl cover the re ” said the es, gian to Chinoapin; and without gz te see whether he been obeyed or not, he turned. the cen- © among
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onee more to the desperadoes with the heavy revolvers be bad just reloaded. ‘Pm hyer fer gold an’ satisfaction!” he ex- claimed, opening on the band rushing forward, and straigbt at the muzzles of his outstretched weapons, A series of yells was the answer. If Montezuma was brave even to foolhardi- ness, the men who were bound to Bowie Blade with an oath were not cowards. Montezuma’s revolvers were not the first they had faced. He emptied the steel chambers squarely into the enemy’s ranks. but in vain. Men feli back shot througn the brain, or heart pierced, but their comrades did not stop. They sprung over the bowlder that protected the lower half of the giant’s body, and rushed upon him like a pack of wolves. His last shots were muffled reports, for the muzzles of his weapons touched ‘living breasts. It was a thrilling moment! CHAPTER XI. FOES MEET AND FIGHT. Brror® the human wolves of Cochetopa touched Montezuma, Dynamite Dan had dragged Chincapin back, and forced him from the scene, ~~ The youth was reluctant to go, and indigna- tion blazed in his eyes. ‘We fly like cowards an’ leave Montezuma to his fate,” crossed his lips, while Dynamite gripped his arm some distance from the scene of attack and out of sight of the combatants. ‘‘Never mind the big miner; he’s got out ov worse scrapes than thet,” was the answer, ‘ Our bizness is to stay hyer no longer. You forget, Chincapin, what brought me to Cochetopa.” Chincapin did not reply. The sounds of the struggle over and around the big bowlder had already died away. What had become of Montezuma? It was more than probable that he had been overpowered and killed by Bowie Blade’s infu- riated gold guards, who had already sworn to he the life of every invader of the Cochetopa If Dynamite Dan and Chincapin had stayed they would have shared a like fate, for three men, notwithstanding their heroism, could never have checked the ferocity of the charging a “§ hey’ll be huntin’ us next,” resumed Dyna- mite. ‘'Thet silence means suthin’—death to you an’ I, boy, ef they git the drop on us!” The fierce light in Chincapin’s eyes did not abate. He had never seen Dynamite Dan so solici- tous for his safety before, and more than once he was on the eve of putting a question that would have startled Bowie Blade’s trailer, but he kept silent. The pair glided from the spot where they had halted after their retreat from the bowlder. Dynamite never removed bis gaze from his companion; he seemed to fear that the youth ben d give him the slip, and go to the giant’s ai All at once, a goodly distance from the bloody spot, and on a level with the gold-lhunters’ eamp, the twain saw several dark figures rise in the trail before them, and a stern command to halt and proclaim themselves, came over the barrels of as many leveled repeating-rifles. “Ther boys! fell from Dynamite’s tongue, in accents which immediately lowered the wea- p' payee a moment later the five men mingled together. ‘“Whar’s ther rest ov ye?’ asked Dynamite, quickly. ‘It can’t be thet thar ar’ but five ov us left—‘ive out ov fifty?” ‘““'het’s ther way it looks, Dynamite,” was the doleful answer. ‘* Ther wolves ov Cocheto- p» got ther drop on us, an’ no mistake. Jehu! cid you ever see such shootin’? You weren’t tear at ther time. The boys tumbled in every direction, ginerally shot dead; fer I noticed thet they never got up ag’in arter they struck ther ground. e got out ov ther melee some- how—jes’ how nobody human kin tell. But hyer we ar’, ready—” ‘* Ready to go back an’ rebuild Clear Grit?” asked Chincapin. ‘Not much, youngster! We haven't touched a nugget in Cochetopa yet, an’ we came hyer ter win ther big bonanza. Don’t forget thet!” Chincapin could not repress a smile. The thought of five men wresting Cochetopa from Bowie Blade and his men bordered on the foolish. “We got more than gold to get,” continued the brawny miner who had replied to the Dynamite Dan. youth’s interruption. “Think ov ther dead men lyin’ back yonder! Jes’ let the sound ov Bowie Blade’s rifles ring in yer ears fer a min- ute, an’ ye’ll not think ov goin’ back to ther old camp, without paying ther debt with bloody in- terest. Let us swear hyer ter stay till we've avenged our pards!” “Don’t do that, men of Clear Grit!” said a voice that caused tne five to recoil. ‘‘ Better zo back to the gold trails in the valley of the san Juan. The wolves of Cochetopaare many, an’ their teeth are sharp. They do more than growl—they bite!” The voice ceased and left the miners staring breathless at one another. One of the survivors of the camp dashed for- ward with an oath, but Dynamite just as agile despite his age, sprung after him, and dragged him back by main force. ‘Don't be a fool, Kino,” hesaid. ‘‘Thet chap bas all ther advantage an’ ther drop ar’ his ef he wants it.” The man looked mad and half bewildered for a moment. ‘* War it Bowie Blade?” he asked. “ No.” ** Who, then?” “ No difference who I think he is,” said Dyna- mite. ‘‘I’m ther man to find him—not you. Go back to ther boys, an’ above all things, keep Chincapin from breakin’ loose. If anything happens to him I'll hold you accountable. Go back.” ‘* An’ you?” “Oh, I'm goin’ to see a man,” and with this Kino found bimself pushed back, and when he recovered Dynamite had disappeared. ‘“Thet voice sounded like one I think I shall never forget,” hé said half audibly to himself. as he started forward. ‘‘He said he woul never give up the trail, an’I told him that Bowie Blade b’lonzed to me. But be would not say that he would not wipe that accursed hound out if he got a chance. An’ now he’s hyer in the Cochetopa kentry on ther same mission thet brought me into it. I want to see him. Thet war his voice an’I know it. I want to tell Velvet Foot that be may hunt Floss if he wants to; but thet Bowie Blade is my man an’ no one else’s,” Dynamite Dan had marked the spot as well as he could from whence the voice just beard had proceeded. He knew that he walked over dangerous ground, The gold guards of Cochetopa elated by their signal victory over the invaders were still abroad, although the death-sbots of Montezoma and his comp.nions had evidently thinned their numbers, He crept forward, however, nor paused until he believed he was near the spot where the un- seen speaker had lately stood. A silence almost as profound as that of the grave pervaded the gloomy landscape. The hills that rose above the miner looked gloomier than ever, and their thick forests of trees seemed to touch the ink-like sky overbead. ‘*T puess I came too late,” murmured Dyna- mite, speaking in a low whisper. ‘He isn’t hyer, an’ I can't see a trail ov any kind, But— ’sh! what war thet?” It was well that Dynamite asked himself that question, for a sound that soon proclaimed the approach of some One, and on borseback at that, greeted his ears, and he stepped aside with his face turned down the scarcely perceptible trail that ran by his feet. The moment was one of suspense to the griz zled miner who waited for the mounted man. “T would give my right armif it war the man I’ve been huntin’ all these years!” he ejac- ulated. ‘*To meet him hyer would pay me fer all my trailin’. I would keep the oath I took among ther ruins ov Cl’ar Grit, but ’d make ’im take me to Floss first.” Dynamite Dan ceased abruptly, for the borse- man was in sight, darker than tbe nocturnal landscape which was dimly relieved by the palest of moons. d ‘“*Ha! Lean go back an’ call Floss mine more than ever now!” said a voice so suddenly that Dynamite’s revolver was lifted in spite of him- self, ‘The boys got in some good shots to- night; their rifles strengthened mv title to Coch- etopa. The pards ov Cl’ar Grit war fools— downright idiots! They might have known from Montezuma’s reports that this was a land of death as well as one great gold mine. Men will never learn anything in this region only at the repeater’s muzzle.” ‘ The rider who filled the mountain saddle with the grace of an old horseman was approaching while he talked. i pi Not a word esca Dynamite’s ear. ‘‘He’s goin’ to Floss, fer he hee jes’ said so,” murmured the old trailer, ‘“ He shall take me thar before lL let im know that Pm in Cocheto pa. He hezn’t seen the words I spelt on the floor ov ther cave with ther burnt sticks, fer le hezn’t been thar since.” Meanwhile Dynamite was shielding his body with the bushes that fringed the hillside trai), but his eyes, fierce and blazing, full of sparks of fire, as it were, were riveted on the horse man, whose identity was no