Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 617 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

| na * aed ” uickly removed, and with a cry of horror Kate ainville started back, crying: Oh, God! you, Rodney Radcliffe, you are the man whom they call the Bravo Chief ?” ‘“*True as gospel, Kate—I am the Bravo Chief, and you now know that I love ctl Kate Linville gave one loud ery of fear, and sunk into a swoon, while her captor stood silently gazing down upon her, a look of fiendish triumph upon his hard, stern face. CHAPTER XXII. THE DEMAND AND THREAT. LIKE a hound on the track, Death Trailer fol- lowed the track of the outlaws, for when Kate remained absent from the fort for hours, he became alarmed, and set out to look her up, His experienced eye soon found her trail, and he was not long in drawing a conclusion when = came to the spot where the capture had taken place, Like the wind he sped back to the outpost, and made known what had occurred, after which he set off alone on the trail, it having been decided that Colonel Linville should follow soon after, with every man he could draw from the outpost, and under the guidance of Wild rry and the other scouts, Well knowing that he could do nothing single- handed, Death Trailer determined to at first discover that Kate was really a prisoner, and the real number of her captors, after which he anotber plan in view. The second night of encampment the scout wormed himself near the out!aw camp, counted their numbers, and beheld both Kate and Rod- ney Radcliffe, and a pang of jealousy shot through his heart at the pei that she would ef the young trader to comfort her in her cap- ivity. mrp, gained all the knowledge desired, he went back to his steed, wrote a note in pencil to Colonel Linville, telling him all he had discoy- covered, and stuck it on a stick right on the trail, well knowing that the keen eyes of Wild Harry would not pass it by. Then he set off in another direction from the one he had been pursuing, and after a hard ride, came to the top of a bigh range of hills, In the valley below, upon either side of a winding river, were thousands of t»pees, and he | knew the village of the Comanches was before him | Boldly riding down the mountain-side, he headed toward a guard of Indians who were pra a herd of ponies, and was soon dis- - covered by them, ' _ At first there was considerable excitement i avinced at sight of him; but then one of their _ number rode forward, and Death Trailer recog- nized him as a warrior who had come with the old chief Moochod to visit him. Each greeted the other in a most friendly qanner; but-it was with regret that the scout varned that the cbief, Red Lily, Prairie Wolf, ida large band of warriors had gone to the _ orthward on a grand bunt, “The heart of the pale-face is sad, that the _ def and his children are away. Let the brave after the chief, and tell him to come to the lley where the three rivers meet, and the belis ‘ais warriors shall heavy with scalps, the rzwams of his people shall be full of good _ yngs, and even the boys of his tribe shall re jaies to ride.” _ [he Indian's eyes glittered with savage joy, - «lhe answered. _ \ The great pale-face, the Death Trailer, has sken well, Red Arrow willgolikea bird after chief, and tell bim all that the great scout u told him, Then will Moochoo fly to the t.ey where the three rivers kiss each other, I the heart of all will be glad, and the smile ne Great Spirit will be upon his people.” Ay & Arrow has spoken well—let the Death faler feel that he isa great warrior,” and the ect turned to ride away; but the hospitable 6 would not hear to it, and carried him into fr illage, where he presented him to the chicf bammand asthe good pale-face who had saved thted Lily of the Comanches. en the Red Arrow mounted, and accom- 54 d by a chosen band set out to find the chief, _ th hoo, while Death Trailer was feasted and _ gored with great honor. _ _ ‘ling that his steed needed rest, the scout fa:'ned in the Indian village until the follow- y‘ orning, and then set out for the stronghold gai Bravo Chief, 4 * following day he arrived to find that Co)- er, dinville and ‘his gallant troopers were al- Ne lag. lrawing their coi] around the outlaw den, hi yin pea the rescue of Kate Linville. nk God you have come, Randolph—now. x ‘ ht, e ait ies RN at ky a “ey Te ni ‘ LF © * ~~) - ey | rite 7s > ~ , i 2 * ng gal 4. ; "oh i" mises ‘4 4 Pt : oe ‘ Dal | Peta 5 se eth,” ton aay ’ Yeah IR ‘ti OD" ae 7. ; : 4 Pe ‘ & pe) Tah ~§ . * . i - - Ralph, the Death-Shot Scout. . ‘ “we om Ss! . oe ue pe ; Sl aati res be yee —_ ss oY oe Sr LLL LLL LLL DD LLL LLL LLL ltt. e.