Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 525 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

T~ ° ‘ . - * ~ 2 = = * e 7 P a > i - = 7 * - e ‘ * - a * 4 aw ue . , —— dll * I -- tS A et RO ee gee 5 pEEbeen™ st —— . : ie ‘ me tion that might suggest itself, or that they might be needed upon, ving sent the package, intrusted to their keeping by Scraps, to the address given, Night Hawk and Broncho Bill set out upon a visit to their home, After a stay there of a couple of weeks, they again took the trail, and, a couple of months ter leaving the fort they were back again with much valuable information which they had Sarna up, and which was of much service to ajor Lionel. The receipt for the paces ge, safely delivered, was returned, and so Night Hawk suggested a visit to Ranchero’s Rest, to deliver it to Seraps about whom they felt some little anxiety. Broncho Bill was more than willing, and telling the major they would do more scouting work, they set out for the ranch, After nine days’ ride, having often turned from their trail to look at *‘ Indian signs,” they cainped one night some ten miles from Ranch- ero’s Rest, intending to make an early start the next morning and arrive in time for one of Scraps’s good breakfasts. They awoke before dawn and instantly Bron- cho Bill called out: ‘* W hat’s that red glare, George?” ‘*{ don’t know; it must be a prairie fire,” was the answer, ‘It is right in the direction of the Ranchero’s Rest.” hs You are right, so let us get at once on the way. The blankets were rolled up, horses saddled, and mounting, they set off a! a canter. As they ascended a rise of the prairie, they saw that the horizon to the south was one vast glare of red. Will?” ‘Yes George.” ‘**T believe they have done it at last.” ** Those cow boys?” ‘* Yes; Rawlings and his gang.” ‘‘T guess you are right; but I hope no harm . has befallen poor Scraps and the Comanche.” > T trust not; but if those villains set the cabin en fire, you may be sure that it was with the negro and the Indian in it.” After riding swiftly along for some distance, ) Broncho Bill said, sharply: ; ‘** George?” * 4s Y es.’ ‘‘ We must rid the country of that gang, for, with the major, I believe that the Cowboy Pi- rates are not altogether men belonging to the band of that Mexican, San Cruz.” ‘*Such is my idea, and I am ready for the work at any time, Will,” was the quiet re- sponse, and Nighthawk Powell meant just what he said. ; It was now daybreak, and as the Buckskin Brothers dashed across the prairie, suddenly ap- peared before them two men. They were on foot, and running at full speed. At a glance they were recognized, for Broncho Bill called out: ‘* Scraps and Red Wolf, for all [am worth!” ** Correct! and they are pursued,” was the re- sponse of Nighthawk, and the horses were put to a run to meet the two men, so well met, for a inoment after a party of horsemen dashed from - the timber bebind the fugitives, and in full pur- suit. > CHAPTER XVIL 4 A MIDNIGHT RAID, WHEN seen by Nighthawk and Broncho Bill both Scraps and Red Wolf were doing their level best at making time. The sight of the two horsemen had at first caused them to halt, for their eyes were blurred from their running so fast, and they did not re- cognize them, | _ But when Red Wolf said: “Night Hawk and Broncho Bill,” it was the signal for one of S-raps’s old-fashioned planta- tion yells, and he gave it with a vengeance, | while Red Wolf shouted back at his pursuers a ery of defiance, The two scouts echoed the shouts with their own ringing war-cries, and spurred to the rescue, their rifles ee , There were four men in pursuit, and they came swiftly on, until some one happened to -recognize the scouts, and shouted: . -* Hold, pards! 