Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 119 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

a Mustang Sam. Mustang Sam; THE KING OF THE PLAINS. A ROMANCE OF APACHE LIFE. BY JOS..E..BADGER, JR., AUTHOR OF ‘‘ YELLOWSTONE JACK,” ‘‘ HURRI- CANE BILL,” ETC., ETO. CHAPTER I. THE DESERT KING AND HIS MASTER. ‘““YENDER they come, an’ this time the’s no foolin’. See! blackie’s in the lead!” “Thar’s none, got a better right, I don’t reck- on. But he’s my meat, this time, or Pll swaller Comanche, ha’r, hide, tail an’ all. But hist! Keep ready, and wait ontel I squeel.” ‘It seems a pity to do it,” half-regretfully muttered the third man, the youngest of the trio. , “ Pity your gran’daddy! That critter is the only one ’at ever showed his heels to’: Comanche, since I’ve rid him, an’ ’m goin’ to own the var- mint, ef I have to take an’ run ’im down on foot. You mark me !” Thres.men were standing beside their saddled and bridled horses, just within the edge of a belt of -youne*trees and undergrowth. Before them lay a broad, almost level stretch of prai- rie, covered with a thin, sparse growth of grass. The forenoon sun glimmered brightly from the placid surface of a small pond, scarcely three score yards from where the hunters were if am- bush. Ow OTH, *. n718 A faint, distait} fumble Game to the ear from over the prairie. A mile distant, the air was obscured by a thin vail of dust. Through this leamed a sono A of colors. A drove of wild wae were slowly trotting toward the spring. The hard-beaten edge of the pond plainly told that this was their regular watering-place. The eyes of the hunters glistened and flashed with eager admiration as the mustangs came nearer and were more plainly seen. And truly it was a thrilling, magnificent sight—a..treat-to all lovers of equine beauty : Prancing here and there, trotting, curveting, caracoling, with luxuriant tail and mane float- ing freely upon the light breeze, their strangely- contrasting colors formed an ever-shifting ka- leidoscope. White, black, bay, brown, roan, sorrel, cream-colored: aid “whestnut; iron-gray and ‘‘buckskin ;” mouse-colored and eet or “painted” mustangs,-all ‘free, déseré-born ran- ers. “Their luxuriant manes and tails fadnever n contaminated by the shears, their jaWws- had 1éyer known the cruel bit, or their backs galled withthe heavy, cumbersome saddle. At their head, king of all, glf@ed-a a stallion, a small white star marking “his.fore- head, whenever the silky forelock was lifted by the air. Upon this animal the eyes.of. the am- bushed trio were riveted»with longing admira- ee ——— Conitrasted witha _“ States-horse,” the black chief would haye“wppeared small, but for a mustang he was unusually large and powerfully built, with racéin every line of him, united » with the courage and endurance of a thorough- bred.. Its skin shining and soft as satin,-with the firm muscles quivering beneath, like ‘a net- work of living vines, with each motion;~the. head small, lean, racer-like, ““ blood” all over; me t7 delicate and eee ey ‘ps Sapp a clear tight;..well ri -up, fine shoulders - mirable girth and loins; ies clean, slender, firm, with*superb knee-action; these were the points that the three men noticed as the wild mustenos neared the prairie spring, followin the black king“in lines as as those o trained cavalry. that bediity this day, or'my name “7, have isn’t Mustang breathed one of the men, his eyes flashing, His teeth sef-close. . , ‘oT won't take loiig-to tell thée'tale now, onl they smell us?*—"""— | ‘* The wind’s from them to us—ha! hold your eritter’s ee he gives voice sab / sag game’s played!” hastily muttered Mustang as one of the anirhals ossed its head fexvation| ly, its nestrils quivering as though about to send orth a sare neigh. With hands tightly»compressing the nostrils of their animals, two of the men stood eagerly waiting the moment of action. Notso Mustang He knew that his well-trained horse would ot give the alarm, and without so much as rusting the leaves arotind, hé Mapéd into'the | ‘| alarm. But before they co flight, Mustang Sam was ~ am them, the snake- saddle. Raising the plaited rope of horse-hair, he was ready for the chase, Strapped to the saddle was his short, hea repeating-rifle. Upon