longer questioned— it was Bowie Blade. u The sport rode by lookirig neither to the right nor to the left, but straight ahead, dreamless of the proximity of the human wolf who had hunted him so long. His last word lingered in Dynamite’s ears, for the avenging miner was creeping through the shadows at the horse’s heels, ‘(Bf you thought I war hyer thar’d be suth- in’ to pay fer now, Bowie Blade,” muttered the trailer, with his eyes fastened on the horsemnn. “Take me to Floss—thet’s all lask. Thar we'll settle everything—thar you'll lose er make good forever yer claim to Cochetopa.” The cavern occupied at times by Bowie Blade and his gold-guards was not far from the spot where Dynamite had encountered him. The old trailer glided after the bowie sport through the thicket, beyond which we have al- ready taken the reader, and saw him dismount in front of the little cabin that fronted the cave, “At last! I knowed he’d bring me hyer,’”” said Dynamite, with glittering eyes that could not keep down his triumph. ‘ He'll find Floss, if I did not. As fer Chincapin, Kino an’ bis pards will take care ov ther boy. If they let harm come to him while I’m away thar’ll a settlement when I get back.” Bowie Blade had already entered the cabin, the door of which he left open so that Dyna- mite could look down the log-walled corridor, ae see the fire still burning on the cavern oor. Did he enter at the sport’s heels? No! he crept ‘to the door the horse’s: head, and followed him with bis gleaming eyes. tg Blade stopped midway down the cor- ridor, **He’s lookin’ fer Floss,” said Dynamite, as the desperado suddenly vanished. ‘Thar! he hezn’t found her!—she isn’t byer.” Standing erect in the corridor between his watcher and the fire, Bowie Blade’s handsome figure was plainly seen. ‘She isn’t here!” fell from his lips in tones of half-suppressed rage. ‘Some person has in- vaded my domain. Can it be that—” He checked himself and sprung toward the cavern. The next instant be stood in front of Dyna- mite’s strange lettering on the ground! “T feared it!” he suddenly grated. ‘1 did not kill the devil on the stage road. He is here —in Cochetopa to carry out, if he can, the oath he took years ago. He bas found Floss; he kae taken her away, but I will follow! I will have his heart’s blood for this theft!” Dynamite Dan, now across the threshold saw Bowie Blade wheel with the last word ringing from his lips. He had instinctively drawn the weapon which had given him his name. “Pil begin my death-bunt to-night—this minute!” he cried. “I will find Dynamire Dan it I have to track him across the centi- nent.” ‘You'll not hev to bunt long!” hissed ‘the trailer. At that moment an object appeared in Bowio Blade’s path; thé far-reaching fire-light, re- vealed the invader of Cochetopa. A wild cry of recognition and of tigerist eagerness as well, burst from the spert’s throat. He saw his enemy dashing forward. “Take this!” be flashed, ree 4 raising the bowie which be had grasped at the point and hurling it forward. Dynamite saw the movement and threw up: his arm, but not a moment too soon, for the next second it was completly transfixed by the twelve inch blade. “This is child’s play to what’s comin’!” ex- claimed the svongtne miner glancing at the knife. ‘* Look out, Bowie! I'm hyer for the etarnal settlement.” : ; The knife intended for his heart did net stop Dynamite, for all at once be fell upen the as- tonished pport whose revolver he tore from his grasp and whom he threw staggering through the with the strength and rage of a gorilat
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1 Bowie Blade had afrondy picked up the bowie 12 CHAPTER XIL BOWLE BLADE ON TOY. Tux deeds of the past, the long bunt extend- ing over ten years for Floss and revenge, in- tensified Dynamite’s hate. If Bowie Blade had stood in the midst of | his bvoded gold guards, he would have attacked | bim just the same with the same impetuosity and intent. We have said that Dynamite disarmed his «enemy and hurled him through the fire. | all along thet lhe war. abead ov us, He did more than this; he leaped through the | blaze after bim, and struck the floor of the cay- ern beyond it just as the sport was regaining his feet. “Tis my day, Bowie Blade—you’ve hed a exclaimed Dynamite, facing the man of | shetopa with a face rendered somber by the hate of a decade. ‘‘As [ve told ye, I’m hyer fer ther final settlement, You didn’t finish me | ther night ther Injun flung me from ther stage. Thet red-skin war Velvet Foot, but you know thet. You robbed both ov us at ther same time, an’ our trails hev been the same ever since, though we hev’n’t bunted together. Ef I hed recognized you in the stage, 1 wouldn’t be hyer, neither would you, ['m thinkin’, Recol- lect thet I only saw you once afore them, an’ thet war arter night in a canyon; thet’s why I didn’t know you till you shouted yer name to Velvet Foot to rile him. You lied to bim then ter you told him thet Floss war yer devoted wife, “Prove that I lied, Dynamite!” said Bowie Blade with a provoking and defiaat smile, “T needn't do thet—I, know it!” was the an- ; “Sne’s not yer wife, an’ she never will be!" Did the mountain sper eye covetously the hilt of the bowie still sticking in Dynamite’s left arm? ‘* Whar war ther girl when you saw her Jast!” continued the miner, ‘Jn the cabin.” “ Wben war thet?” *Sence sundown. But why put these ques- tions—you know where she is,”’ “I do not, She warn’t hyer when I spelt ok words on the floor with the blackened sticks,’ * apes then? hone war ya az “Ww ou war buryin’ yer twv guards in the ,thicke the men T killed to save Chinca- pip. At the mention of Chincapin's name, Bowie Blade started, and his thoughts seemed to if back to his encounter with the youth in the «wabin at Clear Grit camp. ‘‘Tbey have met, then,” he said aloud. “Not yet, but they sball!” replied Dynamite resolutely, ‘I didn’t take Floss away, neither did Chincapin, Thar’s another person who wants ber.” ‘Velvet Foot?” “Yes, ther red-skin.” ‘* Do you think be has found her?” ee nk he has.” “Then, by heavens! I will trail him to the ate yee his f t his ituati he § n ) own situation. Deenaiine Dem suulod grimly. “het depends bow the last settlement «tween us pans out,” he said. ‘‘Hyar, take yer knife. I never kill a man without givin’ him a show fer his lite!” And before Bowie Blade could anticipate the miner, he had jerked the bowie from his arm and cast it at bis feet. “Pick it up an’ let us adjust accounts,” he continued, ‘'See! lve got ono with the same length ov blade, an’ the same weight, I think.” ‘ved with the blood of his fearless foe. He stood erect with the desperate glare of a tiger brought to bay by a line of elephants. It was to be a duel to the death; no mercy was to be granted, and none would be craved! The feet of the two men—hunter and hunted —almost touched as they faced each other in ithe fire-light. They were men who had faced the bowie’s point before, and each ove had carried his life in bis hand in camp and canyon for a score of ears, 7 They moved toward each other almost simal- taneously, and the bowies suddenly flashed in the fire light. “To ther death this time, Bowie!” said Dy- mamite and the echo was fiercely grated. _“ To the death !” In another moment the two lifelong enemies would have slashed at each other’s heart if voices bad not held them back, | Bowie Biade’s eyes suddenly light up with: SSS pss ~ | ther prisoner, boys. gaze sweeping down the | seemed to see the men who door of the hut. “Yer gold guards, Bowie?” asked Dynamite | without turning his head. The sport’s eyes said ‘‘ yes,” but his lips re- mained mute. ‘Thank tortune, the cap’n's at home!” said a voice that penetrated the cavern, ‘I lowed Hurry up Hyar he is! Walk in, Chincapin—this is whar we hang up when we’re at home,” What made Dynamite Dan whirl half-way round with a startling ery on bir lips? ** Chincapin—the boy—hyer?’ he exclaimed. The end of the corridor nearest the entrance ad reached the was already filled with men—not the miners of. Clear Grit, but the merciless brayos of Coche- topa, And Chincapin was their prisoner! He seemed to forget that Bowie Blade faced | him with the weapon which he used with deadly effe t—he thought only of Chincapin. All at once with the suddenness of a panther’s | spring, Bowie Blade took advantage of Dyna- wite’s astonishment, and Jeaped at him. The attack could not be met nor withstood. ** Cbincapin is here todie with you!” he hissed in Dynamite’s ear, as he crushe back, almost depriving him of his footing before he could realize the fi ndishness of the attack. Dynamite’s towie was torn from his grasp, and at the same time a wild sbout