Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 617 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

to coolly ride out of the stronghold, having doubtless only wanted to see how strong we were, and an attack from the whole Comanche tribe will be the next thing; and they cannot think that we keep close watch, when, Halford says, an Indian swam the river and escaped with a stolen horse, the best of the drove. ut that fellow had revolvers, and used them, tov, with deadly effect, so it could nct have been an Indian. By Heaven! I'll wager my soul against Satan’s dominions, that it was that scout, Death Trailer! Yes, he was the horse-thief, and he is hanging around here for no good. Ha! I have it. y two other columns of raiders have re- turned, one empty-handed, and the other bring- ing with them a white maiden as captive. They captured her on the trail to the fort—doubtless the wife or daughter of some of the officers sta- tioned there. And that will get us into more trouble, for they shot down her escort—this was wrong in Lieutenant Rafael, but then he is a Mexican, and never misses a chance to take the life of an American soldier—curse him! The military will yet make it too hot for me, if I war against them in this style. Well, I have one crumb of comfort: if they do not pay well for the return of the girl, she will serve to re- lieve the monotony of my life at home, for I get strangely moody of late when not on the war- ath. alford says she is very beautiful—well, 71 see for myself inthe morning. Ha! what noise is that? That dog never raises his voice like that unless there is danger about, Halford! Halford! see what the row is outside,” and the voice of the Brayo chief rung out clear and loud, while his lieutenant, sleeping in an adjoining room, sprung to his feet, quickly lighted a lan- tern, and went forth into the darkness. His cry of alarm, when he discovered the dog, with a knife thrust in his side, roused the cabin ' household of the Bravo Chief, consisting of the old negress, and two guards, who slept upon the front piazza. Seizing a bugle, the chief blew the signal of alarm, for he felt that there had been some mis- chief going ou under cover of the darkness, and which he was determined to discover. In squads of four or five the outlaws rallied to the bugle call, and one party reported finding the dead body of the guard over the horses, an the excitement increased, while torches were lighted and a thorough search was made of the entire plateau. \ But nothing else of a suspicious nature was discovered, and the report from the sentinel and the guards at the fort was that nothing ha been seen by them, Suddenly the chief remembered his fair pris- oner, and he rushed to her room and knocked loudly. No response came, and with one dash of his foot broke in the bolted door, The: room was vacant and a curse of rage broke from his lips, while alls emed to be awe- stricken with surprise, for that any one could es- cape from the stronghold, especially a woman, no one believed. 5 “By Heaven! it is plain now:—the Death Trailer’s dogging our steps has ended in this and no other man could do it.” Glancing around the room the eyes of the chief fell upon a small embroidered pocket, such as are worn to a laay’s belt. He sprung forward and took it from the floor. lt was delicately worked, scented, and attach- od to a silver chain, — Hastily opening it, he beheld a_ pocket- handkerchief, aud a letter, addressed to Miss Kate Linville. The Bravo Chief read the Su petacr Om and his face turned as pale as death, while his lips grew white and stern. | ‘* Kate Linville! She in my very home! How strange! But it may not be too late, may recapture ber! If not, I will gain posses- sion of her if it costs me half my band. Hal- ford?” ‘* Sir,” and the young officer stepped forward, ‘‘ Have the men ready to start at daylight, I will take all that can be spared from the stronghold,” and the Bravo Chief re-entered his own room, still clutchiag tightly 10 his hand the letter and the pocket, and with his face growing momentarily more stern and determined. CHAPTER X., A REBELLION. Wird8 the first peep of day the outlaw strong- hold was a scene of wild excitement. It was evident that other causes than the escape of the fair prisoner, and being ordered ready for the trail, had stirred up the band to such a pitch of confusion. Ralph, the Death-Shot Scout. As the light increased the Bravo Chief came | out upon his piazza, his brow dark and threat- ening, his face pale and stern, for it wasevident that the mutterings of a coming storm had reached bis ears. ‘* Men, I summoned you here to start upon the trail, not to show ill spirit at the reverses we have lately met with,” and the chief con- fronted the angry crowd, while his eyes blazed brightly. ‘* It’s well enough to talk, chief; but you ain’t done us no good ©’ late, and besides has got us cutup terrible, an’ ef it’s the same to yerself, we'd jist like to have yer git, an’ let the young leftenant be’ our leader,” and the bold spokes- man advanced from the crowd and stood in front of the Bravo, around whom the officers of the stronghold, and several of the men, were gatber- ing, for they felt that trouble was brewing. ‘*Do Lunderstand you aright, my man—you wish me to turn the command of the band over to my young lieutenant? Is this the wish of you all?” and the eagle eye of the chief swept over the crowd, ‘It am, chief,” and the same speaker again was the spokesman, ‘* Well, now hear me—I saved the lives of many of you, when condemned to death by the Mexican Government, and well you know that I organized this band, and when driven from the lower Rio Grande came hither and established this stronghold, from which neither the settlers, soldiers or Comanches have been able to drive me. Of late, reverses have befallen us, which were the fault of, circumstances and not myself, and yet if you have suffered, I have suffered with you, and no man in this band has exposed his life more willingly than I. Now, let me say that L rule here, ani Heaven have mercy on the poor wretch who disputes my authority, or arouses my anger. Men, will you still have faith in your chief?’ and the clear, fearless eyes of the Bravo glanced over the crowd, Instantly there was a cheer from one man, and another voice cried: ‘* Hurrah for the Bravo Chief!” A hundred voices echoed the cry, and the bold spokesman suddenly found himself deserted b nearly all who had thrust the honor of the posi- tion upon him; but, glancing around him, he beheld perhaps a score willing to stand by him, and believing that the death of the chief would bring back the deserting mutineers, he sprung forward, crying: ‘Down with him, fellers—he would sell us to the sogers, ef he could git half a chance.” The eyes of the Bravo Chief now blazed fire, and bis muscles grew hard as iron, while every nerve seemed strung to its finest tension. Yet in a calm, deep voice, he said: ‘* Back, you traitorous hound! Back, I say!” But the mutineer rushed on, and had reached the steps leading upon the piazza, followed by the score whom he felt he could rely upon, and a number of those who had a moment before cheered for their chief. As the savage leader of the mutineers sprung upon the piazza, the chief rushed forward to meet him, there was a clash of steel as their knivesmet, and then the keen blade of the Bravo ban buried to the hilt in the heart of bis assail- ant, Seizing the body in his strong arms, he hurled it upon those who were still pressing on, and then springing quickly back, a revolver in either hand, the weapons flashed rapidly forth and their deadly music was the knell to severa hardy ruffians, whose bodies blockaded the steps. The sudden and fearless action of the Bravo changed the attitude of affairs in a marked de- gree, for the rebellion was terminated in an in- stant, and those who a moment before would have been glad to see the chief slain, were now loudest in their cheering for him. ‘* Take these dead off and bury them, and re- member henceforth that I rule here, even if you are a set of cut-throats. Now, back to your cabins, and await my orders,” With a glance over his men, the Bravo Chief turned about and entered his cabin, motioning to bis officers to follow him, ‘¢ Falford, I wish twenty of the best men in the band to accompany me—let them be mount- ed on the best horses in the stronghold, and thoroughly armed. I wish them within the hour, and while I am goue keep a tight rein up- on these devils, for they seem inciined to kick in the traces, And, gentlemen, I warn you all, to keep your eyes open, for old Moochoo and his warriors may pay you a Visit at any time.” . Seeing that their chief had no more to say the several outlaw officers retired, and the Bravo was again alone, @ Slowly he paced the room, as if in painful thought, and then he murmured: ‘* Would that I were all that she once believed me to be—but why repine now over the past—it isa blood-stained, sin-blotted record that can never be wiped out. But I will seek ber—I will make her trust and believe me, and—bring her tomy outlaw home. Yes, my beautiful Kate, you and I have not said farewell forever yet— we will meet again, and ere three suns have risen and set, Yes, [ll dare it, for if I lose my life, I can die but once.” As if having fully determined upon his course, the Bravo Chief made a few preparations, and, in half an hour more, rode from the st: onghold at the head of a score of bis most trusty follow- ers, who felt that their leader was bound apes some errand of desperate danger, for never had they seen his face so dark and stern. CHAPTER XI. FLYING FOR LIFE. WHEN the scout and his fair companion had once escaped the immediate danger threatening them, they were soon pursuing their way rapid- ly away from the outlaw strevckold, Death Trailer seeming intuitively to take the best route in the darkness, Knowing that bis having crossed the ridge of mountains would necessitate a much wider cir- cuit to reach the outpost, and not ciacoey that his means of escape would be discovered before morning, if then, Death Trailer determined to spare the horses 2s much as was in bis power, and consequently never urged them out of an easy gait. At daylight he halted fora rest and break- fast, and then for the first time Kate Linville really beheld her brave preserver, and she could not but feel a thrill of admiration for the splen- did-looking man who had so daringiy come to her rescue, and, unaided, taken her from the power of her cruel captors, After a short stop, and a bearty breakfast of jerked buffalo meat, crackers and coffee, for the scout was always well supplied with edibles, the two fugitives mounted and pursued their way, the maiden in the highest spirits at her escape, and seeming to feel perfect confidence in her companion to protect her. Then, in a voice and manner wholly free from the border dialect and style, the scout told her of her father having started to meet her, of the charge of the outlaws upon their camp, and then of the rush of the Comanches in pursuit, their object being the rescue of the Red Lily, whom they believed to bein the power of the Pravo Chief. Of the severe handling of the soldiers by the outlaws and Comanches, he said nothing, ex- cepting that they had doubtless returned to camp for reinforcements, as soon as Colonel Linville discovered that she was a prisoner to the renegades, Then be went on to relate of bis following the trail, his meeting in the mountains with the young chief, Prairie Wolf, who alone had start- ed forth to rescue his sister, and then of the rescue of the Red Lily under the impression that it was herself, Of bis means used to get into the stronghold, and of his narrow escape with the steed she rode, he also told her, but in a mauner wholly free from egotism and self-praise; yet Kate Linville felt that her preserver was a truly wonderful man, and the more she listened to his soft, pleas- ant voice—the more she saw of his handsome, daring face, the more she was impressed with him, while her heart gave one long-drawn sigh. Why she sighed, as if with sorrow, the sequel will show. Through the long hours of the day, and late the followiag night, the two pressed on, neithcr seeing or hearing anything of an alarming na- ture, At a late hour of the night the scout encamped among the foot-hills, that overlooked the prairie for rolled and miles in their front. Having seen to the comfort of his fair charge, who was soon fast asleep, the scout attended faithfully to the two steeds, and then after a short circuit of the eamp he threw himself down to rest. With the first peep of day he awoke, and at once set to work preparing their frugal break- fast, which, when ready, he called Kate to par- take of, and the two were soon discussing the edibles with a relish which constant exercise and the fresh morning air could alone give. But, suddenly, the scout arose to his feet, and then threw himself flat upon the ground in a listening attitude, ‘* Is there danger?” asked Kate, softly. “*T hear hoof-strokes; but, they are yet some CONMEDOOKS: ee. ae ie et ee mt i. te