Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 497 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

Buc mother having been a Miss Armstrong, and he reversed his name after her death, and went to the bad. ‘* He always hated me, and I held no love for | him, for I knew his vile nature. “But I kept silent when he joined the Ran- gers, though I always had the fear that he would do some wrong. . ‘* He often tried to provoke me into a quarrel, Sut you will remember I shunned it, and it was ecause we had the same mother. 4** You have rid the earth of a very bad man, Buck,” and Sol Bradford held out his hand, and the young cowboy grasped it warmly, as he did also that of Captain McNally, who said earnest- ly: ‘‘ From my heart I thank you, Buck Taylor.” CHAPTER XIX, WHEN the morning dawned on the Rangers’ Ranch, and it became known that Roddy Arm- strong lay dead in the hospital-cabin, slain in a duel with Buck Taylor after midnight, that body of gallant men were more exercised over the affair than they usually allowed themselves to be about anything. Captain McNally, before going to bed, after Buck and Sol had retired from his cabin, had given orders to his negro servant to ask several ef the Rangers in the morning, to see to the burial of Armstrong. He gave him the hospital key, and the negro, soon after sunrise, had gone upon his errand. Of the particulars he knew nothing. He was only aware that his master had said that Armstrong had been killed in a duel with Buck Taylor, during the night, and was to be buried that morning. The Rangers informed of the news, thought of seeking the captain for further information. But the negro said the captain had ordered breakfast at nine o’clock, as he had been up about all night, and did not wish to be disturb- ed before, They then glanced toward Buck’s cabin, and the door was tightly closed, so they would not disturb him, as it was natural to suppose that he too had been up all night. Then they went to the hospital. The door was unlocked and there lay on a cot, the handsome form of the Gambler Ranger. The little round spot on the forehead showed where the bullet had entered. There was a smile upon his face, but it was the smile of death and repulsive. Then the Rangers let loose the news, and the whole band was soon aware of the deadly duel of the night before. Sol Bradford was seen and told of the affair, but he made no response. At length the door of the captain’s cabin opened and he appeared. After breakfast he walked down toward Buck’s cabin. The young cowboy was up, had cooked his breakfast, and looked much refreshed in clean clothes and after his rest. ‘Will you accompany me, Buck?” asked the captain. ** Where, sir?” ‘“‘ To the hospital, for I intend to make a few words of explanation to the men, who expect it, though nothing that you can object to?” ‘Oh, yes, I will go.” So they walked together to the hospital. All of the Rangers were gathered there, and they gazed fixedly at Buck as he came up. But he greeted them in his good-natured way, while Captain McNally said: ‘¢ Comrades, I desire to make known to you that last night a duel was fought in camp. ‘¢ Tt, is to be deplored that quarrels arise among ourselves; but this was a case in which our-dead companion justly lost his life, and the one who killed him, Buck Taylor, I exonerate fully.” A wild cheer broke forth at these words, and Captain McNally continued: “This was no fracas, but a duel, in which I was the second of Buck Taylor, and Sol Brad- ford acted for Armstrong. ‘‘Armstrong fell at t he first fire, and our comrade here was unburt.” Again a cheer was given. ‘* Now let me ask you to bear the dead body to the grave, and let your sympathy be with the one who was forced to become his slayer.” As a token of their sympathy the Rangers ressed about Buck and grasped bis hand. They knew there was some secret back of all this, but they did not seek to discover it, for they had confidence in their captain, and felt that all had gone well, And soit was that Armstrong was borne to —_— ——$__——_ ee a ee | his grave, over in the timber, and one of the | —— Fr eee, “mt A CC LE A LL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL Taylor, King of the Cowboys. : il Rangers, who had once been a divinity student, | but who had turned prairie rover, read the | service of the dead above his body, no one, but the three in the secret, suspecting how unworthy he was of the ceremony. | After the funeral Captain McNally returned to his cabin, where Buck awaited him, for he had gone there toawait until the buria) was over, and turned over to him the property of | the dead Ranger. The money Buck turned into the Rangers’ treasury, along with ail else, excepting the mag- nificent weapons, and Mexican saddle and bridie . which had been envied by all of the band, while the horse ‘ Nightmare’ he also kept. After several days had passed, and Buck | Taylor had fully recovered ‘from the fearful | ordeal and hardships through which he had | passed, he suggested to the captain that it would »e a good idea for the Rangers to make a night raid upon the retreat of the band of Don Rafael. ‘“We can cross at another ford, sir, and by night, so as to strike their camp before mit night, and we can get back over the river before dawn, and the retaliation will be just what the Mexican Raiders deserve.” Captain McNally had already decided upon this move, for he was anxious to annihilate the Mexican outlaws if be could do so, and avenge those Texans upon whom they had raided. A number of times had Don Rafael come upon | Texan territory, leaving yuin and death in) his path, and the Rangers also had lost many a brave fellow at their hands. ‘*[ willgo, Buck, whenever you deem it best,” | was the reply. | ‘* Say to-night, sir, for we can strike a hiding place on the river before dawn and rest until the next night, when we can make our dash across.” So it was decided, and that night after sun- set, Captain McNally left the Rangers’ Ranch with sixty gallant fellows at his back, all splendidly mounted and armed, and Buck Taylor was the guide of the expedition. CHAPTER XX. THE RANGERS ON THE WAR-PATH. THE ride of the