Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

“Come, one and all, for you have no time to 7? The words of Arizona Joe created the wildest > eonsternation for a moment, and men ran to ; yous. wife, € their cabins to arm and repair to the rendez- Joe had a few words with Mr. Morse and his to cheer them up, and he told them that Lena would soon pe restored to them. : *) (en F Ls ay Pee? co * ™* fail, then it will be time enough to try another +, ae ioe ¢ a Bis P re EI ‘ , rial. * . a ‘ f 23 0x! » , 52 y Robes : P y nt y= & Le ’ a, . ' score of men before them. **] will give all I have with pleasure,” said the grieved father. ** Yes, and the miners would all pay liberally, and this the Si ver Kings know. “Tf once you paid to gct a captive back, they would be kidnapping all the time, and it would ruin the camps. “T’ve got a planI think will work, and if I way. é But. Mr. Morse, do not let any one go to try and find her to-morrow, I beg of you.” ' *T have every confidence in you, and it shall _ beas you say. ~ But come; we must be off for the Rock As they went along they saw others wending their way in the same direction, and arriving at ‘the Ruck Nest, so called from the peculiar gath- ‘ering there of the huge bowlders, they found a “In half an hour more all had gathered, whom a a . 5 Y Sy) therangers had had time to warn, and there 4 oe Fae) : .* : » » eo 'y - ‘ +, . p> ’ ¢ 1 5 as ‘ é 3 4 ‘ “ "were over half a hundred well-armed, deter- ‘mined men there. » Joe told th m in a few words his plan, and urged that no one should fire until he gave the ! Tangerw cry, for the youngsters had a peculiar vy . : ] =) war-cry of their own, which Joe had learned hey eva “ r ("? e* ia? \, 7 Oe ” “* pe ‘A / . a . wt leprae 4° ’ *) + ES ? Ln e" ¥ ba, boy ; ‘iste f . ude 4 i) re. ~ < be - T> - ‘ “% . be , 1 4 . " The rangers had been hurriedly summoned, ok from Texas Jack and taught them. cy 4a -* Under no circumstances fire upon those who go in advance,” said Joe. . Positions were then taken by all among the temple Joe had his rangers near him, with their horses back in a thicket, where.they could “quickly mount.and give pursuit. @ moon, thuwugh on the wane, shone bright- Wy, and a silence fell upon all, broken only by e cry of night insects in the lowlands, or the ‘howl of a wolf afar off. *but they were on duty and ready to meet the ‘ =) foe that sought to attack them in their homes. Ty Awe “Wr? : P ‘=< Jie vy @ at AL we vi fe GF he CHAPTER XXVI. Mm. - RED-FACE AND PALE-FACE. ay ue ‘ '. No one, not even a red-skin, accustomed as he + Lee ia & "/! . ¢ © gious, would have dreamed that those barren MG ‘i a « - a wif 5 4 Saal a 7 : at) . P a Te ? though nature had made it the very place for un as to always look for surprises and be suspi- ocks on the left of the trail concealed the forms ‘of over half a hundred brave men. ’ The trail seemed to wind around them, as ¥ "ambush, for it formed a crescent almost half ~ about thei, and but thirty paces distant. TER om The spot was in a lowland, with the mountain 5) half/a mile behind, and the hills rising in front, ‘ r- it was i) * 6 ms -) ‘ bt ‘ aa fter crossing a brook beyond the Rock Nest. Among those hills, scattered along a space of miles, were the cabins of the miners, and estimated that three hundred souls were ite severe there, including women and children, of whom - - the: 5 were about four-score. “as, > Some of the cabins were most comfortable and | home-like, as was that of Allan Morse, whose « ~ ‘gentlemanly bearing and education, far supe- or others in the camp, had soon made him a leading man among the miners. “There was a store,a blacksmith shop, al school-house for the children, a coach office an Stables, for it was an important station on the ' stage trail, and what purported to be a hotel, © for it was called the Valley Rest, though it was not an inviting hostelry by any means. The distance to the Nest of Rocks from the ie )) main camp was about half a mile, so that the “miners had quickly assembled there under the » urging of Arizova Joe’s young rangers. > Some were armed with repeating rifles, others with sing! rrel rifles, a few with double- ‘rel shot-guns, loaded with slugs, jand all had = Cor « oS] ate a, ne discovery of the attack being made by eey? © Joe, his being captain of the rangers, and Mr. Morse gpa to him, not a word was said aga inst his being the commander, young as he E No one knew just what was to happen, and ‘they not then question. $e Arizona Joe. ee ——te — So they lay quietly among the rocks await- ing the signa! from their young commander. Soon, in the distance, the moonlight revealed dark forms approaching. They came along slowly, their horses at a walk, and they rode less like Indians, and more like cavalry, for, half a dozen were abreast, and they kept well closed up, Fuliy three hundred yards away from the | Rock Nest they halted. Then the moonlight revealed three horsemen advancing from the body and coming slowly on. The others remained at a stand-still, That the Indians behind them were to give the camp a thorough surprise there was no doubt; but with their usual caution they wished to be safe in all they did. They bad never made a raid in force upon the camps, though many an isolated miner had fallen a victim to their batred. ‘* They hated the pale-faces, who had invaded their country, and they wished to kill them, men, women and children, Then too the miners bad some fine horses, cattle and many things in their cabins the red- skins coveted, such as food, blankets and arms. The store was filled with what would make the Apache heart glad, and with all these mining attractions and urged on by the Silver King chief, they sought to raid the settlement. Let the red-skins sweep the settlement, and the Silver Kings meant to follow like wolves in fheir wake, and gather ap the precious ore the miners left. Having separated themselves from the force, the three men rode on toward the brook. They passed along the curving trail about the Rock Nest and disappeared in the timber that grew on either side of the brook. Not even the two Indians, with the instinct almost of dogs, detected the presence of danger. Mustang Mose rode in front, and the two In- dians rollowed, the three riding in single file. They were heard to go into the brook, the splashing of the water reaching the ears of the crouching miners. Behind them the mass of red-skin horsemen kept as still as did the miners, their cunning | Indian ponies seeming to also understand that they were to remain silent, Joe was at theend of the Rock Nest near the Indians, and he alone was watching their move- ments, through a branch of a tree he had broken off at the brook and stuck up.on the rocks, as though growing there. They found them burying the Indian dead. for there were no wounded red-skins, as neo mercy had been shuwn by the enraged miners. The detenders bowever bad not escaped un- scathed, for several dead miners had been sent to their cabins, and a number of wounded also, Still the victory wes a gloriovs one, and to Joe Bruce was given the credit thatit bad not turned out far differently. As to how be bad gotten his information, and who was his informant, Joe was silent, for he would not betray Mustang Mose. CHAPTER XXVIII, 1HE SECRET SCOUT. WHEN the sun arose upon the mining-camps it fell upon a mourning people, for there was death in their midst, and a number of men were ruffering with wounds, Still all felt how different a scene would have been presented bad the Indians surprised the settlement, as, but for Joe Bruce, would certain- ly have been the case. A council was held among the miners, and the youth was given the thanks of the settlement, while he was also asked to attend the consulta- tion as to what was best for the protection of the camps in future, Mr. Morse bad held a short conversation with Joe, and he suggesied that the ‘‘ Boy Rangers,” as the little bund of horsemen was ce!led, should assume the duties of a guard, acting as scouts and sentinels, They could be spared from the mines, and each miner could subscribe a sum each month to pay for their services, so that their task would not be without recompense. This proposition of Miner Morse was received with unanimious approbation, and ‘* Captain Joe” was accordingly told to arrange his men with a view to the protection of the camps, us. ing his comrades for sccuts, and keeping a sen- tinel at night upon cach of the two trails leading into the camps. Joe was proud of this distinction, and at once went to intorm his comrades of the bonor done He heard Mustang Mose and his companions | cross the brook, and then came the sharp yelp of a wolf from their direction. Instantly the Indian raiders began to move forward once more. They had heard the signal that all was well, from the reconnoitering party in advance, and thev were , gloating over the triumph they soon would