Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 287 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

Billy Blue-Eyes. v te mt ee me ee eee ae eee FU jist cirkilate aroun’ an’ see ef ther critters is whar 1 lef:’em.” He left the hacienda as he spoke and had a search around the chaparrals. Bat nowhere were the horses, and this con- vinced tim that something was surely wrong. “Kf it were daylight I c’u’d see by ther trails,” he said. The horses being gone, and no place to con- ceal them, caused Terror Tom to feel that the youth must also be away, for he had that in- stinct that told him the hacienda was really de- serted. Going back to the wing he boldly stepped in and struck a match, By its light he saw that the farge room held no oecupant. “The boy is gone, thet are durned sartin. He didn’t go alone, thet are durned sartinter. Now, who tuk bim?”’ This question Terror Tom pondered over @ moment, and then said to hirnself: ‘*ft are some hours ter daybreak, an’ I kin then diskiver what hes been did, an’ what Lis ger do, so I'll jist stake the animiles out an’ lay down ter sleep, an’ give ther Greaser a chance too fer forty winks, ef his conscience don’t keep him awake,” Throwing a few fagots upon the hearth he quickly kindied a blaze, and then started out to bring in his prisoner. . His own horse, and*the two he had captured were feeding near, and he staked them out as he passed, removing from them the saddles, Then he went toward the prisoner. But ere he had taken a dozen steps there came a loud, pleading ery in Spanish: ‘* Quick, senor, for the love of God!” It was the Mexican prisoner that cried, and Terror Tom bounded toward him, to suddenly stop shorcé and give aspring backward. nd just in time, for there came several loud snaps, the ground seemed sinking beneath bis foet, the large tree to which the prisoner’s horse was tied, swayed wildly, and the animal plunged and snorted with terror, in a vain effort to escape his doom, while the terrified rider shrieked in accents of horror his prayers tor the Virgi.’s aid. | For a few seconds the tree swayed, the ground suok, and Terror Tom stood like a statue, look- ing on, yet unable to aid the unfortunate man, Then, as he saw that the tree and the earth around it for a dozen feet were sinking, and would dash down into the boiling river, he threw his rifle forward, crying: “Ther wretch hes got ter go, an’ this are more marciful, fer it are instantan’ous. God help yer guilty soul, pard, and I’ll end the miz’ry yer’d suffer.” With the last word he fired, and the Mexi- can’s head fell forward, just as the great mass f earth, with the tree, borse and rider, went own like an arrow into the Rio Grande, many feet below, which ingulfed it in its foaming waters. CHAPTER XIX, THE BANDITS’ RETREAT. Ir wasaride of some leagues from the Dev- il’s Ranch to the retreat of the Chaparral Pi- rates, and to which their chief gave the name of * Kl Hacienda.” The spot was well chosen for a retreat, for it was situated in the wilds of the hills, with the approaches to it well guarded by nature, for the trails leading thereto, and three in number went through passes that a few men could hold against many. The bouse was-an adobe structure, strongly uilt and verv large, with buge wings running here and there, and had been the home of a wealthy old Mexican, who, having offended his government, had gone there to dwell, sur- rounded by his peon servants and asmall army of cowboys to care for his immense flocks, The cabins for these were near the main building, and all were surrounded Pe ee and thick adobe wall, the top of which had been armed by rows of spikes, which rendered it almost impossible for a man to scale, and especially so when he was a target for rifle bul- lets from the turrets on the top of the mansion. With pian of water at hand, buildings filled with tons of tasajo and other provisions, stacks of provender for horses, and a magazine of ammunition, and a small howitzer guarding the approaches to the place,it was no wonder that El Bravo felt secure in his retreat. His government would not molest him, for the chief raided only on the American side of the Rio Grande, and this rather pleased the Mexican officials, who have never forgotten the bitterness engendered b Mexico any more than have the Alamo. With Billy Blue-Eyes riding by his side, se- curely bound to his noble black, and the rider- less animal leading, El Bravo approached his strongbold, Arriving at the pass that guarded his domin- ions, the chief said angrily: | ‘There should be a look-out here,” and riding up toa tree, beneath which was a bammock, be seized hold of a lariat that had a huge iron ring in the end of it, and jerked it violently. Billy Blue-Eyes was interested in watching everything that transpired in spite of his peril, and he saw that the lariat went through a pul- ley in the tree, and then was connected by many others, passing through the tops of poles which disappeared out of sight a quarter of. a mile up the valley. With his hand in the iron ring, El Bravo kept pulling away, while his eyes were bent up the canyon, or vale, Above the pass, which was a narrow way be- tween two high hills with precipitous sides, Billy Blue Eyes noticed a line of breastworks several feet high, as though to protect riflemen, and glancing behind him, he saw that they could wholly command the approach, Soon there was heard a rumbling sound, then the clatter of hoofs, and a horseman dashed into view. Next, half a hundred more came on at arash and drawn by two horses was a six pound howitzer. . Up to the pass they dashed, Bonita, the Bandit Bugler at their head, and beholdin their chief they halted and gazed upon bim wit the war with exanus fergotten surprise, while their eyes roved over to poor |. Billy, who met their gaze with the coolest in- difference, ‘* Ah, senor, I am glad to see you back. “Ts there danger?” said Bonita. ‘‘ Yes, Bonita, there is danger, but no