Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 328 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

= Pe" > _ and the same 6 He was incapable of either speech or motion, sitting his horse breathless, his tongue cleaving to the roof of his mouth, and his eyes bulging from their sockets, mirroring the horror that , ruled his brain. It was now semi-twilight in the shades, ren- dering the picture more weird and horrible. Slowly the horse of Dick, with its terrible bur- den, walked directly toward King Kent, the : es of the seeming corpse being frozen upon e face of the murderous miscreant. Thus on fo moved, until not more than twenty feet sepa- rated them. Human nature could bear no more, cacee a, ee RT Kent. Allare roughly a woolen shirts and All are armed with revolvers and the inevit- able bowie-knives—these arms being worn at their sides, upon belts. Their hair is long and tangled, and their clothing rent and soiled. On the sides of the basin are several cave-like chambers, evidently excavated by the outlaws _ for sleeping-apartments during storms, and for store-rooms., Saddles, bridles, blankets, rifles and cooking utensils are scattered promiscuous! around the borders of the basin; while an abundance of With oo wild roms shriek of horror and | fish and game hang from pegs that are driven espair cay J plunged the keen blade into the ham of his orse With a terrific snort the black steed half- | whirled, and bounded, crashin mee a0 the un- der owth, toward the north Then it was that the terrible weil of Turtle, the Tonkaway, rung and echoed, causing the | horse of the dastar ‘dly wretch to redouble its , — exertion and crash Sporn ain and again shot forth the yell of the chie , echoing strange and weird through the natural arches and domes of the timber. The last our two friends saw of King Kent, he lay forward clutching his saddle-horn, while shriek upon shriek shot from his mouth i in super- stitious terror and dread despair. CHAPTER VIL REACHING HIS RENDEZVOUS. KNOWLES RANCH was situated on the north bank of the Rio Brazos, and the trail that led from the ranches along the Leon to the Brazos was, for five miles from the latter, something like a mile from the Rio Leon. This last had no ranch upon it for nearly five miles from its con- fluence with the Brazos; and the timber on both streams, for some distance from their junction was fully a mile in width, taking in each side of the rivers. The ford of the Brazos was a mile from the confluence, the banks of both streams where they met bein fer pen and steep. Consequently it was a wil unfrequented spot, seldom visited even by hunters, for the bottom-timber Was a mass oO tangled’ vines and undergrowth, dense and ny: For some weeks previous to the time of the commencement of our story, there had been many depredations commit along both rivers. Smoke-houses had been robbed of bacon, corn- cribs ay and many hogs, calves, and even beeves, These robberies had been consummated by night; and, high up the Rio Brazos, horses had been stolen. The trails of the thieves had been followed down the river, but always lost, the ssoen cunningly outwitting the most skillful ante this pointed to an organized rendezvous of border bandits, but their abiding-place had never been discovered. Had the trailers inspected the triangular eh of timber at the Aone of the rivers, tween the Brazos and Leon, they would have come upon the secret retreat of the outlaw _ band; but they would have had but little chance of capturing them, and would, without doubt, have lost many of their number; for the bandits were desperate, and would fight ‘to the death. Quite near the point of land, around which flowed the waters of the Leon into the Brazos, was a natural basin in the earth.* This was full thirty feet in depth, with an opening toward the Rio n, and not twenty yards from either stream, The rivers flowed forty feet below the bank, years Saget the basin was dry; and even g heavy rains an underground natural channel from the basin to the n served to drain the former. Huge trees grew on all sides, except at the narrow entrance, through which but one horse could pass at a time; these trees completely screening the chasm from the sun—the vines undergrowth hanging over on all sides. .bout a thousand yards up the Rio Leon this basin grass-grown which served for pasturage; while wild grew in rich luxuriance along the bank of stream. <A more secure retreat from dis- very, or one more easily defended, could not e been found in that vicinity of the country ; had been taken advantage of, as shown. For this was