Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 59 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

— - - ———— SE There was one, however, who actually seemed to get some enjoyment out of the fact that the same tactics which had been used with such fatal effect betore, were about to be brought into requisition again, and this individual was no other than the ge ranger of the Colorado canyon, Roaring Ralph Rockwood. Several times he chuckled audibly, in a way that was mysterious, to say the least, much to the amazement of his friends who could not understand what he meant. Meanwhile the moon had been rising higher in the heavens, lighting up every rock upon which her beams fell, with marvelous distinct- ness. The night was slowly passing. Perhaps an hour had gone by since Pandy. had lowered himself into the blac gulf. Roaring Ralph, who had been listening in- tently, at length declared that the chopping had been discontinued, and the Properanty was that in less than half an hour the assault would be- rin. Then he vanished from their gaze. Where he went none of them could tell, but Bolly, upon looking around for the queer old ranger, was surprised to find him missing. Some fifteen minutes later he heard a chuckle close at his side, and turning his head, beheld Roarin Ralph within. a few feet of him, busily engage in an, Bre his knapsack, which he had opened during his absence. What the m ious old fellow was about Bolly could not for the life of him guess, nor did he have the time given him, for, just at this mo- ment a cry from Powder Flash, who had kept a sharp watch, even while he tugged and tus- sled his venison, to the admiration of Blue Beans, announced that the Sioux had once more made their appearance. '_ It was a genuine stockade that came in sight, being some twenty feet long and about five in hight. The Indians had exercised considerable ingenuity in framing this breastwork from the small trees cut down, and lashed together. Bolly saw it move into view with dismay plainly marked upon his features, and his ex- clamation of consternation was echoed by his comrades. Behind this stockade fully fifty braves could hide until it was within ten feet of the fort, when afew bounds would suffice for them to reach the rangers without suffering much loss. ** What had we better do, ole ’coon? Ye seem ter enjoy the affair. S’posin’ ye take charge, Rally? Lown I’m nothi Only wa I see air ter rush out an’ meet em on the level,” said Bolly, despairingly. “He EA Bolly, that would be all-fired good, now. Crawlers and catamounts! look ter me fur deliverance. I’m a rearin’, tearin’ thun- derbolt from ther Colorado canyon; that’s me, Roarin’ Ralph Rockwood, you bet! I've settled their hash, chop me inter mince-meat an’ chuck me inter a sugar hogshead if I ain’t. They won’t never git here, Bolly, he! he!” By dint of persuasion, after the queer old fel- low’s merriment in some degree subsided, Bolly managed to learn the facts of the case, and such was his revulsion of feeling that he al- most felt like jwmping up and dancing or doing something ually as demeénted. I have Said before that the old ranger from the Colorado canyon had been so di at the success of the first assault under cover of a stockade, that he had resolved to be prepared for just sich an emergency, should it ever oc- cur again at any time, which resolve might in part account for the queer knapsack he carried ae his back, in which sundry articles were a friend of his who was of a chemical turn of eo be had procured several explosive torpedoes, which, though small in size were of a tremendous power, being composed among oth- er things of dynamite. There was a cap con- nected with each one and a hammer, so that all that was necessary to cause an explosion after the thing had been gotten in iness was to pull a little cord. ~ This cord Roaring Ralph now held in his hand. Taking o Mew of the situation, he had crept out along the line of rocks, and set one of his torpedoes at a point quite a little distance from the fort and over which the Indians would come with their movable stockade, as it was the ie & clear path forward. @ young girl was already in a secure place, and the men hastened to hide among the rocks so as to have a point of observation, while at the same time they would be safe from the ef- fects of the expected explosion. During this time the Indians had made good pro Those behind the stockade seemed to t tn some way, and carrying it forward, get —— ei . ‘“- —_—_ over a good deal of ground before setting it down again. As they drew nearer the rock fort, they became more cautious in their actions, and hence the speed of their advance was great- ly diminished. ‘*'Trowsers an’ tomcats! keep an eye on the critters, Bolly, an’ ye’ll see the funniest sight that everwas. I reckon theold thing’! fall over with the shock, and the boyees must send in enough lead ter fill’em full. Dust my Sunday breeches! here she goes, Now !” As the old Colorado ranger spoke the last word, he gave the cord he held a sharp jerk. The effect was simply tremendous. There was a dull, heavy sound that seemed to make the rocks tremble, although it had none of the sharp Se ghine qualities of a cannon discharge. great upheaval took place. The rough stockade was lifted several feet and thrown vio- lently to the ground. A dozen Indians, or parts of them rather, soared through space, and many others were thrown down and sadly wounded. While the remainder of the brave gang stood, lost in wonder and amaze, the sharp crack of a rifle rung out, and the leaden messenger found a lodging-place in the body of a warrior, who quickly pitched forward upon his ‘face. The rest of the beleaguered garrison were not long in following this well-set example of old Roaring Ralph, and the rattle of rifles soon brought the Indians to their senses, and made them realize the new danger that threatened. Then there was scattering in hot haste. Some ran toward the rocks, hoping to gain their shel- ter, but these immediately me the targets of the deadly revolver, and not one warrior managed to reach his destination alive. Those who bolted away and ran for dear life toward the distant points where their comrades, full of horror and dismay, were gathered, proved to be more don tartate: as the revolvers of the pale-faces could not reach them, and most of their rifles were empty. Only Bolly, with the repeating gun of Pandy Ellis, sent bullet after bullet among the demoralized Indians s6 long as they kept in a compact body, and it was only by separating and dodging in a most ludi- a manner that they e him refrain from ng. ‘* Bars’ claws an’ buffler-hoofs! don’t they get over ground