Beadle's Dime Library No. 411: The White Crook — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

| f —o re Ri a a 1 } | x /—"s 1 Those preparations were few and easily made, as it would be impossible for them to carry away anything but alittle clothing and sufficient pro- visions to last them until they could reach a place of safety. Captain Dunning grunted and growled over this enforced flitting, and occasionally broke out in such strong language as drew from Ephraim Cronkhite reproofs which the ranchman treated with utter scorn. 7 ‘This ain’t no time fur puttin’ a fine p’int onto things,” he remarked, ‘* Your friends, the murderin’ Apaches, may be comin’ down on us at any minute, and then we won’t have much more chance fur cussin’, or fur prayin’, either.” The blow came unexpectedly, although it was in a manner expected. Joe Buller, whédiod gone up to the head of the valley to get his horse, came galloping back to the house, his voice and manner showing extreme excitement. ‘“‘The ’Paches are comin’!” was the stirring news he brought and delivered almost breath- lessly. ‘* Afoot or hossback?” inquired Captain Dun- ning, who had been so long accustomed to that sort of thing that he was not easily excited. ‘*Tdunno fur sart’in, Cap. I caught sight o’ tha’r painted skins as they was sneakin’ among the rocks and brush at the foot of the hills, yan- der, and I jest jumped on my hoss and skinned out,’ | ‘**That’s right. os Bs ha’ plugged you, sure, and we couldn't afford to lose you, Joe. Most likely they’re afoot, as that’s the way they gin- erally move at the start, and we'll be able to keep out 0’ their way easy enough. Come, folks, mount and ride!” No time was lost in obeying this order by any of them except Eva. She had listened eagerly to Joo Buller’s hasty report, and while the others were mounting she stood inactive, with her face turned toward the head of the valley. , Young Bob Dunning observed her apparent indecision, and frowned as he dismounted and strode te where she was standing. ‘* Come, Eva,” he said, kindly, and then picked her up in his strong arms and seated her on her pony before she could think of resisting. The girl gave him a glance that spoke her ex- treme displeasure, and sullenly suffered her horse to be led away with the others. ‘¢ The child knows those red people better than we do,” observed the missionary, *‘and she be- lieves that they are not such fearful wretches as their bitter enemies describe them.” This remark only provoked a grunt from Ca tain Dunning and a look of disgust from Bob, and the Apostle of Peace rode on quietly with the rest, though his backward glances showed that his heart was not entirely with them. As the party rode away from the house the outlying Apaches began to show themselves. They were doubtless of the opinion, as their intended victims were escaping, that further concealment was unnecessary. ? ” @ ‘ re pe / ‘? Besides, they could no longer find any cover for their advance, except by making a circuit along the edge of the valley, which would take them considerably out of their course and give the white people a better chance to get away from them, So they came out into the open and began to hasten down the valley in pursuit of the fugi- tives. It could then be seen that they were ‘not to be sneezed at” as a hostile force, as they ap- peared in greater numbers than had been ex- ected. : There were at least fifteen of them, and it could not be certainly said how many more there “were, as there was a peculiarity about them. The peculiarity was that four of them were mounted, and that the mounted men had taken up some of the dismounted ones to ride behind them, so that the full number could noteasily be counted, Their appearance at that point in such force “was a surprise to the settlers, and its indication was that they despised the white people and ex- ‘pected to make a clean sweep of the valley, ‘‘Reckon they’re some of Mr. Cronkhite’s ‘friends from the reservation,” nted Captain Dunning. ‘‘ They’ve been makin’ a tower of ‘the kentry, and a e comin’ down here for scalps tin’ to have things thar own way, and it’s a chance that they won’t be disapp’inted.” There was, indeed, cause for apprehension. The white people were mounted, but some of the Apaches were also mounted, though they had the disadvantage of riding double. Captain Dunning had reason to know that their young backs, who were doubtless then in capita] condition, could run down a horse in a long race. He knew, also, that the Apaches had secured such excellent weapons during their sssociation with the white men, that they were very for- midable opponents under any circumstances, Co uently there was no use of trying to iinhe's fant and the settlers could only trust for safety to the speed of their horses, Tn view of this important fact the leader hur- ‘ried them forward, but not too rapidly, ash -recognized the necessity of saving the beasts. : . 