Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

as 7 - - 2 King Kent. oa I RR complished did they betray their presence during the search. Soon, however, all was silent in the camp, and in the woods surrounding. Hours passed thus; the braves, one by one re- | eends 0’ them!’ , unsuccessful in finding any trace of either the Tonkaway or the released captive. It was ascertained that the horse of the latter had been taken from the camp. This was laid to the door of the Tonkaway, as | he had slain and scalped Black Fox, the sub- chief, and taken the captive’s belt of weapons. The dead were all laid side by side, and an hour after midnight, as all the searching braves had returned, a guard was stationed, sy | Thunder believing that the trail of Turtle woul be found in the morning, and also that the war- riors, who had been dispatched up the river, would capture the herd of horses, If there was as large a number as he had cal- culated by the trail, the chief determined to start back to his village, and not make a raid on the settlements; for, even he was impressed with the idea that. it was an unlucky moon for the war-path. All except the guard lay down to sleep, as silent and motionless as the corpses of their ae braves, which lay, stark and stiff, near at Daring Dick’s wounds had been dressed in a skillful manner by Old Rocky, who stanched the blood, bathed the stab and furrow, and applied healing salve. ” ; ; . | a hyer,” said Old Rocky, Pee viciously ; ‘but I reckon you knows ‘‘ Jist so,” put in Single Eye; ‘‘I hankers ter jark ropes, wi’ ther or’nary Mex’ scum onter ther “ Turtle sg Mrs Kent snake. Say snake jump, bite. rtle tongue not forked. Dick, talk good. Tie Greaser dogs to horses. ‘*Mebbe so go back on trail to Leon. Mebbe so Comanche torture. Mebbe so capture King Kent. Then hang all to tree.” **I declare, I didn’t think of that!” exclaimed Dick. ‘ You areright, Turtle. If the miscre- ant is expected here, we'll be on the lookout for oe and we'll make short work of him and em. ‘*Tie them up, s, and make sure you tie knots that will not slip. ‘ ‘*'Wa-al, I sh’u’d snicker ef I didn’t!” said Old Rocky, as he bound Juan, ‘* An’ I sh’u’d puke up my toe-nails ef Antone gut away, arter my leetle job of rope tyin’,” as- serted Single Eye. The Mexicans considered themselves very for- tunate, thus to gain a respite; probably deciding that while there was life there was hope. When they were securely bound, the Tonk- away spoke: Turtle say have talk, council-talk, when find horses. More horses over there,”—pointing across the neck of the bend. “ Turtle say drive | horses together. Drivedowntobig bend. Heap horses. *“Comanche go sleep. Stampede horses into Dick then satisfied his hunger, and when! Comanche camp. Make Comanche mustang Turtle put in an appearance the young man was again in tolerable condition. Our four friends galloped on the soft sward along the southern border of the San Saba timber and up the river at full not hav- ing been discovered by any of the Comanche searchers. Turtle informed his white pardsin regard to his having discovered that portion of the stam- ep herd which had been driven up the north side of the bend by Francisco, and that he had left them in the same ‘‘open” where he had slain the Mexican. The scouts concluded that Antonio and Juan had driven their half of the herd also to the neck of the bend, but on the south side of the entrance, with a view of rejoining Francisco, which perhaps had been prevented by their dis- covering the Comanches. They soon reached the entrance referred to, where they perceived Juan and Antonio fast asleep upon blankets near the border of the timber-cove, and stealthily the four avengers advanced, taking up positions, two at the heads of the sleepers, and two at the feet—each with a cocked revolver in his hand. Then, at a signal from Old Rocky, Turtle shot | onrhe nig 9 to itting posture i e Greasers sprung to a si n terror and bewilderment at finding four deadly tubes leveled at their heads. The first glance revealed to the treacherous thieves Daring Dick and the Tonkaway, and they knew that they were doomed. Both turned pale and trembled with the fright that overpowered them. ‘“Why did you drive off the colonel’s horses, and where were you intending to go with them, Antonio?” demanded Dick, sternly. ‘*Mercy, Senor Dick! Are you the devil, that you find us so soon} call all the saints to witness that I wanted not the mares! “King Kent gave me a hundred pesos to drive them to the Rio San Saba. He