Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

— a a : , ’ at. aie - ¢ > : = rs - OR le Re by those who aped the fashions of the Rio rande. Daring Dick recognized this sash at once; but, i not, the words of the chief would have aided him todo so: ‘‘ King Kent, he bad man. Try shoot Daring Dick. Hide in bush. He no warrior. He squaw. Hemustdie. King Kent’s scalp shall hang on Tu tle’s belt. A Tonkaway chief has spoken, and lies build not nests on his tongue. Toi is good. Waugh!” The young man was dumfounded. Could it be possible that Kent Knowles had thu; placed himself before the rancheros as a cowardly assassin? Could it be possible that the young gambler had outlawed himself in such a way? Kent would be forced to leave his home for- ever, or run the chances of being hanged by the Vigilantes. t seemed incredible. Yet Daring Dick had tho utmost confidence in Turtle, as a trailer. Ho believed that the chief had other proofs than the scarf. Consequently, to remove all doubts, although he entertained but slight ones, Dick asked quick- ly: Mie What else have you seen, Turtle? Is it not ble that King Kent has been here, on a unt, before the wretch who attempted to shoot me arrived?” “Turtle is not blind. He is not like owl, when sun shine. A squaw could sec trail of King Kent. It is plain *‘ sign,” as buffalo-trail. He hide in bushes. Leave black horse, there,” —pointing to a thicket—make ambush thero oe to another clump of bushes—‘‘ then oot. ‘“* Look!”—striding up the path—‘‘my white brother fall from horse here. See blood! Kin Kent, he drag Dick to river. Think dea Think go down to Big Water (Gulf of Mexico) in Brazos. Then my white brother’s friends no lnow where gone. ‘*Turtle know trail of black horse. Turtlo say King Kent shoot Dick. Itis good. Waugh!” And, as if these words wero to decide the mat- ter for good, the chief strode from the spot, dis- appearing in the thickets; and leaving his youn = seated upon his horse, perfectly bewild- ered. Most certainly, there was no doubt in re ' to the identity of the assassin; but Daring Dick decided that he would, for the present, keep the matter dark. At the first rie: messenger e he would confront King Kent, and force him, not enly to confess his crime, but to leave the coun- tr7. Tho villain must fight or fly. Vithout doubt, he now believed that his vic- tim was Ccead, and floating down tho Rio Bra- ZS. \7hen he and Kent should meet, the latter woull betray his perfidy by a show of super- StiSious terror. This would brand him a guilty wretch, with- ou‘ a word being spoken. Dick resolved that ho would now make his way back to the ranch, and the coming night take a ride to the vicinity of Knowles ch, vhere he would stand a chance to see King Tent, if tho ruffian had not ohenty fled. As he came to this de “ision, the Tonkaway ap- peared, leading Dick’s horse, which he had tratl- cd from the scene of the assassination. Greatly rejoiced was the young man to recover his noblo Pp he having feared that tho beast had been stolen. Dismounting from Turtle’s mustang, he pro- ceeded to draw the loads from his revolvers, wipe the weapons out carefully, and reload and cap them, ready for any cmergency. The thought now occurred to him that the miscreant Kent might even attack Landers Ranch and bear Lola away. | These possibilities drove Dick nearly wild with anxiety; but he would not have entertained the same for a moment had his head not been affeec- ted by his wound and he so astounded by tho proofs of the perfidy of King Kent. “ Thanks, Turtle!” he said, warmly, upon tho arrival of the chief, ‘‘ 1 am glad to got back my horse. Did yo. see tho trail of the coward who shot me” “ Ture see trail,” answered the Indian. ‘‘ King Ixent ride fast. Go through bush. Jump horso over log. Ride like bad spirit on trail. Go up river. mn swim over Brazos. [ide back to ranch. He think Dick gone cn long Cark trail.” ‘*Then you believe ho will go back to tho ranch?" ‘“‘ Turtle say go back. Coward no go toward Comanche hunting-grounds. Fear lose scalp: ‘* Think bad spirits yell when throw Dick in Turtle, he yell loud, so many times ”»— holding up two fingers—‘‘ Heap scare. Drive spur deep. Bad spirit choke King Kent. Turtle talk straight. It is good. Waugh!” ‘*I don’t wonder he was Ee if you ut I must ro- gave two of your yells, Turtle; turn to the ranch, for I feel ueer. “ Now, my red pard, I wish you would add to - the many favors you have done me, by followin the trail of King Kent. I will meet you to-nigh where the Leon pours into the Brazos, two hours after sunset, | ee aaa aaa eee , ® G3 King Kent. **T shall not openly accuse King Kent of his — at present. 