Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 497 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

sc" “oie he = : = : 74. > ae — me all pA a. > yw a 14 — ** Now old fellow don’t fail or the Equine King and the Cowboy King are gone down sure.” An instant more and he cried: ** Now, sir!” ; The gallant roan was fairly flying; he gave a wild snort as if he knew what was expected of him, and with a mighty bound shot up into the air and forward. There was a moment of fearful suspense to all, and then the Roan King came down—upon the other bank ! A yell of wild admiration broke from the Mexicans, and was echoed by the Rangers, and Captain McNally found it hard work to play dead, . But he did so, while the Rangers mounted and started in pursuit. But they had a ride of a quarter of a mile around the chasm, and Buck had dashed down the slope to the river-bank. A leap of ten feet into the water, and the roan started for the other shore; Leaving the cliff, Don Rafael and the others 2 sored down tomeet him, and they operxed with their rifles across the river at the Rangers, to protect Buck’s escape, At last the Roan King reaehed tie shore, and Buck called out in Spanish: ‘lm a fugitive, senor, not a foe, and seek refuge with you.” ‘“You shall have it, senor, for a bolder leap for life never was mae. ‘*Come, we are in danger here.” he Don placed himself by the side of the Ran- ger, and they dashed away together, while Buck told him as they rode along, of his quarrel with Captain McNally and the result, as it appeared to the Mexicans. The Don was a fine-Icoking, but eruel-faced Mexican, and he was delighted to know of the death of the Ranger captain, while he was also most pleased that he was to have the Cowboy King as one of his outlaw band. But, sly as was the Raider chief, Buck Taylor had thus far shown him that he could give him odds and beat him, where it was a game of life and death, for not the shadow of a suspicioh was felt against him, CHAPTER XXVIII. THE RANGER’S NET. WHEN Buck Taylor was received in the camp of the Raiders, he felt that his life was in the deadliest peril. One atom of suspicion against him, and his career would end right there. But his game was a bold and a plausible one, to enter the iines of the enemy and endeavor to entrap them. Don Rafae! knew him well by reputation, and also he had seen him in action on a number of occasions, He sremembered him as the yo Ranger who ‘had captured the wild Equine King, and pin had escaped his men also, in many a fierce ight. e was aware also that he had been the one in camp with his spy, Roddy Armstrong, and had cleverly escaped assassination at his hands, Cunning himself, he little suspected that he was being fooled, for it all had seemed so natural, and he was glad to welcome Buck Tay- lor into his band as an outlaw, And more, the Mexican Raider ‘chief was pleased greatly with the young Ranger, and they had long talks over what could be done on Taxan soil that Buck could aid them to per- form. The Don took Buck into his mess, an honor hé had bestowed on no one else, and if his Mexican comrades were envious of the favor shown the Texan, they did not make it known to him. But Buck knew that he must act quickly, for it might leak out in some way that Captain Mc- Nally was not dead, and that the whole affair was a hoax. So he suggested to the Raider captain that what was done against the Rangers should be quickly done. He led the outlaw to believe that the whole Texan force was not in camp, and that the un- guarded way that was open. as an 5 ap to the encampment might soon be thoroughly ded, “My idea would be, Senor Captain,” he said, “to strike the Ranger camp at night, and annihilate them,” sc Yes. ” ** Then recrok the river with your booty, and again recrossing further up to the Texas shore, raid the settlements as far as you choose, for there would be no dread of your being cut off, with the Rangers no longer in existence.” te SC RG eee , Le ee eel «TF ree i advise me to take my whole force to attack the Rangers?” “very man of them, sir.” **l could cross with eighty men.” ‘Good, senor, you might need them all.” ‘*This would leave me but half a dozen in camp.” ‘You would have no use for them, except as a guard to the camp and cattle.” ‘True, so I will follow your advice.” **T am anxious to lead you, senor, that a blow may be struck.” ** But when would you say go?” ‘* To-night would be best, for they would not believe that I could gain your confidence so soon, to cause you to make an attack, while, having all of them fired upon me, as I escaped, they will naturally think I will be revengeful and would soon urge you to assail them,” ‘* You are right, senor.” ‘Then, Senor Chief, a camp without a cap- relay oe know, would necessarily be demoral- ized, Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. ‘fA good idea, Senor Taylor; but would you | was watched by the Rangers, and he only hoped —_—_—— we tl no one would make a mistake and spoil all. When he gota littl over a hundred yards away from the men, he leant over and whispered to the Don. At that instant he suddenly seized the throat of the outlaw chief in his grip of steel, and | thrust his revolver in his face, while he said _ sternly: ‘* Hands up, senor, or die!” ‘ The Mexican was wholly surprised, caught of | his guard,and could do nothing in that giany ' ‘ | | grasp Of the Texan. In an instant Buck had disarmed him, and then, hanging his belt of arms upon his saddle- horn, he took his lariat and began to coil it around the body of the Don, pinioning his arms close to his side, and also making him fast to his saddle, Having thus secured the Mexican chief, he suddenly gave an exact imitacion of the howl of a wolf, Then he rode on, taking the Mexican with him, and reaching the end of the canyon, ‘‘T will give orders to prepare for the march | hastily made the horse of his prisoner fast to a to-night,” said the