Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 349 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

® p} rrr ee Wild Wolf, the Waco. Wild Wolf, the Waco: Big-Foot Wallace to the Front. A TRUE TALE OF TEXAS, BY “BUCKSKIN SAM,” (Mason SAM 8S. HALL.) AUTHOR OF ‘‘THE FIGHTING TRIO,” ‘‘ FRIO FRED,” ‘‘ GIANT GEORGE,” ** OLD ROOCKY'S BOYEIL 3s,’ ETC, CHAPTER I. GRACE AND BEAUTY. THE ruddy glow of the sun, now near its set- ting, illumines the scene which we propose, in our feeble way, to describe to the reader, The vast, far-stretching plain between the town of Castroville and the head-waters of Cot- tonwood creek, a tributary of the Rio Medina, in Texas, is as level as a floor, and covered with rich, verdant grass, mingled with which are flowers of every hue, To the west, south, and north from the middle of this broad prairie, there is nothing to break the view, the level expanse stretching to the borizon-line; but to the cast afar off is a dark- green serpentine line of timber, which marks the course of Cotton wood creek. The declining sun casts a fiery glow over this magnificent plain; over grass and flowers, he intense heat which hasruled during the day has somewhia: abated, the power of O!d Sol being curtailed by the bazy atmosphere of com- ing eve. a the middle of the plain, the only moving ob- ject on the broad expanse, the only break in the level ocean of grass and flowers, is a medium- sized black horse and its rider, The animal is held by a stiff rein, but is moving nervously and impatiently from side to side, tramping aud crushing the grass and flowers, The horse is headed toward the west, and forced to face that way for the purpose, as is plainly evident, of allowing the rider to view the beautiful sunset. The animal isa,superb specimen of the equine family, sleek and glossy, and with long wavy mane and tail; as is also its forelock, which flies wildly below its eyes, as up and down the beast bows its head, evident- ty eager to gallop with free rein over the prai- rie. The sun glistens intermittently on the glossy sides of the black steed; its great eyes, which indicate gentleness and intelligence, also reflect- ng See farewell rays of the god of day. ast, but whose description we have impo‘ite- ly delayed, for the reason that we doubted much our ability to even approach a delineation ot her loveliness, is the fair rider—a young girl of perkaps sixteen summers, eautiful, indeed, is this fair creature, this lone rider on the vast and spreading prairie of the Lone Star State; although a deep sun-tan has banished the pear!-like natural complexion, and almost hidden the rose-tints upon her cheeks—at least, blending in with the roses are the deeply-imprinted kisses of the southern sun. Gray, lustrous eyes—“ twin-stars of beauty ” -—shining out, at timesshooting piercing glances sweeping the western plain, and then becoming fixed in admiration upon the sun, Delicately-penciled eyebrows, and lids fring- ed with dark lashes; a lovely dimple in each glowing cheek, from. out which the smothered roses struggled—thus she looked, And, as the lower disk of the sun seemed to touch upon the distan’ horizon line, an increased look of won- der filled her large gray eyes, blended with ad- miratiou. Her lips parted, and displayed a row of glistening and pearly teeth. Her abundant bair bung, wavy and free, to her waist, and even below it, to the cantle of ' ber saddle; soft and rich, in its dark Juxuri- ance, Add to the attractions already enumerated, a slim waist, a.graceful figure, a bewitcbingly sweet expression of countenance, and you have our heroine’s description, as near as we can fur- nish it; if we except a close-fitting costume of grayish homespun, and a flower-wreathed gypsy hat of white straw. Sitting thus, upon her saddle, Gracie Greene, of Greene’s Ranch, on Cottonwood creek, was a bewitching beauty; her position, interest, and admiration of the gorgeous sunset betraying an rtistic and poetic nature, The flash of ber eye, and the swan-like mo- tiou of ber form, as her prancing black half- breed showed its impatience to be off, indicated a suppleness, which was still more strongly manifested as she turned her horse to the south- ward, and gave tbe animal free rein. At the same time, the maiden gazed east- We An in the