Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 349 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

+ Mi 5 get) - ' ‘Wild Wolf, the Waco. “bt appearance; being dotted with cattle, mules and horses—tne latter two grasing in small herds, The bottom-timber, on the creek. did not at | any point in the vicinity of Green’s Ranch, exceed fifty yards in breadth, including each side of the stream. Just within a bend of the creek, on its eastern side, stood a long log struc- ture, common in Texas, with an opening in its center, which allowed free circulation of air. This opening was of the same dimensions as the large rooms of the dwelling on its either side; the same roof covering all, and the same flooring of hewn logs, stretching across the Ph where the dining-table was usually spread. There, too, on hot nights, the male portion of the family slept; hammocks being frequent- ly hung for the females,in the same cool space. Tbis dwelling was forty-five feet long and fif- teen in width; the rooms at each end being thir- teen feet square, as the log walls were two feet in thickness. The roof was covered with long, rough-split shingles, and the windows were pro- vided with oaken shutters. At either end of this building, and some fifty "fe hg distant, were two large corrals, a huge ke-oven; and some small log structures were in the rear of the house, the latter having a wide veranda in front, which commanded a view of the east plaix. This veranda was cov- ered with flowering vines, which climbed up to the roof. The creek was about twenty yards from the rear of the dwelling, and picturesque clumps of undergrowth had been left unmolested, when the main portion of the same bad been cut from between stream and dwellings. Such was Greene’s Ranch, on Cottonwood creek, but a short half-day’s ride from the Rio Medina. George Greene, a man of some fifty years of age, the owner of this ranch, and the father of Gracie, kept but two Mexican herders, whose main duty was to prevent the stock from stray- ing over the stream, on the west plains; over which, at times, war-parties of Indians passed, going around the head of the creek, on their way to raid the rich ranches of the Rio Frio, lower down-country. “Cap Greene,” as he was familiarly known among the rancheros, was a veteran of the Mexican war, who, upon the close of the same, settled in Texas, on the lower portion of the Rio Medina; afterward removing to where we find him, on Cottonwood creek, Tbe mother of Gracie was an Arkansas lady, of uncommon intelligence and good education: and, but for this fact, the young girl woul have been sadly ignorant. For there were no schools, at the time of which we write, except in the larger towns. Captain Greene, although without a very liberal education bimself, furnished his wifoand daughter with books, regardless of cost, There were four children, besides Gracie; two boys and two girls. Our heroine was the eldest, the next in years being a boy, James, or Jimmie, who was fourteen. Then came Fanny, aged twelve, and John and Nelly, aged respect- ively ten and six. All were bright, intelligent children, and no more happy family could be found in West Texas; but, as will be seen, their happiness was destined to be transformed to despair and death, and that amid borrors which would scorch and madden the brain of an observer. About the same time that Gracie urged her horse down into the barranca, Captain Greene, with his two herders, spurred from the cattle- dotted plain to the south corral, removed the saddles and bridles from their horses, and al- lowed them to go free, dragging the neck-ropes, on fhe verge of the timber. The Mexicans, Antonio and Pedro, repaired at once to a small cabinin the rear of the house that bas been described, and proceeded to cook their evening meal, Captain Greene, strode at once, over the lawn, ni pr across the veranda upon the log flooring of the open space before referred to, and sunk, in a wearied manner into a chair. A moment after, he held his youngest two children on _ his knees; they clinging affection- ately about bis neck, and prattling with merry voices, each striving to gain his attention. Fanny, who sat reading, arose and embraced her father, and then returned to her chair, Mrs, Greene welcomed her husband, and, as- sisted by a negress, spread the table tor tea; while the eldest boy was busy in front of the house, plaiting a raw-hide lariat, as he called out to his father, in a cheerful voice, when hesaw him ride up. The latter, after a moment’s talk with his pets, suddenly cast a sweeping glance around, and then addressing bis wife, asked in a some what anxious voice: ** W bere’s Gracie, mother?” ‘*She called Beauty, just after you rode away, and galloped up the creek. I feel worried, be- cause she is seldom absent so late, and ought never to be. Gracie is very careless.” “Did sbe cross the creek?’ inquired ber father, ‘“l| presume so; for she often rides as far as the barranca,” ‘*I must caution her, for there is danger in that direction. I hear that there has been a war-party of Apaches up at the head of the Medina; and the red fiends might come in this direction. I will step across the creek. and as- certain if our daughter is in view. ‘* However, she must be, if she is on the plain. ‘* Pets, sit here in my chair until I return. Gracie ought to be home at tea-time. She is too venturesome, by far.” ‘Tea is almost ready, papa,” said Fanny, who had Jaid aside her book to assist her mother, ‘*'You had better take the born and blow it, if you see Gracie on the plaln.” ‘*I reckon I will, Fanny,” agreed the captain, taking a large horn from a nail on the log wall, and passing the hut of the Mexican herders, went on toward the timber. He soon reached the creek, ané crossing the same upona log bridge, entered the dense un- dergrowth, which grew on the western side of the stream, So thick were the bushes that he was forced to press the branches and twigs with both hauds away io front of him, they flying back with a whisking sound. The difficulties of bis passage thus occupied Captain Greene's entire attention. But a short distance had he proceeded thus, when a half-dozen fierce war-painted Apaches sprung from tbe thick bushes upon him, clutch- ing his arms, and binding them fast behind bim in an instant; uttering low guttural ‘‘ Ughs,” in exultation, Perhaps there never was aman more dazed, dumfounded, and horrified than the old ran- chero. He was petrified with amazement; this feel- ing changing to the most torturing concern and