promised to meet me here, but in his youcome. I wish I was back at the ranch. Have you seen Francisco, Senor Dick?” “Francisco has gone to his fathers,” put in the Tonkaway. Turtle’s knife found his heart!” Both Greasers shuddered. Meanwhile Old Rocky and Single Eye picked two lariats and began to tie nooses in one of ends of each. The loa erm detected this, and became still more ‘Are you willing to make oath that ae bribed you to drive off the mares?” ask ick. ** Si, Senor Dick. . He is a bad man, and he ot us drunk. Mercy, senor! You would not gus like dogs?” ‘ You deserve it, and I presume the Vigilantes of the Leon will decide to string you up. Pards, I think we had better tie them to their saddles ret or them with us. King Kent has gone too far. ‘*Here we have proof of his villainy, which will ng him, even without what Turtle and I inal ha y- We will stop him now in his crim- career. ‘*His enmity toward the Landers family and myself is on account of his being, as he thinks, love with Miss Lola. ‘‘King Kent is capable of any crime in the calendar, but we have him in our power now, and will take advan of it. Let us secure these two wretches and take them back to the | eon. ‘*T sh’u’d asserwate an opine thet ther con- | demned yaller skunks orter be hung up ter dry, heap scare. All stampede over braves. Then turn out on prairie. ‘* My white brothers yell heap. Turtle he yell heap. Ridein camp with stampede. Comanche heapscare. Shootheap. Killheap. Yell heap. Break up Comanche war-party. It is pa: Waugh!’ ‘*'Wa-al, may I be etarnally bamboozled, ef yer hain’t struck the bull’s-eye, Turtle! I sw’ar het’s jist ther ticket! Ef Me skin air red, an’ ye’re sparse in edicashe, I’m layin’ every pica- dps - yer fer fresh idees. hat d’yer say, ees “Dang my dorgs, ef thet ain’t jist ther game what we~’uns kin play, an’ win! Fac’ air, we kin sweep ther board; an’ ef Ole Rollin’ Thun- der don’t lose his ha’r in ther rumpus, he’ll be *bleeged ter roll clean hum ter his village, fer we’uns hes gut deadwood on scoopin’ in all his critters, ef we keep our peepers peeled. What's yer opine, pard Dick?” ‘* Shall we not lose these horses of the colonel’s in the stampede?” ‘“Nary a lose, Dick!” asserted Old tee ‘Why, cuss my cats, we'll corral "bout mustangs o’ ther red hellyuns, ter drive bac Leon-ways!” ‘* Thet’s *bout ther—” A hiss from the Tonkaway here interrupted Single Eye, and Turtle, in a low voice, said: . rag Greasers in bush quick. Comanche come, ar-path open. War-cry on lips.” The next instant, the two Mexicans, trembling as if stricken with e after hearing the words of the chief, were drag into the adjacent pee a hy our friends crouching there beside them. Not a single suspicious sound was to be heard; yet not one of the whites doubted that the Co- manches were near, after Turtle’s assertion. Thus they remained for a couple of minutes before any indications of the enemy were a cha h the per ty listened intently. en the neighing of a mustang came from the eastward. This proved that Rolling Thunder had sent out some of his braves on the trail of the horses. The question most important to the scouts now was—how many warriors were there? All knew that a desperate knife-fight was before them. One thing was certain—not an Indian must be allowed to go back to the camp. All must die, wren if fhrearzis bad $0:-be ened. It was just possible that the reports of the re- volvers might not be heard in the camp of Roll- ing Thunder. waited in breathless expectation the com- ing of the Comanche trailers, who, having fol- lowed the trail of the stam mares amid the dense timber, had not arrived as soon as our ends, The latter had gallo ground on the border of unheard by the Indians, as we know, on clear the timber, unseen and CHAPTER XXI. A FATHER’S ANGUISH. Lota LANDERS and Edna Edwards were both wearied nearly to illness, before the first long op up the Leon ended, and the Basin Ban for rest and breakfast, and to allow their animals to grave; just as the Southern sun arose in all its glory above the eastern hori- ron. But the spirit of Edna was far from being broken. She was still defiant and hopeful. The threats of King Kent in connection with Daring Dick had served to render Lola, on the ~~ other hand, almost insane with concern, more for her lover than for herself. She knew well, upon reflection, that the 7 ricide had made no vain boast—that Dick had been lured from the ranch purposely, not onl to prevent him from protecting her, or fol- lowing fast with a force on the