Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

hd Hy ° J ’ —— ee eee Se King Kent. 13 doesn’t cotch me out onter ther paren ae ontil I sorter braces up wi’ bottom f I wants some fish an’ turtle; an’ perforate my palpertator, ef I doesn’t hev sum!’ ‘“Reckon my systermatics won’t go back on br’iled catfish much, pard; an’ I’m inclernated ter ’gree wi’ yer bout takin’ a gineral lay-off, aera Hit smells fresh, river-way, an we'll skute down through ther timber et sun-up, er I’m a four-barreled fool! ‘‘I’m sorter broke up myself, an’I c’u’dn’t soar more’n a bob-tailed buzzard. Thunder an’ blazes! but that coffee does smell like a norther from Araby, I’m blest, as Joe Booth used ter spit out. ‘Wonder ef Joe’s in San Antone, Id twit- ‘ter ter hear him spout his Spokeshake, as he iner’ly does ’roun’ camp. e i ug, an’ his wings air on the flush might.’ But Old Rocky seemed suddenly to have dis- <overed that he was getting “‘ left,” for he sprung to the fire, Single Eye being already seated on log, with a tin-cup full of coffee ide him, and he with his mouth crammed with venison and corn-pone, _ 3 e Dang my Leeper none , ~ yer ain't ~ tin’ ormig oggish, Single el” grow Old Rocky. Yowies didn’t yer ring ther bell, like they does at ther Menger House in San An- tone when ther hash is ready? Reckon I kin chamber some o’ thet grub myself.” So saying and his ‘‘ old soldier” into the bushes, Old Rocky poured out his coffee, and eatching up a stick of meat and a chunk of corn-pone, proceeded to break his long fast with a to and appetite never known in the 4s tates.” ‘* Kat away, an’ stop waggin’ yer tongue, will er? Ye'’r’ es bad es bon Booth, sw’ar; ough he would gi’n hisself a show ter eat when he hed a chance—yer kin bet yer last bul- let on thet!” CHAPTER XVII. SAVED FROM THE TORTURE, Oxtp Rocky and Single Eye finished their meal in silence, stowing away enough to have satisfied a half-dozen men not favored with ap- petites born of continuous breathing the free prairie air and sleeping upon mother earth. Then each produced a corn-cob pipe, and with satisfaction and comfort stamped upon their honest faces, be to clip off small portions of “* nigger-head ” tobacco, from plugs which they took from their bullet-pouches. This they rub- bed vigorously in their palms, then filled their ipes with the same, ignited the tobacco with a te and then spread their blankets in an adjacent thicket; placing their saddles for pil- lows, and laying their rifles beneath the blan- egy ow prevent them from getting dampened by the dew. AU their effects were placed within the thick- et in such a manner that they could clutch any one in the darkness. Then the horses were led from the plains to a ee place - wes to graze on bottom-grass, and near to the thic where <a | were staked for thenight. This ~~) accomplished in a very short space of time. ‘Then the fire was kicked and eure, we out, and both men, without a word, went ugh with this task as if they had done the same upon many an occasion, as indeed they Both then entered the thicket, and seating themselves side by side, smoked for some time in perfect silence. The bark of coyotes, the occasional yelp of a e loafer, or black wolf, and the shriek of a panther were the more noticeable sounds of the night with, now and then, the hoot of an owl. he continuous hum of insects, and the soft cool air of the bottom-timber, tended to induce somnolence; and, doubtless, both of the scouts were sleepy, a8 well as wearied in body. Ye they seemed in no haste to lie down to pleasan dreams. At length the voice of Old Rocky broke the ence. ‘**Bout what locate hed we-’uns better perceed, arter layin’ off a bit, hyeraways, pard? - one my perrarer perergrinatin’ pic- tur’ ef } oe any idee whar we'd orterp’int! No use cavortin’ an’ meanderin’ ’roun’, permisc’us- like, es I knows on. We've gut ter flit furder ter ther east’ard, I reckon, or lose our cabase thatch, an’ git scarified by ther red scum. ‘‘Ther Curmanches °’u’d jist snicker ter git a show ter snatch we-uns bald-headed; but I’m a son of a gunif they hain’t gut ter creep from ee blankets ’arly in ther mornin’, ter scoop us in. ‘I’m reckonin’ ther smoky sons o’ Satan ’u’d hev a nasty time corralin’ we’uns. They foun’ thet out long ago. They don’t dissect my in- ‘ards ontil a hefty spri ’ on ’em_ hev skuted, et stompede speed, ter ther Injun pur- tory. a Thar hes ter be a hefty batch on’em ter git ‘sand’ ter run in on us brash. Giner'ly re fear’d ter tackle us. ‘Fear’d’s noname— @xeert!” ‘“*T feels jist like sockin’ hit ter a few o’ ther Ole Rock; an’ we're yt on ther proper locate ter git a show. we does, I y an’ won’t