Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 217 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

———————— a Oe eet i a Ee The Serpent of El Paso. CE eee ee ee ee a ree —_— — — - eq ee — a — ee we + ee oe 19 breast. Jerking his bowie free, Frank now | realized that it was the early morning hour, and | over to Mexico—poor Dolores in their midst, grasped with herculean strength hurled his vanqnished foe far out over the awful chasm; but as the warrior left the scout’s grasp he gathered all bis remaining strength, and bis life went outin a horrible death-yell, that echoed in thet dread chasm, as the Indian shot down the terrible hight and into the dark waters, The next moment from down the river rung the Apache yell of vengeance from a hundred maddened throats, and Frontier Frank sprung upon his noble black, and spurred for hfe up the bank of the Ri» Grande, and among the densest of the mesquites! CHAPTER XXIV. SIDE BY SIDE. Wren Frontier Frank heard the terrible whoop which he knew proceeded from a large war-party of Apaches, he began to reajize that the horrors he had passed were as nothing to those which were to come, He knew that he was in great danger, and his ebject now was to secrete his horse, and then ascertain the number of the enemy, and, if they were not encamped, the direction they were traveling. Upon reaching a dense and seemingly im- penetrable thicket, the scout gave a uliar twitch to his bridle-rein, and parting the branches, he passed the leafy screen, followed by his intelligent horse, the animal holding its head low to the earth, in order to wedge its way enward. Soon a small circular opening was reached, entirely surrounded by a dense and wide thick- et of thorns and cacti, through which it would be difficult for even a rat to have madeits way, except at the point where Frank had entered; and this could not have been discovered, except by accident, or the most careful search. This opening, so well guarded, was well known to the scout, as the reader may have in- ferred. Patting his noble steed, with a low word of farewell, the animal, »Ithough very anxious to feed, refraining from doing so, Frank da hed through the branches, He was now abouc to try and accomplish a feat which few prairie men even care to attempt; and that was to make his way into the near vicinity of the Apache camp, or haltIng-place, whichever it migbt be. The attempt was a very hazardous one, and es- ecially so at this time, for Frank had slain a brat, who had given a far-sounding death-yell. This yell had told the Apache horde that one of their number had been slain, and proved to them that an enemy was in their near vicinity, and would cause the best scouts to spread and examine all points, to ascertain where the deed had been committed, and who had done the killing. No more skillfal trailers, as Frank well knew, can be found among all the Indian tribes of America than the Apaches, — However, the scout had, time and agein, made more hazardous attempts than the one he had now resolved upon and been successful. He knew that the yells proceeded from a int just clear of the mesquites, directly at the ford, and but a rifle-shot from where the many exciting and soul-harrowing events of the night bad occurred; and he was positive, as he crawled from thicket to thicket, that there was an understanding between Muchacho del Noche and the chief of this war-party—that the former would, upon this night, meet him and his braves at the ford, and guide them upon a raid into Mexico. Of this, Frank had no doubt, and now it flashed upon his mind that Rancho del Laguna was doomed, if he did not reach there in advance of the Apaches, and put the place in a condition of defense. The scout was now filled with the greatest ap- prehension and alarm, to such an extent indeed that Don Miguel and Dolores in their peril were for the time forgotten. But then the latter was soon to be brought to the mind of Frauk, in a most striking manner. He knew well every branch and gully in the vicinity of the ford, some of the latter —— entirely arched by bushes, which was a great advantage to him in his present most perilous undertaking. After a long, winding and laborious craw), Frank at length reached the spot where he had witnessed the terrible tableau, when Muchacho del Noche was about to bury his knife in the heart of poor Dolores. He could now distinctly hear the guttural voices of the Apaches, and the stamping hoofs of many mustangs, and, five minutes after, he was lying outstretched, gazing upon @ scene that would have appalled the stoutest heart. | Between the bank of the river at the ford, and above the same for some distance, was a long space that was clear of bush oF shrub, and this was entirely filled with wild-eyed mus- tangs, fully caparisoned for the trail, and their pohly. war-painted masters, fierce, hideous aches. he scout at once saw that it was only a halt; that the war-party were not