Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 1061 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

7. i uf eS So Rangers have made their names feared upon p. and in the wild cha Among these Rangers are those who were at the bull- deed and deadly shot was the theme of conversa- tion around the camp-fires. Indolently lying upon their serapes, smoking and talking, were men who have won names in Texas as the bravest of the brave, for the one humming a love song in a low voice, is Reckless Joe, the daring brothers, known the South-west ever as the Fighting Thompsons, Bill Lambert Tom Clark the Ranger Spy, Rio Grande Bill and others, all dressed in the jaunty style of the Rangers, with top boots, buckskin leggins, with rows of silver buttons down the outer seams, embroidered shirts and jackets, and a black slouch hat with a silver star looping up one side of the broad brim. Other members of the band were less fanci- fully attired, and ‘their darkly-bronzed faces and worn clothing showed that they had lately been on trails. Among these were men also famous in the annals of border warfare, for Big Foot Wallace, Dutch Pete, Hoggy Bennett, Jack Hodge, the Stage Driver, sat Clown, the Apache Scalp- taker, were there. At the camp-fire, bustling about with all the extra airs and gestures of a French cook, was a negro, of some forty years of age. This was Austin, the most polite and polished negro in Texas; he having traveled all over Europe with his master, where he had picked up aristocratic notions and foreign language. Everybody knew Austin, and he prided him- self on being intimate with all the members of the State Government—more especially with charge Houston, Austin hy ae as ebony, neat, and very ~obage f not to say foppish—for he considered a broadcloth suit, flashy neck-tie, and steve-pipe hat indispensable to his dignity — even while superintending the culinary depart- ment of a Ranger camp. Dutch Pete was celebrated over Western Texas as the boss mule-whacker and roper ‘wherever he went, and now, as we glance upon the camp, he is talking very emphoatically and ticula vigorously at tworetraetory mules at, mule-like, bave wandered from good feed, wear camp, to a barren spot over th? creek, Each Ranger is intent upon cleaping arms or xamiuing equipments, as through the grove the cry from the camp-fire: “Oh, yes! O—o—o—o—o yes, masters! Cum zp! Roll along towards dis lumin’us center ob subtraetshun! De graby am propellin’ itself off ais luxur’ous beefsteak, an’ condensin’ inter de blue tomb abuv us. Dat coffee, gemmen, beats de Parley Voos! I’se greevin’ cauz Massa Sam ain’t here, he’s ’scriminatin’ ‘nuff ter~’preciate coffee ob my corncockshun,” It needed no second invitation from the ne to gr: aad hungry Rangers about the fire, with their cups and bowie-knives ready for the meal of corn- , beefsteak, broiled upon the coals, and black coffee, These were graceful] dealt out by Austin, whose face beamed wit self-satisfied smiles. ‘*By the royal crown of James!” exclaimed Sitios Tes, “‘ Austin, you area treasure. It is not often we Texans have a man to cook for us who has traversed the Old World, gazed at monarchs on their thrones, tramped the Boule- and wandered through the ruins of an- cient Rome. It is a mystery to me how you ever picked up so much knowledge in Europe and never forgot the ways and habits of “Texas.” “* Now, look a-hore, Joe,” broke in Big Foo “we-uns stampeeded this-a-ways fer grub, an ef you an’ Austin gits to palaverin’ bout Yurup, my fodder won't go down good; if yer has any lingo ’bout Texas, jess spit ‘er out, an’ Pil call it thing unk; I’ve weekened on ev’ry what don’t consarn this ere section. We're in A whar a war~hoop or Greaser-yell ain’t y ter bu’st in atween bites; an’ let’s make a squar’ meal, peppered with Texas talk if