Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1126 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

Laftine Joe in his strong arms, he handed him to the negro, and leading the captured ponies, they set off on their way to their lonely ranch, twenty miles distant, The scout lagged back, after reaching the ridge, to sea if they were. followed, put the red- skins had evidently been more than satisfied with the joss of three of their number and four nies, and remained upon tHe prairie to bury heir dead, retreating then to the timber, where they had discovered Joe, to the body of the first 4 of their comrales who fell, for the boy’s rapid firing had not been thrown away. It was midnight when at last Texas Jack, and Star bearing his burden, rode up toa clump of timber several acres in size. In it was a stockade fence forming an inclosure of half an acre, ana in one end of this was a - cabin stoutly built of logs, i This was the prairie bome of Texas Jack, many fe a long mile away from the nearest settlement, »* and here he dwelt alone with Star, the farthful * negro whose life he had saved several years be- - fore, and who had clung t» him with an undying friendship ever since. There was a large spring in the timber, the stockade was large enough to accommodate the hundred cattle and half a hundred ponies owned by the scout, and the cabin was a comfortable cture of three rooms, When going away from home for a day or so, and taking Star with him, the scout was wont to shut his horses and cattle up in the stockade, leaving only a half a dozen large and fierce dogs in charge. But when both, or either of them, were at home, the cattle and ponies roamed at will over the prairies. ; aving seen Indian signs about, Texas Jack and Star had gene off on ascont, and thus it was they fortunately came upon Joe, whose career in Texas so nearly ended under the fury of red-skin revenge. Finding that Joe was threatened with brain fever, for be had had a heavy fall, Star set. to work to doctor him, according to his knowledge of medicine, which was considerable, for he had once been assistant nurse in an army hospi- tal. Texas Jack had a small case of medicines, and the two did all in‘their power for the poor boy, ' nursing him day after day until at last the fever ‘was broken and reason returned. ~~ “Jam not dead, then,” said Joe one day, look- ing curiously about him. crete Jack was away on a scout, and Star was seated just outside of the cabin door, nap- e started as he heard the voice of his patient, and entering the cavin said: ‘““No, sah. You has been very sick, though,” _** Where am [?” > **In Texas.” “T think I remember. yy "IT wasrunning from some Indians, and my * horse fell with me.” “Yes, sah, and broke his leg.” - “Poor fellow; but [ thought, when f hit the ground that he had broken my neck.” _ * No, sah, but he stunned yer considerable.” -t*Ismy scalp safe?’ and Joe raised his hand weakly to his head, “Oh, yas, sah, it’s ali safe and you is getting along prime, and must be cheerful and build «* ee Peyt: ‘““That’s some scalps hanging yonder, sah, we = got ther cay you tumbled.” fee) Dids t kill any indians?” asked Joe, witha | slight shudier. ry ie “ assa dack said you did) sah, for he fol- - towed yer trail back to the timber on the stream, | and found whar you hat kilt a Injun, and his i poems | 3 Who is Jack?” wearily csied Joe. foe) ** Massa Texas Jack, san.” ey! * Texas Jack !” and Jos brigh*ened up. Aw aid “ Yes, sah, this is bis cabin, and weseen you 1) ‘when you fell, and Massa Jack and me_ beat *) ther Tnjuns off and fetched. you here, and you . “has been three weeks sick almost,” ei. *Texas Jack,” murmured .Joe, in delight, and Hy m4 aatd out at the exertion he had made he sunk Wid ie When be awoke the famous scout stood by his ~~ side and said in his frank way: 5a, 2. “My lad, you must get well now, for I’m go- ie) ing to make you my protege, for ft met Path- or By finder the guide this morning, and he told me Ae “ Get well now, for you are to be the Boy rar vel ae 4, “see 7 ets} ‘ te » ie aT * ard of Texas Jack.” Lil's Aether LM ie -2 “Ob pant you. sir,” said Joe, and he was . | perfectly happy at his Lain YS the great +P Bh) She yi tet i F MW ~~. "yi 4 stiles, % 4a, eae . —_—— — - ene ee eee en anna nena ee esses . _LDDADMMM OLB LLL