came from the men in the corridor, ‘Help the cap’n, some ov ye!” Six stalwart fellows rusbed into the cavern; they seemed to realize every thing in a moment; they knew the evemies at once, Bowie Blade glapveed at them triumphantly as their bands separated him from Dynamite, whom others who bad also ruched to the rescue held disarmed, and threatened with revolvers, He had not used his knife; indeed, it lay on i Bes not far from Dynamite’s formidable ade, “ Warn’t P he mistaken when you said this ay?” be said, striding up to the miner. ‘Pye seen men mistaken before, to be my hour instead ov yours, other prisoner?” The last question addressed to his men was promptly responded to, ‘* Hyer’s ther chick, cap’n. We caught him with turee others who got the benefit of our re- ters, but ther boy wouldn’t run arter thet. e’s grititself ef he did come from the San Juan kentry. Hyer be is, chief!” The person thrust forward into Bowie Blade’s presence drew a cry from Dynamite’s lips. It was Chincapin! At ‘the old trailer’s exclamation the youth turned and their eyes met. ‘* Dynamite Dan!” cried the young man. ‘I might have known that you were bere—” “Thar!” and Dynamite made an effort to reach Chincapin’s side, but he was held back. ** You would not run when those men shot yer companions—thet’s why ye’r’ byer.” Run? Thar’sno run in the This seems Whar is the we teched him? He wouldn’t be byer now ef we hadn't played a cold deck on him as it | war.” Chineapin’s eyes flashed proudly for a mo- ment, but softened when they fell upon Dyna- mite again. The bosom of the old miner seemed to be ready to burst asunder with emotion, His glance flew quickly from Chincapin to - gold guards who awaited their leader’s or- are rs. ‘*What ar’ you goin’ to do with ther boy?” he asked, fixing his eyes upon Bowie Blade. A bitter laugh was the first response. ‘** He's yer yonng pard—the husband you've picked ont for Floss an’ I'm goin’ to hang him in your presence.” These were the sport’s cutting words. A cry of mad indignation was torn from Dy- namite’s throat. ** By ther gods! not while Dynamite’s hyer(” he exclaimed. ‘A thousand necks shall stretch in Cochetopa, but Chincapin’s—never!” With the last word the miner’s arms Jeft bis a and dashed those nearest him right and eft. ; A bound, which no human power could resist, earried him to Chincapin’s side. “We stand together, Dynamite.” said the youth. the old miner | y!” came from | the rough crowd, before Chincapin could reply. | ‘**Didn’t be turn forty toes to ther stars before | “ve got a right todie for you, boy—il’s my ! } dut i | th burled back the gold-guards who leaped forward to tear him from Chincapiu’s side. ‘Pm a tiger when you smooth my back the wrong way!” broke from bis lips. ‘“‘]’m a thousand catamounts rolled into one when you go to touch Chincapin!” If Dyn«inite was all this, his enemies did not hesitate. One of Bowie Blade’s bands went up end de- livered a signal which threw every desperado of the gold hills upon the pair. Dynamite stepped before the youth and fought them back, but be might as well bave tried to stem, single-banded, the billows of a stormy sea. “They belong to me!” shouted the sport above the din of the fierce scuffle of two with twenty, | ‘Take them alive and I will keepmy vow—that | every invader of Cochetopa shall get death—not ‘old |” . The trailer’s attempt at rescue was a failure, | Strength and lion-like courage does not alk | Ways “in the day. | As Montezuma had been beaten back in the stony path by those very human wolves, so were Dynamite and Chincapin overpowered by a courage more brutal than theirs, ‘““My men are invincible, Dynamite!” ex- claimed Bowie Blade after the victory. “A captive has never escaped me,” ‘You forget Floss,” said Dynamite, trium- | | | phantly. The sport's brow darkened, bat he suppressed the oath that was on bis lips. ‘*We want two ropes now, Domine,” be pics | clinch my claims to ’ Cochetopa before madly, to a stalwart fi in bis front. mornin’! ean ag CHAPTER XIIL ¥LOSS EMPTIES HER REVOLVER, Yrs, Bowie Blade had overlooked Floss when he told Dynamite, in tones of triumph, that no captive bad ever escaped from bim. Where was the girl¢ Not far from the cavern in the side of the bill | where we left most of oar characters at the con- | clusion of the foregoing chapter, stood the fair | being for whom Dynamite had bunted ten years. We left her m the hands of. Velvet Foot, the Indian who found her on the outside of the but | shortly after Dynamite bad left the words, | “I’m here,” formed with half-burned sticks, on | the floor of the cave. Sbe was now alone—alone with the wooded hills of Cochetopa around and above her, for Velvet Foot had left her in an old mine dererted for years, but she had made her wey from its depths and stood once more beneath the stars that glittered in the heavens, ‘*That Indian has been hunting a long time for me,” she gaid to herself. ‘‘ He calls himself Velvet Foot, and asked meif I recollected when I lived iy a tepee and had an Indian for a friend —when a white man used to come occasionally to see me, What be wanted me to remember seemed. like a jong lorgosten dream while he talked. I do recollect much of the past now | but it is vot very distinct. I can see rows of Indian tepees, and numbers of red skinned boys and girls. I am sure now that I once lived in an Indian village, but how I came there I do not know. But I do not recollect the white man who came to see me according to Velvet Foot’s story. The first white man I remember seeing is he whem people call Bowie Blade—the gold-bunter with the embroidéred jacket and sombrero, He hss taken me to many places since I met bim first. I was a girl then, and it is under his eyes that I have grown op, Now the red bunter comes, but not until a white man who calls himself Dynamite has eaid that he too wants me—tbat he will take me from Bowie Blade, whose life he will take for some- thing done in the pest. Where are they— the white man and Velvet Foot? The Indian said he would come back soon, but I could not remain in the mine, so ] am bere.” She paused abruptly as though a footstep or voices bad startled her, and sbe drew a revolver which sho carried in the belt that git ber sylphlike waist, “T know this country, but not all its inhebi- tants,” she resumed a mcment leter as she smiled. *‘ Velvet Foot told me that the miners | of the San Juan have invaded Cochetopa frribe | urpose of wresting it from Bowie Tl-de. 2 ave not seen them, but I know thet thes bry brilliant | here, for Dymasvite must be one of them i somebody is down yender.” Coniident that.) or cars 1 sa not decitwent, corr i this time, Floss stepped beck to the metus ct
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the mine which was a few feet behind her, and waited. ‘‘ Indians!” feil from her lips after she had listened a moment. ‘ Bowie Blade said lately that the Indians whom the gold guards drove from Cochetopa not long since would surely come back, They are here, showing that he did not miss the mark.” The girl had scarcely ceased before the trail that-rau past the mouth of the old mine seemed alive with Indians. Ste saw their stalwart, half-naked figures, their plumes and weapons. “They have come back for a fight,” she mur- mured. ‘They are the same whom Bowie Blade dreve away. Their present leader is not the same they bad then; he remained here, buried alive in one of the old mines which some people worked and abandoned perhaps a hun- dred years ago. Floss tightened her grip on the butt of the revolver, while she gazed at the red invaders of Cochetopa, who had come back from Indian- dom thirsting for revenge. She saw them distinctly and even selected from among their numbers the warriors whose command t ey obeyed. “What if they are hunting for the immured chief?” passed swiftly across Floss’s brain. She was crouched among the rocks at the mouth of the old mine, and so silent was she that she scarcely breathed. Ab! if Velvet Foot would but come back! But what could the wily red trailer do among so many vengeance huating red-skins, who hate the tribe he owns! Pr) Floss’s consternation, the entire band halted directly in front of her position. ‘‘ Where is Silver Serpent?” asked the chief. “Silver Serpent is here!” Anda young red- skin advanced from the band and confronted the red leader. ‘*Is Noropoco’s grave here?” Fioss started. Noropoco was the Indian whom the hoods of Cochetops bad buried alive. ‘* Heavens!” she gasped. for the lost obief.” Silver Serpent’s voice was not heard in reply uotil bis keen eyes had thoroughly inspected their surroundings. : Suddenly he sprung forward and landed so near the