trail of her abductors, but that they might have an oppor- tunity to kill him, when he would have no chance to successfully defend himself against such a strong force. Taking into consideration the dastardly char- acter of King Kent, Lola had no doubt that he would effect the capture of Daring Dick by eresy and then torture him as he had threat- ened. The poor girl’s brain became like molten metal at the dread im ings, the awful probabilities that the terrible near future prom- ised; she, eventually, praying for death to re~ lieve her from the torments of mind she en- dured. Reared in luxury, as far as such a thi was possible on the border, her every wis catered to by her indulgent father, and with an extremely delicate and most sensitive nature— the reader can but faintly imagine the fearful torment of mind the poor maiden suffered, situ- ated as she was. And these two young girls, so unlike in dispo- sition, and of such widely different types of beauty, had great influence even upon those: lawless, crime-stained outlaws. They admired Edna for her ‘‘sand,” as they expressed it; meaning her courage and defiance amid such dangerous se ae As for Lola, so refined, guileless and child- like was she, they were forced, in spite of them- selves, to sympathize with, and pity her. This influence the maidens unconsciously ex- erted over the rough bandits, and it was most for- tunate for them. ing Kent detected it but dar- ed not carry his taunts and threats too far, lest his followers might break out in open rebellion. ainst him. oubtless he would have proceeded to ex~ tremes and brought both of his fair captives to helpless illness had not his men manifested by their looks and actions their undoubted sympa- thy with the maidens. et the miscreant swore mentally that he would not be balked in his aims and desires, when a reasonable time and place were favor- able; even should he be forced to maintain his command by shooting down some of his men. King Kent had become a very demon,. since his crowning criminal act, the murdering of his father. He knew that death, an ignominious death by the se would be his doom, should he be over- taken by the rancheroes of the Leon and Brazos; therefore the horses would be pressed to the greatest possible speed after leaving the timber. Thus he decided. No longer was there the least fear of death, ex~ cept by the rope, in his mind; his manner being” overbearing to all except Big Bill, upon whom: he relied regs All realized the change in their leader, and’ wondered not. Indeed they would not have been the least surprised had he blown his own. brains out, their amazoment having been only that he had not gone hopelessly insane after his. most unnatural crime. But the parricide kept himself braced + con- tinually by wits Ayer ons, and should the liquor give out, he would indeed become a raging mad- man. As short as possible, and at the same time allow the horses to suffici them, was the first halt, and then, agreeably to the orders of King Kent, and to the inclinations of his followers, all sped at a terrific away from the Rio Leon. But, when afar out on the plain, they turned and kept a course par- allel with the stueam, and to the southwest. By thus proceeding, they could gain sight of any who might pursue a long distance away, and be ready to receive, or to avoid them. The poor maidens were thus greatly fatigued although their bonds had been removed, an they were permitted to guide their own horses, but still kept in the midst of the outlaw horde. la had refused the food that had been placed before her; but, through the persuasion of Ed- na, she was induced to eat, that she might keep up her strength. Edna, though she had but little hope remaining, constant] ke words of cheer, asserting that Daring Dick and Turtle were not only well able to take care of them- selves, and avoid death or capture, but might mr their erererny ’ a Dhl e expaua upon the daring an bravery of the Tonkaway chief, who would make su rhuman efforts with Dick to rescue them, did they discover that they were captives to the Basin Bandits, She also bade Lola base hope u the follow- ing up of their abductors by her father, and the rancheroes, who had collected on account of the murder of Captain Knowles. The fair girl be- came at last somewhat hopeful, from the words of her friend, and for a time this hope nerved both the maidens to bear up. But, as on and on, through that day and the next, the headlong speed was maintained, bodily fatigue and suffer Gomic gs) ICO (E(6)