* ‘4 } = ¥ ‘ si 4 : _ - ‘\ 4 - a 1 © » ;* - es | I fen : iad : I bave work for you,” and Colonel Linville wrung the scout’s hand, ‘* 1 am ready, sir.” ‘*Good! NowlI wish you to meet the chief under flag of truce, and tell him if he will re- store my daughter to me in honor and safety I will give him ten thousand dollars—here, I have the money—and return to my fort, without at- tacking him, If he does not restore me my daughter, if harm befall her, or insult be breathed in her ear, tell him, Death Trailer, that Vl not rest day or night until I have hung every mother’s son of his dastard band, and that ll burn him at the stake!” That the colonel was in deadly earnest Death Trailer ana all well knew, and the scout mount- ed a fresh steed to go upon bis dangem®ous errand, while he said quietly: ‘Shall I offer a ransom for Mr. Radcliffe, also, colonel?” ‘* By all means—I had forgotten him in my deep sorrow,” Then Death Trailer rode away, and approach- ed the fort, where stood tbe guard, fully a score in number, for the scouts had reported to the es i Chief that the troopers had arrived in the valley. With his arms raised above his head, in token of peace, the scout rode forward, and erossed the river, one of the outlaws hailing him, and telling him to come on. Arriving upon the other shore the score of men crowded arounc him, all eager to see the great Death Trailer, who for years had been their most deadly enemy. ** Men, I would see your chief—I bear a mes- ee to him from Colonel Linville,” said the scout, ‘* I will show yer whar he is, but durned ef I don’t think yer knows ther ropes o’ this ranch as well as I does—come, pard, an’ ef yer lose yer skulp don’t blame me, ’kase yer’s puttin’ your own head inter the lion’s mouth,” ‘* Lead on,” sternly said the scout, and bis guide set out f or £he plateau, Upon the piazza of his cabin sat the Bravo Chief, grim and stern, and a look of devilish de- termination seemed to flash into his eyes as Death Trailer advanced, for he recognized him at a glance, Having resumed the disguise of his false beard and long hair, he was, of course, unknown to Death Trailer as other than the Bravo Chief, and as the scout halted in front of him he said rudely: ‘* Well, sir, you have dared place yourself in my power, havo you?” ‘Yes, Tcame under a law that even savages obey—that of a truce,” ** You come here as.a spy, Sir Scout.” ‘*' Therein you lie—I have been here before and know your stronghold as well as do you,” ‘By your own confession you are a spy, and should be hung assuch.” ‘* Bah! you dare not execute your threat, for if you moved one finger to order my death, I would send a bullet through your heart; but I did not come here to talk of myself, but to de- liver a message from Colonel Linville.” The forehead of the Bravo Chief bad turned pallid at the threat of the scout, and he said quickly. ‘* What message do you bear?” ‘Task the ransom of Miss Linville, for the sum of ten thousand dollars, and the promise to return to the fort without attacking you.” ‘‘ Fair proposals—suppose I refuse them?” “Your stronghole shall be attacked, your fol- lowers hung, and yourself burned at the stake. ’ ‘Did Colonel Linville send me this message?” and the Bravo Chief sprung to his feet. “He did.” — “Tell him his daughter is safe; but that I have given her one week to agree to certain terms I have offered her—at the end of that time I will bring ber to terms in my own way, if she refuses, ‘Tell him this, and also that if he wants his daugh- ter to come and get her—now, curse you; be- gone! ; Death Trailer made no movement to go, but said, in a voice that rung threateningly: ‘*T will bear your reply; but hear me, chief, if harm befall Miss Linville, you shall rue the day that you were born,” Without another word, the scout turned and rode away, and in an hour’s time was again in the troopers’ encampment, CHAPTER XXII. A DARING ALLY. COLONEL LINVILLE listened to’the respon of the Bravo Chief, with stern face and burning eyes, while his teeth were firmly set with deter- | mination, ee ’ i : ' ’ r< ye ' of : Th & 4 ' 4+ . fA 2 , ; 3 Me, ca ee 4 AX “") ne. 47 +e Ge THK: » a 1 gh F. c ‘ ih Se : os fae . ,. ©. i / - . ts rt * : 7 "24 eo ae = ~~ 1 =k ") ‘ cia “s. - ‘ 7 Nae PET, Le et ath oa “4 SE? is ; _? eS pve a ‘he at F = - f. ‘ is > 7 ss . ca — ~~ - ; r > | «41% a ws 2, + 7 é . 