Beadle's Dime Library No. 309 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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© tnt > Raybold, the Rattling Ranger. a ae ee wee and then steal through the timber up the river with their information, Then the entire war- party could, under cover of the coming night, make their way across the ford, massacreing the Texans, and securing scalps and booty. Such bad been the object of the Indians until they saw Pearl dash off alone, abead of the train, and riding directly toward them, Resolving that they would capture her and convey her to their chief, all of the braves stole stealthily to the ford, except two who remained to watch the wagon-train, and a third who has- tened to the camp of the war-party with the information that bas been mentioned. Tne two braves left bebind had been greatly amazed and not a little concerned when the sound of firearms had betrayed to them that white men were in their rear, who did not be- long to the train, and who were desperately figanting with their comrades, who had gone to lie in wait for the white squaw. These two skulkers were crouched within a few feet of the border of the thickets, past which dashed Old Rocky and Colonel Pember- ton, going toward the ford; and, as soon after all sounds of conflict ceased, the painted pair became exceedingly anxious, being cut off from their camp and comrades, One of them decid- ed to return to the ford and ascertain the result of the fight, while the other remained to watch the train. The brave who started toward the ford, how- ever, did not proceed beyond the border of the bushes on the inner portion of the cove, for he heard the approach of horses from the river. Hastily choosing a favorable sition, he awaited the approach of those who, he was well satisfied, were his foes; be having no idea of betraying his presence or assaulting them—sat- isfied that they would eventually be captured by his comrades. Tbe sounds were caused by the horses, one ridden and the other led by Colonel Pemberton, and no sooner did the lurking Comanche sea that but one foe approached than he decided at once that he would return to his camp with the scalp of a hated white man in his belt. It is probable that, had the ranchero been on the alert and ready for defense, the Indian would have permitted him to pass unmolested; but the form of the poor agonized man was ‘bowed, and his gaz? fixedin a meaningless stare at the neck of bis borse—his face like that of a corpse. rom this the red lurker had reason to be- lieve that his comrades were victors; that they had not only secured the white squaw, but that the old scout, so feared and hated by the Co- manches—Old Rxcky—whom he and his com- rade had recogniz:d, had been killed or cap- tured. As this probability flashed upon the mind of the Indian, he became confilent and exultant. The way was open for him to win a scalp, two horses, and the praise of his chief; and that, with no risk to himself whatever, as this old white man knew Roehng offhis presence. Ho would, however, make his fellow braves be- lieve there had been a desperate hand to hand fight. He would, therefore, proceed with a view of leaving ‘‘ sign” to this effect; intending to wound the colonel, and then jerk bim from his saddle to the earth, holding him at his mercy, to torture and exult over him before giving him hisdeath-wouna, , Fitting an arrow to his bow-string, the hid- eous, paint-daubed Comanche braced himself, and stepped stealthily forward as the Texan’s horse swerved somewhat from a straight course. The next instant, the sharp twang of the In- dian’s bow sounded on the air, but it was preced- ed by the darting of some small animal from the bushes in which stood the savage, directly in front of the horse ridden by Colonel Pemberton, With a terrified snort, the beast threw up its head, and reared on its hind legs, just in time to receive the deadly shaft in its nec With a human-like cry, the wounded animal bounded into the air, burling the ranchero to the earth, and then shot forward toward the train; while the pony of Pearl, which had been led by her father, stampeded, crashing through the bushes in the direction of the fori, doubly frightened by the Comanche brave bounding in front of it upon his victim. Colonel Pemberton, dazed as he was by the terrible emotions that ruled his brain, was quite unprepared for the catastrophe that had happened to him, and was doubtless ignorant of the presence of the Indian, or the wounding of his horse; for he was hurled to the earth in an instant, with violent force, striking his head against the trunk of a sapling, which bereft him of all sense, This, as will be shown, proved to be very ' .providential., With his repulsive face contorted in triumph, and with a murderous thirst for blood, the Comancbe sprung astride of his fallen foe, drop- ing bis how, and jerking his long scalping- Enife. This he upraised over the