Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

King Kent. twenty outlaws. We hes ter play ‘roots’ onter ’em. in ther timber an’ busb, er lose ther game. ‘*T opine we'd better hustle, es Ole Rock per- ses, two on each side ther drink, an’ wait fer em. ‘hat d’yer think o’ hit, Turtle?” ‘‘My white brothers talk good. Council broke. Wauzh!” And the Tonkaway sprung to his feet, and into his saddle, saying: ‘Come. Turtle go over river. Single Eye go over river. Find bad white men. nd Lily of Leon, Turtle heap mad. War-cry on lips. Waugh!" The Tonkaway urged his black steed into the river, and swam the animal across, followed bY Single Eye; while Old Rocky and Daring Dic separated, one keeping within a short distance of the stream, the other half-way between _ his com- aoe tebe and the outer margin of the timber line— th going down the San Saba, and keeping a keen lookout; but depending more upon their ears than their eyes, to discover indications of the presence of the Basin Bindits, Turtle and Single Eys followed the same course, on the opposite side of the river; all four being nearly in a line, but of course invisible to each other in the shades, Not one of them, however, had the remotest idea that they would discover the band on the south side of the Rio Colorado; but they knew that they would not be satisfied, without a thorough search of the bottom-timber. They had no means of knowing whether King Kent had succeeded in his dastardly abduction. If be had,in what manner had it been accom- plished? Had he torn Lola from her home, on the night following tne day on which Dick and Turtle had set out from the ranch? In thit case, it was just pos- sible tat they had crossed the Colorado, They little dreamed, that the miscreants they sought were near at hand, and had in their power, not only Lola Landers, but Edna Edwards. And little thought any of the four, that the most star.liug and tragic surprises awaited them—that the night; so eventful thus far, was preenant with drea:l events: that they were fated yet to gaze upon still more agonizing scenes, Even while they had been holding their “ council talk,’ preparations were being made, where they least expected it, for “ringing in’ the changes of the terrible scenes in the tragic drama of the night. A most amazing occurrence had taken placs, im- mediately after our four friends had separated, as has been described. Turtle, whose senses were strained to the utmost to detect by sight or sound, anything that woul point to, or indicate the presence of human beings Other than those of his own party, suddenly jerked bis horse to a halt; and, turning in his saddle, bent his ear to listen. Then he dismounted, and cast hims’ lf flat upon the earth, his ear upon the leafy carpet. Instantly he was up, and again in his saddle, giv- sto low and peculiar sigaal. he steed shot forward, and soon was at the side of Skip-Lively; the Tonkaway saying to Single Kye, who had balted: | "Single Eye ride fast to river. Follow Turtle. Comanche come. Heap mad. Want scalp. Waugh!”’ Hesitating not a moment, the Tonkaway sped to- ward the river, Single Eye close following. * Dog-gone my pictur’! exclaimed the latter, “ef ther ole cus: w.’ horns an’ huffs ain’t runnin’ things on this section o’ ther big ball o’ dirt! Ef ther cuss- ed Coinanches ain’t comin’, jist a-hummin’, I’m ther boss pervaricator in ther Lone Star State, What in thunderation does hit mean? Cuss my ca‘s or kittens, ef things doesn't ‘pear ter be sorter mixe.!!’ Following his red pard, Single Eye guided Skip- Lively into the waters, down the bank; the animal entering tle river noiselessly, and striking out for the opposite bank, as Turtle gained and surmounted A The Tonkaway immediately sped on into the shades, and soon returned toward the river, with Old Rocky and Daring Dick in his c »mpany,. With a Liss of caution, Turtle uttered one word: **Come,”’ Siugly the scouts and Dick followed, all finding they were in a mustang-path, that led parallel with the river, the bushes growing quite derse between; over which, however. the riders could easily look, But a short distance did they travel thus, Then the chief halted, pointing significantly over the dark waters. On the opposite bank, and for some distance in- Jani from tue river, was a wide wash-out, or gully, This was ut erly devoid of bus.es—its banks, some six feet in hizht, and its bed not more than twenty feet across. All