Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 375 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Chiota, the Creek. EG Ce oe ee rr = —— fernal fiends He'll stand them off, I’ll bet my head! ‘They can’t catch him, for he has a horse that is just everlastingly on the git up an’ git.’ But we lose time here. Frank is working, and has given us fair warning. On, for the ranch, and Bertie, and Dancing Fawn! ‘“If they are there, all right; if not, God help them and us! Come on; we can only die!” Chiota circled his scalping-knife about his plumed head, and with the half-suppressed war-cry of his people, followed by the pur- suit signal, he sprung into the undergrowth, down the cow-path, the old ranchero follow- ing, and Bandera Bill bringing up the rear. All believed that the Apache war: party were advancing down the stream, beneath the timber, to attack Bancroft Ranch: but they hoped and prayed — oh, so earnestly !—that ‘they would find, safe at the ranch, Bertie and the brave young squaw of the Creek chief. Chiota, although he had spoken words that indicated his belief in the safety of his squaw and Bertie, yet had little hope that they had arrived safe. Great had been his hate, and thirst for revenge upon the Apaches, for their having slain his father and mother; but with much greater intensi- ty, would that hatred and longing for blood and scalps ruled the brave Creek, if he should find that Dancing Fawn, his hand- some squaw, had become a victim to the merciless marauders of Lone Wolf—the de- mons of the Scoria Mountains, beyond the Rio Pecos! CHAPTER XIV. JOY AT THE RANCH. CuroTa, the Creek, kept the cow-path, that ran near the bank of the river, and maintained the long, rapid stride peculiar to his people, which enabled him to keep ahead of the horsemen; for the branches and under- growth rendered a faster speed than a trot al- most impossible for mounted men On hastened the trio, not a word breaking from their lips; Bandera Bill casting fre- quent glances behind him, and through the occasional open spaces between the top of the thickets and the lower limbs of the trees, hoping each time to catch a glimpse of his pard, Frio Frank, for whose safety he was becoming apprehensive. In fact, notwithstanding all that Chiota and himself had said, to lessen the grief and anxiety of the old ranchero, neither Bill nor the chief felt the hope they had expressed, and they were really greatly cencerned in regard to the females, both feeling positive that unless something of great moment had happened, they w ould haye reached the ranch some time previous to the hour at which the ranchero had left his home. Yet both felt that they must go to the ranch at once, and make sure that the females were not there. If Dancing Fawn and Bertie had not ar- rived, then it would be certain that they were in the power of the same merciless fiends, who had, but a short time previous, been so infuriated with rev enge at the lib- eration of their captives, and the slaying of so many of their fellow braves. To think that it was possible for Bertie to be in such a terrible position, was great tor- ture to Bandera Bill; and no less was Chiota agonized in regard to his beautiful squaw, although his stoical face betrayed it not. Still on, down along the river-bank the three men went, and in due time neared the bend, within which was Bancroft Ranch, when near the entrance, the Creek turned, and made directly to the border of the tim- ber; soon Rad a from the same, and fol- lowed hastily by the old ranchero, and his son, Bandera BL : 4. 4.4 — All instantly swept the prairie, east, south, and west, up along the timber line. The herds of horses, mules and cattle were as usual. Chiota knew that the Apaches would not make any attempt to stampede the animals until they had destroyed, or attempted to destroy, the ranch, and had slain or captured its inmates. After losing such a number of braves, it was unreasonable for any one knowing the vengeful character of the Apaches, and especially when led by Lone Wolf, to sup- pose that they would return toward the Rio Pecos, or turn tl eir trail to another range, until their terrible war -whoops had curdled the blood of the people of Bancroft Ranch, and they had exhausted their savage ingenuity in spreading devastation and death. Seeing that all was well thus far, Ben Bancroft heaved a sigh of relief, and then urged his horse at a gallop around into the bend toward his home, his son close follow- ing, and Chiota striding on in the rear. Their eyes were immediately fixed upon the dwelling with an intense stare, hoping and praying that the gold-crowned head of Bertie would be visible on the veranda. But not a human being greeted their long- ing eyes, and not even a brute, except the pack ‘of ugly little coon-dogs, which dashed around from the rear of the dwelling, bark- ing furiously. Bill dashed up to the end of. the veranda, where his father had stood when he pere eived the face of the Apache spy framed in the foliage. From this point he could gain a view the whole length of the wide piazza, and his heart almost choked him as he saw that neither Bertie nor Dancing Fawn were anywhere visible. The old ranchero galloped up to the front of the house, directly opposite the large open space in its center. Neither he nor his son had dared to cry out. The hearts of both nearly ceased beating, in the awful anguish