Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 349 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

* m. wm a v i. 5a ¢ 4 * + —- = — 2 er aha _ e 80 3 a Gees. Me: TA” ; tee J RA < SF Se - é “ @ “Lr M ae | Wild Wolf, the Waco. pe oe . ‘i Bt rh . te The || x ae , <* re revi eD é - i at . ot é , A a : . . : 7 is ‘ “et. . She then believed that her lover would be captured, and tortured before her eyes, as had ‘been the case with the two unfortunate Texans, ’ Forgetting ber own perilous position, the young girl uttered a piercing shriek; she, lean- ; over a limb, and gazing down, as the sound left her lips. This was at the instant that Wild Wolf and Hawk Eye sprung over the bank, into the river. That wild cry caused the two men to glance ‘upward as they made the bound, and both caught a flitting glance at the agonized features of Gracie Greene. This sight, and the sound that issued from her lips, which tbey both knew would betray her into the power of the merciless savages, caused Gerald the deepest anguish, and but little less of anxiety to Wild Wolf; the latter wishing, when too late, that he had more thorougbly inspected the timber, Both our friends were experienced swimmers aud divers and they had formed plans to favor their escape from their pursuers; but these plaus were thrown to the winds the moment that the position and danger of Gracie were discovered. Her presence was a great mystery to each, as they had believed her to be a captive to the Apaches. When they discovered that the maiden had not been in the bands of the savages they were greatly astonished, for they knew that it was impossible that she could have come tbus far by herself. However, they both now swam under water up the stream, and near the bank. This was steep and high,and the watercomparatively still. As long as was possible the pair glided be- neath the dark surface, and then thrust their heads up amid the drooping grass at the bottom -of the bank to recover breath, They both knew that they were directly beneath the branches of the very tree in which they had seen poor Gracie. | The dress she wore was that of Warnona, but they recognized the white maiden by her shriek, Warnona, they well knew, would not have betrayed her presence. She would never have allowed her feelings to overcome her prudence, A few thoughts, flashing through the brains of the swimmers, convinced one of them that his squaw had been drawn to Greene’s Ranch by the blaze while she was out in search. of himself—that she had found Dove Kye, attired in one of her own costumes, and set out with her on the trail to rescue the old ranchero; or, it might be, to leave “‘sign” for the benefit of those who might be like-minded. Thus the chief reasoned, He was confident that, not only was Dove Eye in great danger, but that his squaw wasso, as well, Pride filled the breast of Wild Wolf, as he realized that Warnona had thus proved herself worthy to be his sguaw—the squaw of a Waco chief, Sbe was a true warrior s bride, As for Gerald, his mind had become, until the discovery of Gracie, more composed and hope- ful in regard to her absence, which had puzzled him greatly. Possibly he had reasoned that the theory of Wild Wolf was correct—that is, that she had discovered the Apaches at her home, and gone for help, although such a course did not seem consistent with her char- acter. All was now made clear, however. Both perceived that their dear ones were doomed did not some unforeseen event occur, to prevent them from falling into the power of the furi- ously maddened Apaches. As may be supposed, both Wild Wolf and Gerald were in a very unenviable state of mind, as they protruded their heads amid the grass, that drooped from above the water-line, into the stream. But, at that very moment, sounds met their ears, that gave them hope, and caused them to hasten up the steep bank; drawing themselves upward by drooping vines, their knives between their teeth, These encouraging sounds were the yells of Big-Foot Wallace and his scouts; the detonation of whose rifles and revolvers now rung through the timber, accompanied by the bellish whoops of the horde of Apache braves. It was no easy task, however, to surmount the steep bank, which was there almost per- pendicular; even with the assistance of the vines, Especially was this the case, in the wearied condition it which they then were; occasioned by the recent continuous, and des- rate band-to-band conflicts, and the dash for iberty—together with their fatiguing swim, 4eneath the surface of the Rio Medina, | The consequence was that much time passed in their attempt. The firing ceased, and all was again quiet in the undergrowth, before our two friends reached the vicinity of the margin of the bank, Then, a most startling, and totally unexpected event occurred, CHAPTER XIII. THE WORK WELL BEGUN. VERY providentiaily, Big-Foot Wallace and bis scouts, after runniug to the ‘‘ open,” where they had secreted their horses, and regaining their rifles, reached the vicinity of the river, at the swell of the bend, when their services were most needed by the one of our friends, who has had our deepest sympatby and pity. For poor Gracie, a moment after she had uttered that shriek, saw that she bad sealed her doom. Neither Gerald nor Wild Wolf, she felt, could come to her assistance. Should they doso, both would be slain—slain through her own thought- lessness. In an instant it flasbed upon the maiden that the trail of her lover’s horse, discovered at the ranch by Warrona, bad been made after the departure of the Apaches. He had believed wer a captive, and followed the trail of the war- party, being joined by the Waco chief. Then she recalled the solitary horseman, whom she had seen, in the fiery glare of the sunset, as she bad ridden from the barranca, Although the hideous Apaches were now gazing up at her, giving vent to their fiendish joy, in terrific yells and whoops; yet, regard- less of this, the thoughts of Gracie were only upon Gerald. é Thus, for a brief space, were all parties i- tioned. Then, at a signal from Black Wolf, a number of braves sprung into the lower branches of the tree in which the young girl was, Then it was that the report of six rifles, fired as one, burst from the thickets west from the tree; and every brave that had darted to secure Gracie fell crashing to the earth. Every bullet from the unerriug rifles had torn through the vitals of the savage aimed at, So totally unexpected was this