Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 525 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

; ‘We know that it is the truth, my man, for we can read signs pretty well, and we have fol- lowed every step of your trail. ‘*We saw your master’s grave, and the traces showed us that he had been torn to pieces. ‘* We followed your track to the spring in the timber, then your running trail to the old cabin, a mile away, and could see the Indian : trails, too. “ The track of the two Cowboy Pirates across the prairie with your Indian friend, the body of the half-breed, haif-devoured by wolves, and then the trail of yourself and the Comanche to | | his cabin, and then here we followed without a ‘‘We were watching, from the hill yonder, the high-handed behavior of this gang of mur- derers, for, from those I see here that [ know of, they are little better than horse-thieves and cut- throats, and we chipped in to save you, and I ain only sorry they did not have the nerve to draw their guns, that we might rid the country of some of them.” ‘¢ Tt is not too late now, if they feel an anxiety to fight,” coolly said Broncho Bill. ‘Dey looks more anxious to git away den dey does ter fight,” Scraps remarked, with a rr “Well, they can go, and the two cowboys who were employed by your master can go with ‘them. ‘* Have you the money to pay them?’ ** Yas, sah, I has it right wid me, for Mars’ Henry allus told me ter carry a hundred dollars along, for fear o’ accidents, and he owed ’em jist thirty dollars apiece at the end of dis | month.” / | Scraps took from an inner pocket a roll of bills, as he spoke, and counted out the amount and handed it to Rawlings and Lucas, ‘““Now got their traps, my man, and their horses.” This was quickly done by the negro, and then, covering the gang with their rifles, Night Hawk said: “ ‘* Will, empty their guns, please, and then let them have them.” Instantly the weapons of the cowboys began to rattle lively in the hands of the handsome scout, and when the last shot had been fired, he ; called out: a) ‘* Now mount and get!” s “You'll rue this work, pards,” cried Giant . Saul. ‘*Let that remind you to keep your word,” and quick as lightning Night Hawk’s weapon | é a flashed, and, as Broncho Bill had done, he clipped | the ear of the dusperado, It was enough, for the band sprung upon their ponies and dashed age glad to get out of a wy ! range, while Scraps, in his admiration, cried vila a out: - ins ‘“Oh, gemmans! if my poor Mars’ Henry had oo; 4 : only know’d yer, he’d never hab wanted ter . die.” et by ~~ —_—_— cag? U2 are CHAPTER XV. tig PARDS, _THE eight cowboys rode off like the wind, un- il they got oui of range of the deadly rifles of Lee IRONS en they halted, and grouped together, were ree , evidently discussing the Rniahou: i | Both Night Hawk and Broncho Bill had fully -—s- yealized the desperate risk they had run in ine thd pe eT ‘ 2s" bearding the reckless cowboys. Bsa sg. - But they had carefully followed the trails, as ee: ee Night Hawk had said, and upon coming in sight sof the cabin had taken in the situation at a SSRIS os its glance, With their horses beyond the bill, and within hearing distance, they bad overheard what was said and had decided to act and to dare every- thing to save the Indian and tie negro from ‘being ~murdered, for, recognizing a number of | ae _ the men, they felt assured that, there was some motive for their actions, deeper than the mere Fr hanging of Wolf and Scraps, So they consulted together and, taking their own lives in their hands, had boldly dashed upon the scene and at once became masters of the situation. The crack shot of Broncho Billy, in clipping the ear of Nick Rawlings, had been to cow them, as he saw they were restless and ready to sak out at a single word of encouragement ~ while Night Hawk ‘had shot with somethir ah : ; , ot ae ; ; gdh i - / mark for ii , upon _- prairieand load their weapons, while they dis- Brothers in Buckskin, a the situation, evidently in no pleasant nes. But, with the cabin as a citadel and Red Wolf and Scraps as allies, neither Night Hawk or Broncho Bill had any dread of the result of an attack from them, though they were two to one. For a few moments it seemed as though the cowboys were really meditating an attack upon the ranch, for they were seen to be handling their weapons as though getting ready. Then they turned their attention to the cattle, and Scraps called out: ‘*Lordy! dey is gwine ter run off with ther cattle.” ‘*Come, we must show a bold face to those fellows. ‘*Mount, and follow me,” and Night Hawk at once sprung upon his horse, and Broncho Bill and the others followed his example. ‘* Spread out in a line and keep steady. “¢ Will, you take the left, and I will hold the right, while Scraps and Red Wolf have’ the center.” So saying, Night Hawk moved forward, the a starting out in a line of a hundred yards in ength. The cowboys had in the mean time been sur- rounding the cattle, evidently having decided to drive them off. _ But the bold front shown by the two scouts, in daring to come out and attack them, seemed to check their plans, while one or two urged that they were driving off property that did not belong to them, and soldiers would be sent against them. ut this was a subterfuge to escape a battle with the four men, though they were two to one against them. Scraps’s skill as a rifle and pistol-shot was well-known to both Rawlings and Lucas, and Red Wolf was supposed to be a bad hand in a fight, and especially against them would poth men be more than anxious to do their best for revenge, Then the two Buckskin Brothers, as the Powells were often called, were men to dread. Their record was too well known for them not to be feared, They had drifted to the plains as rancheros onasmall scale, and though keeping a small ranch, they were also doing duty as Govern- ment scouts, when their services were sougit. Several times they had been forced to show their deadly marksmanship, and peaceable at all times, when