Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 239 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 oe ee ew of them for many weeks previous to the tragic occurrences on Salado Creek. The pain of bis wounds, however, as Sipvgle- Eye began to dress them, caused the near past to be pictured to bis mind in all its terrible details; and he sprung to a sitting posture, the agony produced by this sudden movement forcing a deep groan from him. ‘‘Don’t yer go ter git worrited, pard,” said Single-Eye; ‘‘ ther ole man air hyer, an’ Tonk’ air clost by, ready ter cut, slash an’ carve auy galoots what shows thar physogs through ther bush; though I doesn’t reckon thet air what’s goin’ ag’in’ ther grain wi’ yer.” The look of anguish that was stamped upon the face of Lionel caused the scout to cease speaking, and even the Tonkaway caught up his knife and revolver, as if eager to avenge the fearful wrongs of his young white friend. “Oh, God in Heaven, protect her—protect my darling! Single-Eye, Turtle, I would thank you—but leave me! Leave me, for mercy’s sake, aud follow the trail of Lone Wolf! ‘Lieutenant Warrington and Winnie— Winnie, golden-haired Winnie, who has suffered so terribly—both are captured by the Apaches! ‘*A worse doom than death hangs over my darling. Follow, pards, if you bave any regard for me, for Winnie, for right, and justice, and mercy—follow Lone Wolf!” With these words springing from his lips, so eracked and quivering, the young ranchero bounded to bis feet, pushing the old scout aside for a moment, and again burst forth wildly: “Down, demons of the dog-town! Tl erush your very bones witbin my grasp. Winnie, darling, I come to save you—I, Lionel!” With this mad cry, his strong form reeled, and he fell backward into the arms of the Tonkaway. “White brother heap bad in head,” said Turtle, as he laid the young man tenderly upon the blankets. ‘‘Sun shine hot when tie in dog- town. Soon be on war-path. Turtle he go now. Take Lone Wolf's scalp.” ‘‘Wa-al, dang my ole heart, ef this ain’t a purty perdickerment fer me an’ Skip-lively ter be cotched inter! Reckon we'll he gobbled, but no matter. Git, Tonk’, an’ do yer bestest. I'll fotch Lionel ’roun’ afore night, an’ we’ll skute toward ther Pecos, es soon es I kin confister- cate a critter fer ther boy, from ther Biack- birds.” The Tenkaway gave one earnest glance at the death-like face of Lionel, pressed the hand of the old scout to his breast, and then, in the long, peculiar strides of his people, hastened from the “open,” his eagle-feathers flaunting a moment over the thicket, and then disappear- ing from view. The gaze of Single-Eye was fixed upon the Indian, as the latter disappeared; then the old scout muttered; ‘‘ Hit’s plasterin’ hit a leetle too thick onter us—a leetle too thick ter stay on a pilgrim’s stumjacket!” CHAPTER XXIII. CONSTERNATION IN THE CAMP. TuaTLe, the Tonkaway, bad not been gone five minutes, when Single-Eye, bis lone optic rolling strangely, and darting impatient glan- ces from Lionel to the open entrance, thence toward the river, and in the direction of Skip- lively, soon had his ears regaled with the bac- chanalian sounds that reached him from beyond the Colorado, toward the cabin of the ‘ Black- birds.” It would have been evident to any observer, that the old scout was in a most unenviable position, somewhat bewildered, and exceedingly irritated at the condition of affairs; but his words, as he soliloquized, will explain the state of his mind. “Dang my great gran’mother’s ole black tom cat! Which I wish ter thunderation I hed now, fer they used ter say be war ther yery Oie Nick on cotchin’ blackbirds—-ther condemned kiotes, over ther drink, makes me es narvyous an’ oneasy es a ole hen with a long-standin’ case 0’ reg’lar chokin’ pip. “‘ Hyer I bees, in a mighty pervokin’ pickle, an’ a hefty crap o’ ha’r scattered loose ‘tween tber Concho an’ ther Pecos, an’ no show fer me ter skin a bead; an’ ther Tonk’ air jist glidin’ towards whar tuar’s a heap o’ fun in ther slashin’ line, plum erlone! “ Hyer I bees, ole Single-Eye, an’ ther r’arin’, t’arin’, scarifyiu’ Paches hes gut leetle Winnie, The Terrible Trio. she thet