Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

: : ; ; ; 4 ‘herd had been divided—nearly King Kent. 11 horses up Leon. Go to Colorado, mebbe so Rio Grande. Sell horses. Get heap silver. Bad white men on Brazos. Mebbe so come go with Antonio. ‘* So many,”—holding up three fingers—‘“‘ heap *raid cross Comanche trails. Lose horses, Lose scalp. Turtle talk straight. What my white brother do? Waugh! Comanche war- trail o n.” “" What will I do? Why, I shall follow the trail, if it leads me over the Colorado. I'll have those horses, if I have to shoot every Greaser from his saddle!” “Good! Dick talk heap good. War-path ce. rh heap glad. Come. Broad trail. aug And, circling his scalping-knife over his eagle- anes, Turtle shot out the war-cry of hi ibe. - for Daring Dick, he plunged into a deep study. He realized that it would be a long chase— that at the least, more than a week must elap: before he could return to Landers Ranch with the horses. His prolonged absence would cause Lola and the colonel much apprehension and anxiety. Yet, there was no help for this. Tie must recover the herd of horses. Colonel Landers would know, by the follow- day, that they were gone. trange to say, Dick gave not a thought to King Kent, not connecting him with the driv- ing away of the horses; although, if he had pon- dered upon the past, he would have recalled the fact that Antonio and King Kent had often been seen in company, on the prairies, and on the Rio Brazos. Soon the two pards had passed through the river-bottom, forded the stream, and then, removing the equipments from their animals, and rubbing them down, staked them among the mesquite grass, and Pe Sieh ry to cook their simple prairie dinner. ter resting sufficiently long to allow their horses to feed, they continued on the trail. They followed this, without pressing their horses to such an extent as to fatigue the ani- mals; for this would have been very imprudent, as they were, at any time, liable to be discov- ered, by roving war-parties of Comanches. Indeed, both Turtle and Dick, thought it very strange that the Mexicans, being but three in number, had dared advance into so daugerous a section of country. They had expected and hoped, with good nds, that they would over- take the Greasers before reaching the Colorado, and their disappointment was t. However, they thought it very improbable that the thieves would proceed up the San Saba any great dis- tance. The trail was fresh, and they expected to run their game to earth before sunset, or else dis- cover the camp oe the coming night, when there would be a bright full moon. This fact in itself was not favorable for any small party of men; as, when the moon was at full, the Comanches chose that time to go on the war-path. They knew that they were now in the vicinity of the course followed by war- rties when passing either down toward the Border settlements, or returning to their vil- lages. This, however, gave them no apprehension. The Tonkaway was eager and anxious to add scalps to his belt, and avenge the terrible death of his squaw an Hence te tine being now the principal object of his life. Along the border of the San Saba timber, they proceeded, the trail being plain; but after continuing a few miles, they discovered that the half of them having been driven over the river, and the re- mainder along the border of the timber on the east side of the stream. Turtle decided to cross the San Saba, following one party, and wate Dick the other; rae 2 on toward the big ben —a point where both of our friends had on pre- vious occasions hunted black bears together. The two men now separated, believing that the trails would reunite at or beyond the bend; and they agreed upon signals by which they should be able to rejoin each other the coming night. ome eight miles from the Colorado, Dick found that the trail led away from the San Saba and out om the open plain; but he followed it on, soon finding that the horses had been driven in a half-circle, sweeping away toward the river —this curving trail being miles in extent. Tho ' oo hee was pleased when he again found himself approaching the shades of the San Saba, for the sun had set, and he was weary and hungry. | t'wly believing that the camp of the thieves was within a mile or two of the outer swell of th- bend, that the herd had been reunited, and that Turtle was ahead in the timber, having dis- covered the camp—fully confident of this, Dar- dng Dick continued on toward the dark shades. 