Rangers, to the point on the | Rio Grande, where they meant to hide during | the day was made before dawn, and they were | led to a most secluded and desirable spot by | their young guide, Buck Taylor. | Vermifuge bad been taken along by his mas- ter, and he had been given a place on one of the | pack-horses, for the Rangers always went well | supplied with extra ammunition and provisions, and Alf, the captain’s negro servant, was in | charge of the half-dozen animals bearing the | packs, Having had a ride for the most part of the way, Vermifuge was not too tired to stand guard, and the Rangers accordingly had a breakfast before dawn and took to their blankets, leaving the faithful dog on watch. The horses were ‘‘in clover,” so to put it, for | fresh water and quantities of grass was about | them, and they quickly fell to work for a feed before taking a rest after their long trail. { It was just dark on the following nigi.t when | the camp awakened to busy life. | A good supper was cooked and partaken of, | the men and horses had had a long day’s rest, | and all were anxious for the march into the | land of the Raiders. | Buck again took the lead, this time with Cap- | tain McNally at bis side, and the cavalcade | ey ie for the Rio Grande at an unfrequented | ord, The river was reached and crossed without accident, and there the Rangers started on the Shite gallop of ten miles to the camp of Don! \afael. The trail led by the scene of Roddy Arm- strong’s treachery, and Buck pointed it out as | the spot where he had been fired upon and made his escape, He shuddered at the remembrance of that awful night, as he gazed into the timber, and | Captain McNally and Sol dropped out of the line and rode to the spot to see the grave. The moon shone brightly and they beheld the | spot where the dashing young cowboy bad so near'y met his fate, and, but for his baving | made the weapons of the gambler harmless, | would have done so. They soon overtook the Rangers, and the cap- tain headed the line once more, | ‘‘ Wesaw the grave, Buck, and I assure you | it gave me the horrors to think of it. “Bnt how far is the Raiders, canip from here?” said the captain. * About three mile, sir.” ‘‘And we will be able to approach unseen, think you?” ‘‘ Until we strike the sentinel, sir, and then we must charge over him and strike the camp.” ‘*' You told me that Rafael had fully a hum dred men?” ** All of that number.” ‘““Well, we are sixty Texan Rangers, and I would not fear double that number, especially when we take them by surprise, as we will.” In a short while more Buck brought his horse down to a walk, thejothers following his exam- ple, and it was not long before they entered a deep, narrow canyon that led to the camps of | the Raiders, which the young guide said was im _asmall valley beyond. A short distance from the mouth of the cane yon @ voice ‘was heard calling out in Spanish: ‘* Halt! who comes?” ‘« Amigos,” replied Buck in Spanish. The answer seemed not one that was pub for instantly a shot was fired, and a nger dropped dead from his saddle. Now. sir, we must dash on!” cried Buck. ** Charge!’ The command was given by the captain, and the Rangers swept through the canyon like an avalanche. The Mexican sentinel on duty, and who had fired at Buck’s answer to the challenge, pleaded for mercy, as he was unable to escape. But he was ridden down mercilessly beneath the iron hoofs of the Rangers. Through the canyon they swept, and, an irre- sistible mass, they poured out into the valley. It was a beautiful spot, several hundred acres in size, and around it were towering and preci- pitous hills, Through the valley ran a swiftly flowing stream. and the meadow-lands were dotted with hundreds of horses and cattle. Beneath the shelter of the cliffs to the north were a number of cabins, fully a score of them, and toward these the Rangers rode. The shot from the sentinel in the canyon had been heard by the camp guard, and he had at once blown an alarm upon the bugle. Instantly all was excitement, and men poured out from several of the larger cabins, just as the Rangers charged upon them. It was a hot, fierce fight, hut only for a few minutes, as but a couple of dozen men resisted. the onslaught of the attacking force. It was very evident that Don Rafael and his main force were not in their retreat. Those who met the Rangers were shot down without mercy, for the Texans were ‘ fighting the devil with fire,” or to put it as it was, they were waging war upon the Mexican Raiders as Don Rafael had upon. the land over the Rio Grande. The moon shone brightly, and all had a chance to see what they were about. But the cabins presented food for flames, and these were soon burning fiercely, while the booty was being dragged out from the store-houses and. packed upon the horses of the Mexicans, which were caught and put to that use. ' An inquiry showed that Don Rafael and his riders were off on a raid, perhaps over among the settlements of Texas, and Captain McNally + bea ge to make aclean sweep of the robbers’ en, Parties were sent out to drive up the cattle and horses, anu. upon the backs of many of the cap- tured animals the booty of the outlaws was packed. A two hours’ stay in the camp was sufficient, and the work of ruin was well done. Then the Rangers, having hit back at last, on the territory of their sworn foes, started upom the retreat to Texas. A shallow ford was found, and the immense herds were gotten safely across before dawn and driven to a retreat, where a halt was called. A better place for a halt could not, have been found, for there was a natural wall of bills sur- | rounding 4 meadow, where the captured cattle were driven. Then,- just at sunrise, the daring Rangers were about to seek much needed rest, when Buck Tay- lor, who had been reconnoitering the position, reported a party of horsemen in sight, riding to- ward the river. And he added: ‘Captain, this is Don Rafael’s favorite cross- ine. and I would not be surprised if they are the: Raiders, and if so, we can ambush them.” CHAPTER XX. THE WAR OF THE AVENGERS. As Buck Taylor had suspected, the horseme® coming across the prairie were the Mexican Raiders. a