Beadle's Dime Library No. 309 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

_-— from bis sister—his only hope, if indeed there was auy hope for poor Pearl. But the first sound that broke the silence came from an unexpected quarter, namely from the east side of the timber-cove; sounds also, which proved that otker enemies of the Comanches were in the vicinity—and, if enemies to these fiends, friends, of course, to himself. But these sounds were horrible. At first, a far-sounding and blood-curdling death-yell, which was followed by a loud, clear, and singularly intonated whoop of war; an ex- ultation evidently, and Paul remembered hear- ing Rattler givethatsame war-whoop. Yet, he knew well that the young ranger was not on the east side of the timber-cove; nor could he get there, without being discovered by the savages, unless by making a wide detour in the direction of the ford. The youth noticed that this whoop caused the greatest excitement among the Comanches; some of them seeming to be perfectly frantic with rage, especially their chief, who stalked back and forth, like a caged beast, But a moment or two elapsed after the whoop from the east, when a horrible death-yell sound- ed from the west; and, close following this, came another. Then, from the eastward, again sounded that strange whoop, in vengeful and triumphant in- tonation—a death-yell, from the same point pre- ceding it. Thus it went on, until Paul had counted six death-yells; then all became silent in the wood, except that the Comanches beat their shields with their fists, in their frantic rage, and thrust their lances at imaginary enemies, lt was while the youth gazed at the extrava- hie manifestations of rage among the red ends below, that there came the sound ofa great mass of galloping animals; and, up from the ford, over the same track that they had trampled when alarmed at the fight—all foam- covered, panting, and snortiog with terror— dashed the mules and extra horses and other stock of Colonel Pemberton, urged on by the half-dozen braves who had, when first starting on thei: mission, captured poor Pearl, and then returned, and sped up the gulch, Instantly the Comanches placed themselves before the circle of the slain and the captives, and, with wild yells, and pounding of shields, divided the stampede—one stream going to the right, the other to the left, and thence out upon the south plain; as so completely fagged were the beasts tbat they would soon stop and rest, and could then be easily collected, The braves, who arrived witn the animals, removed their saddles, and secured their mus- tangs to bushes at the border of the thickets. They then joined their comrades; and, it was at this moment, when all were staring at the new-comers, that, down into tbe midst of the warriors, dashing one to the earth with a crushed skull, fell two more of the scalps with ear attachments, and each secured to a stone nearly the size of a cocoanut. The scouts, who had been sent out after Old | Rocky and the mysterious slayer, had not re- turned, but the scalps and an ear of each of them had. A perfect Gebenna of frantic rage reigned in each painted breast at this new disaster, and the most fearful yells filled the air, ringing through the timber arches, and dying away in fur-off weird echoes, Next, a crashing of bushes sounded to the east, and out darted from the bordering thick- ets on that side, a maddened mustang, upon the back of which—heads and feet banging low on each side of the animal—were bound two scalp- less Indians, each with the eyes dug out, and their cheeks and brows showing three parallel gashes with a knife! Before the dumfounded and infuriated Co- manches could more than realize this fresh hor- ror, another horse with a corpse upon its back —it, too, mutilated in the same manner—sbot into the camp, as once again that singularly in- tonated war-whoop burst forth, this time quite near the camp! Had one been at the point in the timber from which sounded the whoop, he would have seen an Indian of most commanding uppearance, tall in stature, and straight as a lance shaft, having a face which, but for the disfiguring stripes of war, must have been handsome, The features of this brave were regular—very much so, for one of bis race—his forehead was bigh and his form like that of an Apollo, while his movements were as graceful and as quick as those of a panther, and fully as lithe and sin- ewy. uly buckskin leggins and moccasins hamper- ed bis lightning-like movements. A _ beaded fillet, into which were thrust three eagle-feath- ers, was upon his head, and partly held in place a profusion of lang black hair, glossy as a raven’s wing. This reached below his belt be- hind, and waved heavily with his every mo- tion. A beaded belt sustained a Colt’s revolver and a long