ening to encamp, and this filled him wih ee p concern until ke } | | | the brave by the belt and the hair, and | that it would be impossible for them to attack Rancho del Laguna until the following night. Feeling greatly relieved, Frank now took a more searching and leisurely survey of the dread and most forbidding assemblage. Evety mustang was held by the jaw-strap, some braves baving two in hand, whicn showed that a number of them must have gone out in search of himself. Next, he perceived a sight which almost caused hiin to groan aloud. This was Dolores, mounted upon a mustang, and by her side, also mounted, were Muchacho del Noche, and a chief with three eagle-feathers in his fillet, whom Frank at once recognized as old Cochise, the most merciless foe to the whites that ever lived, except perhaps Lone Wolf. Frank knew that the totem on the arm of Do- lores had saved her life, but he saw no way open for her rescue, That old Cochise intended to attack Rancho del Laguna, Frank had not the slightest doubt; and, in the event of a fight, he feared that Muchacho del Noche would be killed while bat- tling against his own home, Dolores was at such a distance that the scout could not see her face, but he felt that she must know how hopeless ber condition was; that there was nothing upon which she could hang the slightest hope of being rescued. The out- look was, indeed, gloomy and terrible, from whichever way the scout attempted to view it. His plan of years'-was growing more and more difficult of accomplishment, and death and de- struction hove in a dark and dense cloud over Rancho del Laguna. He could see nothing anywhere of Luny Lize and Don Martinez, an was indeed being tortured to death. Luny Lize must have heard the war-whoop of the Apaches, and she well knew its import. She must be aware also, Frank argued, of the pres: ence of Muchacho with the war-party, and that bly it might have been him that was slain. t was evident, for some reason, that she now wished to avoid the Indians, One thing alone was absolutely certain to Frank, and that was, that the madwoman had taken Don Miguel to some hiding-place, where she would leave him secure, then crawl in and steal a wandering mustang from the extras of the Apaches, and fiy to the mountains with her captive, whom she would then, if he were not a corpse already, put to the torture. Certainly Don Miguel had gone through enough of terror and suffering to kill him, But there was work ahead, and the scout banished Luny Lize and Don Martinez, for the present, entirely from his thoughts. Rancho del Laguna must be saved. Dolores was safe from death, and must re- main as she was till something definite could be effected. This Frank must somehow arrange. And now there came a yell from old Cochise, calling his scouts, who came in from all direc- tions, one only among them advancing to re- wey The moon’s rays aslant could have shown 1im no trail, even though he had seen the blood on the grass. Muchacho del Noche watched the brave as he reported, and Frank felt sure that the savage youth was gratified in his mind that no capture had been made. Now came a sounding signal, and every brave led his mustang forward, form- ing two long lines, two deep, and leaving a wide space between. Two warriors advanced and held the snorting and impatient steeds of Muchacho and old Co- chise; two others guarded Dolores, while two led the former down, to the lower end of the open space. Old Cochise gave a few guttural orders, and ‘two braves stepped out in front, within ee eee of Muchacho del Noche, with drawn bows and arrows fitted. Frontier Frank was amazed, fearing that Muchacho had forfeited his life through having broken some law of the tribe; but his mind was soon relieved. A brave advanced with a beaded fillet, such as are worn by young warriors after their first war-path, and placed it lightly upon the head of Muchacho, who stood like a statue, bis arms folded, and his eagle eyes gazing fix- edly before him. Old Cochise gave a swing of his lance, and the two warriors in an instant brought up their bows, The strings twanged, the arrows flew like lightning, and the fillet fell far in the rear of Muchacho, the upper edge pierced by the ar- rows. } Then, in like manner, was a fillet containing an eaglefeather, and one containing two eagle-feathers, shot from the head of the youth of the alligator totem; after which old Cochise advanced with a fillet of exquisite ge work, containing three eagle-feathers, like his own, and with his own hand placed it on the head of Muchacho del Noche, at the same time taking the hand of the latter, and placing it against his paint-daubed breast. This ended the ceremony. The son of Don Miguel Martinez bad thus, at one jump, been made an Apache chief. A loud guttural mur- mur of satisfaction ran through the lines; then came a yell, and every brave sprung to his sad- dle, the Apache horde galloping, like fiends of the