Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 48 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

very heart, and falls on her knees, calling, in low tones: ‘* Oh, Dios, lo gquarda! Venga, venga, queri- do!” (Oh, God, guard him! Come, come, be- loved!) Then, as she kneels there by the battlement, watching the approaching horseman, who is so near that she can distinguish his white face from his hair.and clothes, suddenly an expres- sion of deadly terror comes over her own coun- tenance, at what she next sees and hears. A loud yell rends the air, and at least a score of Indians on horseback suddenly gallop out from the ruins of an old stable, that once be- longed to the convent, in the days when it was a hacienda. How they got there, how long they had been hidden, La Chiquita could Son eatin She only knew that now, just as her cavalier’s features became for the first time distinguishable, out rushed the mob of galloping savages, and open- ed a furious fusillade on the young mail-rider. It all passed in a moment, and the next she saw Dick Darling drop his bridle on his horse’s neck, bend forward to the saddle-bow, plunge in his spurs with a loud yell, then rise again, with a revolver in each hand, while his charger sped forward like an arrow from a bow. The Indians were on him in a moment, and the pistols flashed to and fro in the crimson sun- set, while the spell-bound novice, all aghast, stood as if rooted to the spot, gazing at the fierce skirmish. She saw her hero burst through his foes like a thunderbolt, with the blood spirting from a dozen, wounds, while the Indians hung round him, like wolves round a wounded buffalo, and still the cruel shots went to and fro, with their spiteful yellow flashes. Now they were right under her very feet, careering along, and the innocent novice felt a thrill of strange pride, in the midst of all her terror, as she marked, in that supreme moment, the pearing of her hero. Surrounded by pitiless red foes, firing into him’ from all sides, he neither quailed nor shrunk, but sat up erect in his saddle, firing steadily, and felling foe after foe, regardless of his own wounds, Then, just as the battle passed beneath her La Chiquita saw the black horse stumble anc roll over, dead, while the savages fired down at the prostrate horse and rider, and the fallen man fired sternly back, till his last charge was gone. Then she saw him fall back, as a last shot pealed out from above, and the Indians raised _ a fiendish yell of triumph. La Chiquita covered her face with her hands, for she knew it was all over. She seen him but twice, and they had killed him before her very eyes. She felt dazed and stupid at the sudden calamity. She was aroused by a Deny of excited nuns, running screaming up on the battlements, to see what the dreadful din meant. They found the Indians standing respectfully round the body of the dead man, Cat’s Eye, cowardly and vindictive, was about. to reach for his scalp, when the brutal Crow’s Foot interposed, with an air of unwont- ‘Touch not the scalp. Let the body lie,” said the Ute chief, simply. ‘“‘He was a brave man, and never quailed nor shut his eyes when I shot him. Let his body be honored. Come, let us go.” And the Indian chief waved back his party in admiration of the only virtue an Indian re- spects—a courage greater than his own.* CHAPTER X, THE SIGNAL AND ITS ANSWER. THE council of Blackfoot chiefs was gathered round its fire_in solemn conclave, listening to the story of Chevrette and Levrette, As the irls described the manner in which they had an persecuted by their Ute admirers, and how the latter had y attempted to secure them by force, some of the younger chiefs could hard- * That this incident is not extravagant, nor alien to Indian nature, is evidenced by a recent account of a skirmish in Arizona, between a small party of the Third U. 8. cavalry aud the Apaches, in which five of the former were killed. One of these was a little bugler, alad of sixteen, who was seen with a spy- glass, from a fort near b , to be defending himself with a stubborn bravery that was not shown by his comrades. When the rescue y from the fort ar-_ the ns d ngly mu while the lad’s body was laid out decently, with his weapons beside him, entirely unharmed, save by his death-shot, a token of respect for his courage. Dick Darling. ———— oo ly restrain their indignation by the rigid re- | serve of Indian etiquette. There were men in that circle, tall, stron and brave, warriors scarred from a hundre contests, who were willing to lay down their lives for these very girls, and deemed ;them too | | ood for their own lodges; and the idea of a | espised Ute, a creature that usually went on foot and dug roots, daring to aspire to these pets of the Echipeta, angered the proud war- riors beyond endurance. ‘‘Let the warriors speak,” said old Eagle Wing, gravely, ‘‘beginning at the youngest. What says Buffalo Horn?’ Buffalo Horn was a young chief of re- markably tall stature, and known as the swift- est runner of his tribe. He sprung to his feet, cried out: ‘Whose dog is a Ute, that he should bite it is the Ute dogs that are baying them. -_ Ee of the valley, which looked over the foothills that hemmed in the valley of Dolores Station. A little shower of red stars had just burst out in the air, and a moment later, the faint distant report of the bursting rocket came to their ears. Bear Killer had seen it first, and skillfully took advantage of the circumstance. **See, men of the Echipeta Kainna,” he cried. ‘“‘The pale-faces are fighting in the valley we 1at is their sign to tell their brothers the foe is on _ the war-path.” A moment later, a second rocket shot up into the air from the station below, and exploded, | i cig fe, Rage and crimson flames all round. Bear Killer pointed away down the valley to ; where the next station was known to stand. without waiting for a second invitation, and | told that the next station -was aroused an the hand of a maiden of the Echipeta? We > have suffered them too long near our valleys. Let us take the war-path, and cut off every man of the Utes, till not one remains alive to boast that he has insulted a maiden of the Echi- peta.” As he spoke, a chorus of approving grunts from the Indians around told that they were in poe with the speaker, and Eagle Wing said: “It is well. Let Antelope Eye speak.” Antelope Eye was another young chief, soft and delicate in appearance, and noted for hi personal beauty and soft, a a eyes, ‘‘ Antelope Eye is for war on the Ute dogs,” he said, quietly, ‘‘and let the chief who brings home most scalps lead the Fawn to his lodge.” This proposition was treated with more em- hatic Spreoves than the other, but aoe Wing ound it necessary to interpose. ‘‘ My son is too rash,” he sai “The daughters of the stranger are sacred to the chiefs of the Echipe- ta, and must not be taken without their own will. Let the maidens speak. Are they willing to enter the lodge of that chief of the Echipeta who brings home the scalps of their enemies?’ For a moment both girls hesitated, and then Levrette answered for both. Turning to her sister, she said in French: “Tt is our fate, sister. Only one of us can marry Dick. The other must go somewhere. Better a brave chief than a coarse white man. Let us promise. We can make the conditions im ible.” o the council she said: ‘“The chief that comes home with the scal of both Cat’s Eye and Crow’s Foot in his belt, and can show ten scalps of the Utes besides taken in fair fight, may claim either of us that he wishes, and we will enter his lodge and cook game for him. Is it good?” ‘Tt is good,” responded the Medicine chief, avely, while a hush fell over the assembly at he nature of the feat demanded. ‘‘ The daugh- ters of the Echipeta can only be won by brave chiefs, They have spoken wisely and well,” The old chief was gratified at the girl’s address. He knew that two rich and beautiful girls, such as they, were like amid heaps of chaff, among his impetuous young braves. The sight. of a single favored suitor would be likely to raise a dozen disappointed ones, and might even end in causing divisions in the little tribe. Hitherto the two girls had kept carefully aloof from the young men of the tribe, and Eagle Wing had vainly hoped that none of them were affected by the stranger’s children, The little speech of Antelope Bye had shown him how mistaken he was, and how the fire was already smoldering in many breasts. The almost impossible nature of the task as- signed for the favored lover, cast a damper on that fire, For any single chief to take twelve scalps out of one party was a matter of almost impossibility, and every one knew it; and old Eagle Wing rejoiced as he saw the flame of dis- cord promptly quenched. Only a single warri- or of all seerned not cast down by the task. This was a man of medium hight, with very broad shoulders, and a trunk and arms remark- ably muscular, for an Indian. His face and y were covered with scars, and he wore round his neck no less than three collars of the claws of the grizzly bear. His nameamong the Blackfeet was Bear Killer, and he had the re- peti of being the strongest warrior of his ibe. Bear Killer started up, when all the rest were silent. ‘‘ Whose. dog is a Ute, that a Kainna should fear to take of his scalps? Bear Killer will Satan party and bring back a hundred. See yonder As he spoke, he pointed to the southern exit Before the stars of the second rocket had vanish- an answering streak shot into the sky, and pass- ing the alarm. ‘Let the warriors rouse and follow me,” said Bear Killer. ‘‘ There is no time to be lost.” He was turning away into the night, after his horse, when Eagle Wing ke, and his deep, grave voice arrested Bear Killer, ‘“‘ Hold,” said the old chief. ‘‘ The Kainna are not boys, to run on a trail without knowing what foe to meet. Let Bear Killer take thirty chiefs. It is enough against the whole Ute nation. The rest will remain toguard the camp. Even a Ute may be brave if he finds none but the squaws and gray-heads here. I have spoken.” Bear Killer bent his head reverently before the old chief, for all in the camp were accustom- ed to obey his slightest word. He called for volunteers, and selected from those that offered only the strongest and most enduring. Antelo Eye, the lithe, handsome young chief with the beautiful face, he was about to reject, but the oung warrior was so urgent in his entreaties t the older one finally consented. — ‘*But beware of lagging,” he said, sternly. “°Twill be along trail and a blind one, and many eyes will be closing for weariness, ere we come back.” | Antelope Eye smiled a proud smile, but_he said nothing. Young braves are always modest in word, till they have taken a few ps. : While the Blackfeet were discussing the pre- liminaries for their raid, rocket after rocket, to the number of six, went up from Dolores Sta- tion; and Bear Killer hurried them. off. It did not take long for the Echipeta warriors to peepee. Inside of five minutes from the time Killer announced the names of the volunteers, thirty chiefs, each with a rifle at his back, a of revolvers in his sash, and carry- ing in his hand a long lance, sat on their chargers at one side of the fire, awaiti orders. Chevrette and Levrette, armed like the rest, and equall well-mounted, took their posts in ae of the center of the line, behind Bear er. No one remonstrated, for it was an unde thing in the tribe that the girls did as leased, but aaa ag oung chief’s heart beat Sigher as he saw the object of his secret adora- tion sharing the perils of the expedition, and knew that the girls would be with them. Bear Killer gave the signal, and away they went in single-file down the valley toward Do- lores Station. When they reached the pass that overhung the valley, a bright crimson glare arrested their attention, and told the story plainer than words. Dolores Station was afire, corral, sheds and all. The little stone ary alone stood up, black and ominous, amid the glare of the burn-- ing fences, and not a trace of human beings was visible. . With one accord the Blackfoot warriors gal- op boldly down the steep mountain-side, to ee ie trail before the light of the fires had van- The marauders had escaped with all the horses, CHAPTER XI. s JACK HARDIN’S HOT-AIR BATH, AT the ap ce of the first rocket that had shot up from Dolores Station, there was a dead silence among the crowd of Utes that surround~- ed it. gs, agg its meaning without any teaching. ey had seen it before. Then, as with one consent, they set to work to do all the damage they could before decamping. | The mustangs in the corral, and the Stage horses, were hastily got fea ppp then the and posts of the corral stockade, with the shattered ents of furniture from the hut, a the . y, heokee A aap cosh, were Pp in a hea ore the door of the granary and set on fire, . (E| 90 )(0) com SAE)