3 he drew near he halted and listened intent- ly, for he thought it probable that Antonio and his comrade thieves might have seen him on the prairie, and would ambush him. Nota thought of danger from any other source entered his a a een EE Had he possessed the power to os the foliage in front of him, Dick would have og his horse and fled precipitately from the spot. Half an hour previous, a dozen fierce Co- manches, in all their hideous war-paint, had urged their horses through the timber, after fording the river. They were the advance of a war-party which was on the west side of the stream. So eager were these savage scouts to inspect the plain to the eastward that their half-wild mustangs sprung, at hiss of quirt, free from the timber; but their red riders forced them back to cover when they perceived the white horse- man on the plain. Daring Dick was intent on the trail, it being moonlight, and did not observe the Indians. Yet, for all that, he was suspicious in connec- tion with the Mexicans. All was silent—silent as death, in his front; on death, ina terrible form, lurked, awaiting im. Daring Dick spurred forward. Suddenly his steed halted, with a wild snort, pricked ears, and whirled around; but, at that instant, a half-dozen warriors sprun from the ad ge overhead, directly upon, and beside the orse. Dick was at once clutched, and dragged from his saddle, Then followed a fierce struggle for life. There was no chance to use revolvers but our hero jerked his bowie, on the instant. | Hurling the Comanches from him, he stood, for a moment, free. But it was only for a mo- ment. They rushed madly upon him, not a sound escaping their lips. ' Lightning-like, the terrible bowie of Daring Dick circled through the air, and red braves fell before the glittering steel, cloven from breast to thigh. Thus it was for a few moments, Then, a burly brave sprung forward, over his dead and dying comrades, and drove his scalp- ing-knife into Dick’s shoulder; but the blade was prevented from entering deep, or being drawn downward to a murderous extent, by two terrific slashes up and down, by the young Texan; the warrior’s arm being laid bare to the bone on both sides, forcing him, as the muscles were severed, to relinquish his clutch. Then, the bowie of Daring Dick was buried, to the buck- horn, in the paint-daubed breast! It was a grand scene, to witness that one brave white man, battling for life with a dozen fierce Comanches, who made war their trade. Dick fought with the strength of ten, and the despera- tion born of despair; for, well he knew, he could not escape death. A prayer for Lola was on his lips, as he jerked his bowie from the breast of his last victim: and, at that very instant, an arrow whizzed through the air, striking his head, and plowing up his scalp! Then Daring Dick fell, and lay, without sense or motion, beside the gory and knife-gashed braves, some of whom were chanting their death-songs, in low, monotonous, gu tones. ; ay the young man was bound, hand and oot. One of the braves hastened to the river, crossed, and in a rapid run, hurried to meet the main batpet sy, and report the capture and the casualties to his chief. Ere long Dick recovered his senses, to find that he was bound fast, a captive toa merciléss savage foe! An hour afterward, he was dragzed along, to- pe 8 the edge of the high cliffs of the Rio San His hat was gone, his shirt was torn from his back, and the lood flowed from his wounded head and shoulders. “He is a great brave. Let him die a warrior’s. death. The bees will sting him, but he will laugh until the Great Spirit comes for him. ‘He is a warrior. t him die a warrior’s death.” Thus spoke Rolling Thunder, the war-chief of the Comanches, as the messenger reported; and the runner had hastened to return, when Daring Dick was lowered down the side of the cliff as has been detailed in our opening chapter —his red captors witnessing the first agony caused by being thus suspended, they yelling, in mockery, derision, and exultation. Then the ae, vanished, leaving their victim suspended over the cliff; there to be stung to death, at sunrise, when the bees should buzz out from the caverns close behind him. ‘*Father in Heaven, have mercy! My cross is greater than I can bear!” No wonder this prayer left the lips of Daring Dick, so earnestly. No more fervent supplica- tion was ever offered. There the red fiends left him, to die an awful death—a lingering death of excruciating agony! CHAPTER XV. THE BANDITS’ CHANGE OF BASE, THE piercing cries of Lola Landers and Edna Edwa had no effect upon the outlaws, who made no movement to bind or gag them, this proving to the terrified maidens, that they were ee | erce through | far from any ranch, or the possibility of being heard. Big Bill jerked his sombrero from his head, rubbed his brow, and