Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 427 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

™ —_ , — ’ « Oi ee = ¥ 4 iad le a ee : — ~;, - . -§ * - at ak j PE ere > oe r; . ‘ ° . _ —- d 4+ ey a ‘ bo SARS ay 2 es ~ ae ee a ~ ‘ . a ; P S49 Pe et e me 10 e--- —ee ee i ee fire, they had been forced to break camp, and continue on without rest. This, they would do of necessity, for they would fear that the blaze or flare had been ob- served at Camp Johnston; which, if so, would cause a force of ‘‘long-knives” to pursue them. From this line of reasoning, our friends de- cided that everything was as favorable for their object as could be expected; but it would be an undertaking requiring great caution and cun- ning in their pursuit, to prevent being discover- ed by the scouts of the red marauders. From the fact that the Apaches were return- ing to their mouatain strongholds, beyond thé Rio Pecos, Old Rocky and his red pard reasoned that the captives, except the child, would be safe from harm until the Indian village was reached. Then, a grand torture scene would he enacted; the squaws and boys taking an active part in the dread performance. Therefore, after a council between the Caddo and the old scout, which resulted in these favor- able conclusions, they returned to the smolder- ing cabin, and, with Star I’yes, recrossed the river; the horses being staked upon nutritious crass, and well rubbed down with wads of the same, which were torn from the sward for that purpose, Then these three greatly fatigued ones rolled themselves in their blankets, and sought repose; for well they knew they would need to be fresh and strong on the morrow, for the difficult and perilous work that was ahead of them. The Caddo chief had made no objections to having his squaw accompany them in the pur- suit of the foe; for, as Marion and her baby were captives, he thought that Star Eyes might be of use, should the helpless ones be secretly rescued, And the Indian reasoned aright, for the ser- vices of Star Eyes were needed greatly; and, only from her presence on the trail, would there have been an opportunity for effecting much that, as will be shown, might otherwise hayo been impossible, ) Bright and early, the trio were astir; and, the mustangs having been attended to, the frugal breakfast was prepared by Star Eyes, while the two men examined more carefully the “sign” about the ‘* open,” now favored by the morning light. They were soon enabled to arrive at con- clusions, as to the dread occurrences of the pre- vious evening, almost as accurately as if they had been witnesses to the sad scenes, Their admiration for Madison Munroe, always eat, was now more exalted than ever, for hey could easily determine the number. of Apaches he had slain in his lone and desperate charge, by the blood-stained sward, and where the corpses had pressed down the rank grass and flowers. After the morning meal had been eaten, the animals were once more equipped; our friends taking the precaution to secrete in a thicket, everything that was not actually needed that would at all incumber them on their ride. They then proceeded on the trail, which, in ‘the daylight, was clearly defined, Within an hour they reached the point where the war-party had turned into the timber, and forded the river. All were surprised and disappointed, indeed greasy concerned, when they discovered that he Apaches had struck off in a westerly direc- tion toward the great bison range, over the broad, open prairie, The scouts had not for a moment thought that the war-party would have taken this course, as it was at a right angle with the direct route that they should have traveled to reach the Rio Pecos, and their wild haunts beyond the same, They were not only greatly puzzled, but alarm- ed as well for the safety of the captives, The course traveled by them showed plainly that the Apaches did not fear any attack from the trcops at Camp Johnston, for they could be seen a long way off, when marching over the open prairie. There was one thing, however, that the Caddo chief now thought of, which gave Old Rocky some relief when explained. It was this: That probably the war-party wero intending to advance west, until they reached the buffalo. Then they might, indeed they probably range. Secald: turn toward the Rio Pecos, trusting to the frequent