Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 1148 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

—sce ¥ - made as to his appearance, His pony was undersized and anything but By x ry 7. -_ 7 se “nS im er _ i Ps mt ~ ~™ « oo at =, . “7 : ~ - - “ ~ which ran a small stream, was a camp, or bivouac of horsemen, a gallant band of ‘lexan Rangers, resting after a hard ride on an Indian trail, and with their horses picketed out uvon the prairie to feed, while they slept away the sultry hours-of the afternoon, _ One of the number only stood on guard, and he was half asleep as be leant against a tree, his face turned toward the rolling prairie that stretched away for miles and miles. But for all of his dozing he yet was on the alert, as Lis eyes opened wide every few min- utes and swept the horizon for any sign of dan- ser, : lt was at sucha minute that his gaze had fallen upon the form of a horseman far out upon the prairie. He at once became wide awake, and fixed his gaze upon the one thus discovered. ‘The indi- vidual came on over a prairie rise, and, dis- covering the group of two-score horses picketed out around the timber, had come to a ‘halt and was calmly surveying the scene. The Rangers were in a dangerous locality, for they were not far from tho Rio Grande line, be- yond which dweit their implacable foes, the iders of Mexico. Then the Comanches were always an enemy, and at that tim: several large bands of them were on the war-path, and the Rangers had been hunting them down for days; hence it was necessary to be on the alert. The strange horseman might be a friend, and yt, why should one man be alone in that peril- ous country, where death threatened upon all sides? Strange! He looked like a white man, at the distance seen, yet might be a renegade, with a band of Judians at his back. Then, too, there was a possibility that he was one of ** Rafael’s Raiders,” a Mexican band of outlaws who were constantly crossing the Rio Granade and raiding upon the Texans, The alarm was given in a clear voice, that reached every sleeper’s ear; ‘Ho, Rangers! A foe is near!” The men were on their feet in an instant, and every man at once moved toward his horse. There they halted, for the approaching rider made no hostile demonstration, but came slowly ou toward the camp. , ‘* He’s white,” said one, ‘* Yes: some settler.” ‘* No Mexican about him,” ‘** Ho’s surely alone.” Such were the comments, and all eyes watched the stranger as he came on, his horse at a pro- vokingly slow walk, The Rangers were a superb. looking set of men, with no regular uniform, unless their leggings of leather, huge spurs, hunting-coats and broad sombreros might be called such, Their arms were of the best patterns, repeat- ing rifle, a pair of revolvers and a bowie-knife for each man, while their horses were superior animals, well equipped with Texas saddles and bridles. , Fearless, resolute faces abounded, with here and there a fun-loving and an utterly reckless countenance among them, The captain of this Ranger band was a tall, good-looking man of forty, with an iron-gra beard aud long hair, a face both stern and kind, fo. there was both austerity and sadness strange- ly blended in his features. Upon the hat of each Ranger was a silver, , five-point star, and the only insignia of ran B k ba y said the 24 the captain wore was that his star was of olc . gi to dare and to do they were, and their fame was well known throughout the Southwest while they were feared by their foes as a ban that knew no fear—feared no foe. As the stra nge horseman approached, all gazed fixedly at him, and many comments were beauty, while his rider, long-legged in the e treme, wore his stirrups short to hold his feet at a safe distance from the ground. His dress was buckskin leggings, moccasins, a red woolen shirt, a slouch hat, much the worse for wear, and a blue blanket army overcoat, slung across the back of his saddle, _ His arms consisted of a long rifle, of an old attern known as the ‘‘ Kentucky,” two rough- ooking revolvers, and a knife of most antiqua manufacture. — A faded Mexican serape was behind his sad- die, a pair of saddje-bags across it, and equipments were by no means the best, thouga serviceable. A lariat, well made and very long, and