either hip rested a revol- ver, ‘‘navy size;” stout buckskin thongs were attached to the lower end of the scabbards, and then tied to the hunter’s thigh, thus preventing their flapping around, as well as securing the weapons from falling out. A searlet scarf of Spanish silk was bound, turban-fashion, around his head, instead of the customary som- wee Such was Mustang Sam, stripped for work, ‘iif I rope blackie, you fellers never mind me. Take your pick out o’ the gang, an’ wait here ontil Icome back. It won’t be no fool o’ a job, fer, from his looks, he’s got the devil in ’im igger’n a woodckuck.” ‘The buckskin Koun. ‘The steel-gray for my money!” echoed Ralph Weston. oO more words were spoken, and the hunters fairly held their breath as the black stallion abruptly halted, his head thrown back, his blood-red nostrils loudly sniffing the tainted air. A cold sweat started out from every pore of Mustang Sam/’s skin, as he saw the black sxe te suspicions were aroused, for he knew that if he should take to flight now, ee i all hopes of effecting his ca on that. day. And the plainsman felt that life would no longer be worth the having unless he could possess this magnificent animal, It was a passion with him and now that he had found one horse that could outrun. his far-famed Comanche, Mustang would never be happy until he possessed it. After-seyeralmoments, of thisssickening -sus- pénsé, the desert-king lowered his proud crést and trotted sueply up to, the pond. Around him crowded thé cavallada, ‘in ‘théir thirst’ for’ getting their half-awe of their king. At a glance from Mustang Sam, the two yender’s mine,” said Tom Mc- hunters leaped into their sadd Then his lips parted. | ** Now !” - With the s of an arrow, chestnut Coman- che parted the leafy screen and darréd toward the pond. Atthe thunder of hoofs;¢he mustenos started, turning their heads in confusion and alar. raise a hoof in cutting the air in hissing circles above his head. - Uttering one shrill scream, the black stallion rose into the air, crossing the pond with one mighty bound, hurling asidethe animals that obstructed his way, rolling several in the mud and water. Yet, swift and strong though he was, he could not escape his fate, : The flexible rope-snake shot through.the air— the dark coils settled fairly around thé,proud neck—Comanche flung himself back upon his haunches; a we a4 shock—a sharp- twang of the rope—and then the desert king lay humbled - n the edge of the pond, quivering in évery ‘i : ‘‘Houp-la! glory to Jerusalem! the critter’s mine at last!” yelled Mustang Sam, inan ecstasy of delight, ‘At a touch of the heavy 8 spurs Comanche lea forward crossing the pond like a bird, standing over the black , Snort- ing proudly. ‘With eyes only for his noble cap- tive, Mustang Sam leaped to the-ground, free- ing the m his saddle. ning the tightly-drawn noose, Mustan , with practiced gs! formed a ‘‘bow-stal ? upon the stallion. With this rude, but terribly ective ‘‘ bridle,” he had resolved to ‘conquer the king of the herd. In firm, self-reliant hands, it is even more effective than the Mameluke or jaw-breaking curb-bit. A turn is taken around the horse’s head, be- tween the eyes and nostrils, firmly knotted; one end of the lasso is over the animal’s head behind the ears, and there fastened to the Joop first mentioned, thus forming a head-stall similar to that of an ordinary halter. This made secure, a second loop is formed around the chin and close to the nostrils; from this the reins lead, through a kind of hangman’s knot, so that, unless the horse stops or throws his head up, he becomes almost suffocated, and is forced to obey the will of his rider. This was the work of scarcely twenty seconds, yet Mustang Sam was none lack stallion began to stru his feet, though still unsteady from the effects of the stneESaS fall. But the hunter was ready for im. tS With a shrill, triumphant cry, Mustang Sam twitched upon the bow-stall, at the same time applying thé ¢ruel rawhide quirt,to the ‘ani- The Cie 00 rick. The’ mal’s quarters. As thoughstung into’fresh Vife, the stallion rose to his feet, wildly tossing its seen to rid itself of the uncomfortable bow- stall. A single catlike leap, and Mustang Sam was fairly seated astride the