Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1116 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

aH a y a ca ‘e- . i ~~ “™ i4@ +3 ee aes by “ph 6 Crimson Kate, The Girl Trai evor I heern; waal, we see that Crimson Kate were righ, fer Injuns were as thick as bees,” ‘But we went slow, scouted round, an’ tried to sarcumvest ’em, as they all seemed drawin’ toward a sart’in p’int, which were about whar we had been when ther gal—I begs pardon, miss, ther Crim.pn Kate, come an’ warned me, ‘ Waal, we soon see thet thar were but one thing to be did, aw ther cap’n don’t fool no time away when he’y got ter do a thing, an’ he Says: ‘\* Boys, we are hwamed in, and must cut through; draw yer sixes jn both hands ay’ fol- ler me, fer thar is work \yv be did, an’ we must begin it,’ ‘¢ We did as he told un an’ seein’, fer we was at ther foot of ther Rills, jist goin’ out o’a canyou, thet a band o’ Inajuns was comin’ atraight fer us, we jist let imto em with yell an’ revolver, an’ our horses pwaced oub on a charge. ‘‘Col’nell, I were pretty full o’ biz myself, but I seen ther cap’n doin’ charwin’ work, an’ Isee Dry Jim an’ Lightnin’ Joe go down, an’ then I see ther cap’n’s horse fall, an’ I got through, though you see I were somewhat scratched.” “TI should think so, my brave Mike,” said the colonel, glancing at the half-dozen wounds the man had received. “ But poor Langdon was killed? I feared this daily,” he continued. | ““T won’t say he were kilt, col’nell, fer he were alive an’ kickin’ when I last seen him; but his horse were kilt, an’ I know Jim an’ Joe were, an’ I didn’t see Bony Bob when I looked back; but I were in a hurry myself, fer 1 hed a hundred red-skins arter me.” ‘* You were lucky to escape, Mike.” “Y were fer a pious fact; but ole Whalébone earried me out o’ sight o’ the Injun ponies, tho’ he were badly wounded, and it jist kilt him too, an’ I rid my own hoofs back to ther fort, av’ here I is, pretty much o’ a pepper-box myself; but Pll soon git mended, an’ then, col’nell, I intends ter take some Comanche ha’r jist on account o’ ther cap’n, who I loves as a gon,’ CHAPTER XXITI. THE @IRL TRAILER HAVING ascertained fully from Moccasin Mike the locality of the Indians’ rendezvous, Colonel Willoughby gave orders for a battal- ion of troopers to be ready to start by mid- night, determined to make an attack on the red-skins in force. While talking with his wife, preparatory to starting, an orderly announced a visitor to see the colonel. ‘Who can it be at this time of night?” queried the colonel. “*Tt is a woman, sir,” said the orderly, ‘“ A woman! some one from the fort?” “ No, sir, she came on horseback to the gate, and the sergeant of the guards admitted her.” ‘Show her in then.” The orderly disappeared and soon returned and ushered in a person who was at once an object of sarprise and admiration to both Col- onel Willoughby and his wife. It was a young girl, scarcely over sixteen, and dressed in crimson hood, cloth bodice and skirt, the former close-fitting to her exquisite form, and the latter reaching below her knees, where it was met by red leggins, _ Small moccasins covered her feet, gauntlet gloves incased her tiny hands, and a black sombrero with a crimson plume sheltered her bead. Her face was bronzed by exposure to the elements, yet perfect in feature and very beautiful, and her hair was a rich golden, and hung in massive braids below her waist. Her eyes were black and full of expression, and uufiinchingly she turned them upon the colonel and his wife. At her back hung a small repeating rifle, and jn her belt were a knife and a pair of pearl-handled revolvers, showing that she was wot to be trifled with. a aes ; err ot 4. , vw A : ~> Cine * i: dnote ‘er iY BE a ode a fe * Aer ye . nan Seo pee ENS Set ot * J rs id - ’ »® al Mal Reo Ls oe mr ee CO ‘‘ Crimson Kate!” broke involuntarily from the lips of Lilian at sight ofj her, and hearing it, the young girl flusbed and asked quickly: “Yes, lady, my name is Kate; but may I ask how I am known to you?’ Her voice was low and musical, and Mrs, Willoughby replied: “You told a scout of the fort, several nights ago, that your name was Kate, and upon ac- count of your costume we prefixed Crimson.” The girl smiled, and said: “Did any of the party escape?” “Yes, the very scout whom you warned.” **T hoped they el would, for, knowing that the Indians were in the mountains, I sought to warn them.” “And do you dwell o> far from the aid of the forts, may Iask?’ said Colonel Willoughby, who had not before spoken to her, “T do, sir.” “ And you have friends there whom the In- dians do not molest?” | ‘‘Thave friends there, sir; but I came not to speak of myself, but of a young officer who is a prisoner in the hands of the Comanches,” ‘“‘Ha! you refer to the captain?” “T do, sir; he was wounded, and his horse falling with him was captured,” ‘‘Thank Heaven he lives!” ‘Tf he is not rescued, sir, it would be better that he had died, for the Comanches only await the conring of the Apache band to put him to death by torture,” ‘This is fearful, and I will do all in my power to save poor Lester.” ‘‘T have come to show you how it can be done, sir.” You?’ ‘Yes, sir; the camp of the Indians I know well, and will take your command by a secret pass directly to it.” ** You, a girl?” “Yes, for I know the country well.” ‘‘ And how is it that I find you friendly to the Indians?” ‘‘T said not, sir, that I was friendly to them; my coming here would prove friendship for my own people raiher, and deep sympathy for your officer.” “Ah! you know him then?” *“T have seen him,” was the evasive reply. “You offer to lead my command against the Indians?’ **T do, sir.” ** When?’ “ To-night, for the Apaches are daily ex- pected to join the Comanches, and then the officer dies by torture,” ‘** Oh, Rollo, something must be done to save poor Lester,” cried Mrs. Willoughby. ‘True, madam, and the sooner the.command moves the better.” ‘* How far is their camp from here? “Tf wo leave within an hour we ean get there before dawn by good riding,” “What force have they?” ‘‘ Fully five hundred warriors, sir.” ‘“* Under what chief?’ *“ Coyote, the Red Comanche.” ‘¢ Ah! under that devil are they? Then we will have to fight; but, my girl, you will pardon me if I ama little suspicious of you, and fear you might be leading us into an ambush.” ‘he dark face flushed, the eyes flashed, and the bosom heaved with momentary anger; but checking her passion, she seemed at once hurt by the doubt, and said reproachfully: “Ob, sir, would I betray my own people?” ‘No, no, I will trust you, Crimson Kate, ana I will leave you with my wife, who will give you some refreshments, while I go and order more men into the saddle than I origi- nally intended taking.” ‘‘The more the safer, sir, for the Apaches may unite at any time with the Comanches,” ‘That is wisdom, Crimson Kate,” and the colonel left the room, and going out found the maiden’s horse, a wiry, long-bodied, slender- Sea animal patiently awaiting at the r. “Orderly, take that horse and have him ' 4 . + “pet 9 Ae w,t4) - : Tar = & Son -Y. ‘s 4 ler, .*j > i “ ? 4 ; ¢ NTE RES Os as a TM toe 18 thoroughly rubbed down and fed,” he sald as he passed on to the quarters of his officers. Just an hour after, and a short while before midnight, the cavalry regiment rode out of the fort, and at its head, by the side of the colonel, was Crimson Kate, the Girl Trailer, mounted upon her splendid horse, that seemed rr” to feel his long gallop of an hour before. CHAPTER XXIV. TRAILED TO DOOM At a swift gallop, as soon as the horses got a little warmed up, the Girl Trailer set off without for an instant consulting the colonel, and the troopers followed, wondering at the strange circumstance of a regiment following a girl to battle, Riding by her side Colonel Willoughby watched her narrowly, and saw that she fol- lowed a certain course unerringly, and every few miles slackened her pace for a quarter of an hour to give the horses breathing space, Twice she had swerved from her course at direct points, and it bad been to the banks of a small stream to quench the thirst of the ani- mals, and each time Rollo Willoughby allowed the girl to force the pace, slacken it, or do just as she pleased he the whole time regard- ing her with increased admiration, At length, after a rapid ride of five hours, in which thirty-five miles had been put behind them, they reached the foothills of the moun- tains, and without hesitation the Girl Trailer rode straight toward what appeared to be a precipice, But as they drew near all saw how close had been her calculation to strike the point she had aimed for, as a narrow opening was in the cliff, through which the men could only pass two by two. Here the girl rode ahead of the colonel, and though the darkness was intense, never wavered from the path she knew would lead her right, although right and left other can- yons were frequently seen. After a ride of fifteen minutes the path be- gan to ascend, and it was hard work climbing for the horses; but all pressed on without hesitation, and at last came out upon a plateau, Here the girl called a halt, and told the colo- nel to order his méh tolook to their saddle- girths and arms, but. to Make no noise, as an unusual sound would destroy all, ‘Where is the camp?’ asked Colonel Wil- loughby, after having passed the order down the line in a whisper. ** Come,” Silently he followed her for a few paces, and found where a path led down the mountain- side. “Tt is not steep, and at its foot is a torrent that will drown all sound, and the Indians keep no guards here, as they believe no one knows the pass. | ‘*Once across the stream and the camp is not fifty yards distant, and in the largest tepee, the medicine tent, is the prisoner, ‘‘ Ave you ready?’ é Yes. ” The girl, declining the aid of the colonel leaped lightly into her eaddle, and ence more led tiie column, Down the path they went in single file, and reaching the lowland at the bottom saw the foaming cataract, and beyona the faintly glimmering lights of the dying camp-fires. Across the stream they went, and getting an idea of the formation of the village in the in- distinct light, for it was not yet daylight, Colonel Willoughby formed his order of at tack, and turned to speak to the girl. But she had mysteriously disappeared. “She rode behind that large bowlder,” said a sergeant, | But upon looking vetrind 2% abe was not there, and ic she had gone by that way, she had had to plunge her horse bdifily into the stream. ‘‘ Forward!” cried the colanel, and into the torrent they went, and plunged through to the other shore, ‘Remember Haddock, you and your com j é y i * - ' y ‘ L . ' } * * } ? 4 uf - ’ en ‘ a, ‘% - a ig ' SH! 7 ¥ - eee ~ md » FEE has /