Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1122 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ry 7 Ts eel anna al ee —_—>* — nl e 6 ee Ltn ie ee: tne iil ; - . flames, eos. only red embers. vreoO---O- - —_—-- ——— ee eee ee a must be dreamiug, Louie! They woul. shoot > before you could cross,” ™y will not,” said Louie, firmly; ‘‘ Listen. @ men at the head ot > devel party. It _.onio “Miquelez, the ‘Portuguese. who e«iardered Oscar Peyton. I am the prize he covets, ever since I spurned him and his love alike. I feel sure that he has murdered Eugene also, and joined these Indians. They will not fire at me.” ‘But they will chase you, Louie,” said her cousin. ‘* Gh, suppose that wretch catches you!” “He will not catch me,” said Louie, quietly. ‘My mare is swift, and if they should come u to me, and he should attempt to seize me, I wi keep the last bullet from this pistol for my own neart, if I fail to kill him with the rest.” : “ But, I don’t understand, Louie,” said her cousin, doubtfully. ‘There is no help nearer than father, and you cannot reach him.” “‘T ean draw away these creatures after me,” said Louisiana, firmly; ‘‘and relieve you of a great peril. More I will not tell you; but I know that there is help beyond that river,and I am going tu seek it.’ As she spoke, her pale face glowed with a light, as if of inspiration. **T shall bring help, coz,” she said; and away to the horses, that fed between the house and the river. rung lock- CHAPTER XIX. TOO LATE. THE uightly serenade of the coyotes is the constant companion of the prairie-traveler. The coyote seems to howl for his own amuse- ment, or as a habit, and only stops when ‘dis- turbed. Therefore is he an excellent sentry for the lonely trapper, warning him of the approach of strangers, whether human or quadruped, by the sudden silence that ensues. The Regulators had gone into camp for the night, prairie-fashion. Their horses were herded close to them, with an armed sentry to stand over them, the animals themselves bein oppled. Later they would be brought in, an picketed closer to their owners; but at present the men were gathered around the great fire each cooking his supper, while the animals fed under the sentry’s eye. This supper was sufficiently simple. The car- casses of two animals lay on the ground near the fire, and each hunter drew his knife and aut off a slice for himself where he pleased, which he proceeded to toast upon his ram- rod. ‘The size of the slices depended on the ap- petite of the hunter, averaging from five to ten pounds, Indeed, it is astonishing, the quantity of meat which a hearty man, who has no other food, will consume. : The two carcasses that lay on the ground were unmistakably horses, young mustang colts, shot in the course of the day’s march—young, juicy, and succulent, ‘We must be getting close to the Cross Tim- bers, colonel,” remarked Baptiste, as he cut chunks of his horse-meat. “Yonder they are,” said Hays, briefly, point- ing with his thumb across the river to the dark line of timber beyond. ‘We shall come on your friend, Miquelez, to-morrow, I guess if his pals haven’t stampeded. But hark!’ and Hays sprung to his feet. Listening a moment intent- ly, he left the circle of hunters, going out on the lain a few yards, The coyotes had stopped Rowiine ars token that something or some- body approached. Rav moved out still further, and threw himself down on the earth. He heard a low. distant rumble on the st turf, which finally resolved itself into the regular hoof-beats of a galloping horse. The Regulator lay there listening, till he was convinced that the sounds were approaching him, and, furthermore, that other horses were following the first. The whole were coming from up-stream. Hays jumped up and hastened back to the fire, scattering the brands and extinguishing the : tones; up, They're a fellow to- ward us. urry up, men.” ; The tors needed no more. Ina moment each man had seized the trailing lariat and led his horse toward the saddle. Saddle and bridle were alike lying in order, ready to snatch up. It took but a minute to throw on the rough horse-hair mat that served for a saddle blanket, draw the re through the rings, haul taut, and secure i Se nee re te iro, jusl ag ob gallop. ut into the e as the gallop- See tants become plainly andi le, and a view of “Saddle u "he cried, in clear, ** somethin The Wuild-Horse nunte's. a dark figure, on a lignt-colored horse, could be caught through the gloom, galloping toward them. ‘‘Fall in, men,” sniq the sheriff, quietly; ‘don’t mount till I give the order.” He rode forward himself to meet the new- comer, and to his astonisnment, as he came near, he perceived that it was a lady, mounted on a white horse, spotted with black. The lady wore a dark riding-habit, and a hat with ostrich plumes, and dashed up alongside of him quite fearlessly. “Who are you, sir, in the name of Heaven?’ she asked, hurriedly ; ‘* will you defend me from my pursuers?” **Certainly, madam,” answered Hays, polite- ly; ‘‘against all the tribes of the plains, if need be. lam Colonel Jack Hays, Sheriff of Texas, with the Regulators. Who is after you, mad- am?’ ‘“‘ Indians, sir,” she said, quickly; “ but they ‘are headed by one who is far worse than any In- dian, a Portuguese murderer, named Miquelez.’? In his satisfaction at the news, Hays almost allowed an oath to escape him; but the native apace of the borderer stifled it, ere it passed ‘*Madam,” said the Regulator, quickly, ‘‘ you have brought us the best news that I ever heard. We are after that very man. Where is he now?’ **He must be some way behind, sir,” she said; “‘my horse is very swift. I saw your fire, and galloped toward it. But—” ** Hush!” said Hays, pret ** Listen!” He lifted his hand in an attitude of attention, and the lady listened with him. The sound of many horse-hoofs was plainly audible on the prairie, but all in a moment there was a con- fused beating and scrambling, and the sounds sg he “They have pulled up,” said Hays, in a low voice. ‘‘They must have caught sight of our fire. Wes have to chase them. t made you ride down our way, madam?” “‘T heard your bugle, sir, about sunset,” an- swered Louisiana Dupre, for it was she. “It came to me twice on the wind, and I thought you were much nearer than you were. I have ridden full speed, for almost an hour.” ** Indeed,” said the sheriff. ‘“‘ You must have good hearing, madam!” “IT feared to tell my friends what I heard,” said Louie; ‘‘ they would not have believed me. But [heard it plamly for one moment. I thought it must be United States soldiers. But you, sir —have you heard no firing since sunset? ‘*Not a shot, madam,” said Hays. ‘“‘ Is there fighting going on?’ ‘‘ About ten miles from here, sir,” she an- cage o my uncle, Colonel Magoffin, is fight- ing a band of Indians, headed by one Tiger Tail, a Seminole.” ‘Better and better!” said Hays; ‘‘madam, you have done nobly to-night. Before morning your friends shall be safe. Where are they?’ On the other side of the river, sir,” she said; ‘*T swam the stream on my horse, and attracted many of the Indians in pursuit, but heav3n only knows how many were left. Pray, sir, shall we not start now?’ “There is no hurry, madam,” said Hays, who had been listening intently during the whole of this conversation; ‘‘ your pursuers have halt- ed. They don’t like the sparks of fire here, and fear to advance, but don’t like to fly. ey can’t tell how many we are. You'll see that, if we keep quiet, they’ll come on; and the closer we get them, the better off we shall be when it comes to a race. Now let us listen, if you please.” The whole party ean a dead silence for some minutes, during which there was equal uiet on the prairie without. Hays finally aire his rifle over his arm, and, leaving his horse behind, moved off into the darkness to re- connoiter. uie took hold of his horse’s bridle as naturally as could be, and without asking. — The figure of the Regulator chief was seen for some age ig este advancing in a crouching pos rifle in hand. Then he dropped to the earth, and disappeared from view in the dark- ness. Louie waited, all attention. The Regulators stood at their horses’ heads like black statues. et sie hoe sound ere he the ena ergs Po che ac a low murmur o voices, from Lonie’s baffled parker’. The girl knew well that, out there in the dark- ness, was the man who had murdered Oscar Peyton, her betrothed. No beard could hide him from her. na -alag ayes: him in a moment. Her daring ride been executed with the express object