a huge, vicious-looking dog~a cross between a —_ > és 7 > ~~ a ® Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. ——_—— — : 2 | * Cuban bloodhound and a St. Bernard he looked | Dll be your friend for the game you show in try- —completed the outfit of the stranger. But the man? Ah! but he was not a man, excepting in size, but a tall, slender youth of eighteen, with long arms, broad shoulders, massive chest, and the | his own, he was sent flyin making of a giant in his build. His face was ; blow that would have fell beardless, fearless, determined, and witbal reck- less, while it was by no theans unhandsome, His hair, of chestnut hue, was long, falling be- low his shoulders, his teeth bis eyes erp and seeming to take in at a glance all that they were turned upon. Some of the younger members of the Rangers laughed at the strange youth and his outfit, but paying no heed to them, he drew rein near to the captain of the band and asked ina voice that was terse and decided: ‘Is this the camp of the Rio Grande Rangers?” sé es. ” ‘* Are you Captain McNally?” — **T am, my boy.” ‘* [ve come to volunteer as a Ranger,” was the announcement; and with that, the stranger dis- mounted amid a ‘vild shout of laughter. CHAPTER II. MASTER OF TEE SITUATION, CAPTAIN PETER MCNALLY, as I have said, had a kindly face, and he felt for the youth, whom some of his men seemed to wish to make a butt of for ridicule. He saw in the stranger a tall, somewhat awk- ward youth, old-fashioned in appearance, arms and outfit, but nothing to laugh at, and turning to his men, be sternly said: ** Silence! I will have none of this,” Instantly silence followed, and then the stran- ger spoke, as he glanced over the party, taking in those who had been the rude ones; ‘*Oh, let the idiots laugh, captain, but I’ve heard my uncle say that ‘ He laughs best that laughs last,’ and maybe if they’ve got the pluck $9 ae me, they’ll find I'm not such a fool as I ook. The Rangers looked at each other in amaze- ment, for the words were quietly spoken, in a good-humored way, yet accompanied with a cer- re air and look that gave a plucky ring to em. One young hot-head at once took exceptions to the stranger’s challenge, forgetting that his rudeness had warranted it, and he stepped for: ward and said savagely: “Tf you were a man [ would thrash you for your impudence,” ‘“[’'m a man in size, if not in years, and if you wish to whip me just begin now, for [’'m willing to take any licking you can. give me, or meet von any way you wish, with knife, revolver or rifle. Here was a bold defiance, and thrown in the teeth of Sol Bradford, the strongest man in the band, and a terror at a hale gree ar pinata or knock-down fight, for he stood six feet one and weighed two hundred pounds. As he spoke, the youth step fronted him, and it wasseen that he was a match for Sol Bradford, in hight, at least. All eyes glanced at Sol, then at the youth, and last at Captain McNally. The latter saw that he was expected to speak, so said in bis quiet way: up and con- ** Bradford, you were rude in the first place, then took up the words of this young man, so if he is willing to face you in a square, stand-up fight, for I shall allow no weapons, all right; but I warn him beforehand, that he has to meet our best man as far as strength goes.” | ** When [’m insulted, I don’t weigh odds,” was the youth’s calm reply, and he placed his rifle against a tree, took off his belt of arms and then ‘ma stranger here, captain, and have no friends, so I trust you'll see I’m treated square, as I have stripped off my weapons.” ** You shall be dealt squarely with, my brave youth, the word of Peter McNally for it,” was the reply, and the Rangers gave a “bravo” to mark their approval. In the coolest kind of a way the young stran- ger rolled up his sleeves, revealing two muscular arms, and prepared for the fray, while he said, with a good-natured smile: ‘*T thought to join yer band to fight with you against the Greasers and Injuns, and I hopes I haven't got to lick you all before you make my acquaintance,” . “A shout of laughter followed these words, in which Sol Bradford joined, for he was a good- hearted fellow, though a little inclined to bully- ing, knowing his great strength. ; Dm ready, pard, and