Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 1061 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a eat hs PS “te : os eda ae 6%,: 4 . —: eS rey 1, es = oo < OF? ys = = P chyer 7 = -¥i —— Z ‘, ~~ + Sed - climbed up an’ stood drippin _ when tha ther arrers jist a-cuttin’ the air round us. gee by the way he swam, for he was under water a ard time and—” “Waal, I jest be dog-goned intew a conti- nental cucumber,” interrupted Big Foot, as he moved from his seat to get nearer to Lambert. *“Yer don’t go ter say Sam leaped offen that place an’cum out ‘piert on his pins? I has bin right thar an’ knows jist how things is sit- ewated.” “Held your horses, and Ill tell you,” again commenced Bill. ‘‘He did come out O. K., and panting on the reck, with folded arms, looking defiantly, me contemptuously upon the whole crowd. e — ‘““Didn’t none o’ ther sapheads foller his j a oh again interrupted Big Foot. ‘* Yes,” again commenced Lambert, “five or six of us, Joe Booth, here, among the number. We felt as though we'd go it or get killed, and we made the riffle safe; but I don’t want any more such long jumps. When we got out, and again stood on the rocky shelf, we saw Sam wasn’t through yet, for he took a run away from the edge and then faced the falls. Capt. Burleson yelled at him not to go over again, but it done no good. He took a run, and I'll be tetotally bamfoozled if he didn’t go over head-first and went down likea shot, straightasan arrow. He didn’t wabble a hair nor make a break in the water a foot wide. Well, I might as well say that nobody followed him, everybody stayed “in of that pot. They couldn’t ‘see him, you t! ‘‘Bully fur Sam!” yelled Big Foot as he threw his battered sombrero into the air, the same falling into the camy-fire and being dex- terously recovered and gracefully returned by Austin. ‘Did ther danged soft sodder, pusilanimus scum o’ ther clar’in’s have any more ter say *bout Sam bein’ fresh, an’ green? I'd ’a’ gi’n slug ter bin thar. I'd ’a’ slung ther cusses over inter ther Blanco, an’ I be doggoned ter thunder ef I w’uldn’t bin ockerd "bout it, an’ not so danged partic’lar *bout thar bein’ scarified ware on ther whiz to’ard ther liquid.” “They never bothered Sam but once after that,” continued Lambert. ‘‘ Then his horse had been bitten by a rattlesnake, and he wouldn’t run ther dnimal after buffalo. For this his ability to kill one was questioned—this was when we furst got into the range—Sam left camp on foot with his lariat, six and bowie. He rode into camp next morning on a wild mustang he had snared and broke without sad- dle or bridle. He had a prairie twist on the Se Be under jaw with his lariat, andin that fix had run, killed and scalped the biggest, fiercest ~ looking bull bison I ever saw—we come acrost the beast on the march, next day—and he brought in the finest mop (sealp of the forehead) we took the whole soap a Soy and slung it, all bloody, into the face of the galoot who had been prominent in sneering at him, at the same time covering his heart with his six.” | “Did ther cuss wilt?’ asked Big Foot | rly. ‘You bet, he wilted, There wasn’ta Ranger _ there but what would have made a lead mine of him if he had hurt Sam, and he knew it, and took a back seat. Fact was he deserted a short time after; when we got news the reds were coming down on us, thick and eager for hair.” ‘I nefer likes ter dalk so much ven I pees poating avay mine rareshuns,” spoke up Dutch ete. “‘I don’t can see how you vellers gets done mit your krub so quicks; put, as I vassay, J kude dells sum dales ‘pout dat Puckskin, vat vouid makes you likes him sum more. Ven I dakes mine smokebi sumdimes, und der mulars bees all O. K. den I shpits owert dings pout dem dam red-skins vat vas drying von race mit me an’ Sam, und we pees in von waggon, mit six mulars vild as ter tyvel, an’ going dru dose bost-oaks, like sum ’untred t’ousan’ tyvils, Mine skalp git grawling now, when I dinky *pout dat times.” ‘Tugs an’ inartingales,” exclaimed Jack Hodge, blowing a big whiff of smoke from his mouth. and laVing down his cern-cob pipe. ‘‘That must ’a’ bin fun; I had arun in ther same fix up on Devil’s River when I driv’ fur George Giddings. Steve 8 war my outrider, an’ ther way he made bis black-snake whiz round them thar mules’ hames ware a caution. Ev’ry lick brought a stiff goer an’ jump; but we made ther riffle, an’ fetched ther station, mee Q never bu’st a buckle, an’ Steve an’ me each on us got a new Colt’s six, gi’n us by ther passen- gers, what had purty loose scalps fur ’bout three mile.” ‘*T wouldn’t mind humpin’ myself round that same section arter a few ’Pache sculps,” said | Big Foot. ‘‘I’m gittin’ sick 0’ wood-ticks, sand- Yeas an’ down-kentry Greasers; a change 0’ water an’ feed wouldn’t set me back much ‘pout now.. I has had cunsider’ble fun in ther | Buckskin Sam. nur slow, "bout cacheesin’ myself in a hole, like a Pacific Digger, right abuv ther river, which war good eighty foot plum, sheer