Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 390 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

a! — —__—__—_-— another volley was fired, this time bringing one vot their horses and its rider to the ground. But still on they came. And then, Indian fashion, they suddenly spread out in both directions to surround the brave men whom they had at bay. At this kind of warfare, though, Cibuta John, Bill Twicker, and one or two others of the defenders were right at home, They made haste and drew their horses around them in a circle, and then awaited the onslaught. The horse which had served Cibuta so nobly was now dead, and Nettie was directed to sit down behind its carcass on the side that was considered to be the least exposed, which she cheerfully did And then the fun began. The outlaws had now formed a complete circle, and opened their fire. Two of the defenders’ horses were hit, one of them fatally, and one man received a bul- let in his leg. But the outlaws were no less unfortcnate, for two of their number bit the dust, while another horse went down. And so strong did the fire continue that they were forced to draw off. “Thar!” cried Bill Twicker. ‘‘Ef ye want any more, ye Greasers, come an’ git M ? ‘‘ Are they gone?” asked Nettie, as she half arose from her place of safety. ‘They have drawn off to a little distance,” Cibuta answered, ‘‘ but I am afraid they will try it again. Do not fear, though, for I guess we can hold out against them as long as they can attack.” ‘Hello!’ Bill Twicker suddenly exclaim- ed, ‘‘what’s this heur a-comin'’?” and he pointed away toward the south, the direction whence Cibuta had recently come, ‘‘Another band of horsemen!” Cibuta ejaculated, the moment his eye caught the distant object that had attracted Bill's atten- tion. ‘It is, ez sure ez fate!” Bill immediately affirmed, ‘‘An’ now th’ question is, be they friends or be they foes?” A. few minutes would decide, for they were seen to be coming at a 5) pace, At first the outlaws did not see them, in fact they did not see them until they heard their approach, and then they made haste to congregate, not knowing whether they were friends or enemies. A moment more decided, though, for after & momen.,’s pause the two parties advanced and mingled with each other. This the men of Ante-Bar saw, and it was not by any means a cheering sight. It looked like bad work ahead for them. ‘‘ We're in a box now, sure’s we’re born!” Bill Twicker cried out. ‘* We've ter do some tall old fightin’, pards, an’ nary discount,” And so thought they all. Even the brave and daring Cibuta John was deeply concerned. Not so much for himself and his fellow townsmen, but for the helpless girl at his side. She must be saved, if all others perished in her defense, For an instant he stood in deep study, and then he asked y ‘“Which among you has tle best and fleetest horse?” Three or four laid claim to that honor at oOncee Cibuta had some knowledge of their animals, though, and using his own judgment he chose the one he considered the best and asked its owner to mount. The man obeyed unquestioningly, Cibuta then turned to his bride and said: ‘Nettie, Lwant you to set out with this man for Ante-Bar at once. Allow me to lift you up before him on his horse,” “But,” Nettie began to protest, “you—” And there she was interrupted, ‘‘ Nettie, it is my will that you go,” Cibuta said, firmly. ‘‘ Your safety demands it. Once you are beyond harm, we can fight the better.” “TI will go,” Nettie said, simply, and she was then lifted upon the horse. ‘* And you, Smith,” Cibuta then said to his chosen man, ‘‘ride straight for Ante-Bar., Do not press your horse too hard, but get there as soon as you can.” ‘All right,” the man responded, ‘‘an’ [li take th’ lady thar safe an’ sound, er die a- tryin’.” The Giant ‘Tl know you will,” Cibuta returned, ‘‘ and I trust you fully. And we will hold these rascally Mexicans at bay as long as we can | proud of. fire a shot.” A fond pressure of the hand, then, between husband and wife, and Nettie was borne rapidly away. Cibuta then chose another horse, and with its owner's consent mounted it, and all the others, who had horses, followed his ex- ample. Those who had none seated themselves upon the ground beside their wounded com- panion, and, sheltered between the carcasses of the dead horses, proceeded to dress his injured leg. One—two minutes passed, and then a great shout arose, showing that the outlaws had discovered the trick. ‘*Come on, now, ye devils!” Bill Twicker yelled in defiance. And then the men of Ante-Bar all gave a whoop. Instantly the outlaws spread out in all di- rections to give chase, and at once did the men of Ante-Bar do the same to intercept them. Cibuta was the best-mounted of the de- fenders, and he turned his attention to those of the outlaws who seemed likely to take the lead, And there were several of them. Four in particular were in one party, bear ing away toward the west in order to get by, and for them Cibuta went like a shot from a run, And he headed them off, too. Being four to one, they did not attempt to avoid him, and when he wheeled he came up to them face to face. Instantly they began to fire, and a dozen shots rung out in quick succession, but not one took effect. Cibuta seemed proof against them. Was it their wild shooting, or was it the charm of the silver daggers? He had no time then to debate the ques- tion. He reserved his