Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 349 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

> s eee j ak dodged quickly back, for the young scout was directly below him. | The next moment, the head of Gerald was even with the bank. Then, the Apache arose upon his knees, bracing his left hand on the ground, and with his right upraised, to strike at his white foe. Gerald saw his danger at once, Death stared him in the face! Should he move a muscle, the glittering blade would be plunged into bim, The paint-smeared face was over his own, the snake-like eyes gazing into his, with murderous posting: Already, in his imagination, tbe scalp of the white man was in his belt. e leaned still further over the bank, raised his rigbt band bigher, to give force to the blow, and brought all his strength to bear upon it. Just then, when life and death were trem- bling in the balance for Gerald Granger, a form shot through the air. from the limbs above —a human form, feet downward, with long hair flying, and-arms outstretched. Gerald recognized his lost Gracie! Down, like a meteor, shot the desperate maiden, her feet striking square, and with great force, upon the shoulders of the savage. He fell, like a projectile from a catapult, over the bank, into the waters, with a sounding plunge; the beautiful girl also shooting down- ward. The same moment, Gerald and Wild Wolf loosened their hold upon the vines, and fell over into the river, determined that Gracie should be saved. Simultaneously, the terrible war-whoop of the combined forces of Black Wolf rung through the timber. Then Gerald and the Waco is Paes above the surface of the waters; the former, with Gracie’s senseless form in his arms, and striking out to the opposite side of the river with his fair charge. The appearance of Wild Wolf was attended with a spattering and foaming of the whirling -waters, for he held the astounded Apzche in his vise-like grasp. Face to face were the red enemies, The left hand of the chief was about the throat of the brave, both treading the water. In the right hand of the Wace he grasped firm- ly his long scalping-knifé, and glared exultantly into the balf-strangled Apache’s face. The tables had turned, The .air resounded with whoops, yells, the twang of bow-strings, and the sharp crack of fire-arms, Rallying-cries, death-howls and shrieks of agony, mingled with the taunting, ringing yells of the Texans. These sounds brought to the front all the war- spirit of the Waco chief. He raised his knife clear of the waters, while the struggling wretch he clutched caused a perfect whirlpool in his frantic effdeavors to release himself, his eyes bulging from their sockets with terror. o mercy was there, however, in the venge- ful glitter of Wild Wolf’s eye. The terrible knife described an arch in its rapid course, and was plunged with great force into the breast of the Apache brave. Then quickly it was withdrawn to circlaabout the tufted head, the sealp being torn away as the horror-filled eyes of the Indian were filming in death, and the waters around them reddening with bis heart’s blood! Down into the depths Wild Wolf thrust the dying Apache, drowning even the gasp and death -rattie, and preventing the signal howl of the vanquished brave. In a moment more the Waco chief was climb- ing witb the aid of the vines to the bank above, like a squirrel, and soon he gained a footing on terra firma. Fas Tuen he gave one lightning-like glance in his rear, over tbe river. He now perceived Gerald Granger swimming rapidly on his return, alone, Wild Wolf knew that Dove Eye was safe, and that the young scout was coming to join in the fight and rescue the old captain and Warnona, both of whom, the two men believed, were in tine power of the Apaches, Loud rung the war-whoop of Wild Wolf, the Waco chief; and he dashed through the under- growth to the rear of the Apache horde, after giving a gesture to Hawk Eye, indicating his course. CHAPTER XTV. THE END CROWNS THE WORK. Wagn Warvona returned to guide Captain Greene, if possible tbrough the branches of the trees, to the position of Gracie, she was filled ‘vith anxiety, at hearing the rush of the Apaches oe C—O ti— CF e em Wild Wolf, the Waco. -_— + ———E > ee nee ay the point where she had left the young girl. The glimpse she had eaught of Wild Wolf and Hawk Bye satisfied her that they would escape; but she was in a most perplexing state of mind in regard to Gracie, feeling that her capture was certain. Her mind was, however, somewhat relieved, at the report of the rifles and revolvers; she knowing well, that assistance must have arrived, There could be no doubt that the whites and the reds were now engaged in a terrible fight; and Warnona, knowing that she could be of no use, except in assisting the White Chief to avoid recapture, hastened on, until she reached him. To ber surprise, the squaw found Captain Greene much better, and quite in possession of his faculties. He stood erect, upon one limb, clutching at another above his head, and gazed at Warnona, with a strange expression, as she came up, Then his look somewhat softened, as he recognized her, and remembered the near past. One glance had betrayed the fact to the Waco squaw, that the Apache camp was deserted of ail except the wounded; and immediately a plan was formed, in her mind, to take advan- tage the situation of affairs. Quickly she said: ‘**Come! White Chief go with Warnona. Texans have come. Hear war-cry of Big- Foot. It is good. Blood of squaw and pap- pooses of White Chief call for vengeance. Come!” Warnona had struck the right chord. The captain, without a word, descended and followed the Waco squaw. Uncoiling a lasso from her wrist, the latter repeated: ‘“* Come!” Just then the old ranchero caught sight of the wounded Apaches, His eyes blazed with fury. He sprung forward and caugbt up some steel- pointed arrows, and stood over them, The wounded braves gazed in horror. They knew that their time had come, With furious rage the old ranchero plunged an arrow into each breast, and then clutching a knife from the belt of a dying brave, he slashed off their scalps. Meanwhile, Warnona had lassoed two mustangs and equipped them. She led them up the captain, who stood holding his gory trophies, “It is good,” said the squaw. ‘ Here is mus- tang. Come! More Apaches