Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 23 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

The Red Warrior. rascal’s lips, for he was so tied that he could not help himself. After swallowiny until he was in some danger of choking, he paused ; and Mr. Delorme then repeated his question. “ Well, as far as I’m capable of knowing, old gentleman,” said Malerson, as soon as he could get his breath to reply, “ your daughter is with a mighty cute Indian, that calls himself Lagona, mg just as smart a white girl as ever put on trowsers—one Miss McAlpin, a former sweetheart of my ungrateful son, that Master Paul, there. They left here shortly after we encamped—and that is probably six or seven hours ago—and they were making for the hills ; where, if you want to loge your tap sows ou can undoubtedly be accommodated, according to the latest Comanche fashion! Now, sir, I’ve paid for that liquor; and when you want any further information upon anything in par- ticular, or almost everything in general, old Jack Malerson stands ready to accommodate you on the same terms!” “Our main object is yet beyond us, even though we have secured these wretches !”” said Mr. Delorme. ‘“ How soon can we resume the trail, and yet try to overtake my daughter ?” asked the planter of the major. “ As soon as I have picked out a trusty guard for the prisoners, and selected the freshest horses!” said the major. “I am full as anx- ious as you to overt :ke the red fiend before he gets to the hills. Once there, and he will give ws more trouble than you have yet even dreamed of!” “ Both Paul and myself are ready now!” replied the planter. ‘Let your horses breathe while they can— look to your arms, and refresh yourselves all you can, for you have work ahead of you, and will need all you can get!” said the Ranger, as he hastened to pick out his guard, and ar- rauge for the continuation of the chase. These matters were soon attended to, and with thirty picked men, who laid aside every article, even to their blankets, which might add to the burden of their horses, retaining only their arms, he mounted, and took Lagona’s now well-known and clearly-defined trail. Before he left, however, he charged the lieu- enant, whom he left in command of the guard, to shoot the prisoners like’ so many dogs, if they attempted to escape. ‘ And,” said he, “don't miss that hang-dog looking villain, their leader. I want his skin to make asaddle- cover of !” * Mine’s no more a dog-skin than your own, old rum-head!” shouted Malerson, turning almost black with anger. ef The Ranger smiled grimly, and, driving his spurs into his horse’s flanks, rode off at the head of hie little column, at full speed. Gallant leader of gallant men! How noble he looked in his free and careless dress, mount- od superbly, and armed to the teeth. His face expressive of courage, honor, and every manly attribute, without the failings cemmon to so called better men. CHAPTER XXXVIII. What a magnificent scene! The sun was just gilding the great black and gray cliffs of the Sierras Charrate, upon which, like dwarfy sentinels, stood a few gnarled and curivusly- shaped trees. And down through a@ narrow gorge—deep, dark, and terrible in its very wildness, rushed a stream of foaming, flashing, roaring water. And into this cavernous gorge, on a path so narrow that there was only deli- cate and scarce tenable footing for a single horse at a time, led the trail of Lagona. In front of this the bold Ranger halted, for though all was still and dark beyond, he had too often met the wily red man, not to know that there was danger in such silence. . “He has chosen a safe hiding-place, and that is the worst pass in the whole range!” muttered McCullough to Paul and Delorme, as he halted at the head of his men before the gorge. 1” "Have you entered it before?” asked De- lorme. “ Yes—once, after we had lost nearly half our men; and then it was defended by only four warriors. We charged on foot. it wus terrible ; we lost twenty men—good and true ones—for four paltry red-skin scalps. Once within the mountains, there is the pretfiest spot of valley land that you ever laid your eyes on—ten thousand head of horses could pasture there ; and it is likely that Lagona’s “ Most likely it is guarded !” “ Without a donbt it is!” said the Ranger. “Probably it is never left without a sentinel ; but our first warning, if we advance, will be our faces full of arrows !” “Let me be the first to lead the way !” said Paul, eagerly. And the first to fall when you’re engaged to be married, and on the hunt after your bride !” cried Major Ben. “I reckon that isn’t quite the game for you! But lend me your pocket- handkere}ief, if it’s white, young man. [ll try and see if there’s any chance of a parley. Where we cannot take, we may buy—where we can’t frighten, we may bargain !” The handkerchief was produced, and, affix- ing it to a ram-rod, the major rode slowly for- ward. But he had not ridden twenty paces, before Lagona himself, with a white flag on a lance, appeared, and at his back as many armed warriors as could be packed along the narrow trail. “The pale-face has come far enongh—what does he want?” asked the proud chief, in a haughty tone. “The pale-face planter is weeping for his daughter, whom you have stolen away! La wona « a great chief, a mighty brave, and should scorn to be a thief!” said McCullough, who knew well on what points to touch the proud nature of an Indian—how best, also, to flatter him. “ Lagona is not a thief!~ replied the chief, sullenly. The Great Spirit dade him take the daughter of the pale-face, and he bas done it. She shall be his wife, and the muther of great braves !”’ “Dog of an Indian, give her to me, or fight me here, single-handed, till one or both die!” shouted Mr. Delorme. “You are im old man—my ears are closed to your words—lI will not fight you!” said Lagona, quietly. “Fight me! Iam not old—fight me! you red coward!” shouted Paul. “ Boy, you areafool! Go, and find another squaw !” said Lagona, contemptuously. “Yes, for your Stella is appropriated !” cried Ada MecAlIpin, advancing to the side of the Comanche chief. : “Fiend! All of your band is captured, and shall hang!” cried Paul furious with anger. “So, a son will hang his father? Well, no better can be expected from a perjured wretch like you!” cried Ada, scornfully. “*What ransom will you take for your cap- tive?” asked MeCullowgh, cautioning Paul and Mr. Delorme not to interfere further with his lans. ee Fill up this gurge with gold, and I will not give her up!” cried Lagona, angrily. “Ifyou want her, come and take her. But you had better go back; more than three thousand braves ask for your scalps. I do not wish blood to run; therefore, take a friend’s warn- ing, and go back.” ‘Will you not attack us, if we camp, and take a night to think of it?” asked the cool and politie Rany-er. “No, not witl out you attempt to pass the gorge; if you do, your blood is ours, and not your own!” said the chief. “ We will carp, and ask the Great Spirit if we shall turn back or not,” said McCullough. “Tt, is well,” said Lagona; and as he low- ered his flag and waved his hand, his warriors fell back ; and soon nothing but black rocks, rugged trees, and rushing water, could be seen befrre the Rangers’ position. Selecting a nook in the eliff near by, where they could only be assailed from one point, the major, Ben McCullough, ordered his men to encamp. “ For God's sake, why this delay, sir?” asked Paul. “Why do we not attack the Indians at once ?”’ “Young man, life is we sh something to others, if it is valueless to y 1. I have never been noted for any very ext. care of my own; but when I lose it, I want ar ynivalent. Now, [ consider myself worth, at ast, one hundred of those red niggers. I’ve jaid out sixty or seventy, at odd spells, it is true—but if 1 tried to take the remaining thirty or forty in this pass, I'd be very apt to lose my life before I'd got six on my score. To attack them in front won't pass ; to take ’emin the rear would require @ guide from themselves, if there is a pass—Wwhich I doubt, for we couldn’t find one when I was here before. And such a guide couldn't be found easily—the breed of Arnold main camp is in there, since he has steered so , never got mixed with the redskins. I know direct, for the pass !” just what I'm about ; and if yon expect ever to see your love again, leave mattera to me. I've not given up hope yet; but I'll not let my rashness spoil all the chances,” said the major. “God bless you, my noble friend! Forgive me, and think only how I feel when she whom I value more than life is in the power of that savage,” said Paul. “T feel for you, lad—I feel for you; and, more than that, I’ll risk my hair to get Miss Stella back for you; but I must have my owa way to do it in.” “We will not interfere with any of your plans, major,” said Mr. Delorme. “ Command us in all things, and we obey.” “Tt isweli. I will give no orders that will involve you im perils where I do not lead!,” said McCullough, moving around to see that his men were comfortably bestowed. “Will there be no danger of the Indians anilying out and attacking us?” asked Paul Malerson. “Not while Lagona’s word is passed, and my flag is flying,” said the Ranger. “I would not trust a yellow-skinned Mexican, if he had sworn to a truce; but an Indian, as brave and proud as Lagona, will not tell a lie.” “He stole my daughter, after he had prom- ised not to,” said Delorme, “Not until he had left your roof, refusin presents and favors from you or Paul,” mad the major. CHAPTER XXXIX. Back, not a quarter of a mile beyond {ta dark and yawning mouth, that narrow snd fearful pass opened into a very lap of dise. Hemmed in upon every side, there lay a valley of many hundred acres in extent. fer- tile almost beyond conception—certainly be- yond adequate description. There were broad savannuhs, upon which great herds of horses and cattle were feeding ; fields, also, of grain and fruit, fenced in with hedges of thorny cac- tus; and the smoke of hundreds of unique lodges rose in the otherwise transparent and balmy atmosphere. Children—the dusky scions of the Lipan and the Comarehe—could be seen playing arvund in the pleasant avenues; mounted warriors, armed cap-d-pie, rode to and fro, exercisi themselves, and training their wild steeds , an groups of women, here and there, were using that tireless weapon of offence and defence, so peculiarly their own—the tongue ! At the ravine, or pass, from its inner end to very near the outside, a strong guard of watch- ful sentinels was posted; and it would seem impossible that the camp should be surprised, except by one who descended from the the clouds. In the centre of this camp, or village, was a {o@ge, much larger than the rest, arranged with several compartments. The shields and plumes outside and upon top of this, denoted that it belonged to the chief, and to this Lago- na returned, after his interview with Major McCullough, under the truce flag. Before the entrance, stood two sentinels—- showing that any attempt made by Stella to leave when the chief was absent, would be pre- vented. In the inner apartment, seated in an attitude, and with a look of hopeless despair, was the poor girl, when Lagona and Ada McAlpin re- turned. She looked up, with ber large, tear- ful eyes, when he entered ; and an expression of mournful reproach from her went deeper, far, into his heart than would the most bitter re- proaches, the most indignant rebukes, The food which had been placed before her was untasted—the fruit untouched; her eves were red with weeping; her pale face and sunken cheeks told how much agony she suf- fered. ““If the White Flower does not eat, she will die,” said the chief, sadly. “ Of what use is life to me, when I am de- prived of liberty *” replied Stella, mournfully. 4 f you cage a bird, it will pine away and e.”’ «If the White Flower will swear, in the uame of the Great Spirit, that she will not try 70 go away from my village, she shall not be coatined or guarded,” said Lagona. “She cannot do so! If I can escape, I will if I cannot, I will die; ani go up to the oa Spirit, and say that L gona murdered me !’ The Comanche chief seemed troubled. Evi- dently, he did not wish to treat Stella harshly —=perliaye, had com Ebhoo <S'€O