Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 23 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

Tt \e4 = Without uttering a word to the astonished Pekito, who for an instant seemed spell-bound by the boldness of the act—without glanding at the host of warriors, or even speaking to the maiden—he lifted her upon the baek of the black courser, himself mounting the other, and with a yell of triumph, bounded away from the terrible spot. Only for a moment were the surprised Li- pans silent and quiet. ‘Then their fearful evies of disappointed rage burst forth—then their bows were quickly strung, and the yell of pur- suit heard. But their horses were not at hand ; and in a moment Lagona and the reseu- ed girl were beyond their reach—speeding far away, like birds upon’ the wing, over the al- most boundless prairie. “The Biaanshe dog shall pay for her with his own scalp !” shouted old Lazaro, the head Chief of the Lipans, and father of Pekito. “ Dig up the hatchet, ye braves of the Lipans —sharpen your knives, for the Comanches shall drink blood!” And his words were received with approv- ing shouts ; for his warriors were maddened at the audacity of him who had robbed them of their captive and’ the ‘pleasure of witnessing her death-agonies. : And they hastened to prepare for. the war path, and to pursue Lagona and his prize. CHAPTER III. Not many miles from the camp of the Lv ‘ae: at the very hour when Lagona so. gal- antly bore their intended victim away, an armed force of the most gallant and desperate men in the known world—the far-famed ‘Texan Rangers—was riding slowly over the prairie: slowly, for their horses seemed jaded with long and hardtravel ; and most of them—-ex- cepting only a few led favorites belonging to the officers, and kept for an hour of need— could scareely be spurred out of a walk. At the head of the party, beside him, whe seemed to be the leader, rode an old man{ whose face expressed great sorrow and a look of despairing agony. By his dress he did not seem to belong to the Rangers—for .ney were rudely uniformed, and splendidly armed with rifles and Colt’s incomparable revolvers, as well as heavy Bowie-knives. But he was in the dress, usually worn, by our opulent Southern ylanters, and carried a handsomely-mounted a aihletaepoled ~fowling-piece—a weapon which would berutterly useless in savage cow. bat, except at very close quarters. “Tiear that we must encamp at yonder grove!’ said the leader to the person last de _geribed. “There is water and timber there, and our Aorses.are fairly ran down.” <. And_ he, pointed to a belt of timber in the distance, which, rose on the banks of one o the branches of the San Saba, “ Oh; for Heaven’s sake! don’t talk of sto ing until we find my poor Stella, Major Ben!” vad the. lanter to the chief of the Rangers, __“ My dear Mr. ‘Delorme, I would not if it were possible for the men to keep on!” -said the oflicer, with feeling. “ But our horses are a0 used up by this rapid and continued mareh, that if we were to overhaul the Indians, they ‘eould with ease escape us. By the signs which have freshened every hour to-day, we gre near them, and ought to be in trim for @ bang-up fight ; for the Lipans are tough—lI’ve tricd them!” “Ah, Major, if you had an only child—the jewel of your heart—in their power, you - would not chide me for impatience,” “J do not chide—I only counsel means to -insuye our success. By another day we can surely overtake them, and. if our animals are all rizht, we can whip a thousand of them!” “What! with only seventy men!” “The Rangers never count their foes until they stop to,take their sealps!” said the Ma- jor, quietly. “Major MeCullough, there is something copperish over there to the sou’-enst!” said an old Ranger, who had been scouting a few huudred yards in advance, and had drawn, up his horse to await his leader. And he pointed to a speck in the distance, . which seemed to be moving rapidly over the rairie; but whether it “tn at 8 or & human ing, could not be easily distinguished even eves experienced eye of a Ranger, unaided by artificial means. The major qed unslung a small field ; telescope, by Toi Serie at his side, a ; aunang fe us, raised it to his eye. i ae ae ed, and a pombe pleasure fitted _but we ean appreciate a noble action in a ‘in that crowd for us to face. -lorme—we must retreat to our main body, and ‘then we'll have strength to make these yelling - devils turn their backs !” over his weather-beaten face, ds he fixed his glance upon the distant object. * Bring up the led horses !”’ he cried. vey mar who has not a spare horse dismount and lot his beast breathe !” “What do sake, speak! Mr. Delorme. “ Wait, sir—wait until I can speak with cer- tainty !” said the Ranger; and now he looked eu see, major ?—for Heaven's s it a signof my child ?” asked The New York Library. “ Let | beyond the first object to a cloud, evidently | of dust, behind them. The planter fairly trembled with. arxiety. At last he again asked the major what he Baw. “ Two persons riding at full speed, and fol- lowed far behind by a erowd, judgirg from the dust they kick up!” answered the -atter, “ Are they pursued Indians ?” * ne is—the other is dressed in white. and looks like a woman; but they both ride as swift as lightning !” “My heart tells me that it is my Stella!” cried Mr. Delorme; and he madiy spurred his jaded horse, and tried to urge him onward. But the horse, too tired to make even ap effort, stood with drooping head, and bore the galling spur without flinching. «“ Take a fresh horse, Mr. Delorme ; we wil! soon see into the matter!” said the major, kindly. The led horses—seven or eight in number— were now brought up; and the major mounting one, assigned another to the planter, and the rest to the most experienced and daring of his followers. Then, after having given directions to those who were to remain behind to prepare for bat- tle, he led the way toward the persons whem he had seen, at full speed. But fast as he rode, the planter kept close by his side, and the reat of his men kept well up. As they neared the objects ahead, they could plainly see that the two nearest them were, pursued by a large body