Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 525 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

— oo -_—< ~ PU. aot eee i i OB eh te — a Pe ya - ¢ in, ¢ » fr 4 oe ee > a bei 9 r- & 7 ‘ > > “ey “wr er » At he 4 ~ 2 Le at ‘ Se ~< = ae . te ae fe eed . 7 a iV owt " * i i» : oe cs oo; y= “y i Brothers in Buckskin. To avoid them, as there were too many to | ing grounds, and a severe blow had been dealt fight, and get to their rear, they had moved to | upon the murderous tribe by the loss of their the right, while if they had gone to the left they | braves. | would have come upon the ranchero and the — ‘whom they did not see. hen they had reached the rear of the red- skins they suddenly heard Pinan and riding up to the top of the rise, beheld the cause, W here they had supposed the Comanches were watching buffalo or deer, it was buman game peo were after. ‘Then the Comanches saw the ranchero and Scraps mount and ride from them, instead, as they nad hoped they would do, of coming to- re — —_ ii . i CHAPTER Ix, ON THE TRAIL, **Nicgur Hawk, but for you and Broncho ra [ never would have gained this grand vic- | ry. ‘* Why, we have wiped them off the earth,” said Lieutenant Dana, with earnestness, as he | gazed upon the red field. ‘It is a neat little victory, Lieutenant Dana, /and has taken off the war-path a number of | ward them, they at once ran back to their | Comanches,” replied Night Hawk, while horses, mounted and gave chase, yelling loud- | Broncho Bill responded: ly a soon as they saw that they were discov- “They're booked for Injun heaven, that’s ered, certain. ‘* Do you want their scalps, lieutenant?” ‘** No, indeed, Broncho Bill, for it’s a barbar- ous practice I could never adopt.” The fugitives were hardly a mile in advance of the Comanches, while Night Hawk and Broncho Bill were double that distance behind them. ** Nor I, sir; but then you know a red-skin is But the two scouts pressed on swiftly, though | only half-dead until he is scalped, and when you their horses, out on the trail for several days, | say dead Indian to the boys at the fort, you were pretty well used up and they gained but | know their answer.” slowly. ‘** Yes, Broucho, it is: The ponies of the Indians, however, seemed to *** Stow your scalps’; but I'll take the ponies be quite fresh, and they gained upon the fugi- | and the weapons of these Indians, and tired as tives, who now and then gave them an admoni- | our horses are we must be on the way back, for tion not to crowd them too closely, by a shot | I’d never get forgiveness if anything happened which told either on a warrior or mustang. to the train from my coming otf so far,” | The scouts saw that the Comanches were clos- ‘We'll guide you back, sir, by the nearest , ing up the gap, and they spurred more rapidly | way, if you wish,” said Night Hawk. on, when suddenly over a rise to their right **T should be more than glad, for I brought dashed a party of cavalry. no guide from the train, and J am little more Instantly the scene changed. than a tenderfoot myself, in frontier craft and The fugitives pressed on, seemingly unseen by | Indian-fighting.” the cavalry, while the Comanches turned in ‘*You have done better than many an older flight. man, sir, and your superior officers will swear This caused the two scouts to also wheel and | at prayers to think they are not in your boots,” Broncho Bill said. The trophies were soon collected from the dead Indians, the bodies were decently buried, and the -lain soldier was placed in a grave apart, his comrades standing with uncovered heads while the young officer repeated the burial service i The thing is reversed, George, for we are leading,” said Broncho bill, with one of his merry laughs. ‘Yes, and we have got to keep going until the cavalry overhauls them, or there is some 2 change in our favor,” returned Night Hawk, over him, 2 They felt no anxiety, as their horses were The wounded were then put on travers, which ; fleeter than the Indian ponies, tired as they | Broncho Bill arranged for them, and to which ; were, and if they shookt be overhauled too | Indian ponies were