Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 725 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

third Charlie and his Cow 14 Daring Dick, Pawnee Bill’s Pard. The night came on again, and the guards took up their position on the trail, lassoes in hand, for there was to be no firing done, as they did not know just how far off the retreat of the outlaws was. The time passed on, all but the two guards asleep upon their blankets, and these found it dull work and were wishing for a change when rot heard the ring of iron upon the rocky trail. lt was of course made by shod hoofs, and the guards were at once on the a'ert, after arousing the cowboys to be on the watch. Nearer came the sound, and it was found to be but one horseman. Unsuspecting danger, the horseman came on to suddenly find bimself in the coil of a lasso and be dragged from his saddle, just as his horse was also caught in the noose. Instantly he was surrounded by the cowboys, and Buckskin Charlie said in Spanish, while he thrust a revolver into his face: ** Now, senor, you are a prisoner to men who will kill and eat you if you do not do as I say, and who will give you your freedom if you do obey to the letter and no treachery. ‘* What answer have you to make?” The man was scared half out of his wits, and crossed himself again and again, while he mut- tered prayers to a dozen saints. “Speak, for life is too short to dally with ou, ** What would the senor know?” gasped the mau. ** You belong to the Raiders?” ** Oh! no, senor.” , ** Lie to me and you are a dead man,” ** Yes, senor.” “You just left their retreat?” ** Yes, senor,” **Is Don Desperado there?” ** He is, senor.” ** He bas a prisoner, an American?” ** Yes, senor.” ** How far is the retreat from here?” ** Five miles, senor.” ‘* How many men has Don Desperado?” **Oh, so many!” ** How many?” ** Forty-five.” ‘* Ab! ** Where are you going?” The man was silent. ; ‘** Remember, it is your life or your freedom.” ** Yes, but will the senor give me my life?” “Yes, and your liberty too, if you obey me.” **T will, senor.” ** Where were you going?” *“*To meet a party the chief was expecting from the City of Mexico.” ‘* Ah! and now you are to right-about face, ride between me and one of my men, and lead us into the retreat, “If you fail us, you die, but be true and you are free the moment we enter the retreat. ** What do you say?” **The guards would su t so many, but if five went along with me, the others following, we could pass as the party I ways going to meet. ** When you have captured the sentinels, senor, the others can cume on, ‘ ** You are Texans, and I know you will do as you Say. ‘* I love life and I will obey you.” | ** You bave a great big head, my man, and we will carry out your plan and enter the retreat. ‘Get ready, men, for we have no time to lose, and as we ride along I will get an idea from this fellow just how matters are in the retreat.” Ten minutes after Buckskin Charlie had the alaep riding by his side and four men follow- em. bind, out of. sight, but within call, came the balance of the band. CHAPTER XXVII. THE SILENT SHADOWERS, Some miles away from where Buckskin ui y Rangers were lying in a for a victim, the Lariat Queen, Daring ick and the Indian Shadowers, silent as spec-. ters, were awaiting the approach of the party coming up the hill, The hoof-strokes told them that there were half a dozen at least in the owers fell upon the heads of the riders and their horses, Without a word of command the Shadowers formed a human chain around the captured party, and instantly revolvers were in the faces of those in the saddle, while strong hands held the bits of the animals. It was a complete, a perfect surprise and cap- ture. Daring Dick’s voice was the first to break the silence with: ‘* Not a lariat missed its aim, Miss May?” Then he added quickly: fs Lordy! Miss May: you and I captured wo- men. ** Women?” and wei Lillie sprung to the side of Dick, while she said in Spanish, which she spoke well, though with an accent: ‘* Are you not of the band of Raiders of the Rio Grande?” ‘“These men are, senora, but myself and my peon maid are their captives,” was said in a sweet voice, “Ah! Then we have done work that will count, ‘* Here, Dick,” and May spoke in English now; ‘Get these ropes off of this lady and her com- panion,” It was quickly done, while the trio of outlaw captors were as rapidJy bound and gagged by the Silent Shadowers., ** Now, senora, I will hear your story,” said May Lillie. ‘“‘[am Senorita Gabriella Garcia, and I was kidnapped from my bome by the birelings of Don Desperado, and they are taking me to the outlaws’ stronghold. , ‘*My peon maid was taken with me, senora, for you are also a woman I see, and Iam happy to have fallen into such good hands, though at first I deemed you Comanches, who would be scarcely less cruel than Don Desperado,” ** Senorita, we are Texans, and I am on the trail of Don Desperado, who holds my husband a prisoner,” | ‘Heaven have mercy on him tben,” ““This is the third time he has captured him, he having escaped some months ago tbrough the aid of the wife of the former chief, who poisoned Don Desperado but did not, it seems, kill him, as Captain Lillie supposed, and she may be even now in that man’s power.” ** Senora, | will confess the truth to you. ‘*T was the wife of the man the present Don Dewesneg killed, and it was I who poisoned im. ** But the poison failed. ‘*T aided your husband to escape, and then fled with this peon woman, and revenge, I take it, is why Don Desperado has had me kidhapped and brought here, ‘* You areon your way torescue your husband, you say?” +6 Yes,” ' ’ ** 4 dozen times your numbers could not do it by force, but by strategy yes, and I will lead you by a secret pass, never guarded, right into the stronghold, “Tt will be a desperate fight, but the surprise _ the