Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 427 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘Walal, [ll jist sw’ar ter Jerry-Coo!” burst out Old Rocky in astonishment and concern; ‘‘why in thunderation and dangnation, didn’t yer spit ther hull biz out brash, es I axed yer, Caddo? Yer nigh flustercate me. ‘*T shell git chuck-full o’ ole he hyderphobic mad. I tole yerl’d bin bilyus—lI allers air when thar’s somethin’ rotten or ramshus ’mong my frien’s. Dang my dorgs, but yer hes set me back hefty! ‘* Ain’t hit ther perrarer beyunt ther cabin, what’s burnin’? Dang hit, I shell b’ile over! My nag’s nigh broke up, but I swan ter Christy, Lively-Legs hey gut ter skip up ther drink speedy, ef thar’s any suspish’ o’ crookedness er ?Pache cussedness! ‘Tm humpin’ myself now, yer jist kin bet. Hyer, old pard,”—to his horse—*‘ glide air ther word; er yer kin take yer ch’ice outen skute, levant, perceed, dust out, stompede, er git up an’ zit! whichever ’pears most ‘propriate an’ proper. somebody hold my head, er hit’ll bu’st! ‘* By ther ’tarnal Heavins, Pll skin a thousan’ *Pache heads, ef ther hellyuns o’ ther Pecos harms Marion er ther leetle’un! You hear me asservate?” While rattling this off, Old Rocky was sad- dling his horse at a lively rate; indeed he appear- ed nearly insane at the communication of tho Caddo, in regard to the girl up the Concho, for there were but few people in the little world of the old scout whom he loved and respected as he did the Munroe family. From the fact that Creeping Cat and his squaw had approached the Concho from anorth- west direction, they had obtained a better view of the glare of the conflagration, when the Apaches had burned the Munroo cabin than they could from any other point; as the con- fluence of the creek with the river, was at a point where the Concho curved westerly. Star Eyes did not dismount, neither did she speak after her chief had addressed himself to Id Rocky. The Caddo now stood, with stoical face, gazing around the shades, and Jistening in- tently; as it was natural for him thus to do on the war-path. The scout had at once observed, upon the ar- rival of Creeping Cat, that the latter had fresh- ly applied his war-paint; and this, in itself, had indicated that the Caddo had discovered signs, near or far, he knew not which, of the presence of enemies. But Old Rocky had asked no ex- planation pointedly, knowing that the chief would reveal everything in his own good time. It was an imposing picture, that in the little ** open "indeed a striking one. The Caddo chief and his squaw were fino specimens of savage beauty, and life, in their adornments and arms; and the steeds, which they bestrode, were well chosen for each. They waited not long, however. In a remarkably short space of time, the old scout was again in his saddle, and ready for the start. He had suddenly, become as silent and preoc- cupied in thought as his red friends; for he well knew that the judgment of Creeping Cat was to be relied on—that there could be no doubt as to the glare of the fire being near or at the point where the cabin of Mad Munroe was situated. This was terriblo to think of, for Old Rocky was positive that the log dwelling would not have caught fire by accident; besides, he knew that Mad Munroe should be at his home, with his wife and child, at the hour of sunset. Without further words, the chief sprung upon his black steed, and guided the animal directly back to the river; Star Eyes following, and Old Rocky bringing up the rear, The latter knew that this course was taken in order to give him a chance to see for himself the suspicious glare in the sky as soon as was possi- ble, and he spoke not & word, but followed on as fast as he could ride. All forded the river, passed through the belt of timber, on the west side of the same, and out on the broad plain. By this time, the blazing cabin had become nearly consumed; but, at intervals, forked flames shot upward, which, although they did not pass above the tree-tops, cast points of glar- ing and fiery light far above the belt of tower- ing trees, within the shades of which were the ruins of the dwelling. A single glance was sufficient for Old Rocky, He had been satisfied that the chief’s words were true; but he knew, by that glance, that the glare was immediately at the confluence of the creek and river, and