Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 119 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

aes, and then the glorious sound of the cheer of victory that welled up from the throats of thoso brave men as the last living savage disappeared | It was a wild, thrilling drama. “Easy, lads-—thar may be some skulkers about yit,” cautioned Mustang Sam, ashe drew his knife and leaped over the barricade. But tke repulse was complete and thorough, The Apaches had retreated in hot haste,carrying with them allof their number that had fallen ‘without the corral. The hearts of the emigrants sunk as they talled the muster-rool. Seven of. the number did not answer. They were already growing coldin death. Of the remainder, fully a dozen were more or less severely wounded, so des- perate had been the assault. Still, this was no time for idle repinings, and the survivors carefully reloaded their firearms, and lying in the blood of their slaughtered com- rades awaited the expected assault. CHAPTER ITt. MUSTANG IN HIS ELEMENT. Bout in this expectation they were most agree- ably disappointed. The remainder of the night wore away, unbroken by the wild, charging cry of the Apaches, and when the light of day cast its first glimmerings over the desert and around the mesa, the emigrants felt a peculiar thrill of triumph, as they saw no sign of the enemy. The Apaches had measured metal with them, and more than satisfied, bad sought more con- enial quarters. This was the proud thought that thrilled the hearts of the majority, and in it the wounded forgot their hurts and exulted with the rest. ‘Don’t be sech fools, boys,” at length said Mustang Sam, in.a quiet tone, “ You’ve did well and whipped the varmints right han’some- ly, L know; but you ain’t out o’ the woods yit. the varmints kin count nigh three heads to our one, an’ kir easy bring more to the fore. Then is it uikely they'd give all up fer one little hidin’? Not much! They'll try it on ag’in, be sure 0’ that.’ : ‘But they’re gone,” muttered Sweatman. **So’s the night; but thar’s another one comin’ ; an’ jest so sure them Apaches ’ll try it another whack. Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t say we won’t whip ’em in the eend; ef you all fight like you.did last night, we could flax the devil hisself with all his imps'to back ’im. But come aaa, whey will—or my name ain’t Mustang m “We all, under God, owe our lives to you, friend,” quiet uttered Thomas Heflin. “ ut lor your warning we would have been easily surprised, when defense would have been in vain. Your arm, too, helped beat back the heathen when they pressed us sorely, For all this we thank you, as from man to man.” “Twas only fun ferme,” ‘aughed Mustang, yet with a glow of pleasure lighting up his eye. “You talk too slow, Heflin,” impatiently in- terrupted Bland, ‘‘What we wan’t, stranger, is for you to give us a description of the place where you saw our friends yesterday, so that pid i be no time lost in hunting for their ‘You're goin’ a’ter them, then?” **’Yes—even if we two have to go alone and upon foot.” ‘You wouldn’t git very footsore afore the Apaches nabbed ye. We cain’t see’em from here, but I bet my moccasins they kin see us. They’ve tasted blood, an’ nothin’ but the whole outfit ll satisfy ’em now.” “Though the entire tribe barred the way, I'd risk it! Come—will you doas I say, or must we trust entirely to ourselves?” impatiently said Edward Bland. “T don’t reckon thar’s any need o’ givin’ you a map o’ the trail, ’s long’s I go with ye, is thar?” Tey, replied Mustang Sam. | “Will you go? Then there is some hope! for if man can do it, you will save them!” joyously cried Heflin, ' ‘*T'll do what I kin. Now, boys, look here, You see what we want. I don’t say thar’s no danger, but when a. woman wants help a man don’t hold back fer that. We three men are in’—but we want help, We may hev some htin’ on the road, but we’ve flaxed the var- nts once, an’ we ac’in. Who'll go?” The answer was unanimous. Not one of the entire company, wounded as well, but eagerly volunteered for duty. Mustang Sam laughed pleasantly, his eyes sparkling with pride. ‘*Not all—some must stay to look a’ter the wagons. When they see we've divided, the Apaches may take a notion to thar hands in. So you see these who stay behind Il hev shar o’ fun, too.” Mustang Sam. a -~_— Enough of the uninjured men were selected to