in bottom-timber. Dove Eye in tree, Come!” At the mention of his daughter’s name the old man bounded into the saddle, Warnona holding the jaw-strap of the half-wild mustang, and the captain still grasping the scalps. ** Come!” Thus spoke the squaw again, as she lashed her own steed toward the vast herd of stolen horses and mules, among which were the mustangs of the war-party. , In five minutes more, almost the entire herd were galloping, in a wild stampede, over the plain, eastward, on the back trail. This accomplished, Warnona wheeled about, and headed for the camp again. ‘“Waugh! It is good! War-path open. Come!” So saying, the Waco squaw led the way. But, to return to the scene of the fight. With fierce whoops, the Apaches arose from their crouching postures, and, rushing forward, sent a flight of arrows into the thicket, To their intense surprise, there was no return—no sound from the dense undergrowth. At the last moment, Big-Foot Wallace had thought of a movement, which would give them a great advantage, by effecting another surprise upon the red foe, Well knew the scouts that their lives hung by a hair; that the overwhelming mass of Apaches would cut them down ina moment’s time, did they not again demoralize them by a surprise. Thus it was, that the giant scout, who was reckless to a fault, but realized the desperate condition of affairs, ordered his pards to draw back stealthily, to another live of thickets, west from their position; and, before which was a.narrow open space, extending north and south. The consequence of this was, that the flight of arrows fell harmlessly in the bushes where our friends had just lain in arnbush. It was but fora moment that the Apaches halted in bewilderment. Black Wolf believed that the Texans had fled for their lives, and that all were in bis power, did he but act promptly. With a ringing war-whoop, he rushed for- ward—his whoop echoed by his warriors—and all with bows half-bent, darted through the thickets in a long line, into the narrow “ open.” Some mysterious influence seemed to warn 15 sss en the red torturers, that their foes were concealed in front: yet, not the slightest sound was there to indicate it. It was a terrible sight, and to one who knew not their merciless character, perhaps a grand one—to see every bronzed warrior, standing, with left foot forward, bows bent, eyes glaring into the thicket, and their long black hair hang- ing, bedecked with bright feathers and tiny sil- ver trinkets, Thus stood the pirates of the Pecos, All, for a moment, was still as death—a stillness that was ominous of death to those red braves. Then, again rung the war-whoop of Black Wolf, who feared that the White foe would es- cape. Phat whoop, which should have been echoed by the warriors, but which, at that instant, died on their lips—giving place, in some in- stances, to death-yells—had no sooner sounded, than six tye tubes sent spurts of fire and smoke from the undergrowth, opposite the Apaches, <A thunderous report again rung through the timber; and, as many braves as there had been shots, threw up their arms, and fell backward in death. Then, before the dumfounded Apaches, whose fears, in regard to the presence of their foe in the thickets, bad been banished by the prolong- ed silence, could recover themselves, the wild war-whoop of Black Wolf again sounded; the cvief rushed forward, knowing that all was lost, it the warriors delayed. But, as the arrows burtled into the bushes and other deadly sbafts were fitted to the strings, the spiteful and continuous crack of revolvers was beard; the bullets flying like hail amid the Apaches, as they rushed toward the ambush of their white foes. Many braves fell before the deadly rifles and revolvers; but the survivors rushed toward the line of thickets, many falling over the dead. Tbh n it was, that the war-whoop of the Waco was sounded in their rear; the bullets from Wild Wolf’s revolver causing many a death- ell, . The frenzied Apaches rushed into the bushes and were met by the Texans, in a band-to-han fight with knives; then, at the very moment when the lives of Big-Foot Wallace and bis pards trembled in the balance, on, crashing through the undergrowth, dashed Captain Greene and Warnona; the latter shooting her revolver, and sounding the Waco war-cry—the former, with foaming lips, and insane glare, urging his frantic mustang directly into the ranks of the Apaches, Unearthly yells burst from his throat, as he slashed right and left, with the long, blood-reeking scalping-knife! Wild Wolf, filled with pride at the ccnduct of his squaw, yet anxious for her safetv, darted to her side, and fought madly; while Gerald, dripping with the waters of the Medina, joined the singular trio, and engaged in the deadly strife, although nearly exhausteti by his recent exertions. But description is impossible. At length, Black Wolf gave \the retreat yell, and with his surviving }raves, less than a score, rushed toward his <amp; all, with bated breath, and terror-filleu eyes, at the awful avalanche of death and disaster, that had come upon them, ‘*Come on, boyees, fer ther nags! Gerald and Wild Wolf, skute "long o’ us; fer hit won’t do ter ‘low ther red coyotes ter git a show ter breathe.” Thus yelled Big-Foot Wallace, and the survi- vors dashed aiter tie giant scout. Four of bis brave pards were left, stark and stiff, with the corpses of the Apaches, and not one of our friends was free from knife-wounds, except Warnona, The latter now urged her horse to a point on the river-bank, where the animal could descend, and forced him to swim the stream; finding poor Gracie where Gerald had left ber, but nearly wild with anxiety in regard to the safety of her father and friends. In a very few words, Warnona informed Dove Eye that White Chief was safe, and was seeking vengeance by the side of Hawk Bye, Wild Wolf and Big-Foot Wallace. Soon the two females crossed the river, and proceeded to- ward the camp. Big Foot, and the two scouts who had escaped death, together with Wild Wolf and Gerald, mounted their horses, which bad been left in the little open, and dashed with Captain Greene, toward the ay carps There they found the Waco squaw and Gracie. The latter threw herself into the arms of her poor suffering father, who was unable, in any way, to give vent to his feelings, cbooks.c +