Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 349 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

pa NS - e ~, . oe ‘ > ae. Se r 7 PT ae - ¢ a Sere ‘ ; . ~ , an ae + , ‘i Wild Wolf, the Waco. 1I and welcome arrival of these two cap- ves, who could not, in their wounded state, be taken to the far-away village, for torture, was very evident. But an astounding surprise awaited the braves, who had been dispatched for the slain. They stoo to raise the corpses. Then all sprung erect uttering yells of fury and amaze- ment. Black Wolf strode forward to the border of the undergrowth, with anger in bis eyes. ne glance, however, at the dead, caused the Apache chief to utter a whoop of tiger-like fe- rocity; while be clutched at the bandle of his knife, and shot glances of baffled rage and be- wilderment into the shades, All the dead Apaches had been scalped, since they had been laid upon the sward! Black Wolf strode nearer, as a brave pointed Significantly to the face of one of the corpses; then, up and down went his finger to them all. Across: the forehead of each bad been drawn a knife. Also, from temple to temple—tbus forming across! Another furious yell burst from the chief. “Waugh!” be exclaimed. ‘* Wild Wolf! Waco on war-path. Let my young braves bring scalp of Waco chief, I have spoken.” The iast words came in a tone of fierce com- mand, as Black Wolf pointed to the shades of the timber. Tightening their belts, the half-dozen war- riors, who had been ordered to bring the dead, sprung into the thickets to obey their chief. Black Wolf returned to the fires, a most mur- derous light in his eyes; then to the captives, and with one slash of his knife cut thc eords that bound them to the stake. Both fell for- ward upon their faces to the earth, their arms being secured behind them, * Bring mustangs, so many,” ordered the chief, holding up four fingers. ‘‘ Heap wild mustangs. It is good.” Braves started to obey the order, lassoing the four wildest animals in the herd. These were forced, with frantic snorts, to the camp-fires, near the captives, Black Wolf's face was filled with fury. His yes flashed from the framework of paint daubs, sn & most murderous manner, Springing forward, he circled his knife about the heads of the Texans, and tore off their reek- 3 scalps; the victims shrieking, in their fear- ful agony. The mustangs were then nocked together, in pairs, loosely; then lariats from the neck-ro were extended along the hacks of the animals, encircling the croup, and leaving about ten feet trailing on the earth, The ends of the slack were then passed through a knife slit, between the ankle-bone and muscles of each limb of the doomed rancheros, whose shrieks of agony, and cries for the mercy denied them, filled the cir. Thu:, two horses were secured to each, the animals being pricked with knives until frantic with pain; several warriors exerting all their strength to hold them. Then Black Wolf gave « signal-whoop, and the war-party became extended in two lines, eersaling a lane to the entrance to the bend. Another signal from the chief, and the braves who held the horses sprung aside, thus allowing the animals freedom. At that moment terrific yells broke from all, and the beasts were pricked with arrows. Away, with terrified snorts, bounded the four horses; each pair dragging over the earth a scalped and \ ‘ounded Texan, tearing the cloth- ing fror: their forins, and mangling their flesh, And, kot after, sprung the Apaches, yelling like demons, and drowning the cries of the hor- ribly sorture | rancheros. IAk> arrows shot from bows, away went the Prightod mustangs, dragging the two doomed mi! srers to death! Suédenly th yells of the Apaches ceased. All, a. they gained the entrance to the bend, mad+ » sudden halt, in a mingled mass: thoir eyes filled with the most intense amazement and vengeful fury—each emotion following the other. And well might they entertain these emo- tions; for the six braves, who had acted as ards at the entrance, now lay upon their lankets, on either side, They had taken no notice of the {ast-dashing horses dragging the wretched captives; no notice of the wild, exultant whoops of their comrafle braves. Silent they