Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 239 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

“es ™ VU ® a et II ——— ——— ——" I I en - eo prayers of thankfulness were on their parched lips, dashed iri among the trees, only to be rudely torn from their horses by the mob of outlaws, who rushed from all sides upon them, Turtle, the Tonkaway, who was some paces in the rear, jerked his horse to a halt, his black eyes blazing with fury, and bis face filled with consternation. Had the earth opened and swallowed up bis friends, ke would not have been more astound- ed; but his thoughts flew like lightning. He was not one tbat was easily taken aback by sudden and unlooked-for events, and his planus were soon formed. The attention of Captain Blackbird was fixed upon bis fair captive; the deserters, and in fact all the others, being attracted toward the officer, None except the chief of the band knew of the Indian’s presence; and in an instant the latter had whirled his horse, and sbot out from the timber, down its edge, and into the dense shades again. Turtle bad at once realized that it would be madness for him to attempt to save his white friends; and the fact that the Apaches were coming madly on, gave him some hope of being vet able to rescue, a second time, the Soldier Chief and Winnie. He bad recognized the ‘‘ bad white men,” and recalliug their dastard deeds at the Colorado ford, was convinced that the captives were in quite as bad hands as they had been before. A glance showed the Tonkaway that the Apaches were now lashing their animals in a frantic manner. to reach the timber before their intended victims could make any great distance in the bottom, and secrete themselves, This pleased Turtle, for he felt positive that the ‘‘bad white men ” did not know of the ap- proach of the war-party. At once he decided that, if he could gain a position near the stream, to the west of the cawp uf the * Blackbirds,” when the rush of the Apacbes came from the east, he would have an opportunity of saving his friends. He resolved, at all events, to make the at- tempt, Urging his horse down the stream, and care- ful not to betray bis presence, the Tonkaway gained the position he aimed at, Neither Winnie nor her uncle made the slightest outcry when pulled from their horses, The former recognized Captain Blackbird as Bird Blackwell, and the officer knew the de- serters as such, Both saw that they had fallen into the bands of men as merciless as the Apaches; and hopeless now, they only prayed that they might be permitted to lie down and die. Blackbird saw that they could not escape, he therefore forbade his men binding them. He had also to protect Lieutenant Warrington from being killed by the deserters, assuring them that the officer would be a benefit to them alive, and no possible use when dead. Great was the exuitation of the outlaw chief. Fortune had, in this case, favored him greatly. He had no longer to invent an excuse to at- tack Lone Wolf’s war-party, and run the chances of being shot by some of his own men when they should realize that be had jeopar- dized their lives for a personal object. He now wished to start for the Rio Grande as soon as possible, for all that he had wished and longed for was in his hands. He had in his power the only maiden who had ever im- pressed bis callous heart, and in securing her he accomplished his most desired revenge upon Lionel Lacrosse, Sooner or later Lionel would find out that he was no longer believed to be the assassin of Captain Warrington. Then the young ranchero would return to Salado Creek, only to find that he, Blackbird, bad beaten him in the game at last—that Winnie was not waiting there for him, but had been captured by bandits on the Rio Concho and taken to Mexico! Yes, and Lionel sbould know who it was that had Winnie Warrington as a prize, This it was that had decided him to prevent Lieutenant Warrington from being killed by the deserters. He would let the officer go free presently, in order that the intelligence of his success might reach the ears of Lionel Lacrosse. With folded arms the bandit chief stood gaz- ing at the captives that had so unexpectedly