Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 185 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

and mounting the only horse which the raiders had overlooked, he rode toward Fort Duncan. The bandits had over an hour’s start, and the grief-stricken father urged the steed post haste to the military barracks to report the dastardly outrage. When he reached the fort he found the com- mander of the post in a high state of excite- ment, and the cavalry company preparing for a reconnoiter in the vicinity. Scouts had brought news of an cxciting nature; several bad seen a detachment of Mexicans cross the river and en- ter Texan territory. The officer in command of the fort felt uneasy regarding the fate of the young lieutenant who had ventured into the interior of Chihuahua. He greeted Bryan Walters kindly and listened to the details of the attack and abduction. A frown settled upon his bronzed features and he brought his clenched fist down upon the camp-table in an emphatic manner. “Tt the Government will only allow me to cross the river in pursuit of these brigands V’l warrant they won’t repeat their raid in a hur- ry. That is just what makes them so bold. They know that we can’t violate their terri- tory by pursuing them on Mexican soil. Our Government is too squeamish about the matter; these dastardly Greasers fully believe that we Americans are afraid of them! They laugh at you when you tell them how General Scott whipped them; they don’t believe it was a defeat. Heaven help them if ever war is de- clared between that infernal land and the States! The Texans have suffered so much that [ fully believe the Lone Star State would furnish all the volunteers for such a war.” Bryan Walters coincided with the officer and then mentioned Don Costa’s share in the out- rage. ‘*T can scarcely believe it,” responded the officer. ‘“‘I have met him here frequently, and he was so polite and so gentlemanly that I rather Jiked him. Now that you mention it, I do see a striking resemblance between the Don and that infamous ruffian, Evil Eye. I can see all the features; but that infernal optic, that’s what puzzles me.” “It is very, very strange; they are either twin brothers or it is a remarkable resem- blance,” declared Walters; ‘‘ but, colonel, what’s to be done? my child is in the hands of that demon and he bas doubtless borne her away to bis retreat in the mountains;—what’s to be done?’ ‘‘!’lluse my judgment in this case, Mr. Wal- ter’s. Your daughter will be restored to you or lll hang every dog of a Mexican that was concerned inthe matter. Neutrality be hanged! lll give them some cold steel and bullets, and if Congress finds fault Ill resign from the army. I won’t sit bere and permit these out- rages on American soil any longer—Il’ll be hanged if I do!” The American cfficer arose and issued a few orders to a young person standing near the colonel’s quarters. Shortly aiter the cavalry- men daited hither and thither, evidently pre- paring for an earlier start than anticipated by the garrison. While the men are thus engaged we will | fo'!low the fortunes of Jacob Slaushorn, whom we last saw dashing away from the glen with a pack of howling Mexicans ia full pursuit. Jacob was quite stout and short-winded, consequently he labored and puffed like an old steamboat struggling against the tide. ‘“‘Now and then he cast hurried glances over his shoulders and to his great joy he saw that he was actually distancing the ban- dits. Several hundred yards further on he dashed headlong into a dense chaparral and he glided into tie damp vegetation in a zig-zag course. Thanks to the increasing gloom he eluded the ruffians that sought in vain for him among the Lushes. While they Leat the bushes and thrust aside the huge leaves, Jacob was swiltly creeping away from his eneinies. Foiled and crestfallen, the chattering Mexi- eans returned toward. the Vultures’ Roost Evil Eye, King of Cattle Thieves. —— while the corpulent German continued on his hasty journey to Fort Duncan, skulking in the chaparral but ever proceeding onward, While Jacob is proceeding toward the Rio Grande we will take a hasty glance at the de- tachment of ‘‘ Vultures” led on by Rafael Sanders, who were now en route for the Texayg side of the river. The raiders were all well armed and pre- pared in various ways for the perilous ex- pedition into the river counties. Sanders had ridden several miles when, feigning to have misunderstood important orders, he ordered the men under his command to proceed about five miles further and there wait until he over- took them. He then took the back trail and ever and anon the devilish gleam that came into his eyes told that his reveries afforded him intense satisfaction. He kept lis mustang traveling rapidly, and soon neared the pre- cincts of the Roost on the cliff. Having thus shifted our characters into new positions, we will ask the reader to again look upon the plateau beyond the walls of Evil Eye’s citadel, where the brutal outlaw has pre- pared for the speedy execution of Harry Pow- ell. When Winona arose from the spot where she had cast herself down to plead for Powell’s life, two brutal Mexicans seized the young girl and prevented her from rushing toward her lover. The merciless ruffians grinned at her efforts to shake off their grasp. She had taken the precaution to conceal the revolvers in the pockets of her dress, therefore the weapons escaped the notice of the wretches who grasped and held her. In a very few moments the youth had been rudely seized, and while a bandit placed an old chest close to the stake the ruffians bearing Powell were thus enabled to place the young man at the top of the stake and secure him by means of lariats. A mass of dry moss and straw was fastened about the youth from his waist down to his ankles. As soon as this was completed Evil Eye seized a blazing torch and approached tbe stake. ‘Your hour has arrived? Look your last upon Winona Walters, aud as the flames encir- cle your body Ill bear her away to become mine.” ‘Farewell, Winona! With my last breath I still whisper words of love to you and bless you.’ Evil Eye dashed forward and had almost touched the combustible matter with the torch when Winona uttered a piercing shriek and flung aside the two ruffians that held her. One quick movement and she had secured the long knife from the belt of the nearest ranchero, and before Evil Eye was aware of her intentions she had leaped upon the chest and severed the lariats binding the hands of her lover and placed the knife in his grasp. Evil Eye uttered a shriek of baffled rage as he saw the act, and thrust the torch forward. Even while bis arm was thus extended Wino- na’s hands sought her dress pocket and the re- volvers flashed into view; a quick puff, fol- lowed by a sharp explosion, rent the air, and Evil Eye’s arm fell to his side, shattered by a bullet. He dropped the torch and a blood- curdling yell broke from his lips. Powell had made good use of his time, for while the young gir] faced the horde of ruffians Harry quickly severed the remaining thongs and leaped down upon the chest. In amoment he was beside Winona and taking one of the pistols from her hand he pulled the triggers rapidly. A bandit fell before each shot and the young couple fought their way to the open- ing in the wall. Winona had barely passed through the gate when a pair of arms were thrown about her and she was borne away through the dark passage leading into the glen. Powell was fighting his way slowly toward this same exit, covering Winona’s escape. He failed to notice the person who suddenly seized the girl and bore her away. It was Rafael Sanders. He placed his coarse hand over her / 11 lips to prevent an outcry, and he dashed away through the gloomy tunnel. Evil Eye and his furious Mexicans followed after Powell and the echo of fire-arms rever- berated through the tunnel and tne hoarse shouts of the bandits resounded from all quar- ters. Sanders reached the glen where his mustang was waiting his return. ** Not a word or [ll .kill you!” growled the scoundrel, as he rushed onward. He mounted his horse and placed the young girl before him. He sunk the spurs into the flanks of the mustang and dashed away. Just as he sped away Evil Eye and a dozen of his followers came into view. ‘Villain!’ shrieked the bandit chief; ‘you seek to carry ber off from me. Ho! there, every one of you! mount your steeds! A thousand dollars to each man that helps to re- capture tbat traitor. Let the American go! Speed away after that imp ol the devil and overtake him. Ho! horses! horses!” In an incredibly short space of time the horses were at hand and each ranchero in the saddle, Evil Eye led the chase, urging the scream- ing Mexicans to redoule their efforts, San- ders saw that the bandit chief and his followers were gaining upon him, and that bis only es- cape would be to plunge into the chaparral and thus evade his pursuers. | He leaped from his mustang and attempted to take Winona from her position on the sad- dle. That movement was the lust hostile act in Sanders’s career, for a rifle cracked from the neighboring foliage and Sanders fell heavily to the earth with an ounce of lead in his brain. , ' “ Dot’s der kind of a mans vot Iam!’ cried a well-known voice, and the portly figure of © Jacob Slaushorn arose from the bushes, fol- lowed by a full-score of armed men attired in Mexican habiliments. One form from among the group forced n glad cry from Winouna’s lips and the next moment she was clasped to her father’s bosom! But, even as father and daughter embraced each other, there came the trampling of men and horses and forms were seen close at band. It was Evil Eye and his raiders. ““Back to your ambush!” cried the one in command of the disguised men, whom we will at once recognize as the colonel commanding Fort Duncan and a squad of his cavalrymen. As the Americans sunk down bebind the thick bushes Evil Eye and his outlaws dashed into view. A sheet of flame leaped out from the tangled vines and a rattling ecbo of fire arms startled the approaching bandits. Simultaneously with the crack of the rifles full one-half of the bandits fell from their horses, and the riderless mustangs plunged about, adding tu the con- fusion. Evil Eye turned his steed and sought to escape from the tiep. Atthe very moment that be wheeled his horse a mounted person dashed beside the terror-stricken outlaw and blazed away at the ruffien, who fairly Jeaped head-first from the animal he bestrode, and fell motionless to the earth. Another volley from the ambuscade sent a shower of bullets into the remaining rancheros, A wild yell broke trom the swarthy Mexicans and away fled the terrible Vultures of the Rio Grande, in the wildest disorder. They urged © their horses away in a frenzied manner to es- cape the hidden foe. It was Harry Powell who had arrived at the opportune moment to prevent the escape of Evil Eye and rid the Texans of tke greatest — scourge that ever infested the bo: der. Powell was soon beside Winona and the young couple greeted each other with undis- guised tokens of love. Then came the cordial greetings of the Colonel of the Fourth Cavalry and the ** Mexicanized ” members of bis com- pany. Then Jacob stepped forward and wrung Powell’s hand in a paroxysm of unbounded joy. ‘“‘There lies the notorious outlaw,” said Bryan Walters. ‘‘ Now, gentlemen, see for | ‘com GVDOOKS