Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 484 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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| of the man, with the resolve to shoot him on sight for the rudeness and threats he had made toward his adopted daughter. He caught sight of him in the distance and gave chase, but to his surprise, the ruffian was better mounted than he, und he soon vanished in the distance, and he returned, nursing his wrath for his next meeting with the man. For a week Josepha scarcely ventured out of doors. She semed to have undergone a shock from which it was difficult for her to recover; and in the night she frequently started with an exclamation of terror, e She affirmed that Alfredo Manzal, as she called him, would return again, and that now that he knew where she was, he would rea pear when he was least expected, and that mis- chief would surely follow his visit. Comanche Dick endeavored to soothe and re- assure her, but at the same time he felt a vague uneasiness himself, and resolved to be more watchful and vigilant than ever. He secretly hinted to the Rangers that there was danger in the air, amd warned them to be doubly cau- tious. At the same time he gave more attention to the signs in the distant horizon than he did to his sheep. ‘There were several elevations which gave him an extended view of the surrounding rairie, and he frequented these more habitual- y than was his custom heretofore. But day followed day, and nothing more was seen of the dreaded Manzal. Fora long time Josepha would not venture beyond sight of the hacienda; but gradually her won spir- its return to her, and under the affectionate care of her new-found parents, her songs and merry laugh were again heard ringing out upon the air. In the hope of diverting her mind from the all-absorbing object which now and then would interpose itself, Dick proposed a trip to Santa Fe, the females being accompanied only by Black George and himself. Josepha held back at first, but she was per- suaded to join them, and the journey was under- taken and made to the New Mexican capital without any unpleasant incident occurring to mar their enjoyment. But on the return, all the | eevee of the trip was blasted by a sight of the evil fate of J osepha’s life. It was just at sunset, and the pewt camped in a beautiful grove, when Blac remarked: ‘‘ That ere feller over yender seems to be very anxious about us,” ‘‘ Whom do you mean?” inquired Dick, in considerable surprise. ‘‘ Why, yender,” he replied, pointing toward na small eminence in the prairie, **T don’t see any one,” was the reply. ‘Skin me! ef he hain’t sunk out of sight in the ground,” added Dick, after a few moments’ blank staring in the direction which he had in- dicated. The ladies laughed, and the hunter was some- what disconcerted for several moments, but he stoutly maintained his point, and a vague un- . pasiness came over Comanche Dick, who could not believe that such a cool-headed fellow could make such an inexplicable blunder. ‘We will soon see,” said he, remounting his animal, ‘* You wait here, with the ladies, while I take a look for myself.” The next moment, he was galloping toward the point indicated, while his friends watched his motions with no little interest. The hill or knoll was only a few hundred yards away, and Dick rede at a rapid gallop until he ascended the top. At that instant there was the sharp report of a rifle, and a suppressed shriek went up from the spectators, as they believed their leader was shot. Black George, with a muttered execration Aashed toward him, but Dick instant] recovered himself, and impatiently waved him back. ‘“‘T'm all right! Keep by the women!” At the very moment that Dick reached the cop of the hill, the desperado Manzal was seen sitting motionless on his horse at a short dis- tance. Without any warning, he raised his gun and fired, the bullet ripping up the sleeve of Dick’s coat, and partly stunning him, so as to give the momentary impression that he was mortally wounded. Before he could recover, and return the fire, the assassin was beyond his reach, The infu- riated hunter urged his steed to the utmost, but he was soon left behind, and he could only return discomfited to his friends. Dick attempted to conceal the truth from Josepha, but it was no use. She knew that it was Manzal, and she was more frightened than ever. had en- George f Comanche Dick, and His Three Invincibles. That night not one of the party slept. The two men kept watch, while the wife of Mick at- pm ie to soothe her fair charge as best she could. The females neither heard nor saw anything, nor did they observe anything in the actions of their protectors which looked as though they suspected danger. But for all that they had seen something, which increased the apprehension of both. The night was only moderately dark, there being a moon in the sky, and by the iight of this, they detected a half-dozen horsemen, cautiously circling about over the prairie. They seemed to be reconnoitering the position of the whites, as though meditating an attack; but, after lingering in the vicinity for over an hour, they moved away, and were not seen again. Among these lurking visitors, Dick fancied he recognized the villain who had fired at him, but he was not certain of his identity, although, had it not been through fear of cesta Josepha, he would have sent a bullet through the suspect- ed individual. When morning came, nothing was to be seen of their enemies, and the party resumed their journey homeward, reaching it without any further adventure. It was a long time before Josepha recovered from this second fright, and, in fact, she did not recover at all before the great blow of all came. And it came in this wise. CHAPTER III. THE NIGHT ATTACK. COMANCHE Dick at one time hoped to build his hacienda of stone, as a protection against fire, that most dreaded weapon of the red-men; but even with the assistance of his willing friends, it was found impossible, and he was compelled to construct it of rough logs, which were dragged no little distance over the prairie. As we have hinted in another place, it was made with some pretensions to an elegant resi- dence, he having gradually added to it, year by year, until it was composed of several buildings, which had quite an imposing appearance froma distance. They were strongly and securely made, being vulnerable only to one enemy—fire, which may be said to include all the others; but, with proper watchfulness, Dick had