7 ¢ . ia a . -, 4 ~« ' / ‘ : bs ne wae, 7s Se w= c a, a rate » ACS ap ~ - 7 ° . E. —- . x ay The White Crook. ee TLE LL —————————-—————n———>~=>===>——=p t His aim was to maintain the same distance be- tween his party and the pursuers that appeared at the start, believing that at that rate the for- ee would be able to hold out as well as the lat- r. Somewhat to the surprise of a portion of the party, the Apaches kept right on down the val- ey, without ever stopping to plunder or molest the house or the ranch. This afforded the Apostle of Peace a text for a homily. ‘* Just look at those red-men!” he exclaimed. ‘You call them robbers as well as murderers; but you have left your home at their mercy, and they show no disposition to touch anything that is yours. If they were the wretches you style them, your house would now be in flames.” ‘*Not much,” retorted Captain Dunning. ** The ’Paches are nobody’s fools, and they know that if they should fire the house the blaze and smoke would draw to ’em any sogers or scouts that might be within miles o’ here. They’ve got too much sense to run any sech resks fur noth- in’ but spite. Our scalps is what they’re after, and you kin bet high that house-burnin’ don’t count with them alongside o’ ha’r-raisin’.” ‘*T am afraid, my friend, tbat you are preju- diced against the red-men,” ‘*’m prejudiced in favor of savin’ my scalp and the lives of my family, and I know those red-skins way down to the bottom. Hello! what sort of a break are they going to make now?” It was evident that the Apaches had resolved upon a startling change in their tactics. No longer content with a simple pursuit or stern chase, they proposed to harass the fugi- tives and to cripple them if possible. The four mounted men dropped their human load, and started their horses forward ata rapid rate, at the same time spreading out so as to circle around the little band of white people. Thus they would be able to concentrate their fire in the event of a fight, while that of their adversaries would be diffused. The men on foot also hastened their steps, and came on as if with the intention of giving their advanced guard efficient support. Captain Dunning perceived that the situation was getting serious; but he was experienced in Indian warfare, and could be depended on to do all that was possible to meet the emergency. He hurried forward his party, directing the women to keep in front with Ephraim Cronk- hite, while he and Bob, with Joe Buller and Ben Boggs, held the rear and watched the motions of the savages. They had then reached a point a little above Bella Vista, and its tall cliff, crowned with trees, was lainly in sight a little distance to the part Hoag D hough Hark Sarpy’s house was not visible. There would have been no indication of any settlement there, if it had not been that some people appeared at the edge of the cliff and be- gan waving and beckoning to the white party in the valley. Mrs. Dunning was the first to catch sight of them, and she hastened to make the fact known to her companions. ‘*Thar’s folks atop o’ the hill yander, and they're a-wavin’ to us!” Captain Dunning looked up and saw them, and he instantl a his tactics, ordering his party to ride rapidly toward the cliff. ** Don’t be too fast, Cap,” entreated Ben Boggs. ‘**How kin those folks help us? Thar ain’t no way on airth fur us to git up thar.” ‘* Never you mind, Ben,” answered the leader. ‘* They’re- white, anyhow, and will do all they kin to help us. If they didn’t know that they could do suthin’, they wouldn’t be signalin’ to us that way.” Yet there could be no question that there was a great risk to run. By changing their course the party would give their pursuers a shorter route to reach em, The Apaches caught sight of the people on the cliff as soon as the white party saw them, and pushed forward to overtake the fugitives before they could receive any sort of assistance. Hardly had the party crossed the creek and begun to ascend the eastern slope of the valley, when the four horsemen in advance began to fireuponthem, — _ Captain eer ave a quick order, dropped from his horse with his three men, and took a quick aim over his saddle. | As the four Apaches continued to come on, four rifles cracked, and one of the sav fell to the ground, while another was evidently wound- ed. This had the effect of checking the advance. Though no poorie are braver. than the Apaches, they object to risking their lives use- lessly, and decidedly prefer to have all the ad- vantages on their own side. The white men hastily remounted and gal- loped after their companions. A new element of interest was added to the scene, | ** Look thar!” shouted