scalping-knife, while in his hand he held Sbarpe’s carbine and three fresh scalps, | III Raybold, the Rattling Ranger. tation of a turtle, the same having its head and | paws extended in seeming energetic action. After sending out his exultant and taunting war-whoop, to indicate beyond doubt to the Comanches his position, he darted toward the river, winding here and there witb great rapid- ity, and without making the faintest noise among the limbs and bushes. At times he bent nearly to the earth or bounded high in the air to avoid obstructions. But bardly had the whoop of this strange Indian died away—he being none other than | Turtle, the Tonkaway, the well-known red pard of Old Rocky, Rattler, and other rangers and scouts—when vengeful yells of frantic rage rung from every Comanche throat, and then one single piercing signal caused every tongue to be instantly silent. All gazed in wonder at him who had given that signal, and saw him as he there stood, his lance pointed in a significant manner toward the border of the timber, on the northwest cor- ner of the cove. They were all thunderstruck, and with good reason. A more unexpected, peculiar, and horrible sight could not have been presented to the dumfounded Comanches, who even passed b the war-whoop of the Tonkaway as they gazed, spellbound, upon this latest horror. ——o— CHAPTER XXII. THE END OF BLACK FOX, Every warrior in the Comanche camp stood spellbound, but instantly after followed, with their gaze, the direction of their chief, who stood, as if struck with superstitious awe, point- ing bis long lance toward the northwest portion of the timber-cove; in other words, toward the ford, and to the left of the wide trampled track. of the terrific stampede. In exactly the same position they happened to be at that instant when the crowning catas- trophe suddenly threatened them, all standing in amazement and fear. . The advent of the stone-laden scalps, by which two of the braves had been killed—al- though all knew that these had preceeded, or had been hurled, in some strange manner, by their most dreaded foe, the old scout—had greatly impressed them, and, to a certain extent, superstitiously; for it was considered very ‘‘bad medicine” for a brave to be slain when in the circle, while the medicine-pipe was ignited and being smoked, In such a case, the mind of that warrior was supposed to be communing with the spirits of the dead before them, to learn their wishes, It must be borne in mind that, a’though the scalps had all been returned, as well as the ears, still, who could tell upon what heads the same belonged? Scaips and ears, as far as the bloody trophies would go, were laid upon the paint-daubed breasts; and, during the smoking of the medi- cine-pipe, some slight demonstration, in the way of whisperings from the spirits of the slain, who were hovering overhead, was ex- pected, as to their pleasure or dissatisfaction, in connection with the disposal of the aforesaid natural head-gear. For this reason, the whizzing of the loaded scalps bad not only disturbed the spirits in the air, but had caused the death of one of their number, while the pipe was still going round. All this, they felt, was ominous of disaster; and disaster soon followed, for the scouts that had been sent out bad all given their death-yells, and the scalp of one of them had returned and crushed in, with the stone it brought, the skull of another, Not only so, but the war-ery of one of their most dreaded and detested foes, one who affili- ated with the whites—a Tonkaway—had tor- tured their ears; while he who sounded this taunting and vengeful whoop had slain half of the last party of scouts that had been sent out after Old Rocky. Big Foot knew all these things, and the disas- ters and death that had marked the capture of the train would serve to demoralize his war- riors, be himself not being free from the super- stition that caused all to believe it was ‘‘ bad medicine ” for them on the San Saba. Could they have taken a look into their old camp up the river, they would have been more decided in this gloomy belief. But to return to the latest wonder. That which all eyes now became fixed upon was evidently a human being, but no more re- dopa lon and hideous sight in connection with the uman form could well be imagined. An Indian he certainly was, for his skin—the little that was to be seen of it—was red, the re- mainder of his person being munch more so, In fact, this nondescript was covered with gore from head to foot, but shreds of buckskin were left, showing that he had worn leggins and moccasins, A terrible and gaping gash was upon his breast just below the collar-bone, which was oozing blood, and he was scratched, torn and bruised in every limb. Only once was his face to be seen. This was when the single brave bad Upon the