Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

aaa ‘King Kent. against the tree-trunk; again paralyzed with the horror and danger that encompassed them. Hopeless and despairing, iudeed, were the un- fortunate and much-wrovged girls, as the painted and blood stained demons glared gloatingly upon them. f Their situation and condition had been terrible r. viously, but now it was deubly so; tadeads they aaten not thiuk of the probable fate beiore them, lest their tortured brains would burst. The Comanche chief stepped over the wall of saddles saying: ‘* Heap me! squaws. Sweep lodge. falo-meat for Rolling Thunder. Ugh! Govt heap good scalp for shield. Shine like sun. ° The mons.er extended his blood-stained hand, to clutch the golden hair of Lola Landers, which hung in tangled and wild abandon below her waist—a wealth of wavy tresses, " ’ The maidens gave a wild and spioncing shrick, and sunk senseless at the feet of Rollmg Thunder. The braves had stood in wonder, not devoid of awe. gazing at tue fair captives, Whe se beauty cf form and face—and especially Lola's golden hair— seemed unearthly to them. Thy entertain d the idea that she must be a favored daughter of the Good Spirit, who had come to visit the earth from the blaz ng sun. The chief, himself, | such glorious hair, was struck with thoughts: kin to those of his warriors; but he scorned to betray his feelings in any way. A ccalure, ziven impatiently by Rolling Thunder, caused the braves to continue on in their work: con- veying the the wounded. As the camp was thus cleared, the horses and mules of the outlaw band were Ied into the camp, for the inspection of the chief, who, with much pleasure, viewed the animals, and then order- ed them all to be returned to th» “open,” exce) t six. which were saddled, and with as many braves, di-patched to the old camp at the big bend, to bring the lances and equipments. ; These were ordered. also, to bring the Mexican captive to the bandit camp; at which the Comanche chief decided to remain—a mule being taken in lead, upon which to bind Juan. This party having departed, Rolling Thunder or- dered a half dozen of his best trailers to scour the bottom-timber, and capture or kil the cscaped out- laws The red scouts departed cn this mission at once. When these had gone, Black Deer, who had becn sent on the trail of the stampede, galloped into camp; his horse covered with foam, and panting laboriously. Springing to the earth, this warrior stood before his chief, silent and stoical; manifesting not the slightest surprise or emction of any kind, at behold- ing his slain comrades, or at finding the chief in pos- session of the camp of the hated T\ x ‘nos. “Black Der hs come,”’—thus spoke Rolling Thunder. ‘ Has he driven the mustangs back, that - poems his face to his chief, or has he come to die nife?"’ “Black Deer has driven mustangs back. Heap horses in old camp.”’ : “It is good. Black Deeris a brave warrior. He shall wear his two eagle-feathers in fillet.” As had Red Snake, so did Black Deer kneel; and the chief thrust an eagle-feathber beside the one that already flaunted from the warrior’s fillet. Then he asked: ** Where white scouts? Where Tonkaway chief?” “Ride in woods. Down San Saba.” Cook buf- | Single Eye, ‘‘an’ what ther no-‘count crooked bush- crawler ‘ud be lierble ter do.”’ “Talk no good on war-; ath,” put in the Tork- away. ‘King Kent he steal of Leon. Heap scare rancheroes catch him, ide fast. Heap scare lasso on neck. Mebbe so King K: nt on San Saba. Daring D.ck he talk good. Come! Turtle want more scalp. War-cry on lips. Waugh!” On our four friends continued slowly, in order to avoid discovery, as, if they made haste, they would be heard, asthough the ground was soft beneath _ the timber, Th. M soon found, however, ttat their ae were making better time than the Coman- ches, who had never before beheld | | j | | Soon they reached a int which was directi oO; posite the camp-fires. securing their Lorscs, stole through the undergrowth toward the river, all keeping close togetaer. Before arriviog at a favorable position our friends way, revealed fast-flying and and glittering steel, and a rapid play of glinting blades amid the same, over the pl..med heads, the ghastly white and the painted faces. For a moment only. Then into the Carkness oe around a curve floated the desperat. ly-figLting our. ‘*Wa-al. I hopes ter be hashed by a friz’ b’ r, ef this hyer ain’t a boss circus!’’ whispcred Old Rocky. * Great Crockctt! Hit beats ther dickers,” sprecd Single Kye; *‘ but we-’uns orier ccrraled ther cuss.” “Hit wouldn’t ha’ did, ; ard,” said O.d Kecly. . a spit big music scon <.s Le know’a who'd gut iim.” ‘‘By Heavens!” cxclaimed Daring Dick: ‘*! would ere the gone nap etn , | have risked it any way if T Ladn’t been nearly par- alyzed with astonishmcnt.” ‘Never mind, pard Dick.” replied Old Rcecky; ‘the’s on the p’ogramme fer tortur’. an’ I wculdn’t were decided in thcir minds in regard to the idertity | be in his butes, cven cf be wer safe from ther reds, ' and character of the campers. for the voice of King | f.r .bis byer Lull Lig ball o’ dirt.” Kert broke on their ears, as he was addressing Lola and Edna. Dick was perfectly wild at hearing this. ‘*Look, pards!” he exclaimed, ‘‘the Greaser told the trutk—the infernal truth !”’ As the half-cr.zed young man was on the point of bounding madly to the rescue the scouts both sprung upon him and hurled him to the earth, Turtle assist- ing them to hold him down, “Dick, ole pard,’’ said Old Recky, ‘‘listen ter a Don’t be a fool! You'll ruinate ther hull ig,” *Thar’ll be no show ter git ther leetlc gal outen sadd es and blankets fcr the comfort of | ther scrape.”’ said Single Eye, ‘“‘’ceptin’ by layin’ low au’ watchin’ fer chances. Cuss my cats! Ef yer doesn’t keep cool we'll all Jose our ha’r, an’ Miss Lola'll not bave tuer leastest show to skin through. Doesn't yer see, br sices, thet ther reds are goin’ ter salerwats ther Basin Dandits?’’ Daring Dick finally listened to these )easonings, an | promised faithfully to do as they said, Upon gaining this promise, kis patds released bim; and then all bent their ears, and strained their sight to lose nothing that happened beyond the river. : ‘‘Hit beats anythin’I ever see’d,"* de-lared Old Rocky. ‘Dang ef I ain t nigh on ter bein’ lunified mysclf! King Kent air ther devii’s right bower— dog’d cf he ain't!” For some time they remained silent, hearing and understanding the bandit cLicf. *- Ky ther holy Moses, he’s bin an’ shooted kis own dad! Waz-al, I do sw‘ar, I hopes ther reds ‘ll tertur’ him! Dut what other gal air thet? Dang mecf *tuin’t ole Edwards’s darter!”’ ‘‘ Hit’s her, su. e es shootin’!” agreed Single Eye. Allfelt s mewhat relieved, when King Kent, pipe in mouth, sauntered into the underrrowt. . ‘*Comanche get King Kent now,” said the Tonka- +o ‘Heap good. Waugh!” ; ut great was the astonishment of our friends, when, with terrific shrieks. the bandit leader rushed from the undergrowth, and fell in a fit. Soon after, they saw him thrown into the river, e terrible fight between the outlaws and the Comanches was witnessed Dy. them; Turtle being frantic, because he could not take part in it. Botn par ies were their deadly enemies, and the more thcre were killed on both sides, the better for our friends, and for the cay tives. Lut, when Rolling Thunder stalked about in the camp, they were as- tounded. Had the bandits held together, and not have be- come demoralized by fright, they would have de- * Ugh!" grunted Rolling Thunder, instantly sweep- feated the Comanche war: ing keen glances over the stream, and seeming to pierce the foliage. pariy. Many on both sides lay seed: ; while the survivors of the outlaws, who bad encamped, were now wan- ‘Black Deer ride over San Saba. Find trail of | dering in the woods, and would, without doubt, be Turtle, Find trail of white scouts,” Thus commanded the Comanche c’ ief. . Without a word, the warrior started away, leading bis horse. ‘‘Grass over there,”’ directed the chief. ‘ Mus- tang no good in bushes.” Black Deer soon found the that proceeded from the horses there feeding; and, staking his steed, and removing saddle and jaw- strap, he threw the same into a thicket, and swam over-- vanishing in the busbes on the west bank. “Ugh! came from Rolling Thunder’s lips, in re- lief and exultation, as he stalked back and forth over the leafy carpet in the camp of his vanquished white foe; his form prencly poised, his arms folded across his breast, and his feathers flaunting. And most certainly the chief had gooc ground for joy and triumph. The reverses of the early part of the night had been greatly overbalanced by the successes of the latter part. He had gained ten scalps, two fair captives, the camp of his enemies, and a great number of horses, besides equipments and provisions. CHAPTER XXVIII. APPEARANCE OF THE PARRICIDE. TurTLE, Daring Dick and the two old scouts sat their horses in amazement as the Comanches sprung into the gully and thence down the river, They had not the remotest idea what the object of the red-men could be. i “In the name of wonder, what does it meen? Thus cri d out Dick, in astonishment. “Dang my dorgs ef I knows!’ answered Old ky. TT opines,” broke out Single Eye, ‘‘thet thar’s somethin’ up, down-river, what we-uns doesn’t know nothin’ "bout, but we orter know mighty speedy." ” . “By Heavens, pards;” exclaimed Dick, in great excitement, ‘‘can it be possible that King Kent and his band have arrived in this vicinity, and that the Gomaanches, through one of their spies, have found t out?’’ “T doesn't know,’’ said Old Rocky meditatively. ‘Does yer believe what thet Greaser said, Dick? Hit doesn’t ‘pear es though King Kent ‘u'd dar’ do sich a dirty mean trick, knowin’ he'd git strung up a limb ef we-uns er the rancheroes corraled him ” “But he doesn't know that you and Single Eye are here,’ explained the young man, “and, if he did, he has men enough with him to defy us,” ‘Dick erter know all ‘bout King Kent,’’ asserted open,” by the seunds | hunted down, and to death, by the Indians. Once again Lola and Edna disap from view, as Rolling Thunder stepped into the inclosure, and caught at the golden hair of the former. The s:outs were again forcei to restrain Darivg Dick fiom dashing forward, and attempting a rescue. Then it was that ti e crouching quartette beheld a terrible sicht; their attention being attracted by a slight splashing in the water below them, and a rust- ling among the reec's. The next moment King Kent. all dripping with water, crawled up the bank and threw himself len the ground not far from them; the lariat still se- cured around his body, and extending into the water. His aprearance was truly horrible! His long black hair clung to his head, neck, and shoulders, bis face was ghastly, and his black eyes fixed and stari:g. Evidently, he was conscious of his present position, only to the extent of struggling to save his miserable life. The light of the camp fires over the river revealed his form sufficiently for our friends to see him in all his miserable and forlorn condition of body. and kis tortured state of mind was shown and plainly mir- rored in his glaring eyes, and stamped upon his con- torted face. His teeth were tightly set, gleaming white, his lips curled upward and downward from the same, and tightly drawn and twitching spas- modically. Such was the sight presented by the parricide, It was only for a moment. Then the wretch was jerked rapidly into the river again, tearing wildly as he went at the ss Soe HORHR and reeds that grew at the foot of the ank. Our friends then perceived a paint daubed face, above which flaun two eagle feathers. Then the parricide and the Comanche brave, clutching each other, their heads over each other’s shoulders and writhing in the waters. floated down with the cur- rent, the high bank on the Sapo gle side preventing them from Going seen from the camp, The warrior was Hlack Deer, on ing for another eagle-feather. ; nd although but dimly seen as they were carried he was “ play- me a a a a RS me mm me for some distance below the camp. the watchers be- | held another head with a white face shoot out from the reeds On the same side of the river upon which they were toward the struggling pair. Then a plumed head came from the opposite side. As these met near Kin there was a thrashing of arms, white spray flv w up- ward. and a bar of moonlight, that shonedown u’ on the waters through the limbs of the arched river- Kent and his antagonist, | ‘* Why did the Comanche not teke him over the stream into the camp?” asked Dick. ‘Want Rolling Thunder think captive ’way off.’” explained Turtle. ‘‘ Want chief think Lave hard time get Ki.g Kent. Then gct eagle-feather in fillet.”” * Ya-as, thet’s ther hull biz,” agrced Single Eye; “an’ hit war one o’ his gang what swum out ter resky King Kent, but I reckon hell go under too, without ha’r.”’ ‘When, oh, when will this terrible suspense end? I sha'l go mad!” burst cut Daring Dick. ‘Easy, pard—casy! TLirgs air bunk es they c’u'd be ‘Thrle tle gals air safe, an’ they shell be. Ef ther cusses start ter burt «m, we’ll lungein hot an” heavy, an’ everlas'in’ly ley ther painted piruts out cold. But hit won't do to. sr‘ile ther biz, skutin’ in afore things is ripe, an’ thar’s a fa’r show ter skin through wit’ out ;ittin’ our Leads skinned ” ‘Thet's the preper wry ter sling hit, pard,” put in Single Eye. ‘‘Perforate my perica:di.m. an” chuck me inter a perrarer-dcg hole head-fu’st, ef hit ain't! Keep cool, an’ allow yer La’r ter grow. Dick; an’ thank. ther Grcat Father we-‘uns lev hed thcr luck ter happen byer at atime when we're wanted most ormighty tad ”’ “Heap good talk, Sirgle Eye—beap good talk, Old Rocky. Great Spirit lead Turtle, Jead whifc brothers down San Sabo. Save Lily of Leon; save black eye sq aw of chief Edwards. ‘* Heap loud war-criesscon. Heapscalps. Turtle's belt hang bea y. Itis good! Waugh!” CHAPTER XXTX, PREPARING A TROGRAMME, Our friends witnessed the riturn of Black Deer, and from the gestures cf this warrior in the direc- tion of the big bend, and tle placing of an eagic- feather in his fillet, they were satisfied that ho had driven back the stampede of mares and mus- tangs. They also saw the leading-in of the bandits’ borses —the returning of all Lut six, and saw that number of braves start upon these a.imals up the river, and knew that they were dispatched to take care of tho recovered steeds. This wis favorable, for they could easily advance up the river and shoot these six braves at any timc, and their departure les- sened the number of the war-party in the car p. The scouts and Turt.e were yositive that no harm would befall the captive maidcns—that Rolling cae intended to take them to his faraway v e, The chief would not advance further toward the settlements for good reasons. These were, that he kad already secured more horses than he could hope to steal on the border ranches. He had also taken a number of scalps, as well as considerable provisions and equipage. bi sides hav- ing a Mexican captive for the torture, and two beautifnl white maidens. Our friends were confident now that King Kent would also be Lrought into the camp a captive. The Comanche chief expected scalps and ca tives to be brought in by the braves he had dis- atmos into the timber in search of the fugitive *cdits. Altogether he was exultant and we!l-satisfied—in fact, pleased with his success. The reverses of the first portion of the night caused ‘he triumphs of the latter portion to be Letter ay preciated. But Rolling Thunder was to learn that the aven- gers he had so dreaded, and who had slain such a number of his warriors and stampeded his mus- tangs, had not departed down the Saba to the Colorado. Rolling Thunder had no idea that the men whom he so feared were, in any way. connected with the Texans, whom te had killed and scattered; for he knew pretty well, this band must be fugitives from the border settlements—‘* bad white men "—whose lives would be forfeited, were they captured by their own countrymen, The concern and anxiety of Daring Dick and his compaoions. in regard to the captive maidens, can be but faintly imagined. The occurrences, that have been detailed as ha pening since the dash of the Comanches into the camp of the Basin Pandits, and their advent in the vicinity of our four friends, occupied but a very short space of time; and it was yet two hours, be- fore the gray streaks of coming morn would illumine the prairies. felt the necessity of making a movement to- ward rescuing the captives before daylight; for the scouts and Turtle were confident that the Co- manches would then s'art with their entire plunder, and the herd of mares, toward the west; and then it would be much more difficult to effect the release of the unfortunate mai ‘ens. The most propitious time to make the attempt, they realized. was the present, when the Indians were elated by their successes, and were kept Yang busy in putting things in order for a de e. Besides this, there were now a number of braves absent, in search of the escaped bandits, an’ others gone to the swell of the bend, to look after the mares and mustangs. All this was quickly commented and reasoned upon by our friends in a whispered consultation—a yell of terror and agony, sounding through the bottom- timber at the moment they had decided upon a plan of operations. They paused and listened. (E IOO cS “eom (E()