Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 617 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

number of soldiers were visible, who gave him a cheering welcome as he rode into the inclosure. ‘The commandant wishes to see you immedi- ately, scout,” said an elderly officer, wearing the uniform of a captain of cavalry. ‘*T will go to him at once,” replied the horse- man, dismounting, and calling to a buckskin- clad youth to look after the comforts of his steed, the horseman walked rapidly toward a large eabin in the center of the stockade, and which fronted on a clear stream of considerable size, upon both sides of which the fort and its in- closure was built. Upon the piazza of the cabin stood an officer of fine appearance, with iron-gray bair and iustache, and looking every inch the soldier thut be was, It was Colonel Linville, the commandant of the Clear Water Outpost, and a large expanse of frontier territory. ‘“ Well, Randolph, I am glad to see you back, for I feel that I can actnow with my eyes open,” and the colonel warmly extended his hand to the scout, who asked, quietly: ‘Anything of importance, colonel?” ‘‘Tndeed there is, The train with which my daughter was coming out across the. plains was attacked by Indians and so worsted that it has returned to the settlements, and Kate writes me, by a special courier, that she is coming on under the escort of Lieutenant Merwin and four troopers.” ‘Tt is a most reckless undertaking, especially at this time, colonel, for Don Ramon is on the war-path as well as the Comanches. With the former I had a brush last night, and nearly the whole outlaw band came near destruction, as did I also, by the prairie taking fire from a stroke of lightning.’ ‘‘ Indeed! we saw the light of the fire, and I copgratulate you upon your escape; but was Don Ramon on the trail that Kate must come?” asked the colonel, anxiously. ‘‘He had crossed it, having been on a raid against the lower settlements; but the fire made him drop his plunder, and half a dozen of bis vile erew were burned to death—” ‘‘ Ta! as bad as that, wasit? Well, whatis to be done about Kate, Randolph, for she is now on ber way here?’ “T will take a detachment of cavalry and meet her, sir.” ‘You shall have them—nay, I will go myself with you, and we will start—when?” “Xssoon as I get a little rest and food, sir, Both Comanche and myself have had a hard time of it, since we left the fort, three days ago.’ ‘* Very well; we will start after dinner. Now come in’and breakfast with me, and then you can spend the morning in sleep,” and Colonel Linville led the way into his comfortable quar- ters, where the two sat down to a substantial re- past. CHAPTER III, A STARTLING DISCOVERY, Asthesun neared the western horizon, and cast long shadows across the prairie, a detach- ment of cavalry, well armed and mounted, left the Clear Water Outpost, and struck the trail deading to the eastward. At the head of the troopers rode Colonel Lin- ville, a young lieutenant, and Ralph Randolph, the’Scout, whom the pests of the Texan border had named the Death-Shot Scout and the Indians had christened Death Trailer, from his deadly lnarksmanship on horse or afoot and from his alentiess pursuit on the trail, Ata rapid gallop the squdton dashed on un- til at nightfall they balted to go into camp, many miles from the stockade, As was his wont before ¢amping, Death Trailer, as the scout was now generally called, made a circuit of the camp, tosee that no im- mediate danger hovered near, while the troopers set about preparing their evening meal. Colonel Linville threw himself down upon a blanket, and with a cigar between bis lips, was thinking of the balmy meeting soon to take lace between himself and daughter, from whom 1e had been separated three long years, the maiden having been at boarding-school in New York. Suddenly a wild cry was heard, and all re- cognized the well-known voice of the Stockade Scout; then followed a few shots in quick suc- cession, terrific yells, and, by the time Colonel Linville was on his feet, there swept down upon the camp a large band of horsemen, firing and yelling as they came, , Taken wholly by surprise Colonel Linville and his gallant troopers could only throw them- selves speedily upon the defensive, for in the early twilight they recognized their old enemies, the Bravo Riders of the Rio Grande. But they also seemed taken by surprise, and though doubling the troopers in numbers, rode quietly on, not hesitating for a combat. But as they sped through the camp the old colonel, and a dozen of his troopers beheld a flashes of the pistols revealed a woman’s form, bound to her saddle, and riding between two of the prairie brigands. “Ob, God have mercy! my daughter! my poor child!” and the voice of Colonel Linville was fuli of anguish, for he beheld his idolized daughter in the power of those cruel and des- perate men. But like @ cyclone the outlaws passed on, and loud rung the voice of the brave old soldier— “Into the saddle, troopers! Were tbey ten times our number J would attack them. Men, yonder outlaws have my child in their power!” A yell of rage broke from the gallant cavalry- men. With eager energy they threw their saddles upon their horses, and, unmindful of the few who had fallen, mounted in hot haste, With pallid face and set teeth Colonel Linville flung himself into his saddle, and the order to move was upon bis lips when a tall form dashed into their midst, and the clear voice of Death Trailer was heard, as he hastily saddled his own splendid steed, ‘*Form to repel attack! comes your enemy !” Surprised, the troopers turned to the right- about to discover, rushing upon them, from the same direction from whence had come the out- laws, a large, rapidly-moving mass of horsemen. Then the wild war-cry of the Post Scout was heard, and a terrible response was given from a hundred throats, ‘‘The Comanches! the Comanches!” cried the troopers, and they poured a hot fire upon their advancing foes. But, it failed to check them, and, with mad yells, the red terrors came on; the shock follow- ed: there was a momentary struggle, cries of hatred, defiance, and despair; flashing of pistols and rifles: clashing of saber against knife and lance, and the Comanches passed on, leaving sad havoe behind them, for many a trooper had fallen, many an Indian had given his last war- whoop; but the mass sped swiftly on—their game was in their front,-they were on the trail of the border brigands!” In the first