fallen into his hands. The great beauty of the The Terrible Trio. 29 band, and for a time they all stood around in silence, soon, however, returning to their lunch and botitles, But to return to Turtle, the Tonkaway. Our red friend, as bas been said, gained a | position on the opposite side of the stream | from the camp of the outlaws, and silently dis- ee mounted. His intention was to crawl to some thicket on the bank, from whence be could view the camp, get the position of his white friends, and be ready for a rush to save the lat- ter when the Apaches should charge in from the east plain, His horse, he knew, would stand where he had left him, for he bad allowed the animal to drink, and it could crop the tall bottom-grass and rest from its terrible gallop without any inclination to gallop for some time to come. At tae very moment that Turtle was about to crawl toward the stream he was brought to his feet, and whirled about facing the west, by a peculiar signal. It sounded exactly like the warning of a rattlesnake-—in fact, it was pro- duced by one twirled rapidly on a horse-hair, The eyes of the Tonkaway showed plainly that the sound bad filled him with relief and joy. He had, by this time, torn the screen from his totem, and removed the Apuche war-stripes; standing in all the glory and war-paint of his people, his eagle-feathers being again thrust into his beaded fillet. He had done this previous to starting for the Rio Pecos with his white friends, saying to them at the time: “Turtle he get shot, mebhe so. Want sing death-song with Tonkaway paint on face. Have Apache paint, go bappy hunting-grounds of Apache when die. Turtle waut go to his fathers. Puton Tonkaway paint,” A moment after the signal, the voice that he expected struck his ears, in a hoarse half- whisper. ““Dog-gone my gran’marm’s forty-fust cousin’s ole black cat’s fust litter o’ kittens! Tonk’, whatin ther name o’ Davy Crockett air ther surprise-party yer hes gut ahead? Dang hit, whar in thunderation air Winnie an’ ther lootenant? I hes ’pended a heap on yer, Tonk’, an’ I sw’ar I hopes yer bain’t lost ther trail! “ How come yer hyer? Spit her out, er I'll go plum’ crazy, an’ make a spasmodic die of hit. Don't look thet-a-way, Lione!! I’d rutber yer’d shove yer bowie plum’ through my bestest biz- ness ’nattermy.” As the young planter recognized Turtle, he became almost ghastly in appearance; his lips moved, and a gurgling sound showed that be was endeavoriug to ask the same questions that the old scout had done. The Tonkaway spoke quickly, in a low tone; “Turtle say go on trail. Turtle did go on trail. Ride over Pecos. Ride so many wus- tangs ”’—holding up tbree fingers—‘‘Sceal borses. Kill Apache at Horse-Head Crossing. Ride fast down Pecos. ‘Lone Wolf he camp in mountains. Take Winnie. Take Soldier Chief. Lone Wolf, he ride fast to Horse-Head Crossing. Take war- riors. Yell heap. No catch Turtle. Turtle get Winnie, get Soldier Chief over Pecos. Up bigh bank. Hide in wood. Lone Wolf come back. No fiod trail. Heap mad. Turtle cross Pecos. Take Winnie, take Soldier Chief toward Concho, ‘* Lone Wolf go back crossing. Find Turtle trail. So many horses”—holding up tbree fingers. ‘‘See Turtle. See Winnie. See Soldier Chief, on plain- Ride fast. Come to Concho, “Bad white men in trees there ”"—pointing southeast. ‘‘Pull Winnie, pull Soldier Chief off mustang. Turtle ride quick up Concho. Then come in bush here. Want save Winnie, want save Soldier Chief when Apaches come. “‘Bad white men no see Apaches. Wait. Soon hear war-cry of Lone Wolf. He kill bad white men. Turtle, Single-Eye, Lionel, run over Concho, Get Winnie, get Soldier Chief, Then ride fast, Apache kill bad white men. Kill Blackbird Chief. Good. Turtle heap glad. What white brothers say? Turtle talk done,” Both Lionel and Single Eye grasped each a hand of the Tonkaway, their eyes speaking volumes of gratitude. _ Amazement, joy, and relief unbounded were in their faces; but, the next instant, all sprung toward the camp of the outlaws, for the blood- curdling Apache war-cry filled the air, and rung up and down the arched vistas of the _ Maiden seemed to bave impressed the entire ; Concho. : - Oa 4 Paty mH” - sw —— ee SS CHAPTER XXXL REUNION AND RETRIBUTION. Wir weapons in hand, all eager to save the long-suffering ones, the three men, the Tonka- way in the Jesad, sprung over the narrow stream to the opening in which the outlaw camp as situated. Crashing through the undergrowth, an ava- lancbe of hideous war-fainted braves, and wild- eyed, foaming, maddened mustangs, on came the Apaches in a terrible charge, Lone Wolf at their head, vone realizing, until right upon them, that there was an epcampment of whites in their front, At first glance the Apache chief knew it was no ambush, but that be bad surprised the whites as well as being himself surprised; hence the sounding war-cry and the crashing charge, ac- companied by a cloud of arrows, Captain Bleckbird, first of all, became aware of the approach of a large body of horsemen, and knew instinctively that his game was up; for he ielc positive that a detachment of troops was upon him, Resolved not to be balked when the prize he had striven at such fearful cost to gain was at length his own, be clasped the shuddering maiden in bis arms as the horrible Apache war- whoops again tortured. her ears— tbe signal of a fate far worse than death, a fate from which she bad but just. been suved by the Tonkaway! As the Apaches ebharged toward the camp, the outlaw chief, with Winnie in his arms, she limp and senseless frcm fright, despuir and hor- ror, sprung down the bank amid the trees, The golden hair of the young gir! flew wildly over ber shoulders, and tbis Lionel! Lacrosse saw and noticed. With far-reaching bounds be sprung in pursuit, his eyes lit up with a murderous fire, his muscles swelled, bis teeth set, and a long bowie gripped tightly in his right hand. Two or three Apaches barred bis way and etrove to urge their steeds upon him; but on like a resistless whirlwind he went, bounding upward and grasping the red warriors in a vise- like grip, cleaving them open with his bowie avd hurling them aside like chaff, Thus on in pursuit of his bated foe, whose life-blood ke bad. sworn must be shed by himself alone, On through bush and reeds, tho golden hair of his darling his only guide, went Lionel La- crosse, . But Bird Blackwell gained his horse, mount- ed, and was off upon the plain in a moment’s time. “Oh, my God! horse!” Thus shrieked Lionel, and, ere the last word had left his lips, loud, clear and silvery, above whoops and yells, rung the bugle sounding the charge! Back toward the scene of the fight, in frenzied fury, rushed Lionel, dasbing tbrovgh the thicket to bis own black steed, upon which be sprung and spurred for life on the return, A horse! My life for a —. Through the bottom be shot as fast as his — jaded horse could run, when, right in his path, he sees a riderless cavalry horse, comparatively fresh and full of fire and the frenzy born of battle scenes and sounds, He gives one torturing dash of his spurs that draws a groan from bis noble black, as well as from himself; but life and death are trembling in the balance—ay, and far more. The black steed plunged forward to the cay- alry horse, The Jatter, headed off by a dense and thorny thicket, swerved aside; and, with one foot suddenly raised upon the saddle, Lionel gave a bound in the air and came down upon the cavalry borse, Gathering the reins, he drives spurs and shoots out from the timber upon the oyen plain; and, but two rifle-shots away, be discovers Bird Blackwell, striving to urge bis fagged horse toward the Rio Pecos. On flies Lionel. He knows—he knew at a glance—that Win- nie Warrington could be saved. The labored gait of the outlaw’s horse told him this; and on he flies, while to his right sound the rattle of revolvers, war-whoops, yells of agony, shrieks of despair, and rallying- cries. Little cares the young ranchero for these. His eyes are fixed upon that golden bair— more golden now, from the last red.rays of the declining sun shimmering through its meshes as the wavy masses fly free in the prairie air. And on, in the rear of Lionel, comes Single- Eye, He is mounted, as a matter of course, upon Skip-lively; the animal, affrighted at the bed- _ (G s) Col ‘comicboo —. a ee