Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 119 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

* Mustang Sam. 11 It was a race that words are powerless to describe. Black death hovered over both fugi- tives and pursuers, his icy-cold hand seeming with each moment about to close upon their lives; yet that moment passed and another one came, scarcely less perilous—and still the race continued, madly, recklessly, yet unattended as yet with the seemingly inevitable catastrophe. But the end was near at hand. The fugitives were entering what seemed a pass between two high masses of rock, The trail grew narrower and more difficult, affording barely room for one horse to pass at a time. As though to ren- der this more trying, the canyon along which they had been racing deepened, and, indeed, a single slip or mishap here would precipitate the unfortunate down pres the jagged bowlders and masses of rock, full five hundred feet below, And close behind the fugitives, yelling fiendish- ly, came the Apaches. Tom Day led the way. Then came Edith; after her Ella, with Arthur Hamilton bringin up the rear. For nearly half a mile the fugh tives trotted as rapidly as possible atong the rilous trail. Then a cry of jo broke from ay’s lips, and his horse whee ache ro Ah the right, a few moments later emerging into a broad and comparatively level basin, surround- ed upon all sides by high, frowning hills. The bright light died from his eyes. A stern despair settled in its stead. He saw that fur- ther flight would bein vain. The huge masses of gray rock around barred theway He hadrun blindly into a ee Nothing remained for it but to fight; and the enemy were at least ten to one! ‘On to the mesa yonder—if we can gain its top, we can sicken these devils before we go under!” he cried, boldly. But no voice answered him, though Edith’s horse sprung even with his own. Quickly turn- ing his head. he glanced back. A cry of horror broke from his fips. He and Edith alone oc- cupied the valley! Where were Ella and Arthur? As if in answer, the Apaches burst out from the pass, yelling like fiends as they discovered the two fugitives. The peril that threatened Edith recalled Day to his senses, and he urged the horses around, just as a volley of arrows fell at their feet. The Apaches were firing low. Day uttered a furious curse as he saw this. He knew what it meant. They wished to cripple ye animals, so they could take the fugitives alive. A few yards further, Edith’s horse stumbled and fell, but the quick eye and ready arm of her lover saved her from harm. His arm was around her waist and a single motion lifted her t6 the pommel of his saddle. His own horse uttered a snort of pain, and lunged heavily on. An arrow quivered deep fn his hind leg. Another strikes him, but he has done his duty. He reels and falls at the foot of the square block of stone; the mesa, “ Have courage and I will save you, carling?’ breathed the soldier, as he alighted upon his feet, ‘‘Cling tightly round my waist, and never fear.” His hands thus free, with strength and skill lent by the desperate nature of the case, and his intense love for the maiden whose more than life depended solely upon his exertions, Day seized the Jagged points of rocks and dragged himself and precious burden up the almost precipitous side of the mesa. For a moment the Apaches stared in mute wonder at such an Herculean feat; but then the fear that their anticipated victims would after all baffle them, changed this sentiment to dead- ly rage, and the arrows began to rattle vicious- ly against the rock. * Clutch the vine and drag yourself up—now, 7 one feet upon my shoulder—spring, for your ife! Thank God!’ The last words broke from his lips with a asp, as Edith sprung upon the mesa top, and Fhe next sepa he Se bealde her. CHAPTER VII. THE SWARM OF HORNETS. A STERN, impressive quietness settled over the emigrants remaining at the wagon-train, as their comrades rode boldly out to search for the wanderers, in the very face of an overwhelming force of Apaches. Veanine upon their rifles they watched the horsemen rapidly ride over the sandy waste, in gloomy silence. Then, as nauany but a dust-cloud remained, Jack Wilson spoke: te We'd better kiver up what's left of the boys now. This sun won’t improve ’em any, I don’ n. ‘““We'll have to drag the red varmints off a Wee, too. They’d soon stink us out, ef we on’t. ‘Let that be now. Mebbe we won’t need the trouble. When we git