Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 427 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ther condemned ’Paches air ranAbeg wi’ warm, an’ hev jist washed his blankets an’ hung ’em out ter dry, ‘* Thet’s bout how things run on this hyer ball o’ dirt, Lively-Legs; hellishness bein’ sifted onter us pore critters when we-’uns air ther leastest perpaired for it. Waz-al, let’s git an’ take a drink; then yer kin skupo in ther wile rye, an’ snooze deep ter-night, fer I'll chaw bugs fer ther nex’ six moons cf thar ain’t goin’ ter bo a raal ole ho double distilled dang- nation shoved onter cither we-uns, er some 0’ our pards, afore two suns glides ’cross ther sky! ‘*T smells "Paches, an’ Vil bet high thar’s a hefty crap o’ ha’r fer me an’ Creepin’ Cat ter harvest, within two days’ trot o’ ther Concho. The sun air chuck-full o’ bleed ter-night. I wisht ther Caddo wouid ’rove hyer-a-ways ’fore soon. I ain’t giner’ly lonesome, but ter-night I air feelin’ peaked, fer a fact.” While the scout was speaking, ‘‘ Lively-Legs” had, with neck-rope trailing, succeeded in reach- ing a point on the bank, from which the horse could satisfy his thirst. Then the animal had returned, to crop the grass, with evident satis- faction; at times, howover, tossing up his head, and gazing, with jaws filled with hanging grass, at Rocky, as if pondering more deeply, or eae more intently to some particular por- tion of his master’s remark. The old scout had busied himself gathering dry fagots and lighting his camp-fire; then, un- packing his malettos, or saddle-bags, he pro- ceeded to prepare hisfrugal prairie meal, But, as with the horse, the man also, at times, stood silent and motionless, listening intently, to de- tect any unusual or suspicious sounds, which might indicate the presence of danger, while the keen eyes of both scanned the shades on all sides, Old Rocky depended greatly upon the instincts of his equine pard, the latter seeming often, in their wanderings, to be aware of the approach of danger, whether it was from wild beasts or wilder red-men, And the noble animal would ae fail to warn his master, whether sleeping er wakine. Old Rocky, having prepared his supper, par- took of it with great gusto, washing the solids down with a liberal supply of strong coffee—the prairieman’s favorite beverage—suflicient, in- deed, to have served several men in Civilized haunts, This done, the old scout trampled out his fire, first having lighted his corn-cob pipe. He then seated himself beside the margin of the ‘‘ open,” upon his saddle, having spread his blankets. within an adjacent thicket. He smoked silently, enjoying himself hugely after his hearty meal by resting, and puffing at his pipe—his solace in the solitudes. aught but the noiso made by Lively-Legs, as the horse cropped the rank grass from the sod, the ripple of the river near at hand, and the oc- casional shriek of a panther or hoot of an owl, was to be heard, if we except the usual dreamy and continuous hum and buzz of the insects of the night, that swarmed amid the bottom- timber. For quite an hour the old man sat thus, with- out speech or motion, darkness ruling the tim- ber and thickets; but the round silver moon illumined the greater portion of the ‘‘ open” be- fore him. Suddenly, however, a bird-like whistle sound- cd from beyond the Rio Concho, The head of Lively-Legs shot upward quickly, with a low snort, and Old BOOS sprung to his feet as if he had received a shock from an elec- tric battery; while, at the same instant, he cried out in a low voice of mingled surprise and oy: =i Dang my dorgs ef thar ain’t ther Caddo, es sure es shootin’! Perforate my pericardium, an’. ssop my futur’ peregrinatin’ ther perrarers ef Ole Rock ain’t particular plum-up chuck-full o’ pure glad! ‘‘Jerusalem, an’ Jerry-Coe counted in ef me an’ my red pard won’t everlastin’ly pop powder, ef in’ ’round rmisc’us-like, es me an’ Lively-Legs hey bin inclernated ter s’pose' , “Say, Lively-Legs, Creepin’ Cat air come! .Gi’n us yer paw, ole pard, fer a shake!” With these words, the scout sprung to his horso’s side, extending his hand within which the animal quickly placed his hoof. ‘* Pll do ther grip, Lively-Legs,” he continued, \‘* fer I’m jist bilin’ over wi’ pure glad, an’ ther old bilyusness what war gettin’ on top begins ter levant right off; an’ all on count o’ ther Caddo *rovin’ *head o’ time. Ill whistle ther family tergether,” — And, suiting the action to the word, Old Rocky gavo an answering signal, The Three Trailers. CHAPTER XX. CREEPING CAT, THE CADDO. No sooner had the signal of Old Rocky sound- ed, than there followed a heavy splashing of water as if two large animals had. plunged, one after the other, into the stream. The old scout manifested great surprise and curiosity in the expression of iis countenance, he having stationed himself in the middle of the ‘‘ open,” with sombrero in hand. He tore off a huge quid of ‘‘nigger-head,” in the joy he felt at the arrival of one who, although an Indian, he respected and admired as a brave and true man, and a prairie pard. Old Rocky had expected the Caddo to come alone, but the sounds seemed to indicate that he had a companion of some kind. He was not, however, kept long in suspense. Soon was heard the noise made by animals climbing up the difficult bank, and then the hard tramp of hoofs, and the whisking of bush and branch. Lively-Legs had ceased feeding from the mo- ment the signal of the Caddo had sounded, and the horse now walked to the side of his master, and there stood, facing the river; expressing by gaze and pa as much of interest and curi- osity as old Rocky himself. The sounds of approach drew nearer and, in a few moments the head of a black horse, with large and brilliant eyes of the same hue, and long slender ears that pointed forward, broke through the foliage bordering the ‘‘ open,” the head remaining stationary a moment or two, framed in dark green, as it gave a low ‘ whin- ny,” which, however, could not have heen heard fifty paces distant. Lively-Legs gave an answering neigh, just as low as the other; both animals seeming to know that it would be imprudent to give vent to greet- ings in a louder manner. I[t was evident that they recognized each other—that they had be- fore been associated together. Only momentary was the halt of the black steed. Then, with a bound, it sprung from the bushes; revealing its whole glossy and graceful proportions, an animal of remarkable beauty. And, astride, was a plumed and painted In- dian. But, instantly, the red-man alighted, the horse trotting up beside Lively-Legs; ‘both ‘the beasts rubbing their muzzles affectionately together. Straight as a mount-sheltered pine stood the son of the forest, with arms folded across his broad breast, which was bare and pigment- striped. Three eagle-feathers flaunted from his prone head, while his long black hair hung be- ow his belt behind him in several heavy braids, Into these were woven shells, the teeth of wild beasts, and small silver trinkets that glittered in the moonlight. Stripes of vermilion, black pigment, and bars of white gypsum—the last lending him a ghastly appearance that was almost hideous. Delicate lines of yellow ocher and vermilion ran beneath his eyes, which were black and piercing. His features were more Caucasian in cast than like those of the ordinary American Indian; his nose being sharp and his lip: thin, while a noble and commanding mien gave him an appearance that would have attracted the attention of any one of the least artistic taste. He was naked to the belt, which sustained a revolver and scalping-knife, He wore buckskin leggins, and a breech-cloth of bright colors. His feet were unusually small for an Indian, having high insteps, and were incased in beaded mocca- sins. Strapped to his back were a carbine and a quiver of arrows, with a short bow; the quiver, belt, and leggins being profusely fringed with scalps of coarse black hair—all, as was plain, from the heads of Indians hostile to his tribe. ‘Creeping Cat hascome. His heart is glad, for he has found hfs white brother.” Thus he spoke, Old Rocky extended his hand, which was pressed to the painted breast of the Caddo; the scout imitating the act, which Wasa token of peace and brotherhood on the prairies, “Tm ormighty chuck-full 0’ pure glad, XXX glad, ter git a peep et yer purty pictur’, an’ a grip et yer paw. Yer hes ’roved a leetle ahead 0” ee es this hyer ole rawhide ripper did his- self, ‘What’s bin buzzin’ big up-country? Any- thin’ fresh? Air everythin’ glidin’ smooth es honey down a b’ar’s throat, er air matters sor- ter mixed an’ crooked?” ‘*Comanche hunt buffalo. No go on war- PP mae my white brother crossed Apache ails? ‘‘Nary a’Pache moccason track hey I see’d, er