courage of your people will win the ay. : **T am ready to lead the way, senora,” ‘* Oh! if we could only find Buckskin Charlie, for we need him now,” said Dick, when May op had told bim what Gabriella Garcia had sa ‘You may be certain, Dick, that Buckskin Charlie and his men are somewhere near the stronghold, and when they hear the fighting they will come to the rescue, for they have often heard Gordon’s rallying cry, you remember, when be was at the ranch, and we will all give it. ‘‘We are, with the two captives, twenty-five in number, and twenty-three of us cau handle a rifle and revolver, so we will win. ‘*T am ready. o ‘ The three prisoners were tied to their horses ‘and then the party mounted and started on their wa . r Darin Dick rode ahead with Wanda the peon, who knew the trail the darkest night, then came May Lillie and the beautiful Mexican, while the Silent Shadowers followed. It was a ride of half - dozen miles by the And just then a shot rung out, and another and a third in the cabin of Don Desperado, while at the same time far down the canyon trail was heard the war-cries of the Texan Cow- box Rangers rushing to the attack. bis yell was answered by the Pawnees’ battle cries and that of Pawnee Bill! The enemy was in the stronghold and the out- laws had to fight for their lives, CHAPTER XXVIII, AVENGED. PAWNEE Bru, when be arrived at the strong- hold with his revengeful captor, was given quar- ters in the chief’s own cabin, There, at the request of Don Desperado, Del- mar also made his home. ‘“* Between us, Delmar, we can keep our eye upon this man, though he isa slippery fellow. In a few days I will have place for him from which there is no escape,” Don Desperado had announced, As he felt anxious about the kidnapping of Gabriella Garcia and Wanda, two nights after his arrival in his retreat, the outlaw senta mes- senger over the trail to see if his plot bad been successful, or bad failed. If unsuccessful, and the messenger met the party, he was to hasten them on to the stronghold. . . ‘*As soon as she is here, Delmar, I shall take the band on a raid into Texas, and I shall play sad havoc with life there, I pledge you,” he spoke, fiercely, with a glance at Pawnee Bill, who remarked: ‘‘ Somehow, Don, I don’t think you are long for this world,” FA ‘¢ What makes you think so?” “T have a presentiment that I am going to kill you some pleasant day.” ‘** Bab! I will in the end kill you.” ‘*T may be wrong, but I have an idea that you are to fall by my hand,” Don Desperado laughed, while he answered: ‘*When you know what I bave in store for you, Gordon Lillie, you will beg me to kill you.” The prisoner gave a light laugh, and as he was allowed one hand free from his manacles, though the other one was ironed, and his feet fastened together with a heavy chain, he took up the chain and said he would turn in, hobbling over to his bunk in one end of the cabin, The lights had been put out in the cabins of the men, and the whole camp was at length still, so the chief said, sullenly: ‘* Now to bed all of us,” Delmar arose to obey, when Pawnee Bill sprung from his cot free of his irons, for he had picked the locks with a piece of wire, while those behind bim were soundly asleep, — And with a bound he had seized a revolver from the table, and quickly three shots rung out. Don Desperado_had fired one, but it missed the alert Pawnee Bill and killed Delmar. Bill bad fired the other two, and one bullet entered the brain of Don Desperado, the other had pierced his heart, n the dirt floor. Witha He fell his length u bound Bill seized his belt of arms ard was mak- in ace ve rear door to seek safety in flight. e Da could kill Don Desperado and reach the timber, before morning he could be far away, but, as he reached the door, he sto like one dazed, for he heard the war-cry of his own Pawnees! ' He heard May’s clear, ringing cry—Daring Dick’s shrill yell—and the war-whoops of his Red Cavalry! and these were answered by the yells of the terrible Texan Cowboy Rangers down the canyon, as they rode like the wind to the attack! | mappa g.| the cries of his people, Pawnee op dashed down the hilland met them face to ace! | y ‘Set fire to a cabin to give us alight!” he cried to Knife Face, and then he led the Paw- nees upon the outlaws, pow rushing out of their uts, | Instantly it became a hand-to-hand strug- pee bis escape, and felt thatif he. gle, while loud cries were heard for Don Des- erado, | : The cabin set on fire burned quickly, and by its glare Buckskin Charlie and his Cowboy Ran- gers were seen rushing to the rescue, | They came in time, and the battle was quick- ly won—the outlaws being shot down without La, Sty inure iodine ee in pl P| y to throw their lariats, - | secret pass, and the trail was steep in places, — mercy. . ey There must be no mistake, for each man and But aber came out at last near the cottage s Where is Don Desperado?’ shouted Buck- ie ee _ @ach horse must be caught, and more, those | home where Gabriella the outlaw’s wife had long | skin Charlie, BLD a ae | ott © thus lassoed must have no chance te firea shot, | dwelt ; : “He is dead,’ cried Pawnee Bill; I killed | par wi eet | ae AGL ae ‘* Now we are in the stronghold, senora, and | him /” | Hog tee he the —sC'Nearer and nearer they came, until presently | yonder are the cabins of of the men, | “That settles it; but letus view the remains, — tthe —s there was a whirring sound, like a flock of birds | ‘“‘The chief’s you see there on the hill, and | captain.” ) | Sepik’ ol / @n the wing, and the lariats of the Silent Shad- | there is a light in it.” by ‘Go to yonder cabin; then get the outlaws’ rt a att aig Sa WG Aetipcai etre li he $6 i haa: " YER = ananer pete Te mien vss en eerie je Sn) engin = = co rer © oo Ks "/ co m — f a hy = he Vez — a * a be = on . 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