of drawing him off from the block-house, and it had succeeded so far. Would he be captured now? While ske sat on her horse, thinking these thoughts, and striving to pierce the darkness with her eyes, the distant murmur of voices ceased. Every man among the Regulators, suent and without orders, prepared to mount his horse. Louie involuntarily straightened up in her suddle, and trembled with excitement and chill combined. Her long skirts were not yet, from her swim in the river, and the night air was cold. Sudden] Y she heard a distant voice, from the party of her pursuers, utter a cry in the Indian language. The next minute there was a bright flash in the darkness ahead, and tbe report of a rifle followed. p sprung the Regulators to their horses, jus as a F set burst from the darkness, followed by the flashes of forty or fifty rifles, all in a clump ‘in the plain, some quarter of a mile off. But as soon as the first volley was off, it was answered by five distinct flashes, from the same point as the first, and the cries of anger and pain which followed from the Indians, showed that the repeating-rifle of Colonel Jack Hays had not been aimed in vain at the crowded mass of his enemies, Then a clear, sharp voice shouted back: ‘Forward, boys. Don’t fire a shot!” Louie shook her rein and dashed forward; while the Regulators, all together, uttered a tremendous yell, and swept down toward the spot where the flash of their leader’s rifle told them he was. In a moment they were up to him, while the Indians, never waiting the at were heard galloping off inte the darkness full speed, and tn total silence. There was a momenta>y halt around the sheriff, as he mounted his horse, but not for sien The active borderer leaped into his saddle, and led the pursuit at a round pace, after the sound of the fugitives’ horsehoofs. Louie Dupre was beside him, her fleet little mare keeping up gallantly with the foremost, and away they went over the prairie. But before long the sound of the horse-hoofs in front of her became fainter and fainter while it spread out to the right and left, as if the {ngitives were scattering. ‘Where are your friends?’ called out Hays to Louie, at this time, as they agi. ee along i es a nearly drowned in the oofs. ** Up the river,” answered Louie, in the same tone, and pointing that way as she spoke. “Can’t catch these fellows to-night,” cried Hays, in accents broken by the rapid motioa; ** must do the best we can. Chase straight up stream. So up the river they went at full speed, k ing ale someé two or three fu itivey’ in thelr front, whom they slowly gained upon. But half an hour’s such riding brought them within hear- ing of the fight that still raged around the block- house, and in sight of a line of watchfires, built by the Indians in a circle around the place they were besieging. The flashes of rifles from the line of the block- house were 9 numerous, that Louie thought her uncle must have reached the place in safety, and she briefly explained the fact to Hays as they Bascom along. ‘‘How many men has your uncle got?” he asked po ty oe 8 “About twelve or fourteen, sir,” said Louie; “if Mr. Carrol and Thornley are with which I think, there are fifteen at least.” “Carrol? What Carrol? Wash Carrol?’ asked the sheriff. “Yes, sir,” panted Louie, out of breath from rapid riding. ‘Are there any wagons?” ia Two, sir. They began to build a block house ‘‘Humph!” muttered Hays to himself, with a grunt just like an Indian. It was his only ex- clamation of any kind, except a very rare oath. The exclamation was called forth by the sud- | den nth ary Te of a bright flame on the sum- mit of the knoll where the block-house stood. It rose or and Higher, the dark frame of the ce standi square e é out boldly in relief against it, with several mo above the somes te The vk, agate bar the twe wagons which were drawn u 6 entrance, both of which were in a b t Finan No sooner was the flame ly aon than a simultaneous volley came from quartere from the besiegers, and two of the figures on the ram were seen to toss their arms ana fall bask. “P first time seeming to be excited, ‘Faster, men, faster!” cried Hays, for the * - “a 2 oof of a Pd 2 enn Us _— — “HOO under of : 7 . he 4 oto ot ry to i i tbe. ¥ if i+ j 7 oF - S.com