Beadle's Dime Library No. 417: Tucson Tom — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

ws a oe 2 a Tucson ‘om, the Bowie Bravo. —_ ~~ OO o—- ——- hatred this old sinner felt for Apache braves, and the longer his account grew, the fiercer that feeling became. Asthe way was now open, there was in reality nothing to hinder their forward movement, so again they pushed along the rap. : They were now past the gulf. The route, although still strewn with fallen rocks, was no longer dangerous except in so far as the Indians themselves were con- cerned. The presence of the Apache sentry was not conclusive evidence that the Indians were in camp near by. Even if they had gone on they might have left a guard in the pass to prevent any pur- suers from making use of Buzzard’s Gap until they were well on their way. Had this been done, however, it was more than likely that half a dozen warriors would have constituted this guard, and besides, their horses would have been near at hand so that they could escape readily when the time came for flight. Thus the presence of a single brave seemed to point to the fact that the Apaches were still in the immediate vicinity. Arizona Abe had little doubt of this. He moved on with a confidence that was born of his convictions, Inside of five minutes they had left the gap behind them, and stood upon the other side of the mountain spur. Before them was now spread out a basin, and here it was the camp must be located. Abe knew a spring gurgled from the rocks and that at this point the chances were ten to one they would find those whom they sought. There was no sign of a fire to be seen from their present position, and-«they would have to move closer if they expected to discover the presence of the Apaches with their eyes. True, the lightning still flashed at regular intervals, but the wilderness of trees and rocks prevented their discovering anything ¥ that would be of advantage. In this their ears proved more valuable. The whinny of a mustang was heard, and by this they were able to decide that the camp was located just where the old trailer had believed must be the case—at the spring on the side of the basin. It was decided to approach, Possibly they might learn something of the camp, which would be of advantage. Instead of following the trodden path lead- jng down into the basin or valley, and which had been beaten from time to time by countless numbers of buffalo and mustangs, Abe led the ranger by a roundabout way, #0 as to strike the camp from one side, Silent as death they drew near, Within a short distance of them fully three-score fierce Apache braves were slum- bering. It was not a task for untried nerves, for no novice could ever approach a large In- dian camp without betraying his presence. These two men possessed every necessity for such a task, and were, moreover, now on their mettle. They crept over the ground like cats, parting the bushes and gliding on in the route that promised the best shelter. Everything was wet, but there was some satisfaction in the fact that the rain had now ceased entirely, though the heavens were still heavy with clouds. It was reasonable to suppose that the In- dians would kave sentries about their camp, seeing that they were far away from home. The corral in which the horses were con- - fined was speedily discovered, Beyond lay the camp. By the fitful flashes of lightning, darting ‘ from the lowering clouds, they saw the forms of the sleeping braves scattered here and there, covered with their blankets. Some had doubtless moved to where they could secure more shelter, but the others had remained in the open, utterly unmindful of _ the late deluge that must have soaked them througb and through. The two scouts caught the murmur of several guttural voices near them, and after listening a moment they discovered that the speakers were debating the pay og | of starting a fire, which went to show there were some among them who did not propose \ , ' ip b-?'es No blood could apparently wipe out the ’ Fad eee ee 25 | when no one he knew was in danger, the case was now very different. His whole mind was bent upon Dancing | Feather and how to rescue her from the vanced, the party desiring the blaze won a} hands of those who would take her back to reluctant consent from the other side. | the captivity from which she had so recently Dry wood was obtained from the interior | been saved through his instrumentality—a of an old log, and ere long a tongue of flame | state that was worse to her than death. shot up, which was augmented by others,| It can be readily appreciated, therefore, until finally quite a roaring blaze was had. | that under these circumstances, Tom was Around this gathered a numbér of the | annoyed to find that in this very peculiar Apaches, and the heat seemed to arouse | manner they bad unwittingly gotten them- those who had been lying asleep, for they | selves into this new scrape. aroused themselves and set about doing like-| It was simply an accident. wise. Certainly the Indians had no design in A fire started here and another there, until | what had been done. the scene became quite interesting. | The result was almost the same, however, It looked not unlike a bivouac of soldiers, | for our friends found themselves surrounded only these grim, giant warriors had nothing | by.a circle of fires. military about their bearing unless it was! Was there no means of escape? their straight forms. Eagerly they cast their eyes around the Our two friends had seen the fires started | circle, and were forced to confess that for with the conviction that it was time they ; once fate seemed decidedly against them. were backing out of their dangerous quarters. | There did not appear to be even a loop-hole This determination was for the time being | of promise. | lost sight of by Tucson Tom. | This was