Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 484 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 Comanche Dick, and His Three Invincibles. dred rods, they halted, consulted together a mo- ment, and then the party separated. Ten of them, having the hunterin charge, moved directly south; the remainder, with the females, went in a southeast direction. It was the latter band which encountered Black George and his companions in returning. The particulars of the encounter we have given. At this time the others were not more than a mile distant, and the firing of the guns was dis- tinctly heard. Panting, but motionless, Comanche Dick bided his time. CHAPTER V. UNCLE EPH. On that same evening, the burning hacienda was witnessed by another party upon the prairie, This party numbered two individuals, and they halted in a-clump of trees, secured their horses, and were sitting upon the ground smok- ing after they had finished their supper upon cold meat. The night was so dark that nothing but the burning tip of a cigar and the glowing embers in the bowl of a pipe could be seen, while the sound of each other’s voices betrayed their pre- cise position. He who was smoking a re was Ephraim Hopkins, a tall, gaunt, and rather awkward- looking personage, who had made a compromise between a Yankee dress and a half-civilized one, giving himself sueh an odd appearance, that he could not fail to attract attention anywhere. A tall, bell-crowned hat was brushed quite smooth with the sleeve of his coat, and the long, flapping coat was gathered at the waist by a fiery-red sash, into which was thrust a formid- able bowie-knife—a weapon which at that day was quite popular all through Texas. His yellow pants were thrust into his enor- mous boot-legs, and to each foot was fastened an enormous spur, His face was long and thin, smooth: shaven and peaked, while his queer-look- ing hat wasset back on his head, in a manner which was calculated to add to the general fe- apes 2 ae his appearance, Ephraim Hopkins was in middle life, possessed a rather pleasing expression, although there was a shade of conceit in his manner and words at times, which had the opposite effect. He was the uncle of his companion, a young man who answered to the name of Walter Middleton. The latter was prepossessing in every sense of the word. Re r features, dark-blue eyes, rather light, curling hair, and a face bronzed by exposure to a southern sun, with a comely form, graceful limbs and movements, a quiet self-pos- session of manner—such were the noticeable characteristics of the nephew of Ephraim Hop- kins. Both the men, as a matter of course, carried a rifle and pistol, and both were mounted on fine horses. They were direct from Galveston, after ascending the river as far as possible, having come overland direct to this place. ‘‘ And it’s the infarnalist trip I ever under- tuk,” excluimed Hopkins, alluding to the journey completed up to this point. tsdivie, we have been quite fortunate, uncle,” said the latter, in a cheery voice, as he puffed at his cigar. ‘‘ Here we are, asnear as I can calculate, within a few miles of the end of our journey, and we haven’t received a scratch, or felt a moment’s sickness,” ‘‘'Yas, yas,” the other hastened to rejoin, as he produced his handkerchief, and gave a blast of his nos3 upon it. ‘I trust lam grateful for all such mercies, but for ail that, this ’ere coun- try ain’t the one I’d want to settle down in.” ‘*N or I either; we are unanimous on that int.’ ‘* What did you a this gentleman’s name is?’ suddenly inquired Hopkins, leaning for- ward, so as to make sure of catching the an- er. ‘‘ Dick Hampton, or Comanche Dick, as he is more generally known in the West,” ** And he lives out in these prairies, away up in New Mexico?” ‘‘Yes; I understand he has spent several years here, Although he hates the Mexicans, perhaps even more than I do, yet he likes their territory well enough to make his home in it, and I doubt whether Santa Ana himself could drive him out.” ‘‘ He must be a strange feller indeed: they say he left Missouri, where he had a Pee home, to jine the fight atween Texas and Mexico. And you think the gal is with him?” ‘‘T am almost certain of it. I am certain!” added the young man more emphatically, as he a ee . roused up. ‘‘ Everything that I heard points that way; even the name corresponds,” ‘Who was it, naow, that told