shock the steed of Colonel Linville fell, shot through the heart, and pinned down beneath the animal he expected to be crushed to death beneath the hoofs of the half-wild mus- tangs that rushed over bim. But, the savages passed on, and then two troopers, who had seen him fall, ren to his aid, and springing to his feet, he cried: ** Men, those outlaws must not escape! have my daughter.” “Colonel, we have not a half-dozen men un- hurt sir; we bave suffered severely in the two charges!” urged the young lieutenant who acted as aid, and was suffering from a wound in the arm. ‘Too true, too true, Raymond, Duty calls us here with my wounded and dead; but where is Randolph?” Search was at once made for the scout but nowhere was he to be found, and an examina- tion of the dead and wounded proved that he was not among those, ‘It is strange—can he have been captured?” asked Raymond. ‘“No; be is doubtless on their trail for some good reason, Perhaps he saw poor Kate, and intends to rescue her, and if mancan do it, he cap. But, Raymond, we must not remain here, equipped as we are; so let us bury th» dead, and then move toward thestockade as fast as we can with the wounded,” and the colonel set to work with a will, though bis heart was almost crushed with the blow it had received, and his fears for his daughter’s safety. And as he worked at his sad task, he swore he would visit a terrible retribution upon the out- laws, who bad stolen from him his child. CHAPTER IV. THE DEATH-SHOT ON THE WAR-PATH. WHEN the Death-Shot Scout found bimself in the midst of the moving mass of Comanches, he drew a revolver in each hand, and spurred through his dusky foes, Out upon the prairie. As the colonel had said, the scout had be- held the girl prisoner in the hands of the ‘out- laws, and feeling assured that-she was Kate Linville, he at once determined to keep near, for should the Comanches, who were evident- ly in chase of the ranch robbers, overtake and Ready, all! There They Ralph, the Death-Shot Scout. sight that nerved them to desperation, The a attack them, circumstances might place it in bis power to rescue the maiden. Therefore leaving Colonel] Linville and_ bis troopers to take care of themselves, Ralph Ran- dolph rode swiftly out upon the prairie, and keeping the raiders in sight, held steadily along on their flank, where neither the pursued or pur- suer could see him in the darkness, The outlaws seemed better mounted than were the Comanches, and slowly drew further and a further away from there, until midnight, when they halted for rest, their red pursuers being then several miles behind. A hasty stop in a motte to refresh their horses, a draught of cool water, a bite of juicy grass, and the men of Don Ramon were againin the saddle, just as the dark forms of their enemies came in sight, following their trail with the per- sistency of bloodhounds. But the rest had greatly refreshed their steeds, and the border pirates drew rapidly away from the Comanches once more. Thus the night passed away, with bard riding and short rests, and daylight discovered the two bands many miles apart. The day was spent in the same fatiguing jour- ney, Death-Shot Scout keeping afar off on the prairie, so that he could just hold his foes in view, At sunset the foot-hills were reached, then the raiders felt that they were safe, and slackened their pace,althocugh, far off on the prai- rie, they beheld their untiring pursuers still com ing on, Fully acquainted with the country the lone trailer well knew the place where the outlaws would strike the foot-hills, and baving the ad- vantage in the speed and endurance of bis noble steel Comanche, be made a rapid circuit, struck the ridge at a point higher up, and seeking the trail along which they would pass, soon found a secluded retreat, where his noble steed was re- warded with a luxurious feed and a drink from a mountain stream, Leaving Comanche to rest and refresb himself to his heart’s content, the silent trailer hastily partook of a pocket lunch, and looking to bis weapons, walked at a rapid pace up the valley. After half an bour’s walk he ceme to a Pe cipitous hillside, around which the trail led to the stronghold of the Bravo Chief. There he sat down to await the result; but the hours passed away, and no outlaws came, in view, ‘Strange! It is nearly sunset, and they should have passed two hours ago. Perhaps they have halted to ambush the red-skins. Yes, that is the case, I am assured.” As if determiniug upon his course, the Jone scout retraced his steps to the little glen, where he bad left Comanche, whom he found ready and willing for the trail once more. 4 A few moments more and Randolph was slow- ly and cautiously riding in the direction where he supposed the outlaws to have halted; but, no sound came to bis ears of battle, and knowing that the red-skins had had ample time to come up, be deemed it most singular indeed. At length he came to where the prairie trail struck the foot-hills, and a glance upon the prai- rie proved that the Comanches were not in sight, while an examination of the ground showed him that the outlaws had turned short off to the left, npon entering the bigblands, and that their foes had followed closely on their trail. ‘* Come, Comanche, we must look more closely into this matter, for those outlaws are up to some devilish trick—come,” and Comanche moved forward at a rapfd canter on the trail of those that had gone before. Just at dark be came to where the trail cross ed a considerable stream, and here bis quick eye detected a small track leading from the main one, and going up Into the bills. “Three horsemen took this trail—by Heaven! I believe they have sent the maiden this way to the stronghold, while the band continues on to entrap the red-skins. Comanche, we will follow the three tracks!” and the untiring steed was urged on, his master believing that good fortune would soon place Kate Linville under his pro- tection. ; When darkness crept over the scene, the scout dismounted, to the better follow the trail, and after an hour’s walk the glimmer of a fire in ae et caused his heart to throb with de- ight. In the broad glare of that camp-fire stood four persons, three of whom were rude, savage- looking men, at a glance recognizable as belong- ing to the band of Don Ramon, the Bravo, The other was of a different race, for his red skin showed his Indian blood. He was a slight and gracefully-formed youth, straight asan arrow, and bis long, black hair 4 18) OOK