Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 397 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

~ a — * . “9 knew that the Red Angel chief was reported to have a band of half a hundred lawless follow- ers, and why he had alone made the daring attack onthe coach he could not understand, but felt assured he must have aid not many miles away. ‘‘ We must catch him before he reaches the hills, men,” cried the officer, and the determined manner in which they urged their horses on be- gan to tell, for the outlaw was forced to put his mule at his best. Yet still the troopers gained, for though the mule was fleet of hoof, those horses on his trail were fleeter. ‘Weare gaining rapidly, and he must soon come to bay,” cried the young officer, with glee, as he saw that ten minutes more would bring him alongside of the outlaw. But Captain Hyena did not look behind him with any great anxiety, it seemed, nor any more frequently, as his danger increased, for the sol- diers watched his every movement closely. Before him, yet some distance off, lay the ill Ss. Could he reach them he would be safe, for he could soon find a breastwork to fight behind, if he did not find friends there. Upon the open prairie, if brought to bay, he must stand and face his foes, three to one, with the woman also to look after. That the young lieutenant would be driven off the outlaw could hardly believe, for he knew of what material the officers on that far border were made, and that the men would follow his lead was most certain. So on he urged the black mule, striving to get as near as ible, it seemed to his pursuers, to the hills, before he would turn at bay. But nearer and nearer came the cavalrymen, and e Jook behind him showedCaptain Hyena that the lieutenant had drawn hisrevolver and would soon use it. Instantly the bold bandit acted, and with a nerve and promptness that showed him a master of the situation. y, ** Slide to a seat back of that saddle, and if you slide off I will kill you!” The words were addressed to the woman, and that he meant what he said she fully realized; so instantly she obeyed. Then came the order: ‘‘ Throw away that revolver you carry, mad- am!” ‘He saw the gleam in her eyes, and detected her purpose, for he quickly drew his own and cover- ed her, while he cried: ‘‘ Drop that revolver, and then [ll take that empty saddle, and show those soldiers what my noble horse can do.” The woman dropped the revolver in silence, and riding closer, the outlaw threw himself from the mule’s back to his saddle on the white horse with a skill that would have done credit to a circus-rider. But, just as he made the spring, there came the crack of a revolver, and the black mule plunges forward with a wild snort, and fell ‘ sta) the bullet having buried itself in his rain. ‘* That officer is a dead shot, for his bullet would have killed me, had it been fired an in- stant sooner; but with you as a shield, I have no fear now, madam,” and the outlaw actually laughed. e woman made no reply, and the white horse, with his double load, at the urging of his master, now bounded forward with an increased speed which began to drop the pursuers, who were almost upon him when the change was made. ‘Tf I only dared,” muttered the officer, as he pene his revolver ready, as though about to re. “No, I- must not risk it, for I might hit the ‘woman, and if I dropped the horse the fall would doubtless break her neck. ‘But, oh, what a temptation,” and he half raised the pistol to a level; but shaking his head he returned it to his belt, and once more urged his tired horse in pursuit with the words: ‘*Spur deep, men, for that noble horse cannot stand that double weight long, and will soon break his heart under it.” CHAPTER IV. BROUGHT he ed a's ConTRARY to the expectations of the lieuten- ant, the splendid white horse of the Red Angel chief did not break his heart under the terrible strain put upon him, but continued to in steadily upon his pursuers, until he dashed into a ravine in the foot-hills quite a long distance abead of them. ’ The outlaw had headed for this particular point, seemingly well acquainted with the local- ity, and once in the mouth of the ravine, he had come a halt and quickly dismounted, 2s though determined there to stand at bay, rather paw his horse up the hill under double weig On each side of the ravine, for a long distance, ran a cliff, which was unbroken, and the nature of the ground in the rear was such that the man at bay could not be easily flanked, while, as darkness would come within an hour, and know- ing the country, he could readily extricate him- from the trap in which he found himself. a —-- : 7’ oy Det ’ ‘ /— AHF: e ‘ a) : The Wizard Brothers. > ‘““ Now, madam, I expect you to