lay, thefr eyes fixed upon the sky, glassy and soulless, Their scalps had been torn from their heads, and each bad his right ear severed clean. these silent sentinels, whose last shout | | | | ' | ' i —— ee Eee cer of warning had been given, all gazed instinct- ively—gazed upward, to the tops of the tow- ering trees, where the two “‘ lookouts” had been There, dangling, each by one leg, which was secured toa branch—their gory heads showing that their scalps had been taken also—hung the two warriors who bad been stationed to scan the plain. At this sight—the scalping of the skin being connected with it—there arose such a — of furious vengeance as would have curdled the blood of one who had never heard the like, pense bim to shudder with a horror inexpres- sible! CHAPTER X. HOW IT WAS DONE, WHEN the first gray streaks shot up from the eastern horizon, heralding the wre | morn, and the Apache war-party turned the herd to- ward the Rio Medina, Big-Foot Wallace and his fellow-scouts swept on ahead, before the open ploin beyond the scattering oaks was reached, and were watching, from the bottom- timber, the approach of the red foe to the bend. The scouts well knew that the Indians would first feast, then rest, and then proceed to bury their dead. This they would do, without send- ing out spies or maintaining a strict guard. Gonsequentls they secreted their horses, and at once began to reconnoiter. “We-uns hes gut ter pick off ther scat terin’ scum a few ata time, boyees,” said Big- Foot. ‘‘ Hit won’t do ter shoot, onless ter save our ha’r. ‘*Thar’s a hefty batch on ’em, an’ they needs thinnin’ out; an’ hit bes gut ter be did, sure es shootin’. I reckon we-’uns kin sorter weaken thet pack o’ perrarer piruts some consider’ble, *thout ‘lowin’ any on’em ter spit out a death- squeal. Pity we can’t do hit bullsale. ‘* Hit makes me squarm all over ter think o’ Greene’s Ranch an’ brown's. Ef ther Waco’ll git in some o’ his work on t’other side ther camp, with ther help o’ Hawk Eye, we-’uns ’ll mix u an’ flustercate ther hull lay-out, makin’ ’em wis they’d stopped t’other side o’ ther Pecos, chawin’ baked dogs. When—” Big-Foot was here interrupted by a slight movement in the bushes. All brought their weapons to bear, and stood ready, “‘Hop ther cuss, an’ slash him wi’ yer stickers! Don’t’low a yelp ter spile our biz.” Thus ordered Big-Foot; but at that moment a eculiar sound was heard, and the next instant Vila Wolf glided forward, uttering bis favorite and very meaning ejaculation: “Waugh!” ‘* Welcome, Waco! Hit’s good fer sore peep- ers ter gaze et yer,” said the giant scout, fag his hand, which was grasped by the chief. ‘‘Whar’s Hawk Eye? Thar’s plenty o’ biz ha aes What yer foun’? Anythin’ wo’th ab? ‘Hawk Eve in bush by river. Heap bad in head. Dove Eye no captive. No in Apache camp. Mebbe so kill, scalp, in bush on Cotton- wood creek. Hawk Eye want go on back trail. Think find Dove Eye.” ‘Jumpin’ Jerusalem!” exclaimed Big-Foot. ‘‘ What’s become o’ ther leetle gal? I thought yer war dead sure she war tuck, gobbled up by ther cussed ’Paches!” e ‘‘Hawk Eye say so. Wild Wolf noatranch.” ‘¢ Hev ver see’d thor cap’n?”’ ‘* White Chief tie to tree in Apache camp,” ‘* Air be ther only captive?” ‘‘He all. No see more.” ‘Waal, thet's strange; but I’ll bet my critter ag’in’ a horned frog she hain’t bin burted, Lectle Gracie ’d be ‘long o’ ther hellyuns, ef they’d friz thar peepers onter her. ‘Tell Hawk Eve terbrace up. We-uns must lunge in arter Cap'n Greene when thar’s a show. Arter we bes bim right side up wi’ care. we'll skute down-country, ar’ scout fer Gracie.” Further conversation was now interrupted by the whoops of the Apaches, as the two Texans were brought into camp. “‘Dang’d ef I doesn’t b’lieve they’ve brung’d ther leetle gal in this time, by ther yelps.” ‘“ Waugh!” said Wild Wolf, and he whirled and bounded on the back trail. ‘Three on yer skute, boyees, an’ fotch up t’other side ther openin’ ter ther bend! Thar’ll be some reds posted thar, an’ we’uns must take ’em all outen ther dew, without a yell.” Three of the scouts at once started to obey this order. Big-Foot and the remaining two proceeded stealthily through the bushes to the west side of the entrance, and