breathless girl that she involuntarily recoiled, and with difficulty repressed a ery. Silver Serpent has found the mouth of No- ropoco’s grave! His eyes do not deceive bim,” the Indian exclaimed. Exclamations of success burst from twenty ** We will find thechief with fire. The Great Spirit bas watobed over him in the mine. The pale-face dogs that buried bim shall yet feel the edge of his hatchet.” Is it a wonder that Floss shrunk back into the depths of the deserted mine from which she had after Velvet Foot’s departure? She saw the flashes of flints from the spot where she paused for a moment, and then the cavernous opening was illumined by the glare of a torch, The red avengers were hunting for their chief. Fioss stood for a moment longer on the spot, and then fied from the advancing fire. The old mine had a hundred dark corridors and scores of roofed galleries, in which in times long gone by had resounded the voices of miners, forgotten for fifty, perhaps a hundred years. The torch, like a star, moving amid the gloom, showed her the chief-bunters. Was the old chief buried somewhere in the depths of the mine? Silver Serpent had confidently said as much: but did he know? - Tne advancing torch, which was probably carried by this same Silver Serpent, drove her on and on, until at last she found herself almost at the end of a corridor which contained many strange niches, like cells, The Indians were almost upon her. She could not turn back without being discov- ered, and to advance further was impossible. “Silver Serpent's feet are on the right trail,” said the main torch-bearer in confident tones, and the next moment the fiery glare was in the corridor. Floss darted into one of the niches where she turned with her tapering finger at the trigger of the revolver. - ‘“] will kill if they touch me!” she murmured with more than girlish determination. “I am “They are hunting not going to fall into the clutches of this band of Indian wolves.” _ On came the torch, and the girl was hoping eee eee Oe eee ee SSS ees ee Dynamite Dan. that the entire band would pass by and leave her to fly once more unmolested toward the mouth of the mine. Silver Serpent led the Indians past the niche that sheltered her, She breathed free once more, ‘* Noropoco is near,” she heard the red-skin say. ‘In one of these holes the white viper of Cochetopa hid the great chief away and left him to die. We must search them ali, We must tind Noropoco!” The hunters seemed to disperse to search the various niches along the corridor. “Now is my time,” said the girl. ‘‘ I have not a moment to lose.” The next moment she was at the mouth of her niche, but the light of a torch dazed her eyes, and she shrunk back. She was on the threshold of discovery! “* Mebbe chief in here,” With the last word the entrance was datken- ed by a buman figure, and Floss fell back to the end of the niche. The place became dark when the red-skin bad a. entered. He was feeling his way with bis ands. "It must come to this—I can do no more!” fell from Floss’s lips. She went forward resolutely, determined to escape or perish there. The Indian heard her step and started. ‘Ugh! Noropoco alive!” be grunted. } He retreated for the purpose of alarming his companions, but the oung girl’s hand at that moment touched his throa A moment later Floss’s revolver touched his temples, a flash and a report followed, and as the red brave reeled back, the girl leaped from the niche, past the falling body and started away. A vil yell, fall of horror and vengeance, rose bebind her. She ran as she had never run before, It was not necessary for her to glance over her shoulder to know that a score of red demons was at her heels. ‘* Heaven help me now!” she ejaculated. ** Let me reach the trails beyond the mine, and I will escape these fiends.” Fortune seemed to favor her, for she was nearins the mouth of the cave without being re- a in ‘ he red-skins were not acquainted with the interior of the mine with the exception of Silver Serpent, and he knew but little about it, Suddenly and just when she could see the shimmering stars, Floss was thrown tothe floor by stepping on a loose stone. It was with diffi- culty that she kept the revolver in ber hand. The Indian torch revealed this unlucky acci- dent to those who followed it. Floss felt dazed for a moment, but the wild ells of triumph that filled the mine brought er almost instantly to her senses. “Back!” she shouted to the red skins, wheel- ing and facing them with the outstretched re- volver, avd the next instant she was pouring the contents of the steel chambers into their painted faces. : ; The girl fired rapidly and with unerring from Bil- aim. At the first shot the torch drop ck shot be- ver Serpent’s bands, and he fell tween Lis keen hawk-like eyes. The Indians recoiled from the death-dealing revolver, and seeing her opportunity Floss turned and fled again. This time she reached the trail beneath the stars, but she was still pursued, , A dozen Indians leaping over their slain com- rades were hunting her for vengeance; they had quite forgotten Noropeco the uried chief. ‘1 do not fear thém now,” the girl murmured, “J am among scenes with which I am familiar, but I have still a race for life before me.” She darted down the trail with the fleetness of a fawn flying from its pursuers. “Safe at last!” she panted more than two miles from the mouth of the mine when she bad listened a few moments for her pursuers’ foot- steps without bearing a sound of one, “ I can wait here until they have searched the mine for the lost chief. I could go back to Bowie Blade —why not? Ah! I gave Velvet Foot my word that 1 would meet him at the mine and he says Bowie Blade stole me years ago from a home where I was happy. If this be true, I should eel “en nie - ess thet’s so, girl. Floss turned as ss as if a rattlesnake had delivered its warning bebind her. She saw the figure of a giant so near that ol with a light cry, which brought the giant forward ' 13 ‘* Don’t make any noise,” be said, so near her that she could see that hé wore a dark. bandage over one half of his face. ‘We're clese to a pienis Bowie Blade’s about to bev ef nobody interrupts ‘im, You don’t know me? My name’s Montezuma, I’ve me the wolves ov Cochetopa to-night. You’d timnak I hed any- how ef you could see me by daylight. The made a sieve out ov me, but I kin shoot fer all thet. Yon’ve got a revolver—good! Tve got two. Ef you'll foller me, Fioss, we'll sp’ile thet mountain picnic.” The girl stepped to the giant’s side. “Lam with you!” she said, firmly, “T cen rely on my revolver, It bas served me nobly once to-night.” CHAPTER XIV. TWO NOOSES AND THREE REVOLVERS, Fross and Montezuma, the well-known giant of Clear Grit Camp, had met for the first time, Besides the bandage on his face, a bandage which was bloody, the stalwart miner showed Saar sigs of being wounded, but the girl did pot question him. Fie ed the way to the left of the spot where the meeting had taken pluce, carrying in each hand \ large revolver which was ready to take a band in any kind of melee. Floss could not but regard him with devouring curiosity. She félt that he was one of the new invaders of Cochetopa, and she wondered whether all the rest were athletes like him, His great effort to walk steady did not escape her, She knew that he was desperately woun not only. in one, but in many ee : into b © giant staring er All at once she found face. “You're the girl what brought Dynamite to, this kentry,” he said in a low voice. “I knowed it the ms I set eyes on ye. Have ye seen old ‘I have, but he escaped me,” Floss said. “He'll tind you yet!” replied Montezuma quickly, and with a confidence that dilated the qi eyes. “But we can’t talk about him now. We've jot suthin on our hands.” “ Where?” asked Floss. * Ye'll see in a minute.” : This short space of time had hardly terminated, ere the giant stopped suddenly, and turned again to ith a look that commanded silence. The twain stood Ey sere but the giant was lean- ing ery v Wg had data te yeore on the ringe of the trail, and ap ng upon a eckns of some kind shnsh Gal distance haldwr. Floss stun an’ look down thar," back, the young girl went ** Jes’ lean over When he step forward and gazed downward, What did she see? About one hundred feet below their position, and in front of a rough cabin, several torches lit up a scene which, once observed, never be forgotten. A score of men armed to the teeth and wearing white hoods which concealed their faces, stood on a little plateau between the hut and a thicket of young trees. In their midst, erect but evidently prisoners, soon to be executed, if the two ro dang fro heavy beam of wood that projected from at one corner meant an eg atall, s two One was past the middle with broad shoulders and a grizzled beard; the other was young, little more than a boy, handsome, well built, and with an eye as keen as the eagle's. These two men stood side by side awaiting their doom with the courage of heroes who bate faced death a thousand times, It was @ scene that riveted Floss's attention from the first, Montezuma watched her with a pmange interest. the younger He saw that her eyes were fixed upon of the doomed pair. “Wal what do ye think ov Bowie Blade's picnic?” asked Montezuma. “They shall not die!” was the quick, resolute re- ply. * Bat who are they?” ‘Dynamite an’ Chincapin.” Floss started at mention of the first name, “ Ah! the man who has sought me for years!"’ she exclaimed. “The same.”’ “The other—”’ « Theyre pards an’ hey been ever since I knowed ’em,” was the interruption. ‘“ ite hez been lookin’ fer Bowie Blade an’ he’s found ‘im at last. I didn't think the sport ‘d git the w rer hand ov the oki chap, but thar’s no tellin’ what'll happen when you trail a man in this kentry. Thar! the gold fruards hev taken hold ov ther ropes... You hey said thet those pards sha’n’t die, Montezuma is with you on thet, Floss!’ The girl and the giant were both looking over the stone no z down upow the exciting scene revealed by the flaring torches. “] always play my games to the end, Dynamite!” said a'clear ha = ne whose ringing tones opme up to the twain. “You have followed me a long CH but it’s a long lane that turns not, you know. We have never been an’ yours could meet in Se cae it not choke you off, “Ver right, wie,”
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14 oe A provs siue curled the sport’s lips as he con- “Of course you would, an’ all because I once robbed an Injun tepee of its guarded tenant, a little girl called Floss.” Montezuma’s hand tightened on the girl’s arm at this, and the look he received told him that she had heard every syllable. “ For that little theft you swore to hunt me down, Dynamite, but 1 eluded you an’ tne Injun Velvet "oot who took an oath similar to yours. Where _J velbeen? Ask the gaia lands of the Sacramento * alley, the Indian trails of the Big Horn country, aid the ranches along the Rio Grande. You failed to strike my trail all those years. It wasn’t my fault. But when I made my way into the Co- chetopa country, you struck my trail. I came up from Santa Fe on the accursed stage which the In- jun assaulted. I then knew that Velvet Foot was still my living enemy, an’ I soon afterward discov- ered that fe war my stage companion. But enough. I have spoken thus to tell you before you die t it was not your fault that you did not find me sooner. As for the youngster at your side, I told him when I pinned him 10 the of his own shanty with my bowie that he would get his foot in it if he fol- lowed me. He would not listen, but came to Coche- — vowing vengeance against me with the men of CPar Grit, an’ thar he stands at yer side endin’ his trail with yours at the end of a noose.”’ The rt stepped bac. as he finished, revealing di some figure more fully to Montezuma and Cs) “Tt is his last triumph!” exclaimed Floss, whose eyes blazed while they regarded Bowie Blade. She sprung upon the rock, and leveled a revolver at the man of eer anal “Not thet man, girl!’’ cried Montezuma, and his band darted forward and closed on her arm. “Why not, Montezuma?" “We must leave him fer ther other hunter—ther red one.” “Velvet Foot?" “ Yes ” “No!” said the girl, nena) = the disengage her arm from the giant’s grasp. ‘ An Indian’s oath is mot more sacred than a white girl’s wrongs.” But the great bronze hand of Montezuma was not to be shaken off by a young girl’sstrength. Hecon- ered. a Ef we spile thet picnic it mustn't be from hyer,” he said. ‘*Wecan’t 8 downward with much ef- th ez you may know, We mustgit on a level with the ied But that will take time. Look! they are hand- ling the ropes now.” “We kin git down thar. Three minutes ar’ all we want.” | Montezuma almost dragged the eager girl from the stone, and was hi her from the The giant seemed to forget his numerous wounds, His steps were no longer unsteady. He turned and bounded off like a hound nearing his quarry Floss could do naught but follow, for there was mot a minute to lose. path which they traversed sloped to the table- jand in front of the hut. It entered the thicket to the right of the cabin. ** We're hyer an’ thar’s been no hangin’ yet,"’ said Montezuma, turning to the girl when they had halted for breath in the thicket. ‘* We kin go forward now aan’ break up the fun. Mebbe we kin do it without a drop ov blood shed, though I’m on the kill to-night. Do you know what the wolves ov Oochetopa did arter ; charged me to-night?” ‘ 0°.’ “They rolled me over ther hillside, an’ shot at me ez I went down through ther bushes! Thar’s wharI ¥ot all my wounds. When I got to ther foot ov ther la came up an’ inspected me fer five min- utes. But he didn’t hev any use fer a man arter them hooded skunks yonder hed settled with him, an’ so he left me in Tharfore, Floss, 'm slightly on ther kill ter-night; an’ what is more, Montezuma will own the bizgest bonanza in Colora- do inside ov thirty days. Now fer bizness. Foller me ef you want ter, er stay back—jes’ ez it suits ye.” With his last word, the giant glanced at his re- volvers, and ste forward, without noticing whether the girl followed him or not. A mere of tigerish hatred added ferocity to his blood-shot eyes. ‘ He went straight toward the group in front of the ouse. “Now, swing ‘em up!” shouted Bowie Blade, as Montezuma cleared the thicket. ‘ Floes shall live to be queen of my palace yet, Dynamite, an’ the benes of the red trailer shall be picked by the vul- tures of Cochetopa before many days. pes are trumps, an’ Bowie Blade holds the winning hand!” “T’'m on hand with a new deal! Drop them ropes, or die like dogs whar ye stand!” nthe? get turned toward the man who had ut- tered these words, and all saw him in the Nght of the six torches, with two outstretched revolvers of the largest pattern. He was not slone. A sytphlike figure stood at his side, and the flash- ing. oy €6 of Floss looked over a weapon not so large as Montezuma’s, but just as deadly. Bao gr ge Dan could not suppress an exclama- “ Heavens! The Floss!” aa ae see the stalwart figure of the Bowie Blade and his hooded followers exchanged vapid glances. F ry E g SE BE sda: “T must answer you as I did in the first place, i he said at last, lifting his eyes to the girl’s. ‘“* Dyna- mite Dan an’ I are friends—nothing more.” “The Indian must have told me wrongly, then?” “ What Indian?” Floss uttered a low cry. She had unconsciously ken her thoughts aloud. “i Forgive me!” she said, blushing. “1 was not aware—” . “There! let it pass,” smiled Chincapin, who was by no means satisfied. “I will ask Mont-zuma a certain question at the first opportunity. He knows if anybody does.” The last sentences the youth e to himself. **- You have asked me w I have just called the ." resumed the girl. “‘ He calls himself Vel- vet Foot.” “Ts pele Cochetopa?” as if he to nt red trailer at moment. his * Bonte- i At that moment the sounds heard by the girl died away, as if her voice had been heard, and the ap- proaching stopped. ; “Nol 6 are near an enemy,’’ whispered Chin- capin. “Go back toward the trail wall."’ And he stepped in front of Floss, with his face turned to- ward the copse. There was a moment’s silence, and then a voice came from among the trees: “ The youngster—riddle him, boys! The gal b’longs to ther cap’n!” Hard upon the last word came the reports of several repeating rifles, and limbs flew in every direction as the leaden messengers sevéred them on every hand, “My God! Bowie Blade’s men!” cried Chincapin. Instantly his own weapon, a six-shooter, shot 4 ward, but he did not touch the trigger, for he could see no foe. “Show yourselves, wolves!’’ he shouted defiantly, as Floss sprung to his side and halted there. The answer was more flashes, more mad shots. “Quick! They come!” cried the girL ‘Ah! yon- der they are, your foes and mine.” Still unharmed by the balls, which had crashed through the young timber Chincapin whirled upon the men, d forward with oaths and hoarse shouts. An instant later his revolver was at work. “By Jove! he’s able to shoot taut ago § coy- ote is,” crieda loud voice. “Finish *im hout ceremony, boys. The gal’s not to be touched—she b’longs to Bowie Blade!” “To that demon?