breast of the senseless old man, but lowered it when he saw Thus sat the brave gazing into the face of the Texan, who appeared bereft of life; but well the Indian knew his victim would soon recover, and thea be would have the satisfaction of gaz- ing into the eyes of the doomed man, and en- joying the horror and terror there mirrored, as bis knife, was held over the heart of his foe, For a moment or two, so elated, and filled with exultant pride, was the warrior, that he did not consider the fact that the wounded horse had galloped toward the train, or that be was as yet ignorant of the result of the fight at the ford. When this thought at length came to bim, the Comanche began to see that he was in danger from the scou’, Old Rocky, whom he could bard- ly bring bimself to believe bad been slain; it having been decided by the Comanches, that the old scout was protected by the Bad Spirit, and therefore bore a charmed life. As the people of the train could not reach him for some time, and bis comrade would warn bim of their approach, the savage felt no appre- hension from that source, He hoped that his comrade bad discovered the wounded horse, and would run to bis assist- ance, thinking him in peril, thus giving him an opportunity to slay the white man before the very eyes of his envious comrade, If the Texan should recover at the moment his comrade brave appeared, and he could then thrust his knife into bis beart, while struggling as if in conflict, it would give him great renown as a warrior—this being his first war-path. Hoping that events would happen thus to favor him, and prove his prowess, the Indian waited patiently; his senses strained to catch any sound from e.cher the direction of the plain, or the ford, Thus it was that the lingering bebind of two braves in the party of warriors was fated to bring about a chain of disastrous occurrences to our friends; plunging the colonel deeper into despair and anguish, But, to further explain. When Colonel Pemberton and O!d Rocky first reached the border of the timber, and heard the shrieks of Pearl, their sudden dash into the cove had been observed by the leading teamster of the wagon-train, and he bad given a yell of warning to bis comrades, at the same time whipping up his mules, This alarmed all the teamsters, who urged their animals at full speed toward the river; the incessant cracking of ‘ black-snakes,” the outeries, and the increased speed of the mules that were attached to the Dearborn, ite stew Paul Pemberton. The boy was greatly alarme and concerned upon discovering the absence of his father and sister, as well as the guide, from the train. From the manner of the teamsters, also, Paul decided that something was wrong. Clutcbing the reins and whip, the youth lash- ed the mules on, passing the wegon ahead, the teamster yelling to him as he did so: ‘* Somethin’ wrong et ther timmer, Paul!” At the same time, the lead-teamster turning and observing the boy, gesticulated wildly, pointing toward the place at which the colonel and the old scout had disappeared. The cheeks of the youth paled, his face be- came expressive of great anxiety, and at the same time a strong determination. Then he lashed his mules at frantic speed, soon passing beyond the train; and, before many minutes, reaching the cove—hbis light-running, well- greased Dearborn making but little noise on the grassy sward. At the very moment that Paul turned to enter the cove in the timber, out from the same galloped the horse of his father, the animal snorting and panting wih pain and fright, its ears pricked forward, its eyes starting and wild in expression, while blood spurted at every bound from its neck, where the feathered shaft of an arrow was plainly to be seen, Straight to the side of the Dearborn, dashed the wounded horse. One glance at his father’s beast caused Paul Pemberton to turn ghastly; and, clutching his rifle from the back of the vehicle, the youth, knowing at once that be could not pass through the timber with the Dearborn—besides instant- IY. decidiny that he might accomplish some- thing, be of assistance to some of those who were in peril—be sprung to the earth, cocked his rifle, and darted toward the river, along the border of the undergrowth at the margin of the clear cove, Having been so recently awakened from a sound slumber, to become instantly greatly alarmed in regard to the safety of his father and sister—and yet for his Jife, not being able to understand what could possibly be the nature of that danger; he, at the utmost of his im- agination, believing it nothing more than that Pearl had been absent an unreasonably long time—the boy’s horror may be guessed at, when he saw tbat his father’s borse bad been wound- ed by an Indian arrow. Little thought bad Paul that he was now being guided by Providence, directly to the spot where his father lay. Thore, where we have left bim, the Comanche was not obliged to wait but a short time, when