the retreat of the of outlaws, whose depredations along both rivers had been for some time a source of Podignation, as well as of great loss, to the We will take a glatice into this robber retreat, on the night following the day on which King King Kent attempted to assassinate Daring ck A huge fire is blazing in the middle of the big basin, revealing the brutal faces of a dozen desperate outlaws—faces that are stamped with dissipation and branded deep with crime. * Though a natural basin, it had been known from oR times as *‘ El Bason,”’ so is locally so called, he Bason,"* to this a — -—™ rs LO a Kent jerked his bowie, and | into the walls of hard clay. The bandits have evidently but just finished eating their evening meal; for, lying indolently | alta lankets, reclining or sitting upon saddles, | l are enjoying their pipes. It is but an hour after sunset, but it is quite aah in the bottom-timber, and but for the fire the outlaws could not seea yard before them. Wood there is in plenty, however, besides a huge aed of pine-knots, which can be used if neces- uéine of the bandits, a mae in build, seems to be the leading spirit of Let us listen, and ean sanietiring. if possi- ble, bearing on our story. The gigantic outlaw is addressed as Big Bill by his comrades, and he now speaks: vhy, ‘* Dog-gone my heart, boyees, ef I ain’t | in Tophet, doesn’t ther Cap turn up an’ | -apparcled in buckskin breeches, | to happen, asthe sounds indi: in buckskin breeches, ack breros. tin’ sorter seed ’in this hyer hole! \V show his mug one’t ina while? When did yer see King Kent, Crooked Carl?” aa see’d ther boss last ni ight, an’ he war b’ilin’ over wi’ mad, on ‘count o’ thet galoot, Darin’ Dick, bein’ so thick with ole man Landers’s dar- ter. I reckon ther Cap ’ll do somethin’ desp’rate *fore soon.” ‘* Shouldn’t wonder ef he did,” returned Big Bill, blowing a huge cloud of’ tobacco-smoke from his mouth; ‘‘ an’ I’m etarnally cussed ef I keer how s ily he raises ther devil, an’ breaks wi’ his ole ' man an’ ther ranchers!’ Hit ’u’d be a ormighty good thing for all consarned —thet’s we’uns—ef he jist cut a throat, shot somebody without ‘lowin’a draw 0’ pistols, er stoled a hoss an’ gut spo tted. ‘* Hit’s bout time we~uns war levantin’ outen this, I’m thinkin’; an’ I'd sorter smile ter start towards ole Mex’ ‘ter-night. ns ‘‘ Ther Cap ‘ll take Darin’ Dick outen ther wet afore another moon, I reckon,” put in ee of the band; ‘* but he’s gut ter git ther Arsen pick triggers lively, er he’ll claw dirt hisse f.” ** King Kent aire dead gone on ther colonel’s darter, = I doesn’t blame him,” said Bill. t good taste, I'll sw’ar, fer I gut a peep et her through ther, winder, tother night. . Reckon we-uns "ll hev’ ter gi’n t er Cap a riffle o’ help in ther biz. He’s goin’ ter corral her some way, bet yer sweet life!” ‘* He’s ez stubborn ez a three-legged mule, an’ es dead sot in his ways,” said Crooked Carl. ‘* Thet’s what makes me opine he'll jist sr ose inter Landers Ranch an’ scoop her in, without axin’ ther ole man,” asserted another. “Didn't he ‘low ter glide hyer ter-night, boyees?” Thus asked Big Bill, seeming to have sudden- ly been struck with an interesting idea. ‘* Ya-as,” answered Carl; ‘‘ but thet doesn’t count ef he gits chuck full o brandy. He wre know his own cog then, an’ yer can’t ’spect him ter ‘member *bout glidin’ this-a-ways. ‘*T grees wi’ yer, Bill, thet we’uns must skute fer fresh range. Thar ain’t nothin’ ter be made in this cuss of a country. Ef King Kent hev so much 0’ his ere biz ter ’tend ter, we'll be *bleeged ter ‘lect a new boss, an’ everlastin’ly hum Semaine outen these diggin’s. Y a-al, I shouldn’t wonder ef—" Big Bill was here interrupted by the alarm signal, given by one of the sentinels. All sprung to their feet, clutching their guns. All listened intently. The sounds were those of a horse, coming at full speed toward the basin, from the west. Soon the crashin ng of bushes and branches, as ofan animal galloping through the under- growth, met the eager ears of the amazed lis- teners. Rifles were clutched and cocked, and then cast into the hollows of their left arms, ready to open fire on the instant. ‘* Hit’s ther Cap, boyees!” cried out Bi Bill, excitedly; ‘‘I knows hit’s him, but he’s b’ilin over wi’ terrantaler-juice, an an’ stud-hoss mad!” Barely were these words clear of the li me the giant bandit, when a wild, piercing, an earthly shriek cut the air. The outlaws gazed one at another, their faces paling at the horrible sound. The crashin = undergrowth continued, draw- nearer and nearer. ear and more near a omg the