1 mean only to give him a after, as he believed, he had disposed of me for- ver. ‘** Tt does not seem possible that he will dare return to his father’s ranch, except to prepare for flight; for, after reflecting, he will decide who was a witness to his crime. ‘*What say you, Turtle? Will you follow King Kent’s trail, and not molest him, or let him know you are following him?’ ‘* Turtle will follow the trail of King Kent,” was the laconic reply, as the Indian tightened his belt somewhat, swung himseif into his saddle, and gave a low, peculiar whistle. The next moment the swaying of bush and twig up the river was all that indicated the re- cent presence of the Tonkaway chief. Daring Dick stood alone, at the scene of his attempted assassination, gazing at the agitated bushes, amid which his red pard had disap- peared. Thus he stood staring, for a moment, then vaulted into his saddle, and rode slowly from the timber to the south plain, over which he re toward Landers Ranch: for, after the ecided assertion of the Indian, he was satisfied that King Kent was on the opposite side of the river, or else afar up the same, and fleeing as though vengeful fiends were on his trai Most Lope og By was one in close pursuit, who, but for the expressed wishes of Daring Dick, would overtake him, and torture him to the death. CHAPTER VI. PURSUED BY CONSCIENCE. WueENn King Kent galloped headlong from the scene of his cow crime, he was the most terrified man imaginable. The peace f yell of the Tonkaway still rung in his ears, and in his superstitious terror he trembled as if stricken with an ague-fit; being forced to cling to his saddle-horn, to keep from or Ho requently razed backward, over his shoul- der, his eyes fi with dread expectation, as if he truly believed tho Gends of vengeance wero in chase, Tho dark, gloomy shades and funereal-lookin festoons cf moss abovo his head, gave a wei aspect to the scenes through which he dashed. The sighing moss and fluttering foli seemed to be the whi rings of demons; and the violent whisking of ranches, tho lash and spring of nts upon him. emoralized, indeed, was tho brain of King Kent; and the more ho becamo superstitiously on by a recollection of the unearthly yells, tho more brandy he drank; and the more fiery liquor ho Sentai down his throat the more magnified and unnatural became the sounds cf the dark woods, through which he a at dangerous speed—his neck being often in danger from low limbs of trees, and more than cnce his horse came near cashing its brains out against tho tree-trunks. ‘ His repulsive, swarthy faco was now ashen in uc. Ho had not the slightest doubt in his mind as to Daring Dick’s having been slain. He was convinced that his bullet had pierced the brain of his hated rival, but he regretted not having examined the wound, to make assurance doubly sure. But he could not have done this. His very sou] had been filled with horror, his blood congealed in his veins, when he saw the face of his victim, and heard the fall of the sup- posed corpse from the horse to the ground. But, even had the bullet not penetrated tho brain, Daring Dick had undoubtedly been sense- less when thrown into the deep, dark waters of tho Rio Brazos. This, of itself, would have insured his death, beyond a doubt. ut, from whose lips had that unearthly shrick originated? Had it been a denizen of earth, or a flend from the lower regions, rejoicing at the loss of a soul through murder? Was the spirit of the man he had so basely slain, following him, and crying for vengeance? These, and like thoughts, thousand in number rushed, electric-Lk>, <a the guilt-tortured brain of King Kent; and he drove — deeper and more frequent, forcing almost human-like : from his poor steed—tho miscreant hav- ing frequent recourse to his brandy flask. us, on, for full five Then he turned his horsc abruptly, where the bank was low, and dashed into the river, forcing the animal to swim across. And the Tonkaway—what of him? When Turtle dashed away, up the river-bank, leaving Daring Dick at the scene of the at- tempted assassination, he lingered not to look for “‘ sign” of King Kent’s horse. Well the In- dian knew that the dastard had dashed up the river at full speed, and would keep within tho shades. ae would not dare show himself on the open plain. The chief forced his horse at speed, on and on, scare. ‘‘But I am curious to know where he went | where King Kent took to the stream, to cross 5 until a long distance up the river, where the stream ran straight as the course of an arrow. This was at a point about half a mile from the