Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 1061 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

ae 2 Seger oieatoe Buckskin Sam, THE TEXAS TRAILER: The Bandits of the Bravo. A. Life Story of a True Trail, founded upon inci- dents in the adventurous career of the noted Texas Ranges, Major Sam 8S. Hall—‘ Buck- skin Sam,’’—from notes furnished by his comrades on Plaza and Plain. BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRAHAM, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ THE SEA CADET,” ‘‘ BLACK PLUME,” ‘*THE SEA SLIPPER,” ETC., £TC. CHAPTER I. THE BULL-FIGHT. Ir was a gala day in the Alamo City. For many weeks ij had been publicly an- nounced that a certain noted purveyor to the amusement-loving citizensof Monterey, Mexico, would visit San Antonio, in the ‘‘ Lone Star State,” and inaugurate a series of bull-fights. The well known manager of this noted Span- ish exhibition, had engaged half a dozen mata- dores, two of whom boasted of deeds and dex- terity never equaled. The populace of San Antonio, at that time, was largely composed of Mexican, with a liberal sprinkling of Castilian, families; the re- mainder were people of an adventurous char- acter, coming from all portions of the United States, with outcasts and adventurers from “across the sea. Indeed, most of the people of che Alamo City ‘were fond wf any rt, no mat ‘ter bow dangerous or deadly was its nature, so shat it supplied that excitement which becomes as necessary as food to those whose trails often run through dark and bloody grounds. Upon the open prairie, across the San Pedro creek, was erected a circular screen of canvas, twelve feet high, held in position by posts. from the top of which to the ground, descended tiers _ seats in the style of the interior of a circus nt. The barrier around the arena, some five feet high, was of rough boards, formiug a circle, of considerable extent. In the center of this circle was'a stout pole, with four projecting arms, to which were at- tached ropes, han downward, and with iron rings in the eat at just the hight for & matadore to catch hold of and raise ap, if hard pressed by the bull ere were also in the arena, between the rope escapes and the barrier, four holes, deep enough to conceal a man standing upright in it. Into these the matadore coulg leap for safety at a moment when the enraged bull expected to impale him on his horns. t is not generally known that the animal which depends upon its horns for assault, when charging upon an enemy, at the same instant that it lowers its head, also spreads out its legs, ‘both behind and before, not only to give more force to the blow, cht to prevent being over- ee a imself ‘turned when comin contact with the foe. By this means it will be seen that all the feet of the would not go down into the pete a on dug for the man, who would thereby escape in- ap eA from the hoofs. ould the life of a matadore be in jeopardy when crowded against the barrier, his agility would enable him to place bis hands on the top and bound over among the spectators. At the east side of the arena were two sets of gates, one forming a portion of the barrier, and the other connecting with a small corral, in which were confined the bulls, fresh-roped from the prairies, fat, sleek, full of fire and fight, and furious at their loss of liberty. I have entered thus minutely into the arena and its surrounding, it being known that this was the first bull-fight ever known in the United States, and to give an idea of how this brutal sport is conducted. At the appointed hour, on the eventful day of 4 the fight, hordes of people wended their way ‘toward the scene, coming from Plaza and Plain, and not the least conspicuous among them being the gayly dressed senorita, escorted by their shadows, the duennas, who kept faithful guard over their flirtations, except when a few silver pesos blinded them for a few moments. Sharing the honors of conspicuousness with the beautiful senoritas, was a band of young horse- men, who had won fame as Texas Rangers. A handsome, dashing set of men, ever jolly in the face of death, dressed in fancy attire, that gave them the look of dandies, to those who did not know what gallant deeds had been theirs, asd mounted upon superb animals that seemed almost a part of their ridors, it was no wonder that the beauties of San ‘actools were gazing in admiration upon them, and that they were the heroes of the entire populace, ; At the head of this gallant troop of horsemen, rede the bero of this, my true story of Texas trails, Buckskin Sam, whose name was known the length of the Rito Grande, and the th of the Lone Star State, as a man who Buvkskin Sam. un e+ + - ee ee et black, glittering like lance-points, and as sh The bull gave one amazed, furious look at the flaunting red flag in his front, held by