Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 23 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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16 “eM that every bound bore her further and further from her home and friends. She hop- ed, prayed that they might be following to her rescue; but she little dreamed how near they even then were. CHAPTER XXXYV. “Not another mile, with our horses, till The New York | a What’s that? Another piece of Stella’s | they’re rested and fed—not another mile, or | when we do overtake any one, they'll be so | . unfit for action, that we'll be crippled out and | out!” said Major Ber, in answer to his two companions, Paul and Delorme, as he near. ed the very range of timber from which La- gine had not been gone more than three or our hours—for the brands of his little fire were yet smoking. For they were urging him to keep upon the evidently freshening trail, without halting. “We're gaining—here’s fire yet !” cried he, as he leaped from his horse, which, loosened, went at once to the water. “She has been her—she has been here!” shouted Paul, as he picked up from the bank a shred of her lace-fringed dress, which she had torn off and left there. “Yes, and another woman, and an Ine dian. Here is a bona fide moccasin track !” said Ben, whose keen eye was running over the ground as if it were a picture. ‘“ But though there are three of them—there are the tracks of only two horses. I see—one carried double, his track sinks twice as deep in the ground as the other, and here is some of his hair on this musquito bush—itis white !” * Lagona has got her!” said both Mr. De- lorme and Paul, as they heard these words, “ Yes — likel,, for this trail heads now stright for the Ro Pecos, and there the Co- manches generally lie in the greatest num- bers. Some of their most impregnable.strong- holds are in the Charrate Hills. If he gets there, it will be next to impossible to do any- thiny with my small force.” “Let us press on without delay—they can only be a few miles ahead of ns!” urged Paul. “Young man, when you’ve lived as long as I have, and trailed as many red-skins as my »mother’s only son has doue, you’ll learn that sometimes the greatest haste goes the least distance. Our horses need rest and food — were we to go on now, they would be knocked up, and give out in four or five miles further. But give them two hours’ rest and feed, and they’re good for a run of thirty or forty miles et. Take my example, off saddles from your easts, then eat something and smoke the pipe of patience for a while.” “Tt is hard to smoke that which I haven’t got, but you know best, major—off goes my saddle,” said Paul. « And mine—much as [ desire to press on. The experience of the major is our only stay,” added Mr. Delorme. The horses were soon feasting amid the rass, and McCullough having stirred up the fire and added fuel, was making a tin cup of hot coffee, and broiling a slice of bacon for his breakfast, in a pa short time. The planter and Paul, urged to follow: his example, did so—more from a desire to sustain their strength thar from any appetite which they felt: their eagerness and anxiety destroy- ed all of that. And though the gallant chief of the Rang- ers took things very quietly, he too was full as anxious as they to renew the chase, and watched the animals as they fed, to see when they showed sufficient signs of returning vig- or to make it prudent to resaddle them. After his scanty meal and the never-to-be- forgotten pipe of camp-life, the major climbea one of the tallest trees, in hopes that from his perch he could distinguish further traces ; but when he came down, he shook his head, indi- cating, thereby, that he had seen nothing of the fugitives or the captive. But a little over two hours had elapsed be- fore they were again in the saddle, and their nettled horses at once showed the immense benefit of even the temporary rest and re- freshment of water and grass which they had received ; for witheut urging severely, they dashed along the tra:l upon arapid gallop. “ This is something like!” eried Major Ben, as his eye Grightbned and his cheek flushed again. “ There’s nothing like feeling that the horse under you can go on without breaking his heart at every jump. We three are good for thirty Comanches now, on the prairie or in the bush. Two hours and a half ago, ten of ’em could have given us @ bad shake for eur hair |” | didn’t tan ’em out in less than no time, ~ “af dress, as sure a3 I live!” cried Paul, snatching up the precious fragment from the top of the tall grass, whereon it had lodged. “The young lady is cool, and seems to feel or know that we’re on their trail!” said Major Ben. “That will work well for us, for she’ll be ready to take advantage of any chances that offer in the way of escape or otherwise.” “ Perhaps they have seen us,” said Paul. “No—theit pace has in no way increased any trom the start, as far as I can see ; but then horses jump shorter as they goon. The horse that carries double must be a good one, but he is tired. I have seen three or four places where he has stumbled. Nothing but weak- ness will ever make a prairie horse stumble !” “ What is that blue streak, far, far away to the West ?” asked Mr. Delorme. “The Charrate Hills, sir,” replied the major. “Ifthe fellows we’re after are in cohort with the Comanches, and once get there, our chances for a good fight are tip-top. As te how we’ll come out of it, is another question |” “T pray to Heaven, we may overtake them this side of there!” said Paul. “I’m not much of a prayin’ character—nev- er prayed but once in my life, and that was when I had the tooth-ache—but I'll say amen to that, Master Paul!’’ said the major, in his dry way. ‘I'd give twenty head of horses to catch ‘em on the open plain. H my bo : agree to eat mud or chaw sand like a Georgia eracker!” Thus, for several hours, the trio dashed on— the stiff blue outline of the far-off hills grow- ing more broken as they advanced, and the top of a range of timber also beginning to show. “That timber is on the Pecos river,” said the Ranger, pointing to it, “and I shoulda’t wonder if they camped there to-night. If they do, some of ’em may wake up in kingdom come, without