Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

“Somehow I am sure it is tne Silver King who kidnapped her, for were they Indians they would not have passed half a dozen cabins, molesting no one, stolen one girl ana run off, “They woult have shot down all they saw and burned’ the cabins. “Now I know about the trail Captain An- gelos would take to his haunts, and I move that we start at once ip chase.” There was not a dissenting voice, and ten min- utes after the little band of Thirteen Rangers Arizona Joe, ** You bav’n’t your red mask on to-night?” ‘‘No, we only wears that when we is on ther trail together and means bisiness.” ‘*T see: but let me ask you if you got into trouble the night you and Pete let me go?” ‘¢ No, it worked all right; but Pete had better stayed longer in ther camp.” ss Why?’ ‘“ Well, he hed jist told ther lieutenant how you and your dogs had caught him, when the stage was heerd coming, and we got ready ter rode quietly away from the camps, and started | stop it.” on the trait which it had been said the kicdnap- pers had taken in their flight with Lena Morse, Joe knew that whether Indiaus or Silver Kings they could gc but one way for a number of miles, when the trail branched off into half a dozen, as it desce xded into the valley. The valley was open, a couple of miles in width and from the mountain-ridge a grand view of it cotuld be seen by day. The bo7 ranger captain did not anticipate being able to see by night, but he knew that the moon rose by ten o’clock, and, with the aid of a lantern which they had brought along, they would be able to discover the exact trail taken by the kidnappers, who had been reported to be seven in number, ‘‘Tf they go across the valley it will be to the Indian country, and if along the base of the ridge, they will go toward the haunts of the Silver Kings,” said Joe, as they reached the place where the trails branched off. ‘If they take the former trail, they wiil be red-skins then, who have stolen sis,” said Dick Morse. ‘* No, that won’t prove them so, as the Silver Kings are friendly with the Indians and may take her to one of their villages.” ** Poor Lena,” said Dick. “I think the Silver Kings have got her, as I said, and will make your father pay a big sum to get her back, if we don’t rescue her, Dick, for they would not dare to harm her,” Joe said. A search of the ground with the lantern showed the tracks of seven horses, and they had taken the trail leading across the valley. . Well?” ‘*T suess you knows.” “ Tt didn’t stop then?” ‘‘ Not much, and I guesses youn knows why.” Joe laughed, and Mustang Mose continued: ‘* Waal, you told ’em, I knows, for they was ready for us, and Lieutenant Nick and Parson Pete were shot down dea.” ‘Tam SOITY, but I told him it would come to him some day.” ‘“Tt came, all-fired quick, Boy Pard; but what does yer want with me?’ ‘“To ask you a few questions,” “Waal?” “You met Captain Angelos and some of his men on the trail?” ** How does you know?” ‘‘He had a girl captive with him?’ “You know it al!.”’ ‘“¢ Where is he taking her?” ‘*] don’t know,” ‘‘ Mustang Mo-e, that girl is as dear to me as a sister, and you know IL don’t wish harm to come to you. ‘JT could hold you now, if I did, take you to the camps as a Silver King, and they would hang you, but I will not do so, and I want you to be square with me,” ‘Pll not betray my pards, if I hangs for it.” “T don’t ask you to betray them, but I do ask you to tell me where Captain Angelos is going to take the young girl.” Mustang Mose was quiet a moment, and then he said: ** Boy Pard, I’m a bad man, and I do heaps o’ ‘They have gone toward the Indian country; | wicked things; but I doesn’t want to see no red- but we will follow,” said Joe, who had been on too many a scene of danger with Texas Jack, to fear the danger ahead when he had a dozen brave young rangers to depend upon. CHAPTER XXIV. A PRISONER. As the party of young rangers