hopes that this fiend age be kept at eer: n the day on which our story opens, at the hour of noon, the shout of Long Eph was heard, and the leader and two rangers, who were .n the house, looking out, saw him come to view, on the top of a swell in the prairie, and make sev- eral furious gestures with his long arms, At the same time the confusion and barking of several of the dogs, showed that something unusual was going on. A moment later, the three were mounted, and dashing at full speed toward him. Long Eph waited only long enough to see that he was fol- lowed, when he thundered away in pursuit of the marauders. When the rangers reached the spot which their friend had just left, they saw a party of three or four Apaches alloping renege away ae driving in front of them perhapsa t ousand sheep. li wal not half so serious a matter as he imag- ined, and knowing that his men could “ straigh en” it, Comanche Dick turned about and gal- loped back to the house, so as not to leave the females defenseless. The rangers did ‘‘straighten” matters most emphatically. In less than three miles the sheep were recovered, and turned back toward home, and, leaving them in charge of the dogs, that were sure to drive them right, the hunters con- tinued the pursuit. This proved a long one, and resulted in noth- ing. The Apaches could not be induced to turn and give battle, and they scarcely looked behind them, for hours, until they finally got safely away, when they uttered a taunting whoop, and soon after Fn aa in the distance. By this time the day was well advanced, and in no very pleasant mood the three set out on their return, and what they saw and what hap- pened to them the reader has already learned. After the departure of his men, Comanche Dick scarcely gave the matter another thought, for, as has been stated, he saw thatit was only a trifling affair. He remained mostly in the house during the afternoon, and at sunset he took a lock to satisfy himself that the sheep bad returned, and were faithfully tended by the dogs, when he rejoined his family. is ee LE spirits, lau py Nepes chatting, and Dick was im a glow of health and genial good-nature, as he placed his foot within the door. Just at this instant, a bark of one of the dogs attracted his notice, and turning around, he saw more than twenty Comanches riding down upon them! As quick as lightning, Dick sprung into the door, fastened it, and with rifle in hand hurried aloft, calling to Josepha and his wife to follow him with their guns. They lost notime in dom so, and by the time they had obeyed him an were cautiously peering through the loopholes, the whole twenty Comanches had dismounted, and were screeching and yelling in front of the house. The instant Dick could bring his gun to bear, he sent a bullet through one of the howling mis- creants, and called out to his companions to d@ the same. Both fired the next moment, but in the semi-darkness did no more than wound their foes. Thus warned, the Comanches immediately re- tired, a hundred yards or so, to a point where they were barely visible upon their horses, and. began their favorite maneuvers, which in this case at least seemed to be pointless and un- reasonable. a They circled clear around the building, riding: at a rapid rate, and throwing themselves first on one side of their animals and then upon the other, and firing their guns from under the neck, belly, or over the back, or in whatever manner their fancy dictated. Their bullets could be heard, as they rattled against the logs of the hacienda, and one of them accidentally passing through a loophole, narrowly missed slaying Comanche Dick himself, He felt the slight rush of the wind against his throat, as the messenger whizzed past, but no start or exclamation apprised those around him of what had happened. He admonished them to keep their guns load- ed, and to fire at every opportunity, as every shot, if effective, bettered their situation, and made their danger sa nae Se less. This random firing of the Indians was nothin more than mere bravado, and was understo by those within the hacienda, They remained cool and collected, firing whenever the oppor- tunity presented, which, it may be said, was quite infrequent. If the three rangers had only returned about this time, it would have been about the best thing that could have happened, but, unfortun- ately, they were many miles away, and it looked as icingth the Comanches were going to have it all their own way. By extreme watchfulness, Dick finally gained a shot, which not only killed a red-skin, but the horse upon which he was mounted, and raised & howl of fury from the others, It will be remembered that the night was of inky blackness, and the circling Comanches soon became invisible, except when the flash of their guns gave a momentary glimpse of their location. Shortly after it became so dark, the Indians ceased their circus-like riding, and gathered to- gether for consultation. Dick suspected as much although he had no means of being sure of what was really going on. His great fear was that an effort would be made to burn the building, as every thing was so favorable for such an attempt. He passed around the upper part of the house, watchful and vigilant, and instructed his wife and Jo- sepha peer to him the slightest unusual sound or sight that came to their ears or eyes. Reaching an opening in the roof, which had been made for such cases of emergency, Dick thrust his head out and listened. All was as silent as the grave, and whatever the Comanches were doing, they were doing with the stealth and silence of phantoms. He waited several moments, but his trained ear detected absolutely nothing. Then he gave the “‘ signal of distress,” made with a tremend- ous whoop, tremulous and ringing far out in the still night. This was intended for a call to his companions, and Dick knew, if it reached their ears, they would not lose a second in respond- ing. But unfortunately it was not heard by them. Having done all that it was possible to do, in this way, Dick was preparing to descend, when his sharp ear caught a soft, rasping sound, as if made by a body drawing itself over the shelving roof. One moment’s listening, and the hunter was satisfied that by some means or other, one of the Comanches had made his way to the top of the roof, and was now crawling along, most wife and Josepha were in unusually good | probably in search of this very opening. From ~ - = —— — — *. ———— ee eee : eh ee © SS? ee . P ™ on . = » ci“ \ , oie: ta" books.com —