Beadle's Dime Library No. 309 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

— ao ing a dash into it, by the track of the stampede —there stocd a horseman, three eagle-feathers flaunting above his proudly poised head. He was mounted upon a magnificent black horse, an animal of great beauty, symmetry, and marked for speed and endurance; besides being full of fire, and vim, and electric motion, as the toss of head, flush of eye, and impatient prancing, fully proved. Long mane, and tail wavy aud inky black, a thick and wavy forelock, out from the meshes of which flashed the fiery eyes—such was the steed, and a most befitting one, of Turtle, the Tonkaway chief. A veritable bronze prince of the plains was this Tonkaway; and, together, man and mus- tang made up a picture, which was at once grand, artistic, and imposing. Notwithstanding the prancing of his horse, and Turtle’s evident watchfulness of the stam- pede track, he noticed that a branch had moved slightly, in the undergrowth. This signal had been made purposely bY the old scout, and im- mediately a low, bird-like whistle floated from his lips, to be pelt answered by the sharp and snarling bark of a coyote; much in the way that animal would manifest displeasure, upon being interfered with during a feast, when half famished. The next moment, the Turtle sprung to the earth, and Old Rocky darted from the under- growth; the knife of the Indian hissing through the air, to be buried, hilt-deep, in the sward be- tween himself and the old scout. This, on the plains, was a token of peace, At the same time, the Tonkaway chief step- ped forward, and grasped the hand of his white ard, placing the same upon his painted breast, in token of brotherhood. The old scout imitat- ed the action, as he said, with deep feeling: a Dog my cats, Tonk, ef jist et this hyer per- tic’lar ’easion, I hedn’t ruther friz my peepers onter yeour purty pictur’, than ary other slam- up, straight an’ squar’? human outer this hyer big ball o’ dirt! ‘‘Dang’d ef I don’t believe yer war ’speshly sent ter help this hyer ole raw: hide ripper outer a tight scrape. Ther Ole Boy’s ter pay, on ther San Saba, an’ no pitch hot. ‘Sides thet, we’uns can’t pitch inter ther condemned skunks, with- out thar gittin’ ther bestest of us, by makin’ mince-meat of ther purtiest piece o’ female human natur’ what ever wored caliker. ‘* Whar, in thunderation an’ dangnation, did yer drap down from, Tonk?” ‘‘ Heap talk on war-path,” returned Turtle with something of reproof in his voice an manner. ‘' Talk good for squaws. Squaws no good on San Saba. Why old white chief bring young squaw with fair face? Turtle find trail of wheel-lodges. See trail Old Rocky’s horse. Think come. Have come, Turtle here, It is ood,” ‘*Dang me,ef bit ain’t good! Ther old cur- nil war acussid fool ter fotch ther leetle gal, an’ I tole him so, but hit warn't no good, ‘*Mought es well buck ag’in’ ther ’Chanted Rock, es argerfy wi’ ther ole cuss. Shake ag’in, an’ gi’n me a hist ’cross ther drink, [ll gin yer a leetle ha’r picnic, in bout three skips of a slow mule. “Come on, Tonk! We-uns hain’t gut no time ter squander. Es yer allers asserwates, heap talk no good on war-path,” Accustomed to be guided hy the old scout, whenever in the company of the latter, the Tonkaway remounted, with the grace of a courtier, and Old Rocky sprung up bebind him. In five minutes more, the black steed of the Indian was secreted in a thicket, and the white and red pards were climbing the cliffs, but keeping their forms concealed from the view of any who might be below them. * bee they arrived at the bowlder, and in a few moments had found the cave; Old Rocky having been told by Rattler, the locality of the same, Well did the old scout know that they bad no easy task before them; but, he was determined that no one who eame in search of the supposed dead ranger, to secure the scalp, should return tothe camp. He knew not what number would be sent: but, from the moment that Black Fox had crawled into the timber-cove with the sombrero of Rattler upon his head, Old Rocky was confident that Big Foot would immediately send a party of braves to bring in the trophy, if not the body as well, of the hated and long- feared ranger, who had slain so many of his warriors. ‘““Ther condemned coyotes ’ll be here purty soon, I reckon, Tonk; an’ we-uns must saler- wate ther bull lay-out. Yer tuck three on ’em outen ther wet, what I ’ticed inter ther timber, an’ I war chuck-full o’ glad, ter bear yer ole familiar yelp. ‘‘ Rattler laid out some consider’ble on ’em et ther gules an’ hyer et ther cave but they kim nigh gittin’ ther best on him. I’ve tuck a urty hefty crap o’ ha’r an’ years, but I sent hem all in ter Big Foot, by ther way o’ keards, ter let bim know I'm ’roun’, an’ up ter biz. ‘* How’ll we ’range things? ight up ther cave, lay outside, an’ then corral ’em when ' they skutes in—air thet ther