discouraging, but these two men The increasing light had given him a new | were not apt to give in tamely. thought, and he was scanning every inch of | Such difficulties generally caused them to the [Indian camp within range of his vision, | shut their teeth more firmly and resolve to hoping to discover the object of the expedi- | overcome the trouble at any cost. tion—Dancing Feather. A second survey of the situation a little She was not to be seen! more calm than the first, resulted in their Again he surveyed the ground, but with | picking up something of hope. no better success than before. At one particular point there seemed to be Could it be that the old trailer had made | something of a passage between two of the a terrible mistake when he decided that the | fires. girl had come with the party they had been | True, there was much risk in attempting pursuing during the day? it, but as their only hope lay in this quarter If so, then they had no hope of overtaking | it must be tried, and without delay, her short of the Indian village, and what} Nothing was to be gained by waiting. Tucson Tom had accomplished would have The sooner they went at the business the to be done over again. quicker it would be over, Arizona Abe could not but notice the un-| Brave men never balt before a difficulty. easiness of his friend, and he could easily They have a hot impatience to strike at divine the reason of it. the Gordian knot, as Alexander did of old, He drew Tom’s attention to a certain | and sever what could not be untied. quarter, and there the young ranger saw The Indians seemed to be pretty generally what he had not noticed before. awake, and were drying themselves by the A small lodge of skins had been erected. many fires. It lay partly in the shadows, and was Into Tom’s mind there drifted the thought moreover so like the background as to pre- | that possibly they intended resuming their sent no sharp contrast that would catch the | long journey before daylight, and were now eye. beginning the first of their preparations by In this no doubt was the fair Priestess of | drying themselves. the Sun, for these bronzed braves worshiped f this were so the scouts had need of haste the lovely girl asa part of their deity, and | to get back to their friends in time to accom- would treat her with all gentleness, though | plish the work they had on hand before the firm in the resolve not to let ler escape. Apaches got ready to move. Ah! how Tom’s heart throbbed as his eyes Oh, what a cruel fate it was kept them in remained t Srite upon this ecas as though | such a fix, when they desired freedom of they would pierce its sides and behold the | movement so much just then. object of his love within. Tom allowed his companion to take the Tow was she to be rescued? initiative, fearing lest his own impatience Near by he had adozen good men and! might ruin all, true who were impatient to hurl themselves| Arizona Abe did not seem to be in any upon the Apaches, five to one though the} haste, and although Tom mentally fumed Indians might be, but this in itself was not | and fretted over the tardiness of his comrade, sufficient. perhaps it was just as well after all. The girl must be saved before the assault | The old trailer knew that nothing was to was made, or she would be carried off by | be accomplished by hurrying, and he did not some of the Apaches while the rest met the | intend to be shaken out of his usual method- onset of the whites as bravely as their kind | ical style of going at things. 7 blanket, which have ever been known to do. First, he drew the Indian Tom surveyed the situation of the lodge | he had held on to through all, around his person, much as an ancient Roman might and was rapidly arranging a plan of opera- tions when his attention was drawn to the | his toga, only the cramped quarters prevented ae dignity. trailer. Abe was chuckling and shaking as though he blanket partially covered his head. he had discovered one of the most comical Thus, while crawling along, he could read- things on record. ily be taken for an Apache brave, if by some ‘‘What is it?” whispered Tom. accident hostile eyes rested upon him. ‘“Too funny fur anything. Ther ideao’| Reckless old Indian-fighter as he was, Abe us two Baloo? lyin’ hyar an’ lettin’ em do it,” and he fell to chuckling again. “Do what?” demanded Tom. : **Look ther way we come, dash it, boyee.”’ ucson Tom turned his head. What he saw was far from being pleasant. The ring of fires was now complete, so that they were surrounded by Indian blazes; CHAPTER XXXYVI. THE SCOUT’S PERIL. THE situation was a desperate one. That was why old Arizona seemed to be so dreadfully tickled over it. The more desperate the case, the better he liked it. ith Tucson Tom it was exactly the reverse. However much he might have enjoyed a brush with the fierce Apaches at some time / / aaa,’ to remain soaking wet if they could help it, even if their sole garment consisted of a pair of buckskin breeches, Whatever powerful argument was ad- ral course of events. He would not go out of his way to find it, and no man i situation, as the present, more than Abe did, yet he knew it was his business to circum- vent the red-skins and leave them no chance for congratulation. along. ing at a snail’s pace, and several times he ran his head into the rear car of the train ahead. It was simply a marvel that they were not discovered. EE ES T_T, ing their way was not. over a foot in hight, comicbooks.cc . ® ase + > & ~ se - 4 . never had been known to neglect any cau- — tion when such a thing came up in the natu- | have erjoyed such anovel | Aiming for the one narrow passage that — seemed to promise them hope, they moved | It seemed to Tom as if they were advanc- The grass through which they were mak- “7 ® » “4 r t . e ‘ - 7.4" Day? oe xt aS < P < — rr. % 3, - —— - , hn ae ‘