Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 617 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

_ Ta? 4 Ralph, the Death-Shot Scout. hung far down his back, whilea crown of eagle- feathers was upon his head, He was not in his war-paint, and his bhand- some, fearless face was plainly visible, while his eagle eyes flashed forth fire and defiance at bis captors, for he was strongly bound. At hisifeet lay a rifle, a bow and quiver of arrows, a knife, and a lance, while in the edge of the bushes was a dead mustang, evidently the animal he had ridden. In the background were hitched three horses, the steeds of the outlaws confronting the Indian warrior, for, young as he was, the bunch of scalps at his belt, proved that he was a brave. Down his arms, oozing from a small bullet wound, trickled a stream of blood, provirg that he had not been made captive without an ef- fort for his life. Before him stood his cruel-faced captors, one of whom cried: ‘*String ’im up, I say, pards, ’kase we hain’t time to waste on a Ingin.” ‘* That's so, fellers! H’iste him—” ‘* Whar’s the use 0’ exartin’ ourselves to hang "im? Let’s shine daylight thro’ him. Ill do it,” and the third speaker drew a pistol from his belt. “All right, Bony; you’se ust ter the biz o’ killin’ with weepins; but yer see I b’lieve in hangin’, ’kase [| was sheerif onst, an’ that was my callin’,” ‘It’s all the same, whether yer strangle a man or hang him; but I thinks it’s a more decenter way to puta light in a feller with a bullet, an’ I’m jist goin’ to make a targit o’ that red-skin afore he can wink his blinkers—” ‘*That’s so, Bony; a Ingin hain’t got no more use livin’ than a frog has use for a tail.” Bony pacer ery stepped back a dozen paces, and was raising his pistol totake aim at the helpless youth, who fearlessly met his gaze, and without the quiver of a muscle, when there came a flash, a report, and the outlaw fell dead! Ere the two remaining renegudes could fly, a horseman suddenly spurred into their midst, and nnother of the bad trio fell beneath his deadly aim, while the third bounded into the dark co- vert of the forest and disappeared. Dismounting quickly, the Death-Shot Scout stepped up to the youth and severed his bonds, while he said kindly, speaking in the Comanche ae ‘* | was just in time to save my red brother.” ‘* What! does the pale-face chief, the great foe of the Comancbe, call a red-skin his brother ?” ask +d the youth, in a tone of surprise. ‘**T am the foe of the red-men who come down into the settlements and murder the pale-faces, You are the son of the great chief of the Co- manches; let the young warrior go to his people ge them that Death Trailer has saved his e. ‘* My white brother speaks true; he has saved the life of the son of Moochoo; but, how knows the white brave this?” ‘*T know your race and your customs as well as you do yourself, Comanche. Do you think me blind, that I cannot see the feathers you wear?” “The white brave is a great chief, and Prairie Wolf owes him his life; but the heart of Prairie Wolf is sad, for his beautiful sister, the Red Lily, the daughter of the great Moochoo, and the pride of the Comanches, is in the power of the wicked pale-faces,” ‘‘Ha! Is the Red Lily a prisoner to the Raiders of the Rio Grande?’ asked Death Trailer, with surprise. ‘* Prairie Wolf has spoken; the Red Lily was taken gfe pale-face robbers of the _ hills. Prairie Wolf was running ber trail when his mustang was shot and he was wounded.” ‘‘Tt is too bad that your beautiful sister is in the power of the bed Bravos,” said the Death- Shot Scout, as if more to himself than to the In- dian, and then be continued, musin ty “*If I could recapture the Red Lily I would make old Moochoo my best friend, for I have already aclaim upon him in saving the life of his brave son. **Come, Prairie Wolf, let me see to your wound, and then we will together follew the same trail, for I have a maiden to rescue from the hands of the Bravos also.” The wounded arm was skillfully dressed, and telling the Indian to mount one of the horses of the renegades, and lead the others, the pale-face and red-skin set off, as friendly as though they had never been enemies. But though any Comanche brave would have en his right arm for the scalp of the great eath Trailer, and the scout had been the bit- terest foe of the tribe of the Prairie Wolf when they