Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 442 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

\ Bluff Bill. — The mind of the noted scout was in a whirl. take heap scalps. Big Foot, great chief; must He hardly knew that he held little Leon in his | die at torture-stake!” arms for some time after he had escaped with | ‘‘Dog-gone yer dirty, smoky skins! Ye’re him from the outlaws. This perplexity made | kerrect! Vve skinned a power o’ Comanche the scout less cautious, far less watchful and cun- | heads, an’ lll skin more. Yer hain’t torter’d ning than he would have been in less puzzling | me yit, an’ yer can’t, fer ther Great Spirit per- and apprehensive situations. Had this not been | tects me. Fire can’t burn me, knives break the case he would not have fallen into the hands | ag’in’ my bones, an’ arrers skute past me with- of the Comanches, | out scratchin’ my skin. “ However, it was perfectly natural and rea- ‘*Take me ter yer village, an’ [ll gi’n yer sonable for him to decide that the Indians were | a circus. Wa-al, yeou psa I will, Pick following the trail of the outlaw Mexicans, or | out es many braves es thar bees moons in ther else had remained at the scene of the conflict, | year, tie one han’ ahind me, an’ gi’n me a knife some distance up the river. in t’other. Then let ’em all at meter onc’t. Ef Be that as it may, there surely was not a more | I doesn’t skin tha’r heads an’ feed ther dogs wi’ dumfounded man on earth, or a more maddened | ther hull batch, yer kin chuck me out on the and self-condemning one, than the giant scout, | perrarer fer wolf lunch. when the half-dozen Comanche braves sprung ‘*Thet’s me every time, yer knock-kneed, upon him. He very nearly escaped them, hurl- | shamble-shanked, paint-daubed,cowardly, sneak- ing the savages right and left in his great | in’ sculpers! Dang yer, when I flip up an’ go strength and frantic rage; but a Jasso encircled | on ther long, dark trail, ther rivers ‘Il run dry his body, binding his arms to his side, and this | an’ ther sun ll quit a-risin’, an’ don’t yer disre- decided the unequal struggle. member hit!” Even after being helplessly bound, Big Foot Both the old scout and Leon watched the In- felt more anxiety for poor Leon, and also for | dians keenly while the former was speaking. Captain Lem, than he did for himself. They both knew that the brave who had spoken Many a time had he been in just as desperate | in broken English understood him. a position, and had escaped from both red and This was proved by the same red-skin speak- yellow-skinned captors through the assistance of | ing at length with his fellow-braves, allof whom one or more of his pards, But these were now, | glanced from time to time with no little anxiety Heaven only knew where! at their giant captive. There was but little chance for escape this After a short deliberation, two of the savages time, strode away. soon returning with two mustangs, At that moment the boy recovered conscious- | when they lifted the scout, but not without diffi- ness. culty, upon one of the animals, and Leon upon the other. Both captives noticed that they were handled with care and respect. ‘* Reckon I slung gab what'll sot ’em a-thinkin’. Fac’ air, they’re thinkin’ a heap over hit now. I’m bettin’ they won’t tortur’ us till they gits ter ther village. Thar’ll be some show fer us jit. Keep a stiff upper lip, leetle pard!” ¥ [ am only thinking of my uncle,” replied the youth. ‘* Hit’s a long time before mornin’, Leon, an’ yer can’t count dead sure on what mought hap- pen ’twixt this an’ then.” The mustangs were led along a path singly, and Leon and Big Foot had no further oppor- tunity to converse. Quite a distance was trav- ersed, when they entered an open, which was surrounded by trees and dense undergrowth. In the center were several fires, at which cook- ing was going on. Mustangs were grazing on the outer portion of the plain. No yells or whoops of exultation were given as the captives were brought in. Nothing was heard but low, guttural conversation, and point- ing at them, with much of sign language. From this, the scout reasoned that their cap- ture had previously been reported, and the cause of their abstaining from the customary moise on such occasions was that they hoped yet to secure the residue of the band of Mexicans. He also felt assured that a number of the war- party were