1t 1s ther Buckskin Brothers!” _ Instantly the four drew rein, and, as the scouts came swiftly on they turned and retreated _ Brothers in Buckskin. >. P . - me eee ee. Upon reaching the two fugitives, Night Hawk and Broncho Bill were greeted with warm ex- ressions of gratitude from Scraps, while Red olf said: ‘* Much heap good brother. “ vie white chiefs.” sé b a ‘‘Get your ammunition first, and then you'll not forget your rifle or revolvers.” ‘*You made another mistake in not having our horses with you, or near you, in hiding, atte Bill added. ‘*'Yas sah: but I is ’arning rapid, and if they at is the trouble, Scraps?” asked Night | don’t kill me Dll git eddicated in time; but Hawk. ‘‘ Burned out, boss,” ‘¢ They have burned your cabin?” ‘¢ Yas, sah, all gone,” panted the negro, ‘Who did it?” ‘* Don’t know ’zactly, sah, for dey wored cloth over their faces for masks; but dere was two as cu’dn’t mask their shape.” ‘* Nick Rawlings and Giant Saul?” ‘* Yas, sah, dem’s de ones, or dere is two like ’em in shape,” ‘*] guess you are not far RODE, Seraps. ‘* But how many are there in the gang?” ‘*T counted nine, sah,” ‘* Weil, tell us about it, now you have got your breath, and we will then go back with you, and if these men bar our way they must fight, though we wish no trouble with them unless they provoke it,” “They going to fight, sah, for dey is dere in de woods, and dere is three more of ’em back yonder.” ‘‘T thought you said there were nine?” ‘‘ Dere was nine, sab.” cs Ah!” ‘‘Two are missing?” asked Broncho Bill with a smile. prenee sah, two is gwine ter keep missin’, O. ‘** Tell us about it.” ‘* Waal, gemmens, matters has been regulatin’ along all right up to past few days, when me and Red Woif seen trails around we didn’t like, ‘‘Dere was tracks about de cabin, made wid boot-heels, and around de corral, and so we con- cluded we was gwine ter git into trouble. ‘*So I took some belongings I didn’t want hurt out mter ther woods, whar I has a hidin’- place, and den me and Wolf begin to watch o’ nights. ‘* It were lucky for us that we beginned that very night, which were last night, for about midnight, while I were sleepin’, and the chief were watchin’, he waked me up and say: ‘* Look dar!” ‘¢T looked, and I seen things wasn’t right, fer thar was half a dozen men about the stockade. ‘* They was too many for us, so we didn’t do nothin’ but lie still, as thar was none of ’em we thought about ther cabin. ‘* Pretty soon ther stockade gates was open, and ther stock all was druv out onto ther perarer, ‘‘T were mad, but I didn’t say nothin’, and of course Red Wolf he kept quiet, for he always do. ‘¢ Soon arter ther stock were druv off, I heerd a loud knock at the cabin door, and a voice call ub: ‘*¢ Hain’t you red and black niggers gwine ter git up? ‘** Of course there was no reply, and the knock- ing and calling were kept up, ontil they begun to pound at ther door very heavy. ‘* They seen our saddles, for we should have tuck them and our horses with us, and they thought sure we was in ther cabin. ‘* Burn ’em out,” then we heard one say, and all of ’em yelled. : ‘*Soon they had a fire, and they piled things up ag’in’ ther door, and I know’d ther cabin were a goner, ‘* Ther fire burned slow at first: but 1t soon got quick, and then says I ter the chief: ‘*¢ We is ruined, Wolf.’” * ‘¢ He say back to me: + Much heap revenge; have good time kill bad puale-face.’’ Both Night Hawk and Broncho Bill burst out laughing at this, and the former said: ‘But go on With your story, Scraps.” “Yes, sah; but dere hain’t much more to tell, for when de cabin burn hot, and we didn’t come out, they call out we was hidin’ somewhar round, and to look us up. ** Den we concluded to git, and we was gittin’ ht along pretty peert, when three of ’em spy and came a-running arter us, ‘** Both. Wolf. an’ me shot at ’em, an’ two of ’em tumbled rom their horses, and tjother run | back for more help. a “Then yonder four come, and if we hadn’ met you dey would have kilt us sart’in, for we | didn’t fetch no ammunition by mistake. ‘Yes, itisa sad mistake, Scraps, and one you must never make, _ ‘ - : ’ . ‘ os ‘ : “ i . ] F 7; Wi worey : ‘ , ‘ ' ad vit ‘ 41 ae : a a oe ‘ _* Ps + ee “= Pigs 5 ‘ eS " ne 4 rs, _. = a - - ~ > on +. ed ; ats on? vs g++ sa Z 2 re. See, ; 4 Sith PEM ee ahs sey OD eet ft Piel bee oat < - a — = ri ee en, ee ~~ “4 >“ ° a ' 4 te + ‘ oo Fas * =< ate 2 an ~ ~ ’ Ly) ae 7) @ 4 i ee - “>. a by > .. > a ' | ~ | r ¢ ra ° P 30 wv od <i he , a? is ; tk al capture, Lordy, how glad I is to be yer’, gemmans, ‘+ But does yer intend ter fight dem varmints in de woods?” ' ‘*There are n0 men there, Scraps,” said Bron- | cho Bill. ‘Yas sah, for didn’t yer seen ’em?” ‘* Yes, we saw them make a sbow of stopping there to fight.” ‘* Dey is dere, sah.” ‘* No, for they sent their horses back with one of their men, while they took positions behind trees, pretending they meant to remain. ‘*Then they crept away and area long way off by now.” ‘* Lordy! you gemmans reads folks’ doin same as a book,” said Scraps with admiration in, voice and look, while Red Wolf remarked in his terse way: ‘‘ Yes, big chiefs,” “Well, we will go on and see if we cannot find you a mount, and you follow on as rapidly as possible,” and the two scouts rode straight on towaid the timber where they had seen the horsemen prepare for resistance against them. CHAPTER XVIIL | AT THE RUINED RANCH. | It proved to be just as Broncho Bill had sur- mised, that the horsemen had only made a show at a stand in the timber, and had then crept off, mounted their horses and fled at full speed, Whoever they happened to be they were anx- ious to hasten back, remove the bodies of their | two men, slain by the Comanche and Scraps, so | that dead men should tell no tales, and then urge their companions to hasten on with the stock, as there were upon their track two scouts who might have at their back a large force of soldiers, So the four men fled in hot haste, and reach- ing the bodies of their comrades took them. across their horses and pressed on after those who were driving off the stolen stock. Not willing to leave the chief and Scraps too far behind, th» scouts went at a slow pace for them, when ona trail, and yet they read the signs that they saw with unerring truth. They saw where the two men had fallen from their horses, under the fire of the Indian and negro, and where the one man who had escaped of the three in pursuit had turned back to get others to go in chase, The tracks of the four returning, when they , had dismounted and picked up the bodies, or wounded men, whichever they might see, were gone over patiently and unerringly. ** George?” cs Yes. ? ‘ ‘¢ When those two men fell from their horses, — the animals went off this way, see!” andBroncho Bill pointed to two trails. ‘*You are right.” ; | ‘‘There are no other trails following, so the _ horses were doubtless not caught.” hi ‘* By Jove! the very thing, for we can mount Sore s and Red Wolf at once,” cried Nighs awk, ¥ ‘* You wait here for them tocome up, and TJ ~ follow the trails of the two horses, for they can- not have gone far,” e | So Broncho Bill rode off at a canter, readily following the trails, which kept well together, After about bal? a mile’s ride he came in sig)t ’ of the horses, feeding in a bottom, = They were saddled and bridled, and the rein of one had caught his feet and hoppled bim, + The other animal started to run, having not recovered from his fright of having his Master — Sb shot from his back, which always ms a Zz horse greatly, and Broncho Bill atonce Went in chase, ane Loosing his lariat he soon had itin hand,and = as his splendid horse carried bim Within lasso range of the flying animal, he launched the noose through the air, ; At once his skill was shown, for the animal was securely caught, and seeMing toknow thaG to go on would give him a hard fall, he nicely stopped short. ape oS Th» other horse was then vainly captured and freed from the tangled reins, < Then Broncho Billy started back at a op with his prizes, for the a2nImals wore me saddles and bridles. The rifles and tre ps of aers were als strapped tO the saddles. vr eo: = , . . ‘ Ps 4 7% be ¥ ¢ = > i a ¥ at i ’ —- é ~ * . Hs Py