if you lick me, or not, ‘ a — = ~—— * rd -@ - | | . . st ~~ . F | - . e io “ * oa 7 — e @ i. = : = Fs tag AY at wah . ¥ F , per ll . he m <* Fe en % “9 ing.” As he spoke, Sol Bradford advanced upon the stranger with a rusb. To the amazement of all, and wader ae tl to backward from a an Ox, ; Instantly he arose however, and, cautious jow, i Bp to spar. his did not seem to suit the youth, however, white and even, and | who broke down his guard, rushed in on him, seized him in his strong arms and bent him back: ward to the ground, while he said quietly: ‘*Call it quits now, man, and don’t make me— have to hurt yer.” ‘* Pll do it, and admit that you are the strong- ost pare a the shape ae pen that [ one tack] ; ’m whi : pa an mit it. ere’s ™ hand in felen . hand if you need me,” A shout greeted these words of Bradford, and the Rangers all pressed around and grasped the hand of the youth, for they were a manly lot, and Captain McNally said: © ‘** You laugh best, after all, my friend, as you laugh last. But who are you, may I ask?’ R ‘Tm a young greenhorn Texan, who knows little more than herding, riding and shooting, with a little experience at ee trailing. My father was killed in the Confederate Army, and my uncle took me to his ranch to live with bim; but I thought I'd like t» look about a little, so came to join your Rangers, if you’d bave me,” and he looked smilingly over the crowd, . ‘‘T guess we will have you; but may I ask your name?” ‘My name, which my poor dead mother and father gave me is William Levi Taylor, but my uncle called me Wild Will, and the cowboys named me Buck Taylor, on account of there being no bucking horse I wouldn’t ride. But, call me to suit yourselves,” was the indifferent reply. K ae rmit me to present to you all, excepting Sol Bradford who bas before met him Mr. Bucle Taylor, our new brother, and bid him, welcome into our mystic band,” said Captain ees _Laugbter greeted the words of the captain in his hit at Bradford, and the latter, stepping for- ward, called out: “ Three cheers, Rangers, for my old acquaint ance, Buck Taylor!” They were given with a will, and thus did Buck Taylor, the hero of my story, become a Texan Ranger. CHAPTER III. SCOUTING FOR AN OUTFIT. Tue coming of Buck Taylor into the band of Ravgers crea no little excitement amon them, and they readily took to the good-natur young giant. The day after his arrival some of them sug- gested a shooting tournament with rifle and re- volvers, and Buck in his quiet way, witb his old-fashioned rifle, and pistols that had) seen usage, found himself the best shot of all, to their utter amazement, for there were a pum- ber of most expert marksmen in the dashing lit- tle company. Buck having said that he had won bis name from riding bucking bronchos, there was an ani- mal in camp that were anxious to have him ride, especially the master of the vicious brute, who was then lan.e from his last struggle with his untamable steed. Buck volunteered at once to try and ride him, and when the Rangers saw the youth mount the wild devil of a horse, they soon came to the con- clusion that he had won his name from deserv- ing it. Phe horse hounded into the air, and kept upa terrific series of leaps, squatting, plunging, shy- ing and vicious biting at his rider, until he was utterly worn out and eonquered, the horseman saeen while seeming to care but little for themad entics, Captain McNally had witnessed Buck’s tri- umphs with the deepest interest, and said to the young volunteer: . é ‘* Buck, when you mounted, you will be got, and that is sayin are properly armed and about the best man I’ve a great deal, for my men are said to be the wildest riders and deadliest shots on the Texas prairies. ‘But that sheep you ride won't do for you, nor your antiquated weapons. ‘*T know that, sir; but then I bad no better, and thought I could capture what I needed.” ‘* Well said; but you ought to be a good lariat thrower?” ’ ‘*T am, sir.” : ‘* Did you ever catch a wild horse?” 3 a4 % Se ae ke ~ é oe be ¥ « 7 he 4, “ - + au Ss ! * . & _* et “a 7 x |; & — U6 . * on e * “a was —— —— ia“ ws ek ite ship, Pa.’d Stranger, and I'll be on 4 « F r : . ita a i = a» 42 ae - \ ; « pp y » . | | Li [ < ~~ ord ‘—_. : ~ w4e ~ < eas, F ae . .% / 4 ; . ‘\ aa > ae * —