sounds. Not a man left his tracks All stood spellbound. But the suspense of the bandits was of short duration, for, in a flitting moment of time— | althou ——_ to them it seemed an age, for they | realized that something extraordinary was about Ee rr to happen, as the sounds indicated the direction from which the rider was approaching—there shot out from the thicket, high over their heads, coming down over the bank of the basin, a coal- black horse, quivering in every limb, as it rung through the air, and upon the back of steed was a man. it was King Kent, and he was a ravin oranda’ from the combined effects of terror an rand Straight out from the fringe of bushes, over the high bank, thirty feet above the heads of the appalled outlaws, shot man and mustang! King Kent was shrieking in a horrible man- - and with an intonation expressive of death- y despair and dread terror. Then down, down, with the velocity of a projectile from a cata- ay fell the pair, the animal striking the hard of the basin with terrible force and sicken- ing sound—its bones snapping and crashing, while the poor beast uttered a cry that was. almost human, its last outcry, for the noble animal’s head dropped, with a eavy thud, upom the floor of the chasm, its large, intelligent eyes: filming in death! King Kent was hurled afar, over the heed of his horse; but, fortunately for him—or, un for- tunately, ‘we should rather say—he struck upon a pile of blankets, which broke his fall, and un- doubtedly saved his miserable life; saved, that he might work further evil to others, and still longer curse the earth. ere the assassin lay, to all appearances dead. King Kent, the young ranchero—+the gambler, - rer and, as we now know, bandit chief— kept his word to his men. He returned to the basin, and his fol- lowers. But, ye gods, what a return it was! CHAPTER VIII. A DESPERATE SCHEME, RovuGcH and desperate outlaws mosee ww dl were, the Bandits of the Basin were a a the strange and startling advent of their chief: and not a man, for a moment or two, stirred from his position, after King Kent struck the pile of blankets. All stood breathless, staring at the form of er young leader, whom they believed to be From the first alarm, until the horse and its: rider lay upon the basin bed, it had been but a few moments; consequently the spectators. were dazed, and no wonder. Big Bill was the first to recover. ae iant heaved a deep sigh, and then ex-~ ts ‘Great Jerusalem !” He then strode quickly to the side of King Kent, and rolled him over; the others looking on, in astonished silence. With a practiced hand, Big Bill examined Kent, to ascertain if any ’ bones were broken. He next felt his pulse, and placed his ear close to his left breast, Then striding to the dead horse, and tearing ooeen the saddle-bags, he jerked out the brandy- as Paceline the cork, he found the bottle to be on Slcute, Crooked Carl, and fotch some liquor f Ther Cap gut b’ilin’ over, an’then gut out o’ p ison, an’ run wild es a hun - % black wolf. He: ain’t much hurted, an’ we’ fotch him ’roun’,. but he’s killed ther bestest nag in Texas, which air onlucky. ‘*Dang me, ef I likes this biz. I ain’t over much bothered with superstish, but this sorter” sots me back. Reckon we'll hev ter take a new deck, an’ gi’n her a hefty shuffle, an’ change ther game ter cut-throat. ** 'W onder ,whar in ther dickens ee Kent. hev bin, an’ what he’s been doin’. Hit ain’t all brandy, boyees—not by a Fa ay Thet’s hunk, Carl: now we'll see ef he’ ‘roun’ ter biz, arter ‘primin’ him wi’ whisk’. otch some water, an’ we'll soak his cabase mrp ‘immediately raised the head of his leader, poured a gr pects of a ey) brought oy Crooked Car], down his throat. Oohis nearly strangled Kent, but soon he swal- lowed naturally, and half opened his eyes; al- noes the lids were so slowly moved as to be perceptible, the sufferer having apparent- ly little control over his muscles. The face of King Kent was like that of the ead. He evidently had no knowledge of his condi- tion, or surroun - Bi it an se ahve ec sie Thar ain’t no use ? lingo outen him,” asse ther wate atl fotch him ° a eet hit’ oe a new —. fer him. We'll gi’n his stum-jack a ere: se-party.” e giant arg at his own wit, while the others all lau oe for they felt greatly relieved. to find that King Kent was really alive At this moment, two canteens of water were produced, and Bill ‘at once turned one of them ide down, over the face and head of Kin ups pouring water copiously over him, anc some fire his mouth, e miscreant c eyes, and his face expressed satisfaction. GOMNE JOO <5 é : i} \% &