consequently must be the burning home of his friends. There was lit- tle doubt now, in the minds of either of the party, as to the origin of the fire. The Three Trailers. They believed it to be the work of marauding Apaches, hat then had been the fate of Mad Munroe, his beautiful wife, and innocent child? One graceful gesture toward the south was given by the Caddo chief. That was all, except significant glances, The situation admitted of no words, Their course was at once plain and simple. Away swept Creeping Cat and his squaw at full speed; Old ak. with a half-smothered curse of vengeful fury, driving deep his spurs and dashing after. And on, the trio sped, parallel with the tim- ber of the Rio Concho at a rapid gallop, their gap point being the scarcely distinguish- able glow above the far off dark line which marked the course of the creek, as it mingled its waters with the river, On, like "Byprpeens i anon swallows, the three galloped, the silvery moon playing upon their weapons—upon the beads and trinkets of the Caddo chief and his squaw, while the eagle-feath- ers of the former waved and fluttered in the wind that was created by the headlong speed, CHAPTER XI. THE PRAIRIE PARDS ON THE TRAIL, THE spot where, but a few hours previous, had stood the vine-embowered log cabin, in which the fair Marion, with her babe in her arms, had been seated,awaiting the return of her hero husband, was but a mass of smolder- ing ruins, when our three friends, Old Rocky, Creeping Cat, and Star Eyes, their horses pant- ing laboriously and flecked with foam, dashed into the little ‘‘ open,” after fording the creek just west of that point. ‘** Great Gee-whillikins!” Thus exclaimed the old scout, in a voice of great astonishment and grief. He could say no more. Long had the trio felt a conviction that the dwelling of their friends had been destroyed, but their worst fears were confirmed upon their arrival. The horses halted suddenly, as if well know- ing that their hard and cruel gallop was at an end. They heaved heavy sighs, that were al- most groans; they having been greatly taxed in that terrific ride, which could not have been in- creased in speed had the very lives of the riders themselves depended upon it, Lively-Legs was, however, the most fatigued, and seemed broken in spirit, trembling in every limb, Tho Caddo chief spoke not a word, but cast the jaw-strap of his horse to his squaw, and then sprung to the earth, as did his white pard. Both then began a careful examination of the ground of the ‘‘open.” _ Occasionally, something very like an oath from the old scout, or an “ugh” of surprise or satisfaction from Creeping Cat, was heard; for the ‘‘ sign” was as plain to them as the print of a book to an educated person, At length they met, near where Star Eyes awaited them; hay- ing examined the ground thoroughly, as well as the adjacent thickets. _ “ Heap Apaches gone on long dark trail. It is good,” asserted the Caddo, with exultation. “Mad Munroe, he great brave, Make good chief. Fight for squaw, fight for pappoose, but get captured. ‘Apaches thick as leaves on trees. Got white brother, got “ape iik got pappoose, for tor- ae It is bad, What say Old Rocky? What OF The old scout stared about the ‘ open” for a moment, in a dazed manner, He was, for the time, speechless with concern and apprehension, Then he shuddered, and replied to his red pard, in a low voice: ‘“Ye’re mighty right, Caddo. Thar war a big batch o’ ther ha’r-t’arers—dang my dorgs ef thar warn’t! But our pard jist fit an’ fit, an? laid ’em out cold, es long es he c’u’d pick trig- gers, er grip his bowie. Howsomdever, ther hellyuns piled onter him, an’ he’s a goner, ‘‘Purty Marion, an’ ther leetle baby too—I jist sw’ar, hit air wuss nor billyus! I[’m sick enough ter puke up my knee-pans, but J’ll git round ter biz ‘fore soon. “Whatll I do, yer axes? By ther great Crockett, I'll foller ther trail o’ ther pesky sons o’ Satan clean ter ther Pecos, an’ t’other side, if needcessary! J’ll resky ’em, ef hit’s recorded I shell do so, er I'll git my ole head skinned, years an’ all, a-tryin’! ‘“‘T may be too late ter save ’em from tortur’, but ef I bees, I jist everlastin’ly afferdavies thet Tll lunge in heavy. I doesn’t ax yer ter go ‘long, Caddo; fer yer hes Star Eyes with yer, an’ hit wouldn’t do. LLL ttt “sti wah SeaiedZ ait ~ aa ‘*T wish’t I hed a