Beadle's Dime Library No. 204 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

A ———— ee ee —_———- Big Foot Wallace. a at el ct, me = Miguel or the Medina, who was more respected. He was attired in a buckskin suit of Rio Grande make, and armed with a Sharp’s rifle, Colt’s revolvers, and bowie, while several raw-hide lassoes were attached to the cantle of his saddle, as well as a pair of malettos, or sad- dle-bags, a tin-cup, and canteen. Magzie Moore was a brunette of striking beauty; and her flasbing eyes and firmness of manner showed plainly that she was much braver and more fearless than the majority of her sex. It was plainly to be seen that Sharp Eye and Maggie had long loved each other, as no shyness was observable in their intercourse. Tbat there was an understanding between them none could doubt: and also, that one would, 8» to speak, go through fire and water for the other, ‘* Margie, when did Bill say he would re- turn to the ranch?’ As Sharp Eye asked this question, be swept the plain ahead with his piercing glance. ‘““He went to meet Big Foot Wallace,” was the reply. ‘They had arranged to go to San Antonio together, for ammunition; and when those two are in company it is difficult to say when they will head their mustangs for the San Miguel. Bat I think he will not be away for any length of time this trip, for he seems anxious and worried about leaving me. You know he must have been, or he would not have stopped at your ranch, and asked you to ride over and stay here until his return. I am very sorry that be hai no more consideration for you. He must bave thought that you had plenty of leisure. It is really too bad, I must say.” ‘“Magecie,” said Sharp Eye * while I have been basking in your smiles, I have lost sight of some very important matters, which ought to have been uppermost in my mind. When out bunting for ‘ Mavericks’ yesterday, I met a party of Wild Wolf’s warriors who had been after mustangs up the Frio, and they informed me that they had seen the camp of a large war-party of Comanches, which fact had caused them to basten to their village in the Bandera Hills. They were about to send off one of their number immediately to their chief, Wild Wolf, who is now encamped below the Pleasanton ford on the Medina, Those fiends may strike across to the San Miguel and, guided by the stock trails, discover your home. T hope Bill will return soon, for I lay awake last night, thinking of your helpless condition should they drop in on us in that pleasant way they have.” ‘Why did you not Speak of this before, Bd?’ ‘¢ Well) Mageie, I did not wish to worry you, and banish your smiles until I was sure that there was danger; but, upon reflection, 1 have decided to inform you. [ objected to your coming with me'‘this morning, as you remem- her, for my main object is to ascertain if there are any signs of the Comanches on the plain. I intended to have stolen away from the ranch, but you were too watchful for me; however, we are both of us better mounted than any of the Indians can possibly be, and have besides the advantage of the timber to cover our movements. So far, we are all right.” And do you really think the Wacos s2w this war-party, or is it one of the frequent frontier scares?” “ There is no doubt whatever about it in my mind. I would believe any of the. braves of Wild Wolf more readily than nine out of ten white men, If the reds do point for the raneh, we shall be forced to strike out toward the Medina.” ‘Ed, I shall not! leave my home. All the Indians between Phantom Hills and the Staked Plains could not frighten me from my dear old cabin, my treasures, and my pets!” ‘Don’t say that, Maggie, for we could not defend ourselves. Should the Comanches dis- cover the cabin, they would burn it over our heads, and roast us alive, if we were so foolish as to remain init. We shall be obliged to gallop for help to the Medina. There are not men enough on the San Miguel, west of the old Fort Ewell trail, to hold their own against fifty Indians, unless all were within the Ing walls of a good block-house. So you see how it is.” ‘Ed, your conversation, if continued in that strain, will give me the blues. I came ont for a good bracing gallop, and you will oblige me by changing the subject, Post Oak Bill is not the man to leave any one whom he cared for, | before wrists were grasped; then, as the two where there was danger of her losing her scalp. floated slowly down the stream, and neither Do you think, Ed, that my hair is the fashion- | appeared to have gained any advantage, she able color among the Comanches for decorating a shield or lance?” **' You do not know those red devils, Maggie, or you would not joke on so grave a subject,” | said Sharp Eye, again sweeping the prairie with his eagle glance. ‘‘ You consider the ranch perfectly safe, for the reason that you have lived there a year, and have as yet seen no hostiles. Have you ever seen an Apache, or a Comanche, painted and prepared for war? Have you ever heard their blood curdling whoops?” ‘*] never have, Ed, andl don’t care to. But ILimagine they would not look more hideous than Wild Wolf and his braves.” “T see there is no use talking to you on this subject, Maggie. I will just say one thing more, and that is—no one, not even Post Oak Bill, can tell where the hostiles will strike. Settling on the frontier is like taking a ticket in a lottery. One may live for years un- molested, and his next neighbor may be butchered, his family tortured, or taken to what is worse than death, the first week they have been located in their uew home. But,+ come; let us turn into the timber, and cross the creek. I wish to take a good look over the south plain toward the Rio Frio.” Both turned abruptly beneath the tall trees, sat with her lips wide apart, ber eyes staring fixedly, until slowly the two heads vanished from view around the bend of the river. With a half-suppressed cry of anguish, Mag- gie struck both the horses violent blows, and went crashing through the underbrush, soon arriving at a point where, once more, the agonizing sight met her view—the two heads still floating slowly, the eyes of the white man and the red-man still glaring into each other, the glittering steel of each still controlled by the other, by a grip that bad caused the muscles of their arms to swell outin huge knots. Only one slight change did she notice. Sbarp Eye had gotten his red foe turned partly