Beadle's Dime Library No. 417: Tucson Tom — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

— . . Os — - aa: Z Tucson Tom, the Bowie Bravo. CHAPTER XXXVIIL. ABE TURNS AT BAY. WueEn Arizona Abe was left to his own resources, he set about the work he had agreed to accomplish for his friend. Tom could not have given the job to one more capable of performing it. _ The old praireman’s whole life had been spent upon the border, and there were few things in connection with the Indians that he was not acquainted with. No sooner had Tom left him than he moved off in a direction just opposite to that taken by the young ranger. L His object, as may be readily guessed, was to get in the rear of the little lodge, so that he could approach it with less danger. With the blanket over his head and con- cealing the upper half of his body, Abe could readily pass for an Apache in the uncertain light of the flickering camp-fires. He determined therefore to move along boldly, for stealthy actions would be sure to excite suspicion. The skin lodge was now in sight. There was no fire in the rear of it, though one on each side made this portion anything but dark. Abe’s keen eye was quick to notice that the grass and bushes were heavy enough to screen one, and he believed the girl, if she were as bright as Tom had given him reason to believe, might escape that way unseen. He moved forward with the gait of an In- dian, and sunk down near the lodge. Old veteran as he was, the ranger could not but feel his heart beat more rapidly than was its wont. It was a crisis. Had he aroused suspicion in the mind of any one Indian? everal pairs of eyes bad been turned upon him as he moved forward. The question was, would he be suspected? As he lay there, the old Indian-fighter grasped his rifle in a tight grip, ready to spring up and deal about him if the worst came. A minute passed. There was no alarm raised. This in itself was satisfactory, but he could not depend upon it wholly. Possibly if any of the Apaches had thought his actions strange they might follow up the idea by an investigation. In spite of this he had no time to lose, To reach the lodge he was now compelled to pass over several yards, but the grass hid his movements, and toa man of his experi- ence this was likely to prove a small task. He succeeded in accomplishing it. Out came his keen-edged knife, and when this was pressed against the skin of the lodge, it parted, leaving an opening. Abe listened, but nothing was heard that could be taken aw a warning. | He had every reason to believe all was well. Believing thus, he quietly inserted his arm through the opening he had made. He touched something—the hand of a hu- man being—a small warm hand that could only belong to one of the gentler sex. This he squeezed, believing such action could not possibly be misconstrued. There was the lowest possible excla- mation from within. He felt the girl move, and knew when she ran her hand over the side of the lodge until it came upon the opening. ‘ | Her face was close to his. ‘‘ Who is it?” she breathed. ‘‘ A friend o’ yer Tom,” answered Abe. Her breath came fast at the mention of that beloved name. ‘Ts he near?” she asked. ‘“‘Clost by wid ther boyees. I’m an’ ole coon named Arizony Abe, an’ it’s my _be- holdin’ dooty ter git yer outen this place afore ther critters make ther hair fly. Hev yer got ther grit ter try it, little un?” “Try me,” she answered, The old man chuckled almost audibly. There was that about the quick reply that tickled him not a little. Rough old fellow as Abe was, and despis- nnn rere an estnnenenmnEnennennneneeneneme ee hE EE EE EEE ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————l There had been no hesitation about the reply of Dancing Feather. Yes, he would try her! Quickly he gave her directions such as she could have no difficulty in understanding. There was no need of haste. It would be better that the attempt was not made until Tucson Tom and the others reached the scene, for in that case they would be on hand to lend their assistance in case of discovery on the part of the Apa- ches. Again the girl’s Indian education would come into play. She had not crept up on the cunning deer for nothing. The knowledge obtained while she was an involuntary member of the Apache town would now possibly save her life, and at least bring about her freedom. it is not to be supposed that the Indians did not keep a watch upon the lodge. They had learned by this time that their fair priestess longed to try her wings, and would take advantage of the first chance. So well done had been Abe’s work that they had not a suspicion so far. it remained to be seen whether the balance of the plan could be carried out as well. Abe was waiting now to hear the signal of the young ranger. When this told him that the rangers were on hand, and their guns bearing upon the red camp, he would feel that the time had come to finish his part of the work, To his consternation there suddenly came from the pass a wild yell, followed instantly by the sharp report of a firearm. Confusion! all was ruined. The old ranger saw that he could no longer hope to get the girl away unseen, for every warrior was on his feet. If he delayed now all was lost, for some of the Apaches had already turned toward the lodge as if it was their duty to protect the girl in the event of an attack. His quick glance showed him that these were only three in number. Several others sprung toward the corral. These were the horse-guards. The main body of Indians, however, under the command of the chief Warlock, as he was known along the border, turned toward the spot from whence had come the alarm, and waited expectantly. They knew not what was coming, but were ready