down, an’ all chance fur biz over my head war just as risky. It war a close e, at long range, all ther arternoon, an’ | had ’em all round me, thar he’ds bobbin’ out frum abind ther rocks, like perrara dogs; thar war right smart on ’em gi’n ther death yell through ther hull game, an’ sum on ’em dun sum tall old circusin’ towards ther drink, that war’musin’ ter witness. But ef it hadn’t’a’ bin fur sum mustang snares, what I diskivered hid away in ther cave and what I spliced tergether; an’ slid down easy when dark cum, ter ther drink, it w’u’d ’a’ bin a tough biz fur yours ’spectfully. I did’nt ‘low ther dew ter fly much arter I got ter my nag; I took ther bottum eva branch, an’ follered er up fur sum cunsider’ble of a long shoot afore I got stampede speed on. I rec’on it war a long old yell them ’Paches gi’n when light cum, an’ they seen ther lariats swingin’.” ‘Dit you say ofer your brayers?”’ asked Dutch Pete, ‘‘ did you bray to de pig Fat’er, or tid you t’ink all de times you gitsavay frum de reat-skins, Pig Fute?” “That are sumthin’ I never’lows ter talk common ’bout. Him what put me here, in his own good time will take me away,” answered Big Foot lifting his sombrero, and gazing sky- ward, with a reverential air about him, that the boys had never observed in him before. ‘I don’t make a show o’ my kind o’ Christ’anity, like ther preachers an’ them what squats ina church, an’ thinks ther way are all laid out, an’ paved fur ’em ter kingdom cum—my creed are ter keep a clean trail; feed him as is hungry, i I bas it; an’ help them what's in tr’ubble. My scripter are the plains an’ mount’ins, the rivers an’ bush; an’ what’s in ’em. “I ain’t ejucated, an’ c’uldn’t read no other kind. Them’s good enough fur me, an’ 1 risks my futer on what they teach me.” ** Vat you dinks dem tam vild mulars deaeh anydings goot? Dey brays terripley, sumdimes, und makes much drouples mit eee tae Ef Mes gets in de neighborhoot of dere heels, look ourt, lightennin’ quick, or dey preaks up your pissness, Dey pees de divels on de roat, or on de barara.” Big Foot looked at first indignantly at Dutch Pete, as he made this last remark; but seeing nothing but earnest innocence in his face his features regained their usual stoical appearance, hut the Rangers were forced to withdraw from the vicinity, and smother their mirth by a general drink all round from the springs. Then Big Foot sat down by the side of Pete and inquired of him: ‘*Do them thar cussed mules make anything by buckin’ an’ kickin’? $T Bets dey don’t,” answered Pete. ‘I gives dem de Se peace, vip like de debble, sum- dimes. No, dey makes notdings.” ‘* Wall, I rec’on that yer can Varn a lesson frum even a mule,” returned Big Foot exultant- ly, “‘ fer if yer go easy, glide along a trail with- j a plan of attack, when Cortina should comes into the town. Presently, out of the mesquite bushes be the city, dashed a troop of horsemen, and en- tering the Plaza, they ride up to the Bull’s- Head Inn, and attempt to break in the doorr But with the first stroke the stout door flia open, and a dozen revolvers flash in their faces, and the battle is begun. “The game’s afoot, boys; go in and win!” cried Buckskin Sam, and well did the Bandits know the Ranger yell that followed, and turn quickly to face the foes they had not expected to meet. Mounted on his beautiful mustang, Black Cloud, Buckskin Sam led the charge upon the Bandits, and along the streets the fight raged, until the main Plaza was reached, and then the enemy turned to fly, for they could not face the wer ge 4 revolvers of the ‘Rangers. As Buckskin Sam was about to start in suit, he heard his name called, and beheld a man lying against his dead horse. he said with an effort. ‘Yes, what have you to say to me?’ ask Sam, seeing by the faint light of the rising moon that he was a Mexican and wounded. **Me Pedro: you saved m Nueces: ‘me tell you many life one time ca exican hate yon, and want to kill you. ‘*Me at bull-fight in disguise, and sew you save Mariana; the matadore was paid to Xall you, and Mariana was to help him, aad then we was to take Senorita Lena to bandit camp.” ** Ah! that was your little game, was it?” “Yes; me speak true now, for me die soon.” ** You certainly are dying; wel), go on, if you have more to say.” ‘‘ Keep your eye on the Senovita Lena Castro, for they mean her mischief.” ‘*Ha!l who means her mischief?’ asked Sam uickly. ‘*Don Brogado, the Gandit Chief; me die now; good-by,” and the dying mtm closed his eyes and seemed anxious that death should come and relieve him of his sufferings. As Sam turned away there suddenly pierced the air a wild shriek in a man’s voice, followed by a ringing cry for help. It came from the direction in which the bandits had fled, and the next instant there dashed npon the scene a mule, hee aa the wind and bearing a man clinging to him, Quickly Sam’s revolver flashed and a bullet brought the mule 4o the ground with a heuvy fall, hurling his rider far from him. Springing like a panther into the air, with — and despair in his countenance, he elled: " ‘* Mother o’ Mozes, don’t shoot ag’in, gentle- min! Sure, don’t yees see I’m afther surrin- derin’, an’ ’avin’t avin ‘a shillalah wid me to do yees harrum? Wirra, wirra! phat a worruld!” This h was greeted with a deafening ell, which caused the Irishman to snake in hig oots, followed by a burst of uncontrollable cut any fuss, or bluster, yer has got a show ter | laughter from the party of Rangers which make things cum out hunk. Thar are a heap o’ | caused just as sudden a change of feelings in men, jist as bad as a mule, allers in a muss, | the person so unceremoniously introduced into They git wusted ev’ry time, an’ don’t yer fergit | their midst. m what spittin’ out, on this subjec’. it stren’thens my argement, fer if yer can l’arn frum a mule, laugh, Pete joining in.- This brought the boys back to camp, in wonder at the way things had terminated; for they had anticipated trouble from the way Pete had broken into the favorite religious platform of Big Foot. Before the Rangers had reached the camp-fire the attention of all was drawn by the quick clatter of hoofs, and the next instant there dashed into the camp, Captain Phil Immeke, who cried in ringing tones as he drew rein: ‘‘Rangers, I come to you from Buckskin I swan, | ’ ; Sam, who. needs your aid, for San Antonio is | Sir ge by Cortina the Swamp Fox and his nd, | One wild yell from the Rangers, and every man sprung for his horse, and five minutes after they were riding rapidly toward the Alamo Plaza, where they were to meet Buckskin Sam. CHAPTER V. THER BANDITS’ ATTACK. Upon the arrival of the Rangers in the city, ‘*T hopes ter be jambusted intew bash by old squaws, an’ fed by ther spoonful ter Piute pa er can frum any doggoned thing pooses, ef it ain’t Mick McFillinny!” suddenly what crawls!” and Big Foot burst into a horse | sbouted Big’ Foot. Kurnil Krocket did yer cum frum, Mick? an’ what's in ther wind ter make yer skute this-a- ways so almighty speedy an’ let loose yer music like a dyin’ panther cat?’ ** Musha,” exclaimed Mick, panting with ex- citement. ‘‘Sure, pon me sowl, I ought the hujl worruld had gone intirely. Faith, it’s ersel’s I was sure I was afther matein’ beyont ere, an’ ridin’ like divils ye ware, as I cams discanterin’ along, an’I gi’n a rousin’ yell fer bare joy, whin luck an’ the divil catch tho spalpeens, whoiver they ware, they began t> blaze at me wid pistols. Blood an’ nounkers, but it was an awful fright I got, an’I gi’n the mule a prod wid me knife which made the divil of a baste mad as a hather, an’ afther raisin’ his heels to the moon as I put me arums around his neck, he tuck me like a true friend thro’ the whole batch, who ware afther goin’ t?other wa as fast as Mick an’ the mule came this, Bedad, but ef the mule had stood still I’d ’a’ killed ther hole clutch o’ thim—yees needn’t ter laff, Sure they found the houses and stores all closed, and | it’s mesilf ud bin darin’ enuff ter do that same, darkness and silence rested upon all: but the | but fer the bluntherin’ mule, what kicked me grim shadows of night and the quiet were the calm 'into ther bushes, an’ didn’t know fri’nd frora before the storm, for armed men were crouching | foe.” in secret recesses, awaiting the moment to move to combat, when Cortina and his band | lers cumes should dash in upon the town they expected to surprise, Already had the town militia been called out, and the Vigilantes had done some deadly work +89 traitors, as, in front of th@®house of the a tholic Priest, a dark form was swaying to | arose from his sitting position in an ex *Pache an’ Lepan kentry,—-‘* Lone Wolf, that | and fro from the limb of a tree. sensed, smoky sun o’ Satan, with a gang o’ his butchers, run me a piert race, when I war on a lone seout, fur loose ha’r, one’t. tiny nag ‘an’ take ter ther rocks, scarifyin’ my huffs an’ shins right ain’t no Sinderilla. smartly fur yer knows ‘*] wearn’t very ockerd, | ‘‘Cums und dakes sumdings pefore dem vel- ack, Mick,” yelled Pete, from the lager keg, which had been rolled out of a saloan for the benefit of the Rangers. Mick cast an anxious glance toward the eor- ner which he had just doubled at speed, them noticing the amused looks of the aes itious manner, just in time to escape the heels of his It is Contraband Jim, a noted horse-thief and | now recovered mule, which the bullet had only desperado, whose fate had been quickly settled I had ter slip | by the Vigilantes, At the *‘ Bull’s-Head Bar,” a party of Texans bad gathered, and among them was Buckskin Sam, whe was arranging with the town officers : stunned; and drawing his sleeve across his per- spiring brow, he walked stiffly toward fence saloon, and addressed Pete. "Pon me sowl, Misther Pate: it’s not yer? that wuld insult an’ Irishman, be Offerin® (‘ta comicboo Me with you—you Buckskin Sam,” — ‘‘Whar in ther name o!' a , >. . r ; } tet .. von ek ha. i ge ae MORE Ped Ny Tee “ YR ad