through ’th this job, I’ve got somethin’ to say. Come, turn out the tools an’ let’s git to work.” Strong hands made quick work of the task, and the loose sand flew aside in showers, as the wide grave deepened. And then the seven stiff, lifeless forms were gently carried out from the corral and lowered into the sandy pit, side by side. Then came a brief pause, and covert glances ran around the circle of bareheaded men. The same thought occurred to all. It seemed hard to hide those true and faithful comrades forever from human sight, without a word of prayer; yet not one among the survi- vors felt competent to utter those words. Then Jack Wilson stepped forward, speaking in a low tone: ‘*‘Gentlemen, I don’t see as thar’s much use in waitin’. I don’t reckon this ’ere gang kin pan out a single ’ligious man in its outfit, Ef the boss was here, I reckon he could say a few gos- pel words, but as it is, the boys ‘ll have to go without much prayin’. But that won’t make no difference. They went under a-doin’ of thar duty. They fit like white men, an’ I reckon the most of ’em saved thar meat afore they passed in thar checks. I don’t know as I kin say any- thin’ better ’n that. They was white men plum through, though Johnnie Crane did putt water in his whisky. But then he was raised a et; an’ I don’t reckon it'll be laid up ag’inst im, when ol’ Gabriel toots his horn, as the gos- pel men say. I say—may the Lord have marcy on thar souls!” It was a unique funeral sermon, but one that came from the depths of a rude, unlettered heart, and one that touched those rough, fron- tier-bred men far more deeply than would have the most polished effort of an educated clergy. man, for they could understand it. Then the sand was shoveled in and firmly trampled down, the surplus being cast far and wide, that the Apaches might not scent out the a and dese- crate it for the sake of the scalps lying there. ‘“Thar—a starvin’ coyote couldn’t smell ’em out now, let alone the ’Patchies. An’ now to bizness, Boys, be we goin’ to stay here ontel the critters starve to death? Look at ’em— chawin’ up the sand to git at the roots o’ the ass that was sca’cely a mouthful around. ow long ’ll they last at this? Then when they git too weak to pull the wagons, what’s to be- come o’ us? That’s what I want to know,” somewhat doggedly said Jack Wilson. “The boss gone—when he comes back we kin go on,” ventured one of the party. ‘‘Jess so; but s’posin’ he don’t come back; how then? Look here, boys, thar’s some older men among ye than | be, but I don’t reckon thar’s any as knows more ’bout the’Patchies than I do, or who hes traveled more in these parts. I war one o’ the fust to step for’ad when that feller axed for volunteers. Though I knowed right well it was a fool piece o’ bizness, but he said it was for the ladies, an’ that word shets a man’s mouth, ye see. Jess take a good squar’ look at the facks; what be they? “Thar’s nigh a hundred ’Patchies swarmin’ round here, jest red-hot for ha’r. Twenty men rides out into the desert. In co’se the ’Patchies knows 0’ this. What do they do? I kin tell ye as plain as though I see’d it all with my two eyes. They’ll surround ‘em, and keep swoopin’ around until they pick off the last one o’ the gang, or else make one big dash an’ jest nat’ally ride em down to the airth. Then what? Why the ag came to pick up 5 ae aaber oenr ae outfit, like a hungry painter, the wuss for hav tasted blood. That’s what they'll do.” ‘‘But we beat them off once—we can do it again.” ‘“Then we was more’n double as strong as we be now. But say that we do beat’em off ; how long will we be able to do so here? They can rub us out ’ithout firin’ a shot or burnin’ a grain 0’ powder, The critters ’d soon starve to death; then whar’d we be? We’re off the main trail. Even if a train was to pass along, they couldn’t see or hear us. All the ’Patchies ’d have to do would be to wait,” ‘“What do you propose doing then?’ de- manded Stevens. ‘“‘T know this route well. "Bout seven miles over yonder is’a river, small, to be sure, but chuck full o’ fish, an’ thar’s plen good grass thar, too. I move le’s tackle up an’ make fer that,’’ quietly replied Wilson. > And be attacked on the road, before we could put ourselves in condition for fight ? That be a wise move, surely !” sneered Stevens. ‘“‘ Tain’t likely we'll be bethered te-day. reesei CC LC LLL LLL LL LL LLL ALLL LLL LL LLL LLL LL LLL LLL LL LL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL =) ’Patchies ’1l be busy with the boss’s men. They know they kin overhaul us, with the ponies, any time they want to,” ‘‘ Admitting that to be true, there is a still aera objection. Supposing our friends are ard pressed by the ad as you say is sure to be the case, and they retreat here, only to find that we had deserted them, what would be the result? No, sir, I, for one, will never consent to such a move. Here I remain until our friends return. And every true man in the outfit will stand by me in this,” firmly cried Stevens. ‘Putt the question, an’ ef they say stay, I’m agreeable. I don’t valie my life no more nor any other man,” said Wilson. he resolve was almost unanimous to remain at the mesa, at least during that day and night. Then, unless the party had returned, they could still try Wilson’s plan. ‘*Tt’ll be too late then; but never mind. I’m with ye to the eend,” the borderer quietly re- plied. ‘* You’ll find out afore long, which was ht—him or me.” he hours dragged slowly, wearily enough to the emigrants as they lounged about their cor- ral, = the mules as _— grubbed in the sand for a few scanty roots of grass, smokin their pipes or else nursing their wounds receiv in the fight of the past night. Thoughts of what might even then be befalling their friends troubled them. It was a long, dreary, soul-sick- — vigil. But the end came suddenly. ‘The devil is comin’, boys !” yelled Wilson, who was one of those guarding the mules. ‘‘ Look to the critters, or thar’]] be a stampede !” Instantly wena man spate Boones full life and activity. But in this case te proved the worst speed. The mules took fright at the shouts and eager advance of the emigrants, and plunged here and there, more than one pulling up his at and galloping away over the sands braying and whickering, loudly. Already the heavy thud of horses’ hoofs, ad- vancing at full speed, came to the ears of the startled emigrants. The Apaches had taken advantage of the mesa, and by keeping it be- tween them and the corral, managed to approach within half a mile before being discovered. Then, seeing that further creeping would be use- ee? they eee soe aia 3 dashed oo eadlong , hoping to gain the wagons while the defendivs were yet in a state of confusion. ane in this they bade fair to prove success- ‘* Let the cursed critters go to the devil an’ save yourselves!” shouted Wilson, choosing the lesser evil of the two. ‘‘Quick—an’ make every shot count, or we’re gone suckers!” Abandoning the mules to their fate, the emi- rants scrambled over the barricade and clutched their rifles and shot-guns, just as the yelling Apaches swept around both ends of the mesa, Thus, ere a shot was fired, the antagonists were separated only by a few yards, as the half-wild ponies dashed up tothe wagons, Then the fire-arms began to speak, and the arrows to hiss through the wagon covers or in- terstices, and the long lances be thrust for- ward wherever a foeman was visible. It was a scene of horrible confusion. Blood flowed like water. Death reigned triumphant. The Apaches were the survivors of the desert fight—or rather series of fights—in which Mus- tang Sam played such a prominent part. De- feated there, awed by the stern, impenetrable front ever presented by the emigrants, they remembered the weakened train, and resolved to deal a blow there, feeling that thus pes, Sa of their prime mode of conveyance, the indomit- able band must sooner or later fall into their hands. And in thisattack, the Apaches showed truly wonderful nerve and insensi ility to death. They seemed madmen, rather than usually pru- dent warriors. Their ranks thinned rapidly, et they paid no attention to. this, only pressing the emigrants the harder, evidently resolved to capture the train at any cost. The emigrants, too, fought evi as men with halters round their necks, ith them it was truly victory or death. They must either conquer or die. And knowing this they fought with sullen, stubborn fury. It was a duel to the death. But the emigrants were sadly outnumbered. When one of the Apaches fell dead, two others seemed to spring up and take his place. When one of the whites fell, a sad gap was left—an- other foot of the barricade left undefended. Swiftly their guns were emptied. Then the revolvers spoke, The foremost Apaches melted away before that. terrible fusilade as hoar frost dissolves before the warm breath of the morn- ing sun. Yet others pressed forward te supply GOmiGbdooks (E(@)