Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 349 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

~~, ee 8 = * Cc nie ¥ > z a: ps een - H - om so” + . oF — e = - ws ———oe _ ftirions and vengeful yells of the Apaches, at discovering that their slain had been mutilated, was very gratifying to her. She bad no doubt, now, that the captain | | still rang in the poor girl’s ears, and sbe made would be rescued; but, after following the trail such a distance, Warnona resolved to accom- lish the liberation of the White Chief herself, he would thus astonish Wild Wolf and Gerald, who were bent. on the same desperate mis- sion. There was no time to communicate with Gracie, who was higher up in the tree. The squaw saw the Apaches rush with vengeful yells, to secure the two Texans to the balf-wild horses, and she knew this was the opportunity she so desired, to communicate with Captain Greene. Quickly she descended the tree to the lower branches, which were but a few feet distant from the head of the old ranchero, Bending down as far as she could with safety, Warnona let fall a piece of bark directly upon the cap- tain’s head; at the same time giving a low hiss of caution. Slowly the captive raised his head from his bosom, the utmost bewilderment upon his fea- tures. Then Warnona said, in a low, deep voice: ** White Chief keep still. Warnona here in tree. Warnona save White Chief. It is good,” Captain Greene retained sufficient command of bimself to avoid looking upward. With wonderful agility, the squaw, with the assist- ance of a vine, descended on the opposite side of the huge tree from the camp, and at once slashed loose the bonds of the captive, from the tree, and also the cords which were about bis ankles, Then she said: ‘“ White Chief stand still. Warnona let lariat down from tree quick. Help White Chief climb up. When Warnona twitch rope, then jump this side tree. Vine here, Rope here. It is good,” The next moment, the brave young squaw was in ber former position in the tree. She then uncoiled a raw-hide lariat from her waist, adjusted the noose in such a manner that it could not slip, and then gave a hiss, lowering the rope, and causing it to swing against the tree-trunk; first assuring herself that the atten- tion of the Apaches was drawn theo opposite way. The keen ears of Warnona had detected strange sounds in the timber near at hand; but bey were sounds, the character of which she ew. She had observed the half-dozen braves bound into the undergrowth, in quest of Wild Wolf; a} a felt no fears for the safety of her lordly chie As she was cutting loose the captain, and after the peculiar sounds had been detected within the dense shades toward the river—and Warnona well understood them—she knew that Wild Wolf was on the war-path in good earn- est. The Apaches, who had been commanded to secure him, were now being slain by his knife, and prevented by his clutch from uttering the death-yell. Waruona’s heart was glad. Apache scal would hang thick upon the belt of Wild Wolf. At the moment that the squaw gave her slight signal, Captain Greene, who was almost over- come by the shrieks of those whom he had re- cognized as his neighbors, staggered around the tree, as directed, as quickly as his stiffened limbs would permit him to do so. Little cared he now to live; but to die as the two men before him were to die, was most hor- rible. It spurred him to a herculean effort to take advantage of this miraculously sent, and most unexpected manner of escape. The loop was dropped over his head, he ad- justed the same under his arms, and in a very short time, by using his whole strength, climb- ing the vine with the assistance of Warnona, who pulled cn the rope, he succeeded in reach- ing the side of the squaw, nstantly she the old man’s arm, and pointing upward helped him to climb still fur- Up and up the pair went, Warnona at length bidding the ca ptain remain in a Sp neenashre ered space, while she mounted bigher. Then, taking the hand of Gracie, she led her down- le i bidding her not to make the slightest Tho request was, however, needless: for the pons irl, arity: saf so long, clutching the ranches, while she gazed down into the Apache camp with a horrible fascination ruling her, had witnessed the terrible scene. Even the scalping of the Texan captives, and the start of - 4 / Wild Wolf, the Waco. | the knife-tortured horses, with the dragging victims of Apacbe cruelty, had not been spared her. The shrieks and outcries of the doomed men no objections to retiring from the dread specta- cle; all else, but the horrible sufferings of the | captives, and the thoughts of the fearful scene at her desolated home, being banished from her mind, Warnona dare not allow the father and daughter to meet so near the camp, knowing the demoralized state of the minds of both; and she conducted Gracie through the tree-tops, to | the very margin of the river-bank. There she left the maiden, secure from discovery, and re- turned to escort the father. But a few moments more, when Warnona had guided Captain Greene, in a stealthy man- ner, balf the distance to where his daughter had been left by her, the whole Apache horde, with fierce and vengeful whoops, rushed pell- mell, here and there. through the undergrowtb, the discovery having been made, that the braves, whe had been dispatched to secure Wild Wolf, had been slain. Then followed a rattling fusilade of revo'ver- shots, and Warnona caught a flitting glimpse of Wild Wolf and Gerald, as both plunged into the Rio Medina, and sunk from view beneath the waters; just in time to escape the whooping Apaches, At the same moment, a piercing sbriek rung wildly through the bottom-timber! Warnona then knew, that Gracie Greene bad seen Gerald Granger, and that all was lost. Their presence in the tree had been betrayed by that insane cry of Dove Eye, upon witness- ing the peril of her lover. CHAPTER XII. FAITHFUL AND TRUE. Wixtp WcLF and Gerald did not remain long in ignorance of the cause of the commotion in the Apache camp. From a covert, which they gained, beyond the corpses which the Waco had scalped, they discovered the entree of the braves, with the Lwo captives; and as each recognized the ran- cheros, their rage became almost ungovernable at the brutality that followed, Then came the scalping, by the Waco chief, of the braves, which had been brought from the devastated ranches, Wild Wolf now resolved that be would rescue Captain