Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 163 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

t nm mm. ~ ae i = ¥ 4 ? r ‘. e . - * ” - ~*~ - — ‘ ¢ = * — — ‘ - J - = ~~ — ~-——_——- 4 — ~ eZ ' *. o _ =, . ee ee > an ? » Oe - > ~ — Little Texas, the Young Mustanger. bave all had their eyes on that Pegasus for years, | but Christie. As the colonel walked away, a feeling | and tried to catch him, but never until a few days | of queer entered reast. From Kdith’'s aro did any of them suceeed, and thea a boy—Litile ; words and actions he was led to infer that there was Texas—had the honor of taking him, since which time he has passed through diffevent hands, and at last I purchased him." ‘ ’ “Uncle Israel,” said Christie, stealing u uncle's side, and speaking in a low tone,’’ that is the very horse 1 saw a few days ago pass down the plain at head of a large herd.” * What, the one you're been talking and dreaming of? the one you've been thinking of and wishing for?’ asked the colonel. ‘“* Yes, sir,”’ replied Christie, with a sweet, pleading * child, what could you do with a wild horse? tell me that, will you?” asked the bluff old gentle- mon, “*Haven’t I ridden horses, uncle, that some colo- nis we know couldn't ride?”’ the maiden asked, with a smile; “‘and wasn’t I counted the best la. Ty rider in Tennessee? Now, say, uncle?” a didn't say you weren't, child,”’ the colonel said, yielding tothe anxious little heart and pleading eyes of hig fair protégée ; “but if you do want to get your recious neck broke, I'll buy that pony for you, if it aires the last dollar I’ve got.” Christie’s eyes brightened, and she fairly danced with joy. She clasped her little hands together and leuko the feeling she could not express. Certain Lucas had overheard a part of the con- ve-sation between the colonel and his daughter, and ernbraced the first a, pie to remark; : “Your daughter, observe, is an admirer of mY SEG, de “Oh, yes, confound it!’ blurted the colonel, in_ his way. “I presume a horse’ll be the death of her, yet. Is that fellow for sale, Lucas?” _ * We are Texan traders, Mr. Miles, and are <p our bread by buying, selling and trading. We'll se er trade anything we've got. Fifty dollars is our figares on that buck skin.’ *Has he been broken to the saddle?” asked Miles. “He has been thoroughly conquered and broken, fr; we always ride our horses as soon as caught or urchased, and, I dare say, your daughter can ride rv if she’s accustomed to the saddle.” ‘She rides, sir, like a centaur, sir, like a centaur,” said the colonel. @eptain Lucas and his men dismounted. " za,”’ said the trader, addressing the Mexican, “ishrow the saddle on Pegasus, and ride him.” The Mexican stripped the saddle from his own horse and placed it upon the back of the buck-skin; then he mounted it and r. de up and down the river —through the corral, and around the pone: The arimal champed his bits and tossed his head a little at first, but finally came in as gentle as an old horse. Every man and woman was delighted with the beautiful little mustang, and in less than an hour to her | ee a (bristic Miles was its owner, and upon its back. She | rode with a side-saddle, and handled the reins with ease aud skill, and the noble horse that, but a few days before, ran wild on the broad Texan plain, was new held in thralldom, and guided by the little hand of a feeble girl. Having disposed of his horse, and satisfied his ap- — curiosity, the traders took their departure. Je exercising her new horse, Christie looked about for Edith, but she was nowhere to be seen; so the maiden rode up to the door of her tent and called fer her to come out. But there was no response, and Christie was surprised, alarmed. She called to olfi Juve, Colonel Miles’s negro housekeeper, to come aud eee if Edith was in her tent. The old negress waddled down to Edith’s apart- yaent and entered; but a moment later she came yoshing out, frantic with excitement. “Oh, Heabenly Father!” she cried; “’for de Lord, Miss Fdith aim‘ dead—lying on de cold floo’ dead! Lor’! Lor’)” th a cry of distress and grief, Christie leaped yrom her horse, and giving Pegasus in care of a ser- vani, ran into Edith’s tent. a piercing scream startled thecamp. Onthe fieor of her tent lay Edith, to all appearance dead. Mer face was bloodless and wore a look of pain. Her hands, the fingers clutched tightly, lay limp by her side. “Ob, Edith! my poor, dear sister is dead!” cried Ob Q upon her knees by the prostrate girl and elasping her hand and raiding her head. ‘The hand was stil warm. By ihis time Colonel Miles had reached the tent, and learning the condition of affairs he called the party’s physician, Dr. Jeduthan Dover, who came aud examined the girl’s pulse and heart, and an- nounced that she was far from being dead; but that she “ was laboring under the effects of nervous pros- tration,” or words to that effect, and had fallen in a #Wwoon. - Bestoratives were at once administered, and it was tound that the <octor was right, for ¢ignse of return- ing consciousness were soon manifested. It was some time, however, before she was able to compre- fend ber situation, and when she did, she glanced qnickly and excitedly around her and exclaimed: “*Sister—Christic, where is he? Where is he, Curistie?” _ “Whomdo you mean, Edith? Uncle Miles?” an- awered Christie, in surprise. The sonnd of the latter's voice seemed to restore Edith to full consciousness, and, with a little cry, she exelaime: “What am I saying, Christie?” “Yon are ill, sister,” replied the fair Christie. Badith glanced at the faces around her with bewil- d- red look and said, in a rather evasive tone: “Wo, I have not been well to-day.” Jo atew smures all withdrew trom her presence ~~ .