Beadle's Dime Library No. 309 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

> i upon his knees, and from thence flat upon the rocky summit of the cliff With exclamations of anguish and concern, all witnessed this. The Rattler and Old Rocky tore up the cliff to the side of their red pard, Examining his body with the greatest anxiety, they soon disvoverec that he had received sev- eral severe stabs, and that he lay ina perfect pool of his own blood. Carefully they bore him down to the river- bank, and there bathed his wounds, Thence, over the stream they bore him, where every pos- sible assistance was rendered him, the colonel having rescued the medicine-chest from among the debris of the wagons. In a little time, Turtle, who had lost a large amount of blood, sprung to his feet, feeling asbamed of bis weakness, but his tottering foot- steps bore testimony to the fortitude he had ex- ercised in the effort to keep erect, and scorn the agony of bis wounds, . An hour after these last stirring and tragic events, Colonel Pemberton, his son and daugh- ‘ter, weresleeping beneath the immense tree that ‘bad served as a covert and lookout, There, for the present, we leave them, guarded ‘by three as brave and trusty sentinels as ever kept a watch—Turtle, the Tonkaway, Old Rocky, the Scout, and Raybold, the Rattling Ranger! CHAPTER XXXIII. THE OLD STORY, EVER NEW. Wr have thus, after detailing the horrors ex- ‘perienced by the ce characters in our story, and their providential escape from terrible deaths, Jittle more to relate in connection with ‘them, Old Rocky, on the morning following the an- nibilation of Big Foot’s war-party, set out for Fort Mason, to engage men to come and repair the wagons, and alsototake the place of the -slain teamsters, Turtle and Paul not only succeeded in recover- ‘ing the mules and extra stock belongiog to the -colonel, but drove into the timber-cove all the mustangs of the Comanche war-party, from both the north and south plains. These were sold to great advantage, later on, to the ran- <cheros on the Rio Llano. Colopel Pemberton and his daughter remained at the famous tree near the cove, happy in each ~other’s company, when Rattler was not with them; the young ranger going out for the choicest of game and fish, for his friends to en- Joy, Turtle and Paul coming in for their sbare. n due course of time the wagons were all re- paired, except that in which the powder had en stored and exploded. But little of the freight, of any kind, was found to have been injured; and the reader may rest assured that it required no great “urging or persuasion to induce Colonel Pember- ton to start on the back-trail, toward the Llano ‘Tiver, which was, at some points, settled by ranchberos. A section of land was there taken up, or located, a substantial log-dwelling erected, and Rattler prevailed upon Old Rocky to go to San Antonio with him, to secure necessary ammu- nition and breed-cattle, he having concluded to enter into partnersbip with the colonel, though neither of them intended to enter largely into the business until more settled times. Colonel Pemberton, after the terrible experi- vence tbrongh which he had passed, was even suspicious of danger on the Rio Llano. and guarded against it by leaving the bulk of his capital on deposit in a bank at San Antonio. uch to the surprise and pleasure of the young ranger, be received a letter, while in the Alamo City, from his father in Galveston. ‘The Jatter had just learned that the famous ranger, of whom he had heard so much, was mone othcr than his long-absent son—Reginald Raybold—and for whom he had sought for a long time without success. Rattler was greatly rejoiced at this, as it re- ‘moved a heavy load from his mind; a load that shad been the means of banishing him from his home and friends, causing him to adopt the life _ of a ranger and scout, “a7 young Texan’s history, in brief, was this: He had been a trusted clerk in a large whole- sale mercantile house, in the Island City; and, while in that position, forgeries were laid at bis door, which had been committed by a fellow- elerk, The latter had used every effort to divert suspicion from himself to Reginald, and ‘with such success that our hero, upon being tn- formed that a warrant had been issned for bis arrest, knowing that, although innocent, his enemy had cunningly manufactured evidence, created suspicion which would most certainly convict bim, left Galveston and bastened to the ‘border. There, in a short time, he became a noted ‘ranger and scout, but a limited few, who were confident of his innocence, knowing who he ‘Teally was. These were Old Rocky and some of bis feliow-rangers. But the letter. which now awaited bim in San Antonio, informed Rattler that the per- fidious clerk had, since then, been convicted of I —— eee eee a —— forgery, and sentenced to ten years’ imprison- ment; bis conscience, later on, forcing him to write Rezinald’s father, and his recent em- ployers, that he had also forged the notes which bad been the cause of so much trouble, and on account of which an innocent young man was then an exile from his home and friends. They now implored Reginald Raybold to re- turn, his father promising him that, if he pre- ferred Western Texas, an amount of money would be given him to enable bim to engage in business on such a scale as he might desire, or as was agreeable to his station in life, and the education he bad received, The young man immediately responded to his father’s epistle, giving a brief account of his life on the plains, and dwelling more par- ticularly upon the events we have recorded. He informed his father that be was about to become a Benedict, and promised to extend his wedding-tour as far as bis old bome. He expressed his thanks for the kind offer that had been made him, and accepted the proffered capital for a start in life. his epistle the Texas Rattler read to Old Rocky before mailing it. ‘*Cuss my cats an’ dang my dorgs, ef I didn’t allers think you’d come out all O. K. in ther eend!” said the old scout, giving bis pard a hearty shake, ‘* A fu’st-eut human may sometimes git bag- ged, but be’ll strike good hard dirt arter awhile, an’ hit’ll ’arn him ter be dead sure he’s right afore he goes ahead, es Dave Crockett used ter spit out. ‘*T'm ormighty chuck-full o’ glad, old boyee, though hit’ll take yer away sonio consider’ble from this byer ole rawhide ripper.” Tbe old scout chewed vigorously to hide his emotion. In twenty-four hours mors, both were on the trail back to the Rio Llano, where they soon arrived; and it was a happy moment when Rattler passed bis father’s letter, to be read by Pearl to the colonel. Some three months afterward there was a and wedding at Pemberton Ranch, on the io Llano; a crowd of rangers, scouts and rancheros, not to speak of Turtle and a delega- tion of his braves, being present—old Placador, the head chief of the Tonkaways, being one of the number. The affair was a most enjoyable one for all who participated; an extensive barbecue being prepared for the guests, a whole ox being roast- ed for the occasion, to say vothing of deer, antelope, wild turkeys, and the choicest fish from the river. Paul was, perhaps, with the exception of the parties most interested, the happiest and jolli- est one there; he, as well as many cowboys and rangers, giving exhibitions of horsemansbip and lassoing before the assemblage, who sat beneath the grand old towerivg and moss- draped trees of the Llano bottom. The bridegroom and bride proceeded to Gal- veston, according to promise, where they were warmly welcomed by tke Raybold family; many manifestations of pleasure, and bearty congratulations coming from old friends. Reginald was, to his relatives, like one coming from the dead. They were proud of the noble, brave, and new-found kinsman, whose border reputation had long been known to them; never dreaming that Rattler, the Ranger, was Reginald Raybold, As may be supposed, the Pearl of the Prairie was the center of attraction; her beauty and amiability winning friends wberever she went. They remained for some time in the Island city, and before returning to their border home, exacted a promise from Reginald’s fatber and other relatives that they would make them a visit! The money, which the young ranger received from his father, enabled him, upon bis return to the Rio Llano, to locate and stock a ranch, as well as build a beautiful home for his bride, whose life was thenceforth one pleasant sum- mer’s dream. But, for all that, there would, at times, fall over them both the shadows of those most fearful experiences on the Rio San Saba; which was little to be wondered at, as all will admit. Old Rocky and Turtle were frequent visitors at Raybold Ranch, and were there made as much at home as were the owners themselves. Paul often accompanied bis old frien2s on bunt- ing expeditions, but never, until some years after, ventured near the San Saba. Colonel Pemberton did not entirelv recover his mental and physical strength for many a long month; but the others, being younger, and from having the wishes of their bearts gratified, banished as far as was possible all thoughts and words that were calculated to remind them of the terrible scenes through which they had passed, These had, however, taught them to appreciate each other, and the peace and secu- rity which they enjoyed in their new home. Indeed, no happier couple was there, in the Lone Star State. than Pear! Raybold, nee Pem- berton, and her handsome and gallant busband, Reginald Ravbold, so long known as the Rart- TLING RANGER. 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