aid me in the little difficulty I have gotten myself on your ac- count,” said the outlaw, as he led his horse back out of danger. “ Stand there, please!” The woman obeyed, taking the stand against a bank that arose to her waist. ‘* Now, I will take my place just behind you, and I hope it won’t make you nervous to have me fire over your shoulders, for I shall do so if attacked, and that foolhardy young officer seems determined to run to his death.” ‘You would not kill him?” said the woman, in a low voice. “As readily as 1 would you, if my life de- pended upon it,” was the response, and then, with a revolver in each hand the bandit stood at bay, the woman directly in front of him. seeing the position of affairs, the lieutenant made up his mind to dash right into the ravine and have it out in a hand-to-hand fight. **Come, men, we must settle this thing right here,” cried the gallant officer, and he rode ata headlong pace directly for the mouth of the ravine. ‘* Back, sir, back! for he will kill you!” cried the woman, her voice vibrating with emotion. But the soldier made no reply, and then came the crack of the outlaw’s revolver. Down, headlong, went the horse ridden by the lieutenant, who tried to save himself from a heavy fall, but was unable to do so, for he was hurled to the ground with stunning force, and pinned there by the weight of his dead steed. As though knowing the result of his shot the outlaw fired again, this time at the nearest sol- dier, and the man threw up his arms and fell backward from his saddle, dropping in a limp heap, while his horse dashed on into the ravine. Seeing that his officer and soldier-comrade were both down, the remaining cavalryman wheeled as though on a pivot, and darted ane from the fatal spot at full speed to save himself from a like fate, a shot or two from the outlaw following him. ‘ ‘*They will trouble us no more, madam,” the road-agent roy Bg tes, and taking the arm of the woman he led her back into the canyon to where the white horse was standing, and by his side—for he had sped right on into the ravine—_ was the animal of the slain soldier. ‘“We are both mounted again, you see, madam. Please take my horse,” said the out- law, with sarcasm, as he caught the rein of the other steed. ' ** Will you ride off and leave that officer to die?” she asked. ‘*T will; so be good enough to mount, and lose no time,” was the warning rejoinder. The woman leaped lightly to her seat in the saddle, for the outlaw offered her no aid, and springing upon the back of the horse he held, he said: “You lead the way.” ** Where?” ‘Out of the canyon, and up into the hills,” She seized the reins and obeyed, glancing earnestly down upon the dead soldier, and at the, officer, who was moving his hand across his brow, as though string to recall his senses. He la ape one side, left leg pinned down under the body of the horse, and evidently had fallen heavil “* He can A you no harm, now, so at least re- lease him from his painful position,” urged the woman, ) ‘I shall do nothing of the kind, madam. “He is my foe; he rane my life, and he ma die there, or become food for the wolves for Icare. That is our way, up that trail.” She turned her horse into the trail he pointed to, and he followed her on up the hill. After riding a mile the nature of the ground became wild and rough in the extreme, and they had to pick their wey Suddenly the outlaw, whose eyes were con- stantly watching on all sides, spurred to the side of the woman, and seizing the rein, said hoarsely : **Quick! Come with me!” She wondered at his excited manner, and glanced about her for a cause for it; but he urged both horses into a fissure in the hillside which was partly concealed by a few stunted trees. But a curse escaped his lips as he saw that the ravine abruptly terminuted within a few feet, and did not extend into a canyon, penetrating far into the hill, as he had hoped. ‘“* By Heaven! I must take the chances, for to go out again would be to have them see me, if pn aia not already done so,” said the man aloud. ‘“ Who?” asked the woman, her face flushing with ho ‘Wait and see,” was the curt answer, and then a moment after came the almost joyous cry from the road-agent: ‘‘Saved! for now my trail will be destroyed!” Then there came a hurried ssigpa oe” J sound, and a band of elk sped by the mouth of the ravine, and within a few paces of where the outlaw and his victim sat side by side upon their horses, illy concealed by a few stunted trees that grew at the ravine’s entrance. The hoofs of the elks did indeed destroy any trace left by the horses, for there was a large 3 band of them, and the cloud of dust floated into the hiding-place of the outlaw, temporarily con- cealing it from view. The woman had held