alfers hed a sweet smile an’ a kind word fer ther ole man an Skip, an’ air a-totin’ her ter tortur’. ‘**T sw’ar, I shall go plum offen ther handle! V’ll chaw my own head off wi’ pure byderpbo- bic indig’, I’m dead sure I shill, if Lionel doesn’t come back ter Texas, an’ reg’lar brain an’ mus- cle biz soon. ‘“‘T must git him a critter anyway, ef I hes ter skin through a ormighty tight place ter do hit. I’ve gut ter do somethin’ desp’rit er bu’st, that’s sartin! ‘* Dang’d ef I wouldn’t jist es lieve make a run on Skip, right through ther cut-throat ‘ Blackbirds,’ what’s b’ilin’ over now with ter- rantaler juice, an’ send a few on ’em ter king- dom come! “T’ve gut a awful strong appertite ter blow up ther hull caboodle. What—” Here, the old scout scratched bis head, and gave a low whistle to himself, as if suddenly impressd with a grand idea, his eye flashing, as he continued— ‘‘ Wa-al, I reckon ther ole man ain’t quite so slouchy when he ’gins ter work his thinkin’ mersheen. I *’members a thing er two now, an’ ef I doesn’t play roots on ther ‘bad white men,’ as Tonk’, calls ’em, I’m a howlin’ liar by ther north star! , ‘ll pour a hull bottle o’ brandy down Lio- nel’s throat ef thet ’ll gi’n him vim enough ter glide a leetle furder up ther river. Then Til bump myself ter confistercate a critter an’ start a young Fo’th o’ July down yunder. They hes bin a-yellin’ fer notbin’ ’bout long enough; an’ !’ll bu’st up house-keepin’ fer ’em er git bu’sted a-'ryin’, ‘‘Ther ole man can’t lay ’roun’ when thar’s any openiun’ fer fust-class fun—not much!” With this conclusion, Single-Eye, with basty movement, again caught up a brandy-bottle, and raising Lionel’s head, adminstered a quan- tity of the liquor, also pouring some over his forehead and temples; which resulted in the young ranchero opening his eyes, this time, much to the joy of the old scout, appearing more natural. *‘ Lionel, old pard,” said the latter, in a low voice, “thar’s ther devil to pay an’ no pitch hot. But I’m a-goin’ to start a circus an’ skupe in a nag fer yer. “Does yer spose yer kin climb Skip an’ skute up crick wi’ me a little furder? Thar’s somethin’ gut ter be did purty speedy, er leetle Winnis an’ ther lootenant ll be tuck whar we uns ’ll hev no show ter sa’erwate ther red bellyuns, “Turtle has levanted Pecos-way; but he can’t be ’spected ter clean out ther hull ’Pache nation all erlone. What d’yer say?’ ‘‘T feel better, Single-Eye, and I am tor- tured most terribly by this forced waiting and suspense. I believe I can, by supporting my- self over the saddle and walking by Skip’s side, gain a more secure hiding-place. I do hope and pray that to-morrow’s sun will find me much better, for I shall go in pursuit of the Apaches, and the red demons shall find that they cannot take Winnie or her uncle toward the mountains beyond the Pecos, ‘‘Great Heavens! Just consider it, old friend —consider the scene! Those painted dev- ils, with hideous yells, dancing around that an- gelic girl at the torture-stake! I cannot bear the thought of it! ‘‘Tt burns into my brain and causes me to waver on the brink of insanity! Oh, for a part at least of my old strength! I have suf- fered more than any words can describe. ‘Single Eye, I know that Heaven sent you to save me, and I have faith to believe that Turtle may trail those fiends to the Pecos, I know that he is to be depended upon, and that he will, if Winnie still lives, risk his life to save her, ‘Do not fora moment think of endanger- ing yours among those outlaws. Too much de- pends upon you now to attempt any movement teward revenge on Blackbird. Besides, he be- longs to me. ‘* He must die by my hand! I will have re- venge for all the danger and disgrace and mis- ery that he has heaped upon my head and all the grief and anguish he has caused Winnie Warrington! ‘“‘1f you can get mea horse, without danger to yourself, do so; for I shall go mad if I do not soon get on the trail. That brandy has given me strength. It may brace me sufficient for the work ahead.” “Dang my cats!” exclaimed the old scout, with extreme relief and joy, ‘I didn’t ’spect met = 4 = - cuanas I sh’u’d hear ger sling thet much gab fer many a