ax them ter ’scuse me, but lunge right in, an’ reap a crap o’ ha’r. Ef I doesn t, durn my skin! 1 wouldn’t mind bein’ pursued by a big war- , fer, Skip kin pick up his hinders, while I pick ’em off’n thar critters.” ‘* Ye’re mighty right, pard. Weuns air in a hunky locate fer ha’r; an’ I doesn’t opine thet our time’s come jist yit, ter hev our bleed-mer- sheens hashed, er git shot chuck full o’ arrers, ** Sculp me ther San Saba, two moons ago; an’ a pilgrim hed ter be es peart,an’ dodge es speedy es a dipper- duck takes ter water, ter skin through this locate with a hull hide! Thet’s sart’in sure. ‘*'We’uns hev hed ther durn’dest owdacious luck of late. Hain’t hearn a red skunk squeal, fer half a moon.” ‘* Hit’s scanderlous, Ole Rock—scanderlous ter think o’ hit. I’m gittin’ rusty, es well es my shooters. I'd like ter lunge right inter a Injun lay-out, helter-skelter, on ther splurge; gallop Skip full chisel, ‘mong "bout a hundred ov ’em! I don’t reckon I’d make a fizzle o’ ther biz, er git cotched fer ther tortur’,” ‘““I kinder opine pard we’-uns’ ‘Il strike ‘sign ’ ter-morrer. 'Le’s roll up now, an’ sorter siester a leetle, es ther Greasers say. Ef thar’s anythin’ ’ ious ’roun’, ther nags ‘ll sashay an’ snort, an’ [ll sleep with one eye open. Thet’s more’n yeou kin do, pard, without layin’ plum awake.’ ** Mighty — yer air, Ole Rock; but one per air a hefty sight better’n none et all. owsomever, I reckon I kin see *bout es much when I — my one on biz, es ary galoot in Texas. Ef I can’t, Skip an’ me tergether kin. Now I'm in fer a double-barrel ole he snooze.” With these words, the old prairie roamers laid back their heads upon their saddles, and were at once asleep. All was soon still around them. For fully an hour and a half, the two scouts slept, never moving a hair, and their breathing hardly perceptible; wheu the first wild yell of exultation from the Comanche warriors, who strode along the west bank of the San Saba, on the opposite side from the cliff in eager ge ee] tion of beholding the captive, Darin ick, dragged to the verge of the same, and lowered, to be stung to death by the bees—this wild yell, long, loud, and piercing, sounded through the night air. : he horses of the two scouts jerked their heads upward from the sward, with snorts of alarm the grass still hanging from their jaws, and their ears pricked forward toward the river, from whence the yells sounded. The instant the sound broke on the air, Old Rocky and Single Eye sprung to their feet—the former crying out, in a surprised voice: ‘* By ther holy horn-spoon! Cuss my cats, ef thet warn’t Injun music!” ‘*Dang my dogs, ef yer ain’t kerrect, Ole Rock! Jark ther critters inter ther bush, an’ le’s skute towards ther drink. Thar’s fun ahead, er I’m a bob-tailed mule! **Ther condemned red scarifiers air on ther San Saba, b’ilin’ over with an appetite fer bleed an’ ha’r; an’ ef they hain’t kerral’d a white pil- grim, Til chaw b an’ snakes fer grub, ther next six moons! I knows, by thar yelps.” ** Hus-sh, pard! Don’t be rambunctious, jist simmer down, an’ we'll snake hit through ther bush lively. Better not take our long shooters —they’ll be in ther way—an’ I reckon, our sixes an’ slashers ’]l be enough fer us, in this hyer lit- tle riffle o’ hellishness.’ “*Skoot air ther word, pard! Le’s keep cluss = r. Thar’s hell afoot, er I’m a Piute!” tily the horses were led into the thicket, and secured; then both the scouts stole noise- lessly through the deep shades, toward the swell of the big bend. No one within twenty feet would have heard wigiear este | they were ck undergrowth, and mov- g rapidly. b y mada to be able to see in the darkness, or to follow the paths made by wild beasts, as though by instinct; and the fre- quent yells, of which they understood the mean- ing, ca them to increase their speed—no word passing between them. They knew from the first sounds that the In- dians were at the swell of the bend; and not this, but that the savages had captured some un- fortunate white man, and were about to torture their captive. From the first the old scouts had determined to effect a rescue, was such a thing possible, even were they forced to risk their own lives. And it would not be the first time, by many, that they had done this. In a little time they reached the bank of the river, but some slight distance from the cliff. There eon | ted the bushes and beheld our hero, the raves having just lowered him, as been described. The latter then ran a the cliff, north, to a pe where they co cross the stream and join the main war-party. The whole Indian force, except those who were guarding the mustangs, were in plain