about, forcing him to float with his back down the stream. Maggie instantly comprehended the object of her lover’s movement; for she saw, at some distance down the San Miguel, that a tree had | fallen down the bauk, one of :ts, huge limbs, jagged and broken. projecting up the stream, its lower edge almcst touching the water. Once more she urged the horses through the underbrush, but not daring to pass the floating combatants, for fear she would draw the atten- _ tion of the Comanche down tbe stream. and in and went crashing through the underbrush. | It must bave been Providence that prompted Sharp Eye to turn into the timber at that par- scout plunged directly into a dense under- growth which sarved to screen the painted form of a Comanche spy. this way let him discover the danger that was awaiting hin? The friendly limb was over the current, but only on its outer edge; and Sharp Eye was _ forced to use great caution and skill, in order ticular time and place, for the horse of the | ‘ Maggie Moore was destined to see a hostile | in war-paint much sooner than she had anticipated. So suddenly and unexpected were the borses turned into the bottom, that the Indian had no time to retreat or spring aside; for as he realized his position, upward, and actually struck the back of his head against tbe nose of Sharp Eyes mustang, | lurking | he sprung. causing the animal to rear upward in its | fright. Away went tbe red brave toward the stream, and the young scout, feeling that their lives | depended upon preventing the spy’s return, | went crashing after him through the under- brush, Maggie remained motionless, her blanched with horror. The young scout sprung to a standing position in his saddle, made a flying leap over the busbes that drooped into the water, directly upon the Indian, who was now swimming for life toward the opposite side of the stream. | The Comanche was almost paralyzed when he saw the scout fly from his saddle across the bushes and direetiy upon him. He had but just control enough over himself to, make an attempt to dive under water; but this move- ment) was exeeuted too late. His determined foe was upon him. Had not the back of the Comanche been some distance beneath the water,. from the fact that he was swimming, as do most of the Indians, *‘ dog-paw,”’ his. spine would have been broken; but, although he was forced far below the surface, his head broke water at the same instant as did that of Sharp Kye, and red and white, with knives uplifted, lunged toward each other, struggling in the water in an endeavor to use their blades, and then, by a dexterous movement, each grasping the knife hand of the other at the wrist. Thus gripped, the orbs of each man gazing into those of the other with murderous light, and with muscles and, senses strained to the utmost, the hideous face of the Comanche con- torted with fury at his inability to break from the vise-like grip of the young scout. Slowly the two men drifted down the cur- rent, neither of them being able to gain any advantage over the other; Sharp Eye, all the while watching the facial muscles of bis foe, ready to force him beneath the surface if be noticed any attempt at giving a signal whoop. Maggie spurred her horse directly after the young scout, and as the latter sprung into the stream, she caught the bridie-rein of his steed, and sat in her saddle, her features pale as death, her eyes filled with horror, as she saw the paint daubed face of the Comanche rise above tke surface, and witnessed the fierce struggles, and the lightning-like play of hands, as each for a moment strove to stab the other face | EE ee ee — OE that his red fce should not pass the jagged branch which was now his only hope; for the young scout, although of great strength and _ hardihood, felt himself growing weak, while the iron-molded son of nature was apparently as fresh and full of vim as at the start. Maggie’s breath came and went in short gasps, and her brain was being racked with dread concern and indescribable anguish. Still the two men floated on, the Indian seeming to comprehend that the strength of his foe was ebbing fast; the expression of which was noticeableupon the Comanche’s face, all daubed though it was with ocher and vermilion, This expression was, however, soon to be suddenly changed, for the nearly submerged foes were now approaching the point at which the life-bloud of one or the otber must mingle with the waters of the San Miguel. The next moment would decide Maggie Moore’s happiness or misery, for life: and she held her breath, in the intensity of her feelings, Not two feet now separated the snag from the head. of the Comanche, and Sharp Eve well knew that his life hung by a hair. Gathering up his entire strength, the young scout drew up his legs beneath the waters, until bis knees touched his breast then by a dexterous motion he kicked the Indian in the bowels, recovering instantly his former position, Then throwing his whole weight in a powerful lunge. forward, he still guided the course of his red foe. All this transpired in a moment. The next, the head of the Comanche dashed with force against the limb, tearing the very scalp in places from his skull, causing the Indian to close his eyes, quiver from head. to foot, and for an instant t» relax his grip on the wrist of bis white an- tagonist, Wrenching his knife-hand free, Sharp Eyes raised the same above the waters, and then . drove the glittering steel to the hilt in the paint-daubed breast of the savage. Then, as tbe warrior openedhis mouth to give the death yell, the young scout thrust him beneath the water, which was now dyed with his blood, and a gurgling, horrible sound issued: from it as the Comanche sunk, struggling in his death- agony. Grasping the friendly branch with one hand, and holding the Indian under the water with the other, Sharp Eyes gazed anxiously up and along the north bank, meanwhile panting with exertion. With a cry of intense joy and relief, Maggie lashed the horses abreast of the point where the desperate water combat had come to an end, and the young scout waved. his hand ia exultation and victory, as he permitted the dead brave to slide away with the current. He then swam ashore to rejoin the beautiful girl, who, though not engaged in the fight, had probably suffered more kLorror and anxiety than she would had she been in the position of her lover, “Come quick, Maggie! Follow me in- EGoOmiie S) JOO