stampedes of bison to obliterate their trail. This would insure the savages j ursulf, his, in the opinion of the old scout, was quite reasonable; but, upon further thought on the subject, he decided that the pr S were gloomy: indeed for the unfortunate Munroe y> — —= The Three Trailers. ee ee eee eee ee — - The pursuit could not be made without great danger of being discovered afar off; and besides, if the trail of the war-party should be obliter- ated, there would not be the slightest chance for a rescue. Taking into consideration the condition of the mustangs of the Apaches, the two scouts at length concluded that the savages would be obliged to strike north, and encamp on the creek west of the military post; that the trail on the prairie was made for the purpose of baffling pursuers, who, if any should be on the trail, could be seen by the Indians from the timber, and without difficulty ambushed. Having reached this conclusion, our friends abandoned the trail, and, diverging north, eventually arrived at the timber of the creek. This they entered, and traveled beneath, at times riding to the border of the same, to gaze out over the plain. But they could perceive no sign of the war-party, and consequently became more and more anxious each mile they passed over. The paths which they were obliged to follow, made by wild beasts, were winding and perplex- ing; and they were twice the length of time passing over the same distance than had they been clear of the timber, Thus the day wore on, until near its close, be- fore, afar to the southward, they discovered the Apache horde; and also, at the very point where they made this discovery, they detected plain ‘*sien,” proving that the edt’ irates of the plains, had there encamped for hours, beneath the timber bordering the creek. Then, indeed, were our friends furious; for their animals needed rest, and themselves as well, and they were forced to SDeeP» while bey knew that it was always among the prob- abilities for a herd of bison to trample out the trail of the yr fiends they were following. But Old cky watched the course of tid Indians, and concluded that they could be fol- lowed, and that it was yet possible a favorable opportunity might occur to effect a release of the unfortunates. Not more than a mile distant from the timber, every vestige of grass was trampled into or from the earth by the great tide of buffalo that had rolled southward, Little did Old Rocky and the Caddo dream that, within but a short gallop of their position, Mad Munroe was at that very moment lying, bound to the plain, suffering the agonies of the lost; and his little child, also, tortured with hunger, thirst, and heat, was now crawling in the dust, around its prostrate and helpless father, causing the wretched man’s agony to be increased a hundred-fold! But this, as the reader knows, was the case; and our friends were fated not to discover the sufferers, until the red sun had sunk, and the silvery moon had illumined the earth. And then, only through the significant presence of the vultures, eiretiiz in their aerial flight, and the hungry and howling wolves that clustered around. CHAPTER XII. OUT OF THE JAWS OF DEATH. For prudential reasons, the adventurous trail- ers decided that it was not best to start over the prairie until the sun had set. Besides, they wished their fier Ms nae A much rest and good grazing as possible, for the prospects were, if they did Bot’ gadbecd in effecting the release of the captives, that they would have a desper- ate ride over that broad and level plain. It was probable that the Ui ge would en- camp near the head-waters of the Rio Concho, and there would be the only place to make an attempt at the release of the unfortunate cap- tives. Pr In consequence of this, after sunset, our three friends struck out from the timber, due south, and rode along in perfect silence; Old Rocky being now doubly ‘* billyus,” and for him, some- whathopeless. They had proceeded for some dis- tance in this way, when suddenly Creeping Cat jerked his horse to itshaunches, and pointed sky- ward, as he spoke to the old scout: ‘*‘What does my white brother see?” ‘* Buzzards, an’ a heap o’ ther or’nary scum et thet. Why; what of hit?’ ‘Why do buzzards fly round one place?” ‘*Cause thar’s feed for ‘em underneath. Does yer take me fer a fresh-borned calf?” ‘Why no fly down, then eat?” asked the chief quickly, without noticing the last remark of his white pard. . Waal, I’m dang’d ef yer ain’t gittin’ luny- fied, Caddo! Dang my dorgs, ef yer ain’t! I thought we war on ther trail arter Munroe an’ his kaliker, Don’t reckon this hyer’s ther per. —_— zact an’ proper time ter gaze et dirty buzzards an’ sich, ‘“*Let’s peramberlate speedy; I smell tortur’ on ther air.” _ “Hark!” directed the chief, gazing northward, in eagerness. ‘* Thet’s wolves,” asserted Old Rocky. ‘* Wolves howls, buzzards fly over one place. Want eat, but what see not dead. Caddo’s ears sharp. Hear more sound than wolves, Come! Mebbe so Apache torture captives there?” And Creeping Cat pointed in the direction of the howling’ wolves. As the Indian spoke, he urged his horse to a gallop, Star Eyes following. ‘“Wa-al, what in dangnation!” growled the old scout. ‘‘ Ther Caddo hev gone lunyfied, dead sure an’ sartain! Howsomdever, thar mought be somethin’ in ther wind, ‘Git, Lively-Legs, git!” And away Old Rocky galloped after his In- dian friends; soon overtaking, and riding be- tween them. Nor did they speed more than half a mile, if that, when the old man cried out, in a voice of extreme amazement and fury, in which there was no little apprehension: ** Jumpin’ Jehosaphat! Dang an’ double dang my dorgs, ef ther Fasirds didn’t whisper in- ter yer years, Creepin’ Cat, er I’m a bald-head- ed setieed: |< Sesalt treat Crockett’s ghost! gaze yunder, will ye?” “Waugh!” was the solitary ejaculation of the chief. Then both men _ spurred deep, jerked their revolvers, and, with loud snorts of pain, the horses bounded forward over the broad and moonlit prairie. In two minutes more, the rattle of revolvers rung through the night air, mingled with yelp, and howl, and snarl] of wolves; as these animals were shot down on all sides, just in time to pre- vent Mad Munroe and his unconscious little one from being torn in pieces. Then Old Rocky and Star Eyes sprung to the ground, the latter clutching the nearly dead babe of Marion to her breast, and the scout cut- ting and slashing insanely at the bonds by which his unfortunate friend was held to the ground. He then lifted the senseless, blood-stained and dust-besmeared young man to a sitting posture. A tear or two rolled over Old Rocky’s beard, while the Caddo chief, with another ‘** Waugh,” alloped up, and, tearing a gourd from his sad- ashore’ also sprung from his mustang. ‘Great Crockett! Ef this hyer ain’t billyus, Pll chaw tarantalers fer feed, ontil I’m skuped in outen ther dew! Dang my dorgs an’ cats ef I ain’t sick enough ter puke up my bleed mersheen!” Thus exclaimed the cld scout, as he took the gourd from the Caddo, and poured water be- tween the parched and bleeding lips of Madison Munroe, Star Eyes performed the same humane act for the child, her beautiful face stamped with concern and pity. ‘Thank ther good Lordy, we’uns ’roved in time!” Old Rocky burst out, .with genuine feeling. ‘* Creepin’ Cat, ye’re_ a brick an’ I’m a dang fresh-borned calf. Ef hit hedn’t ’a’ bin fer your level head, when yer studied ther buzzard ‘sign,’ our young pard would ha’ gone over ther range sure es shootin’.” “By Crickey! This air jist billyus—bad billyus et thet—but ther wu’st air ter come; fer ther smoky sons o’ Satan hev gut Marion till yet. ‘‘How’s ther baby, Star Eyes? Hit ain’t quite played out, [hopes. Dang my ole heart, ef I ain’t all broke up! fication. ‘*Mad Munroe ain’t dead an’ dang my dorgs ef he won’t be ravin’ mad an’ chuck-full 0’ hy- I’m nigh on ter luny- derphobic, when he comes roun’ ter biz, an’ gits. onter ther trail o’ ther hellyuns! How’s ther leetle one?) I axed yer, Star . Eyes.” ‘*Pappoose he get milk, no die. Long trail to Camp Johnston. Mebbe so die before Star Eyes get there,” ‘‘That’s what yer orter do, speedy—dang ef yer hedn’t! I didn’t think yer would come in so andy on ther trail,” said the old scout. ‘ Hit’s lucky, ormighty lucky, yer come with we-uns, er we'd be dished, dead sure, hevin’ ther leetle one along. ; ‘Ef yer c’u’d git ter ther camp, ther baby mought pull through.” . The child now lay limp in the arms of the squaw, with little signs of life. 3 As yet, Madison Munroe himself remained as one dead. Creeping Cat, holding the three horses, stood = ST ee « 4a = a® . ‘ — “, ~" sm ‘ ue - ’ v =z - on peat 4 eens ve . ~ <i * ound “