p’ogramme?” “No, See light. Know enemy in cave, Raybold, the Rattling Best bring dead braves out, Lay on rock, there—Old Roeky lay behind rock here, Turtle with hin. ‘*Comanche come see braves. Go there, Can’t go far. Heap big jumpinriver. Heap jump off shelf, in deep bole. Old Rocky crawl out then, Turtle too. Comanche corraled,. Plenty moon on shelf. Dark in cave. No good fight. See!” ‘*Dang my dorgs and cuss my cats, ef thet bein’t ther game! Ye’re right all through, Tonk. Yer kin bet we’ll play hit, an’ ter win.” Without further delay both sprung into the cave, struck a light, ignited a torch, and then carried the blood-smeared ccrpses of the three braves whom .Rattler had killed out to and along the shelf of rock, to within ten feet of the eer from which the young ranger had made is daring leap into the San Saba, to save Pearl Pemberton from drowning. This done, the torch was ¢xtinguished, and then burled down into the deep chasm, of which the shelf formed the top. Then the two men crouched amid the rough rocks above the shelf, some thirty yards from the corpses of the slain; Old Rocky having, as usual, scalped and severed the ear of one, the Tonkaway taking the remaining two, and also leaving bis mark, : The Comanches would not know, until the slain were ‘examined, that they had been out- witted—that their visit had been anticipated, their most dreaded foes being, doubtless, ready to spring upon them. Let them but once pass the covert of our friends, and the savages would be effectually ‘‘corraled,” as the perpendicular cliff arose to their left, proceeding toward the slain, while to their right was a tremendous chasm of great depth, and beyond the dead bodies was the steep cliff, sheer down to the pee from which Rattler had made his desper- ate leap. Old Roek y and Turtle listened intently. They could hear the howls of the death-dance in Big Foot’s camp beyond the river. Soon they detected the scraping of moccasins and the rattle of trinkets, as the scalp-hunters came along the shelf to their death; although the careless way in which they advanced proved that they had no idea foes were awaiting them among the cliffs. They undoubtedly believed Old Rocky and the Tonkaway to be over the river. It would have been unreasonable for them’ to have supposed otherwise. The trail of Black Fox—a trail of blood—was plainly to be seen in the bright moonlight, and they reached the point where the rocky way allowed footing up to the cave. Every step of the way was Hlueetamsaned; where Black Fox had crawled beck and forth. Both Old Rocky and Turtle could see that six fully-armed braves were to be vanquished by them, but they were none the less eager to open the ball. Already the Comanches were about to mount to the cave, when the ‘‘Ugh!” of one who pointed his lance along the shelf to- ward the river, caused the entire party to halt. Ejaculations of surprise and suspicion follow- ed. All serutinized their surroundings with keen gaze, and then, as they saw no indications of en- emies, they proceeded toward their dead. The moment they reached the slain, fierce and vengeful yells shot from their throats. But, at that instant the yells of the hindermost two were changed to death-howls, as the knives of Old Rocky and Turtle were plunged buckhorn- deep into their backs, while the war-cry of the Tonkaway sounded in their very ears. Never were braves more .dumfounded, or placed at a greater disadvantage. Their lances as well as their bows were useless, These, how- ever, they hurled into the chasm, jerked their knives, and the four remaining braves, standing with their backs to the steep cliff, faced their dreaded foes. There could be no retreat, Death was behind, to their right, and in front of them, ° But not an instant of time did our friends give the quartette to prepare, otherwise than to cast away their lances. Both Turtle and the old scout threw their first victims aside, and stir pa ae panthers, the war-spirit of both to the front, and both boiling over with a hatred and fierce longing for vengeance upon their foes that bordered upon insanity. In short, they were irresistible. Steel clash continuously, sparks flew, and blood spurted, the red and white pards crowd- ing their foes to the very brink of the steep, ho desperately they struggled for their Old Rocky gave a peculiar signal, and on the instant both he and Turtle sprung backward, each clutching one of the just slain braves by the belt 2nd bair; and through the air these bodies shot, striking with terrible force in the faces of the next two who approached, At the same moment the Tonkaway chief and the old scout darted forward, and buried their knives in the breasts of these two bewildered braves, who, with borrible yells, sprung back- ward, forcing the two in the rear over the steep; and living, dead and dying all shot down Ranger. | 21 in a mingled, whirling mass, tearing along upon the