absent, seeking the outlaws. The mustangs were led to the western side of the camp, und the captives taken from their backs. As they were placed on the ground, heavy groans drew their attention, and turning their eyes they saw two Mexicans. These were the survivors of the fight between the outlaws and the Indians. The corpses ot two braves, and three that had been wounded, were also to be seen, and Big Foot then knew that there would be a torture scene, The warriors soon satisfied their hunger, and then collected in a group. In five minutes more, the two ill-starred bandits were hanging, head downward; being thus suspended by the ankles between two saplings, the bent tops of which pulled in opposite directions. Around this scene of excruciating torture, the savages danced in silent glee. - Leon shivered with horror. The old scout was greatly relieved, however, and explained to the boy, the reason why. This torture of the outlaws might be the salva- tion of the other captives, But while the savage dance was going on, a mountain Apache galloped into the open, and gave several rapid signs, pointing down the river as he did so, He recognized his companion in captivity. ‘* Bio Foot Wallace,” he said faintly. Then, perceiving their condition, he asked: ‘* Have you lost your liberty on my account? What does this mean? I was taken by a Texan disguised as a Mexican, but these are Indians, My poor uncle! They will kill him, too! ‘‘ Speak to me, Wallace, or I shall go mad! Give me some hope—some light in this awful darkness.” “Don’t yer talk thet-a-way, leetle pard, fer ther ole man hev gut enough onter his brain ter bu’st hit! Things air ormighty mixed an’ billyus, but thar’s no use ncryin’ over it. Yer war tuck by yer own uncle—yer dad’s brother—an or’nary | miser’ble cuss what mixes wi’ Greaser scum; but Treskied yerfrom him, Howsomdever, I wish’t ('d left yer with him, ’stid o’ gittin’ yer inter this hyer torterin’ lay-out. ‘‘T 'roved et ther bend jest es yeou an’ Humpy war jumpin’ yer critters ter skute from ther batch o’ Greasers. I knowed they war crooked, an’ I struck fer ther herd, whar I found Pablo an’ Garcia war in cahoots wi’ yer cuss of an uncle, fer they stompeded when they see’d me, arter hevin’ tied Francisco. ‘‘T cut him loose an’ started him ter ther ranch wi’ ther critters, fer ter tell Cap’n Lem what warup. Then I come a-b’ilin’ this-a-way, fer ter resky yer if so be yer was tuck. ‘‘T hain’t see’'d Humpy et all. Reckon ther reds hes split his cabase. Ef they hain’t, he mought try some trick ter git we-’uns outen our scrape. He’s ther only one what we-'uns kin look ter fer help, fer yer uncle Lem an’ Fran- cisco hey gut tha’r han’s full, an’ more too, at ther ranch. ‘“Teetle pard, this air billyus, but we-’uns must grin an’ b’arit. I allers ’spected fer ter die slow_an’ hard, wi’? some squirmin’ in ther biz; an’ I reckon hit’s "bout time fer ther last kick, though I doesn’t say die ontil my breath gins ter slip away from me.” ‘‘ How came you to be captured, Big Foot?” ‘Count o’ bein’ a dang’d fool fer a few fleetin’ riuds, my head bein’ on ther big buzz, think- in’ o’ this hyer muddled-up mess "Jong o’ Greas- ers an’ reds runnin’ in on us, an’ thar bein’ but four humans ter buck ag’in’ °em, I didn’t one’t think o’ ther reds bein’ this-a-way, an’ I war ormighty skeered, thinkin’ yer he’d had got a knock thet mought kill yer, er stop yer squar’ thinkin’ in ther futur’, “But Big Foot ain’t dead yet, not much. Look out thar, yer greasy, Mangy son o’ a kiote, er [ll bust ther bufiler-strings an’ skin yer head with my finger-nails!” — | This last was said in threatening fury as one of the Indians gave him a kick. The fierce expression and furiously shot-out words caused the Comanche to step back quick- . ly, for the giant scout strained at his bonds, | Too well did Big Foot know the meaning of his muscles gathering in big knots. pr | those signs, but he dared not explain them to it seemed as though the Indian feared him, | Leon, They meant that the ranch was being although he was fast bound, and the reds all | attacked by the Greasers, led by Bluff Bill! directed their attention to the captives, having The tortured captives were forgotten. The previously been scrutinizing the opposite bank. | dance quickly ceased. All was bustle in the “Heap big warrior!” growled the brave who | encampment. The braves speedily equipped their