thunderous report, which spoke of more enemies than the Apaches believed were anywhere near them, that the savages were appalled and bewildered. Then the bullets of revolvers burtled through their massed ranks, and the Texan yells rung clear, vengeful and taunting, in their ears. The scene that followed among the war-party wasindescribable. That Big-Foot Wallace was in the bottom-timber with some of his scouts, they bad known since the discovery of the slain sentinels; but they did not believe that the iant scout was backed by any considerable orce, They soon recovered from their demoraliza- tion, and having so much at stake, stood firm, with arrows fitted, ready, at the order of their chief, to rush upon their concealed foes, Yet the signal whoop of Black Wolf sounded not. Back in the camp was a vast herd of horses and mules, which must be driven beyond the Rio Pecos. The chief had no captives for the torture, to appease the squaws of the slain; and his reputa- tion and rank were at stake, this being his first war-trail, as head war-chief, If he returned without captives, the widowed squaws would hurl dirt at him, and spit upon him, The war-path would never again be open to him, especially as he had allowed a captive to be rescued, ’ These thoughts goaded Black Wolf to frenzy; that which enraged him most, being the fact that the Waco chief had mutilated his dead, ani defied him. Since encamping, a series of most startling and damaging surprises had occurred, which would go against him as a skillful chief; and there was but one way to redeem himself, and insure an honorable reception on his return to his village. This was to secure the white squaw, whom be had seen in the tree—for the Apaches perceived that she was white, notwitbstanding Bay paint and costume, Could he accomplish this, all would yet be well, and he would start at once westward. Thus thought Black Wolf, as be and his braves crouched, undecided as to their future proceedings. Being ‘‘horse” Indians, they were at a dis- advantage in a bushwhacking fight. They realized this; but there seemed no possible wa of recovering their losses, or avenging their slain, except by rushing upon the Texans in the face of the terrible fire which was kept up by them, Thus were the Apaches posted; the scouts maintaining their ground, ready to receive the red foe, their weapons being all reloaded. Had the savages rushed into the thickets, and attacked the Texans, after the latter had fired their rapid volleys, the whites would have been annihilated toa man; aud Black Wolf, by not making a coarge at that time, lost the one grand opportunity, which might have placed all in his power, and enable him to return in triumph, with captives and herds, across the Pecos. But, as the Apaches started to creep forward, there was another occurrence which must have our attention. The Indians had been forced to retreat to such a distance from the death-dealing volleys of the scouts, that Gracie was no longer within their view; she being hidden by a perfect maze of branches, moss, and the tops of the thick under- growth. The affrighted maiden maintained her posi- tion, appalled at the horrible scenes beneath; but yet a great change had come over her since she realized that Gerald was safe, in the river. When the Apaches sprung into the tree to ef- fect her capture, she became firm as a rock; and with a desperate and determined manner, jerk- ed her revolver—an intense loathing, and in- sane hatred for the murderers of ber nearest and dearest ones ruling her mind. That mind had now recovered strength. She determined to shoot every savage who approached her position; and she would doubt- less have done so, had not the bullets of the scouts torn through their ranks and slain them to a man—all falling from the tree into which they had sprung. | The great slaughter, caused by the well-di- rected revolvers of the scouts, caused Gracie to have some hopes. She had not the remotest idea who were new-eomers, and she cared not, It was sufficient that they were foes to the Apache murderers, But Warnona was absent, and Gracie began to feel no little anxiety in regard to her. She now felt that Gerald would soon join the men who were in the thickets, and that she and her father would be saved, It was possible that the Waco squaw, in the excitement, had gone tore- lease Captain Greene. The young girl now quickly descended the tree, keeping upon the branches which leaned over the bank, and the stream itself. The Apaches were just then deliberating as to their next move against the whites, When Gracie reached a favorable position on the lower branches, she beheld a sight that filled her with horror, There had been one Apache in the war-party who, during the slaying of his comrade braves, and the fearful din, had kept his wits about him; bearing in mind that the hated Waco chief and his white pard were in the river, and would, without doubt, climb up the bank and join their friends in the thick undergrowth. Here wasa chance for him to win an eagle- feather for his fillet, by taking a captive or a scalp. This Indian was a powerful brave, and he now shot into the undergrowth, dropping upon his hands and knees, With the greatest care, the warrior wormed his way toward the margin of the bank, which was fringed with bottom-grass, It was then that Gracie caught sight of Gerald, as be clutched the vines, and dug his boots into the steep bank; slowly making his way upward, and being nearly to the top, when the brave just mentioned, laid himself down on the very verge of the bank, ready to plunge bis weapon into the young man when he reached the top. It was plain that the savage would have him at his mercy. The Waco chief was but a few paces beyond, and further up the river. Both the climbers were at a great disadvan- tage, and it was apparent to Gracie that, unless she made an effort immediately to save them, they were lost. She must act, and at once. ost desperate had the bereaved girl become, through the borrors with which she had been go suddenly visited. Her eyes glared with a strange luster, as she gazed upon the out- stretched form of the repulsive Apache, and made ready for action, Gerald Granger climbed higher and higher, his form dripping with water; but the Indian became impatient, expecting each instant that the fight would be renewed, between the whites . and his comrades, Slowly be raised his head, leaning forward and peeped through the fringe of grass; bu comicbooks.com