- o - - oo —~— i» @ - —— eee a . ——_ - ss —_- -y- 2 ee eee ee asecret buried in her heart, and that the trader, Seneca Lucas, had something to do with it. Then as his thoughts went back into the past, he started bara a deep-drawn sigh, as one thing occurred to his mind. Night came and went, and with the coming of da it was found that three horses were missing. Their picket-pins had been drawn, and after some examin- ation of the ground and the trail, it was evident they had been stolen. This discovery caused great ex- citement in camp, and in a few minutes the impul- sive Colonel Miles and four of his friends were mount- ed and in pursuit of the thieves. The trail led southward, and was easily followed, as the thieves had taken no pains to conceal it; but after traveling a few miles it was discovered that the villains had separated, each one with a horse going in a different direction. But Colonel Miles was equal to the emergency. He was determined to recover the horses and punish the thieves in such a manner that they would not trouble him again, and so he di- vided up his party, sending his men upon two of the trails, he taking the third one alone. All felt satisfied that the thieves would meet again at some appointed place, and it was arranged that the party reaching this point first should await the coming of the others, so that after some further un- derstanding as to the course to be pursued in case they should not meet, the parties separated—each one taking its trail. The party pursuing the middle trail traveled ina due south-west course, and about noon came to a little creek where, to their surprise they found the three horse-thieves had come together. It was a surprise to them because not expected so soon, and so they disrnounted and waited the coming of their friends. In the course of an hour the twoon the right came up. Colonel Miles alone was still absent, still they thought nothing of this until hours began to go by and evening approach; then they became uneasy; and fears for his safety were entertained. “Tt can’t be he’s reached this point first, and grow- ing “i poargin gone on alone,’’ said Tom Harvey. “It'd be just like him,” he got sight of the thieves. of going off half-cocked.”’ * At any rate, let us inquire into the matter.” A careful search of the ground was made and, true enough, they found where a fourth horse, un- quemsonarsy that of the colonel, had crossed the creek. Following this up they soon came to where the grass was trampled and cut with many hoofs; and here and there were little clots of coagulated blood upon the ground, and blood-stains upon the trodden grass. ‘*Good heavens!’’ exclaimed young Harvey, ‘*here's millions of proof that there has been a bloody fight here between the thieves and somebody: but whether the colonel’s had a hand initI can’t say, but I'm of the opinion, friends, that he has.” arvey’s friends were of the same opinion, and while discussing the probable result of the conflict, and the course they should pursue, night came upon them. They went into camp on the creek, and the next morning made further examination of the bat- tle-zground, and became convinced that there must he colonel has a habit } ' | | | replied another, ‘‘in case | ‘ é me, from Colonel Miles*s bedside,” responded the man.’ A ery of joy burst from every lip, for it was joy, indeed, to know that the colonel was, at | : and in a moment the stranger was the cent of a group of eager, anxious people. “Where is the colonel? Where is the colenel?” was asked by a number. ‘*He’s about twenty or twenty-five miles, as the crow flies, from here, lying very low with a wound received ip a fight with some horse-thieves and des- peradoes. I found him lying dead, as 1 supposed, on the prairie, but when I diskivered he wer’n't quite dead I took him home with me and give him some brandy and herb-tea and brought him back to life, and he may weather through if he hae the kind of treatment—better’n 1am able to give , What he needs is some medicines and a good nurse and so he sent me over here for Doctor Dever a his daughter Christie to come over and treat him till he’s able to be moved, which may be in a week and maybe not for a solid month.” A little ery escaped Christie’s lips—a of min- gled joy and grief—as the stranger concluded his story. It was joy to her to learn that her Se was alive, and grief to learn that he was so low and suffering for the want of care. In an eager, excited voice she declared Ler readiness to go at once to his bedside. and even turned and ordered a servant to bridle and saddle Pegasus, the beautiful buck-skin ane purchased of Seneca Lucas, the Texan trader. Doctor Jeduthan Dover, an odd old gentleman who was cross as a bear half his time, never seem in better spirits than when he beard Miles was — and had sent for him. He flew around like a school- boy, ordered his horse, dressed himself for the journey and with his pif-bags on his arm was soon ready to start. : Of course, no one objected, under the circum- stances, to Christie going with the stranger so long as Dr. Dover was going with them; and as there could be no doubt of the truthfulness of the man’s story the two were soon mounted and on their way. Many were the kind regards and hopes sent to the colonel, and as the three rode out of rg many owe the hearty ‘“‘God-speed-yous’’ that [followed hem. Those at camp watched the trio until