make the sallying party an even score in num- ber, and then they prepared for work, overhaul- ing their weapons and horse equipage, packing water and rations for each man, securely at- tached to their saddles. Mustang Sam caution- ed the men remaining to defend the corral, giv- ing them hints as to the various stratagems the Apaches might attempt, and their best methods of defense. Then the party rode forth from the corral, leaving the others to bury their dead. Despite the severe loss they had sustained the gn aE of the emigrants were cheerful, even light- irited after their victory over such odds; and ustang Sam was gayest of the gay. He was now in his element. He bestrode the black ‘stallion, now fully re- covered from the killing race of the preceding day, and full of fire; yet the lesson received was OY forgotten. It wasas though he had been raised a pet from colthood, The slightest word or motion of its master was instantly obeyed and the stallion seemed proud of its newly-foun master. In sheer exuberance of spirits the well-match- ed couple circled around the little cavalcade, now half a mile in advance, now far in the rear, darting swiftly to one side or the other. | lt was like a boy fresh loosed from school. And while they wondered at the exquisite horsemanship thus ia? tan Aa the emigrants caught some of the hnnter’s enthusiasm, and at that moment would unhesitatingly have followed his lead even though he had charged into the midst of the entire Apache tribe. For an hour or more they progressed thus, yet nothing had been seen of the Apaches, It seemed as though they had fled far from the spot of their discomfiture, But Mustang Sam believed different. That was not Apache nature. Though ossibly they might not venture another attack or days, even weeks, they would hover around the train, watching for a favorable opportunity to pounce, vulture like, upon their prey. ** It seems to me, stranger, that you are not acting very wisely,” at length observed, Bland, “The time may come when you will need all that waste wind and speed.” | “Thar’s a-plenty more whar that comes from, frind, Bless ye, man, a month o’ sich pla wouldn’t fage this critter, He’s the’ animile what was chased by a norther clear from the Yallerstone falls to the Big Red, an’ it couldn’t catch a hair o’ hes tail. He was got by chain-light- ning out of a harrycane, an’ his name’s Tornado. Houp-la !” Uttering his wild slogan the Mad Rider again circled round the cavalcade, the beau ideal of a dashing, reckless plainsman, ‘Though but little above the medium hight, he was a model of masculine symmetry. At first glance he seemed slightly built, but in prairie parlance, “he was all thar.” The long, round limbs were all bone and tempered muscle; the round, compact chest and body, with their flanks; the well-shaped head and neck would. have been admired by a sculptor, and his garb was one well fitted to dis- play form, the color bright, even gor- eous. . A blue broadcloth jacket, ornamented with numerous silver buttons‘and golden toys; a vel- vet vest of similar splendor, over a shirt-bosom of crimson silk, beautifully embroidered, no doubt a gage @amour ; trowsers of the same material as the bee slanted from the knees downward, laced with a golden cord, and thick- ly studded with silver buttons and Spanish coins; gayly-beaded moccasins covered his small, well-sha a feet, armed at the heel with a huge ir of Mexican eae Around his head was ound the same silken sash that had been donned while watching the mustenos, From beneath this fell in wild profusion long curling locks of black hair, reaching half-way to his waist.. A long, silken mustache, arched eyebrows, and keen, fiery eyes, all of the same jetty hue, lent firmness to the otherwise almost effeminately beautiful face; for the mouth was small, the red lips slightly pouting, the teeth even and white as port and a spot.of crimson burned upon either cheek. His. age could not have greatly exceeded twenty-five years, At first sight one would take him for a fop out for a holiday, or, witnessing his matchless manege, a strolling circus rider. Yet he was.a man, in the truest sense of the word, as he had proved time and again. In one of his mad circuits, Mustang Sam abruptly checked Tornado, and leaping erect upon back, gazed steadily toward a long, low sand-ridge, several miles to their left and rear. The others followed his eyes, but could see nothing, 5 “What is it, stranger?’ asked Bland, his heart throbbing fast. ** Apaches, IT reckon. .Yes—they’re out from the bank now, A right smart chance of ’cem, too. They’re ridin’ hot foot to cut us off from the train,” was the prompt reply. “* Can’t we reach thé hills before them?” “IT reckon we ‘could; ef we tried hard, but your critter wouldn’t be Worth much when we got thar. Sech big, heavy-footed critters ain’t fit er this deep sand business. A mustang can discount ’em in a long race. I reckon we'd better take it cool, an’ keep our animals ready for work,” “But they'll. run us down—a charge would swallow us up—they’re so many,” doubtfully added Bland, | ‘We could keep the flies off 0’ them, anyhow, while they was .doin’ that, But thar—we’re both talkin’ nonsense, old man, Them Injans ain’t ah to run thar heads aginst us, that way. ey know we've got riflés an’ revolvers, an’ that we know how to use ’em,,t60.” Long’s twenty men keep in a bunch, with eyes open, nothin’ short of a thousand ’Patchies is goin’ to charge ’em in good airnest, Thar may. be pow- der burnt, an’ some hides need. patchin’, but no sech thing’ as you, seem to think, They'll try to skeer us, an’ make tis scatter like a brood’ o’ young quail—then they’d snipe us in.” While speaking, Mustang Sam was leoking to his ‘weapons, and his coolness s00n restored the equanimity, of the party more than, one, of whom was now upon bis ** first trail,” “And the young plainsman had already gained a strong ascendancy over them, THis words were receiy- edas gospel, and his slightest order implicitly obeyed, even by men old enough to be his father. ‘““They’re comin’ a’ter us, lickety-split!” said Sweatman. . “You ain’t skeered, Beauty!” laughed ifus- tang Sam. a Ss **Not very bad. ' I’ve see’d Apaches afore to- day—yes, an’ fit’em, too, afore you was pupped,” was the grim reply. : “Good! give me fifty boys like you, an’ I'll agree to drive out the hull Apache nation, afore Christmas time.” “Ef you're al’ays like you was last night, I wouldn’t ax no better leader,” and Sweatman’s surly voice softened. ol ‘* But—you’re sech a all-fired grumbler!” ‘Tkin bite, as well RAPA a tnot a fri’nd,” From that hour on, Mustang Sam never. had a more devoted friend than “Growling Dan,” The few words of approval, coming from a man, had won the old teamster’s heart. _. The Apaches were now distinctly visible, rush- ing on. like a, wind-storm, their long lances brandished above their heads, their yells, even at that distance, reaching the whites. ‘Mus tang Sam smiled grimly. me Nae Fr soon change that when, they sce we don’t skeer, wuth a cent. I don’t think they'll charge ‘ithin range, but ef they do, we'll soon send ’em to th) right about. ‘ But thar mustn’t be no foolish waste of powder. , Ill take the fust shot, then, you three félicrs here. Tif that don’t ston ’em, PM call. out, thy ones to fire in thar turn. Let ’em once git us vith empt we’pons, an’. they’d ride over us Tike adthin ° Mind now; keep cool an’ ‘we may be Happy yit’!” ‘and the party ughed loudly at t slang phrase that was then in every western man’s mouth, : Riding at a slow trot, the emigrants pursued their route, though naturally ‘asting many glances over thelr shoulders, . ‘Tn: Apaches were now within half a mile, still charging madly on, stretched out in/an irregular line formed of little clumps, according to the speed of their animals. “ Cowed!” shouted Sweatman, loudly laugh- ing, as the foremost. Apaches slackened their speed. ) “They don’t. know what to make of it,” smiled Mustang. It was evident. that the savages were not a little, puzzled by, the actions of the emigrants, so different from what might have been expected. Had not their spies watched them leave the cor- ral of wagons, they might have accounted for it by supposing the horses of the wh;*s were used up; but that could scarcely be, The desert stretched ahead for miles and miles; the broken ground was at least six miles distant, upon the left. Then there could be no ambush for which this. partly was acting as decoy. As Mustang said,, they were. puzzled. om i But they were stil! sore from their defeat of the pes might and as the stragglers came up, the leading ‘brave appeared. to. be addressin them with flery eloquence, Indging from hh animated features. Then uttering the thrilling JOO com E <S-€O