Greene, before proceeding on the back trail, in search of Dove Eye. Little did Gerald Granger suppose, that his darling was then en- sconced in the same tree to which her father was bound, and viewing the same scene with himself, This so chained the attention of the scouts, that they were, for the time unable to stir; but when the braves were ordered by Black Wolt to rush into the thickets, in search of their un- seen foe, the Waco placed bis hand upon the shoulder of Gerald, and said: ‘“Waugh! Itis good. Come!” Witbout a word, the young man stole through the undergrowth, toward the river, with the chief by his side; each grasping firmly his knife. The braves started out eagerly, but Wild Wolf bad been cunning, and left no “‘ sign,” ex- cept in the immediate vicinity of the dead war- riors, This, be could not well have avoided. Baffled, the Apaches scattered, and began searching among the undergrowth. Thus they played into the hands of our friends. Skilled as the latter were in woodcraft, and in the use of the knife, it was not long before the six braves lay quivering in death, while a clutch upon their throats at the time the scouts sprang upon them prevented the death-knell which would have warned the main war-party. No mercy for an Apache d-velt in the hearts of either Gerald Granger or Wild Wolf. With giant strength, grating teeth, and elec- tric-like moven.ents, the deeds were done; the four being slain, all in different places, and be- fore they bad gained half the distance to the river, The Apaches had heard the struggling among the bushes caused by the last two warriors, and they uttered low guttural ejaculations of sur- rise. . The cause was soon explained. As the fates had ordained it, both of these braves had halted upon the very edge of the dense thicket, within which crouched the avengers of blood. The same instant a crasbing of bushes in their rear startled the Apache warriors; but, before they could whirl, the iron grip of the red and white scouts was upon their throats, steel flash- ed before their eyes for a moment, and was then plunged buckborn deep into their paint~ daubed breasts. All four were now writhing upon the ground:. the death-stricken Apaches striving with their last breath to slay their enemies and to release themselves, then to give the death-yell and dan- ger-signal, For a few moments this struggle between the living and the dying was terrific, the legs and arms of the contestants becoming locked, and thrashing the buSbes violently. But it was of short duration. At length the death-filmed eyes of the doomed Apaches, which were fixed in vengeful bate and fury upon their slayers, grew dimmer, and their strong, sinewy forms became convulsed with quivering tremors. This soon changed to the rigidity of death, and Wild Wolf and Hawk- Eye loosened their grasp on the throuts of their victims and drew forth their deadly knives. Their work was over. Then the scalps were sinshed from the beads of the last of the searchers after the Waco chief; but bardly were the gory trophies placed. in their belts by the panting pair, when, with fearful whoops, Black Wolf and a score of bis. warriors rashed into the bottom-timber, ren- dered frantic and insane for revenge at the ses fe of their dead, and the slaying of their sentinels at the entrance to the bend. Neither Wild Wolf nor Gerald was now in @ condition to defend himself or bold his ground against overwhelming odds, and both, after’ glancing into each otber’s eyes and passing some hasty words of consultation, rushed toward the- river. This was their only way of escape, for they knew by tbe crashing among the bushes that their foes were advancing at speed in a long: line beyond either outer eud, and it wouid be impossible for them to pass, And, indeed, they were none too soon in thus acting, for, bad they delayed another moment, they would bave been: in the clutches of the foe. As it was, the Apaches caught sight of them as they darted from the side of their last victims. A terrific whoop of exultation announced the- discovery of the detested Waco and the white scout; but this was followed, the next moment, by yells of mad fury, caused by the discovery of the two slain and scalped braves, now lying: in their gore, side by side. No delay was made,. however. The pursuers, whose yells now filled the air,. and echoed through the timber arches, curdling. the blood in the veins of poor Gracie Greene, dashed forward. In terrific, desperate bounds, they rushed onward, in the direction of tne river and their two foes; the outer wings ef the- line they formed, inclining inward, and tbus: making a crescent-like wave of pursuers. The situation was now desperate. Both Wild Wolf and Gerald realized that es- cape was impossible—that they could not reach. the friendly river-bank, before being over- taken, unless they made some move to stop the: headlong course of the infuriated war-party. Thev were both greatly fatigued, after their: several desperate band-to-band’ conflicts; and: the undergrowth greatly impeded their pro-. gress, However, they soon reached a belt of clear: space in the timber, where there was no under- growth of any extent for some little distance, Upon the further side of this belt, they then. jerked their deadly revolvers, and half-whirl-. ing, faced their foes, at the very moment that the Apaches broke clear of the thickets, across: the open belt. Then followed a rattling revolver fusilade, which brought to the earth, with horrible death-yells and groans of agony, many an. Apache brave, Not a bullet was wasted. Cool and calm, although panting with exer- tion, stood the indomitable puir, side by side, manipulating hammer and trigger with dex- terity and celerity, their fire being rapid, and the bullets finding a home in the hearts of their red foes. Every chamber was emptied before the dar- ing scouts turned, and rushed onward to the river; their ears filled with the most demoniac: whoops, yells, and howls, as the Apaches dashed in hot pursuit, now doubly infuriated, and doubly eager and resolve@ to capture the dread- ed and hated pair. So rapid was the rush of pursuit, that barely had our friends gained the high bank of the. river, before tbe red foe were at their backs;. and it was when capture seemed inevitable that Gracie saw and recognized arnona. | Gerald, from her~ rch in the tree, where she had been left byy comicpoo A- 4 vel =, j= ; Pp) < iL off bs | a / “ - , “ae ,. - :