Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

4 + ‘ i 7 % ‘< i . Lu 7 ee ah *. yA aie Bai. af , aes > 7 > — ee + + the hastily departing torms. ‘Boy, you has got narve, and though it nigh came to trouble, | respects yer. An’, bere’s my grip for it!” Dick and Joe grasped hands with pleasure. Thanking Pathfinder and the train boss for coming to his aid, Joe sauntered away, with as- suméd carelessness to his own outfit wagon and was seemingly busy there. What he was doing we shali see Jater on in this real story. That evening around the big camp-fire, he was asked what was to be done with the horses, weapons and outiit of the two Cesperadoes, for the scoundrels had been sent out of camp with nothing but the clothes they had on. “There’s an emigrant here, who only has an old span of mules and one wagon, and he seems mighty poor, so give them all to him,” decided the boy. ‘* Joe, you are a man, as far as your big heart and pluck go, You have done the right thing, as that man is very peor, I know, and he’s got but ten dollars left, he told me,” the train boss remarked. “ Well, Jet us give him Parson Pete’s horse and weapons, and raffle the other outtit off for his benefit. Ul take chances of a dollar in the rifle, as much more in the belt of arms, and five on the horse, saddle and bridle.” ‘Bravo for you, Boy Pard!” cried rough Dick Cranston, Léartily, and he and the train captain put down their names for chances, ‘What number will you take, Joe?” asked the train boss, who was getting up the list. “Thirteen every time,” answered Joe, with a laugh. The list was soon made up, Joe buying chances for the poor emigrant, his witc eldest boy. The drawing of the numbers then to and Joe drew the rifle, Pathfinder got 1 of arins, and the emigrant’s wife, wit. 54 joy in her eyes, won the horse, saddic and bridle! ‘‘T make you a present of the rifle,” said Joe, to the emigrant’s son, a lad of sixteen. ‘And I give you the weapons,” added Path- finder. “My dear lad, I was a very poor man, for, robbed of everything by those in whom | trust- ed, I was forced to emigrate, and what I have here is all 1 possess in the world; but through you, I have now nearly three hundred dollars in cash, two horses, and weapons, and I am rich! ©God bless you, my noble boy, wherever you may co! an | the emigrant’s voice choked with emotion, ani Joe walked off, glad to escape the cheers given Lim as a benefactor of those m real distress, CHAPTER IX. JOE AND THE RED-SKINS. A WEEK more and the train reached a point about fifty miles from the Duke Ranch—the nearest distance it would be; so getting all the information he could from Pathfinder, the trails he was to follow, the brave boy bade farewell to his new-found friends, and set out alone bright and early one morning. He had seen enough a pl life to have an idea how to get along, and determ.ned not to be called a tenderfoot, or in other words a green- horn, he was very glad to be thrown upon his own resources so he loitered along the way, shooting at what game came “near, and waiting quite a while for his first real prairie repast, repared by his own hands. Pathfinder had told him to keep a good lock- out for red-skins, for just at that time the Indians were causing a great deal of uneasiness through that region; but Joe felt confidence in his horse. which in the numerous camp races was the victor, and there were some fine and fleet horses in the train, Early in the evening Joe halted again, deter- mined to camp for the night, cook a good sup- per, and take mstters quietly. He had halted in a piece of scattering timber, upon the banks of a small stream, and had just started to strip his horse when his eyes fell upon a dozen horsemen who were coming over the rise of prairie across the stream, It did not take a second look for the hoy to discover that ‘they were red-skins in fall war-paint. They at once discovered Joe and drew rein, and the lone boy knew well enough that his first “scrimmage” wasathand, . Would he be equal to the emergency? A sickening sensation came over him like a flash and he realized that he had the t >it / ‘ $y Ws ere. > al : iin y ; : ° Ta ie ' ‘ ‘pmlie ‘ 6 we 1 Pek! P ‘ wats | . . . ~ ie = * . © n.2- ed their movements, and a loud laugh followed | ———$ $i ——-- — — - -— eee