knowin’ who it was that sent em there!” ‘« What specks are those off to the right fr” asked Paul, whose anxious and ever-wandering eye had detected some moving objects in the direction which he named. %* Halt, end don’t move, horse or man, till I see!” said the major, quickly. And he un- slung asmail field telescope, from his back, and brought it up to his eye. “What are they—friends or foes ?” asked Mr. Delorme. “Six of my own men, on a trail—they’re pushing their horses—it must be fresh,” said the major. “ They are diverging toward this course—lI’ll stake my rifle against a shot-gun, that we overtake the party we’re after on the Pecos to-night, without they see us first. and keep on without camping If they do, they'll be in the hills by morning. But if they don’t see us, they’ll think nobody is after them, and rest and feed there.” Renewing their course, the party rode on, and within an hour were not only joined by the six first seen, but in sight of more than half of the whole party of Rangers. Seeing that all of the trails led to one point, the tim- ber range on the Pecos, and as they were now very rapidly nearing it, the major deemed it prudent to halt his men, and sent out some of the best mounted to cross the trails to the right and left, and thus intercept the others »» Were coming up. ty the main trail wk re they were, they could see that a large ce portion of those whom they were pursuing united CHAPTER XXXVI. Tuey were on the Rio Pecos at last—Lago- na and his hapless captive—Ada and her en- tire band. A grand old forest was that which guarded the banks of the bright and rushing water—and glad were the exhausted riders and their almost worn-out horses, when they halt- ed within it. “ We'll camp here, will we not, Miss Ada ?” asked Malerson, as they drew up, after their long and fatiguing ride. “That will be as Lagona advises,” said she. “TJ don’t care what he says—our horses are completely stove up, and can't budge another mile. but as to treveling further till we’ve ate, and drank. and slept, and our horses had a bite, I’ll not do it for any heathen that runs! As I say, so say all! Don’t you, boys?” neti $ ‘aptain Jack, yes /” waa the general reply. Library. ne! | : * Very good—you sleep, eat—get drunk, if ou like! Wewill rest, and then go on!’ said agona, with a look of contempt on those who gave out so easily. And he rode away a little further, apart from the rest, where he dismounted and _pre- pared refreshments for Stella and Ada, while their horses were feeding. Malerson and his men, without the least sign of prudence, built up their camp-fires, stacked their arms, unsaddled their horses, turned them out to feed, and then hastened to refresh themselves. “ We're clear of danger now, boys—old Ben McCullough himself, never would, follow us s« far, let alone the planter, and sucha seurvy sat as he has around his ranche : —we’re safe, let’s make a night of it. We've lots of rum left, and soon we'll make a dash for some piace where we can get more! Here’s: to aur noble selves!” And his upturned flask did honor (?) to his sentiment. All was now lively in the robber camp. The men were cooking, eating, and drinking to their hearts’ content. After a delay of little more than an hour, Lagona called in his horse, and that of Ada ; and, without saying a word to the carousing crew, rode away up the stream, with his prize. “‘ By-bye, Miss Ada. We'll be along after you whea the sun’s up !” shouted, Malerson, alf drunk, as he saw them go off. And then he took another strong pull at his flask, and, weppey himself in his blanket, lay down to sleep. A great camp that for men in danver—not a sentinel posted—net a men who did not, as soon as he was done . ating and drinking, fol- low the example of their leader in crime and iniquity ie CHAPTER XXXVII. “ Don—don’t be in such a deuce of a hurry, boys! Who is that a kickin’ me, their law- fully ‘lected captain?” grunted Jack Malerson, some hours after he had laid down to sleep. Aroused by some unmercifully severe kicks, he now learned two facts—one of them of as- tounding importance, so far as he was con- cerned, It was broad daylight, first ; and next, every man of his band was secured, and tied, and his greatest dread, Ben MeCullough, was standing over him, with the ropes ready, to fix him in the same way, a8 soon as he gained & sitting posture. “Lord! don’t kick so hard, old fellow! Remember, you wear boots!” said Malerson, as an expression of stupid terror, mingled with pain, came out upon his sottish counte- nance. “Get up, you infernal scoundrel, and let me rope you, then!’ said the major. “ You might have done it while I was asleep, without making such a fuss about it!” growled Malerson. “ Here, don’t tie my hands till I’ve taken my morning bitters!” he added, raising his flask to his lips. “Murder! It’s all gone—TI must have emptied it last night!” he groaned, droppin the now useless friend upon the ground, an submitting his arms to the rope, which was used to tie them behind his back. “Ah! you here, Paul, my boy—you here, and see your poor old father Sead this ’ere way—kicked, cuffed, and tied up like a pig to be carted to market ?” said he, recognizing his son. “T am here: but in a robber and villain like yourself, recognize no relationship !” said the young man, bitterly. “ How unnatural! What a wicked boy! But you'll do your poor old dad one favor won't you? See if some of the boys haven’t got a little rum left, and give me a moistener, to drive away the blue-devils. Now do, boy; and I'll forgive the rest of your conduct!” Paul turned away in utter disgust from him, without attending to his request. ‘Where is my daughter, you double-dyed villain—where is my daughter?” asked Mr. Delorme. ““When I ask questions and want ’em an _swered, I generally use a civil tongue!” said If we're followed, I’m ready for fight— — \ the eaptain, coolly. “For Heaven’s sake, tell me where my daughter is!” groaned the wretched father. “Ah, now you talk! I’ve a respect for heaven, theugh IT never expect to get there. Give me a drink of liquor, and I'll teil, to the best of my knowledge, where your daughter is!" replied Malerson. A flask was brought. and applied to the old 900 com (E cS (E(o)