fresh nag, but hit’s onpos- sible ter freeze onter one, shell leave my critter on good grass now, an’ ’zamine ther ‘sign’ t’other side ther drink, findin’ out which way ther condemned scum glided, Then, et sun-up, Lively-Legs ‘ll get peart, I reckon, an’ Pll perceed arter ’em. Thar ain’t no other way. ‘** May ther good Lord take keer o’ Marion an’ ther baby. I'd go ter Camp Johnston arter help, an’a fresh hoss, but hit would ruinate chances, Ef ther sogers gut on the rampage arter our frien’s, an’ ther ’Paches see’d ’em, es they’re dead sure ter do ef they go, hit’ll be Bo0G hy ter this big ball o’ dirt ter Munroe, an’ jis caliker, an’ kid; fer ther or’nary sculpers ’u’d kill ’em all, speedy. ‘Dang my dorgs! Didn’t we-’uns tell Mad Munroe hit war ormighty risky biz ter fotch his caliker hyer? But, he war stubborn es a Mex’can mule, an’ now he’s ruinated, sure pop —thet is, ‘less { gits ther deadwood on snatchin’ ’em outen ther ’Pache camp, which air risky, besides ormighty hard ter ’complish. ‘* Hit’s billyus biz, Caddo; right bad billyus biz, clean through!” This was,in the consideration of tho chief, a long and useless speech; but he understocd the feelings of Old Rocky, and knew that the latter was nearly distracted with grief and anxiety. When tho old scout had finished, the Caddo spoke; . ‘Creeping Cat is on war-path. Apache got his white friends, A Caddo chief sits not down when his friends in enemy’s camp, Creepin Cat will go on trail of Apaches, Star Eyes wi go on trail, for she love white squaw heap, love pappoose too, ‘It is good. We will save Mad Munroe and his squaw. Save pappoose too. Come! My white brother look for trail over Concho. Star Kyes stay with mustangs. Creeping Cat look for ‘sign’ with white brother. Thavé spoken,” ‘May ther Great Spirit bless yer, Caddo!” exclaimed Old Rocky, impulsively , and with deep feeling. ‘ Ye’re straight up an’ squar, I allers knowed, but I didn’t keer ter ax yer ter glide on this trail, ‘Hit wouldn’t be jist right fer Star Eyes ter o, though. Couldn’t she skute up ter Camp ohnston ontil we-uns gits back? Thet air, ef we ever does glide this-a-way. Mebbe so we'll git plugged through our in’ards with arrers.” ‘Star Eyes will go with her chief,” he in the young squaw, in a decided tone, and that ended the talk, the Caddo and the old scout crossing the river to study the trail. They could see that Mad Munroe must have slain a number of the Apaches, but that he him- self had been carried away as a captive, for the torture, and his wife to a worse fate; while the babe, they believed, would be killed as soon as it annoyed them on the march by its crying. The question was, would the Apaches take the captives to their distant village to torture, or would they do their fiendish work at their first camp? If the first, there were some grounds to hope forarescue. If the last, it would be too late to save them by the time the war-party could be overtaken, Creeping Cat believed that Munroe and his wife would be taken to the south side of the Pecos, and hoped that such would be the case; as, in that event, there might be favorable op- portunities to rescue the imperiled ones, The Apache war-party had been encamped in the dense shades of the timber, and had also kept within the same; as they had, after breaking camp, proceeded up the Rio Concho with their captives and booty. Consequently, it was a very difficult matter for our friends to trace them. But this was considered unnecessary, after the course which the war-party had taken was as- certained by the scouts, They were encouraged from the fact that they believed the Apaches had kept along up the river, and would, they judged, continue on this course until they had gained a safe distance when they would nodoubt encamp. This would enable our friends, should the savages make a halt in the timber, as was probable, to gain a view of their camp. They could also approach the same, under cover of the undergrowth, and this would favor greatly & rescue. Old Rocky and Creeping Cat knew that the mustangs of the Apaches must be much fatigued and broken, for they had ascertained that the war-party had been ona raid down-country and had struck the Concho for the purpose of en- camping and resting; but, having, accidentally as the scouts believed, discovered the cabin, an captured tho whites, then setting the dwelling on