direction of the far-off line of tim- r. Horse and rider seemed well matched; each showing a grace of movement and a beauty that was remarkable to behold, On, galloping like the wind, speeds the steed; at times darting from side to side, shaking its head, and tossing its flowing mane, as if greatly rejoiced at being no longer beld in check within a limited space, Then it was, that Gracic Greene proved that she was an accomplished horsewoman, and one who had been long used to the saddle. At the born of ber saddie was looped a lasso, the noose of which was formed by a small but firm silver ring; and about her waist was a stamped belt, with richly engraved clasp, also of silver, and which sustained a small revolver, and a Spanish dagger. It has been mentioned that there was no break iv the broad and level expanse; and, cer- tainly, there did not appear to be. Not a tree, or bush, or stone—not even a swell in the surface—but, as Gracie galloped southward she came suddenly upon the brink of a deep barranca, which could not bave been detected thirty paces from its edge the grass upon.one side blending with that o the other. That the young girl was aware of the exist- ence and location of this barranca, was plainly evident; for she guided her horse a short dis- tance up the same, to the west, soon reaching a point where a steep path led down to its bed. A difficult and dangerous descent it was; but the maiden with the greatest indifference and unconcern that was possible to manifest, al- lowed her borse free rein, the sure-footed ani- mal following the winding path in a confident manner, which showed that it was not the first time the beast had, by the same way, gained the bed of the barranca. Upon reaching the bottom cf the deep chasm, the steed trotted eagerly forward some fifty yards, to the opposite side of the same. There, at the base of the towering earth wall, was a small pool of water, around which was a carpet of the greenest of grass—an oasis in the barren barranca bed, Gracie Greene sprung lightly to the earth, with a tin cup in her hand; and, grasping the bridle rein near the bit, exclaimed, Jaughbingly: ‘““Hold, Beauty! Stand right where you are, until I satisfy my own thirst. You are very impolite, lam sure, to seek to plunge into the pool, aud muddy the water, before your mis- tress has ‘had a chance to fill ber cup. **T thought I bad taught you better, but is seems you are forgetful. However, | forgive you! It’s all my fanlt anyway, for I have forced you to travel far in the heat,| without drink, and we must start toward home soon, for it is getting late.” The horse made not the slightest effort to enter the pool, after being checked; and Gracie, quickly dipping up a cupful of water. stooping over for that purpose, then permitted Beauty to drink to bis heart’s content. Tbe sun had now sunk below the horizon, but it cast a lurid glow upward; the same bJend- ing with the blue at the zenith. ut it was nearly dark at the bottom of the chasm, and the young girl quickly remount-d, with remarkable agility, turned her horse about, and urged the animal to, and up the path; soon regaining the plain, Not the slightest zephyr now stirred the air, or caused the blades of grass to move. All was deathly still. The view over the wide plain was solemn and depressing, and the rustle of the grass, beneath the hoofs of Beautv, was a relief to the stillness that ruled the evening on that lonewrairie, Gracie cast a long and lingering lock at the golden sky in the west, and then at the moon, just lifting her demolisbed disk above th line of timber to the eastward, that marked the course of Cottonwood creek; on the bank of which was ber home, Greene’s Ranch. Ahead, eastward, it was, when compared to the west, dark; but the maiden seemed in no burry, allowing Beauty to canter easily along. Turning in hersaddle, she again gazed toward the west, suddenly jerking her horse to a halt, surprise and wonder imprinted upon ber fair face; for, exactly in the line of the brightest portion of the west, at the very point at which the sun had sunk below the horizon, was a horseman; clearly outlined, both animal and rider, against the fiery background. This equestrian was far away, as a matter of course, and his character or color could not be guessed; and, as desperate