Beadle's Dime Library No. 309 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 The rapid fusilade of revolver-shots, however, gave Old Rocky hope, for he well knew they roceeded from white men, who must be de- ending the young girl. That Indians were in the locality surprised him, and also that defenders should be near at hand. The colonel, too, was satisfied that as- sistance had reached his daughter, when he heard the reports of the revolvers. But this ave him only slight hope, for the sbrieks of earl had pierced bim to the very soul, and satisfied him that, at the time they were ut- tered, his daughter had been seized by the red foe, and tbat sbe saw no avenue of escape open. _ He was, in consequence, more like a madman than a sane person, as the sounds of conflict fol- lowed the heart-rending sbrieks of his child. . It were scarce possible for man to suffer more excruciating mental anguish than did the ranch- ero, as he frantically urged his horse toward the river; passing, with a rush, past Old Roeky as he did so. The old scout, although greatly aff>cted, and terribly apprehensive in regard -to Pearl, who was looked upon by him as a being superior to any one whom he bad ever met, was too expe- rienced in Indian ways to rush doh tpee upon the scene of the conflict, without a slight halt to study the same, and calculate as to the manner of proceeding that would most favor success, This he would have done, could he have kept the colonel by his side; but it was impossible to control the rancbero in the Jeast, Not for an instant, however, did Old Rocky propose to de- lay, when his employer was ahead, and dashing : perbaps to death, Before Colonel Pemberton cleared the bushes on the south side of the river, the young ee ere had settled eight of the red fiends, and bad dis- -appeared from view, from the ford, in bis mad clamber to the captive’s rescue. The low bushes and high grass on the north river-bank screened the corpses of the Indians, who had been slain by Rattler, from view. The horse of the ranger had darted into a thicket, frightened by the scent of buman blond, and the sight of the fierce conflict; and the animal, that had been ridden by Pearl, bad beeu led by ner captors intothe mottes at the foot of the cliff. The consequences was, that as Colonel Pem- berton broke from the undergrowth into the clear space by the margin of the stream, he "a ge is horse to a halt at the same place as ad his daughter, in the utmost amazement; for not a living object was within view, and no sound met his ear to indicate that human beings were in the vicinity, although but a few moments previously the din of savage warfare sounded from that very spot. Pearl, it will be remembered, had been as- tounded, and impressed with awe, at the unex- pected scene that had opened out before, and bove ber; but her father was doubly dum- founded, not only at the unlooked-for contrast between the north bank and that upon which he was, but from the silence, so deep after the din, and the absence of those whom he had expected to see, as well as Pearl. Horrified, anguished and dazed, the old ran- chero sat his horse, gazing at the rough rocky cliffs, and up the gorge in his immediate front; but the guide, the next moment, shot from the und rgrowth, upon his panting ‘horse, and also drew rein, crying out, in the extremity of wonder: ‘“‘Jumpin’ Jericho! Whar in thunderation air ther red bellyuns an’ ther leetle gal? I'd ha’ swored ther rumpus war hyer, an’ I’m dang’d ef hit warn’t, er my years air chuck-full 0’ bugs, an’ I’m losin’ my hearin’! . “§$pur on, curnil, ‘cross ther drink, an’ I reckon we'll light onter somethin’ what talks ‘sign.’ I’m dead sure Miss Pearl crossed hyer —fact air, I knows hit, fer thar’s ther critter’s tracks in ther mud. Come on, ole pard, er I shell go plum lunified, es well es yerself: an’ one on us hes gut ter keep squar’ on bis idees, er ther bull outfit’s ruinated. Hit war might onlucky fer yer leetle gal ter skute abead, an’ knowed hit; but hit’s too late ter think o’ thet ow, *T tole her, an’ so did yeou, but she’s es headstrong es ber old dad, We'll strike some- thin’ other side, curnil. Keep cool, an’ don’t worritate, er yer won’t be wo’th shucks. Keep er peepers wide open, fer thar’s red scalpers yeraways, sure an’ sart’in.” _ Old Rocky rattled off these words in a lively manner, affecting to be much less worried and apprehensive than he really was, in order not to deepen the concern and anguish of his em- ployer. As he spoke he urged his horse into the stream, his weapons ready, bis keen eyes swee ing an sanntg every thicket and bowlder in gulch and cliff, and undergrowth, on every side of them. Little less amazed and puzzled was the old scout than the colonel, at the wild and silent scene, within which it did not seem that a human being had been. As for the ranchero hhe