day, Lionel; an’ I'm mighty full o’ glad ter see yer ’pear so peart. “Take a snifter o’ brandy, an’ we'll glide furder up ther drink. I'll pack ther tricks on my back, an’ ’tween me an’ Skip, I reckon yer kin manage to meander slightually.” As he spoke, Single-Eye strode out from the opening, soon returning with Skip-lively to the entrance of the same, when he assisted Lionel to the side of the intelligent horse; the animal seeming to recognize the young ran- chero, as he rubbed his head affectionately against his shoulder. The old scout now came up with the plun- der in the blankets, and carrying the same over his shoulder with one band, walked by the side of Lionel, partly supporting the latter, who leaned upon Skip-lively, his arm over the sad- dle—all going slowly up-stream, the horse ap- pearing to understand that the young ranchero needed his support. Thus, for half a mile, they proceeded; then, in a horse-shoe bend in the stream, where the undergrowth was dense, Single-Eye espied a suitable ‘‘open,” secure from observation. Here, he again spread the blankets, Lionel re- clining upon them as before. Laying rags, saturated with brandy, upon the wounds of his patient, and covering him with one of the blankets, the scout removed saddle and bridle from Skip-lively, lariating the horse to a bush. Teen, bidding Lionel compose himself, he stole away on the back trail toward their former position; each step in the direction of the bandit retreat increasing the furious thirst for revenge that ruled him. In a very short time Single-Eye was in the undergrowth, on the north bank of the Colo- rado, and directly across from the cabin of the “Blackbirds.” These worthies, having been deprived of sleep for some time, and their brains being bv numbed by continuous drinking, were now evidently reposing; for no sound could the old scout hear from his position. Securing his revolvers to the back of his head, Single Eye sunk into the dark waters, and swam slowly and silently across the river, crawling up the bank into the dense thickets, tbrough which he made his way, stealthbily as a panther, Peeping through the foliage at a convenient position, be discovered the bandits, all lying upon the sward opposite the cabin, apparently all asleep; a chorus of snores giving good grounds for the supposition. Again securing bis belt of weapons aroun: his waist, he made his way to the rear of the cabin, at a point where ,wben he was within the same, he had observed several kegs of pow- der closely packed against some Mexic:n blankets. Upon reaching the rear of the cabin, secure- ly concealed in some bushes that grew close up to the walls of the building, the old scout drew his bowie, and dug away the earth beneath the foundation log, until he bad made a hole, through which he could thrust his band and arm, and touch the blankets. This done, be struck a light, thrust a quan- tity of dried grass that he had procured for the purpose entirely through the hole, and igniting the same, hastily crawled back on the same trail that he had come, until he reached the river. Then, he proveeded up tbe bank, until he knew that his movements would not be heard by the outlaws, ' He then sprung erect, and ran as fast as he could toward the grass-grown sjace between the dog-town and the timber, where he knew that the horses of the bandits must be grazing. In this he was not mistaken. Selecting two of the best animals, one of which was the blooded horse of Captain Blackbird, Single- Eye hastened again to the river, sprung upon one of the beasts and forded. Then, daringly, he galloped down-stream to the very point at which he had recently crossed for the purpose of firing the cabin, He had been absert but a short time, but he had expected to haye heard an explosion be- fore he could return, and he began to fear that the grass had burnéd without igniting the blankets. However, as he sat one of the horses, hold- ing the other by the neck-rope, he could plainly see a light through the loop-holes on the north end of the cabin. “ Dang ther cat’s kittens what my ole kali- ker-kivered gran’marm used ter cuddle in her cet a te a A A til a NIiGDoOO (E ‘Ss (0) w eae