Arizona Joe. at that moment, His hands trembled so that he could hardly refasten his saddle girth, and his knees were weak and quaking as with a chill. The Indians in balting did so to discover how many more foes were there besides the boy. ** There are thirteen of them, and it’s my lucky number,” muttered Joe as hesprung into his saddle, At once came a yell, in chorus of arrows, with two rifle-shots, b hurt, Joe was greatly scared, Where was his rifle? It was on the ground where he had placed iL! To leap off his horse and seize it was his next act while Indians were riding for the stream on a full run! To throw his repeating rifle across his saddle and empty it in rapid succession, without aim was his almost thoughtless procedure, and not until the chambers were empty and he sprung into the saddle. The yells of the Indians told him he had hit something, but whether red-skin, mustang. or both, he did not know, nor did he tarry to find out. Away he dashed, followed by a shower of ar- rows, and Joe gave a slight cry as one buried it- self in his shoulder. He tried to pull it out but could not do so, and desisted, while be pluckily reloaded his rifle, as he ran, He was now out upon the open prairie, riding for a ridge of wooded bills several miles away, and behind ‘him, not two hundred yards came the red-skins, almost abreas. He saw that there were but twelve, but whether the thir- teenth, or his horse, was dead, Joe could only {UeSS. He saw that the Indians were well mounted and soon realized that his fleet pony was to have his powers tasked to distance his pursuers. Then came a single rifle-shot from the leading 'ndian, and the snort his horse gave told Joe het he was bit. lisrd hit, teo, for the frightened beast at once became lame, and the red-skins were gain- ing! The ridge was yet sé@veral hundred yards away, and the red-ski-s were but a short hun- dred behind him, when his horse stumbled and went down, and Joe fell so heavily that he was knocked senseless and did not hear the wild yell of triumph from the pursuers. and a shower vt though un- CHAPTER X, TEXAS JACK. A FEW moments before this fall of Joe’s pony, two horsemen rode up to the top of the ridge which the boy was striving so hard to reach, One was a white man, the other a negro. The former was a man of thirty, with a hand- some, fearless face, bronzed almost to the hue of a red-skin, and with \eyes very bright and restless. His chestnut hair was wavy and worn long, falling upon his broad shoulders, His form was athletic, indicating great strength and endur- ance. He was clad in buckskin leggings and hunting- shirt; he wore cavalry boots, armed with Mexi- can spurs, and upon his head was @ broad- brimmed sombrero, ornamented with a diamond five-point star in front, and on the left side of the hat crown was an eagle embroidered in gold, while an ingeniously made rattlesnake-skin, looking lifelike, made the hat-band. His horse was a splendid black enimal, the trappings being Mbxican. His arms were a silver-mounted repeating-rifle, revolvers and bowie-knife, a gold star being set iu each wea- n. Pais black companion was a giant in size, with face that was full of character. He also was dressed in buckskin, wearing moccasins instead of boots, and carried a repeat- ing-rifle, revolvers and knife. His\sombrero was looped up with a gold star, and his horse was a large roan, his trappings being Mexican. ‘Ah! There’s a race for life, Star,” cried the white man, as he reached the top of the ridge and beheld Joe flying at full speed and the In- dians in pursuit, **’Yas, Massa Jack; and he looks like a young feller, too,” responded the negro, ‘““True; he appears to be but, a boy, so we'll chip in, Star. or those red devils will catch him, sure as my name is Texas Jack.” ‘They will, for sart’in, sah.” Down the ridge the two rode, and had reached ‘the thicket at the bottom just as Joe’s horse went | Injun | down. , 1 is, a total inability to be brave Fast ~~ He’s down, Massa Jack!” t - tothe fl - AY fhe }? <= . ' * A TN SO by Fi don UN ' ; = , 1" . ‘ ri * 7 “ee > an Qe 3 Mais a ‘ js ; ws ‘ it SD «J por}! 