view of the scouts. It is needless to say that Old Rosky and Single Eye were furious, They knew that the — must be suffering great torture of mind and body. their a but ther varmints were plenty on | LLL LLL LL ttt te They also knew the object of the merciless red- men in thus hanging him over the cliff. f They knew that the cliff was literally alive with wild bees, and that a horrible death await- ed the poor man in the morning. At frst they believed the Indians were en- camped near at hand, and that they intended to remain and witness the terrible death of their Rie, ere he yells of the savages, however, soon prov- ed that they intended to depart, and the scouts were relieved, and rejoiced beyond m when the Comanches darted into the under- growth, with the evident intention of mounting their a an ing east toward the settlements. They could see that it was a large sac yb and they recognized the chief as ne hunder, a most bloodthirsty and venge- savage. They knew if they were discovered the — could not be rescued, and that their own lives would be in jeopardy. They therefore remain- om —- in the bushes, and listened in- ntly. Their practiced ears interpreted all the sounds that proceeded from the Indians aright and they felt positive that the red demons would soon leave the Rio San Saba. Soon the scouts sprung to their feet and tore through the undergrowth, and up the sone | —— presently standing over the suspend erer. Each at once clutched a rope, and with words of cheer sounding in his ears, Daring Dick was drawn quickly upward, and sea pe the rocks, the cords being at once severed trom his wris ‘*“May Heaven bless and reward you!” said Dick, ina husky voice. ‘‘ I believed myself doom- ed and had not the slightest hope of rescue, owe you both my life, and I a es debts!” ‘* Cuss my cats, pard, don’t sling thet sort o° gab et we-’uns. 3) oe ter be humans, which we wouldn’t beef we'd ‘low ther red scum ter hang yer up thet-a-way, an’ not risk ha’r an’ hide ter git yer out’n ther scrape.” ““Thet’s whar yer hit ther bull’s-eye, Ole Rock!” put in Single Eye, ‘‘a sweet pa’r o’ pil- grims we'd be, ef we wouldn’t wade through bleed ter git yer out’n this byer dif’kilty! Dan my dogs ef hit ain’t Darin’ Dick, o’ ther Leon “A idn’t I know yer fu’st off? ‘* By ther bleed o’ Crockett, ye’re right! Dick, how in ther dickens did yer git inter—” ‘* Hu-s-sh!” came from the lips of Single Eye, in interruption. The old scout had — the sound of moving bushes below them on the opposite side of the river. The next moment the Tonkaway chief bound- ed into the clear space, where so recently the main portion of the Comanche war-party stood. The eyes of Turtle were bent upward, and the trio on the cliff knew that he had seen and recog- nized them before he had made any movemen Straight to the bank the Tonkaway bounded, and then stood erect a moment, Seeing venenys om his favorite ejaculation bursting is lips: Waugh!” **Dang my ’Merican heart, ef thar ain’t ther Tonk!” ‘‘Turtle, hit is, er I hopes ter be hashed an’ fed ter Diggers, with bug an’ grasshopper fixin’s!” Thus exclaimed the two scouts. Only a moment did the chief stand thus, He then off, down the river, and disappear- ed in the shades, Soon a splash was heard, and the three men knew that Turtle was swimming a ree sl cdiae ania aring Dick fe e like 2 friends, perceiving this, readily excused him. ‘Yer needn’t ter sling oa gab, Dick,” said Old *We-uns ’ e keer o’ yer, an’ fix up 23 wounds. Reckon yer hed a fight, all lone; an’ ther hell hev kerried yer weapons. Thet’s bad—I’m dog-goned ef hit ! | ‘‘ Hit’s ormighty lucky though, thet ther ha'r- tarers skuted, er we'd hed a hefty riffle o’ fun, ittin’ way ther rocks. Whar in thundera- on’s e ‘** Reckon he’s gone ter git a peep et ther rarer piruts,” suggested Single ve; * Turtle do love a Curmanch’ like a cat hankers arter soap! e scouts stood beside Daring Dick, waiting for him to recover somewhat, before assisting him See tid mr nP 5 iad eyes a the ot roun ckets an es, for they suspec that some of the Indians remained behind. Turtle did not join them for some time. Then he came, running rapidly, and halted directly in front of them, saying: ‘Must go quick in dark wood. Comanche see horse trail on plain. Ride back fast. Know py tegen in bottom. Come! ‘“ My white brother heap sick. Must hide im bush. Talk no good on war-path. Waugh!” “* Wa-al, dang an’ double g my dorgs!” ex- claimed Single Eye. ‘‘Comin’ back, ai f air Sku te! oA sy air ther word! Com pard Dick.” we'll all help you ‘long.” m “Cuss ther Curmanches! put in Old Rocky, ** Comin’ back? Waz-al, I should twitter!” EOmMmicbooks ; (ECO)