aroused they were men who went to the bitter end. These were the considerations which the cow- boys felt urged them against a battle with the Buckskin Brothers and their negro’ and Indian allies, After a short consultation, as that line of four men came slowly but surely on, they gave a few defiant yells and started off at a gallop. The cattl> were then driven into the stockade, along with the herd of mustangs, and Scraps set avout getting one of his splendid suppers wae his young master had always been so fond Oo There was a fireplace outside of the cabin under a shed, and here a table was seb au Scraps was anxious to do himself more than justice in his culinary efforts, and he certainly did, for the brothers were glad to confess that they aever had enjoyed a better meal. That night Scraps got the box from its biding- place, and Night Hawk at his request wrote a note to the oue to whom the package of letters was addressed, and made up all in a package, with the miniature and a few other little trin- kets. The miniature was set in gold and was of a beautiful young gitl, with a face that was most fascinating, and long the two scouts gazed upon its loveliness. ‘Yer see, sah,” explained Scraps. _“*Mars’ Henry were from Alabama, whar be lived on the plautation wid his parents, ‘TI were als born dere, germmmens, andit were a lovely home, ‘* But Mars’ Henry he went inter ther army, and while he were at West Point he see’d oung leddy and fell in lub wid ter. ‘‘ While he were on ther frontier somewhar, I esses around the North country, bis paren die 0’ yellow feber in Mobile, and goon arter d leddy as Mars’ Henry lub sh ens, from da day he were de ‘saddest and den he struck out fer Texas, whar I sudjest- halt out upon the ! ed he sh’n’d come. ‘Yer sees I were wrong, for he am dead; but ae » sing Broncho Bill,-vasq woman perfectly fearless und mat. she could handle a rifle and revolver with deadly “a aim, if need be, / é on the border, and their drove of mustangs and herd of cattlewere increasing in numbers rap- t ’ i Mrs. Powell remained at the rauch, proud of her 5 gallant sons, and ever anxious to make th hand at home pleasant, and with the greatest | li in ! to be trusted, had charge nm “so'the © 4.95 brothers found time to go at ‘il on any ened. | ua oat Se 7 ie ae | * = * my a im? ye . “7 4 he axed me to send dem tings right to de leddy and I axes yer to do so, as yer says yer kin ’em from de fort,” “IT wih see that they go straight, Scraps, and will give you the receipt for their delivery. ‘**But this paper leaves Zekiel Tanner the ranch, effects and money in hand, and it is drawn in Galveston and witnessed there,” ‘“That’s me, sah—I are Zekiel Tanner, called “pee fer short, and whom ole massa christened ‘raps. ‘* Yes, I see it says ‘ Zekiel Tanner, nicknamed Scraps.’ ” ‘* Yes, sah, dat’s me.” “Well, “Bn had better hide the box away again, with your money and these other papers, and I would not susgest putting it again in the tree, as it might be struck by lightning, blown down or burned.” ‘* Dat’s so, sah, and I knows another place Pl put it, and you gemmans can know, so if any- thing happens ter me, you will know whar der papers is. his matter having been settled, the party re- tired, neither Night Hawk or Broncho Bin con- sidering it worth while to keep a watch, as they feared no trouble from the cowboys, After a couple of days’ rest at the ranch, enjoying the good cooking of Scraps, the Buck- skin Brothers took their departure for the post leaving Seraps in possession of his house, an Red Wolf for bis companion, for the negro and the Indian had become inseparable pards, the former doing all the talking for the two, as the latter was always taciturn, seldom even speaking; but that the Comanche became great- ly attached to the one who had saved his life, there Was no manner of doubt. 3 *. CHAPTER XVI, WELL MET, WuHeENn the Buckskin Brothers returned to the fort, they had a warm welcome, and they were i 7 glad to see that Lieutenant Dana was consider- ed quite a hero after his victory over the Co- r manches, : They also came in for their share of praise, for Frank Dana was not one to wear another's — laurels without giving full credit where it was ¢ deserved. | All were anxious to know what the two scouts had discovered on their long trail, and they re- ported to the major in command the death of the young ranchero,and the scene that had taken a at the ranch between them and the cow- oys. ‘T half believe that some of these cowboys nearest the river are mixed up with this band of outlaws known as the Cowboy Pirates of the — Rio Grande, colonel,” said Night Hawk, , “Well, if you can find out that such is the case, Powell, | will make short work of them, on any proof which you or your brother may bring,” was the answer of Major Loring. Then he added: ‘The outlawry on this border is something fearful, and it is mostly owing to the fact that Mexico #ffords a hiding-place for all scamps who fly from justice on this side, and Mexican outlaws run over on Texan soil toescape punish- ment from their Government. ‘Then there are the Comanches to contend against, and altogether, it ‘s a knot the unrave ing of which will require time and mu stretching of hemp. 3 ‘But you goahead in your good work, for you are of most assistance to me, and before long the good points of your service will begin to show. This gave the Buckskin Brothers a kind of ‘sal roving privilege, and they were more than will- 4 ing to be on the watch while attending to t i duties devolving upon them at their little ranch, which, aS their mother was there with them, they 9g settled as far from the danger line ag rt sible. ; Mrs. Powell, the mother of Night Hawk and => Their home was as comfortable a one as wit sy uently in value, dly and co : With a couple of old and faithful servants, t as wont to look forward to their com- Pe) ew rom their perilous trips, o cowboys that were of the ran / “7 s - _ f . . bow , ts as .. - a ’ \ a a ‘ J _ et aul ; he ' ~ a) oR ea 4 —