Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 617 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 ——-- distance away; still, we had better get ready to ride,” cautiously replied the scout, The maiden glanced earnestly into his face, to see if she could read there more than he would tell; but, she might as well have gazed upon a fave of stone; there was no sign of trouble, fear or doubt, resting there—it was caJm, pleas- ‘ant and fearless, In a few moments the horses, greatly refresh- ed by their rest and feed, were ready, and Kate was raised to her saddle, while the scout was preparing to mount, Then came the sound of rapidly running steeds, and out of a thicket several hundred yards away dashed several horsemen, At a glance Death Trailer recognized his fues, and, as quick as lightning, bis repeating rifle was thrown across his saddle, and three shots rung outin quick succession, bringing down a steed and a rider, while the others quickly drew rein. ‘The hounds are upon us, Miss Linville, but we have fleet steeds and can easily run away from them,” he said calmly, As he spoke, however, there came a volley from the outlaws, and with amad bound into the air, a half-human cry, the steed ridden by Kate Linville fell dead. But the strong arm of the scout caught the maiden, and freed her from the animal, and then he drew her quickly over the ridge, while again his rifle rung out its death-knell, and again the outlaws were checked by his deadly fire. Rapidly reloading the weapon, Death Trailer seemed to be thinking at the same time, for as the rifle was once more ready, he turned to Kate, and said firmly: ‘* Miss Linville, as you are dismounted there is but one plan to pursue—” ‘* And that is—” said the maiden, calmly, though a great dread clutched at her heart. The scout made no reply; but springing for- ward, unhurt by a few scattering shots, he quickly took the side-saddle from the fallen steed, and placed it upon Comanche, while he tied his own saddle on behind. ‘‘What is your object?” asked Kate, seeing his act. The scout glanced quickly toward the thicket, raised his rifle and fired several times in quick succession, and said quietly: ‘7 will tell you—Comanche could not keep ahead of yonder horses carrying double weizht; but with you only, no steed on the prairie can catch him—see! afar off yonder, where the prai- rie meets the horizon, you observe a dark object, do you not?” ‘Ye: there!” ‘*That is it—yonder clump of trees sheiters your father’s fort, and thither you must at once gv,” * And you?” ‘‘T will remain to keep those fiends back from your trail as long as I can—” ** And then be murdered to save me, T will not desert you,” ‘* Miss Linville, it is noble of you, but you must; if you remain, [ will be killed and you captured. Mounted on Comanche, and steering for yonder clump of trees, you wiil in four hours be safe, while alone, and on foot, I can defy the outlaws to catch me in these hills, every foot of which I know. Now let me placé you in your saddle—ride at a rapid pace, but do not urge Comanche, unless pursued, for it is a long jaunt, Keep youreye on yonder dark object on the horizon, and do not lose your bearings, Tell vour father that I will soon bein camp, Now, farewell, and may God protect you!” The scout had spoken rapidly and earnestly, for his quick eye bad discovered that their posi- tion was being flanked. Quickly Kate Linville held forth her hand, and as the scout grasped it, a tear fell from her beautiful eyes, her lips parted, and she mur- mured: ‘*You are a noble man, and [ feel that you will escape your enemies, Good-by.” A moment more and she was gone, Comanche springing away as though he fully understood the daty devolving upon him, and had no fear regarding the power of his master to take care of himself, After a short ride down the hillside the prairie was reached, and Kate turned in the direction of the fort, for she could not see the trees from the lowlands. With a swift gallop she started out over the prairies, and then bebind her came one loud, piercing war-cry of defiance, followed by the well-known crack of the scout’s rifle, and a rapid firing from his foes, whose shouts filled ber heart with terror, Glancing behind her she bebeld a dozen horse- No, sir; ———- — oe SSS —_—-- ———— men dash up to the spot which she had left ten minutes before, and she reeled in her saddle at the thought that Death Trailer bad fallen. But, suddenly, further along the ridge came the crack of a rifle, and she recognized the tail form of Death Trailer, and she waved her hand in adieu. But at that instant she saw half a dozen men spring from a thicket and rush upon the brave man, whose revolvers rattled forth in a manner she would have appreciated under less danger- ous circumstances; but suddenly she had her own danger brought vividly before her, for a number of horsemen had gained the prairie, and were rushing on in full pursuit of her. With a prayer upon her lips for the scout and herself, she gave Comanche the rein, and away sped the fleet steed across the prairie, his pursu- ers crowding hotly behind him, CHAPTER XTI. TO THE RESCUE! WHEN Colonel Linville found his command so thoroughly wasted by the double attack of out- laws and Comanches, he felt that his first duty was to his dead and wounded, although he had seen his beloved daughter in the power of the cruel renegades, who he feared would not hesitate at any crime, Having buried his dead, and cared for the wounded, the small party of troopers moved slowly back toward the fort, their hearts hope- ful that the maiden might yet be rescued, for, unable to find any trace of the Death Trailer, or his steed, they believed that he was on the trail of the outlaws, and they knew him to be worth, on an expedition of that kind, at least half a hundred soldiers. At length the fort was reached, and Colonel Linville at once gave orders to have two-thirds of his troopers ready to start at once on the trail of the outlaws, determined to follow them to their very stronghold and give them battle. But here a sad disappointment met him, for in his absence, calls had come from the settle- ments for troops to protect them, and the officer in command, where Colonel Linville was away, had sent off nearly all the available force at the outpost. In despair tbe sorrowing father knew not what to do, and with anguish at his heart, he paced the floor of his quarters by day and night, for he felt his total inability to act without a large number of men at his back, and to go into