for business if there was any bloody work to be done. At the first alarm Arizona Abe had hoarse- ly whispered the words: ‘Now, gal. Crawl through the grass. If ye’r’ diskivered, up an’ foller me.” Dancing Feather was out of the lodge almost before he had finished. Abe arose, and with his blanket stalked away. He bore somewhat in the direction of the horses, as though he would make out that he were one of the guard. That discovery was bound to come he knew to be a foregone conclusion, and was only endeavoring to make the best time while the period of uncertainty lasted. The three braves advancing toward the skin lodge with long strides, had by this time reached it, and in another instant their shrill cries announced their discovery. Quickly they bounded to the back of the lodge. A fateful flash of lightning assisted them |- in discovering the young girl, who, as luck would have it, just at that juncture was in a spot where her shelter was thin. They came leaping after her like hounds let loose from the leash. Old Arizona knew there was no use in a back his deadly bullet longer, and suddenly wheeling as the dusky trio dashed up, he sent the contents of his rifle into the body of the leading brave with such a ven- geance that the fellow was doubled up like a jack-knife, Then the gun was reversed in his hands as though by magic, and whirled about his head like a shillelah in the hands of a genuine Tipperary lad. His blanket had faller off, and the two ing most of the ordinary things that go to | Apaches could now see who it was opposed them with so much vigor. eee ————_ + te = This left Dut one foe in the immediate vi- cinity, and upon him the ranger wheeled. The Indian as he ran, had snatched up a lance that had been standing erect, having fastened to it the various possessions of its owner, perchance himself, which he had cast aside. When Arizona whirled upon him this worthy was just in the act of thrusting his weapon through the indomitable old ranger. Happily this result was averted by a sud- den leap to one side on the part of Abe. He felt that he could not afford to waste time with this vicious fellow, who prodded so earnestiy with the lance. Besides, an empty gun was hardly equal to a keen-pointed lance, and the Indian might with perfect immunity stand off and pin him through and through. Time was a precious commodity just then. Already others of the Apaches might be rushing in their direction, eager to take a hand in the game, and the old ranger felt that he had his hands full if he meant to res- cue the girl. This being the case, he snatched out a re- volver and gave the fellow a shot just as he was about making another desperate jab at his opponent before he could get behind a tree as he believed Abe’s intention to be. That ended the matter as far as the red lancer was concerned at least. He fell in a heap, and the lance, hurled some distance away, struck a tree sideways, the blow shivering the shaf: to pieces, By this time Dancing Feather had gone some little distance beyond. Abe turned and hastily followed. He was hotly pursued by a number of the Apaches, who stuck so close to his heels and tried to head him off, that he could not go the way he would have liked. Thus against his will he was forced up among the rocks, over which he and his fair companion stumbled through the darkness. Abe’s admiration for the young girl was on the increase, and old misanthrope as he had always been, he could not help from putting out his bony arm and assisting her upward. Like hungry wolves the Apaches came barking at their heels, and more than once Abe felt almost constrained to turn upon them. The memory of the promise he had made to Tom was all that restrained him, At last he struck a bonanza. A narrow defile led upward to a ledge of rock that jutted out upon the face of a beet- ling cliff. New hope inspired him when he came upon this place, and he saw an opportunity to ward off the desperate assaults that might soon be expected from his foes. Hardly had they reached the top than a new sound broke the stillness of the night. CHAPTER XXXTX. AN ATTACK FROM THE REAR. THRovuGH the strange basin beyond Buf- falo Gap, and along the précipitous moun- tain-side, rung the loud shouts of the rangers under bold Tucson Tom, as they dashed paral upon the Apache camp like a whirl- wind. They had lost much of the advantage they had hoped to gain by a surprise, but were still ready to do the work that had brought them upon this trail. The Indians were astonished at the sight that met their eyes with the next flash from the clouds. | They had heard no sound that would tell of the presence of such a force, and even now, as they came dashing forward, their steeds made no more noise than phantom horses, As the wraps around the animals’ heads were no longer of any value, they had been hastily snatched off by Tom and his men hae: they threw themselves into the sad- e. Many of the Apaches had mounted, and there was little confusion among them as the rangers dashed down. ucson Tom bad been mightily amazed at the sight of the undaunted guard in the pass crawling out uf the abyss for the second time. make up the beauty of life, he certainly was a great admirer of bravery, and when he found this quality in the heart of a girl, it mattered nothing to him whether she was _, handsome or not, she commanded his respect. One of them had hardly time to realize | Before he could move a hand or foot the - this before that whirling gunstock came in | fellow had discovered them, and this time he vee | contact with his head and he was knocked | was bound to give the alarm, completely out of time. Hardly had he done so- th r : - : a (anicomicbookss:com 4 : . , , oh * f, py . +e ° , re i . om