LLL LLL LLL ttl _— Arizona Joe. CHAPTER XII. THE YOUNG TRAILER, Ir was not very long before Joe was able to be otit, and he was most anxious to show his ap- preciation of all that Texas Jack and Star had done for him, He bad written a long Jetter to his mother, and the scout had carried it to the nearest set- tlement where it could be mailed, and Joe had inclosed in it thirty dollars of his wages, and told her prospects. were brig t ahead, though he did not say what those prospects were. The seout had promised to ride over to the Duke Ranch with him some day, and he had civen the youth the horse of the chief whom he ad killed, so that he was once more mounted. Joe showed him a specimen of his shooting; with both rifle and revolver, and Texas Jack had told him that some day he would make nis mark as a clead shot “‘T? Mr. Duke hasn’t a place for you, Joe, you can come back and stay with me as long as you lease, and I will be delighted to have you, while will teach you alll know about the prairie,” the kind-hearted scout bad said. When the boy had fully recovered, he mount- ed his horse one day and started with Texas Jack ‘on the trail of some Indiaus, which the seout had discerned not far from the ranch, ‘** We must comé up with them, Joe, head them off, and see just which way they are going, for my idea is that they mean thischiaf and plenty of it,” Jack had said. Striking the trail they followed it for a long distance and discovered that it joined another and a larger one. Still) keeping on a third trail was also seen merging into the otber two, and a fourth and a fifth were discovered, and the scout came to a halt. * Joe?” “ Well, sir?” ‘‘ Quit saying sir to me, and calling me Mister Omohundro. ‘* Tm a plain Texan, and my name is Jack.” “ All right, sir—Jack I mean.” ‘“ That's right; but do you see how these trails have come together?’ ‘** Vive of them?’ ‘Ves, and Vve been calculating how many reds made them.” | ‘* Do you know?” ‘Well, there-were all of thirty that came by my cabin, sixty in the next tr il, a hundred in the third and fifty in the fourth and fifth, as well as I could tell from the tracks in the soft ground,” ‘¢ Pwo hundred and ninety?” “ Yos, about three hundred braves, and they are on the war-path, ‘*They came to this point in separate parties, so as not to be seen in full force, and they mean to attack the river settlement, just twenty miles from here. ‘‘They are now hiding in the timber some ten miles away, and after night comes will raid the settlement and surprise it.” “Can nothing be done to warn them?” | Yes,” Can we,do it?” ‘* How strong are you?”. “Oh, Pm all right.” . ‘‘ Then we will have to makea big flank move- ment and push our horses hard, for we will bave all of thirty miles to ride, and the sun is only about two hours from setting, “ Let us be off.” They turned abruptly from the trail they had been following, and started off at a canter. Their horses had not been pressed, so were comparatively fresh, and they were kept ata pace that put ten miles to the bour behind them. When the sun was on the horizon the animals showed that they were getting fagged, and the riders drew rein, threw off, their saddl-s and bridles, let the horses crop grass for a while, they rubbing them down meanwhile, and then giving them some water, after fifteen minutes’ rest, pushed on again. ‘* Now they must stand it, and we’ve got fully ten miles before us,” said Jack. And one hour af*er the staggering, panting horses darted up_to the first cahin of the settle- ment and the alarm wes quickly given to the occupant, Then through tke settlement went the scout and Joe, warning all, and telling them from whence they might expect the Indians, Knowing the country thorouchly, Texas Jack suggested'a point of rendezvous for the settlers, where the red-skins could be ambushed, and thither they went in haste, Aten cou) . while the women and children drov SS SS ee » j a , of VR t ae - Z ey stock and made ready to receive the men, should they have to retreat to the cabins. The spot chosen by Texas Jack was a pass be- tween two hills, and here three score settlers assembled, while a party of thirty were mount- ed and ready to close in on the rear of the red- skins when the fight began. Within an hour after the arrival of Jack and his Boy Pard in the