and agony of soul, which caused them to be- come sick and faint. The barking of the curs had warned Auntie Sue of their coming, and she hurried from her kitchen, where the dinner she had so skillfully prepared was dried up and useless within the oven. Hastening up the steps upon the veranda, at the rear of the main dwelling, the old cook, witha perfect leaning-tower of brilliant colors upon her head, rushed into the open space, in the greatest excitement and appre- hension. Bandera Bill had sprung from his saddle upon the veranda, as had his father, both running across the threshold of the open portion of the dwelling, as Auntie Sue cross- ed that in the rear. ‘“My child, Aunt Sue! child?” Thus shrieked old Ben Bancroft. But well he knew that no Bettie was there wee: some dread calamity had overwhelmed im. Bandera Bill, if he had not previously been satisfied that his sister had not returned to the ranch, knew at once that Bertie had | been captur ed, by the expression of old Sue’s ebon face and the anguish and horror in her eyes, as the wild w ords of her master pierced her ears, ‘Fo’ de good Lor’, Mars’ Ben, I hasn’t got sight ob Miss Bertie since sun-up. Yere I’s hed dinner all sp’iled, wW aitin’ fer yer, an’ thet no-’count last chile o’ mine, Romeo, hes bin gone a-huntin’ yer fer a hour. ’Sides thet, he tuck ther huil pack o’ coon- -dogs, an’ ther critters all come back ’ceptin’ one, Sure es yer borned, the debbil’s runnin’ this yere ranch ’bout now, an’ | is all broke up.’ As the old woman ended, Chiota strode proudly, head erect, and eagle- plumes flaunt- ing, across the veranda; and, with a most unearthly shriek, Auntie Sue rushed from the rear door, and in one mad bound, sprung to the ground below, over the flight of steps, Where is my ee ie Oe 1s -- welll, Sead cuits Vehenereie Sara she sunk in a tigare* She then “ditled over and over, down the decline, and into the door of her cabin. Bandera Bill and his father stood, staring at each other, in a manner that was most pitiful to behold. They were, for the time, incapable of speech or motion; even the entrance of the Creek, and the terrified exit of the old cook, being unnoticed by them Chiota well knew all, before he had reach- ed the ranch; for Dancing Fawn stood not on the lawn, ‘to give him silent, but no Jess. sincere and affectionate greeting, as he knew she would have done had she been there, The next moment, there shot from the dense undergrowth, his face ashen, and his clothing almost completely torn frém his little form, none other than Romeo; an in- significant little cur at his heels, this one contemptible coon-dog having stuck to its diminutive master, when the pack had de- serted him. Romeo caught sight of his mother, rolling into her cabin, and his eyes became further distended, and his face more death-like. He realized that there was no sec urity for him in the maternal cabin, and then, seeing the horse of his young master at the end of the piazza, and deciding that Bandera Bill had arrived, ona must be within the house, he sprung up the steps, and wildly bounded. toward his white protectors. But, as the little darky neared them, he caught sight of the painted face and eagle- plumes of the Creek chief, and with a yell of terror, he shot forward, with arms out- stretched, and fell at the feet of his youn master. Instantly Bill caught the terrified little being by both arms, and lifted him to his feet, demanding “Sneak! Boca quick, Romeo! What have you seen? ~What has frightened you?” Romeo gasped for breath, “his eyes fixed upon Chiota. ‘Tell not hurt you, said Bill,” noticing this; ‘‘he is a friend of ours. Speak, | say!” “< Golly, Marse, I’s ‘hout skeered ter death. I see ‘d yer run off wi’ yer gun, Marse Ben, an’ | jist thought yer'd rit ther deadwood on a heap o’ ’possums, an’ | skuted up ther bottom arter yer. But I c’u’dn’t cotch yer, an’ so I tucka hunt alone, ‘* Arter awhile, 1 see’d some painted hell- yuns, an’I crawle d in ther bushes wi’ C hunk + fer ther t’other dogs skuted pe: it fer ther ranch, I climbed, a tree, an’ I see’d Miss 3ertie with a red woman, ridin’ ‘long er ther cow-path. Nex’ I Knowed, ther red debbils had lassoed Miss Bertie an’ ther squaw. Then they skuted, an’ I skuted; an’ I’m plum broke up, an’ so is Chunk,” “Oh, my God!” exclaimed the agonized father. ‘‘By Heavens! There is'nolonger a doubt on the subject,” cried ott’ Bandera Bill; ‘now I am ready to fulfill my oath, Ber- tie, or death, is my war-cry! Father, cheer up! We must act, and not be hcpe less, “Frio Frank and I were captives, and condemned to torture, but we were rescued by this brave Creek. His wife hps been taken, while she was guarding our’ Bertie home: and I know she would have :fought bravely, had it been possible. ‘Father, you have Aunt Sue and Romeo with you. Come into the house, and’ bar- ricade the doors. Signal the he rder§: and vaqueros, With rockets. T hey may see them even in the sunlight. “‘Chiota and I will rescue Bertie and Dancing Fawn, or die in the attempt, THe is equal to this emergency, and between us | But you, father, You can do ne we can outwit the Apaches, must stand by the ranch. good on the trail. “We will break through the red fiends, and join yen in the defense, if they surround the ranch. Come, Chiota! We go to the rescue. I am for blood and scalps. There tuck ther dogs, an” ‘ ar : yh ih oe ven ‘ ‘ate ee lomicbeee com