high hope when she heard those trampling hoofs that aid was near; but when she saw what made the sound, her face again paled, and she wondered at the ex- citement shown by her captor. But he still remained in biding, a revolver in each hand, and she felt that she knew other cause for danger was near, and had not been frightened by a band of elk. CHAPTER V. THE SURGEON SCOUT AND HIS BROTHER PARDS. SEVERAL moments went by in breathless sus- pense to the woman, and to the road-agent as well it seemed, for he appeared ill at ease, and then the sound of hoofs was heard, followed by a laugh in a man’s voice—a voice full of light- hea ness, Then the outlaw said, in a low, savage tone: ‘Oh! how I would like to turn that laugh into a wail of woe! But Ill bide my time.” | Turning to the woman, he continued in the same suppressed voice: _: ‘‘ Woman, one word, one act from you now will seal your doom, whatever my fate may be, for those coming are the Surgeon Scout and his two brothers, and my bitterest foes !” ‘I As he spoke he pressed his revolver hard against the head of his prisoner, whosat white and motionless upon her horse. mie The next instant there appeared in sighta horseman of striking appearance. on oa He was mounted upon what is known as a buckskin or ‘‘claybank” horse, with sno mane and tail; he was evena more beauti animal than the white horse of the border ban- dit. His rider wasa man who wouidrivet the gaze in any assemblage. His manner was —. ay: and graceful, his carriage thatof as Idier, while — he rode with the air of one born in the saddle, so to speak. bee oa He was tall, his shoulders broad and massive, | and his face darkly bronzed and very handsome, while waves of raven hair fell in clusters below his neck, and were thrown back with a jaunty ~ air that did away with the effeminate appear- ance which long locks often give to a man. | His face was strongly featured, biseyes black © and most expressive, and there was thatinit to | w n admiration and love, and inspire pig rs _ haan He was dressed in the full uniform of a brigade ‘ surgeon in the United States Army,and was ~~ armed with repeating-rifle, a belt of arms,and a lariat, for the lasso may be called a weapon of offense to those who know well its use. : Just behind this distingue soldier-plainsman was a horseman, also splendidly mounted and thoroughly armed; but he wasdressed in buck- skin hunting-shirt and leggings, wore a som- brero of gray felt, and cay ts. tnd His form was slender, but tall and full of — power, and his face most attractive, for fea- tures were stamped with strength of character — and well-cut. . + ee His hair was also jet-black, without the shadow of a wave in it, and hung down his back __ almost to his belt, and he rode with the bold — freedom and ease of a Comanche. . Close upon the heels of the second horseman came the third—a younger man than the other two, possessing smaller stature, but one that __ combined strength and activity, while his move- ments were as graceful as a woman’s. ae His face was also dark-hued, but a sunny.ex- pression rested thereon that never deserted it ee! even in danger, and yet which could turntoa shadow of deepest sympathy for one in sorrow. —_ His hair was the same sable hue as was bis 4 es ‘alk 7 he ra . » & "d Me " comrades’, but bis eyes were as blue as a tur- quoise—large, full of expression, in which lurked — Ks “¢ a glimmer of mischief and a trace of reckless= ness, , He was dressed also in buckskin, top-boots _ and a sombrero, and ‘‘armed to the teeth,” | while he bestrode a restive, wiry roan stallion, __ that had every indication of speed and great en- __ durance. . ee As the three horsemen were allin front ofthe ravine, and in full view of the outlaw and his __ risoner, there was visible that resemblance in heir faces which proved kindred blood flowed —_— in their veins. .. aes It was a most critical moment for the knight — of the road and his victim, for those three horsemen were ““men to the border born,” and > might cast their eyes at any instant into the ravine. 4) In fact, nothing would be more natural than for them to do so, ever watchful as they were __ for danger in their path. ee The game behind their saddles proved that _ they had been off on a hunt and, although the band of elk, startled by their coming, had run Be near them in their flight down the hill, they had not fired upon them in sheer wantonness to kill, for they had an ample supply of meat — with them. | Nee Most fortunate was it for the outlaw that the elk had dashed over his trail, @ assuredly ~~ eyes of that hunter trio would have detected sce z +" + oN cs a But now they seemed unsuspicious of danger, re 4) eae comicbooks. 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