13 ** You said that squads of guards could be so egirty as to entirely surround the stronghold?” e said, quietly, ** Yes, sir; I will take my detachment of scouts and show them each place where I wish a guard left, and then to-night they can guide the troops: to their position,” ‘How many men would you put in each guard?” ‘* A non-commissioned officer and eight men— this will leave you a hundred men to guard this ford, the only means of escape for the outlaws in force, and the chain of sentinels will prevent any small body of men from getting out.” ‘*A good idea—then, when old Moochoo and his warriors come, we will attack—ay, we will carrv this stronghold.” * We will, colonel,” and Death Trailer walked away to call his detachment of scouts, By nightfall a dozen squads of troopers, each under the lead of a guide, moved out of camp to take up their different positiens, and thus form a chain of sentinels around the outlaw stronghold, Utterly worn out, Death Trviler songht the ravine, where he had pitched kis lonely camp, and threw himself down to rest, rolled in his serape, and with his horse feeding near him upon the rich grass, How long he slept he knew not, but he was awakened by a light tonch, and springing to bis feet beheld before him a slight form, enveloped in a blanket, ** Let the pale-face chief not fear a foe—it is. the Red Lily,” said a sweet voice which Death Trailer at once recognized. “The Red Lily is welcome; but how did she find me h«re?” asked the scout in surprise. ‘The Red Lily was coming back to the viHage with many braves, when she met the Red Ar- row and he told her of the visit cf the Death Trailer to the great Mouchoo, and tke words he bore for the chief’s ears, The Red Lily told the Red Arrow that Mcechoo and the Prairie Wolf, with their braves, had gene further to the north while she was returning to the village, and that she would come with her braves to the aid of her white brother—and she has come.” ‘** It 1s noble in the Red Lily; but how did she find me here?” “The Red Lily was on the hill when the sun went to sleep,and saw t'e white scout come here, and she sought him; but the Red Lily kept her warriors back, for the braves of the pale- faces are not yet friends to her people.” ‘* It was wise in the Red Lily; now I will go with her, and will tell her braves that they shall have many serlps if they will bury tke batchet with their white brothers and jin with them in the attack upon the stronghold,” ‘** The Red Lily will lead ber braves to the at- tack—let the Death Trailer come,” and the Red Lily moved away, Silently the sccut obeyed, and in a walk of half an hour they came to a ravine, in which were crowded fully two hundred Comanche warriors, silent and stern, As the scout followed the warden through the curves a grunt of satsfaction greeted them, showing that the Indians were most willing to form analliance with the Death Trailer in an attack upon the outlaws, Having sought out several of the leading chiefs of her band, the Red Lily presented the Death Trailer to them, and seated in a circle around a small fire, which kept the 1; ipes alive, they commenced discussing a plon cf attack. The conference lasted for half an bour, and that it was satisfactory to the Desth Trailer, the following note, which he sent by en Indian brave to Colonel Linville will prove, “ DraR Str:—I am in the Comanche camp, where the Red Lily hastwo hundred werriors uncer her command, One of the number is a balf-breed, once a member of the band of the Travo Chief, and he will lead us by a secret _peth uv the river, where there i¢ only asmall guard, which we will cepture quietly, and then moveon the plateru. AsI have no con- fidence in the word cf the Eravo Chief, 1 think it best to make the attack at cence, and by secretly gaining the interior of the strongheld it will give us agreatadvantace J will start at once fer the quer- ters of the chief, so as to prevent hrrm to Miss Lin- ville, and will engage the cutlaws urtil ycu con come up. It would be well tosend word to each picket to attack from 'thbvir positions, as soon as they hear the alarm of firing in the fert.ard the noise of mv attack will be the signal for you to charge the fort, which I think you can easily carry, while I will see that the guns on the hills are silenc- ed,so as not to annoy you. Pardon my ¢sucges- tions, and seeming orders to you, sir, my Command- er; but 1am confident you will find I_act only for the best. ‘Ranvourag.” Having dispatched this note, written in lead- pencil by the firelight, the scout signified hig s . . a as 5 * bial p ; bk a. . a + y | = ia . 4 x 4 A @ { , \{ \{ " 4 } 4 a | }\ } | | ) Xx BN N + te ‘ % oe hay ; ’ = fe of Oe 7, % yy * Ba) See 5 § . ; ih ry. * Go re et s.com em pe I é -_ i= 5 =