Beadle's Dime Novels No. 309: Mountain Ned — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

§3 _ MOUNTAIN NED. The Texans heard the voice, and a great cheer went up as they saw the tallform of their leader standing on the bare brown rocks looking down at them. Silver Lance saw him too, and shook his clenched hand at the immovable figure above him, aud uttered. a fierce shout of defiance, which was answered by as loud a cry from the lips of Mountain Ned. A hasty movement was seen among the Indians, and Hualpa with ten picked men began the ascent of the rocks, It was plainly to. be seen that they had been sent to cut off Captain Campbell, At the same moment a small party of Texans, led by Old Rube, dashed rapidly to the right to give the captain a chance to join them. Leaving their horses at the base of the rocks they began the ascent, Moving as rap- idly as they could over the broken ground. Among them was Veracity Snodgrass who had fought gallantly throughout the fray and was as forward as any in the attack. Captain Campbell stood alone upon the rocks, for, as soon as he had showed himself to the rangers, Blazing Star disap- peared as sudderiy as if she had sunk into the earth. He prepared his rifle and took a shot at Hualpa, whom he mics- ed by. an inch. But, the bullet bad its mission, for it was buried in the brain of a stalwart brave who was clambering up the rocks behind the chief. Loading his rifle again Camp- bell bounded back among the rocks just as the Indians began to reach ‘the platform, Hualpa, who knew the des- perate character of the enemy with whom he had to deal,. waited until all his men had made the ascent before he ad- vanced to the place where Campbell, who knew that flight was useless, stood at bay between two giant bowlders, the lower part of his body sereened by a rock which rose above his waist. Upon this rock lay his-pistols, hatchet, and knife, and bis deadly rifle was in his bands, “T may be killed,” he muttered, “but I can’t die with- out company. Come on, you painted hounds!” he yelled, “Come and | will give the mountain wolves a banquet. Hurrah for the Lone Star of Texas; hurrah, for the boys. of the Brazus !” A loaded rifle in the hands of a determined man js a terri- ble weapon, and the Indians knew. enough of the cool hardi- - COMmMichooks.conn —