broad breast of this brave, done in | uttered his signal to draw the attention of his different colored pigments was the accurate imi- | fellow-warriors, OOO eg . One glance be had taken ahead, ae if to be sure that he saw in reality the Mecca he te Bo camp of bistribe. Then his head sunk, his long hair, all matted with gore and dirt, dragged over the prairie flowers and grass: as he crawled along. But the most singular thing about this most revolting-looking being was upon his head, and resting upon the back of the same, This was nobing less than a fine sombrero—a wide-brimmed, soft felt bat of black, the band being the stuffed skin of a rattlesnake, its eyes being represented by jewels, and its mouth prepared in a natural manner with red, a tongue darting out, and the fangs not wanting. It wasthe sombrero of Rattler, the Ranger, wees he had lost in the cave in his desperate ght. And the wearer—the crawling, miserable, half-dead human—was, as tbe reader will havo no doubt decided, Black Fox! Tenaciously clinging to life, bringing all tho. fortitude and strength of will of bis race to bear him up, the wretched Indian bad resolved that be would not die until be bad reported the mas- sacre of bis braves to bis chief, and revealed to him the fact that Rattler, the Ranger, was in the vicinity, and that it was he who, singly and alone, had slain the youny braves, only bimself being left. He felt it was an honor to die by the knife of such a great white chief, His brother braves sbould know this, He would tell them the white squaw was im the cavern over tbe river, and that Rattler lay there dead—killed by bis hand. After meeting with Old Rocky, and bearing the war-cries of Big Foot’s braves, and after this the explosion, Black Fox bad crawled back to the cave in search of the young ranger, to again make the attempt to scalp him; but bis weakened mind caused him to think be had for- gotten the exact place at which be bad left the Texan’s body. However, while groping about in the dark- ness, be found the young man’s sombrero, This was the nearest thing to the scalp of his: enemy. Jt was proof, convincing proof of the story he had to tell. He could now sing his entered 3 where the ears of great warriors would drink in bis words. He now made his way, tumbling, rolling and crawling, down the ehff side, and over a log below the ford which stretched across the river —a journey of death; for death he felt, and fought back at every yard be passed over, But it was soon over, At last, before him, be saw that which he bad boped for, and fought death to see—the assembled braves of his tribe, victorious in the camp of the enemy! Could be sing of the tortures of bis journey,. long would be his death-song, but this would matter less than nothing to his people; this must. be hidden, although bis appearance spoke louder than words of the sufferings he bad undergone. Nearer and nearer he came; but more slowly bis eyes bent upon the sward, and bis head drooping. Black Fox approached the dumfounded war- party, who all gazed in the utmost wonder, Suddenly Big Foot strode forward to meet the startling ne ee The chief had his suspicions, The hat explained the killing of the braves in the gulch, none of whom had been scalped, or deprived of an ear. «fore reaching the miserable wretch the Comanche leader recognized him, and strode still faster, until by bis side; then stooping, be raised Black Fox to his feet, sustaining him in that position, Slowly and “pte the wounded brave raised his head, turning bis dim eyes upon the face of the chief, when the poor wretch at once brightened, and strove to stand alone. Then jerking bis scalping-knife, which he bad regain- ed, he circled the blade over bis bead, as, gather- ing all bis strength, be shot out the war-cry of his tribe. This exertion caused a spurt of blood from the wound in bis breast. A wild yell of admiration rung from the war- arty—the sweetest music, to Black Fox, that e could hear. He had been assisted to his feet by his chief, Big Foot. The assembled warriors bad witnessed the act, and had welcomed him with a yell of honor. This was more than Black Fox had hoped for;. or dreamed of. It was too much for H poor wretch in his weak and forlorn condition, and’ he would have fallen to the earth, had not Big: Foot clutched him again. The chief now made a gesture, Two braves stepped forward, and carried’ Black Fox to a central position, opposite the captives, and opposite the still drooping form of © poor Pearl Pemberton. There they set bim on the sward, and propped him up with folded blankets, in a sitting pos- ture, © Although much weaker, and ready to fall, the eyes of the young brave were open, bis aze becoming fastened upon the maiden im ront of bim, who was secured to the scalp- pole. (E(0) JOOKS AMULUCE (E(0)| ji