night, down into the Rio Grande, to cress and Frontier Frank watching it all from Lis lone lair in the chaparral! CHAPTER XXV. AFTER MANY DAYS. FRONTIER FRANK, though full of deep thoughts on the now complicate) state of things, felt that the time for action could not be delayed. He arose, and passed along the gully, eiving | lutea passing glance at the spot where Lerenzo Castro bad been secured. It had just occurred io bim tbat, from the fact that Castro had stolen the horse of the young army officer, thef the latter would be likely to start forth- with on the trail. with a detail of men for the _ purpose of recovering the animal, whith was a | | very valuable one, and to hang the t'ief, even if to catch him, they were forced to cross the Rio Grande. Not only would this be an incentive for the pursuit, but the abduction of Dolores would madden the people of Franklin. Much elated at having thought ef this most probable a-sist- ance, the scout immediately cut and trimmed a sapling, which he sharpened, and then pro- ceeded a t once tothe open plain. Here, pro- curing a pencil and paper from his buliet-~ pouch, he wrote as follows: ** Moon at full (cannot tell day or date.) Lirvur. Morse, Co. B, 2d Cavalry, U. 8. A., or any white man who may find this: * Lorenzo Castro and the horse he stole from the | above officer, in or near Franklin are both dead, but he feared that the latter | ped omcapeen | —— ee ! a ee ' — ee | | Dolores, the belle of Franklin, whom Castro sb- ducted, is a captive to a war-party of Apaches under hey have e Rio Grande, ositive will attack Rancho del Laguna, at Laguna de los Patos, to-morrow night. For the love of Heaven, ride fast, and rescue Dolores. The Apaches are about a hundred strong. **FRONTIER FRANK, the Svout.”’ Securing this note in one corner of a red ker- chief, Frank tied the ae corner to the top of the pole, and then thrust the sharpened end into the prairie sward. This done, his face brightened and striding hastily back to the chaparral, he proceeded to the thicket where he had left his horse. Regaining bis rifle, he led the animal iuto the clear ground, mounted and rode directly to the ford, where he crossed and went slowly along the opposite bank down the river. Far away to the south he could see the galloping horde of Apaches. If Lieutenant Morse did follow Castro ara [ should find the scout’s directions, there wonid be lively times at Rancho del Laguna. But would Muchacho del Noche live through the batt'e/ And would it be possible to rescue Dolores? These were questions which Frank could but agonize over. The boys of the Second Cavalry who went in pursuit of Lorenzo Castro, for the ad pine of rescuing Dolores, as bas been recorded, returned to Franklin with horses well-blown from their gallop and reported their inability to come up with the scoundrel. By this time Lieutenant Morse had been wel cared for by the surgeon of the regiment, an had returned to camp; but no sooner cid the unsuccessful detail report, than he dete: mined to bunt the outlaw to his death, if he was ee to scour the Montezuma country to find im, It did not seem probable that Castro wot'd remain in Texas after the crimes he had cem- mitted, and it was reasonable to suppose that he would strike for the ford below Fort Quitman, and then cross the river. Lieutenant Morse secured an order from his commanding officcr for a detail of twenty-five men, it being deemed unsafe to proceed with @ less number when it seemed probable that they would be forced to cross the Bravo. Although it was contrary to the advice of the surgeon, the lieutenant was resolved upon an early start, if bis life paid the forfeit; he there- fore set out at the head of his men, all having = days’ rations at the cantles of their sad- es. A faithful Mexican guide, who knew every” foot of land from Franklin to Eagle Pass, and © over the plain to Chihuahua, accompanied them: | his services, however, being only needed in crossing the Rio Grande. From this they pro- ceeded to Fort Quitman, and thence down to the ford below which the signal left by Frontier Frauk was discovered. The contents of the letter filled Morse with both joy and anguish— joy to know that his darling Dolores had es- caped from the dastardly Mexican, and anguish at the thought of her being this time a captive among the blood-thirsty Apeches, | The detachment crossed the ford at noon of ‘the day on the morning of which Frontier Frank ned ete the signal. The Apache trail being soon Wiscovered, Lieutenant Morse would at once have followed the trail, and attacked the camp, even though they outnumbered him four to one, but he knew that the Indians would, if a dash was made to capture Dolores, brain their captive at once, The only course to take, was to pass up the river until a point was reached, where tbh would not be observed by the Apaches, an thence | ons the uln'n to Leguna de "Prone rT a a JOO Gomie cS (Elo) i= wee a ee dae ~; . iL