did not appear conscious that the guide bad spoken; bis countenance being torturivg to con- template, and Old Rocky avoided looking at ‘him from the first. Paralyzed and speechless was the distressed father, and he appeared to have aged years since the shrieks of bis loved child had shot through his brain like darts of white-hot steel. For a time he made not the slightest effort to cross the river. Both the horses drank, unmindful of jerk of rein, so thirsty were they; but the old scout soon spurred up the north bank, and on his steed bounded, but only to almost instantly rear, and spring to one side, with a snort of terror; for the animal nearly brought its hoofs down upon the bloody corpses of the Comanches! ‘*Great Crockett!” was the ejaculation of Old Rocky, in the utmost surprise, mingled with satisfaction and exultation; * dang’d ef I didn’t know I war kerrect! Somebuddy hev laid out a sprinkl‘n’ o’ ther cantankerous cusses, sure es shootin’; but who war hit, an’ whar air they an’ ther leetle gal? ‘*Dod-gast hit, ef this biz ain’t gittin’ some consider’ble mixed! Hit’u’d sorter suit me, ef I c’u’d jist git my peepers onter Miss Pearl— dang’d ef bit wouldn’t!” Colonel Pemberton, es he perceived the hide- ous corpses, uttered a deep groan, and then cried out, in a voice tbat expressed his suffering: ‘* Lost! lost! My darling, my Pearl, is in the ower of the merciless Indians! Oh, God! It is more than I can bear. It is worse than death to me, and to her—Heavens! I cannot think of it. ‘*Cursed be the day I decided to settle on the San Saba, scorning all advice to the contrary! Oh, God of mercy, protect my poor child!” As the ranchero made this anguished appeal his strong form trembled, his eyes were wild and staring, and bis face deathly in its pallor. ** Jist yer keep a stiff upper lip, curnil,” ad- vised Old Rocky, as be sprung to the ground, and stole about among the slain, examining the corpses and their surroundings, ‘Ef ther leetle gal air tuck, we’uns hes gut ter resky her, an’ yer won’t be es sarviceable es a yaller dog, ef yer wilts inter yer boots with worritatin’, es I said afore, ‘*Her nag air gone, an’ Pearl, too, which in- clernates toward captur’; but I’m bamboozled bad es ’gards ther run o’ ther game, Who war hyer, ter plug lead inter ther red scum s0 lively, an’ whar hev he—ef thar warn’t but one, es ’m opinin’—levanted tu, ef hit ain’t arter ther lcetle al? , . ‘*Thet’s hit, dead sure; so, curnil, brace up! What’s this? Why, cuss my cats!’ The last was said in great astonishment, min- gled with relief and pleasure, as Old Rocky, half-bent, and with revolver in hand, sprung along the plain trail of a horse, through the grass toward the thickets on the east base of the gorge. The colonel seemed entirely broken and hope- less, sitting upon his horse, and staring in horror at the dead Comanches, The old scout disappeared in the bushes, and soon returned, leading the horse of the young ranger. ‘“T tole yer, curnil, to brace up!” he said en- couragingly; ‘‘I tole yer somebuddy war arter yer leetle gal ter resky her, an’ now I knows who hit air. Texas Rattler airon ther trail! He’s ther boyee what tuck ther reds in outen ther wet, an’ hyer’s his nag an’ tricks. ‘Fae’ air, be laid out ther heft o’ ther hell- yuns, but t’others gut avay with Pearl, an’ he’s skuted arter’em. They tuck ter ther rocks, er he wovldn’t ba’ left his horse.” ‘Texas Rattler!” exclaimed the ranchero, with deep feeling. ‘‘ Heaven has again sent him to save my child! And she may yet be saved! “Rocky, my friend, should I be thus blessed, the train shall be beaded back to the Llano at once, Hope returns, now that I know Rattler was here, and that he defended Pear], But hold! The Indians may have captured them both!” That Old Rocky had not for a moment Snengee of this possibility, and was greatly tartied by its being probable, was shown by is silence, and the expression upon his face. He halted in his tracks, near the colonel, and gazed about the gulch, meanwhile listenin very intently. This he did, because he wishe to avoid looking at his employer, and to gain time for thought, But, at that very instant, as if to banish all doubts that the words of the ranchero raised in his mind, he heard faintly, and in a strange manner which baffled any attempt to locate tbe sound except as to the westward, the death-yell of a Comanche, “Texas Rattler ain’t captur’d, by a jug-full!”’ gripe out the guide, in a confident and decided voice, ** How do you know this, Rocky?” abe colonel, in his misery, had not heard the sound, “Dang bit! He’s jist sent another red ter ther Injun kingdom-come, fer I heerd ther cuss gi’n his death yelp. The Rattler air on ther war-path, sure es shootin’; an’ he’s goin’ ter resk Pear] ss ° et wish ter thunderation I know’d whar he ther ppmsbay ough, I rec air, but I opine he’s up ’mon shoots