fastened, rapidly, they were well armed and could stand Then the party, with their captured ponies, at bay and keep the red-skins from riding them | started on the trail back to the wagon-train. _ down. ; ae Under the guidance of Night Hawk and Bron- And so the flight continued until night came | cho Bill, they pressed on until long after dark on, and then, quick as a flash the scouts verged | and then camped until dawn, when they again to the left, unseen by the Indians, and a pressed forward and before noon the wagon- » they had thundered by, they fell in behind | train was sighted. them, while loud and clear were their cries to Cheers greeted them as they rode up, for their the soldiers, who, in the darkness had lost sight | comrades had feared harm had befallen them, of the savages. as fresh Indian trails were numerous, and louder Guided by the calls of the scouts, the cavalry- | were the cheers when their victory was known. men came on, and the keen eyes of Night | The train went into camp for the noon rest, _ Hawk and Broncho Bill kept the Comanches in | and when it pulled out once more, on its way to sight. | the fort, still a day and a-half’s journey, Night _ Ihe troopers steadily gained, the scouts hold- | Hawk and Broncho Bill turned the head of their ing their own, so as not to let the Comanches | horsesin another direction. dodge them in the darkness. ‘* What! are you not going on with us?” asked And thus the flight continued until at last the | Lieutenant. Frank Dana, with surprise, Indians took refuge in a small timber island and ** No, sir, for we have talked it over and would stood at bay. like to find out about that young ranchero and The cavalrymen were from the fort, and all | the negro, whom the Comanches were after,” _knew the scouts, so the young lieutenant in com- | said Night Hawk, mand was glad to have theaid and advice of two “T told George that I thought I saw the such thorough plainsmen as were the brothers. | ranchero throw up his hands, as though he was _ The lieutenant had been acting with his men | wounded, though I might have been mistaken. as an escort fora train going to the fort, and | ‘ But we will take the trail and see if we can seeing Indian trails about, he had taken a part | discover anything,” Broncho Bill remarked. of his force to reconnoiter. ‘* Well, you two scouts certainly like danger, _“* We have got the scamps entrapped, Night | that is certain, and I regret to have you 20, as J awk; but what can we do now?” he asked, | your horses are not fresh and the red-skins are . ap _ “Surround the timber, lieutenant, and wait | about as thick as buffalo; but I shall report your | ntil morning, when we can close in upon them,” | valuable services, ) assure you.” “3a as the reply. And so the two scouts left the wagon-train 3 ; _ This advice was carried out, and when the! and started together upon the trail. 4: dawn broke the command was given to close in They first directed their way to cross the aie - upon the motte. track of the fugitives, and reached the spot al- Bo a. some of the soldiers moved too slowly, most where the young ranchero h been ‘s horse got loose, and seizing the opportu- | wounded, so thorough was their knowledge of nity, the Comanches made a dash in a compact | locality and their talent in plainscraft. and broke through the line. | Taking the trail there they held on to the couple went down under the fire upon | timber, arriving there just at sunset, and before meee them, and a pony fell; but away went the them the pile of brush loomed up over the DOR others. rave of the ranchero. : eee | As soon as the trooper’s horse was caught anc ‘““T fear Pp are right, Will, for there isa a; got together, the chase began again and con- | grave,” said Night Hawk. : >; ued half the day, when the Comanches were | — es; but we will camp here until morning, ; driven into a clump of timber, | and then*find,out whose grave it is,” was the re- ei) hy ** Charge them, lieutenant!” shouted Nig it | s— onse of broncnhec il _ - - Hawk, and without a halt the gallant but worn- Y pte. -- cae... ss gut soldiers rushed upon the red-skins, Ln SAPTER Xo os th ee A soldier fell dead, a horse went down with | TRUE AS STEEL. |. | ed the goal and the battle was ended; | were in a bad fix. y | che zone to their happy hunt- They were securely bound, and Nick Raw- — Wig ~~ * < = f ; ~* ’ £ = oe 5 . .