jagged rocks, and striking the water with fatal force and spatter as they went down into the depths! ‘* Dang my dorgs, an’ cuss my canterlopes, ef thet warn’t a slick an’ neat job, Tonk!” cried Old Rocky, as be panted with exertion; ‘‘ but I'm sick es a cat—sick enough ter puke up my knee-pans! ‘Cos Why—they’re on ther second round o’ ther déeath-dance, an’ they’ll be a-tor- turin’ ther captives, I’m ’fear'd. **Come on, Tonk, an’ Jet’s skip lively!” CHAPTER XXYV. FRESH TROUBLE IN THE CAMP. WE left the young ranger and Paul when the latter portion of the death-dance was in pro- gress, This consisted of the pantomimic appeals: of the circling braves to the dead, to draw the attention of the latter, and then the mimic slay- ing of their enemies and the captives out of re- venge for the death of, those who were now lying silent an‘ stiff before them. The spirits of the scalped, who were supposed to be hovering overhead, were also, by compre- hensive signs and gestures, called upon to witness. the ceremony, which was promised to be but a preliminary of what all vowed, by the medicine- pipe, should soon follow—that is, the killing of the hated whites, who had dared disgrace Co- manche braves by scalping; thus hindering them on the ‘“‘long dark trai).” Perhaps, in- deed, it might even bar them from the gates of the great happy valley beyond the moon, where all who had fallen in battle were supposed to: wander forever; where the grags is ever green, the rivers ever flow, game is plentiful, and the horses are fleet as the wind, Most infernal was the latter portion of the dance, as the braves whirled and bounded in the air, with fast circling knives, in imaginary con- flict with unseen foes; their whoops and yells of derision, vengennce and victory being simply frightful, It was durivg this most devilish dance, that slowly arose the head of the wretched captive girl, her eyes wide open, fixed and staring; but without appearing to see any of the awful sights before—without appearing to hear the pande- monium of whoops and yells. Both the Rattler and Paul uttered groans of excruciating anguish. Soon the maiden stood erect, the back of her head being firm against the scalp pole, her long hair banging over, and vailing her shoulders and arms from view, and framing ber pale but beautiful face, Not a sign of the horror and terror that the scene was calculated to cause was manifested in her face or glance. Her eyes were fastened, in a meaningless stare, directly upon the face of the Comanche chief. It was plainly evident to her brother and the young ranger that poor Pearl bad but recovered ber bodily senses; that her brain was benumbed, she being, without doubt, in a semi-conscious state, and they were thankfal, from the bottom of their hearts, that it was so, Asa matter of course, Big Foot and his braves supposed, indeed, they bad no doubt, that the white squaw, upon recovery, would sbriek with terror at her frightful surroundings and her perilous position; consequently, her strange lonk and manner perfectly astounded them. The bloodthirsty and merciless Big Foot gazed or at least, returned the gaze of bis lovely and helpless captive; at first in mocking triumph and batred, which, however, merged into actual dread and superstitious awe—that strange stare holding bis, in a fascination which be bad never before felt, and causing the coward blood to ebill in his veins. For full a minute be could not, for his life, move or break that gaze, He seemed rooted to the spot. His nerves were, for the time, par- alyzed and rigid, beyond his control, All this his warriors noticed, for the dance had ended at the very moment that the head of Pear|] Pemberton touched the scalp pole. ‘* Big Medicine!” This ejaculation ran from lip to lip, and all stared in awe at the strange and unearthly- appearing maiden, ' By a powerful effort of the will Big Foot threw off the spell that bound him, and, as if ashamed of his weakness, strode quietly to the eastern side of the ring, issuing orders in a uick and peremptory manner. At once a balf- sean braves rushed for as many mustangs, leading the animals at once to the central por- tion of the timber-cove—the scene of the terrible tableau. Two of these braves clutched the jaw-straps close to the muzzles of the animals, each bold- ing fast three, and the other four, two; and thus, all four acting together, they proceeded to place upon esch mustang a corpse. This was bound fast to the animals with lariats, the war- genr of each brave being secured to his body, with the exception of the lances, which were thrust in a row, closely together, in the rear of the fair captive—the points being forced into the sward. As soon as these beasts had received their horrible and repulsive burdens, they were beld fast by the armed warriors—those who had been detailed as packers hastening for more —s MUIELOOOLKS (E(©) (E ey a — — rt a 2+ > = a a a