Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 1061 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

you for what you have done to protect and save me frem the brutes below. Words can- not tell—” ““Warlula no want thank,” interrupted the Indian, ‘‘ Warlula got good squaw—he come save Pale Lily, for Buckskin—White brother say, Warlula, go Rocky Mountains, he go quick—Buckskiu, he brother of Warlula.” ‘Bet your last doubloon on that!” broke upen their astonished ears, and amid a rustle of leaves and springing of branches, Buck- skin Sam bounded through the window, into the room, and grasped a band of each. ‘What for Buckskin come—want die?#—how tlimb wall?’ asked the Indian quickly. ‘*T came to see what kind of a fit-out you bad here. I don't want to die just yet and do not propose todoso. I found a way over the wall, for I am used to following your trail, Warlula. I left the boys about a mile from here; they will be ready for lively times when they are wanted.” He turned to Lena, then, and from her full heart she burst out: ‘‘May the Saints preserve you through this dreadful night! That I should bring you into such danger makes me wish that I had never been born. You saved me from the bandits at Mission Conception, but fate decreed they should recapture me after you were at the gates of death. , You have traced me here, to this far-away haunt of outlaws, I have found iurough my misfortunes friends more true than I ever thought were found in this world, Surely all is for the best, for in being torn from the arms of a loving father I have found my long-lost mother; and through your efforts, and the help of God, our family may be re- united for the first time in my remembrance.” ‘Can this be possible?” svii Sam in surprise, **Then indeed this has bes, « fortunate turn in your life, and in the history of your family. But we have no time for further conversation. Thank Heaven we bave the winning cards, and will save you and your mother, or leave our bones to the coyotes of Mexico!” _ At this instant the key grated in the lock. Sam drew his revolvers and sprung behind the deor as it swung open; the Indian darted around the draperies of the bed, drawing his scalping-knife; and’ Lena, pale as death, trem- bling for the safety of her friends, stood unable to move, in the middle of the room, .. “Praise be to God!” burst thankfully from Lena's lips, as Panchito entered, closed and locked the door. ‘‘ My lady is excited!” exclaimed the Mexican girl. Then, discovering Sam at her side, and War- lula just coming from his hidin,; -place, a scream, ‘was. ready to burst from her jips; but it was stifled quickly by Sam, as, with one arm wound about ber waist, his hand pressed her quivering lips, and he said in a low voice: “We are friends, and here to take away from this den all who are kept here through fear or force.” One look into the eyes of Sam, and Pan- chito smiled, for she recognized that a true friend was clinging to her. ‘* What are the bandits doing below?” hastily vdded Sam, as he released Panchito. “They are drinking and singing, senor.” ‘“‘How many outlets are there to this haci- enda/?’ *‘Four, senor. Front, side, back, and a secret tunnel from the cellar to the stables.” “Mark that, Warlula,” said Sam. Then turning again to Panchito he added: “‘Can you get Lena’s mother into this room without discovery?’ “1 will try.” “Too much talk,” broke in the Indian. *Warlula go kill Antonio—get key—open big gate—sun say good-by over plain—dark come s0on— Buckskin go bring warriors.” The Tonkaway sprung from the window and disappeared in the tree. “Lena,” said Sam, “be calm and confident. This girl must bring your mother into this room and take the key and lock the door on the insid& You will then be safe while the battle goes on. Iexpecb we will have a’ tough time with the devils. They will fight Aike demons, maddened as they are by tne rum, but we must whip them here or they will hang on our trail and take in more than one of our brave boys. Have no fears forus. We are used to bloody games, when steel and lead are trumps. Good-by.” Before he could prevent it Lena and Panchito ‘ead cached seized a hand and pressed their lips. ’ “@ : . " , is : , .'s , ‘ e - Sa =_ = ——E —_ 7 A Buckskin Sam. to his palms. dow, slid down the tree, glided swiftly through the