you?” “ A hunter who had passed through the coun- try, and spent a night at the hacienda of Coman- che Dick.” ‘*T know all that—I’ve heard that before,” Mr. Hopkins hastened to reply, ‘‘ but what I mean to ask, is whether you knowed him—that is, had you ever seen him afore, and have you ever see’d him since?” ** No; I can’t say that I have,” was the some- what hesitating response. ‘“That’s the part of the matter that I don’t exactly like, Walter,” replied his uncle, in a rather patronizing manner. ‘ You know that poor Richard says, that in the affairs of this world, men are not saved by faith, but by the want of it; mind, I don’t say we have come on a wild-goose chase, but if we have, it won’t be the greatest surprise of my life.” ‘* It will be of mine,” was the quiet reply of the young man, who would not allow his faith to be shaken. ‘“‘Tf I hadn’t believed there were purty good grounds fur expectin’ to find the gal, you would- n’t have catched me leaving Galveston for this outlandish part of the world. You know, when you cum hum this last summer, on my farm in Connecticut, you thort there was a good opening fur me in Galveston, in the way of selling my trinkets, and that’s what brought me to Texas.” ‘*So there is, uncle Eph, and when we get home again, you shall start at it, and you shall make your fortune before a gray hair comes in your head.” ‘*So I hope—so I hope; and then,” he pur- sued, the taking up thread where he had dropped it, ‘‘ when you got back to Galveston, and found that this ’ere lady-love had been spirited away, you become like a crazy person, and couldn’t rein o’ nights, till you had found out where she had gone a-wisiting, and then you starts af- ter her, and then you hears she has been in Santa Fe, and back you comes, and then a hun- ter comes along and tells you that he had seen her at the hacienda of a man called Comanche Dick, and—wal, here we be.” ‘*Do you regret it?” asked the young man, in a reproachful manner. ‘¢ Not in the least,” the elder hastened to re- ply, his intonation showing that he had a strong affection for his friend. ‘* There are few things that you could ask me to do, that I would re- fuse to do. You know that, Walter, as well as i q , Yes,” ‘¢T am only now seeking to prepare you for a disappointment. You are so near the destina- Se are seeking, and you are so confident, it will be hard for me to witness the discovery of a mistake upon your part.” ‘‘T appreciate your kindness, uncle—” 4 Hello!” suddenly exclaimed Mr. Hopkins, springing to his feet, *‘ yender is a row, I swow to gracious!” ff to the northwest, the light of the burning hacienda was just rising in the horizon. The glare, at such a time especially, was almost un- earthly in its appearance, and the two men for a few minutes were silent. ‘‘By gracious!” muttered Mr. Hopkins, be- ginning to show considerable nervousness, ‘‘ ef the perarie is on fire, we’ve got to git out of this.” ‘Tt isn’t the prairie,” replied Walter, who, rather curiously, decided from the same stand- point as did Black George, ‘‘it doesn’t spread enough, and it isn’t approaching us.” A few minutes’ observation confirmed the truth of Middleton’s opinion, and the two men were more at ease than they had been before. They silently watched the conflagration, until af- ter an hour or so it began gradually to grow dim, and then both were startled by the sound of fire-arms, sounding at comparatively a small distance. ‘*T tell you,” said Hopkins, in an undertone, “matters begin to look a leetle pokerish. That fo cate I'd rayther was a leetle further off. ‘“‘ Keep still, and no harm can come to us.” ‘¢ But daylight will be here one of these days, and what then?” ‘‘ Then will be time enough to think about it.” ‘You have a cooler way of taking things, Walter, than I have, that is, you have jist now, although you’ll own it wasa leetle different when you got back from Santa Fe, and found out that your Josepha, as you call her, was missing,” ‘That was enough to excite an ordinary man.” ‘So it was, so it was; but, let me ask, as it don’t do any hurt to talk, whether you put full faith in that ’ere hunter that you call Blifkins,” ‘*T don’t pin my faith to any man, but I see no reason to doubt what he told me. However, we shall know very soon whether he deceived me or not.” The two friends chatted and smoked untillate in the night—until the lurid light in the north- west