threat- ened attack, ‘‘But I gave the alarm for an attack, as I came to the pass and found it unguarded,” sternly said the chief. ‘* Unguarded; Senor E) Bravo?” “Yes, Bonita, and I ask what does it mean, for a force could have marched upon the Ha- cienda and captured it, ee ee by surprise,” “True, senor; but when I passed through with the band, after leaving you, there was a guard here, and that was last night, and I cer- tainly supposed there was one here now,” ‘*I do not blame you, Bonita, but the man who has deserted bis post. “Ho, men, whose place is it to be on duty here to-day?” and the chief looked over the crowd in a way that boded no good for the de- linquent. ‘““It was my place, senor chief, but [ left here several hours ago to see my poor brother Beppo, who came back wounded, and is dying.” be speaker was a Mexican, and a man with a fearless though evil face, and he rode out from the crowd and confronted the chief. **l am sorry for you, Gonzalez, for you have been one of my best men; but you know I show no mercy, and as you left the hacienda un- guarded you must die,” ** As you will, senor chief; but I would crave mercy this one time, as my poor brother but a few moments ago died in my arms, and we loved each other, El Bravo, even though the brand of outlaw is upon us.” ‘*No, I will spare no man who deserts his post,” was the reply ‘**Look bere, El Bravo, you are lower than a brute not to spare that brave man. ‘Who are you, that you cannot once break your iron word and show mercy?” All turned upon the speaker. It was Billy Blue-Eyes, and he faced the chief with Bentaching mien, ** By the Eagle of the Aztecs! but I have half a mind to make you his executioner by those words,” cried the savage chief. ‘*'You can lead a horse to water, El Bravo but you cannot make him drink,” was the coo se Billy Blue-Eyes, ‘What! ‘You still dare me?’ yelled El Bravo. “Why not? ‘“*T do not fear you. " ** We shall see,” ‘*Go ahead,” came the reckless dare, and the chief shouted: ~ ‘* Gonzalez, take your stand there!” . Hs indicated a spot twenty paces from the ree. , ap the brave man walked to the nce “I did intend to hang you, : in consideration for what you have been in the wat,t shall let you die by a bullet.” ‘*Thank you, senor,” was the calm response, ‘““Now, men, unbind that y: uth from his horse and stand him under tbat tree!” The order was obeyed, Billy Blue-Eyes mak- ing no resistance whatever. anne a key to Bonita, the chief contin- ued: ‘*‘ Bonita, have that daring youths’ feet tied securely, and then unlock the manacle from bis right wrist, and we shall see if be dare d my orders,” and all knew that El Bravo was in deadly earnest in whatever he meant to do. CHAPTER XX, THE WRONG MAN, Bonita silently obeyed the order by dis- mounting and advancing toward Billy Blue- yes. His feet were first fastened securely together, and the chief said: ‘* Stand him beneath that limb.” He pointed to a large limb of the tree to which the signal rope was attached, and a branch which had held the weight of a score of men dangling at the end of a Tepe. ‘‘Now put the execution lasso about his neck!” From beneath a rustic bench Bonita drew forth a large lariat of rawhide, and one end be- ing already noosed, was placed aboat the neck of ibe youth, who never flinched from the dead- y coil. ‘Now unlock that right hand manacle.” This was done, ‘‘ Bind his left-hand securely to his side,” This order was also executed silently and with alacrity. ** Now, Bonita, hand to him this weapon, for it is one of his own revolvers, and he knows well bow to use it.” As El Bravo spoke he handed to the bugier a weapon which he had taken from the belt of Billy Blue-Eyes. ‘‘Stand there, half a dozen of you, to draw on that rope when 1] tell you,” The men took their places and seized the other end of the rope that was around the youth’s neck, it having been thrown over the above his head. ‘* Now, Senor Blue-Eyes, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande, 1 bave sentenced that man Gonzalez to death. He dies by the bullet, and you are to shoot him.” ve I guess not, El Bravo,” recklessly said V. ‘Well, we shall see.” ‘*'The man is a bandit, and like you deserves hanging for his crimes, and under other circum- stances I might be willing to call in his chips. But he left bis post to go to the side of bis dy g brother, and he is too brave a man to be sho down like a dog when bis heart made him err and you sheu d spare him,” boldly responded Billy Blue- Eyes. “My men know, boy, that I never show mercy, and you shall know it too. I give you just five minutes to shoot that man, and ff you do not, then I shall order you to be swung up,” “Tf I do shoot him?” codlly asked Billy. ‘Then your life shall be spared.” __ ‘* For how rs ‘Until [ decide what | will do with you.” ‘“*T know what your game is, E) Bravo.” ‘Well, sir?’ ‘You are revengeful toward me because thwarted you several times in your raids, an then you have heard that I know where there is a gold mine, and you hope to wring from me the secret of where it is; Ea hang me now,” **] will, so help me God!” “Call on your master, the devil, El Bravo,” laughed the fearless boy, and it was evident. that his great nerve and pluck had won the admiration of the entire band,of outlaws, while Gonzalez said in a kindly tone: ‘**Senor Blue-Eyes, I am along in years, and sooner or later, if 1 went by to day, would get knocked over by a bullet, while you are youn and have life before you, so send your buHlet through my brain, and end this scene. Mind you, through my brain, for they say you are a dead sbot, an: I do not wish to suffer. 80, fire away, Senor Blue-Eyes, and God bless you!” __ The words from Gonzalez caused a hush like death to fall upon all, and the silence was broken by El Bravo’s deep tones: ‘*Two minutes more you have, Senor Blue- Eyes,” he said. | “Give me the pistol,” and Billy Blue-Eyes turned to Bonita. / | EOmicboo t I guess you better S