beyond. The former, when the major’s party were ,first dis- covered, halted for a moment, as if they feared new foes in their path ; but their stop was only momentary : they were soon in motion again, and did not alter their course, which led di-. rectly toward the Rangers, And the speed of those who.went and those who came, soon brought the parties close to- gether. “Thank Heaven, it is my child!” shouted the planter, at last, as he recognized her who rode the coal-black steed, and who also, know ing him, now waved her hand in recognition. “1 wonder what, the deuce that wild Co- manche is doing with her? He ic a deadly foe to us—or his tribe is. This is some new freak!” muttered Major Ben, as he chéeked the speed of his horse. ' A moment more, and Lagona—who had till now held the rein of the fiery horse upon which the reseued captive rode, ehecked it and his own, in the eirele made by the halting Rangers. “ Stella—my darling child !” cried the plant- er, as he threw himself from his horse and clasped his daughter to his heaving breast. “Safe, my father, safe!’ she sobbed, as she returned his embrace. “ What tribe are those that follow ?” asked the major of Lagona, who sat still as a statue upon his panting horse. « Lipans | white-flower, whom I took from them whea they were ready to burn her!” said Lagona, quietly. : “ By Heavens you're a trump, if you are a Comanche!” said the major, warmly, extend- ing his hand,which the young chief did not take “Too proud to shake hands with an old Ranger, | suppose,’ said he, noticing tais. “The hands of the Rangers are red with the blood of my people!” said the Indian, haugitily. ‘«There’s not much odis between us there —I expect your hands are as red as ih oe as well as a friend. You have saved the irl, gad we thank you for it!” said MeCullough. «J did not save her for you—I took her for _myself!” said Lagona, haughtily. “That's cool; but we've no time to argue matters. There are too many yelling Lipans Mount, Mr. De- The. directions of the major were obeyed, ey want the scalp of the teen a ——iS wid not # moment too soon, for the Lipans were close at band. The party, riding back at full speed, were soon again with the Kancers, who, now form- ed in line of battle, awaited joyously the ap- proach of the red-skinned foemen. But the Lipans, when they arrived within a few hundred yards of the Texans, drew up- for they had a wholesome terror of the inen| whose fire, once opened, was fatal and unceas-; ing. “Td give a thousand doubloons. for fresh horses now!” muttered MeCullough, as he saw | the enemy halt. * One fair charge would tum- » == ———— ble half of them to the grass, and sen] the rest off liowling !” The Lipans, seeing that the Texans made no advance, began to gather courage, and as their force was large, they began to “ cavort’’ in eir- sles, and yeil detiance. “They must have a lesson, boys!” said the major; ‘ but we must only make a emal! show, or they'll all run and give us no chance for fun at all!” fle now directed some fifteen or twenty men, who had the finest and freshest horses, to pre- pare to follow him ; and when they had looked to their arms, tightened their yirths, aud set themselves firmly in their saddies, he gave the wild yell of the Rangers, and driving home his spurs in the flanks of hie ficry horse, dash- ed at headlong speed away toward the yelling sav aes. [lis men were close in his rear, at least those whom be had picked, aud their yells rang out as loud as his own. For one instant Laguna glaneed at them, and thea giving the rein te his wild steed, and shouting hie war-cry, he shook his lance aloft, and sped madly on tw joiz the fray. And acry of terrer rose from the lips of Mr. Delorine at this moment; for the cval- black steed upon which Stella was mounted, hearing the ery of its Comanehe master, flew off wildly to jom him and its mate, and poor Stella was powerless to restrain it. “ For Heaven's sake, men, charge all, or my child is lost!” cried the planter, as he saw the Aerrified girl borne away like a leaf upon a “It’s worth mare than our lives to mov without an order from the major,” said th. officer next in charye. “Then I go alone!” eried the agonized father; and alone he sped away after his child. The Lipans, when they saw how few of the Rangers were about to charge them, drew up in something like order to receive them, and while they drew their arrows to a head, and loosened their lances for action, they gave back yell for yell to the advancing foe. Soon the Rangers were at hand, and on— the reins loose upon their horses’ necks, the terrible revolver in each hand—they came! In a moment they were within range, and a sheet of fire opened from their deadly tubes, and then the hurtling shaft, the pointed lance, and the gleaming steel began to do their work. MecCullough’s voice was loudest of all, and his form foremost for an instant only ; then a wild steed dashed on even before liim, and the terrible cry of Lagona rang fearfully upon the ears of the Lipans. Down—down they went, before the lead and steel of the Rangers ; down—down they went, under the terrible war-elub of Lagona, and wheresoe’er he rode they fell.back. For, close behind him, wheeling as he wheeled, and charging where he charged, rode Stella De- lorme, borne powerless wpon the mighty steed whereon he had saved her from the death b torture. Like a spirit, rather than a mortal, thus she rode, unharmed, amid the storm of weapons—pale, excited, wondering how she eould be spared. The Lipans, terrified at their fearful loss, began to retreat; and McCullough, who fad lost nearly a third of his brave followers, felt not like following them. But madness seemed to have seized upon ona; he rushed all wildly into the thickest of the retreating foe, seeming only to thirst for blood, and to i the thousand deaths which menaced im, But a shrill shriek from the lips of Stella aroused him in an instant from his bloody frenzy. Pekito had seized her bridle-rein, and was urging her horse away amid his retreat ng braves. In a second, Lagona was by her side: one moment more, and Pekito was @ whirlwind. , corse — brained by the war-club of the Co- : : ; | ~ “comicbooks Cc (eo)