now fixed their gaze upon this gully, Old Rocky and Daring Dick filed with the gr atest wonder and curiosity; they not having the least ilea what their ards had discovered, or what would next meet heir eyes, Turtle had given no explanation, having ree’ © by aA eet made known his desire that ney should follow him, ot long had they halted, when their attention was altracted some little distance up the river, Plainly beard now, were the sounds which, afar off, had attracted the attention of the keen-eared chief, and had probably thus prevented bis capture, as well as that of Single Eye, That which now drew the wondering attention of Old Boaky and Daring Dick—but which was looked for, and the nature of the same known by the others —was the whis of the branches, and the sway- ing of the tops of the undergrowth, for some dis- tance in breadth, and but a little removed from the river-bank. This iacreased, nearing the gully rapidly. In a short time, down into the gully, across the bed of the same, and then up the opposite bank in terrific bounds, sprung warrior after warrior; bows and arrows in their hands, feathers flauntisg, and long, black hair flying. Scalp-decorated, and with tiny silver ornaments oe in their hair, these Comanche braves. naked m the belt upward, and daubed with pigments— no more horrible sight could be witnessed on earth, than that which was presented to our friends in the wash-out, over the dark water-! ons from Gchenna, |, t loose for the night, to @urse the earth, and spread death and desolation Pas | | | | >t ss ' | a | the fiercest yelis; | broadcast, they appeared to be; and, indeed, they were. All seemed to be franticatiy furious, eager for blood and revenge—their chief, Rolling Thunder, being in the lead, The on-speeding of the Comanche war-party—our friends knew that all had passed over the gully that had been left, nearly two-score in number—down tiie Rio San Saba, was a most bewildering sight to the four spectators; indeed, their object was unaccount- able to them. but they were not to remain long in ignorance. ‘Waugh! burst from the lips of Turtle, as the last Comanche sprung up the bank of the gully. “Dang my dorgs!"”’ ejacul ted Old Rocky. **OCuss my cats?’ came from Single Eye, ‘‘ In Heaven’s name, what does this movement of the red fiends mean?’ demanded Daring Dick. CHAPTER XXV. ON THE TRAIL OF THE BANDITS. INSANELY furious was Rolling Thunder, and noless so were his braves, as they sprung from the tres after the danger was past and saw their mustangs mingled with the herd of mares, and galloping in a wild stampede away up the “ open” of the bend, toward the western prairies. No greater calamity could have befallen them; in- deed Rolling Thunder would not have felt as bad had half «f his war-party been laid out, mangled aud dead, in the camp. Only three of his warriors had been slain by the rand m firing of the stampecers; but many had reccived wounds, which made them all the more eager for revenge. The hat: d Tonkaway they saw had been the prime mover and directorin the entire affair, and they would have yelle | with insane delight could they have had him at the torture-stake, Terrible, indeed, would have been the fate of the Tonkaway chief, could the Comanches bave captur- ed him, at that, or any other time. It was while the braves were filling the night-air with their who ps and Is that they observed the lassoing of the horses of the Greasers, and the start- ing of them toward their camp, n the excitement and fury that had ruled them, the Comanches had paid little attention to any ex- cept the four stampeders, they having recognized the terrible scouts, Old Rocky and Single Eye, who had slain so many of their number on previous oc- casions, and the fact that the two Mexicans were cap- tives to the whites and the Tonkaway had not been detected. Now, however, 2s the two Greasers were COpINg near, the Indians perceived that they were both bound fast to their horses, and were being borne into the camp much against their will. i gd the Comanches comprehended the situa- on, The Greasers, it was evident, had stolen the herd eee trail had been followed by the scouts and urtle, Yells of triumph burst from the lips of the braves, many of whom rushed to secure t!.e animals of the Mexicans; but the horse of Antonio, startled by the rush ana yells, whirled, and galloped wildly after the scouts—reaching them, as we have seen, Juan