same. The miscreant had galloped in a wild manner and had not kept in a direct course paralle with the Brazos. He had dashed, several times, | even to the border of the timber, near the open i | SSS aa ns ee ee rrr ery nnn renner renee nena neni ieee that the yells you gave proceeded from some one | plain; and then, in terror, turned toward the | | river again. But the Tonkaway had, knowing every inch of land, taken every advantage; consequently, when King Kent was swimming the stream, the Indian, who dashed purposely down to the water’s edge, at the point where, for a long dis- tance up-stream, the Rio Brazos was straight, discovered the terrified wretch, and felt confi- dent that King Kent would proceed down the river, toward his father’s ranch, which was on the opposite, or north side, of the stream. Instantly upon deciding thus, Turtle whirled his horse half-about, and sped through the tim- ber, direct to the south plain. Afar to the east, he perceived, as he had ex- pected, Daring Dick, loping slowly in the direc- tion of the Rio Leon. Giving a shrill whistle to his mustang, the Tonkaway shot over the rairie toward his white pard; but, luc xily. he not to press his horse hard, for Daring ick naturally, at times, scanned the plain in his rear, to assure himself that no one was within view—he wishing not to have any one report having seen him, after the attempted assassina- tion, to King Kent, or any of his associates. Upon discovering Turtle, the young man at once turned his horse, and galloped back to meet his red friend; for, seeing the chief coming at speed after him, he felt positive that the In- dian had something of importance to communi- cate. The horses of the two were soon side by side. Daring Dick gazed inquiringly, and with ae pay apres into the face of his red pard, as said: e : ‘‘Well, Turtle, what’s up now? Have you seen King Kent?” ‘‘Turtle see King Kent. He swim river. Go down on north side. Come. ‘“‘ Ride fast with Tonkaway chief. King Ecnt heap scare. He squaw. ‘Turtle paint Dick’s face with vermilion. Then Dick, he ride slow in timber, when King Kent go down river. ‘‘King Kent think Dick dead. Think Satan ride in woods. Heap more scare. Then Dick know who shoot. Know Turtle no got forked tongue. Itis good. Come. Waugh!” . As the last word left his lips, the Tonkaway galloped back toward the scene of Kent’s crime giving his young friend no time to saya word or or against it. Daring Dick, however, immediately raw that there was an opening here to terrify weuld- have-been murderer to a great degree, and thus, in a measure gain his revenge, besides proving him the cowardly assassin that he was. He, therefore, rode on after the Tonkaway. Upon arriving at the timber, Turtle Ied Dick to the same gully, by which he had cerried him from the river, while senseless from his wound. Both now plunged into the Brazos, and were soon on the i aig ies bank. Without delay, the chief began, in a dexter- ous and ski manner, to paint his white pard’s face, using white gypsum and vermilicn; and causing our young friend’s visage to have the appearance of being almost covercd with blood, and where the skin was free from the same, to be ghastly white. , This done, the Tonkaway stationed him in a thicket, near the path, which was at least two thousand yards from the river; there leaving him to act according to his own di con while the chief ur is horse about a hundred yards further up the stream, also secreting him- self. And, none too soon was this accomplished. Down the path, at headlong x er, came kK Kent; his eyes fixed and sta , in the m dread e tation, toward the river. The villain knew that he was now opposite the scone of his cowardly crime. Soon he sped past the covert of the chief, and on, toward the river, where Da Dick was concealed; but, before passing half the dis- tance between our two friends, the bore King Kent made a sudden halt, with a snort and with bulging eyes, nearly hurling his rider over his head. Napbens It was no wondcr. on hea Directly ahead, slowly out from a dense thicket, walked the steed of our young friend, Daring Dick u his back; the head of the rider held rigid, his eyes staring unnaturally, and his arms hanging listless, and swinging back and ferth like those of a corpse. “ he had all the semblance of a dead body to a saddle. Daring Dick presented a truly horrible ap- Lis org there being no indication that life re- mained, Most certainly he bore little resemblance to a living, breathing human being. Never, probably, was there a man more ‘par alyzed with superstitious terror than was ling ent, K JOO SAL Elo) <€om (E