own fire until he was right upon his foes, and then he let them have it right and left. Two of the outlaws fell at once, each struck by a bullet from Cibuta’s self-cockers, and in another second the other two had shared the same fate. é And then away Cibuta dashed to stop an- other who was now somewhat ahead. The others were equally busy, and the bat- tle waged hot and furious. And when it was at its hight a loud shout arose, and a third body of horsemen dasbed into the arena. These proved to be none others than Jem Patterson and Jeff Parsons, with the men under their command. They had followed their trail to the cot- tonwood grove, and thence to the scene of the conflict. And their arrival turned the tide of the battle upon the outlaws so decidedly that they wheeled and dashed away to the east and south, leaving their dead and dying upon the field. And they were not a few. The dead numbered six or seven, and the wounded about half as many more, CHAPTER XXII. THE SAFE RETURN. Awnp then such a cheer as went up from the throats of the men of Ante-Bar! What a glorious wind-up they considered it for the ‘‘ Prickly P’ar’s Great Jubilee!” Their victory was complete. “Three cheers fer th’ Prickly P’ar!” they yelled. ‘‘Th’ Prickly P’ar o’ Ante-Bar!” And they were given. “‘An’ three cheers more fer th’ Prickly P’ar’s Picnic!” And again did the welkin rin ‘‘An’ three more fer Jem Jeff Parsons!” Once more they were heard. ‘‘An’ three cheers fer all of us! ‘rah! ’raa-ah!” It was not a victory without cost, however, Three horses had been killed outright, two more wounded, five of the men slightly hurt, Betenwon an’ Rah! |}and one more quite severely so; but, most fortunately, no one had been killed. But the wounded men cheered almost as lustily as the sound ones, except the last one 21 eC ed come eee - —- — oe ee - mentioned, perhaps; and even he gave one cheer, despite his pain. lt was indeed a victory for them to be Not only had their great first object—the rescue of Cibuta John’s bride—been accom- plished, but her abductors had been severely chastised. As soon as the excitement was over, ar- Spe ee were begun for the return to the Bar. The dead outlaws were picked up and laid out together, and then a small pyramid of stones was raised over them to protect them from the ravages of wild beasts until men. could be sent on the morrow to bury them. Then the wounded men were all given horses, and the two or three who were now without animals, mounted behind those who. had them. Several horses had been lost, but three or four had been captured from the outlaws, and so they were not so badly off as they otherwise would have been. The wounded outlaws, three in number; were also mounted and taken along as pris- oners. And when all was ready the party set out, Their horses being pretty well tired, they went forward at a walk, and as they rode: along they talked over the events of the night, ‘‘T kin tell ye what it be, Cibuta John,” Bill Twicker remarked; ‘‘ when I seen you go fer them ’ar four cusses th’ way ye did, I thought ye was a goner, fer sure. How in th’ name o’ everlastin’ did ye git off clear?” ‘“T do not know, Bill,” Cibuta replied, in answer to the question; ‘‘unless—” And he pointed to the two silver daggers crossed on. his breast, ‘‘TTullo! ye put them ar’ things on ye, did e?” ‘‘No, not I, but Nettie did it. She said if there was any truth in the legend on the dagger, | should be protected.” Oo ‘Wal, thar ¢ truth in it, pard, an’ I'm | jest ready ter gamble on it!” Bill declared, Jem Patterson, Jeff Parsons, and their men were anxious to know all, and the strange occurrence was repeated to them. ‘An’ ye didn’t know th’ thing was ‘round yer neck at all, eh?” queried Jem. ‘‘ No,” Cibuta replied, ‘‘I did not know it.” And then Jeff put a question, Jeff had shown considerable detective ability on more occasions than one, and was looked upon as being pretty sharp. His question was this: ‘‘How did you manage to ride so far in company with those outlaws?”—to drop the peculiar Western way of speaking for the nonce. “Why,” Cibuta answered, “I was in dis- guise.” * An’ how war ye disguised?” ‘T was disguised as one of their own men. I dropped one of them just as they were start- ing, and hastily putting on his sombrero, mask and cloak, 1 mounted his horse and overtook them,” And then Cibuta guessed the truth. The silver dagger had been worn by the outlaw, and in taking off his cloak, Cibuta had removed the silken eord too; and when he put the cloak over his own head to put it on, for it was of that peculiar Mexican kind, as we have said, the cord went with it. And later on, when he. threw the cloak away, the dagger remained, ‘That explains it, then,” Jeff declared. And then he explained it as above. “That is certainly the true explanation of it,” Cibuta admitted. ‘‘1 did not think of it.” ‘That are jest it, for a fact!” Bill Twick- er promptly agreed. ‘* But, about the charm,” some one else ob- served; ‘‘that is the greatest mystery of all.” “Yes,” Cibuta again admitted, ‘that is— something we cannot understand,” “ An’ be ye a-goin’ ter wear ’em that ‘ar way?” Jem Patterson asked, “No,” was the answer, ‘‘I don’t think I shall. It looks too much like vain display to suit me. I may wear them in the same manner on the inside of my coat, though, for I certainly begin to believe there # a charm in them.” ‘Wal, ef it war me,” declared Jem, ‘‘I (G(O) GOl MIGDOOKS