myself, that I don’t anything, an, I'll "low, hanker arter much tongue-music a-feedin’.” wince lhas oat nage 95 nese 7 umoredly. ‘I’m always ready th Tatars to the wishes and counsel of the King of the Live-oaks. Austin, this steak is delicious when I’m and the coffee as as can be had at the old market in New Orleans.” A from behind Big Foot, gracefully thanks for the compliment, giving at the same time, a respectful nod and significant wink toward the Giant Scout, as much as to aay he needed no second hint from the latter to eae tongue still. iB “You're right, Big Foot,” added Fighting Ben, *‘a man can geta per deal without going acrost the drink. We've got longer river’s, deeper canyons and bigger prairies than they tan shake upanywhere. We can make a lay- eut of England inside of one of our prairie-do towns an’ not intertere much with the game o the dogs. I had a great deal rather spread my- waved 4elt before one of your good dinners, Austin, chan hear you expatiate on the ecarecs no- sions of the Parley Vous an’ ohnny Bulls, ; a band of roving, daring irits that plain | they didn’t deal square enough to suit you at the Bull’s Head last night.” ht with Buckskin Sam, whose daring linger long arter Buckskin Sam. a Jack, what makes you so glum to-night? Reckon ‘*That thar danged whisky o’ Bob Caile’s beat | me a cussed sight more’n ther game,” answered | Jack Hodge: ‘fact on it were, I cudu’t bet ter win, fur I were so danged full o’ pisun that ther spots doubled on me ev’ry time. When ev'ry ace is a deuce eg e don’t look squar’* an’ I don’t ther Jacks ’gin ter wink ai me an’ gallop round ther lay-out. Clown,” con- tinued Jack, turning to his pard, ‘‘’pears ter me you ware as full as a foun’d’r’d stage-horse yer- self, an’ yer looks as discour’aged as I’m feelin’.” ‘*[ duz feel kinder purplish,” responded Clown, ‘‘ an’ [’'m thinkin’ I ware purty consider’- ble full o’ whisk’, ter fall asleep an’ miss ther bull-fight. But I don’t feel so danged down in ther mouth as I sh’u’d ef yer warn’t in ther same box yerself, Jack.” “That bull fight was a big thing,” broke in Bill Lambert quickly, ‘‘and Buckskin Sam made his point as usual. He always makes his move before any one else gets things through their head. The way he made that ‘leap from the barrier, clear over Mariana’s | head, and faced that bull was a sight worth seeing; but I’ve seen him. do things up just as neat before. Haven’t you, Joe?” ‘““You’re right, me lord,” answered Joe proudly, tearing off a huge mouthful of steak, ‘Sam’s a right royal youth It’s a high bonor, I think, that I can call him pard from the days when he wasn’t bigger’n a ration of bacon: He’s white and square, any way you may take him. He will share the last biscuit or drink of water with any one who is suffering.” ‘* Boys!” exclaimed Big Foot, in a quiet, eon-' fidential tone unusual for him, ‘‘ that Sam are, I believe, ther whitest, squarest feller I’ve met ina year o’ Sundays. He’s constertooted ter make a fust-class Texan. He’s a heap solider’n most o’ ther lads what cums frum ther States. Fact are Inever see’d any as young as he are so danged fur from hum, an’ on ther fight at that; an’ he looks as rosy an’ pretty as a young gal. Put calico on him an’ ther boys w’u’d be arter him right piert I rec’ons. I ain’t ejucated, but I can tell from ther good what sparkles in his peapenss an' what [ has seen o’ him, that it ’u’d e a hard job ter find bis ekil in any section. If that feller of old times what Joe told me ’bout, Dodgerknees, what went round huntin’ a man what w’u’d give a squar’ deal with a Jack-a- lanturn, had a-run ag’in’ Sam, his biz w’u’d ’a’ bin bu’sted, an’ his occipation gone up. If ther cuss lived now, an’ ’ud cum ter Texas he’d light on a few what pollyticks ha’n’t damoralized an’ what don’t wear b’iled shirts. Sam ought ter