when tbey ar- rived in the vicinity, wormed their way to a position from which they could not only view the camp, but the sentinels as well. These, nperm the approach of the braves with the Texan cap- tives, bad parted, three dragging their blankets to each side of the entrance to allow their com- rades to pass, Previous to the arrival of Wild Wolf at the little open space where he had met the scouts, be had performed a daring feat. The chief and Gerald, who had decided from the course traveled by the war-party that the Apaches would encamp in the bend, bad gained a favorable position in the trees to view the ‘f open. Great had been the amazement of both on discovering that Gracie was not a captive: but this was not a relief to either, as it might indi- cate that she bad been slain. Gcrald could believe only the worst. Gracie, he felt assured, could not have escaped from the ranch, The Waco chief was not one to remain long inactive in sight of his hated foes: and ashe ‘ perceived the slain Apaches he vowed mentally that their scalps should hang at his belt. Witb a gesture of caution to Gerald, Wild Wolf slid down from his perch in the tree. Then, when the Apaches were feasting on the muie-meat, he crawled in and dextrously scalp- ed all the slain warriors, leaving his mark on the brow of each. It was hazardous in the ex- treme, but he accomplished it. He then directed Gerald to climb higher up the tree and await bis return: or, if he chose, to take his position nearer the river, which would be safer should a search be instituted before the chief returned. The young scout took the latter course: more, however, that he might speak with the chief, than to practice prudence, In a few words Wild Wolf explained that he was going to seek Big-Foot and the other scouts, to plan their future operations. After giving this information, the chief proceeded on his errand with success, as we have seen. When the Waco returned from the scouts, he not having mentioned bis scalping feat, he quickly joined Gerald, and the two crouched in the undergrowth, at a distance from the slain Apaches, both intensely eager to discover the meaning of the terrific yells of the war-party. Wild Wolf kept close fo the young scout, in order to control him, should the commotion rove to be caused by the bringing in of Gracie reene, as he feared. But we will leave them, and follow their trail later, for our attention must now be centered at tke entrance to the camp, to explain the death of the sentinels, When |Big-Foot and his pards saw that the whoops of the Apaches were caused by the ar- rival of several braves, with two captive Texans —both of whom were known to them—they were furious, and could with difficulty control themselves, all wishing to dash to the rescve of the captives, But second thoughts caused them to grate their teetb, and by a powerful effort of the will, keep their petra A fur they realized that it would be sure death to all, should they attempt a rescue, They were forced to witness the dragging of the wounded rancheros from their horses, and the binding of the doomed pair to the stake. They then knew that a terrible torture scene was to be enacted before their eyes, after the death-dance was finished. Such was the commotion in the camp, all the Apaches being near to, and ‘gazing at the captives—as well us were the sentinels—that Big-Foot saw a granc opportunity to do some good work, He instantly sprung up a tree, the largest at the side of the entrarce; for he had discovered a sentinel on a gigantic pecan, across the neck of the bend, anc he felt that another was perched above the position of himself and the scouts, His pards on the opposite side were on the watch for a signal; and they discovered Big- Foot, who, by signs, made known bis desire that the sentinel above them be dispatched at. once. Quickly one of the trio sprung up the tree, which was bung with vines and moss} and both he aud Big-Foot climbed silently on their mis- sion. In two minutes more, both the Apaches, who had been sete on the trees for ‘‘lookouts,” hung from branches by their legs, being bound to the same, dead and scalpless, complished without having This was ac- n notieed by the ~ Comic