hod kicked Wallace. ‘Talk heap, fight heap, | mustangs, armed themselves, and, leavin a ete tt tt eee Ce —_— —S Ee Se emer | guard of half-a-dozen warriors, galloped macly from the open. It was plain to the old scout that the war- party had gone to attack both the Mexicans ai.d the ranch. But Leon was puzzled. He had, however, no inclination to talk, and Wallace strove, when not observed, to break free, but the attempt was useless. After the departure of the main portion of the war-party, the six braves, who had been left to guard the camp and captives, resolved to have their dance before the tortured ones were dead: and they at once began; no notice being paid to the bound captives, who were considered secure from escape, CHAPTER XITI. A SMALL SURPRISE PARTY. Hap Captain La Grange, Francisco, and Humpy delayed darting into the timber for five minutes more, they would have seen the greater part of the Comanche war-party speeding from the dark shades up the stream westward, and. galloping wildly toward the north, and in the direction of Bend Ranch, But, had this delay been made, they would doubtless have been discovered by the Indians. We left the captain, with his two followers, tearing frantically through the undergrowth toward the point from which had sounded that soul-harrowing shriek which they all felt con- fident must haye proceeded from poor Leon. They had good grounds for thus deciding, for they knew thatthe boy and Big Foot were in the yower of the Comanches, and they had no cnowledge of any other captives. Besides this, they were aware that the savages. greatly feared the giant scout, that several times o. had been captured by them, only that he might as often escape, and that in a most marvelous manner, They would, therefore, naturally put Big Foot to the torture at once— thus to make sure of his death—and Leon would suffer with him. Hence their haste through the thorny thick- ets, tearing their clothing and their flesh, but: they felt not the wounds. On they rushed, hoping to reach the scene of torture in time to rescue the youth before life was extinct. The old ranchero was incapable of reflection, but Francisco and the dwarf well knew that they would be only casting themselves into the hands of the Indians, without in the least bene- fiting the captives. Both felt that the only way to be of service would be to study the position of the doomed ones, and to practice strategy, Allowing Captain Lem to get a short distance in advance—Francisco and Humpy both seem- ing actuated by the same reasonings—the pair held a hasty consultation, in which they formed their plan of action. And very soon they were called upon to put it in operation, Hastening to close up with the captain, who was by that time nearly exhausted, they had not gone more than twenty yards, when again shot out that soul-racking cry; when, looking up- ward, they perceived a flash of fire glowing upon. the foliage of the trees in their front, and light- ing up thespace between the Jower limbs of the huge trees and the undergrowth. As the shriek tore through the air, the old ranchero cried out: ‘“Oh, Heaven help me! boy!” As he thus spoke, he put his hand to his heart, and staggered like a drunken man, He then halted, and began rubbing his eyes, as if to convince himself that he was in reality awake. He trembled violently, and sunk to the: ground, Ata gesture from Humpy, Francisco rapidly bound his master, hand and foot, and thrust a kerchief into his mouth, Better thus, they argued, than that he should be permitted torrush madly and uselessly to his death. ‘ EL aoa ipa nearer the camp-fire, the vaquero and the little negro bad a full view of the fear- ful tableau there displayed. How great was their relief, when they saw that their friends were not the tortured ones! They could hardly repress their yells of delight. et, they were well aware, that neither they nor those whom they sought were ‘out of the woods” by a great deal. The faithful Mexican and the black youth lost no time, however. Both sunk to the earth and crawled forward to reconnoiter the camp, and form plans as to the manner of action. Soon they were again peering through the foliage at the fiendish dance of the six Coman- ches before and below the tortured ones. They then saw, for the first time, that the camp wes: comparatively deserted. It was plain, that the: Help me to save my co boo