strode to one side, clutch- _ canteen of whisky, and gluing the nozzle to his lips, taking a long and deep draught. They had a terrible time with King Kent the previous night. Like a madman, he had gallo to, and over the Brazos ford, and on down the river, toward the basin; and he would, probably, in his con- science-tortured state, have ided his horse through the undergrowth, and over the bank as on a previous occasion, had not his wild outcries been heard, and some one of his followers rush- “ up the trail, and clutched the bridle of his orse. They had borne him into one of the cave-like excavations in the wall of the basin, and plied him with liquor, until he became stupid, and fell into a deep sleep. When Big Bill and Crooked Carl arrived with the gold, and revealed the fact that King Kent had shot his own father, the bandits were not only horrified by the deed, but greatly concern- ed as to their safety; knowing well that the country would be scoured, far and wide, by the Vigilantes, and their retreat, without aoubt discovered. All knew that an immediate -de- ota from the vicinity of the Brazos and San ba was a necessity. Their lives depended upon this; for a large force of rancheroes would turn out after such a fearful crime had been ccmmitten, Even the unreasonable <saey of liquor that King Kent had drank did not apes y ate tor- tured brain for any length of time. é distri- buted the gold with lavish hand, and called upon all, every few minutes, to drink with him. He had been, by the night’s hellish work, transformed into a very demon. His appear- ance was truly horrible. His black and serpent-like eyes were blood- shot, his swarthy face contorted, and he grated his teeth almost continuously. He had at once decided to abduct Lola Lan- ders, and hasten, the following night, toward the Colorado. A spy, on the following morning, brought the news to the basin, that the herd of horses had been driven at speed up the Leon the previous night, and that Daring Dick and Turtle had fol- owed. This left a safe opening to carry off Lola; and, as the Mexican reported having seen Edna Edwards, riding toward Landers Ranch, King Kent, who had a great enmity toward Edna’s father, resolved to have his revenge on him at the same time. large sum of money for her, from any of the wealthy Castilians beyond the Rio Grande. We now view the dastardly parricide, stand- ing within six feet of the trembling maidens, viewing them in silence. At length he spoke— his voice, unnatural and low, and reminding one of the hiss of a serpent—he thrusting a stick in his mouth, upon which he ground his teeth viciously, betraying his nervousness. ‘* You know me, Lola Landers,” he said, “‘ and you remember my oath in the bottom-timber, when = rejected my love! You scorned my = ou hated and despised me, and for what? ‘** Because I was wild and reckless, Because I was not a milksop and fawning sycophant. ‘*] swore you should marry no other man while I lived, but you fell in love with Dick Robinson, I know of your every movement since you rejected me, I have had trusty spies at Landers Ranch all the time. You now know what you did when you scorned me. Hence- forth, I live only for “pies pee money ! ‘*Do you hear me, Lola ders! 1 ama par- ricide—a demon! I am a curse to myself, and to all others. The only pleasure open to me in this world, is that I might clasp you in my arms, and press burning kisses upon your lips, The poor girl, sick and faint, ufik upon the bosom of Edna Edwards, who seemed suddenly to banish her fear; her daring nature asserting poet at the outrageous language used by King sent. | The villain continued: ‘*T swore you should be mine, Lola Landers, and I have kept my oath; for you are mine, body and soul! I swore to have revenge upon your father, for language used by him, among the rancheroes, against my character, swore to have revenge upon—ay, to have the blood of —Daring Dick, for winning your love; and he shall die by my hand! Already he is in my net —he and hisred pard. Antonio and his nase. ros are in my pay. The stampede was a plot of mine, to draw Dick away from Landers Ranch. “He is now far away, toward the Colorado on the trail of the stam , Which he will no overtake, until beyond the big bend of the Sa Saba, when the Greasers will capture him, strategy, and bind him hand and foot, until my that you shall look into his face again. I will give you an interview, for the sight will add to my revenge. He shall be- hold os in my nigh | embrace. “Your father will follow my trail, and ol ming. “IT promise you man Edwards also, They will fall into m ecoim Ehoo o- &. He knew that he could get a’ (SeGcom