Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 119 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 sons could occupy the same level, within a dozen yards of each other, yet be hidden from view. At this point beyond a doubt had taken prose the fight that had alarmed the two hun- rs, for the rocks around, as well as the ledge, were plentifully sprinkled and besmeared with blood. Bland and Heflin seemed overcome; a dread fear was again tearing at their hearts. They glanced around as pen expecting with each moment to behold the lifeless and mangled forms of their loved ones. ‘‘T found these here,’ muttered Sweatman showing several metallic cartridge shells, still black with burnt powder. ‘Captain Day used them,” observed one of the emigrants. ‘““There’s somethin’ layin’ down yonder in a | | own entrance into the spirit-land asa brave; he hole,” agen e Se uttered one of the men. ‘“‘I kin see a bit o’ black hair.” Heflin sprung forward with a half-stifled cry. His Ella was a brunette. Only for the restrain- ing hand of evhgrag he would have nag 9 } from the ledge, at the risk of breaking limbs ‘“Wait—I'll go down and see what it is. Boys, a rope here.” Mustang Sam swung lightly down over the pte A the lasso. The next moment he gave a cry, that thrilled the hearts of all. ‘It’s only a red-skin, boys—'live, at that! You pull him up an’ mebbe we kin squeeze somethin’ out o’ him.” The savage — seemingly dead— was soon hauled up to the ledge, followed by Mustang Sam. A ghastly hole could be seen upon his breast, though nearly closed by congealed blood. The bullet had passed clear through his body. How he managed to still live, was a miracle, Yet a deadly, unquenchable hatred shone in his black eyes as they roved over the forms of the white men. Mustang Sam questioned him in Spanish, but the savage made no reply. flask of whisky was placed to his lips, and after a brief hesita- tion, he drank eagerly. Then Mustang repeated his questions, who were the parties engaged in = ght; how itended; why he was left behind, one. “Tf you tell us this, you shall have more fire- water, and shall sing your death-song in peace. If Bh refuse, I will shave off your scalp-lock and paint your cheeks black, that the Great Spirit may know another squaw has come to labor for the true braves. He will bid them ve you a dress and a hoe, that you may labor in the field, while your brothers enjoy the chase. 7 will do this, for | am a man, and do not speak es. ‘‘Give me some more fire-water now, to make me stronger, and I will tell you all I know,” re- plied the Apache, after a pause. ‘‘Tt’s a shame to waste sech good licker on a red nigger, but ef you say so, here’s some,” mutter McKoun, disgustedly. ‘‘ He’ll onl stuff you with a lot o’ durned lies to pay for ’t.” ‘‘He may, but we won’t be no worse off then Stee Adete eek ereatly’revived: by'th e ache seemed greatly reviv @ strong Hance, though it was evident to all that his race was well-nigh run. He spoke slowly as though in pain, keeping his eyes riveted upon Mustang Sam’s countenance. He said that he was one of the aid that first encountered Mustang Sam, riding Tornado. They discovered the trail of the on-train, and shortly after, a small trail, made by four horses. A dozen warriors followed this. It led them to the high and broken ground. They caught sight of the eae of their search, try- ing to regain the level. A chase ensued, and the whites were cut off from the hills beyond, and forced back along the spur, it being impos- sible for them to descend the series of gigantic giro They made a stand, and fought bravely —the two men did, for the ethers were women. They killed three or four braves, but the two pale-faced warriors were killed. Just as the fell, he—the Ss san ge from the loss of blood, rolling over the ledge, unobserved by his com- That was all he could tell. For the art since he had been insensible. “Tf the white braves were killed, where are their bodies?’ asked Mustang, keenly eying the gasping savage. ‘They were brave men, and fought like Apaches. My brothers will take them home and burn them at the stake, that the boy braves may learn how to die, when they are in the hands of an enemy.” “And the women—what will become of them? Burn, too?” ‘‘No—the chief will see them, and take them into his lodge, that they may keep bright, and be the mothers of chiefs. racdes. most his fire | wWustang Sam. ee eee ee ‘¢ Who is your vhief?” hastily asked Siege, fearful lest either of the bereaved parents should understand this speech. “He is Blanco,” and the savage spoke ina tone of deep reverence; then as if fainting, he added—“ more fire-water!” Mustang Sam bent over him and raised the flask to his lips, but the next moment lea back with a litile cry. He had felt the hand of the Apache touch his side. A faint yell broke the air. It was the war- cry of the Apache. A bright blade flashed in the rays of the setting sun. It sunk to the very hilt in the Indian’s heart, driven by his own hand. And with a look of triumph upon his grim features, he fell back, dead. According to his belief, he had insured his had died with his scalp undefiled. ‘*All that whisky gone for nothin’!” growled Sweatman. “T don’t think so,” quietly responded Mus- tang. I believe our fri’nds withopedt tis Apaches an’ tuck to the hills to hide ontel it was safe to ventur’ out. Dll tell yewhy. You all see that that imp hated us like p’ison, true to his color. Then would he ’a’ put us on the right trail, ivin’ us a chance t back the wimmen? ot much! Ef they had bin tuck, he’d ’a’ swore they got cl’ar away among the hills, an’ so sent us On a wild-goose chase. Then them ca’tridge shells. D’ you s’pose the Injuns knowed enough to unload such a shooter? It was unl , as I b’lieve this soldier feller did it him- you see. self, a’ter whippin’ the Apaches. Then they rid on an’ tuck to the hills yender. An’ thar’s whar we've got to look for’em.” “Then you think there is still hqpe?’ faltered Edward Bland. *T do—an’ shall think so ontel I see thar dead karkidges.” Thus cheering the hearts of the fathers, Mus- tang led the way back along the ledge, until they could be joined by the animals, But by that time, the sun had disappeared and was up- on them. Sick at heart, Bland and Heflin were forced to admit the folly of attempting any fur- ther search that night, and descending the rocks, the party sought a place of rest for the time be- ing. CHAPTER V. CURIOSITY-SEEKERS IN TROUBLE. A JOYOUS party was the quartette as they rode away from the wagon-train in the early dawn, laughing, chatting, speculating upon the marvels that awaited their research amidst Bete wild, picturesque hills and cany ons. ven the dignified officer thawed out and join- ed in the playful badinage, his large black mus- tache bristling with fun, his black eyes twink- ling merrily whenever hey were not talking love’s silent ar. Fees unto the fair Edith. Fair, Edith Bland assuredly was; more, she was a beautiful woman. A little above the medium hight of women, she was slender and lithe, with a peculiar willowy grace in every movement, the pene of delicate symme- Her hair, luxuriant and waving, was a rich golden brown. Her complexion was one of dazzling clearness and purity, upon which the desert winds and heat made no impression; a pure, healthy pink and white. Large, lus- trous eyes, softly shining, of a deep, melting blue. ps that needed no artificial coloring, ripe and moist. A purely oval face, with fea- tures of classic regularity. But there was none of the cold hauteur that is its usual concomi- tant. Hers was a nature formed to love and to be loved in return. And nature had taken its course here. The gallant soldier had wooed and won her heart of hearts. Ella Heflin was a brunette; a saucy, inde- pendent, fun-loving little witch, charming and erratic as a humming-bird, an arrant coquette, who kept, among others, Arthur Hamilton on the sharp thorns of suspense, one moment a heaven of delight, the next plunged into the oO ite extreme. And so it was during this ride to the hills. The little witch tormented him to her heart’s content, and his misery was, if such could be, augmented by the sight of Edith and Tom riding side by side, supremely happy in their love, living only in each other half the time totally oblivious to the fact that they had other companions. As they neared the high and broken ground, the attention of all was turned toward the wild and impressive scenery. Before them loomed the walls of one of those remarkable monuments of bygone ages, a temple of the me palace of Montezuma; at least so they be- lieved. A wall, fifty feet in hight, by