the hills after the outlaws with a score of troop- ers would be willful murder, and gain no good results. But then a ray of hope came to the fond par- ent’s heart, for an Indian scout came in and re- ported having seen Death Trailer far up toward the bills, trailing the outlaw and Comanche bands, He had seen the flying horsemen, and had lain down upon the prairie to conceal himself, and while thus hidden, afar off on tue prairie he dis- covered a single horseman, whom he recognized as thescout. From his position between the two bands and the Death Trailer, the Indian felt that the scout was watching both bands, unseen himself, ‘Well, if man can save poor Kate, Ralph Randolph can, and [ feel in better spirits now,” and Colonel Linville for the first time took rest and food since the capture of his daughter. Thus time passed away until toward noon of the fourth day, the sentinel on duty called out suddenly for the corporal of the guard, Tbat worthy instantly presented himself, and in five minutes more Colonel Linville and sev- eral officers stood in the log tower, used as a lookout, and all were gazing earnestly out upon the prairie. ‘¢That is Death Trailer’s Comanche, I know his loping run when he is hard driven,” said an old scout, ‘‘-Yes, and he is pursued,” cried the colonel, as above a roll in the prairie appeared half a dozen horsemen, half a mile behind the Single steed. ‘‘To horse! to horse!” rung out the colonel’s voice, and a score of troopers were ready for the chase, ‘‘ Tt is not the Death Trailer—¢t is a woman !” called out the old scout, and quickly the glass of Colonel Linville was turned upon the coming steed, for the others had drawn rein and retired bebind the roll in the prairie. ‘‘ By Heaven! it is my daughter!” Then down the steep steps sprung the colonel, and calling to a trooper to dismount, he threw himself into his saddle, and was the next instant dasbing across the prairie, followed by his men ata rapid pace, Nearer and nearer drew the hard-pressed steed, and then it was evident to the weakest — Ralph, the Death-Shot Scout. | | —— ——_—.e.~ vision that he carried a woman, and not @ man, upon bis back. Nearer and nearer, until a glad shout of joy burst from the old soldier’s lips, a cry of joy from the warden, and father and daughter were in each other’s arms, ip ove long, fond em- brace, ‘Kate, my darling child, you are not lost then, to your old father.” ‘‘No, father, lam safe with you again—but, oh! after so much hardship and danger. Yet, father, I owe all to one whom I know only as a scout—to Death Trailer, he says he is called.” ‘““T>) Death Trailer, the best guide, scout, hunter and fighter on these plains—the best horseman, the best shot, and most deadly band with a knife to be found anywhere; To Ralph Randolph, you owe your escape; [ felt it, I hoped it would be so—thank God! thank God!” and the old colonel was almost overcome with emo- tion, and enthusiasm for his gallant scout, ‘¢‘ But father, I fear I have found safety at the cost of the life of Mr. Randolph,” and Kate went on to give her father an account of her escape, as they rode slowly toward the fort, while a young officer and the troopers went in pursuit of the pursuers of the maiden. In thrilling tones she told of the scout’s daring entrance into the outlaw stronghold, of bis es- cape with her, and then of the attack upon them, the killing of her horse, and her flight and hard ride toward the outpost, clostly pursued by her enemies. ‘‘T could have distanced them, sir; but did not wish to press poor Comanche too hard, so only kept out of range of their bullets, for they fired on me several times, I suppose to wound my horse, ‘* Yet, father, I fear evil has befallen my brave preserver,.for the last I saw of him he was at close quarters, using his revolvers upon half a dozen men who were rushing upon bim. ‘* Can not something be done to find out?” ‘Indeed there can. At present I am crippled in men, for two-thirds of my command are away; but [ expect them back daily, and when they come I will move against this Bravo Chief, and bitter shall be my revenge against him. Yet, Kate, 1 have hopes that Randolph has es caped, for he seems ever to get out of the most desperate scrapes; but come, here we are, and this is to be your future home until you tire of your old father, and some gay gallant makes you his bride.” Kate Linville’s face did not flush, as one would have expected, at the allusion to a beau, but turned deadly pale, while she quickly said, and with a deep tremor in her voice: ‘Father, I shall ever be happy here. Your home is my home, and I will never care to leave ou.” The old soldier drew bis daughter toward him and ushered her into his comfortable quarters, while he called out for some one to look to the care of brave Comanche, who had nobly saved Kate Linville from again falling into the hands of the cruel Bravo Chief; also he ordered his aide to see that several of the best scouts were at once sent forth to see if they could find auy trace of Death Trailer’s fate. As the scouts rode from the stockade, the troopers returned, unable to overtake the out- laws who had pursued Kate, and unwilling to continue on after them too far from the fort, with the limited force that had been left there. CHAPTER XTII, AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL. SEVERAL days passed away at the fort, the father and daughter happy in being together, yet gloomy at the thought that harm had_be- fallen the brave scout, in whom Colonel Lin- ville seemed to feel the deepest interest, and Kate an anxiety equal to what she would have felt for the fate of a brother. The squadrons of troopers, sent to aid the settlements, still remained absent, and the scouts sent to look for the trail of the Death Trailer, vet were away, so that Colonel Linville felt that his hands were tied for the present; but he vowed either to rescue the scout, if a prisoner, or to fearfully avenge bim, if dead. One evening, at a late hour, the corporal of the guard was again sammoned quickly by the sentinel, who descried far off on the prairie two horsemen flying for their lives before a large party following them. Instantly orders were given to start a detact- ment of cavalry to their rescue, while all in the fort crowded the stockade wall and gazed upon pursuers and pursued, At first it was believed that the two horse- men in front were some of the scouts who had heen sent to look up Death Trailer; but a closer inspection proved that one was not a borderman, micboo os _* - _—