Montezuma's Castle, and Other Weird Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26995

Title

Montezuma's Castle, and Other Weird Tales

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Charles B. Cory's 1899 collection blends Western adventure with supernatural horror. The narrative follows a curiosity dealer trapped in Montezuma's Castle, a prospector haunted by a ghost dog, and a cowboy defending a loyal pet. With a tone shifting from gritty realism to eerie fantasy, the book offers thrilling tales of isolation, betrayal, and the thin veil between life and death.

Summary up to 500 words

Published in 1899, Charles B. Cory's *Montezuma's Castle, and Other Weird Tales* presents a collection of atmospheric stories set primarily in the American West, blending Western genre elements with supernatural horror. The anthology opens with "Montezuma's Castle," where a naturalist exploring ancient caves near the Verde River discovers a child mummy. His escape is thwarted when his Mexican guide, Antonio, betrays him, leaving the narrator stranded in a scorching, waterless cave. Forced to descend a sheer cliff using a rope fashioned from his own clothes, the narrator survives the night by shooting at his fleeing guide, only to realize the guide is likely dead. The narrative then transitions into a dream sequence involving a ghostly doctor discussing the elixir of life and a mischievous shade who floats through a hotel bar, highlighting themes of mortality and the afterlife. The next major story, "The Mound of Eternal Silence," introduces Judson, a prospector who discovers a rich gold claim but is plagued by a supernatural dog. The dog, bearing the face of Judson's dead partner, prevents him from returning to the mine. When two men offer to buy the claim, Judson refuses, haunted by the belief that the dog will forever guard the gold. The narrative suggests the dog is a manifestation of guilt or a genuine spirit, leaving the reader to question the reality of the haunting. "The Story of a Bad Indian" introduces Malita, a half-breed girl living with a drunken hunter named Morgan Jones. Her life is disrupted by Tixinopa, a fierce local Indian who harasses her for alcohol. The story hints at the tensions between settlers and Native Americans, though the focus remains on the domestic drama of Malita's cabin. The final story, "One Touch of Nature," features a cowboy and an Eastern man on a stalled train. They encounter a young girl whose beloved dog, Rover, has bitten a man named Jake who tried to kiss her. The cowboy and his friend intervene, subduing Jake and negotiating a settlement to save the dog. The story ends with a touching scene of the girl praying for her new friends and Rover, highlighting themes of loyalty and kindness in a harsh environment. Throughout the collection, Cory utilizes vivid descriptions of the landscape and psychological tension to create a unique reading experience that bridges the gap between Western genre and ghost story.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Short Stories
• Fiction