were out on their forays, there was kind- ness, now, in the heart of each for the other. They were bound upon a mission of deadly peril to both—to wrest the Red Lily and Kate Lin- vil'e from the power of the detested Don Ramon and his outlawed confederates, CHAPTER V, A DEADLY VISITOR. THE dismal gray of approaching dawn was stealing over the eastern skies, and casting its leaden hue over hill and prairie, as two horse- men drew rein in asmall ravine, from whence the distant glimmer of balf a dozen camp-fires were visible, Dismounting from their horses one of the men took the rein of each while the other silently glided toward the timber, wherein were en- camped a foe he had every cause to dread. The deep sleep, that comes before dawn rested upon the camp, and all were lost in slumber ex- cept the guards, who, believing that lonely task was nearly ended, leaned sleepily against a tree, to catch forty winks ere they would have to awaken to the duties of the day. Drowsily the horses stood about, or lay down upon the soft sward, while their masters, wrap- ped in their blankets, their feet toward the smoidering fires, and their heads upon their saddles, slept most peacefully, yet ready to spring to busy action or deadly strife at the first ery of alarm, And yet, how strange that peaceful sleep should come to those men, whose lives were dark with crime, whose natures were desperate, blood- stained their hands, and sin-dyed their hearts; while, banded as outlaws of the prairies, the hand of every honest man was against them. But they slept in peace, trusting in their guards, who were overcome by drowsiness, and beheld not a tall, agile form, approaching with the stealthy step of a panther.directly upon them. Had the outer sentinel], his back supported by a large tree, bis equilibrium sustained by his rifle used as a prop, beheld the dark form creeping upon him, be would never have elosed his eyes in slumber, but rallied himself for the fearful death- struggle to come, Grayer and grayer grew the skies, nearer and nearer crept the form, deeper and deeper dozed the sentinel—then suddenly the tall form rose up in his front, a band of iron grasped his throat, a heavy blow drove downward the keen blade of a knife, a crouching sound followed, a moan, a relaxing of the muscles, a death-rattle in the throat, and a strong arm gently lowered the dead body to the ground, and ‘The sentinel was off duty forever.” An instant later the daring invader of an out- law camp stood motionless, his ears strained to catch the slightest sound, his eyes endeavoring to pierce the gloom of the timber. hen, asif baving made up his mind to his course, he strode boldly into the camp, picking his way here and there among the sleepers, the very boldness of his act disarming suspicion in the minds of the few who were awakened by his step as he glided by them, and believing him one of their own number, they turned over for another nap, ere called to duty. But there was one who watched his approach, and the eyes of the watcher beheld him glide hither and thither as though searching for some object. -resently a burning brand flickered into a blaze, and then died away, leaving the darkness greater than before; but, that instant of light was sufficient, for the bold invader moved quickly forward and stooped over the one who had watched him gliding among the trees, Bending over he beheld the form of a woman at his feet—a woman whose hands were bound behind her by rawhide thongs, proving that she was a captive. ‘*Come, I would save you; but, be as silent as the grave,” whispered the man, as he severed the bonds, and the woman rose to her feet. Like his shadow she followed him without a word, through the midst of the sleeping brigands, until they came near the spot where lay the dead sentinel, Then their eyes in the early dawn fell upon a sickening sight, A score of mountain wolves were springing upon the dead body of the guard, Ravenous with hunger, thirsting fora taste of human blood, the mad beasts would not be driven off, and instantly raised a how] of defi- ance, while they showed their white teeth, and assumed a threatening position, determined not to be easily driven from their prey. The noise aroused another guard not very far away; he beheld the two forms, and called out to his supposed companion: ET a SS ES EE ES OE TACT ANTE ‘* Shoot the durned