lively now? Hist me inter a "Pache’s grave but that thar leetle affair war mighty interestin’ now,” chuckled old Ralph. ‘* Roarin’ Ralph, ye’ve saved us all!” declared Bolly Wherrit, enthusiastically. **May I be chawed up by an alligator, an’ roasted on ther end o’ a two-pronged pitchfork if I don’t believe ye’re right, Bolly. Painters an’ powder-horns! did ye see them pieces o’ In- juns a-flyin’ thro’ ther air?’ and Ralph gave a whistle to indicate the rest. Satisfied thet the attempt to assail them would not be repeated after this terrible disaster, the friends could restin peace. It was quite evident that the Indians were very much excited over the affair, for they could be seen riding to and fro in a wild manner, and it was fully an hour before they became quiet in. They would now endeavor to try the virtue of starvation upon the besieged. Thus the a passed away. The moon sunk lower in the heavens, and at length a gray line along the eastern horizon proclaimed the com- ng, dawn. When the sun arose, the rangers collected some of the old pieces of logs and built quite a respectable fire, at which breakfast was cooked. Their horses were hun but there was nota bite for them to cat. Water was procured in small quantities from the river by means of the long rope, and a little tin can one of the hunters happened to have with him. t was along toward noon when Rocky Mountain Joe directed the attention of all to- ward the Indians. There seemed to be a com- motion among them. Then the distant music of a cavalry ‘bugle sounding the ‘‘ charge” was heard. Following this came the rattle of car- bines and revolvers, and the mounted troops were seen in pursuit of the fleeing and bewilder- ed Indians. A single horseman came galloping toward the rock fort, accompanied by a man on foot, who took huge bounds that served to keep him even with the soldier’s steed. In this latter all recognized brave old Pandy Ellis. The horse- man was no other than Colonel Hasly. Harry Belmont went out to meet him, deter- mined to confess his folly and beg the forrive- ness of the man w!.om he had wronged. To his amazement the colonel clasped him in his arms and pressed him to his heart. They remained alone conversing for almost half an hour. When they came in Harry’s face was as white as snow, aS a° *~ 13 eee - ---— + -- and as he bent down to kiss May, he whispered: ** My sister!” The true state of affairs and the colonel’s secret were soon made known. Harry Be mont was his own son and May’s half-brother. The colonel’s first wife had died when the little boy was only a year old. Harry.was never told the true state of the case as it was a delicaie subject with the officer, but his quick mind understood that his mother had left her husband and ran off witha lover, taking her babe with her. Before halfa. year had gone she came home to die. The colo- nel forgave her, but that none of the shame, might attach itsclf to the chi'd, he had Harry raised under another name. That the man who had been the cause of this trouble should be ter- ribly punished the colonel swore, and their meeting v.as a wild one, for they came across each oiher one stormy night upon the open lain. <A terrible fight ensued and in the morn- ing the officer was tound beside his dead victim, himself almost devoid of life. There was only one who heard this news with joy, and this was Jack. The young fellow loved May Hasly dearly but bad smothered the flame in his breast until now he saw a path before him that led to Paradise. Although the Indians had been put to flight, the friends had no desire to linger in this place, and were soon riding down the mountain side. When evening came, Pandy Ellis and his allies left the soldiers and struck off on a trail of their own, intending to carry out the original idea of the veteran. CHAPTER XVIII. PANDY ELLIS’S SCALP. THE bravest and most thoughtful of border- men have their periods of recklessness, when even the cautions that age brings with it are neglected, and the dare-devil spirit that had enthused old Pandy Ellis seemed to take pos- session of his comrades. Jack had gone on with the soldiers, for the magnet was too powerful, now that he had a right to love May Hasly, so that the adven- turers were but six in number—Powder Flash, still chewing lustily on a remnant of that tough venison, making the half-dozen complete. They were in no hurry to reach the Indian. Village, as they desired that the present excite- ment should die out before the great under- taking should be attempted. Behold them, then, a few days later, ap- proaching the village in the dusk of the even- ing. The result of the great slaughter was only apparent in the diminished number of braves, for the death-songs had long since died away, and the chiefs were busily engaged in hatching up plots that would bring them glory and plunder. After nightfall Powder Flash was gayly decked out in the habiliments of a Sioux warrior whom they had come across and captured. He was rsuaded to put his venison aside for the time eing, and such were his powers of imitation, that when the chief brought his mind down to the subject the rangers were amazed at the exactness with which he imitated the captured brave. In looks, speech, gestures, and many little peculiarities that his quick eye had caught he was Howling Coyote all over, and even t at individual seemed half-scared at the readiness with which his complete identity was taken away from him. Matters having been arranged, the chief went boldly into the village, sought the ledge of the great sachem, Buffalo Horn, where he found the equally-famous Red Cloud, and laid before . them his news. The old renegade who had Pandy Ellis’s scalp in his possession was in the woods close by with his trophy, ready to deliver it if the great chiefs would insure his safety. He had been frightened away by the row that had occurred on the other occasion, but was now on hand again. A council was immediately called, and, as before, it was quickly decided that they should honestly pay the reward offered for the scalp of their inveterate foeman. Powder Flash took part in the council, and was then hastily dis- patched for the old renegade. Pandy Ellis had disguised himself and his voice as before, and boldly followed the chief into the village of his deadly foes. When he took his seat in the council ‘odge, a chorus of grunts marked the approval of the chiefs. Then the greatest practical joke on record was enacted. Speeches were made, and to them the renegade replied, telling a long story of how he had waylaid the old hunter chief and shot , more for the sake of revenge than rew but that he knew of the proclamation issued by Eomichbooks- co