—never!” It was the girl who spoke last, and as she finished the sentence she fired straight at the hooded men, who at that moment burst through the bushes. Shooting in the dark is not conducive to good marksmanship, but several men fell back, never to lift another weapon for Bowie Blade and his gold. Chincapin was overpowered fighting bravely in defense of Floss, whose revolver was torn from her hand as she was thrusting it against a human face with her finger at the deadly trigger, and the attack was over. “Thar’s to be no foolin’ with the boy!" said the leader of the gang. “String ’im up to a limb an’ leave ’im thar—thet’s how to settle with him, The others, Dynamite an’ Montezu ain’t hyer, but mebbe our pards will find’em, The rope—quick | This youngster hez lived too long already.” Ejaculations of rage and vengeance fell from the lips of more than one white hood, and Chincayin was borne swiftly from the spot to a huge tree not many rods away. A rope was here produced and thrown over a limb one end of the cord having previously been place over bis h athe Shae os & noose. “ Now, up with ‘im! He's one ov the chaps’ what came from the San Juan kentry to find a grave hyer along with ther rest. Ae with him!” Chincapin was jerked from the und and left dangling ’twixt heaven and earth, while the rope was wrap’ about the body of the tree, so as to leave him swingin in mid-air, * Now fer the Palace!” Floss was eager to be taken from the terrible spot. She could not assist Chincapin. Thirty y yond away the leader of the hoods turned and faced the hanged youth. “He ht son, so I'll make sure work ov the hangin’!"' he grated. The next moment he drew hig revolver and fired six shots in rapid succession at Chincapin, whom only the keenest eyes could see, and that indis- With the last shot the party went forward again. CHAPTER XVI. THE LAST STRUGGLE FOR COCHETOPA. “Tr war our fault, Montezuma,” said one of two men on the night after the occurrence just wit- > i n They were not alone in the large subterranean chamber in which they stood. Twenty men, some wearing bandages asif wound- ed, surrounded them, and all were well armed. ese were the defiant remnant of the miners of Clear Grit—the bronze fellows who burned their cabins behind them previous to inv: Cochetopa and fighting for the precious ore deep buried in its rugged hills. hey had found one another at various times, and in many places since the gold guards’ attack on their cemp, and they were still ready to renew the fight against Bowie Blade and his desperadoes, “Tsay it war our fault that we lost Chincapin an’ ther girl last night,” continued Dynamite, address- ing Montezuma. ‘ You heard a noise—footsteps ‘in the thicket an’ left to reconnoiter, an’ I foliered to find you. Wal, we lost the young pair—tbat's the hull upshot ov ther matter, but we'll get them back! I thought last night thet my life-hunt war about ended since I hed found Floss, but I guess it's only taken a new start. You did hear somebody in the thicket, an’ it warn’t a b’ar, neither. We follered the Injun together an’ he led us to the cave hyer whar we found ther boys. So much fer thet.” During Dynamite’s speaking Montezuma’s eyes wandered beyond the men who faced him, and seemed to steal out into the night that inclosed the mouth of the cave. Suddenly the giant tottered and fe'l forward be- fore those nearest him could rca “Stand back!" he cried, rising almost instantly, and facing those who rushed forward. “I’m not in’ to et. We heven’t teched a n aor ea, . last night I would bring ye all to y : wie Blade’s gold, so I’ve no right What did Peay on ther whisky Sarl ther ,| in Clar Grit Camp!—thet
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Cochetopa, an’ thet we’d each get a bonanza! We ar hyer, so is the mi e fer each man. I'm a livin' sieve, almost, but I’m Montezuma still” He looked like a madman as he stood in the glare of a torch, blood on his face, for the bandage had fallen off,.and blood in his wild eyes. It is no wonder that the spectators recoiled. “To ther fight at once! in’ hyer!’’ he shouted. man, but he’s got to fight fer it.” ‘Ov course, Montezuma!” said Dynamite, glanc ing at the men. “We're all ready fer the tussle, but-—-"" “Now! now! Men will foller Montezuma—cow- ards will stay hyer!"” The speaker, rendered almost insane by his wounds, which seemed to be sapping his wonderful ‘hat’s ther use ov stay- | flred straight into the advancing ranks, ** Ther bonanza awaits each | Dynamite Da Again and again Montezuma and his followers The effect was terrible. Stunned for a moment, the gold guards rallied, and instead of recoiling from the fearful fire that steadily rained death into their faces, they went forward with the impetuosity of tigers, firing as they went. ‘“Meet ‘em more’n haif way!’’ exclaimed the | giant. ‘Thar’s nothin’ like a hand-to-hand fight fer a big stake like Cochetopa!”’ and Montezuma led his | | men down the trail. powers of endurance, turned and led the way to- ward the mouth of the cavern. With a wild shout the gold hunters sprung after | him. Dynamite Dan looked on for a moment, and then rey oy up the torch which was sticking in a crevice in rocky wall “T can go where he leads. I hey follered him afore,”’ he said, arding Montezuma’s tall figure for a moment. “But [ don’t like to foller a man what’s gold-mad, thet’s sartin.” At that instant Montezuma and his followers re- oiled from an object which had alighted in the light of the torch. “Injuns!"" was the startling cry. “Death to them ez well as Bowie Blade's pards.”’ But Dynamite who had caught sight of the figure, swept forward like a whirlwind, ‘Not a shot! It is Velvet Foot!’’ he shouted, dash- ing the giant’s revolvers down. ‘A little more an’ it would hev been Dead Feet, namite,”’ “5 was lucky that the spon s enemy recognized Velvet Foot when he did, for in another instant the old-hunters would have emptied their revolvers into he red-skin’s body. Velvet Foot’s greeting of Dynamite consisted of a look—nothing more. “The gold-men of Clear Grit need to make no ”“ he said. “‘Let them get ready, The white viper an’ his hidden faces are creeping hither.” “ Comin’ hyer, Injun?” ejaculated Montezuma. “They are very near.” ‘Good! Here we stand for Cochetopa |" The Indian hastily said that the men of Cochetopa, more than thirty in number, were swiftly but silently approaching the cave. “ Sw'ar, men—up with yer hands!” shouted Monte- zuma, whirling upon his companions, ‘This is the night fer vengeance an’ Cochetopa. Sw’ar ter pos- sess ther promised land!}—Sw’ar ter clean ther gold guards out an’ possess ther kentry |” lee eve: right hand, “We sw’ar, Montezuma! This night we win the bonanza er a gravel”’ Ten minutes later every man crouched among the dark shadows at the mouth of the cave, waiting for the enemy approaching from below. With the tread of the panther the men who had followed Bowie Blade for years, guarding with their lives the wonderful gold region in the heart of Col- orado, crept along the hill trail which would surely carry them to the last battle-ground many of them would ever see. Their forms were darker than the shadows they glided through, and their hands clutched revolvers: = repeating rifles, which had served them well ore. The desperate encounter near at hand had to take The Cochetopa Hills could not be inhabited at the same time by two bands of men like those of Clear oe: and Bowie een followers, ie ey were com to fight a battle to the death for eelf-protection, * tie tle oe Foot, th sport’s hunter, had marked them He knew where to find the gathered remnant of the invaders, and to them be had gone with the startling news of the enemy’s advance. He did not stop to inquire after Floss, who had atrangely eluded him after leaving her in the depths of the old mine, but followed the men of Clear Grit to the battle-fleld of a, 2 pwn choosing. _ “Thar they come—like snakes creeptn’ trail!” suddenly whispered Montezuma, aoe gers twitched nervously at the deadly triggers they touched. ‘ Now, pards, do yer duty ‘fer hetopa. Remember thet we've burned ther old camp us—thet we die hyer before we go back!" The response “er Montezuma that the men at his back would door «ie. The approach of the gold guards could now be heard. “Ready!” whispered the giant, who by common consent commanded Paine ¥ np a eu er first flre more than stagger their urn thee faces ov half ov ther band up to ther stars, Dynamite?” ** I'm hyer.”’ Fr oe Pisa, can’t pick Bowie ee from er meso down yonder. J’m sorry fer th YE oem Dan’s lips met, but no word escaped em. Several minutes later Montezuma’s voice went through the waiting crowd again. “Now, pards, shoot fer ther bonanza!” he said. time his great arms thrust his wea- wi faces of the ‘hun and ly volley drew ° area a deadly v TS trail below. | nd |’ A moment afterward the two bands met. Hand to hand, knife to knife, and revolver to revol- ver, the fight for extermination went on. “Come, white brother; he is not here!” said a | een d at Bynamite’s elbow in the midst of the deadly conflict. The old miner saw Velvet Foot at his side. “ Where is he then?’’ he asked. o we Dynamite follow Velvet Foot?” “ Te: — 9 Pulled aside by the Indian, Dynamite soon found himself beyond the tigerish men who were fighting for the possession of Cochetopa. “ Bowie Blade was here when fight begin, but him no here now," said Velvet Foot as the’twain hurried away. “ pep wae pes seth Send , ‘An’ you will slay him?” aske yn. te, erly. “If Dynamite no get ahead of him.” Aphid The old miner’s eyes glittered, but he made no reply. Velvet Foot led the way over the trail which had been traversed within the last few minutés by Bowie ade. “We are here, brother,” said the Indian, halting suddenly. Dynamite looked ahead. m né cabin in front of the sport's cave was before lum, “Ther lion's den!"’ he exclaimed, darting forward, pecentng Velvet Foot’s hand which sought to detain um, The next second he had crossed the threshold, and stood once more in the log-walled corridor. “Tam hyer, Bowie Blade,” he cried in thunderous tones. ‘‘Let thar be no mistake this time! Hyer let Dynamite's life-trail end.” Dynamite presented a striking picture as he stood in the narrow corridor waiting for the enemy he had challenged, The fire-light streaming from the cavern a short distance ahead fell on his figure. He held a revolver in each hand. The answer was not long Lopare bg Something hissed past the old miner’s head—so near that he involuntarily recoiled, ’ It was a bowie knife! norg ioe as wat Poona eet m as he went forw eager to grapple for the last time with his foo. CHAPTER XVII. THE LIVE-HUNT ENDED, Tat two men met on the lighted threshold of the gold guards’ rendezvous, Velvet Foot saw them come together. “Ha! D ite is at the end of his life-hunt!” ejaculated the red-skin, In another instant an exclamation of horror parted Velvet Foot’s lips. He had seen Dynamite reel from the mountain sport, and a fl was bounding toward him. All at once Bowie Blade Puy, poor? as if the wall of the eorridor had opened and received him. ‘*The Mountain Rose!” cried the Indian. A tremendous bound carried him to the spot where the sport had vanished. “Follow him not—he belongs to Dynamite!” said a voice as a hand closed on the red-skin’s naked arm. “Dynamite's boy!” was the reply, for Velvet Foot had recognized Chincapin in the youth who stood at is side. " The Indian did not enter at the door that was be- fore him, but turned toward the figure approaching from the cavern. It was Dyramite, wounded as both the youth and the Indian saw. A wild, mad light flashed up in his eyes. s Hes 'dyin’ og thar!’’ said the old miner, pointing to the door, and a moment later he was gone. Velvet Foot and Chincapin held back. They would not interfere in the last struggle of the two foes. “He's gone, by ea tempo a voice and Dynamite rea red at the door. ** Follow Velvet Foot, then 1” erled the Indian. The three rushed from the cabin down the sloping hill, the Indian in the advance. A short distance from the hut they came sudden- ly upon a human figure which lay across the path. Dynamite stooped, but almost instantly drew back. “Ther long hunt hez ended!” he said, looking up at his companions. “Cochetopa belongs to ther men ov Cl’ar Grit!” It was true. Bowie Blade, the sport, was dead. evermore would he marshal his gold guards, nor bs one of the nuggets that glittered among the etopa, Hills, “Now, back to ther battle-ground!” continued Dynamite. “My wound—it’s nothin’-a scratch though it staggered me fer a moment. Chincapin, whar is Floss?” The yeoth es eyes lighted up with catietiction. : safe where I left her an hour ago, when found her shut up hereand rescued her. Last night & ro eS ee my neck for the gold guards ortly after you and Montezumna loft 15 See us, I was fairly hung, and if the leader of the hangin’ party had rot cut the rope with ono uf the bullets he afterward fired at me, I might still be there, food for the vultures of Cochetopa,” * A close shave, Chincapin!’’ exclaimed Dynamite. ‘But we’re at the end ov ther trail now," A teow minutes later the trio reached the battle- ground, The desperate mountain fight, the death-strugeple for Com topa, had been fought and won, and Mon- tezuma was found standing in the midst of a little group of victors, “We've won cvher game!" the giant exclaimed. “ We'll Lev ter take two bonanzas apiece.” Andthe rou. h smiled as he glanced at his few support rs. “By Jove, Dynamite! we'll build a e¢ity—no flash town, but a real clty—whar we burned Car Grit. This is what I call startin’ a wholesale grave-yard, but our pards died like men, They war an bonor to ther old camp.” Before the night had advanced far Floss stood in the presence of the small band of victors and roar from Dynamite's lips all he knew about her fe, He assured her that a home awaited her far be- yond the gold hills of Cochetopa, and told Ler that she should not go thither alone. What became of Montezuma and his comrades? They lived and mined among the hills they hed won, for the giant recovered from his wounds, living to become one of the gold kings of Colorado, where he still owns an interest in some of the “* big benan- zas”’ for which he fought. Dynamite Dan took Floss to the home from which Bowie Blade had taken her years before, Chincapin, who as Montezuma has suspected, turned out to be the old miner’s own s80n, aecom- panied the party, and in time a quiet marriage united the two young people for the pager f of life, Velvet Foot went back to the tribe he still owned, notwithstanding his long absence—went back to other trails and quieter scenes, for Floss had been wreste) from the man of Cochetopa, and he could hunt Bowie Blade no longer. Mardo, the traitor—the only one among the epee ay hunted down by his leader, 50 that he id not fall in the last fight for the gold acres, Clear Grit bas never been rebuilt, for the men who once inhabited it are satisfied where they are. Dynamite Dan remains near Floss, “She war worth huntin’ fer, fer capin got a wife by it all, an’ this youngster’s goin’ ter bean- . other Dynamite when he gits his growth,” he seys to visitors, when he holds up for their ah et $e laughing babe that has come to bless "s ome, The Indians never found their lost chief. THE END. The Great American Story Paper! Beatles Weekly The Bost Weekly of Popular, Entortain- ing and Useful Literature Pub- Mshed in America! Its Unrivaled Corps of Contributors, almost all of whom write eveusively for its publishers—embraces the following authors of world wide repute— Colonel Prentiss Ingrah Albert W. Alken, Capt. Fred. Whittaker, Capt, yne Reid, J h KE. Badger, Jr. Edward L. Wheeler, Charles Morria, Oll Coomes, C. Dunning Clark, Bill, White Buffalo Beaver, Buckskin Sam, Major Dongerfield Burr, T. C. Harbaugh, Philip 8. Warne, William R. EKyster, Anthony P. Morris, Launce Poyntz. Fach and all of whom give to Brapie's Wreexiy their very best productions in all the varied flelds of Border and Wild West Romance— Adventure, Exploration and Sport— City Life, Character, Courts and Ways— Detective and ‘Shadow’ Revelations— Stories of the Great Deep, ete., ete. So that each and every number is overflowing with reading of the most interesting and exciting nature; while in its Special Departments, coverin, all the needs, and adding to the general aothrest and usefulness of the popular journal, Beapie’s WEEKLY is the papor of others for your weekly reading and entertainment. BrADLE’s WEEKLY Is publishea at the following rates: For Four, Months..,........ APS Ae a Cee Be: $1.00 For One Year...........++ hte 190 (eee oe -. 8.00 Two Copies for One Year.. ........... -. 5.00 Single Copies...... Je CEUEN™. Le ORR oes 6 cents. Supplied by all Newsdealers BEADLE & ADAMS 98 William street, New York,