the chief matadore; one half-frightened, hurried glance | about, as the vast audience gave a yell of ad- miration; and then the beautiful beast advanced proudly, with head erect, snuffing the air, into the arena. As the huge gates slammed behind the animal his whole frame trembled for a moment at the strangeness of the scene befvre him. It was but fora moment. The red flag taunt- ingly fluttered but an instant when, with one grand gathering of all the immense muscular power in his frame, the bull sprung into the midst of the matadores, | In another moment the beast stocd upon the opposite side of the arena, trampling the red flag beneath its feet, two of the matadores were swinging from the safety rings, some were crouching in the holes, others had leaped over the barriers, while the manager upon his mus- tang, which snorted and pranced in terror, was spurring for dear life toward the entrance ate. A deep bellow, a cloud of dust, and, like an arrow sent from the bow, went the maddened brute, toward the man and mustang. The former in an instant comprehended his great peril, as none of bis matadores were in the ring to draw the bull from him with their i Quickly he attempted to turn his horse, and point his lance, but before this movement could be accomplished the furious beast was upon him, and one long, glittering horn pierced the mustang, just back ot the shoulder, tearing through the lungs and heart. One horrible, piercing shriek, such as is only given by a horse in the agony of fear and pain —one agonized, pleading look at his master, ‘* Hist out yer Greaser-slayers, fur we is | almost human in its expression, from the mor- sp’ilin’ fer suthin’ enjoyable,” tally wounded steed, and then, as the bull jerked Such were the yells that filled the air, until | clear, a great stream of blood spurted ten feet the ruder element reigned supreme, and the | into the arena, blinding tke bull for a moment, audience became a mob, to calm which, Buck- | and bespattering the gaudy ccstumes of the skin Sam coolly drew his revolver and fired at | matadores who were now attempting to draw the gilt arrow that acted as a weather-vane on | the animal away from the manager. Thelatter the top of the center-pole. | quickly shook bis feet clear from the stirrups, The first shot struck it fairly on the dart and | as the horse gave a spasmodic leap into the air spun it round, and.then rapidly flashed the | and fell dead against the barrier, and with a ranger’s revolvers held in each hand, and the | face ghastly as death clambered to a place of metal arrow was kept flying round and round, | safety. for, marvelous to say, not a bullet missed its The triumphant bull stood impatiently paw- merk! ing the earth, trembling with madness and ex- This wonderful exbibition of marksmanship | citement, while the audience gave alorg-drawn quieted the crowd until the appearance of the | sigh of relief at the escupe of the manager, and matadores in the arena, then one wild cheer of admiration, as the bull These agile, sinewy, sharp-eyed bravos were | stood, panting, but still ready for business, gorgeously attired in close-fitting silk leggins watchin every move of the matadores, whe profusely bebuttoned, fringed shirts, and short- | scattered and prepared for a fresh attack at the waisted jackets of red andigreen, richly embroid- | risk of limb or life, to gain the plaudits which ered with gold; their long hair, oiled, perfumed | so far bad been lavished on the successful pride and bound up in a cue behind with fiaunting § of the prairie. ribbons, The bull was now reeking witb blood and The principal matadore was a wiry man, | foam, its tongue hanging from its mouth, mad-. of some forty years of age, who carried a crim- | ness that was dreadful to contemplate gJaring; son flag in his hand. from its eyes, and it was apparent that any Drawing up in a crescent curve they made a | movement toward the monster would be fraught low bow to the audience, amid Joud vivas, and | with great danger. then commenced a rigid examination of the But the matadores were before an audience arena—as the smallest stick or stone might cost | which would brook no cowardice, and they a life. knew it, though perbaps this knowledge was a 1 do not propose to describe the many | detriment to them in the work before them, as active feats and hair-breadth escapes which | forced bravery does not often bring a satisfac- occurred during the first portion of the exhibi- a result, tion. e chief matadore approached with a new Five bulls had been beaten from the arena, | flag in front of him. One lunge of the bull, a covered with banderillas and blood, their ; quick leap aside by the matadore without tongues hanging from their mouths, completely | changing the pcsition of the flag, and the horns fagged and cowed, with but just Ife enough | of the bull were again ornamented with red lett to stagger back to the corral. At last as | rags while a banderilla was plunged deep into noble a beast as ever spurned prairie sod was | the shoulder of the beast, ther eby adding to his being prepared for the lists; loud cries of “ fury. Tearing the flag from bis borns, in an torro nigro!” came from the Mexicans of the | instant the fierce brute se in pursuit of 2 audience, and thick clouds of the fragrant | matadore, who was running to escape by leap- smoke of corn-shuck segarettas rolled cefully | ing the barrier. He caught the man ‘on bis from a thousand mouths and nostrils over the | horns, throwing him high inte the air, to the inclosure. horror of the spectators, and with a sickenin The mastadores thrust’ their heads into | thud the man fell to the earth. One bound an buckets of water, and each drank a stiff horn the long tapering horns went crunching through of brandy to brace for the contest to come. his bo y which, dripping with blood, amid A side gate was opened «nd inte the arena | cries of horror, was hurled again into the dusty galloped the manager upon a fiery mustang, | air, and fell within ten feet of the barrier. ayly caparisoned, holding a long, glittering At this same instant with a pent-up ery of ance in his hand. The hurried orders of the | agony Mariana Coyen, the beautiful Queeu of manager, the quick glances and excited man- | the Fandangoes, leaped the barrier, and flitting ner of the matadores showed that the encounter | to the prostrate form of the mangled bull-fighter before them was no child’s play. tenderly took his head upon her breest, kneel- The audience became aware that the grand ing upon the blood-stained earth; the ball stood event of the day was about to come off, and all | with lolling tongue and flashing eyes, not six eagerly watched the entrance gute, and, as the | feet from Mariana, who rocked to and fro the signal horn sounded, a deathless silence fell | head of the dying man, The audience arose to upon the vast concourse, broken only by the | their feet but were chained there by the har- fierce bellowing of the enraged bull. rowing scene. Kach matadore stood with watchful eyes, Thus, for one awful moment the tableau re: braced for the charge, with barbed rs of mained, for the danger of the woman holding stecl, to which fireworks and fluttering ribbons . the dying man, seemed to have paralyzed tie were attached, in hand, which were to be stuck | matadores with terror, and one and all stood in the animal to increase his rage. spellbound. ; At the sounding of the second horn, the gates No, not all, for a slender, wiry form sidden- were thrown open, and a magnificent bull, | ly forced his way to the front, and with an black as ebony, and as glossy as a race-horse, | agile leap, he cleared the barrier, and was the entered the arena. next t in the arena. : He stood, a perfect type of prairie freedom, But he did not stop there, as a few springs with eyes inflamed by fury, pawing madly at | brought him between the bull and his in | the earth, his long, sender horns, tipped with ' victims never deserted a friend in distress or a foe in the deadly encounter. Lariating their horses upon the prairie, Buck- skin Sam and his comrades entered the canvas- inclosed space, and took prominent positions, from whence to view the entertainment, them- selves the observed of all observers. And upon the face of their young leader, Buckskin Sam, the eyes of men and boys turn- ed in hero-worship, while the glances of admira- tion that were shot at him from the dark orbs of the senoritas, proved that many a little heart was willing to have his image emgraven on it forever. A man of slight stature, slender waist, and broad shoulders, Sam’s form would attract at- tention for its look of subtle strength and en- durance, while his face, darkly-bronzed, and full of calm self-confidence, would win the re- gard of a good person, the dread of an evil one. Another feature of the assemblage, were a number of sporting men of San Antonio, who also came in for their share of observation and admiration, as there were heroes among them too, though of a different heroism from that of the Rangers. And yet, there were fair faces turned tipon them, es ergy 3 from among the Fandango peru belle of whom wasa brilliant co- quette, Mariana Coyen, a woman of strange character, who under the rule of strong passions would go to extremes in acts directly at variance with the dictates of her better nature. Half sm hour before the entree of the first bull every seat was occupied, and loud and im- patient cries rung from all sides, ** Bl Torro—El Tor—rr—rr—o !” ** Drive in yer fightin’ quadripids!” ** Sling open yer corral an’ start yer fun!” LLL LALLA ALLL CC: a CL LCT LNT, mil ta a eet ssl nesses CS a Nea ae ~comicboo