** be > . rr) F 4 bd . * WF ol a* so * Fd Fey 7 Eons WF tae Mey DL nee 497, Taye Ff, bet ; ‘ : - a4 * ‘ ; a = (‘ST Al vetlel te *) . & “ rs f . A ae “ 2 ae ‘¢ eR % ee gle 4 + > > te eed a “ie iP pts” Fe caret + <1 es z _ — ee ee... >_ 2 1 —— ee Bee oni we oe he lings was their guard, for Sim Lucas had gone off to collect a few cowboys from distant grea to make numbers an excuse for mur- er. The Comanche chief took his misfortune with Cy the utmost indifference, to judge by his manner for not an expression of his face showed dread of what he felt sure would happen. Scraps was not so cool, Any danger he would face fearlessly, with weapons in his hands; but bound hands and feet, he was pretty well unnerved by the situa- tion. | His grief for his master was great, and he was most anxious to carry out his last instruc- tions. The ranchero had bad a safe hiding-place for the box, in a hollow tree near the cabin, and his manner of getting it from there, and ra it, was by throwing a lariat Overalimb an climbing up the double line thus formed, Then he could place the box in the cavity, or take it out at will. But Scraps would not tell where it was, for he had made up his mind to that. The fact that his master had left his will in ' that box, leaving bim the ranch and cattle, and the gold he had on band, was a pleasure to him, of course; but then he would have been far more glad to have the ranchero alive than to be a millionaire. When morning came the lazy cowboy un- fastened Scrap’s hands, but kept his feet hop- pled and then told him to get breakfast. Scraps was hungry, and so be obeyed, He got plenty for all three, and when they had finished their meal, the cowboy at once secured the negro again. . For a moment Scraps looked as though he was going to resist, and try conclusions with the armed man; but he saw that it would be mad- ness, and so he submitted to being again bound. “Now, Scraps,” said Nick Rawlings, throwing. a noose over his neck and hauling it taut, as he threw it over the limb of a tree under which the three were— ‘* Now, Scraps, I hain’t got time ter wait until the boys come, so I'll jist string you up now, if you den’t do as I axes yer.” ** What does yer want?” ‘Tell me whar that box are, and I'll let you and ther Injun go.” ‘No sab.” f ‘*'You’ll git hanged.” ‘*T hain’t able ter die more than onc’t, even to please you, Nick Rawlings.” ‘* You'd rather die than own up?” ‘Yas, I would.” ‘* Life’s sweet.” **T has honor.” ‘¢ What's honor to life?” sé Hea Rid 66 Well, up ou go.” ‘*T can’t help it.” é “You won’t tell?” + ‘**T done told yer,” The man threw his weight upon the rope and. it drew tbe negro off of his feet. - He struggled violently and suffered greatly, __ . * \ Then the brute let bim down, and, after gasp- — } ing for breath a moment Scraps revived, ‘ “ig “Waal, how does yer hke hangin’, yer black — J imp?” he sneered at him. ; he ‘I doesn’t like it.” . 35 “T thought not; but I was jist playin’ witb i Mec Poe ver thet time.” 4 | iG abe 9 ‘*Somebody’ll be jist dey layin’ with you, Nick Rawlings, some day, with a rope around your 5 | neck, and then you'll think of me,” was the ominous reply. &- a The words struck him, for the man turned pale, for all bullies are afraid of a Tope,and in committing crimes they trust toluck toescape the gallows. ‘Waal, up yer goes ag’in, if yer won’t tell.” “7 won't.” ; ‘You'll die fu’st?” “Pil die fu’st.” The malicious wretch looked at the ee moment and there saw @ determination in ea face to die rather than yield. NK So he said: a ‘Tl give yer another chance, Scraps. ‘‘T don’t ask none.” | “Well, Pll be merciful to yer.” . “Yer hain’t got DO more mercy than a Co. manche, Nick Rawlings,” ae ‘* Waal! what does yer say to sharin’ withme ets you gO and lightin” out afore Sim gite i > . ' | SAYS DO ni *s. es a , *% ad $27 "4638 U sited Me { vy ~ -_ 7 . ‘ > bh at ~s oo «