and dangerous men frequented the border at the time of which we write—more than a score of vears ago—Gracie touched ber steed lightly with ber whip. and the animal went skimming over the plain, likes grounds-weeping swallow, toward the ranch, Darker and darker grew the surroundings, but the girl seemed unconscious of this, or eise she seemed to have forgotten all that was pres ent. She appeared to be engaged in deep musings, ber eyes bent upon the neck of hcr borse, and she in listless attitude, as far asavas possible, and at the same time maintain her seat in the saddle, Thus on, mile after mile, the mantle of night falling more dense upon the earth; the golden glory of the sun having disappeared, and the moon showing its curtailed surface but dimly, Fully five miles intervened between the young girl and the line of timber, which was her objective point, when suddenly she lifted up her bowed head, and gazed towarl the creek, No sooner did Gracie Greene sboot ber glance forward than one might have seen, even in the dim moonlight, ber face turn ghastly, her eyes stort, filed with a terrible dread, and ber fea- tures contort with horror. At the same instant she jorked her horse to a balt so suddenly that the animal’s forefeet pawed the empty air, as be reared upward witb a snort of pain and frigbt, Then from the lips of Grecie came a cry of apprebension and terror: ‘““My God! the ranch is on fire! Ob, Hea- vens! the long-feared danger bas arrived: The Apaches are on Cottonwood creek. Father, mother, sisters, brothers—all are doomed! Oh, my God! This is more than I can bear! ‘On, Beauty! The red demons of the plains are burning our home!” The last words were shrieked out on the night air, in a voice so filled with anguish thatit was torturing to hear. Her whip hissed, a sharp crack followed about the hams of her borse, and Beauty shot like an arrow toward Cottonwood creek, the timber of which, directly ahead of them, was now brightly lit up by lurid, forked fhimes, pre- senting a weird spectacle, although the confla- gration was on the opposite or east side of the stream, and many trees intervened, Agnin and again was Gracie’s whip applied, and Beauty flew, with terrific speed and pant- ing heavily, through long grass and flowers. Never had the horse felt before the sharp and torturing cuts of the whip of his young mis- tress, and it made him frantic. But the Jash still hissed through the air; all else forgotten and repudiated by the agonized girl, except the horrible probabilities that were ahead. Straight on, her eves fixed upon the flashing flames, and her features drawn with unspeaka- ble anguish, she dashed madly toward ber home, Then, when hoping and praying that the fire had been accidental, and not kindled by the pirates of the plain, her beart sprung to her throat, as, in murderous exultation, rung the terrible war-whoop of the merciless Apaches, from many throats. Yet on, more like a corpse than a living being, dashed the horror-stricken maiden; clu ching at the mane of ber horse for support, and reeling in her saddle—a most pitiable sight to behold! On, with no fesr for herself; only wishing to relieve her bursting brain from this borror, even by death at the hands of the red savages, On,. only thinking of the loved ones, and wishing to die with them, But it was ordered otherwise, Gracie Greene was not fated to fall into the power of the despoilers of her home, and the slayers of her loved ones: for again the war- whoop sounded, just as Beauty was on the very verge of the undergrowth, end beneath the moss-draped limbs of the timber on the west side of the stream. The terrific sound caused the horse to wheel so suddenly, that the poor girl was merci fully burled into the dark shades: and lay there, silent and senseless, as if stricken with death, Thus startled, the borse, with a snort of fran- tic terror, dashed at headlong speed on the back ms westward, over the broad, far-stretching plain. CHAPTER I. MURDER MOST FOUL, THE plain on the east side of Cottonwooa creek, although apparently as wide and level as on the west, presented a somewhat differ- comicboo 4 ~ % «J ,™ oy an, TAS % a. + ® . ay, an a) - ; ~s ~ d a . F # Si ~ we t * ; @ Pa - o® aes. rx <~s * ‘ ee ‘e- . ~T> 7 - . oe A 4 , ely ps - . -— s-J oa 1) = 7 ‘os ,; -