Beadle's Dime Library No. 204 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

12 Bear will go to lodge of his chief. Warnona will give him venison and corn to eat. She will give him another mustang. Black Bear will ride back to the lodges of our people. Wild Wolf want his braves on San Miguel. Wild Wolf and Water Warrior will ride fast on trail. Has Black Bear seen enemies that wear no war-paint?”’ “Bad Mexican. Miguel.” ‘* Who chief?’ “Capitan Caramba.” ‘“‘Itis enough. Trail of White Hair and his daughter, and the slaves whose skin is black as the night when moon hides, points to San Miguel. We will ride fast. We will say to them that war-cries of Comanche will wake them from sleep, that scalping-knife will shine in their eyes if wagons make trail beyond San Miguel. Are my brother’s ears open? War- cries of Wacos soon sound on plain.” ‘‘ Black Bear’s ears open. Wild Wolf’s words good.” ‘* Warnona comes,” said the chief. As he spoke, the beautiful squaw came dash- ing up the trail, mounted upon a magnificent horse, black as ebony, with another animal in the lead, and both horses snorting with excite- ment, they evidently not having been backed for some time previous. Tossing the jaw-strap of the animal in the lead to George Adler, Warnona dismounted and delivered the one she had ridden to her lord, and without betraying by word or look that she was aware of any addition to their - party. Our young friend quickly transferred bis saddle and bridle from the injured hurse to the one which the squaw brought him, and mounted as rapidly as the nature of his condition wou!d allow; he being very giddy, and his brain op- pressed with a dull, heavy, leaden pain, but still eager to be on the trail of the wagons, for he had the opportunity of reading the char- acter of the Waco chief, and he vow believed, without doubt, that the Bowens had broken camp. “ Warnona will give parched corn and veni- son to Black Bear,” directed the chief, as he mounted his impatient steed. ‘‘She will give him a mustang. He will ride back to lodges Bad white men. On San of Nueces. Comanches bave had war-dance, They gallop toward the Big Water. 1 have spoken.” ‘‘ Will moon grow small before Warnona looks again in the eyes of Wild Wolf?” asked the squaw, earnestly. * \vild Wolf cannot say when the war-path will end,” replied the chief. ‘*‘ When he sends red arrow to Warnona, she will ride fast to Waco camp. She will say to my braves that Wild Wolf's war-cry sounds alone on San Miguel. When Warnona hears Comanche death yells in the wind, she may look for her chief soon.” Swinging the end of the long jaw-strap hiss- ing about the harms of his fiery mustang, the chief of the Wacos shot up the river toward the ford, followed by George Adier, who in: stinctively bent, cringing down over his saddle, as he passed through the dense thickets, bear- ing in mind his late narrow escape from the deadly lasso-snare of the dastard Mestizo. CHAPTER X. THE IGNOBLE QUARTETTE. WueEn Frauk Ames and his three friends left Big Foot Wallace and Post Oak Biil at George Horner’s bar-room, they proceeded at once to the Menger House, ordered their horses to be eared for, and although it was a late hour, bribed the steward to get them up a first-class supper. After’ satisfying their appetites, they pro- cured a fresh supply of cigars, ordered a dou- ble-bedded room, and directed the clerk to send up a half dozen “Piper Heidsieck.” They then bent their wavering way up the stairs to their apartment, piloted by a diminutive dar- ky, who grinned from ear to ear, as the newly- arrived guests strove so manfully to make steady steps. At last they reeled into the room assigned them and sunk heavily into chairs, ordering the hall-boy as he went out, to bring up the wine. ‘IT say, boys,” spoke up Frank Ames, ‘‘I couldn’t have kept up the square gent biz any longer with them scouts. I was playing my points, and l’m very glad you took the cue and didn’t sling any Galveston slang. Big Foot Wallace, I can see, is a tart. He’s as honest Big” Foot W allace. ee ee ee ——— chase land with. He is more afraid of George Adler than he is of the devil; and if he gets him into his power, I wouldn’t give a picayune for George’s chances. But I do believe if Dudley thought Adler was.on this trail, he wouldn’t take a hand in the game.” Just then there was a knock at the door, and Frank arose hastily and opened it. The hall. boy stood before him with a letter, which he handed him, saying: ‘This is for the captain of the fourmen who arrived to-night. It ain’t directed to no- body.” as Ben Franklin, and money wouldn’t hire him to go on a crooked trail. I know what I’m talking about, so you needn’t laugh, Burke Barnes.”’ ‘““T think I have heard you say, a good many times,” said the latter, ‘‘ that every man had his price.” ‘“Well, perhaps you have, Burke, but the big scout is an exception. I know that if he had any knowledge of the Bowen outfit, and should see us on their trail, he’d keep his eye on our movements and spoil our plans, per- haps, especially if he thought us fast bloods.” ‘¢'You did the thing up brown,” said another, Frank tore open the envelope. Inside was John Stephens by name; ‘ but I came mighty | one of the hotel cards, on which was written near bursting.” | one word—* Caramba,” ‘‘TI'm glad you didn’t,” said Frank, ‘“ for | Turning to the negro, Frank Ames asked: much depends upon our getting ont of this| ‘‘Is the gentleman who gave you this be- burg in square shape.” | low?” ‘*Don’t you think,” said Barnes, ‘‘ that old | **'Ya-as, marse!” Bowen played a right sharp game on you?” | ‘Send him up immediately!” ‘‘He may think so,” was the retort, ‘“‘butin| As he said this, he tore the card in small the end, he’ll wish he had said, ‘Here, Frank, | pieces. The next moment the door opened, take her, and God bless you.’ ” | and the Mestizo whom George Adler had met These words caused a perfect roar of merri- | at Horner’s entered, his face swollen from the ment. blow he had received. ‘‘T don’t see where the laugh comes in,”’ said As the door closed, Frank asked in a low Frank, savagely, ‘* Don’t you fellows think | voice: I’m good enough for Belle Bowen?’ ‘Are you one of Capitan Caramba’s men “Of course we do. We were laughing at “Si, senor,” replied the half-breed, placing the ‘God bless you’ part of it,” said Burke. | his fingers across his lips, in sign of caution, “But the question now is, what are we four ‘He sent you to San Antonio to look out going to do against the old man and the nig- | for me?” gers? I tell you, he'll fight like a fiend, if we “Si, senor !” try to abduct Belle openly from the camp.” ‘Where is his camp?” ‘“Do you take me for a fool?” asked Frank. “On San Miguel.” ‘‘ Why, I bave twenty men to back me, besides “ How far from the Fort Ewell trail?” yourselves,” “Twenty miles,” ‘‘What do you mean?” inquired Barnes, de- ‘*East or west of the trail?” termined to pump him. ‘ You don’t suppose “* West.” we swallow any such bosh as that. Where are “Will you return, and report my arrival?’ those twenty men of yours?” ““ Si senor !” ‘*I can get as many men as I am able to pay | Have you seen two wagons, one drawn by for their services, And I can do that, I reckon. | two horses, theother by four mules, both Don’t I hold the note of Colonel Bowen for | traveling together?” twenty-five thousand dollars?” ‘* Si, senor. On plaza to-day.” ‘‘But if you steal bis daughter, he won’t ** Have they left San Antonio?” it.?” ‘‘Gone to Medina. Camp there now.” > ‘Great Caesar! When I’m married to Belle, I ‘‘Good! How came you to get your facé shall be worth two hundred thousand, at the | mashed?” least.” The Mestizo grated his teeth furiously, as he ‘‘ But perhaps she won’t marry you?’ hissed: ‘‘There is no perhaps about it. I say, she ‘White man strike me, but my knife shall shall !” cut hisheart! Mebbe so you know him? Come ‘‘ What will your friead Adler do, in that | from Trinity.” case?” Frank Ames started as though he had been shot. ‘* What is his name?” he asked eagerly. “He is the enemy of Capitan Caramba, I was on watch to kill him, when he strike me. | But I will cut him into little pieces, and fecd him to coyotes!” ‘‘ How do you know he is the enemy of your captain ~” ‘*El Capitan Caramba send me to watch for bim. He tell me bis name. I hear him speak it when he ask for letter at post-office.” “Well, what is his name?’ ‘Senor George Adler!” Frank Ames started, as though a rattle- snuke had sounded its warning at his feet. Bending toward the Mestizo, while his friends looked on in wonder, he added: ‘‘Ts he—is George Adler in town now?’ “ Mebbe so. But soon go on trail. Hear him talk much heap with scout, Big Foot Wal- lace.” ‘¢ Are he and the Big Scout good friends?’ ‘* Si, senor !” ‘‘ Get your horse and follow him, Kill him! Do you hear me? Kill him to-night. Kill the man who struck you. Here isgold! Youshall have more, when I know your knife has split his heart!’ “ Mil gracias, senor!” said the half-breed, taking the money. “He shall die. He shall not see the sun rise.” “Go, then, before you lose trace of him! If you can send me word, or if you can ac- complish your purpose to-night, ride fast to the San Miguel, and say to Capitan Caramba that Frank is coming, and the game is in our hands. You will remember?’ “ Bueno, senor!” And touching his som- brero, the Mestizo departed with hasty steps on his mission. ‘Who, in the name of wonder, is that?’ asked Burke, the words that passed between Ames and the half breed, not having been heard by him and the others, “T never saw him before,” said Frank, evasively. ‘*T don’t care a copper continental what he does! I tbink as much of having revenge on him, as I do of the colonel’s money. Though it isn’t his, It’s all Belle’s; though if Ed should turn up, be could claim half of it.” ‘' He’ll make you turn up your toes, Frank, if he ever does. That reminds me, it is very | possible that Colonel Bowen knows where he | is, and is even now on the way to Ed’s ranch.” | ‘“‘By Heavens!’ cried Frank, ‘I never | thought of that, Burke; but it looks reasonable. However, I don’t care a cuss. I can buck against the whole family.” ‘‘T know one thing,” said the other; ‘‘and that is, that George Adier is up this way. When we left, be hadn’t been seen around the Trinity for some days. I begin to think, Frank, we’ve got a bard row to hoe before we corral Miss Belle. But I am forgetting those twenty men. Ain't that a joke, though?’ ‘* You'll see it ain’t. But here comes the wine.” ‘Well, Ames,” continued Barnes, ‘ when we get that crowd together, I reckon we’d bet- ter dash over the Rio Grande, and take a turn or two, for luck,” ‘‘Come here to the lounge, boys,” said | Frank. ‘“ The walls have ears in trying times like these.” All seated themselves as directed, and their host began: ‘* Now, boys, I’m going to tell you a very important secret. You remember Duncan Dudley, who got up and dusted with old Ad- ler’s money, and did that forgery?’ “Of course; the young rooster he had adopted,” “Well, I’ve been in correspondence with that pious young man ever since he absconded, and he has often helped me out when 1 had lost heavy at cards. He has been on the Trinity several times since he sloped, but no one knew it except myself. He is the man who is going to collect the crowd to assist me, and the agreement is that ke is to have the money the colonel has along with him to pur- 00 <eom (@ “SEO