2 - F * he 2?) ’ : ‘ 4 db kde ” 4 mo. F ae’ oo ot beeen pee ee eee 0 ee gee rt eee, et a 5 trop ttre gta a ee — 7 ' > * ~ a = ~—s efile + i a lV, A. ————— ae “So Lsee. Pushon, Star, and rattle your rifle as youride. I will pass the toy, but you pick him up and bring him back to the ridge here, and I will foliow, to. cover the retreat. Now for | it!” With a yell that was well-known to the red riders, Texas Jack dashed out of the thicket, and close by his side was Star, the ehony giant, The red-skms werg nonplused at first, and momentarily drew rein, but seeing only two en- emies they dashed cn again, determined to reach the boy and get bis arms and scalp. The silent form lying upon the prairie might be dead, but the red-skins should not have his scalp: So the daring scout decided. Star, as ordered, opened fire with his rifle as they charged, and being a repeater, it rattied out the shots in a lively way. An Indian fell from his horse, and a horse went down under the fusilade, Then Jack opened fire, shooting slowly but surely, and when he had dropped tour 1ed-skins from their saddles, the balance turned and bhurrti- ed off out of range of that dreadful ** long- gun,” One of those killed was the chief. His horse dashed near Jack, who, as he passed, seized the ever-ready lariat from the born of hi: saddle and caught tle anuimal,. which proved to be a truly splendid mustang, But what of the ebony Star? A prodigious feat he performed while Texas Jack rode beyond and held the savages at bay with his terrible rifle. Still seated in his saddle, his repeating rifle hung at bis back, the giant leaned forward and over, as the big horse dashed up to the uncon- scious boy, and, as he passed, the limp boey was séized, and Star sat erect, in an iustant, with Joe clasped in his right hand. Then he turned the horse’s head beck toward the cover of the wood, while Jack rode back to the spot where the poor, wounded pouy now lay, and, seeing its lez was broken, mercifully puta bullet in its brain, and sk wly retreated to the thicket, where Star had preceded him. Once in the thicket he dismounted, and a proached Star, who was now bending over t boy, looking anxiously in Joe’s pale and pair- marked face. ** He’s not dead, Star?” asked Jack. ‘‘ No, sab; he have bled free from this arrow wound, and be struck bis head on ther pararer, fer you see it’s scratched here, sali, and it stun- ned him, but I guess he'll be all right soon, for ther arrer wasn’t p’izened.” “ That is good. .He’s a handsome fellow, Star, and cannot be over sixteen. Look after him, Star. You are a goo doctor, as ] well know, Pll have to start those red-skins off again, as they look es though they meant to give us trouble for the less of their chief, whom I brought down the first shot.” ** Yas, sah, Pll look arter him, sah,” responded the giant, and Texas Jack rode out upon the prairie toward the red-skins, who had halted in a group some distance off. As he approached they fell back. for they well knew thé long renge of bis deadly rifle, and ting spurs to his berse; he caught the Indian pony that was running loose. The red-skins gave a yell at this, but, unheed- ing it, Texas Jack stripped the dead Indians and ponies of their arms and trappings, and rode quietly back toward the ridge. CHAPTER XI. THE SCOUT’S PROTEGE, a “« How is the lad, Star?” quietly asked Texas Jack. as he entered the thicket. ‘*He’s come to. seh, but I guess he’s kinder out 0’ his head a leetle.” ‘* Then we had better take him at once to the © you didwt— cabin,” * Yas, sah, it would be best; but scalp ther Injuns. Massa Jack?” ‘*No, Star; I know how you prefer to do” that, and l-ft it for vou.” “Vas. cah, I'll do it now, for a Injun hain’t dead until be is scalped, sah.” and Star mounted” ‘a, his horse, and with a yell darted out upon the = prairie. ‘<a The Indians fell back before him, but seeing his intention, they made a bold charge to save the scalps of their comrades. ; v Star stood his his danger, dash repeating rifles rung out their deadly m once more, the result, of which was that negro the pony of the warrior just killed. out to rescue him, and the “Now, Star, we mmst leave the ridge ab once,” said Jack, : ‘ we ets 4 0, ee ay ee CDOOKS ‘= J a * fe. ty a Ma , —& Fe ut. t ound, and Texas Jack seeing zs ¥ ad 4 ~~ rid * a * é € = ts « fe « ~~ ~~ So 4 . > 7. i +. wae ae Pp a) om x vy ee, Bets got another stalp, and the scout caught =