have. : But they kept the same silence as before, and moved in the same deliberate way. Once they came in sight of the horses of their foes, and they would be far different. Marshby ground surrounded the Rocks Nest, to ethe left of the trail. so that if an Indian had at- tempted to explore it, his horse would have mired up to his knees. The only wy to get among the rocks was from the sloping hill in their rear. But no red-skin attempted an investigation of the Rock Nest, and the Jeaders were about ‘pass- ing by when suddenly a wild yell rung out. All knew the signal, and fifty guns flashed almost together from among tbe rocks, and then followed the rattle of the repeating rifles, the wild cries of the red-skins, neighing of fright- | ened horses and the cheers of the miners. Taken completely by surprise the Apaches and their ponies were thrown into a confused mass, Then more of the boldest warriors attempted tocharge upon the rocks, when their ponies sunk to their knees in the mire, Feeling that their foes were prepared for them, their firing showing a large force, the red-skins decided upon one course, and that they lost no time in carrying out. In haste they fled from the field, followed by a hot fire from the miners, and a moment after | | : them. | Then he told his lieutenant just what to do, as he was going out of camp for a while. Half an hour after, mounted upen his best horse, and with a led animal, also, he rode away from the settlement, replving to the numerous questions as to where be was going; ‘*On a secret scout.” Joe, as the reader bas doubtless surmised, was roing to meet Mustang Mose. He rode cautiously, for he did not know but that a band of Apaches might be lying in am- bush. But the red-skins hed suffered heavily, and they had al] they wanted todo to get back to their villave with their dead and wounded, It was just noon when Joe reached the spot where he had appointed to meet Mustang Mose, and be dismounted to give his horse a rest. An hour passed, and then he saw a horseman approaching along the valley trail. t was Mustang Mose he saw, as he drew nearer, though the red cloth mask was now over his face. ‘““You is here, Boy Pard?” said the outlaw, as he rode into tbe thicket, ‘* Yes, Mose.” ‘What a all fired lickin’ yer did give them *Paches last night.” “Thanks to you, yes, and I will see that a purse is made up for you among the miners.” ‘Lordy! yer didn’t give me away, did yer?” ‘Not I; but the men knew I got my informa- tion from some source, and I will tell them soon that it was from a person I wish to reward, that is all.. ‘‘Youis a man in that camp, Joe, and no mistake.” ** Now can you go?” se Yas.” ‘‘ 7] have your horse.” ‘* So T sees.” : ‘¢ Well, what is the plan?” ‘Bad Spirits camp is thirty mile from here.” ‘ : sé Vea,” “Ts on a sprr o’ ther mountains, and ten in their rear came the clatter of hoofs, and, be- regiments o’ soldiers couldn’t whip old Bad sides Joe and his rangers, a score of mounted , Spirit and his warriors out of it.” | men started in full chase. Their rifles rattled as they ran, and the Apa- ches fired back as they fled, so that it was a run- ning battle of several miles, ‘‘ But one or two might get there?” ‘s Yas, ” ‘How “‘ As Silver Kings.” “T see, you want me to play outlaw.” —* “Tt hein’t no play, for 4 bas got ter be a Silver Hae 90 We Sot e me.P | ery : Le, Pe | “is @ o>) 7s i | é) © " . 4 i! ~ . ‘ , . @ 4 _ ; .. F at Ft dst, <p r ~~ he : y ptt i. : ee : i te aie we ts ¥! fy ian ‘\ aye ' ‘ ev iy Le - ’ - =) ee ; ie ; 7 v \ rye etal Sy f ‘ al @ p 3 A ' -* ei 4 . _ ti Aas Tee J : : , ‘ - } - - “ - , Da 2 hed . Se ‘ vw “> «. / f p wis a , "3 » _s * “A ma - ; . or | , § bd . ¥ y - . + >) ‘ : 4 = . . * : : a Fir ‘% "ax Pp; * , 4 . -) : 1 " sa ~ - A ‘ - % v2) / 4 “ ; ‘j a. ..4< > : «« - , ‘+ * a a -* a 4 | y , : a m2 a * ta _ -f*. : ‘ ° i J y were aware that they were to meet | Then, fearing an ambush, as they reached a t four times their numbers, of the bravest country for the Indians to entrap ans in the world, and felt that they needed | the recall.was given and the victorious miners urprise to help them. Papin went back to their comrades at the brook. . "y ; r : "Era (Why rAd A “— - : 4 4 a “ ' i “ . F ‘ { y .<. } * Cy Pabs jae Vt : : if % % * . at . Ai « ia, vr te Te = at? ' 4 “73 Bo lees 4 - 4 ‘is i ; ro q ; ' a : i ‘ ve * ous ® :y ¥ « : ev rw 4 mek thy ie P ’ . t ' A { ; Sor cert & Ph ah eee Pe t ‘ > : € - . i ee :« oe G +2 =e