Mrs. Dunning. ‘‘ They’re fixin’. a way fur us to git up.” ‘Something in the shape of a straight limb sud- denly veered out from a big tree at the edge of the cliff, and a machine was pushed over. ' pees - ae re, . : . C—O A re eee SEE a ' ee at 11 It proved to be a derrick, with a square plat- form fastened at each of its four corners, and attached to a rope, which was rapidly lowered down the side of the rock. ‘‘ Hurry up!” cried Captain Dunning. ‘‘ Hoo- ray! We’ll soon be safe now!” Then there was another sudden change of scene. One of the mounted Apaches was an active young warrior, gayly caparisoned ‘and wearin a showy plume, who was always in advance o his comrades. It might have been noticed—though it doubt- less was not—that Eva Dunning had cast fre- quent backward glances at him, and she had gradually lagged behind her companions at the front until she was overtaken by the rear guard. ‘*Hurry up, Eva!” ordered Captain Dunning. ‘** What's the matter with you?” As the young Apache dashed across the creek, he uttered a shrill and peculiar cry. Eva threw up ber head, turned her pony with a sudden jerk of the bridle, and galloped down the slope at headlong speed. There was no stopping ber, and she soon joined the plumed warrior, who rode forward to meet her. ‘*Sakes alive!” cried Mrs. Dunning. “ Eva has gone back to the Injuns!” ‘‘'Why should she not?’ demanded Ephraim Cronkhite. ‘‘She has lived among them, and she knows that they are not wicked. I shall follow her that I may preach to the poor red- men the gospel of peaee on earth and good-will among men.” Before he could be prevented, the Apostle of Peace kicked his heels against the sides of his horse, and dashed away at a rate of speed of which the bag-o’-bones would not have been be- lieved to be capable. ‘* Stop him!” shouted Mrs. Dunning. ‘*No use,” answered her husband. “If the Lord is marciful to fools, as I've heard tell, Eph Cronkhite will be a good subject to work on. CHAPTER XV, TO THE RESCUE. MARK STEPNEY and Jack Bunn declared that they were more than charmed with Bella Vista, pow that it well deserved its name. They were yet more delighted when the dangh- ter of the host came from the house and joined them in their walk about the grounds. She showed them her flowers and a fountain, and a clear little pond witha graveled bottom, where fish came at her call to get the food she brought them. There was evidently no sort of mystery about the place, and yet the curiosity of the guests was not satisfied. | ‘* Who is it,” Mark asked his host, *‘ that takes such good care of these grounds? And whe looks after your daughter and defends her dur- ing your absence? There must be a great deal of work to do on the place; but I have seen but | one here besides yourself.” ‘‘There are others,” answered Hark Sarpy. — ‘“You have seen Barne good and useful man, and here comes another. Driscoll, who is a > This is Shawnee dim, as we call him; but he is © sO penta, or i civilized, that I want to change his name to m Shaw. The woman you saw belping my daughter about the house ishis wife, _ and she answers to the name of Kate Shaw.” There was no mistaking the Indian origin of the person who approached, as it was plai disclosed in his bronze complexion, his high ch bones, and his long, straight hair; but he was dressed in the = of his language an theirs. He was tall and as straight as an arrow, and he saluted the strangers with grace and when he was presented to them. Shawnee Jim, Hark Sarpy explained to the young men, was his trusted heutenant. He was a aescendant of the once great and powerful Shawnee tribe, whose few and scattered rem- e white people, and manners scarcely differed from — dignity B nants, despising the Indians of the West and — Southwest, had allied themselves with the whites, — and had been good and useful friends of the con- quering race. ; ‘* And here is Manuel!” exclaimed Hester Sar- py, as a man of quite different appearance came shambling up to the group. i “Y was short and stout, and in his features an as the other was Indian. | He wore the short jacket and calzoneros an broad sombrero peculiar to Mexico, trimmed general style was as unmistakably Mexican v with an abundance of silver buttons and tawdry | braid. He was, moreover, intensely ugly, and his nat- ural ugliness was increased by the fact that both | his ears anda portion of his nose were mixs- aenel ducked his short and burly figure at _ his introduction to the gers, remarked in passable English ‘that the odor of Apaches"was _ in the air, and expressed the hope that there © might be a chance to “rub out some of the Mark Sar lained that al rpy explain at alOut a year ago, with the eidof a coupleof friends, he had rescucch the Mexican from a party of mountain Apaches, Eomicbooks g 3 Eom 9 caey i?” wd € * 3 Pe