Don with great enthusiasm, | and Buck smiled blandly, Soon after nightfall the Raiders left their camp fourscore strong. At their head was their cruel chief, and by his side rode Buck Taylor, cool and hopeful for the result. Following his guidance implicitly, the Don crossed the river where’ he deemed it best, and then they moved on toward the point where Buck said no guard was kept over the Ranger camp. Halting when near the timber, Buck sug- gested that he should dismount and go ahead to see if, there was any guard there, placed on duty since he had left. ‘If there is, Pll settle it with him,” he said, significantly, and the Don took his words to mean that he would kill bim. But the words had a double meaning, as the reader can understand. Leaving his horse and rifle with the Raiders, Buck advanced cautiously on foot. It was not long before he saw a form ahead. ‘** Ho, Buck, is that you?” «6 Ves, 7? **1’m Sol.” ‘* All right, find some one.” ‘“We were watching and saw you cross, and the boys are ready.” ‘*Good! I will lead the Raiders by the lower canyon, and you can head them there, closing in behind them, too; only remember that I am no Raider. ‘**Now goand send a half-dozen men to the ford, for if any escape they will ride there and be cut off, for no one must get back to warn the camp, as I wish to lead a party back there to-night, when we have finished the Don and his gang,” ‘*Good! you have done splendidly, Buck; but now go back and detain them an hour and we'll be all ready.” — Taylor went back and rejoining the Don said: “Senor Chief, the camp is not quiet yet, so Mey had better wait awhile until they go to I came forward to see if I could “It would be better, for how many men do you think are in camp?” ‘** About fifty, sir,” ** All right, they are fifty bad men to handle, and we must surprise them, so let us wait,” Buck gave a littleover the hour asked by Sol Bradford, before he suggested an advance, and then they moved forward, As they rode along the brain of the young Ranger was busy, trying to see how he could make sure of the chief and not kill him. At last an idea struck him, just as they drew near the canyon. All the horses bad mufflers on to prevent their neighing, and pieces of blanket had been tied over their hoofs at the last halting place, so the column moved along almost np pe es As he thought of a plan, Buck said: ** Senor, let the men halt here, and will you kindly ride on with me, to where we can view the camp? | ‘Tf allis quiet, you can call your men by the howl of a wolf, which I can imitate exactly, for we will not be two hundred yards from them,” The Don seemed to have perfect confidence in the Texan, and passing the word back to his | showing men to wait, while he rode on, and then to ad- vance, at their hearing the howl of a wolf, he rode on with Buck, They entered the canyon, which Buck knew ‘ i i 7 ey ne tree. \ The Mexican outlaws were now not far away, coming through the canyon, and like a trumpet rung Buck’s command: ‘‘ Rangers, fire! there’s your game!” From the secreted Rangers came a terrible volley, emptying many a saddle, and the flashes of. their revolvers, for the fire was at close range, lit up the dark canyon, revealing to the panic-stricken Kaiders that they were ene trapped. Out from their lurking-places now charged the Texans, for they were not men to fight from cover, with no danger to themselves, and that wild canyon at once beeame the scene of a des- perate hand-to-hand fight on horseback. But the Mexicans were demoralized, many bad fallen under the first volley, and hemmed in, they tried to break away and find safety in flight. few went through in the mad rush, but others were caught, and still more cried for quarter, which, though they had never shown it to Texans, was given them. But those who escaped from the canyon were fired upon at the river, and believing that each ford was guarded and that to attempt escape was useless, they too cried for mercy and became prisoners, though they gnashed their teeth with rage when they discovered that over a score had surrendered to half a dozen men. Hardly had they been bound, when there was heard the trampling of hoofs, and Buck Tay- gran some thirty Rangers came along at a gallop. ri Which way, Buck?” shouted a Texan. ** Over the river to take in the Mexican camp for they’ve got dead oodles o’ stock there; but did any get across?” ** Not one.” ‘‘ And the boys back in camp have the bal- ance.” ‘‘ But did they catch the Don?” ‘‘Oh! yes, he’s a prisoner,” and Buck and his party passed on. _ It was after sunrise some time before they were seen coming back, and they had with them two prisoners from the outlaw camp, and the horses and cattle which were there, and which had been captured from Texan settlers. When Buck reached the Rangers’ camp, the cheers that greeted him were deafening, and Captain McNally wrung his hand over and over again, while he said: ** Now, Buck, with the hanging of this Raider chief this cruel Rio Grande war will end.” ‘Let us end the war at once, Captain Mc- Nally,” replied Buck, in his light-hearted way, * Without trial?” ‘* What’s the use of having a jury to tell us what we know? : ‘* The man is guilty of the vilest crimes, and if he is hanged you can try bis men, or turn then loose and let Judge Lynch sit on their case,” “They are a murderous lot, Buck, end shall be sent to prison until they can be tried; bug Captain Rafael must hang now,” said the cap- tain sternly. Then he gave orders for the dead to be buried, he Mexican prisoners to be mustered, tc witness the execution of their_chief, and when the sum set that night, Don Rafael, the Raider of the Rio Grande, was in his grave. But he had died silently and with COURART less fear than did his men, who upon bis execution. MMe had asked Buck to request that he might be shot, and not hanged, and the young had begged it of Captain McNally. er: “a is a PF 2 ee PS ee Oe