Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 239 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

20 The Terrible ‘Trio. ter we-’uns ter quit ther road an’ turn ter re- ligion. I'm p‘ison sure I'll keep cl’ar o’ thet locate byerarter.” The other two men seemed too badly fright- ened to venture an opinion, All kept their eyes fixed on the back trail, and soon they saw bright flames shining through the timber, and 4 showing more plainly as the sun had sunk be- “ ? -. low the horizon. ‘“‘ If the fiends haven’t started a little Hades on the Colorado, ’m a liar!” exclaimed the bandit chief. ‘* Boys, this locality don’t suit me. git up and git!” ‘‘One thing air dang’d sure,” put in Jim; ‘ther Blackbirds air mighty onlucky. Every- thing hes gone dead ag’in’ us from ther word go; an’ Il reckon we'd better levant fer ther cabin, an’ fish an’ hunt fer grub, keepin’ cl ar ©’ thet cussed Colorado ford.” “That will suit me for a while,” agreed Blackbird; ‘‘ but I don’t cross that dog-town by night, even if there is a full moon, We'll strike across the plain to the Conebo ford and then down the stream to the cabin. If we could only surprise the camp of that escort, we would, I have no doubt, make a rich haul, as I believe it is the paymaster with money to y off the up-country troops.” “Don’t talk ter me bout surprisin’ nothin’)”’ said Jim, dubiously and seriously. Let us | | their horses cautiously down into the stream, when, to their horror, they discovered the mutilated soldiers lying out, at different points, half-submerged in the waters. All the suspicions of the bandit chief were now confirmed. He felt positive that Winnie Warrington had been captured by Apaches, and was being taken toward the Pecos River. That he could succeed in rescuing her, had he but a dozen men in his command, he was sure; and the thought maddened him, that such an opportunity was open to him, and found him without svfficient force to proceed on the trail. However, he was destined to receive rein- forcements in a most unlooked-for and amazing |; manner, After the ghastly trick had been played upon Blackbird and his men by the road-agents, the latter crawled out from their hiding-places yelling and laughing like fiends at the success of their plot. A more murderous, degraded, and desperate gang were never collected togetber. They unhitched the horses from the coach, and pro- ceeded to secure a number of revolvers, car- bines and bowies, as well as a supply of am- munition, coats and hats—to say nothing of money—from their victims. A keg of whisky, found in the hind boot of the stage, filled the outlaws with joy; and a boisterous, fiendish crew they were, as they “ve hed enough o’ thet ter last me a month | dragged the coach to one side of the road, Them sogers ’u’d bore every one >” 0’ Sundays. on us afore we c’u’d say, ‘ Now | lay me— “T believe you are about right, Jim,” said the bandit chief, as the hopeful quartette rode threw the driver into the forward mail-box, and set fire to the conveyance, Then they danced like demons around the flames ina way that would have caused the on over the plain; ‘‘we can’t expect to do ' most bloodthirsty Apache to stare with envy much with a military escort. have to lay for small wagon-trains until we get as large a crowd as we first had.” Soon the dark line of timber that marked the course of the Rio Concho came in view, and Cuptain Blackbird jerked his horse to | haunches, crying out: * Look yonder, boys, and look lively! jump for dirt, or we shall be discovered!” Toe men needed no second bidding. They gazed open-mouthed; Jim, at last, exclaimnig: ‘*Wa-al, I sw’ar, Cap, I reckon we-’uns air called fer! Hit’s a passel o’ red hellyuns, an’ they’re p'inted toward our cabin, goin’ ’cross ther dog-'own. ‘‘ Hit's ther fust time I ever see’d a ’Pache, er a Curmaneb’ offen bis critter, What in thunderativa air a-comin’ nex’? We-uns air cut off, north, south, an’ east. Reckon we'll hey ter strike out fer ther Staked Plains.” Before Jim had ceased speaking, all four had dismounted, and allowed their horses to feed; which would render their discovery more doubtful. Tbus they remained for some time, not dar- ing to advance, or to turn on their trail, until, to their still greater astonishment, they saw the Indians enter the timber, and reappear, mounted upon horses, and then gallop off at headlong speed toward the Concho ford. “There seems to be some mysterious do- ings going on to-night,” said Blackbird; “ but, as we haven’t been shot so far, I reckon we better glide easy toward the Concho. Once in the timber, we are all right.” It occurred now to Captain Blackbird, that, in all probability, these Indians had ambushed the ambulance and escort at the ford; but their visit to the dog-town was a mystery. The thought that Winnie Warrington might have been captured, excited Blackbird greatly; and he resolved to visit the ford, under cover of the timber, and ascertain if his suspicions were correct, With this end in view, he led the way direct toward the Concho, and after an hour’s ride, he and his comrades entered the timber, and proceeded up the stream. But it was tedious traveling, fully an hour being <ccupied before they reached the ford, which they approached with great caution. Had they arrived balf an hour sooner, they would, without doubt, have discovered Single- Eye; but the old scout had departed through the timber, north of the ford, and followed the trail of the Apaches to the point where their animals had been left, some tbree miles from the crossing. Here, he hud entered the thick undergrowth, and having lariated Skip-lively to a tree lay down to rest. Cons¢q .ently, when Blackbird and his three comrades reached the ford, all was silent as death. From their position they could see no indi- Then wations of the recent fight; and they guided Nn eee LE ee TIN... Reckon we'll | and jealousy. Their comrades now arrived with their horses and joined in the hellish orgies until the coach and its occupants were but a mass of smoldering ashes, bones and iron. Then, taking the stage-horses with them, they all gal- loped like demons of the night over the prairie toward the Rio Concho; balting, at times, to drink from their flasks and then yell in chorus. Thus they dashed toward the Concbo ford, all keeping