were prepar- ing to sturt, one of their number called for silence. The moon was rising over the mountain and its rays fell upon the valley, revealing the form of a horse and rider. He was coming across the level trail, and would in fifteen minutes be near them, “ Remain here with the horses, two of you, and the balance come with me,” said Joe. \ He led them hastily down the trail to a num- ber of large rocks, and placing them in good itions, awaited the coming of the horseman. The stranger was now not far away, riding slowly up the mountain-side and he was plainly revealed by the moonlight. As he came near enough, there came a whin- ing sound and Joe sent a lasso whirling through the air, he having already attached the other end to a sinall scrub oak that grew in a crevice of the rocks. As he threw the lariat he called out: “Hands up, or you die!” The lasso settled over the head of the start- led man. and his horse would have bounded off and dragged him from the saddle, had not one of the rangers sprung out and grasped his rein. “My hands is up,” said the man, and the rangers gathered about him, — Ata glance Joe recognized him, as he said: **What in thunder are up, anyhow, that an honest mn is catched like a wild mustang?” “Ah, Mustang Mose, it is you, is it?” “Lordy! you is Joe,” cried the man.. “Yes, and I wish to have a little talk with and alone, “Boys, will you return to the horses, and I'll ‘goon join vou.’ “ There’s no danger then, Joe?” said one, oa for 1 know this man, as we are old The young pene walked off up the moun- tain tra'!, while ‘bisea r in silence. a?) - a } i a le ) ‘ . ith o ie WA) if iF ; i 4 aa : ; é yt e.:) J he, | % - 1 i rye i .#- 4 Tris oe We ied Lael)” ; % P it ACA iy WOR, Le PTE \ - x 5 a, ere Ge ay Th Segeg TY al ef {. Aluwit! _ Wf Vi" ae, i" Ps 4 - us te ‘ 7 oe) Ag an Wo 17% ' a ‘4 NJ “ ¥ 1, Ae in > =") < a 7 mA Lm! ar z » are +* Fu 4 : 3 A - ri " { a 4 a hy s - eet, OMe 2th &, ve . oy fi a wa j / i: 4 ‘ } bt ‘ j i. , ; skins kill my own people, as Captain Angelos and nine of the men does. Tis in for robbin’a | stage-coach, even if we has to spill blood to git ther money; but thet are well, and I'm going to tell you a secret!” ‘*] will appreciate it, Mustang.” “T were with Captain Angelos when he caught the gal.” ‘He went there to catch you.” ‘* T see,” ** But he missed finding your cabin and caught up the gal, for he heerd she was kin to yer, though sweet leetle gal as come with us along with ther train.” ‘* Yes, Mose.” ‘* Now ther cap’n is taking her to ther camp o’ thet red Apache chief, Bad Spirit, to hold her captive for him until'the miners pay big for her release.” “+ Yes,” ** And Bad Spirit will do it, for he and ther cap’n are pards.” ‘*] sees but where is the village of Bad Spirit?” | ** In the Wild Mountains.” ‘* You know the mountains, Mustang?” ‘**T guess I does.” ‘**T will tell you what I will do.” ‘Waal, Boy Pard.” ** Pll give you one hundred dollars if you will guide me there.” “*T?’s awful risky, pard.” ** Pll take the risk if you will.” “When?” ‘¢T will meet you here to-morrow at any time ou say. ‘Call it noon, and I'll be here, Pard Joe.” ** All right.” “T will haye to ask you to bring a strange horse with yer, for mine.would be known.” ‘** T will do so.” ** And now, Pard Joe, 1 wants ter tell yer why I’m here now.” ** Well, Mose?” “The cap’n sent me here to wait until some two hundred Apache warriors from old Bad Spirit’s camp came here, and I’m to guide ’em into the camps, which they is to raid to-night.” **Oh, Mustang Mose.” ‘‘Pve told yer, and 1 tell yer, boy, you git back as fast as yer kin, for they means business, them Injuns does, as you knows they hain’t no + }. J i] Lhe i : i, t “_) 7 - Pal . a. ‘ ; \) Pa i ate coe. eae ~, - por red-skins, but yed-banded from the elbow. ¥ | you jist what to do, and then skip,” ef'] a. i .¥ : ; Bat J ‘ ; iy \ Tien know’d different, and that she was the |. through the ambuscade. 