he beard a_ sound, as of some one approachin ” Not for an instant did the red assassin enter- tain a thought that this was other than his com- rade. Colone] Pemberton writhed, and groaned aloud. The sounds of approach grew nearer. The Comanche raised his long knife, clutching the ranchero by the throat, and feigning to be struggling with him. A single glance he shot toward the new-comer, nod started, on seeing a white youth, whose rifle was leveled, and aimed j directly at bis head. The knife of the Comanche was raised, but ab that very instant the sharp crack of the rifle rung out on the air, and the savage, with a hor- rible death-yell, threw up his arms, and sunk backward. Colonel Pemberton sprung to his feet, trembling with emotion and gratitude. It was not bis boy Paul merely, that the ranchero saw, however; for, just in the rear of the youth stood a hideous Comanche, with up- lifted tomahawk, and as it descended, Pau! fell aie upon his face. The next moment, the rave youth was clutched in the arms of the Comanche, who darted into the undergrowth with his captive; a low outery of fiendish ex- ultation bursting frum his lips. This was the sight which met the gaze of the colonel, and no wonder was it that the intensity of his anguish and hopeless despair, on account of the loss of both bis dear ones, coupled with all he bad suffered since the sbrieks of Pearl first tortured his ears and heart—no wonder was it, that he fell senseless beside the corpse of his recent captor, who, but for the opportune arrival of Paul, would kbave slain bimw. And brave young Paul Pemberton, in thus saving bis father’s, had sacrificed his own lib- erty, if not bis life! CHAPTER VIII. | BIG FOOT, | At the time of which we write, Big Foot, the Comanche chief, was a perfectterror, So many had been his marvelous escapes, at times when every brave in his war-party was slain, that, among the Texan Rangers he was known for years as the Phantom Chief. He was as cun- ning as a fox, and rode with his braves like a whirlwind, a the most bloodthirsty massacres, and scattering death and desolation along the T xan border. So successful was this chief in his-raids, that it was considered a high horor by the warriors of his tribe to follow his leadership; hence be formed his war-parties without trouble, re- i gardless of the large number slain by the ran- gers, when the lattcr were so fortunate as to pounce upon his camps, when his mustangs were fagged from their terrible runs, and he was forced in consequence to halt. Big Foot, the Comanche, was therefore as much noted at one time as was Big Foot Wal- lace, the celebrated Texan scout, the latter being so well and favorably known that his name was a household word in the great South- West, Both the red and the white mentioned gained their mht te ag from having pedal extremities considerably above the average size, even for men of powerful, not to say gigantic build, The Comanche chief was a large and hideous Indian, who hated all whites with tho intensity ofademon. He was merciless in character, de- lighting in torture, and ingenious in the con- ception and practice of the same, even upon defenseless women and helpless babes, Such was the chief who was in command of . the war-party on the Rio San Saba, the same arriving in the vicinity of the point described in a previous chapter about an hour before the wagon-train of Colonel Pemberton came slowly into view, on the southeast plain. ie Rattler had not observed the Comanches, for the good reason that he was on the north side of the San Saba, while Big Foot was not only fl on the south side, but had kept bis braves, cun- — | ningly, for some distance within the timber, in descending the stream: previously galloping close alorg the verge of tha line of towering trees, where none but a skilled scout eould have made them out, frcm the south prairie. Within a natural ‘‘cpen,” completely hidden from view,even a few yards from its border, supposing one was traveling in the shades, was the camp of the Comanches, : The open was of sufficient size to allow of the Indians staking their balf-wild steeds around the outskirts; while, witlLin the center, lay the red marauders, feasting upon half-cooked horse- meat, No more fiendish scene could well be con-— ¥ ceived of, than that same Comanche camp. ; Red scouts were sent down theriver,andsta- tioned on the border of the timber to the south. ; This precaution, luckily for our friend Rattler, rs was neglected on the north side, as the river 7 flowed between the camp and the belt of timber , on the opposite side. | After satisfying their ravenous appetites, the | Indians in the camp threw themselves upon the 4 sward to rest; their hideous faces upturned, and their half-naked forms repulsive in the decora- tions of the war-path. oa "8 623 oe « bis victim was unconscious, from the plain, . = Le 1‘ Se Their peculiar saddles had not been removed = cComicbooks.cor —— eee eee <a