silent as they drew near it; for they dreaded the dark shades, knowing not but that within the same, might lurk those wbo would avenge their terrible crimes. Be- sides, not recalling the passing of the ambu- lance and escort, they thought it probable that the soldiers might be encamped on the opposite side of the Concho. And, as this motley crew of prairie-pirates rode slowly down the north bank into the river, they were discovered by the ‘ Blackbirds,” who immediately secreted themselves; con- cluding, by rapid reasoning, that the authors of the horrible crimes on the Colorado were approaching, and that these most murderous outlaws had played a most terrible joke upon them—a joke which the “ Blackbirds” at once decided they would revenge. Asif to favor the latter, a cloud partially vailed the moon at the very moment the mot- ley crowd of outlaws descended into the ford, and obscured the view until all had crossed the river, and were ascending the bank on the south side of the Concho. When again tbe queen of night shone forth, making the road nearly as bright as day, but causing most grotesque shadows and lights within the timber, which, to the guilty and demoralized minds of the depraved demons, assumed shapes that were appalling; and at the time when all were most impressed, they reached the top of the bank, which brought them within view of the ambulance, Then they huddled themselves together; a confused, bewildered mass, expecting a volley from the escort—the evidences of the recent fight not being perceived by them. At this very instant, the simultaneous report of four rifles, with deafening sound broke upon their terrified ears, close at hand, followed by a rattling fusilade of revolver-shots and wild yells; the deadly bullets whistling over the heads of the outlaws, and tearing the vines and foliage like sighs of the dying. With one wild cry of terror and dread, in chorus, every man spurred for life, dashing through the timber to the north, and up the Concho; each man supposing that half of his comrades lay dead, in the rear, on the stage- ruad. — The exultant yells of the party who had ambushed them convinced them of this, and they doubted not for an instant that the escort of the ambulance had been lying in wait for them. CHAPTER XXI. ON THE ENEMYS GROUND. THE affrighted outlaws did not penetrate far into the timber, for the good reason that it was almost impossible to do so, except by the winding paths made by the buffalo or mus- tang; and these, in their excited state, they were unable to find. As much as was possible, all had kept near each other, and, having recovered from their first paralyzing fear, they were ready to battle with desperate fury, rather than be taken alive, and hanged Jike dogs. For this, they well knew, would be their fate, should they be found to have been connected with the attack upon the coach, and the wholesale slaughter. The surprise of all may be imagined, when they ascertained that not one of their party was missing, and that no one had been wounded, even in the slightest manner. The mystery was soon explained. Soon, loud end clear through the timber, rung the words: **Come back here, boys! This biz is tit for tat. You run your ‘hearse’ io on us, full of ‘stiffs’; but we’re even now, and the ‘ Black- birds’ will sing a welcome in your ears, more pleasing than ‘blue whistlers.’ Break brush for the ford!” ‘‘ That El Capitan Blackbird!” said Antonio, the Mestizo. All made their way back to the ford, feeling much relieved, and were soon on the most friendly terms with Captain Blackbird, and the survivors of his once powerful band; each party laughing at the expense of the other, in connection with their recent fright on both sides. Blackbird, at a glance, read the character of these men. He saw that they were a daringly- desperate gang of outlaws, and as merciless as Apaches. He was convinced that they had attacked the stage and murdered all on board, and this so near a military post, proving that they bad no leader of judgment or prudence. He imme- diately resolved, therefore, that these demor- alized devils should be brought under his sub- jection, and that they should follow his lead to the Rio Pecos, attack the Apaches and tear Winnie Warrington from the power of the savages. He well knew tbat such men would be greatly impressed in his favor, considering him their superior and worthy to command them. The cloud that screened the moon again fa- vored him greatly. He knew that these out- Jaws must have seen tbe escort and ambulance pass ahead of the stage, and the deep shadows would now prevent them from discovering the uniformed corpses among the river reeds. This reasoning fla:hing through his mind, Blackbird acted upon it with the most favor- able results to his plans. Naturally intelligent and cunning when not too much under the influence of stimulants, Blackbird, being also a iolerable judge of char- acter, decided upon immediate action toward bringing these men all under his command. He knew well that the way in which he could best impress them favorably toward him was by energetic and instantaneous action and by working upon their fears. With this view he allowed but a very sbort time for the passing of compliments. “Follow me,” he cried, ‘‘all who care to flock with the ‘Blackbirds!’ Come on, down the Concho for organization. We are in great danger here, for our shots may have been heard. Come on! It is time for ‘ Blackbirds’ to fly.” : The magnetism of the man was irresistible. All drove spurs without hesitation, following close after Captain Blackbird and his three comrades, Single-Eye, supporting Lionel Lacrosse, urged Skiplively on, across the great dog- town, toward the junction of the Colorado and Concho and the lone cabin in the wood, The rescued sufferer was still senseless. It was not easy traveling, and the old scout kept up a running string of talk to his horse as he stumbled over hummocks, seeking to avoid the dog-holes. The fates had decreed that those so strangely parted six months previous ov the Salado should again be brought together on this far-off border, amid scenes most terrible and torturing to both, only to be again separated under cir- cumstances more awfully agonizing. But the strangest part of all was that the Eomicboo ‘S , = (0) | | . | a