had died out, and all was blank darkness— until the fierce sounds of fight between the Co- 2 ie and hunters had ceased, and all was still. Then they lay down to slumber, their faithful horses acting as sentinels, while no thought came to either that they had witnessed the burning of the hacienda of Comanche Dick, and that on the very threshold of happy success, they were to be met by the bitterest disappointment. The night wore away, and just as the sun was coming up, both awoke. Remembering what they had seen and heard on the previous even- ing, Middleton took occasion to pass out of the grove and take a hasty survey of the surround- ing prairie. All was clear—not a glimpse of anything sus- icious was to be seen, and they were left unmo- ested to pursue their journey as they saw fit, Both had made themselves so thoroughly ac- quainted with the country through which they were passing, and young Middleton had receiy- ed such minute directions as to the location of Comanche Dick’s residence, that they had no hesitation in the course they were to take, and as soon as they could complete their simple ar- rangements, both were mounted and riding at a leisurely gallop over the prairie toward the northwest. ‘I believe our route leads us toward the point where we saw the fire last night,” remarked Mid- dleton, in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘* It would be curious if it was the hacienda that we saw burning,” replied his uncle, in the same indifferent manner. ‘* By George!” exclaimed the young man, his face isoeeaig ea ‘*T shouldn’t wonder if it were that very building! According to the best cal- culations I can make, it was on the very spot. Yes, now I feel sure of it.” “fT guess you are right.” ‘‘ Heavens! if itisso! ThenIam a day too late; the Comanches have been here!” he added, in the very bitterness of despair. ‘¢ Hold on, not so fast, Walter; it may be all that, and again it may not.” ‘‘No; | am impressed that it was his place that was burned, and that—” ‘IT don’t contradict that cea but, suppose iti was. Fromall that I can Varn about this Co- manche Dick and his men, they are all able to take care of themselves, Else why did they se- lect this ’ere part of the world for their habita- tion, where the reds can come down on him at any moment, when there be so many where there ain't a bit of danger, down nearer the set- tlements?” This hopeful and certainly sensible view of the case served to revive the spirits of Walter, al- though there was in truth enough on his mind to drive away all the pleasant hopefulness which he had experienced up to this time. A brisk ride of several miles, and they came in sight of the ruins of the hacienda, guided by a thin column of smoke that was faintly rising from the debris. As Middleton goaded his horse to his best speed, Ephraim Hopkins came to a dead halt and adjusted his iron spectacles upon his nose. ‘Why don’t you come on? W hat’s the mat- ter?’ impatiently demanded his companion, reining up and looking back at him. ‘Walter, you be hardly yourself now; you are rash; don’t you see that we are not the frat ones at the ruins?” For the first time Middleton observed some horsemen standing motionless near the scene of the fire, and apparently watching them with considerable interest, ‘‘T hain’t got as sharp eyes as you,” adced Mr. Hopkins, leaning forward in his saddle and earnestly peering through his glasses, ‘but I think them ’ere persons are Injins. Ef so, we hadn’t better hurry so fast in that direction, How often I thank Heaven that we were sensi- ble enough to get the two fastest horses in Gal- veston, fur ef we hadn’t, we’d ’ve been catched by the p’isin sarpints a dozen times afore this.” The young man paid little heed to the talk of his garrulous companion... He was intently scanning the suspicious personages, one of whom began gesticulating to him. ‘* No,” he suddenly exclaimed, again striking his horse into a calton: ‘*they are white men. Come on!” As Hopkins had also reached that conclusion : } ‘ ae i . / \ > JF gave}. : ty J ‘ , . oh > ‘ a ih a > : ; ‘ a ‘ i . - ¥* : . x 3 a 4 i e ; < es “2 % pan 2 : . VAN : 7. » 1 ue rs “/ \ | a : al ee, \ ) J | v J 4 e ‘ - Sal mi A hfs S | fp (3 | * (| a | @ Py '? DADE amt a ety — , . " ‘ | 7 “ ; ~~ . * — . —_— oat id —- . _ . — qo eo _ oe _~ — ee ————- — = ee ee —— eee eee yaaa f % ’ A “ feat y * i r ruc i SrA > a : ny