settlement all was ready for the fight, so thoroughty accustomed were those bold tordermen to meet danger with dispatch and firmness, Jack had left Joe with the ambushed settlers, while mounted upon a fresh horse, he had gone with the mounted party to attack in the rear, Presently the word of warning was passed along that the Indians were coming. The mght was dark, but the tramp of many hoofs was heard, end tefore long a dark line of horsemen came into view. CHAPTER XII. SAVED AND LOST. Jor had taken up a good position along with the head man of the settlement, and who acted as captain of the men. Joe had told him that his repeating rifle was of long range, and could be emptied very quick- ly, and he was taken by the captain among the first of those in ambush. The Indians now appeared, and they were riding in double file, that they might keep closer together, rhe settlement they knew was a mile away, andonce they had passed between the gap in the hills they would spread out and attack it along its entire length. They had not seen a single white man on their march, and they had not the remotest idea that. their attack would not be a complete surprise, The first Indians were allowed to pass entirely through the gap, and then they halted, waiting for the others to come up. “Open the ball, my young friend, whispered the captain. Joe picked out his man very coolly, and then came the crack of his rifle. [t was followed by flashes and ite from the hills upon either side, and the leaden hail wont flying among the surprised red-skins, Loud rung out the cries of the settlers, and, finding that they were surprised, where they meant to surprise, and bya foe they did not know the numbers of, nor could reach, the In- dians gave forth a series of terrific war-cries, and began to retreat through the gap. Then ‘came shots behind them, the rattle of rifles, cheers of the mounted settlers, and above all, ringing out like\a trumpet, the well-known battle-yell of Texas Jack, In dismay, believing that the soldiers were also upon them, the red-skins swept back through the gap in the hills. For a moment they seemed as though they meant to rush for the settlements »nd burn and kill there; but a party of settlers, late in reach- ing the scene, opened fire cn them, and they broke away in a mad race for life along the base of the hills Texas Jack, calling to all the settlers who had their horses, to mount end press them, dashed on in pursuit, and thus a ‘running fight was kept. up for several miles, until the Indians were ut- terly routed, and broke into a dozen different parties to escape their pursuers, “What, are you here, Joe?’ said Texas Jack as the settlers drew rein, and the scout beheld the youth near him. ‘Yes, Jack, the captain let me take bis horse, and I came on,” was the answer, Back they went then, and upon reaching the hills they found the settlers burying the red- skins, and‘ catching the Indian ponies whose warriors bad been slain. The wounded Indians were not put to death, as some suggested, but carried to a cabin to be cared for until well enough to depart. Jack and Joe at once became heroes, and they spent the balance of the night in the cabin of the captain, but started back bome efter break- fast the following morning, for the rest had brought their horses around all right again. As they aseended’ the rise of prairie, which gave them a view of the scout’s cabin, Texas Jack said, through his shut teeth: | ‘‘T feared it, when T saw that trail leading this way.” ‘You are burned out,” gasped Joe, ‘Yes, and my stock al; run off; but, what of Star?” They spurred forward with full speed, and: soon drew rein at the smoking ruins of the ~ armed, | cabin. | Sarah ees 94 in ‘the ~ It had been burned, along with the stockade : sy a 7 - ' at t¢ ii : ® mi ‘ “oral, ‘ is 1 4 : a 4» > ye! ‘ ’ : 7 ' 5 + Sc Ue Nae " a alt ; bate SORE ER ce diy 4 ee a Bae i " by a ieee > ia «! 7 ty . heap tp, al (ean es! cee : : 7 , - + O59 / ; oie ‘i al# ab AY, 6 1% re ve Re, Ps ys . Saris ae” . Aan a : i « , ‘ | 4 OO comi oben t Ty 7 7 vet Aas BS re : a. ie : : : *e ‘ a) Mak att; § wi ¥ * 7 ed . oa) © 7. « SW Me ww a - } iF mN 4 ee ee | whe ra a . cry \3 _— x - . “= —_ - — ’ > —_~=? a) ‘ 5 » a . > Lae —— oe te are it a os ns ’ is a Lo ea. 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