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, o¢ Single Hand, eee ane teeters Ea belt a BEAD hele LR, Aer EE Ere KLQENENETRETIUTRE RHE Rom ern b Deadwood Dick, tH Prince or THE Roap 6.7 Ydward L. Wheeler. 16 Robinson Crusoe. > (27 Lilustrations.,) 17 Ralph IRoy. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 18 Sin«dbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyages. 19 The Phantom Spy. By Buffalo Bill. 20 The Double Daggers. By EL. L. Wheeler. 21 The Frontier Angel. By Edward §, Ellis. 22 Whe Sea Serpent. ie kar Lewis. 22 Nick o? he Night. By T. C. Harbaugh. 24 Diamond Dirk. By Colonel P. Ingraham. 26 Whe Boy Captain. By Roger Starbuck, 26 Cloven Moot, By Edward L. Wheeler. 27 Antelope Abe, THe Boy Guye, Oll Coomes, 28 Buifalo Wen. By Edward L. Wheeler. 29 The Durob Page. By Capt. I. Whittaker. 30 Roaring Ralph Rockwood, THE Reck- Less Rancea. By Harry dt. George, 31 Keen-Krife. By Oll Coomes. By Edward L, Wheeler. 8. W. Pierce. Capt, J. F. C, Adams. B Car. Fred. Whittaker. y Harry St. George. By T..C. HArPOne 48 Black Joha, THE ROAD-AGENT. By 49 Omaha Ol, By Edward L, Wheeler, 50 Burt Bunker, Tee Traprrer. C. BK. Lasalle, 51 The..Boy. Rifles. By Archie C. Irons, 52 The Whit Buffalo, E. : 53 Jim Bludsoec, Jr. By Edward L, Wheeler. 54 Ned Hazel, By Capt. J. F.C, Adams, y h. adger. uffalo Bill, Old Hicko) y. By Harry St. George, The White a ett J. ¥. G; Adams. khorn @sill. ard L. Wheeler. e Shadow Ship, Col, P. Ingraham. The Red Krotherhood. W. J. Hamilton, + eae’ Jack. By T. C. Harbaugh. 5 Hurricane Bill. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr By W. J. Hamilton, 7 Patent-leather Joe. By Philip 8. Warne, er Rubin. Hood, By Bytalo Bill L. eeler. 74 Hawk-eeye Harry. By Ol! Coomes. 5 The Boy Duelist, By Col. P. Ingraham. Abe Oolt, Tax Crow-Kiuier, By A, W. Aiken. Corduroy Charlie. By E. L. Wheeler. Blae Dick. By Captain Mayne Reid. Sol eee 8 Guat Trapper. By A. W. Aiken. Rosebud Rob. By Edward L. Wheeler. Lightning Jo. By Captain J. F.C, Adams, Kit Haretoot.. By T. C. Harbangh, ollo, the Boy Ranger. By Oll Coomes, 4 Idyl, the Girl Miner. By EF. L, Wheeler. 85 Buck Buckram,. By Capt. J_F. C. Adams, Rock. By G. Waldo Browne. sand Pirates, By Capt. Mayne Reid. 88 Photograph Phil. By E. L. Wheeler, 89 Island Jim. By Bracebridge Hemyng. 90 The Dread Rider, by G. Waldo Browne. 91 The Captain of the Club; or, THe Youna By. Brace pridze Hemyng. By Edward L. Wheeler. By Edward 8. Ellis. By 'T. C. Harbaugh. Lieut, Col, Hazeltine. DHHS Sas-Fa¥ad-F Coe SSSA Rival ATHLETES. 92 Canada Chet. 93 The Boy Miners. 94 Midnight Jack. 95 ‘Whe RivalRovers. 96 Watch-Kye, THE Sripow. By FE, L. Wheeler. 97 The Outlaw Brothers. By J. J. Marshall. 98 Robin Hood, Py Prof. Gildersleeve. 99 The Tiger of ‘Taos. By G. Waldo Browne. 100 Deadwood Dick in Lexdville; or, A TRANGE STROKE ror Lrserry. By Wheeler. 101 Jack Flarkaway in New York. By acebridze Hemyng. 102 Dick Dead-Eye. By Col. Ingraham, 103 The Lion of the Sea. By Col. Delle Sara. ‘35 Deadwood Dick's Device. By Wheeler. 05 Old Rube, THe Honrer. ip H. Holmes. 106 Old Frosty, THE Going. By arbaugh. 193 Sesing Bev” wriat eecerce n V¥~e . 1 Oe er ne oa gid na Detective: By'| 110 Steed of the Prairies. A 11) Th weil, OL? bean. e ° 112 The Mad Hunter, Burton Saxe. LE’S | HALF-DIME ES OE CS AN STEEN OT Nee eee ee ee en ee Re eel ene ete Se ee en ee ee ee SBOOS SOSSHLSV MBE MO WF Dek alah Fa habakFFFERDAHDHADAHGODM SH. SrsrSr se Or Sr Gee 2 Veltlowstone Jack. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. % Kiunsas King. By Buifalo Bill. 4 ‘Thu Wild-Horse Kiunters. By Captain Mayne Reid and Captain brederick Whittaker, & Vanyvbond Joe, THE YounG WANDERING JEW. By O}'’1. Coomes. Doulle Numbers, 10cts, 6 Bill Biddon, Trapper. By E. 5, Ellis, 7 The Ulying Yankee. By Col. P, Ingraham. 8 Seth Jomes.: By Edward §. Ellis, 9 Advewiures of Baron Munchausen, 10 Nat Tedd. By E.8, Ellis, kL The W®svo Detectives. By A.W. Alken. 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift. {3 'Phe Dumb Spy. By Ol Coomes, t4 Aladdiws or, Tus WonperrcL Lame. 15 Khe Sea-Gat. By Captain Fred, Whittaker. 113 Back Hoyle. By Edward L. Wheeler. 4 The Black Schooner, Roger Starbuck. The Wiad Miner. By G. Waldo Browne, Gilt-ekdged Dick. By E. L. Wheeler. Will Somers, tre Boy Derective, Morris. WMiustame Sam. By Jos. KE. Badger, Jr. Cinnamon Chip. By *dward L. Wheeler. Phil Mardy, Tus Boss Boy. By ©. Morris. Kiowa Charley. By T. C. Harbaugh. Tippy. THe Texan. By George Gleason. Bomatnza Bill, Mime. By Ed. Ll. Wheeler. Picayune Pete. By Charles Morris, Wild-ire, Boss or tre Roap. By Dumont. The Youngs Krivateer, By H. Cavendish. Deadwood Dick's Double. By Wheeler. Detective Bick. By Charles Morris. The Golden Mand, By Geo. W. Browne. The Hunted Hunter. By Ed. §, Ellis, Boss Bob. By Ed. L. Wheeler. Sure Shot Seth, By Ol] Coomes, Captain Paul. By C, Dunning Clark. Night-Hawk Kit. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. The Helpless Hand, Capt. Mayne Reid. Blonde ill. By Edward L. Wheeler. Judge Lynch, Jr. By T. O. Harbaugh. Blue Blazes, By Frank Dumont, Solid Sam. By Edward L Wheeler. Handsome arry. By Charles Morris. Scar-Face Saul, By 0 Coomes, y Cone, Lance, THe Boy Sport. By Badger. 5 Captain Ferret. By Edward L. Wheeler. Silver Star, Tar Boy Knicur. By Coomes. Will Wildfire., By Charlies Morris. Sharp Sam, By J. Alexander Patten. A Game of Gold. By Kd. L. Wheeler. Lance.and Lasso, uy, ‘apt. F. Whittaker. Panther Paul. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Black Bess, Wi. WILDrire’s Hack: or, Wiynina, Aacarsst Opps, By Charles Morris. Eagly Kit, rae Boy Demon. By Ol Coomes. ‘The Swerd Hunters. By F. Whittaker, Gold Trigger, Tux Sporr. T.C. Harbaugh. Deadwood Bick of Deadwood; or, Tue Picken Panty. By Edward L, Wheeler. Mike Merry. By Charles Morris. Fancy Frank of Colorado. Buffalo BilL The Lost Captain, By Whittaker. 0 The Black Giant. By J. FE. Badger, Jr. 1 New York Nell. . L. Wheeler. 2 Will Wildfire in the Woods, $ hittl Texas, Oll Coomes, 4 Dandy Rock’s Pledge. By G.W. Browne. 5 Billy Baggage. By Charles Morris, ory Harry. 'y Harry St. Sag 2 t," TEAMBOAT Boy. By Willett, 8 Deadly Dash, By Jos. E, Badger, Jr. Tornado Tom. T. C. Harbaugh. yy Charles Morris, = DRAW SINS WN RR NIN ROS SM I SS MQ te ete OOM Der wee ee ee ee cimeO - COs Gee NK OVSS Morris. Old Solitary. By OH Coomes. Bob Rockett, tHe Bank Renner, Morris. he Sea Trailer, By Lieut. H, D, Perry. ild Frank. By Edward L. Wheeler. ttle Hurricane. he Hidden Hand, uc Boy allors. vil Kye. ool e & 3 . By Oll Coomes. 239 The Gold-seeker Guide; or, Tue Losr Mountarm. By Captain Mayne Reid. 240 Cyclone Kit. By Edward L. Wheeler, 241 Bill Bravo and His Bear Puards. By T. ©. Harbangh. 242 The Two ‘ Bloods’. By Charles Morris. 248 he Disguised Guide. By Of Coomes. 244 Sierra Sam. By Edward L. Wheeler. 245 Merle, the Middy. By Col. P. Ingraham. 246 Giant George. By Buckskin Sam, 247 Old Grizzly and His Pets, By Captain “ Bruin” Adams. 248 Sierra Sams Secret. By E. L. Wheeler. 249 Milo Romer. By Capt. Fred. Whittaker. 250 Midshipman Mutineer. By Ingraham. 251 Light-house Lige. By J. F..0. Adams, 252 Dick Dashaway. By Chas, Morris. 253 Sierra Sam’s Pard. By E. L. Wheeler. 254 The Half Blood. By Edward 8. Ellis. 255 Captain Apollo. By T. C. Harbaugh. 256 Young Kentuck. By Capt. Mark Wiltcm. 257 The Lost Hunters. By Capt. Adams. 258 Sierra Sam’s Seven, By BE. L. Wheeler. 259 The Golden Harpoon, ByR. Starbocs. 260 Dare-Devil Dan. By Oll Coomes. 261 Fergus Fearnaught, By Geo. L. Aiken. 262 The Young Sleuths. By Charles Morris. 263 Deadwood Dick’s Divide. By Wheeler. 264 The Floating Feather. By Ingraham. 265 The Tiger Tamer. By Capt. Whittaker. 266 Killb’ar, the Guide. By Ensign Warren. 267 Khe Buckskin Detective. By T. C. Harbaugh. 268 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail, By Edward L. Wheeler. 269 The Gold Ship, 270 Blizzard Ben. By Captaln Mark Wilton. 271 The Huge Hunter. By Edward §. Ellis. 272 Minkskin Mike. By Oll Coomes. 273 Jumbo Joe. By Edward L. Wheeler. 274 Jolly Jim. By Charles Morris, 27h Arizona Jack. By Buckskin Sam. 276 Merle Monte’s Cruise, By Ingraham. 277 Denver Doll. By Edward L. Wheeler. 278 The Three Trappers. By Major Carson. 279 Old Winch, Trax Ruiz Kins. By T, ¢. Harbaugh. 280 Merle Monte’s Fate. By Col. Ingrabam. 281 Denver Doll's Victory. By Wheeler. 282 Khe Typo Detective, By Edward Willett. 288 Yndtan Joe. By Major L. W. Carson. 284 The Sea Warauder, By. Col Ingraham. 285 Denver Dolls Decoy. By E. L. Wheeler. 286 Josh, the Boy Tenderfoot; or, Tr: Wry Mey or Buzzarp Bar. By Mark Wiltur 287 Billy Blue-Eyes,. By Col. P. Ingrabain. 288 The Scalp King. By Capt. J. F. 0. Adams. 289 Jolly Jim’s Job, By Charles Morris, 290 Little Foxfire, By Oll Coomes. 291 Turk, the Ferret. By E. L. Wheeler. 292 Sancho Pedro, tr Boy Banorr, By Major E. L. St. Vrain. 293 Wed Olaw, tar One-Eyvep Trapper. By Captain Corstock. 294 Dynamite Ban, By T. 0. Harbaugh. 295 Fearless Phils or, Tae King of QuARtTZ- VILLE. By Edward Willett. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift. 297 The VWarantula of Taos, Sam, 208 ‘The Beach Pirates, By Charlies Morrie. A new dssue every week, Die Mais img ds for sale by all Newsdealers, five vents ped Ont, es sent by mail on receipt, of six cents each. DLE & ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York. By Col. P. Ingraham, By E. L, Wheeler. By Buckskin