Pecos mustang’s huff-mark either, Why? | * 4 ed < " 7 Pat f . , as t+ —— ee CO COCO. hee LL % te ~S< a £ ,* a 7h: ie a ee ee ze . a | SS i f e -s 4 b> , ‘ear We 1 ~~ ef a ee Did yer ’spect I tore ha’r since we-’uns gripped paws, an’ p’inted two ways?” The Caddo seemed not to notice the last words of his white pard, but quickly asked, with more earnestness than the chief usually manifested, causing some surprise not devoid of anxiety: 7 ‘‘Has Old Rocky seen our white friends, up the Concho waters?” ‘* No,” was the reply. ‘‘ How c’u’d I, bein’ es I jist ’roved from down-country? Why? Has yer heerd o’ anythin’ happenin’ ’em?” ‘‘ Did my white brother not see fire up Concho, after sun go wer 1 it ‘‘Nary fire, Caddo. What in thunderation air yer hintin’ at? Spit it out speedy! What hev yer see’d, an’ who war with yer when yer struck ther drink over yunder?”’ The last question was answered without words from the chief, for a beautiful Indian squaw, who had remained seated upon her horse within the bushes until that moment, now caused her mustang to bound into the moonlit ‘* open,” and up Fes the side of the red and white pards. Old Rocky’s face expressed the greatest as- tonishment mingled with pleasure, and he put out his brawny hand to the squaw quickly, as he exclaimed: ‘“‘Dang my dorgs, an’ m counted in! Ef hyer ain’t snakes an’ buzzard-meat fer a Jumpin’ Jerusalem! But yer man a start. “T thort my guardeen angel hed come ter whisper inter my years, thet hit war time fer Ole Rock, ter pass in his chips, quit harvestin’ ha’r, an’ skip et stompede speed fer kingdom come; fer I’ve bin bilyus since ther sun war chuck-up strai’t. ‘¢ Air yer on ther war-path, Star Eyes, with Creepin’ Cat?” The appearance so sudden and un cted, of the attractive young squaw, although the scout suspected that the Caddo had company, banished from Old Rocky’s mind the important allusion that had been made to the fire up- stream. And the old man was excusable, for Star Eyes was a perfect bronzed Venus, and very light and roseate bronze at that. A coronet of flowers, of bright hues, circled her well-shaped head, from which depended a wealth of ebon tresses, Which were braided in an artistic man- ner. She was, indeed, a fitting mate for the Apollo- like Caddo chief. Her bodice and short skirt, as also her legge and moccasins, were Of the finest fawnskin, richly ornamented with bead-work, porcupine quills, and other curious trinkets, while silver bands were worn around her arms and ankles. — She was mounted upon one of those parti- colored mustangs, called in Texas a ‘‘ paint,” and in Mexico a “‘ pinto”—both words having the same signification. Her equipments were of the finest, and she was armed with bow, arrows and revolver, as well as with a knife; all of which weapcns were highly ornamented. The chief was evidently proud of his squaw, and loved her dearly; but his face expressed no hing of this. Indeed there was a slight look gran’marm’s cats tar Eyes, [ll chaw wer o’ periods. id gi’n ther ole of surprise in his gaze, as Old Rocky changed so — suddenly, from having been deeply impressed and interested in connection with the fire spoken of as having been seen up the river, to an ex- travagant manifestation of joy at the arrival of the aera 3 squaw. ; The faintest of smiles wreathed the ruby lips of the Indian woman at the old scout’s question, together with his somewhat comical look and perhaps too plainly expressed admiration, both in words and manner, we | “ Creeping Cat has put’on war-paint,” she an- swered: ‘* but the cheeks of the Star Eyes are as the Great Spirit has pairted them. ‘‘ My chief wished Star Eyes to go and see the squaw of Mad Munroe, Star Eyes is on her way.” co An’ I’m ormighty glad ye’re goin’—dan my dorgs ef I ain’t!” returned Old Rocky, wit animation. ‘' This hyer’ll be a purty leetle party. Cuss my cats ef hit won’t! “ An’ I’m hankerin’ for sun-up, so we kin per- ceed ter peramberlate, er propel, I doesn’t *zact- ly know which way to put hit.” ‘‘My white brother has forgot,” put in the chief. ‘‘ Creeping Cat has seen fire. It points tothe stars. 1t was where the log-lodge of Mad. Munroe stands. « “a fe 2 ee _— © . - > L _ é 4 ‘ : ee ee eee m* a" @ ~ a ] | , “Tt is far, but a Caddo’s eyes are sharp. Pi chay - Creeping Cat will not say Apaches on Coe 4 but he will not camp when he thinks danger lodge of Mad Munroe,” ar ‘ahe«->