desert king. For one moment.the animal stood motionless, as though carved, in ebony, surprise seemingly depriving it of the power of action. Then it squatted close to the ground, quiver- ing in every muscle. Mustang Sam tig tened the gripe of his knees, and waited. He was not long kept in suspense. ith-a shrill scream like that of a maddened beast, the stallion leaped full twenty feet for- ward, then pausing, turned its head, and tried to tear the rider from its back with white, leaming teeth. Once, twice, Mustang Sam ung forward his moccasined feet, and the blood trickled from the horse’s lips. Screaming with rage and pain, the stallion reared upright, until it seemed about to fall backward upon its rider. With a wild, ringing laugh, Mustang passed one arm around the animal’s throat, his feet locked round its body. For a moment this; then the horse bounded forward, flinging up its heels in a suecession of mad, furious kicks, But rapid as weré those changes, Mustang Sam appeared fully equal to the occasion. At times he lay back to back with the stallion, his feet thrust beneath the animal’s forelegs; at others upright, like an equestrian statue; at others embracing the horse’s neck with his arms, | Abruptly changing its tactics, the animal lay down and rolled over and over; but Mustang Sam alighted upon his feet, still clutching the lasso; and plying the quirt with cutting force. ‘staltion snorted fiercely as he leaped to his ut ye the.same motion, Mustang occu- rmer position. ~ And-this was the re- sult of a full dozen such attempts to crush the daring rider. It was an exhibition of mad animal rage, and cool adroitness upon the hunter’s part. There was only one spectator. The wild horses had fled, and were now a mile distant. Tom Mc- Koun had captured his buckskin, but his lasso broke, and the mustang escaped. Cursing his iN-luck, the old hunter hastened to assist Ralph Weston, who had found his match in the steel- gray. Comanche alone remained near his mas- ter, prancing around, snorting excitedly, his eyes flashing, mane and tail floating upon the breeze. He had been well trained, and knew well the part that was expected of him. The black stallion tries to throw down his head again, but now Sam takes the offensive. A vigorous pull upon the bow-stall shuts off the breath of life, and in a moment the head lifts, gasping, half choked. Up still Migher until the forefeet paw the air-wildly, an it seems_as though the” hofse “mes fall over backward and erush its-ridery Fall it does, but not of its own-aceord. A sh pee of the bow-stall overbalances him, an e falls heavily; but, wary and active as a panther, Mustang Sam eet asidefind stands ‘clear of all.” Swiftly falls the rawhide part- ing the quivering skin, stinging sharply. Screaming with pain the maddened desert king leaps to his feet; and at-the same moment Mus- tang Sam vaults Hi ng upon its back. Once more the quirt falls; it produeces-the desired effect. “The stallion, stretches ott his noble frame in full speed, asa last resource, seeking to run awa om the terrible incumbrance upon its back. A shrill whistleis answered by a neigh from Comanche, and the -noble chestnut strete out in swift pursuit. And Mustang Sam layehs loudly, every nerve thrilling with a wild, delirious intoxication. piel aaa The pein e's sweeps past With the rapidity of, thought; all objects blending together; air cuts, the face weet brirping water into even the ‘trained eyes of the-madrider. Yet even in that moment Mustang Sam yelled aloud with a peculiar joy as he re tthe valué of this horse; in that moment.thefaithful Comanche lost the place so long maintained in the heart of his mater, for. here was & rival still swifter of foot than he. : Cool and , Mustang vn Closely can ed his captive, g a gentle yet firm strain upon the ohon ap with knees g the animals ribs, and toes well turned in. With his ‘slightly bent forward, the rider-was-ready for any sudden balk or trick of the horse. But this did not come. Evidently the had “had enough of such tactics. On. with. mad-haste the black stallion thun- dered, every muscle strained to its utmost ten- sion; on through the brightly-glowing sun; on over the level stretch “of dry, parched, almost n EComichbooks (ECO)