be jl *bout now, bhedn’t Bill?” “When I left him,” answered Bill Lambert, “he would not promise when he would come out to eamp, as he had business to attend to. Some of Cortina’s cut-throats, and a lot of horse- thieves mixed with them, are reported in Atas- cosa county and I reckon Sam is on the look- out for information in regard to them, to for- ward to Governor Houston, Sam is so well liked by the Mexicans of San Antonio that he strange Greasers from over the Bravo, who are smelitng about this way, for news in regard to ‘* There was one thing in connection with the bull-fight,” spoke up Daring Bill, (Bill Thomp- gave toit. Anyway I have heard no one men- tion having seen anything wrong about the deal ‘* Py tam, I dinks I vas ing sumdings vas wrong,” said Dutch Pete. “Put I don’t vas I keeps mine eyes opens all der same.” **T w’u’d like ter know what ther dickens you looking somewhat ey at Daring Bil and Dutch Pete. ‘‘Ef I has yanked ribbons, hog-waller, canyon, an’ clean peters ry an wet, fur sum extended periods, ha’n’t got ther down on yer way-bill, an’ I rec’on Big Foot’s blinkers are ‘bout as sharp as a tiger-cat’s claw his scalp ’sa-gittin’ mangy, and wood-ticks pass him by as tew tough ter h onto. No ’fense slapping him on the shoulder, ‘‘ but it cuts like a Elack-inalke (whip) ter have any one I go I’m a warein’ blinders, fur I stole away frum ther stable an’ left Clown sleepin’—beg yer orn show. Fact is I see’d it all, throu’ a crac under ther frunt seats, fur I war lookin’ like a an’ didn’t want ther gasl ter gaze on me when my harness wearn’t on squar’ an’ not ’iled up ‘Never flare up ’mong friends, Jack,” Big Foot said. ‘‘ Bill Tom’sen never spits out any- yer ha’n’t gut ther whisk’ outern yer skin yet, an’ rare up too suddent like. Yer c’u’dn’t ’a’ has a good show to get news from them of any our movements.” son,) *‘that didn’t, 1 reckon, get the notice 1 clear through.” kicks apout much ven I sees dings looks muleish, two fellers are drivin’ at,” said Jack H kicked brakes, an’ snapped whips throu’ llies, snap outen me “hig i yer can jist chalk that if he has meandered ther perrara an’ bush til ter you, pard,” said Jack, aside, to Big Foot, heavy on, asI duz on Bill an’ Pete, think thet rdin, Clown!—an’ fotched up at ther long- Piute arter bein’ dragged throw’ a hog-hole, fur show.” thing ter hurt feelin’s ’tenshunal nur Pete e’ther; seen ey’ ing goin’ on thru’ a crack, ’spesh’ly when yer hed suakes crawlin’ round yer boots —ef they warn’tin’em. Ez fer me, I war over ter Mrs. Wells’s, an’ didn’t throw my four bits in- tew a Greaser’s pocket, ter see a few bulls on ther muscle. I has seen enuff o’ that'zame loose on ther perrara.” ‘Til speak for Pete, as well as for myséif,” now broke in Daring Bill. ‘I did not intend say any one was thick-sighted; but there were a good many things to draw a person’s eyes so they wouldn’t see or notice any little thing like I refer to. It was when Sam stood in front of the bull, and the matadore was dying, he drew Mariana’s head down, and whispered in her ear, at the same time by a look directing her at- tention to the spot where Lena Castro, the rettiest girl in San Antonio sat, with her ather. The way I put it up_was this: fhe ‘matadore had biz with Lena Castro, and his death would bar the game of him-—-or his em ployer—for I know such a low-down bull-fighter couldn’t have anything to do with a high-born Castilian family like the Castros. That this biz was of importance was shown by its being held as high as his religion. There was buta short breath between the communication and his last prayer, as he pressed his blessed medal, which hung to his neck, to his dying lips. “Then, the next thing which impressed me and stamped this more vividly upon my mind was this: as the bull made his last lunge at Sam this same