Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 239 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

16 ES me ae ee The Terrible Trio. the horses of all were noble animals, marked | although whites, a hundred times more degrad- | ed in their appearance. for speed and for endurance. No one, who traversed the frontiers and met | these men, would be apt to class them as They were of different nationalities and at- tire, some being deserters from the army, some scouts, rangers, or rancheros; but would at | depraved half-bloods of Mexico, and other out- once, were they in the least versed in reading | laws from justice and society. men’s characters, decide that they were out- * laws—desperate border bandits, Nor would they be mistaken, for such indeed the men were. One of them, whoseemed to control bis com- panions, and who, from appearance, manner, and words, was far superior to them in intelli- gence and education, as well as in strength of | will, was one, the mere appearance of whom would cause a feeling of repulsion and abhor- rence in any honest man who might chance to be brought face to face with him. His hair, mustache, goatee, eyebrows, and small, piercing eyes were jet-black; the latter, ever darting suspicious looks here and there, were most treacherous in expression. He had a desperate look and manner, like that of a hunted man who expects or knows that an ignominious death awaits him when captured; and notwithstanding bis rough at- tire, and his presence so far from civilization, those who had met him at any time within the last few years, would at once recognize the man as Bird Blackwell, or ‘ Blackbird,” the dastardly assassin of Captain Warring- ton. As these men dismounted, each opened his saddle-bags, and taking therefrom flasks of whisky, removed the corks with very evident rolief and satisfaction. ‘* Here’s success to our next venture, boys,” said Blackbird. ‘‘I hope this bearse will pan out more wealth than the last, on the El Paso line, and that we shall all skin through without getting our skins broke. “That Fort Clark venture was an unlucky scrape, and came near bursting the ‘ Black- birds’ all to flinders. Only four of us left, bang it! But we'll pick up some desperate pards down-country, next trip, I reckon. ‘* However, the less the number, the less to divide the plunder among. But, here goes! I’m as dry as a fish that’s been jerked from its natural element by a hawk,” ‘* Hyer’s luck, Cap!” ** Down she goes!” “Wun all ’round an’ plenty o’ rhino!” All took what would be considered pretty ‘‘long” drinks, and then returned the flasks to their saddle-bags; rubbing their sleeves across their mouths and smacking their lips. “Jim Ford,” said Blackbird, with a smile, or rather an attempt at it, which caused him to appear more repulsive than ever; ‘‘ cross the river, and leave your horse in the timber, Then strike out along the road, until you reach the edge of the bottom, where you can keep your eyes peeled for the “‘hearse”. You can see it before it gets within miles of the Colorado, for the plain is as level as a floor. . ‘‘ Keep close, for the driver carries a spy glass; and report here as soon as you discover the stage. Be careful not to leave ‘sign’ at the come-out on the trail, on either side of the ford.” *“ All right, Cap. Reckon she’ll be ‘long soon, fer they changes nags t’other side ther Concho, jist a leetle arter sundown.” “Yes; I don’t think you'll have long to wait. Hump yourself back lively when you get start- ed; for we want to get fixed in such a position and manner as not to make a botch of this job, as we did at Fort Clark. Slip your bridles, boys! The horses can crop bottom grass, and we'll take a lay-down until Jim runs in on us with news of the hearse.” The latter directions were given after the departure of Jim, and but a moment or two passed before Captain Blackbird and his other two partners in crime were stretched out upon their backs, their sombreros pulled over their faces, all appearivg greatly fatigued. Jim forded the river, and proceeded along the stage road through the timber, which, at this point, extended fully half a milefrom the river on its northern side. He soon arrived at the verge of the bottom, where be had a fine view of the stage-road toward Fort Chad- bourne. Although not aware of the fact, Jim was in the greatest danger when he approached this point; for, within the dense shades, crouched a dozeu desperate demons, the sight of whom would have caused any bebolder to shudder. These men were evidently on the same busi- ness as were the Blackbirds; but they were, | | eee The torn and greasy uniforms of the de- serters were patched with untanned deer-skin. The buckskins of the desperadoes, both Mestizoes and fugitives from the settlements, were in as bad condition, all being rent and torn, and rudely patched. Thus they appeared; tke plain signs of hun- ger, shown in their glaring eyes and haggard faces, explained by the absence of rifles, which they bad thrown aside as useless; they fearing to go into the settlements to obtain ammunition. Jim, however, passed on toward the verge of the timber, closely observed by a crawling ser- pent, in the shape of one of the Mexican half- breeds, The latter crept back to his companions, a look of relief upon his face as he explained in a low voice: * Capitan Blackbird over river. look for stage.” ‘‘ How'd yer know Blackbird air over ther drink?’ asked one of the outlaws quickly. ‘* Antonio see all in woods, when go to take Fort Clark stage. El Capitan want Antonio join him. Antonio say, come in one moon to Rio Concho. Antonio meet your boys, and say lead to Concho. It over there. Ride to ford in half-day.” “Good!” said the former speaker. ‘I’m dang’d glad we’ve struck nigh whar ther Blackbirds’ nest air; but I don’t agree ter let a chance slip fer gettin’ grub an’ powder. We- ’uns must kerral thet hearse, an’ cut the wizzens 0’ every dang’d human aboard o’ her. I don’t reckon we’re goin’ ter low ourselves ter be shot down like dogs, arter skinnin’ through so so long. ‘“ Yer can’t sw’ar, Antonio, thet Blackbird’s gang air nigh hyer; an’ ef they bees, they may be in es bad a fix es we-’uns, fer they didn’t make ther riffle et ther Fort Clark hearse. ‘“We-uns must gobble it this time, an’ gi’n Cap Blackbird a leetle circus what'll surprise him, an’ let him know we air up to snuff. What d’yer say, boyees?” ‘‘ We're not goin’ ter low nobody ter come tween us an thet hearse,” asserted another Texan. “By thunder, that’s the way to talk!” put in a deserter. ‘‘ We’re near Camp Johnston, and have to go that way to reach the junction of the Concho and Colorado, if we want easy travel. ‘““T don’t advise going down the Colorado, and we must have arms and ammunition. There is sure to be some grub on board the stage.” The moment this decision had been reached by all the party, they again heard the clatter of hoofs, and Jim soon dashed down the trail toward the ford of the Colorudo. All now felt sure that the coach was coming, and they eagerly stole through the undergrowth, and gazed over the plain. Bat a short time elapsed when one of the deserters slunk back with a terrified face, ex- claiming: ‘“‘That’s not the coach, boys; it’s a detach- ment of cavalry and anambulance. We're in great danger.” All started into the timber, secreting them- selves in’ a dense thicket, where a dozen or more horses were secured, They were soon, however, greatly relieved when the ambulance was beard rattling toward the ford, the clatter of hoofs being quickly lost in silence, Then, and then only, did one of the wretches move; for they knew that the military escort would, if they discovered them, hunt them to death. Fully another hour passed before the spy, who had returned to his post in the tree, re- ported that che stage was now coming beyond a doubt. An inspection of the plain proved this report to be true, and preparations were instantly made for the dastardly attack. To insure success, two of the outlaws climbed the trees and gained a position directly over the road where, screened by the feliage, they could remain until the coach was directiy beneath them; then they bad arranged to spring down upon it, and murder the driver or any ** vutside” who might be on the top. Soon the heavy rumble of wheels warned them that the time for action approached, when Send man eS — ee a - —— ee —" —- all braced themselves and strained every nerve for the cowardly attack. But a few minutes passed, when six horses came dashing around a curve in the road, and then the coach with but the driver in view. A moment after, and with demoniac yells the desperate, half-famished outlaws carried out their pre arranged programme to the letter. Those in advance, bounding from the thicket, clutched the leaders and wheelers, and at the same moment the two in the tree dropped upon the coach-top, one grasping the driver and pull- ing him over backward, the other driving his knife to the hilt in the horrified and dumfound- ed man’s heart. Others, with desperate rush, sprung to the coach, jerked open the doors, and bounded in among the dazed passengers, dealing death on all sides with their knives. Piercing shrieks of horror and agony, min- gled with victorious yells from: murder-mad- dened lips and the snorting and tramping of horses, rung out upon the air, This was for a moment. Then all was comparatively still. Not one of the occupants of the stage was alive. Then followed a mad struggle, as all began the search in frantic haste for food. Some baskets and bundles of lonch were discovered, and the contents were devoured after the man- ner of famished wolves by tbe murderers, Flasks of liquor were also discovered, to the mad delight of all, and they were drained with- out restraint or prudence. After this, the bodies were searched and rob- bed. Then, at a suggestion from one who had been the leading spirit of the gang, the driver was secured in his seat, the apron being buckled around his limbs, and a bar of wood run down his back, about which his handkerchief was bound, to keep him in a natural position. Those in the coach were placed in such a manner that their blood-stained faces were at the open windows, their sightless eyes looking out. This done, two-thirds of the outlaws crawled into the forward and hind boots, and into the coach among the dead, all concealing them- selves from view; swearing to their comrades who remained bebind to lead the horses to the ford, that— “They would play a high old game on the ‘ Blackbirds’ beyond the ford.” All were now ready. The reins were tied loosely in the hands of the dead driver, and the horses were released, springing forward at first very rapidly, but soon falling into their usual gait. And on went the corpse-laden, blood-drip- ping ‘‘ bearse”—thus, as often on the border, most appropriately named—with the murder- ers crouched at the feet of their victims, mad- dened by blood, frenzy, and unusual indul- gence in drink. Thus on, toward the Colorado ford. CHAPTER XVI. THE OLD SCOUT ON THE TRAIL. SInGLE-EyYE and Skip-lively proceeded up the Rio Concho, keeping within the timber; as the scout was well aware tbat in his present locality, he could not travel on the open plain without danger of being discovered by roving bands of Apaches, The moonlight was now sufficient to guide him, while the instinct of bis horse aided wnuch in selecting the clearest of the paths made by mustang and buffalo. And now, it was with much satisfaction that Single-Eye recalled the fact that he bad spent so much of bis time at Lacrosse Ranch, and around camp-fires, explaining the habits and modes of warfare of the Apaches to Lionel. When the old scout discovered the, to him, unmistakable trail of the black horse, he was astonished to a degree that equaled his great relief and joy; for he had long since given up all hope of ever again seeing Lionel. He be- lieved the young planter to have been cap- tured, and either tortured or slain outright by the Indians; as he had followed bis trail from Lacrosse Ranch to the canyon, and there de- tected the evidences of the desperate charge he had made through the Apaches, The very fact that the young man had been so reckless and daring, went far to convince Single-Eye that he must be dead; for he could not hope to repeat such a desperate dash with like results, and he felt sure that the Indians, infuriated at their Joss through the white brave, would follow him like blood-hounds. Eomicboo (E s) (Ko) ‘ ve