Beadle's Dime Novels No. 316: Hurricane Bill — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

“ THERE'S MANY A SLIP,” ETC, 17 It was a cruel, but animated sport—the mass of horsemen, some two score in all, straining every nerve, riding recklessly ; . snd more than once half a dozen men and animals were roll- ing in a confised heap over the ground together. The cock was torn to pieces, and thus the fortunate ones returned to the starting point, bearing in triumph a handful of feathers, or perchance a mangled limb of the ill-starred cock. “Ah! in my time ’twas different,” ultered an old woman to her neighbor. ‘In one day Antone Diaz carried off three cocks and laid them at my feet alive and without a ruffled feather !” ; And the two ancients wagged their white heads sadly over their degenerate descendants. “ There are as good men and skillful cavaliers now as then,” a little sharply retorted Don Blas, “ What man has done, man can do again, and I pledge my honor that senorita Car- mela—if she will deign to accept it from my hands—shuall have the next cock, alive and unhurt.” “Don’t let him make. his words good,” hastily whispered Isidora to Mustang Sam. “ Sister hates and fears that man —~you can foil him.” “Vd do more than that to please you,” quietly replied Mustang, as he whistled to Tornado. , Hurricare Bill also took saddle, but a few quick words passed between the comrades, and he, knowing that Mustang _ far surpassed him in such feats, contented himself with close- ly watching the play, holding his buck-skin ready for a sud- den burst if it became necessary. At the signal, away dashed the riders, with Don Blas slightly in the lead, Mustang Sam just lapping his quarter, the mere weight of his finger controlling Tornado. Bending low Don Blas clutched the bird's neck, a sharp pull snapping the cord ;* but the cry of triumph that rose to bis lips changed to a bitter curse of rage as Tornado darted forward like -a flush and the dextrous fingers of Mustang Sam snapped tbe fluttering prize from the Mexican’s fingers. With a_sbrill, taunting Jaugh, the Mad Rider gave Tornado free rein and flew over the level plain like a meteor, changing bis grasp to the.cock’s feet. | ° Pausing at the cactus clump, Mustang Sam held the” ecek comicbooks.conn