Do and Dare — a Brave Boy's Fight for Fortune
Page 37
Herbert and his companion drew near the forest cabin, which had been thehome of the former, without a suspicion that George Melville was in suchdire peril. The boy was, indeed, thinking of him, but it was rather ofthe satisfaction his employer would feel at his good fortune.
"Somehow I feel in a great hurry to get there, Jack," said Herbert. "Ishall enjoy telling Mr. Melville of my good luck."
"He's a fine chap, that Melville," said Jack Holden, meaning nodisrespect by this unceremonious fashion of speech.
"That he is! He's the best friend I ever had, Jack," returned Herbert,warmly.
"It's a pity he's ailing."
"Oh, he's much stronger than he was when he came out here. All theunfavorable symptoms have disappeared."
"Maybe he'll outgrow it. I had an uncle that was given up to die ofconsumption, when he was about Melville's age, and he died only lastyear at the age of seventy-five."
"That must have been slow consumption, Jack," said Herbert, smiling."If Mr. Melville can live as long as that, I think neither he nor hisfriends will have reason to complain."
"Is he so rich, lad?"
"I don't know how rich, but I know he has plenty of money. How muchpower a rich man has," said Herbert, musingly. "Now, Mr. Melville haschanged my whole life for me. When I first met him I was working forthree dollars a week. Now I am worth twelve thousand dollars!"
Herbert repeated this with a beaming face. The good news had not lostthe freshness of novelty. There was so much that he could do now thathe was comparatively rich. To do Herbert justice, it was not of himselfprincipally that he thought. It was sweet to reflect that he could bringpeace, and joy, and independence to his mother. After all, it is thehappiness we confer that brings us the truest enjoyment. The selfish manwho eats and drinks and lodges like a prince, but is unwilling to sharehis abundance with others, knows not what he loses. Even boys and girlsmay try the experiment for themselves, for one does not need to be richto give pleasure to others.
"Come, Jack, let us ride faster; I am in a hurry," said Herbert, whenthey were perhaps a quarter of a mile distant from the cabin.
They emerged from the forest, and could now see the cottage and itssurroundings. They saw something that almost paralyzed them.
George Melville, with a rope round his neck, stood beneath a tree. Col.Warner was up in the tree swinging the rope over a branch, while Brown,big, burly and brutal, pinioned the helpless young man in his strongarms.
"Good heavens! Do you see that?" exclaimed Herbert. "It is the roadagents. Quick, or we shall be too late!"
Jack had seen. He had not only seen, but he had already acted. Quickas thought he raised his weapon, and covered Brown. There was a sharpreport, and the burly ruffian fell, his heart pierced by the unerringbullet.
Herbert dashed forward, and, seizing the rope, released his friend.
"Thank Heaven, Herbert! You have saved my life!" murmured Melville, intones of heartfelt gratitude.
"There's another of them!" exclaimed Jack Holden, looking up into thetree, and he raised his gun once more.
"Don't shoot!" exclaimed the man, whom we know best as Col. Warner;"I'll come down."
So he did, but not in the manner he expected. In his flurry, for he wasnot a brave man, outlaw though he was, he lost his hold and fell at thefeet of Holden.
"What shall we do with him, Mr. Melville?" asked Jack. "He deserves todie."
"Don't kill him! Bind him, and give him up to the authorities."
"I hate to let him off so easy," said Jack, but he did as Melvillewished. But the colonel had a short reprieve. On his way to jail, abullet from some unknown assailant pierced his temple, and Jerry Lane,the notorious road agent, died, as he had lived, by violence.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. CONCLUSION.