Lena Castro gave a piercing scream, and went off in a dead faint. If Sam hain’t got a soft thing on gaining the affections of Lena Castro, with all the blue blood in her veins and d@ibloons around her ranch, as thick as sand-fleaM\at Point Isabel, then [ll never spread anothef lay-out, or sling a card.” “Pm a tam Tu’ch mule-triver, I knows,” added Dutch Pete, ‘‘ put I havo seen all dat you dalks apout, Pill; an’ sum more, asdat. I watch dat tam pullsticker ven he was so clost to Mariana, | cude shust shute dat Gre’zer if der pull ’adn’t killed him an’—” Here the whole party broke into a tumultuous roar of laughter, tor Dutch Pete’s language, and the vim he put into his words, told plainiy that he had a soft spot in his heart, occupied by the Queen of the Fandango, *““Vot you makes any vays? Vat for you laughs, poys?” continued Pete, his face red with blushes and shame that he had shown his weak- ness to his pards, ‘I sees notdings to laugh at, mineself. I dinks all you fellers likes der dance mit Mariana. Put, as I vas sh g, 1 vas vatching dot gal und Gre’zer und I sees he makes her take vun oath, look up in de sky und cross herself; und I says undo mineself, ‘sum dreuples comes mit dis tam pull-fight; und I dimks so now, all ter same; und I shalls all der vile.” ‘*T hope to lose my next stake, boys,” spoke up Fighting Ben (Ben Thompson), ‘if some- thing exciting don’t come out of it. I think as Pete does. hen things commence im San An- tonio as ar did to-day, they don’t end right away. We'll have a riffle of fun, see if we don’t. When blood is spilled near the Ala- mo, even if it is Greaser and bull blood, there’ll be sure to follow shooting and cuttin of some shape, and I reckon we boys come in for a hand in the deal. Something’s in the wind, or Sam would.be here before this.” “T kinder kalcula yself thet Sam’s a nosin’ round fer news,” said Big Foot, as he wiped his bowie, drank the last of his coffee and drew his sleeve across his beard, “ Bf thar are any thet counts toward a rumpus he’ll git a-hold on it, bet yer sculp. I hain’t seen such a t matter o’ his cumpany, but what I bas, I'll squar’ enuff ter own, makes me hanker arter bein’ with him frequent an’ offen. As ter the danged Greaser a-kickin’ ther bucket, thet won’t distarb my innercent seesters fur a single snore, Ef you fellars what ware up with Bur- leson bas any thing ter sling bout Sam on thet trip, my ears is open, as ther reds say,” Well,” said Bill Lambert, picking his teeth with his bowie, *‘the first time I ever saw Sam was on the Main Plaza, just as he got his outfit and joined Burleson. He had bought Black Cloud from Martin Cam’bell—we didn’t know the horse, or boy either, as it turned out. Our camp was at the San Antonio Springs, and five of us were going out. ‘““We bantered Sam for a race, thinking to have our own fun at his expense, he being from the States. We all lit out; and, ea may I never see my darling Lou, if he didn get to camp, get his rig off and sit eating his rations when we got in. He never said nothing, or got the laugh on us by blowing to the othe’ boys, and that made me like from the start. When we got up to the Blanco Falls, not far from the Devil’s Back Bone, the whole crowd there were, stripped for a swim, and some of the flats went to poking fun at Sam in regard to his verdancy as a Ranger. He got his blood up and dared any and all to follow him. We didn’t know at first what he meant, but soon got our eyes onened. He took a run and made a flying leap off the rocks, down into the pool at the foot of the fall It’s all of fifty foot from the ledge; and nobody knew how deep it was, or how many Jagged rocks there were hid away beneath the surface. We down in w , hever expecting to see again; but up he came, very weak, we | 200 | comic - a a] ] y i ers) ye Ge aq rate feat) sit