nearly thrice that in length, crowned the summit of a high ridge. Irregular openings showed along the line, like broken windows and shattered por- tals. As far as the eye could reach, until hid- den behind a jutting crag, a regular low wall stretched, like a rampart, its top ragged and uneven, as though some of the rooks of which it had been formed had been thrown down by a conquering enemy, or the wasting hand of time. This, taken in conjunction with the grand and weird scenery around, was enough to interest even the lovers, and to divide their attentions. It was not until they had entered the tract of rock-land, that the deception was discovered and the casa grande of the Montezumas foun to be only the work of fantastic nature, instead of human art. Sandstone and marl, trap and lignite predominated. The softer material had gradually worn away, leaving the harder por- tion in bold relief, forming fantastic burlesques upon many a familiar object. The slopes were dotted with buttes or mesas of mingled sand- stones and slate wrought into whimsical shapes. Thus, though great] ar ee bn in findi this ruined palace of the Sun-worshipers noth- ing more than a natural mass of rock, the little party found no little delight and pleasure in wandering among these freaks of nature, and detecting wondrous resemblances, the same as children of ten do of a summer’s evening, in the ever shifting clouds that bedeck the western sky. % Look yonder—there’s a gigantic church- bell!” cried Edith. ‘*'Yes, and there’s a bottle of Holland gin,” added matter-of-fact Arthur Hamilton, **You ought to be obliged to drink it, for such a vulgar idea!” retorted Ella. “ uldn’t ou have called it a bottle of sherry, with the ead snapped off?’ “Then how do you like Lot’s wife, over yonder?” ‘They didn’t wear crinolines, in those days, stupid !’ nd thus the little party of curiosity-seekers advanced further into the wild region, led on by still other and different objects of nature’s handiwork, unheeding the lapse of time or pay- ing much attention to their course. A volume would scarcely contain a description of the wonders they inspected. It was like a journey through the land of Gnomes and Afrites. At length, reluctantly they turned to retrace their steps. For in the distance shone the battered and broken walls and ramparts of Nature’s Casas Grandes. It seemed the same one they had sighted from the desert, and to- ward it the party advanced. Butthe way grew more and more rugged. At times they were forced to make wide detours, to avoid some ns descent or rise, or to go around some eep yawning abyss. It was strange that these had not been noticed as they came along. Yet none of the party suspected the truth—that the were straying far from the right course. Guid- ed by the sun, they thought there conld be no mistake, but more time had been nt in the exploration than they dreamed of, and thus their calculations erred. Suddenly they came pont the edge of a canyon by far deeper and wider than any they had heretofore seen. Crossing at this point was impossible, and yet, as far as the eye could reach in either irection, the chasm extended; that is until hidden from view by an uprising monstrosity of nature’s handiwork. Edith utter- ed a low cry of admiration, bending over in the saddle, with flushed countenance and tightly- clas hands. ‘‘Did you ever see any thing half so beauti- ful?’ she softly breathed, turntig toward Tom ay. oy ndeed I have—a thousand times more so!” he replied, ina whisper, with a glance that she could not mistake, even with far less experience than she had of his proficiency in that branch of silent love-making. A softened light filled her eyes asthey dropped again to the sides of the canyon at their feet. And truly her exclamation was not misplaced. A masterpiece of Nature’s own coloring was spread before them. The smooth, almost Perpendicular wall of the canyon was composed mainly of yellow sand- stone, but here and there were patches of white, green, and bluish, and even blood-red; long lines of snow-white limestone; layers of red and green veined stone; and a strata of gypsum, > colored; all studded here and there with quartz crystals and opalescent chalcedony. Here and there, apparently springing from some hidden crevice, grew a spiny cactus, clinging closely te OmiIcbDOCc