sirubbery, and over swingivg vine,.moving off on his way to re- join bis anxiously waiting pards, CHAPTER XX, HOW THEY FIGHT IN MEXICO. ANTONIO the portero sat in bis usual position puffing at a cigarrito, his serape, (blanket,) the wall by the. Then be sprung through the win- | closely wrapped about him, as the dew was | falling, and now and then he took a drink from a bottle of vino dulce, which laywn the sward by his side. Little does he dream that around the wall, not firty paces from bim, are a score of hated Texans, armed to the toeth. Little does he dream that not five paces be- hind him stands an Indian brave, with a long knife held tightly in his hand. _ resounded through tbe hacienda, Sam and Big Softly, cautiously, as the panther stealing | upon his prey comes Waflula. The grass gives no warning—it is fresh and green. One bound and the hand of the Indian drives the cigarrito into the mouth of Antonio, his knife cuts the air and is buried, with a sickening thud, to the hilt, and the has portero gone to answer for his crimes, Dragging his victim intwu the little lodge by the gate Warlula secures: the key from the folds of the sash of the dead Antonio, and is master of the stronghold of Don Progado. Warlula has watched from his look-out in the tree, and knows if the gate swings wide | open it will sound the bell inside the hacienda, and he will prevent this alarm being given. The yelp of a coyote, tbrice repeated, now sounds on the night air, and the caw of the ' ' and securely-gagged before being able to sig- raven breaks from the Indian’s lips in answer. | The moon glides on its course, hgh in the heavens; its rays filtering through the branches of the trees, upon the pavements of the patio, — upon the form and fantastic war-dress of the | Tonkaway— who has resumed his eagle-feathers | and rifle, which bave been secreted within the garden—and upon a score of Texan Rangers, crowded about the iron gate, peering inside. The hacienda almost shrouded in shadowy gloom, prison-like, loomed up in silence: no noise being heard from its front that would in- dicate that occupants were within, “What did I tell you, boys?’ said Sam, ina guarded tone. ‘‘ Warlula never promises what he don’t fulfill if life is given him.” With a guttural grunt of satisfaction and pride the Indian inserted the key, and in an instant the ponderous gate swung partially open, Warlula remarking as the Ravugers en- tered the grounds: ‘* Let gate go back, make heap big noise in big house—chief open door, see white warriors —maybeso no want Greasers know here,” ‘‘Not yet, Warlula. Hold ber where she is a moment. Wallace, we must divide the party. Some must surround the stables, and a few must be at each entrance. Where do you pro- pose to locate yourself?” ‘‘T rec’ons on sasbhayin’, longside o’ you, little pard. Yer so danged brash yer’ll git wiped out ef I don’s watch. I rec’on thet Bill Lambert, Dutch Pete an’ Mick kan watch ther hole in ther stable, an’ keep ther loose Greasers frum takin’ ter ther mustangs, tho’ I don’t see bow tha’ can h’ist tharsell’s ,over ther wail. I bets high money we has ’em corraled closte, an’ no show ter slide out. Ben Thompson with a few pards kan put a stop on ’em crawlin’ out ther bind door. Billie, Tom Clark, Jack Hodge, Clown, Joe, you, Sam, an’ this ol’ coon ’ll take em here, an’ keep our peepers peeled on ther east door, kinder scattered ‘round ther corner. Ther Tonk’ can bh’ist hisself round permiscuss- like, an’ watch fur ha’r, an’ chances fur all hands. He knows ther trap better’n we’-uns, an’ I reec’on will be kinder o’ a big boss o’ ther layout, fur he bave brunged us inter biz on ther buzz, in fust-class order.” ‘* All right, Wallace, you have arranged to my likens, and if this programme suits the other boys we'll soon take our positions. Let—” “Hold, me noble king of the Live Oaks,” interrupted Reckless Joe. ‘The next time you posish Joseph, give him a stand near the kitchen, Make a note of that and give bim an orchestra chair in your brain-box. We will make no changes now; perbaps ’tis better. Lead on, I'll chew me way to grub or die hungry Show me his satanice majesty, Don Lorenzo Brogado, and I’ll carve a tac-simile of the main entrance of the Alamo upon his breast. Sum, I’m desperae, I smelir c ffee - - : - ‘ . y' ° : . ‘ é d : : 4 . ; : : . f ' - - ES SS within those dismal walls; do something quick or I'll chaw my own tongue up.” ‘*All right, Joe,” returned Sam. ‘‘ Boys, take your pwsitions; let the gate swing and show them we are ready to open game, Don Brogado will have a surprise-party which he will not care to welcome.” Bill Lambert and Fighting Ben, each with a squad of men, went cautiously to their posi- tions. Big Foot Sam and their pards stood concealed by the side of the perch, and by a wave of the hand Sam gave the signal for Warluia to swing back the gate, which he did. Then quickly he closed it and sprung into the gute-lodge of the portero, out of sight. A moment after the dull clang of the belli Foot beard a heavy step inside the ball, accom- abied by the sound of curses, Jond and deep. ben the key turned, the door swung open and the bandit chief, with his rifie at a ready, stepped into the porch, raised his band to shade his eyes from the bright moonlight and gazed toward the gate, exclaiming: ‘**Caramba! did my ears deceive me? The gate is closed. What means this mystery, Antonio?” \ The name was spoken in a tone which showed a foreboding of evil, for Le saw the portero was not at his post. There was no time given for an answer. The iron grasp of Big Foot Wallace held him in a vise-like grip; Sam wrenched the rifl- from bis hands, and in a trice Don Bregado was bound fast to the trunk of one of his own trees, nal his followers. While Sam and Big Foot were securing the bandit chief, Daring Bill and the other Rangers made a rush inside the hall, but all halted as the silence of death had taken the plece of the low sounds of revelry which had struck their ears upon the dpening of the door by Don Brogado. ‘“* Hait, boys!’ ordered Ben. ‘I'll see what the devils are about and draw a few of their cards before the game is really open and they know what is trumps.” Stepping to the door of the dining-ball, through the.key-hole of which shone a bright light, Bill Thompson showed that he was well entitled to the cognomen of ‘ Daring Bill,’ by throwing the door wice open and with a Colt’s six-shooter in either hand, standing boldly in full view of three score of cut-throats, who, standing in groups, or seated at ibe long table, extending ube length of the vast hall, were holding their glasses filled with liquor ready to pledge their chief upon his expected entrance, At the sight of Daring Bill with bis cocked revolvers, they were, for a moment, thunder- struck, and stood or sat open-moutbed and staring at the solitary audacious Texan. That | mvment of inaction sealed the doom of many, for in a quick, rattling fusillade Bill fired his twelve shots betore they could recover their (7 surprise, or draw a weapon. Then he slammed | the door shut and sprung back to the main en- trance, where he met Sam and Big Foot, and while reloading explained his little game. For a moment all was wild confusion within the dining-ball. Many of the tandite had been killed or wounded by the lightning-like fusil- Jade of Daring Bill; and the outlaws were in total ignorance of what had become of their, 9 chief, or what force threatened them. Judg- 1 ing irom the execution done by a single Texan, A they bad a poor show if many of bis stamp | were about, but being now ready, with their ty weapons in their hands, they, in a confused ~ :' mass, without a leader, endeavored to plan some means of escape from the trap in whicb they.found theniselves. They knew Ben could not be alone, and conjectured that their chief had fallen, or was captured. A rush was made by many out of the frong. hall, the Texans falling back into the patio. As the bandits crowded out the door, they sent. deadly volleys into their massed ranks, blockk- ing the entrance with dead, apd driving the survivors back in terror, while curses aud blir d- yells drowned the groans and shrieks of the wounded. The Texan yell now broke, wild and clear, from the rear, followed by: the cracking clatter of revolvers, and the war-cry of Warlula, as a the party of Fighting Ben poured death into “68 those attempting to escape by the buck en- A score, at least, of these desperate bandits a were wallowing in gore when the remainder regained their fiist position, the dining-hail. ' 7 . 5 ' 5 < ‘ . eS A =>”, ois — te 7 he ’ ° ~ - a . = « = =~ Bs * he 4. . y *