the distanca and gathering twilight shadows shut them from have been a score of horsemen engaged inthe con- | flict; and if Colonel Miles had been taken prisoner, he was in the hands of a large party against which it would be sheer madness for them to attempt to array themselves; and with this conclusion in regard to the matter, they mounted their horses and _ start- ed back to camp to lay the case before their friends. As they proceeded along they expressed a hope that they might find the colonel at camp when they arrived there; but they were doomed to a bitter dis- appointment, for, when they reached the San Saba that day, they found he was not there. The news that the four men brought to camp cast a shadow of the deepest gloom and sorrow over the hearts of the little band. Christie and Edith were almost distracted by the news, and for atime the camp, that had so recently been filled with laughter, ayety and pleasure, was now filled with weeping, istress and trouble. Fearing an attack, now more than ever, from en- emies, the o> was strongly fortified, and for two days and nights scarcely a man, woman or child slept, so close and constant was the watch upon all sides. Meanwhile, there were those that still enter- tained hopes of Colonel Miles’s return, and many and fervent were the prayers offered up for his restora- tion to his friends and almost broken-hearted daugh- ters. Toward the close of the third day a horseman was seen approaching from the west at a rapid pace. A feeling of hope and joy thrilled through every heart and with eager anticipation was every eye fixe on the rider; but bitter was their disappointment — Ww us en the horseman dashed into camp, for he was an entire stranger ! The stranger was mounted upon a clean-limbed apimal whose nostrils were smoking and sides steaming with hard riding. The man himself was a rough, bearded fellow dressed ina suit peculiar to the border-settler, yet the unceremonious manner in which he entered the camp, and the freeness and frankness of his speech at once dissipated all doubts of his character. As he drew rein before the disappointed group he saluted them, and then, fixing his eyes upon one of the elder gentlemen, qiid: “T presume this is the camp of Colonel Israel Miles, ar’n’t it?” “ |t is,’ answered Mr. Boardman; “but what. do you know of Colonel Israel Miles, stranger?” “T have come direct, and fast as this hoss ‘d carry : « ; ‘ view; then they returned to their camp-fires and tents to discuss the situation and b over the first misfortune that had befallen them in that ideai land of promise. The ranger, who gave his name as Victor Ure, and Christie rode together. Dr. Dover rode behind. He was just that kind of a man that would have rid- den behind and alone, even bad there been another lady in the party. Ure and Christie conversed free- ly. The maiden asked many queswons concerning her uncle which were answered in a pleasant, obligr- ing manner. They rode on a brisk gallop. Victor Ure watched the sun go down and the moon come up as if mea- suring the moments thereby. Their course lay over a broad expanse of prairie, broken only by an occasional clump of trees that rose up like a grim sentinel against the western sky, or crouched low in the valley like a murderous assassin, The grass was thick and luxuriant, and rustled under the horses’ feet. Flowers of a thou- sand colors bloomed on the plain and distilled their rich perfume on the balmy air. The moon, bright almost as day, flooded the plain with a mellow —. Over and around them was a dead hush t was broken only by the grass-muffled strokes of their animals’ feet. easight as an Indian and firm as a centaur the bearded ranger sat his horse; and, with the ease and grace of a fairy-queen, the pretty, patient Christie Miles rode at his side upon her spirited mustang, while on, a few rods behind, came the doc- tor at a heavy, lumbering gait. Deep in the solitude of the great plain and under the shadows of night, with thoughts of what Victor Ure might be, Christie shuddered. The dread lone- liness of the surrounding impressed her spirit with vague and gloomy forelodings, and a strange dread and anxiety came over her and made her feel as though the presence of the gruff but kind-hearted old doctor would afford her relief. And with this feeling preying upon ber, she looked back, and to her surprise saw that the distance between the doo- tor and them was widening, ‘* I’m afraid the doctor's horse will not hold out if we ride so fast, Mr. Ure,”’ she said. ** He will certainly tell us if he finds his horse fail- ing,” the ranger replied. ‘It would be just like him to say nothing even were it well to speak. The doctor is a very peculiar man.” ‘I assure you, Miss Miles, he will not lose sight of But this did not satisfy that uneasiness gnawing at the maiden’s heart; however, she made no reply. On they went—the bearded ranger and the lovely girl, and on behind came the doctor. Mile after mile was traversed. The moon sailed aloft, and the shadows that had swept along at the riders’ sides now crept behind. Conscious of the fact that each moment brought her nearer and nearer her beloved gua) dian, Christie did not permit her spirit to give way under the feeling that weighed upon her mind, but endeavored to cheer up and be ready to meet her uncle with a smiling face and light heart. ‘as they rode on Vic or Ure became less commu- nicative, and urged their animals to a faster speed: and now and then he glanced before and aroun him with bis keen eyes, and ever and anon he look- ,O0O com (E