anguish, when he thought of his dear ones, Upon recovering partially from his utter as- tonishment, which was so overwbhelming,Captain Greene strove to give a yellof warning; but a burly brave struck him a powerful blow upon the mouth, causing his lips to be driven over the parted teeth, the blood flowing profusely. Then realizing that, even did he yell, it would do no good, as his loved ones would naturally suppose him to be signaling Gracie, who was near enough to hear his voice, without using the horn—realizing this, the ranchero did not attempt to repeat it, Tbe hideous braves paid but little attention to their captive after securing bim, all gazing toward the ranch, and listening intently. This caused the mentally tortured man to decide at once that more of the red demons were in the vicinity, and not long bad he to be assured of the fact. For distinctly upon the still evening air broke the twang of bow strings, followed by the most fearful yells of agony, which the captive knew proceeded from the Mexican herders, e Captain Greene groaned in anguish, and trem- bled from head to foot. His brain seemed like molten lead. His skull appeared about to burst with the most poignent anguish and dread concern in regard to his dear ones, who he well knew were doomed to death, either instantaneous, or by terrible torture. The groans, the anguish-filled, staring eyes, the agony sweat upon the forehead standing in great beads, the quivering muscles, the twitch- ing facial nerves—all told plainly of a torture of mind that was beyond comprehension, and one glance at the poor ranchero would have melted a heart of marble. sufferings gave intense gratification to bis merciless captors, who, a8 the yells of the ill- starred Mexicans rung through the timber, hur- ried Captain Greene toward and over the creek, As they reached the log bridge a sounding and terrible war-whoop rung out, in which the braves joined, dragging their captive faster along. Then followed piercing shrieks ot mortal ter- rorand dread horror from the wife and chil- dren, and the sharp crack of a rifle brought a death-yell and other fierce and vengeful howls. LLL LLB BLD BLL LDL LLL LLL LLL LD LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL EL LL LLL CT CC CC I. CC te ttt, But these evidences ot his | A moment after Captain Greene was secured to a tree near his home in a standing position. Before him, and not twenty paces distant, hanging heads downward, their ankles bound to the limb of a tree, scalped and mutilated in a horrible manner, were Antonio and Pedro their agony-contorted faces, glassy eyes, an gashed forms presenting a sight that was fear- ful to look upon. Scarcely had he been bound when the borri- fied-ranchero beheld his wife and children bein dragged from the dwelling by the painted, exul- tant fiendsin buman form—all shrieking with terror. Then upon a horse, galloping at headlong speed, came his brave boy, James, his face pallid, a desperate look frozen thereon, as he dashed in among the Apaches, who were drag- ging his mother, sisters and brother from the ranch toward the tree to which be was bound, The daring youth held in hand bis Colt’s re- volver, and down went a brave at every shot, Straight up to the tree dashed James Greene, and leaning over, slashed free bis father, passing a revolver into the old man’s hand, At the same instant the boy sprung from his horse, and, at his father’s side, rushed to defend his mother and the little ones. So unexpected bad been the charge of the youth, and so true to his aim—every brave, whose hand bud clutched his loved ones, falling with horrible death-yells—that for a moment the remaining warriors were thunderstruck, But it was only for a moment. Then fuli a score rushed, knives in band, upon father and son, and also clutching the mother and children, who, upon their first captors fall- ing dead or dying, had run shrieking toward their natural protector. It was a terrible sight—most terrible! The brave rush of father and son to meet the mother and children was grand and most heroic, for death, they knew, was in every step they took. With horrible whoops the infuriated savages bounded forward, father and son, in frantic desperation, firing a fusilade of revolver-sbots as they stood between their dear ones and the foe. Down went three more braves; but right upon the whites sprung the survivors, and the next moment the brave boy fell dead at his mother’s feet, a score of terrible knife-stabs in his body. ‘*God help you, mother! Good-by!” These were the last words of poor Jimmie, bis soulless eyes fixed and frozen upon his mother’s face; that mother standing silent over bis man- gled corpse, a borror and anguish in her glance, and upon her face, which—thank God !—few are called upon to witness, Clinging to their mother’s skirts were the ter- rified younger children, as the father was once more grasped by red, blood-smeared hands— he, as well as his wife, bereft of speech or action by the fearful death of his noble son. Terrific, vengefal yells filled the air, and rung and echoed in the timber; a score more of paint-daubed Apaches appearing upon the scene, and galloping at headlong speed upon their balf-wild mustangs, amid the lash and hiss of quirts and the snorts of their bounding steeds, Blood-curdling whoops and yells and howls burst forth afresh, as Captain Greene was again bound to the tree, and his wife and little ones were dragged before him, and their cloth- ing torn from their tee forms by the warriors, who were frantically furious and mur- der mad at the death of so many of their com- rades, Mrs. Greene was jerked in front of her help- Jess and verrified husband, and the scalp slashed from ber bead, she being held by each arm bya burly brave. And thus she was forced to stand, crying out in ber agony, while the blood ran in streams down her face and neck. Fanny, John, and little Nelly were then forced between the father and mother, shriek- ing with dread and borror, and their scalps torn from their heads, amid yells ot fiendisb glee re _ ——_ from the hellish horde. Surely never was man called upon to witness as torturing horrors as the old ranchero! Could there be more torture within the gates of Gehenna?’ With piercing cries of agony and hopeless horror, scalpless and covered with blood, bis wife and darlings were forced to stand before him, bis brain seething with such intense an@ overpowering auguish ef soul that he appeared more like a corpse than a living being, This was but the beginning, however ry | 900 ‘comic IN