fared worse, for the terrified and shri king wretch was secur d and dragged from his saddle, the horse being lariated fast to a tree, for the use of a brave who was ordered to start as soon as he could prepare food, to spy after the stampeding mustangs. T is warrior was ordered never to show his face to his chief, unless he returned with the animals; or at least, sufficient of them to mount the survivors of the war-party. As may be supposed, this brave felt that he was an exile from bis tribe, from the start; for he had not the least hope of securing the stampeding mus- tan Neither did he much ee ge that he could escape the terrible Tonkaway and the scouts, However, he set out, dag anv keeping within the bottom timber, but on the border of the same; and, to his intense relief and joy, he perceived the meet- ing of the Mexican and the scouts the abandoning of the stampeding animals by the Istter, and their de- ety ad into the shades—evidently down by the Rio n a This gave the Comanche spy the most intense sat- isfaction; for, could he but succeed in turning the stampede, and driving the herd back tothe camp, he knew that two eagle-feathers would flaunt from his fillet in place of one. Antonio entered the timber, in bis flight, far ahead of this warrior; and the latter refrained from seekx- ing to kill or capture him, as so much depended upon bim at that critical time. On, in aya of the stampede, went the exultant and hopeful Comanche, Mcantime Juan was dragged into the camp, amid and doubtless the iidiens would have tortured tim then and there, but for unlooke | for and « xceeding good news. Rolling Thunder stood, with folded arms, a per- fect personification of brutality aud ferocity, gazi at the Greaser. as the latter was dragged into the camp; but, at that very moment, a young brave— one who had been dispatched, as a spy, toward the Rio Colorado—galloped up at great speed, his horse drloping with water, he having forded the river be- low the cliffs. Direct'y up to the front of Rolling Thunder, he galloped, jer ing his horse to haunches, and at the same time leap to the earth, and standing— straight as a mount-sheltered pine—before his chief. arms were folded. and the jaw-strap of his mus- tang still clutched; while the animal panted labori- ously, proving that it had galloped long and fast since leaving the war-party. silent, waiting to be ad- bid ii 1 brave sto dre 7 by his chief; and immediately the latter spoke: ‘Red Snake has come. His mustang has run fast. Do buzzards fly over camp of Texans on Colorado? Do coyotes hice in bush to graw bones that white dogs leave at camp-fire? Mebbe so deer feed, ante- on Colorado, unscared by dogs that live in log-lodges, Speak, Snake! Rolling Thunder’s ears are open.” ‘* Buzzards fly thick in air. Coyotes hide in bush. The smell of burnt meat filis air of San Saba’’— pointing down the river, in the direction of the Col- te feed on San Sab white ’ iP) See ee EE EE EEE a ea a a a SS Tia ie ee 7 . So orado—‘“‘ deer run fast over p airie. Turkeys fly high in the tree-tops, for the white dogs of Brazos build camp-fire on San Saba." ‘““How many?’ asked the Comanche chief, think- ing perbaps that the young brave had seen the scouts and the Tonkaway. Opening his fingers, and holding his hands up- ward, and then closing, and extcnding his fingers again, the young warrior designat d eighteen. Then a far-reacl ing and prolonged whoop of exul- tation and joy burst from Reclling Thunder. This drew the Comanches in a circle around the pair, the secre brave being the envy cf many; al- though they only knew that he had brought good news from the trail. ‘* Where camp?” demanded the chief. Again Red Snake, by movements of his fingers, represented the number thirty, as he said: **So manv arrow-flights.”’ Instantly Rolling Thurder drew an eagle-feather from his quiver, at the sight of which a murmur of apvrobati on went the rounds of the warriors. The young brave bent upon one knee, bowing his ead. His chief inserted the badge. or token of prowess, bravery, skill, and honor—the insignia of a warrior —in the fillet of the young Comanche, who had won rank and distinction on his first war-path. ‘‘Red Snake is a warrior,” asserted the chief. g ing around upon his follcwers. ‘‘He has found. camp of white dogs. White dogs Poe mus’angs. Com+nches want mustangs, want scalps. ‘*War-path open. War-crysoonsound. Ourbelts will be heavy with scalps of white dogs. Get guns, get mustangs from diablo Tew nos. “Get captives for torture. Quick, war-path gpen. Tie Greaser dog up high in tree. Bime-by comé tor- ture. Rolling Thunder, your chief has spok: n.” Then, waving his arm. he dispersed tis warriors, to prepare for an advance down the San Saba. ed Snake procured food, and after gorgirg him- self—at times bowing his head quickly, to plant the eagle-feath«r forward before his eyes, to assure himself that he was not, or had not been dreaming —he then made ergy f to guide the war-party on toward revenge and blood, scalps, borses, and cap- tives, The breast of the young warrior swelled with pride and exultation. Juan was hanled up into the topmost branches of a huge tree, with a Jariat that was secured under his arms; and there bound fast. The luc! less Mexi- can was more like a corpse than a living, breathing hu ~an being. Then the horse of Red Snake, and all the tricks and traps of the camp—tog ther with the lances, which coul] not well be carried Onrough the timber and undergrowth, and would be of little use on foot —all these were secri ted in a dense thicket, at some distance from the camp. This being completed, the Comanche war party, led by Red Snake, with Rolling Thunder by his side, stole over the river, on a natural bridge formed b a fallen tree, and down the stream; gliding throug the undergrowth, with weapons tightly clutched, loss of their mstan so many of their fellow braves, ruling their savage breasts and brains. And, while thus stealing, with demoniac intent and mur‘erous hate, beneath the shades, they were disecv.red by our four. friends, who were both amazed and perplexed by the unexpectcd advance of the red fiends, down the Rio San Had they even suspect d, at the time, the nature of the knowledge the Comanches had become pos- sessed of, and which had led to their departure on foot toward the Colorado—our friends would have torn through the unie wth, on the side of the river where th°y had joined each other, and thus gotten ahead of the Indians, with the intention of making a desperate dash into the most deadly dan- ger, to save, if it were possible, innocence and urity from savage cruelty—ay, more than this— rom a fate far worse than the most torturing death by any mere physical ering. For the Comanches were, as the reader bas of course decided, on their way to the camp of the Basin Bandits, under King Kent, whom Rd Snake had discovered, and without revealing himself. had followed until the outlaws had encamped. Then the young brave had galloped instantly to inform his chief of the discovery. The revolver-shots, and yells of the scouts and Indians, hed not been heard by the bandits, for the reason that they were then crashing through the undergrowth, in search of a favorable place to en- camp. Had this not been the case—although quite a mile, in a bee-line, from the big bend—they could not have failed to hear these proofs of battle, for the still, rare night air conducted sounds quite a distance, besides aig ae | afar down the arched pitas f and amid the timber and caverns of the cliffs, CHAPTER XXVL THE BANDITS AT THE BEND. Wuen the Basin Bandits reached the point at which their leader bai agreed to encamp, King Kent seemed to be but little if any fatigued. When they halted, however, he paced back and forth seeming to be in the most excruciating torture of mind, except wh n upon the move, His followers knew that his excessive indulgence in ardent spirits would end in mania, and they scarcely doubted that he would kill himself, or others— possibly both. He could get no natural sleep, but lay in a semi- comatose state, his eyes wide open, and staring vacantly, unable to move a muscle until shaken by Big Bil. who kept close watch over him, Then he would start up, and procure more whisky, and would drink until relieved temporarily in body and brain, when he would seek the spot where the two fair captives reclined, and there stand regarding them with an expression that caused them — to each other, shuddering with horror atd rep sion. This would madden him, and he would retaliate by reggae the happiness which would be teirs, when they should arrive at tha Rio Grande, and he and Lola be wedded. This mood was even more terrifying to the veo maidens than were his fits of rage and fury. Indeed, and an insane thirst for blood, and revenge for the , and coptive, and the lives of , Eomichboo <SiGO ,