brutes, Paddy; itll save the bugler’s breath, an’ it’s about the time to rouse the boys.” But the howling of the wolves, and voice of the sentinel had already aroused the camp, and the man and the woman felt that there was but one course to pursue, The man acted promptly; a shot from his re- volver scattered the snarling brutes: bis strong arm encircled the slender waist of bis compan- ion, and with the speed of a deer he bounded away. A shot from the watching sentinel followed him harmlessly; a wild cry of alarm sounded through the camp; a bugle-note pierced the crisp, morning air, and the outlaws were ready for action, believing that they were to be at- tacked, Still on sped the fugitives, the man carrying the woman in his strong arms, she perfectly pas- sive in bis hands. Suddenly from the dark shelter of a thicket- covered ravine dashed three horses, one of them bearing a rider, ‘‘Ha! Prairie Wolf, my brother, you are justin time. I bave bad a bhardrun of it. Miss inville, are you string enough to ride—ha!” and Death Trailer stopped suddenly, as the gray light showed him that she whom he bad taken from the outlaw camp was not Kate Linville, but an Indian maiden! In the darkness neither the man nor the maiden had seen the other’s face, But, though he had not saved Kate Linville, Death Trailer bad rescued the Red Lily of the Comanches, who turned her lustrous eyes upon her preserver with such heartfelt ‘thanks that he almost forgot his dise ppointment, and placing the maiden upon the back of a fleet-looking mustang, he bounded into bis own saddle, and the three horses were urged toa run, fcr, from the dark covert of the timber, a score or more of outlaw horsemen dashed out in full pursuit of the fugitives, Fully acquainted with the country, Ralph Randolph led the way into the bills, ard by dodging through ravines and crossing pun.erous mountain streams, be eluded bis pursuers, «hom he saw from a high summit, returning to their camp and giving up the pursuit, Dismounting to rest their horses, the Red Lily quickly stepped forward, and placing both of her hands upon the broad shoulders of the Post Scout, looked sweetly up into his handsome face, and said softly, in English, tinged with the slightest accent: ‘The Red Lily was drooping in the bad pale- face camp, and the great white chief has saved her, and her heart is full of love for bim. The Prairie Wolf, the son of the great Moochoo, was sentenced to die, and your brave arm took the life of his foes, The Red Lily and the Prairie Wolf will ever be the friends of the great Death Trailer.” The scout was struck by the manner and words of the young girl, and looked earnestly upon her. He beheld a maiden of perhaps eighteen years of age, and a face of wondrous beauty, while her complexion was a rich red, causing her to look as theugh both white and Indian blood commingled in her veins, She was attired in the finest-dressed bucksin, worked with beads, and fitting her faultless, slender form to perfection. The smallest moccasins covered her shapely feet, and her wealth of dark brown hair en- circled her proud head like a coronet, while bands of meld abd silver beld it in place. Having finished his admiring glance et the beautiful maiden, the scout replied, quietly: ‘*T am glad to have saved the Red Lily from drooping and dying far from her people—the Prairie Wolf -knows the trail back to the village of your tribe, and Mocchoo, the Comanche chief, will welcome his cbildren ere another sun. Now the Death Trailer must follow again the trail of the robbers of the bills, for a lily of the pale- faces is drcoping in their wicked hands.” ‘“The Red Lily and Prairie Wolf sorrow for the White Lily of the pale-faces—tbey will go with the Death Trailer to aid bim,” said Prairie Wolf, tirmly. ‘‘No; they must return to their people; but, will the Red Lily tell the Death Trailer all she knows about the bands of the white robbers?” “Tbe Red Lily was fishing in the mountain streams, and a» party of le-faces took her prisoner, and bore her swiftly away from her people. When the last sun was biding behind the prairie grass they met the great chief of the hill robbers, the Bravo of the Rio Grande, com- ing from the prairie and following a heavy trail leading into the mountains—” ‘¢ Tt was the trail of the other band of outlaws COmMmIcpDoo! en re _—_ a. Seb > ee an eo _— —_ — (ale) n I a =