11 and Mustang Mose drew Joe into the shadow of a thicket further up the trail, for the modn- | light shone brightly on them where they had been standing. CHAPTER XXV. READY FOR THE APACHE RAIDERS, “Parp Joe, I’m talkin’ Gospil now,” said Mustang Mose, as soon as the two stood in the shadows of the thicket. “Yes, Mose,” ‘* And I tell you, that within a hour thar will be along here two hundred Apaches, and that they is going straight for ther mining-camps. ‘‘T is to guide ’em to whar is the best place to enter ther camps, and they is ter then do their ~ red work. ‘‘ Now I has ter guide ’em, thet are sart’in, but I'll tell yer what I'll do.” ‘* What is that?” ‘Thar are three trails that go into the camps, © arter you cross the brook.” 6c Yy es,” ‘‘T!] send the largest forces by the right-hand trail, and have the next largest go by the left, while, with a few warriors I'll take the middle one, ‘¢‘ Mind you, remember J goes the middle trail, so don’t wake no mistake and have me shooted. ** No, Mose.” ‘ ‘‘ You kin let me get off safe.” | ‘‘ Pll tell you.a better plan, Mose.” . “Vas, Joe.” ‘* This side of the brook is what we call the Rock Nest. Y ‘‘T can have the miners in ambush there, and ~~ when you come in sight of it, take two Indians ~ and ride on, pretending to reconnoiter. VOR ‘‘- You ride ahead of the two Indians, and we — ¥ will let you pass all right.” ea?) ‘Then you give acall you can agree upon, © and when the others are going past the Hock sy Nest we will open on them, and you can make a * circuit by another trail and escape.” ee “That will do better, Joe; but you don’t want 9 ‘to lose no time.” ‘Tl be off at once. | ‘‘Now good-nighi, Mustang Mose, and | know I appreciate all you have done this ~ “Tl be here to-morrow at noon, if I am 75 alive.” 1 a * Alone, you remembers, and with a strange | 1)” horse for me.” NTL ‘* Pil not forget, Mose.” ef nytt So saying Joe hastened on up the trail, and ets calling to bis comrades to mount.and follow — Bye! him, they rode away like the wind, ian Leading the way Joe kept his horse in a Ue and his companions were sure that he Bays), gained more news of importance, ae Un hill and down they went never allowing ~ thei : nyree a breathing spell until Rock Nest was — ste reached. Pies | 3b) Here Joe drew rein, and he said: an j ‘* Boys, two hundred Apache warriors are Tr <) = iM 4 ~' * ' yp oy ke eld now marching on our camp. ite ‘ They will be here. within two hours, per Beri: sooner, and I wish each one of you to arouse the F miners. y AY “Tell them to arm themselves and come at ~ once to the Rock Nest here. eae “Let them hide their horses, those that ride ~~ beyond the brook, but here they must come to ambush those red-skins, and they bave not a . - + pit moment to lose. : | ee ‘*T will rouse the miners on my road, so now ( let us be off, for we must give those red-skins @ ale fearful whipping.” inti Bln The boys dashed away, crossed the brook, and |») dividing into three parties went the different trails running into the mining-camps. ae Joe kept on his way direct to the cabin’of Ale yy lan Morse, | Shins A number of miners were’ still there, late ag was the hour, plotting and planning for the best 5) thing to do on the morrow, oy aa Up dashed Joe in the moonlight, and half a cA dozen voices ca'led out: | Beige ““Tt’s Arizona Joe!” huh io we | ‘‘-Yes, and I have news, too, yt eae “‘Mr. Morse, don’t worry, for Lena was cid MEly te, 9 pe by the Silver Kings’ captain, and willbe” until the camps pay for her return, =) ‘But let me tell you all that two hundred Apache braves are now marching on the camp, — hoping to surprise it, eae “They are about ten miles away, and we est,” before. i) hd ambush them at the Rock N reach the camps. aa ‘* Let every man ao, here ab once, fully armed, and the women can lock the cabins, and stam ready to fire on the red-skins, should any’ »? 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