Beadle's Dime Novels No. 316: Hurricane Bill — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

34 HURRICANE BILL. one or the other. And high above the shrill yells, the hoarse cheers and curses, the shrieks of pain and rage, the frantic, unearthly screams of the balf-tamed mustangs as they tore and bit at each other, emulating the blood-thirsty fury of their masters, the clatter and clink of opposing weapons, the muffled thunder of the horses’ hoofs, arose the clear, taunting laugh of the Mad Rider as ‘te added to the list of deaths scored against his name. It was a wild, thrilling scene—one that a skillful brush might give a faint idea of; but what pen can delineate such a confused duel a la mort? And then the Mexicans succeeded in cutting a bloody path through their dusky enemies—though it was more tbrough the frantic efforts of the horses to extricate themselves from the fearful press, than any fixed purpose the riders had in view. Then, thoroughly warmed to the fray, they wheeled to charge the disordered enemy once more, and, by so doing, they faced the stand occupied by the ladies. A simultaneous yell of horror broke from their lips. A new borror threat- ened them. , ' A. number of the Apaches had not paused to join in the fight, but dashing on, were even now clambering up the rude steps of the frail pavilion, yelling and exultant, brandishing their knives and hatchets that were soon to be reddened in the life blood of the helpless women who cowered there, cling- ing together as if for mutual protection, too terrified to shriek. A single scream, wild and piercing as that of the war eagle—something that seemed like a flash of yellow light— and then the rapid detonations of revolvérs. It was Hurricane Bill, who had just discovered the purpose of the Apaches, and, having slipped the extra cylinders into place, he urged buck-skin to the rescue. In as many seconds two of the Apaches bit the dust; and then—leaping from the saddle without pausing to rein in buck-skin, Hlurricane alighted half way up the flight of steps, in the very midst of the as- tounded Apaches. And once more the daring plainsman. gave’an exhibition of his wondrous quickness of eye and accuracy of aim, never a missile missing its mark, nearly every one cairying death upon its swift wings. And as yet not asingle blow had been aimed at him by the stupefied heathens. | conmmiclbooks.com | |