from hyer. Not fur, on.” “‘This is terrible, most terrible!” exclaimed the ranchero, in a voice of bitter anguish and despair. ‘‘T shall go mad if this fearful suspense does not soon end!” ‘*Tbet ’u’d make ther chances o’ reskyin’ ther leetle gal more slimmer, ’coz yer’ll flusterate me wuss’n p’ison ef yer doesn’t keep yer brain-box on ther squar’, ‘* But, cuss my cats, ef I thort o’ ther wagons et all! Curnil, low me ter smell ’roun’ hyer, an’ you skin back, an’ run ther train inter ther open, back yunder; sockin’ ther wagons cluss up tergether in a sorter corral, fer I’m incler- nated ter opine we-’uns hes gut a hefty fight ahead, ter save ther outfit. ‘‘Skute lively! Er ther reds mought charge in on ther boyees, an’ clean ’em out; strikin’ ’em suddint-like, when they warn’t thinkin’, Don’t sling no gab, but ’member yer leetle boy air wi’ ther train, an’ he mought git tuck, vw. Yer can’t do no good hyer, but I reckon I kin, Dang me, ef thar ain’t Pearl's critter, an’ yer must lead ther animile back ’cross ther drink!” The words and manner of the old scout were impressive, and commanding; and, with a groan, bis emotions deepened by the sight of his daughter’s horse, which Old Rocky now led from a thicket, placing the neck-rope in the co'onel’s hand, the latter offered no word of remonstrance; in fact, he saw at once that his only course was to obey the old scout, because delay might cause the capture and destruction of the train, and the loss of his son as well as his caughter, Had there been the slightest way open for him to find out where Pearl was, and rescue. her, the ranchero would undoubtedly have let. the train take care of itself, and gone in search of his child. Asit was, be recrossed the river, leading Pearl’s horse, and soon disappeared in the undergrowth, leaving Old Rocky on the north bank, much relieved at having got rid of bim. Instantly the old scout secreted his horse, scalped the dead braves, muttering to himself meanwhile, and chewing bis quid spitefully. Then he started up the gulch side, toward the point from which he believed the death-yell ad been sounded, and which indicated the pre- sence of the Texas Rattler, if not of Pearl Pem- berton. CHAPTER VII. AT THE WAGON TRAIN, LitT.y had peck Pearl dreamed, as she dashed gayly abead of the train, that she was speedin toward horrors and perils that were destine to appall her very soul, and congeal the blood im her veins, As sbe had galloped over the prairie toward that vast serpentine wall of dense verdure, the bottom-timber of the Rio San Saba, she little thought that, within the cool shades, lurked merciless savages, whose snake-like eyes peered out, flashing with exultation and a thirst for blood, from the bordering undergrowth toward er, And, although she had greatly longed to meet the Texas Rattler on the San Saba, yet there was little expectation in ber breast that she should be thus gratified. Strange it was that, at the same time the ranger, from the opposite side of the river, was speeding toward the shades, with much of hope in his heart—hope that, ere a week should puss, he would again clasp his darling to his breast. Thus it was, that all the people of the traim from the easterly prairie, and the young ran- ger from the westerly, were fast approaching the timber beneath which all anticipated @ pleasant night’s rest and sleep; but which point was destined to prove the scene of korror, dan- ger, and death! Like an avalanche, had anguish, misery, and self-condemnation, fallen upon Colonel Pem- herton; causing Lim to be nearly oblivious to his: surroundings, bis object, and his destination, after leaving Old Recky, and fording the river, Had the old scout thought it possible that: there were any Indians between the ford and the margin of the timber, at which point the colonel would be within view of his train, he would not bave sent his employer on the back trail, on any consideration; but this had seemed absurd, even had Old Rocky for an iustant: harbored the suspicion, Nevertheless, the way was not entirely clear, When the wagon train had first appeared im sight from the timber, it had been discovered from afar by the keen eyes of a Comanche brave; one of a small party, who bad left their: camp up the river a little distance, for the pur— pose of securing game in the bottom-timber,, and fish from the river. As soon as had been possible the red-man had! collected his comrades by signal, and al) had’ agreed that without doubt the train would en- camp at the very point where they themselves: were stationed—that is, at the cove in the tim- ber bei ore mentioned. As their horses were on the opposite side of: the San Saba, this party of fourteen braves de-. cided that they would remain and make sure of: the exact position of wee oposed camp of the- whites, ascertain the number of their enemies, Gomilecbook =