Beadle's Dime Library No. 51: Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 Beadle’s Dime Library. ‘‘ They are Arapahoes, boys,” said young Boswell, who | had brought a field-glass to bear upon the moving mass ** look, major, for yourself.” St. Kenelm took the glass, and having scanned the party for a moment, exclaimed: ‘* Danger is coming, friends—-perhaps death! Every man to his post—we will have to. fight! Ho, teamsters! throw your wagons into a square, that we may have a temporary barricade, and secure your, animals,, Be quick, men, for Heaven’s, sake! This way, two of you; help me man the Silent Friend!” Two men followed him to the rear wagon, which, being covered like the others, no one would have guessed was an artillery-wagon. But such was the case. The party had improvised a gun-carriage out of a common wagon, and mounted a small, brass howitzer upon it. The weapon had been kept concealed by the tilt, which was kept securely closed all around. It was spoken of only as the “ Silent Friend.” The major and his two friends entered the inclosed gun- carriage, unloosened the canvas so as to be thrown aside in an instant; and then loaded the gun with a solid shot. Major St. Kenelm had ‘seen service as an artillerist, and had no doubt of his ability to handle the gun with precis ion. ‘* Now let them venture within five hundred yards,” he said, calmly. ‘* But, major, look, off here/” cried Harry Gilbrest, run- ning up in great excitement; ‘‘ there comes another party of horsemen from the south.” The, gunners looked in the direction indicated; and, sure enough, saw another party of horsemen sweeping toward them. They were about the same distance away that the other party was. St. Kenelm examined them’ with the glass. ‘‘ Boys, we are doomed! They are Kiowas!” He spoke in a deep, husky tone. By this time the mules and horses; had been secured. The women were huddled together behind the barricade of wag- ons, trembling with a violent terror. Every man and boy, black and white, stood with rifle in hand ready for the affray... A pallor was upon each face, but it was that pallor with which the brave meet death. A fierce determination burned in each eye. ‘“The Arapahoes are the strongest,” said St. Kenelm; *‘ perhaps one volley from our rifles, followed by one shot from the cannon, will check their advance. We can then meet the Kiowas with our rifles and a discharge of grape.” In the mean time great excitement prevailed among the women. ‘The absence of Octavia was known to all, and the general belief that she was in imminent danger caused great uneasiness. Old Aunt Shady was nearly distracted, and re- fused, like Rachel of old, to be comforted. ‘““Do not grieve, Aunt Shady,” ‘said the kind-hearted Maggie Boswell. ‘‘ Octavia may be the only one of. us that’ll escape.” : ‘‘Oh, Miss Maggie, I jis’ know she’ll be murdered an’ den killed by dem awful Ingings!” wailed the old negress. ‘“ If we’s killed, den de poor young t’ing ’ll be wusser off dan eber. Oh, my Octaby! who’d take keer ob her den? Oh, honey! dis world’s jis’ full ob sin blacker dan my face. ot , break my heart—lI jis’ can’t stand it—oh, Lor’, I’ll jis’ die Ané her fat form shook like an aspen under the intensity of her grief. ‘‘ But, Aunt Shady,” persisted Maggie, with tears in her eyes, ‘‘ Octavia may be—” ‘Hush, chile—honey, dear!” interrupted the old negress; ‘*ole Shady haben’t libed dis fifty year fur nuffin’. She know what danger am—she see de awful war in de Souf— she see’d— Oh;, Lor’, sabe my soul!” The last exclamation was occasioned by the sudden, thun- derous crash of the cannon, that shook the earth till Aunt Shady fairly bounced, She stuffed her chubby fingers into her ears, and looking up at her friends with a lugubrious wail, cried out: ‘‘ Children, let’s pray.” The shot fired at the approaching Arapahoes was not without effect. It plowed its way through the ranks of the foe, filling them with terror and consternation. This was a reception they had never expected to meet with from an emi- grant train. Had they known that the party possessed a cannon, it is doubtful whether they would have made the at- tack; for, of ell things, the Indian has the greatest terror of @ cannon, “ess to the conflict. The shot put a check to the advance of the Arapahoes, but the Kiowas kept straight on toward the train, as if ex- erting every effort to reach it in advance of the Arapahoes. The emigrants held their fire until the Kiowas were within fifty paces, then the cannon belched forth its leaden hail and was succeeded by volley after volley, in rapid succession, by the deadly Winchesters. The carnage was fearful; more than a score of savages were unhorsed. A dozen ponies dashed wildly in every direction over the plain—some with reeling, tottering riders, others riderless entirely. The animals of several of the Kiowas became unmanage- able with affright, and dashed up to the very muzzles of the repeaters that were still pouting forth an almost continual stream of fire and lead. The Arapahoes saw this fearless movement of their neigh- bors, and supposing it was made out of'sheer bravery, deter- mined not to be outdone by them, and rallying, bore down again to the scene of conflict This encouraged the Kiowas, who, maddened by their ter rible loss, charged the emigrants, with all the savage venge ance of their souls thrown into their unearthly yells. But our friends were ready for this combined onset. The can non, loaded almost to the muzzle, belched across the plain, and was immediately followed by the discharge of the rifles. The ranks of the foe were nearly swept away. The slaughter of men and horses was frightful; but the survivors pressed on and drove the gunners from the cannon—back inside of their frail defense of wagons. Yells of triumph now issued from the red-skins’ lips, for, although dearly purchased, victory seemed within their grasp. A scene that defies description now followed the first ad- vantage of the foe. Above the tumult of the battle rose the cries and screams of the terrified women, the wild braying of the frightened mules, and the shouts of the defenders. But, suddenly, above the din of all, the wild clangor of a horn rung out, and a score of white horsemen charged like madmen upon the savages and put them to rout. Andijthe emigrant train was saved! Away over the piains in all directious scattered the defeated savages in the wildest disorder, and on in swift pursuit swept the white horsemen, the clangor of the horn, the report of pistols and the shouts of the men ringing out in triumph on the air. Eagerly our friends watched the wild pursuit, and anx- iously they awaited the return of those unknown men, to whom, they were indebted for their lives and all they poss- essed. But they waited in vain. The mysterious horsemen swept away out of sight and were seen no more. Fearful as the conflict had been, and great as was the sav- ages’ loss, the victory of our frietids was almost bloodless and without loss, Two men only had been wounded, but one of these severely; and three mules had broken from the corral and escaped. The greatest fears of Octavia’s safety were now entertained. A large number of the defeated red-skins had fled toward Conejos, and as they were not being pursued, they would in all probability overtake the maiden. They dare not weaken the defensive force of the train by sending out men in search of her. They were afraid the In. dians might rally and renew the attack, and between the two extremities, moments of agonizing suspense and fear held the party inactive. Old Aunt Shady waddled to and fro, wringing her hands in the bitterest despair and bewailing the unknown an of her young mistress. A riderless pony, with smoking flanks and steaming sides, suddenly dashed up the road from the direction of Conejos. All recognized the animal—it was Octavia’s. : Sadness and deepest sorrow fell upon every heart. What was to be done? Evening was coming on, and Conejos was fully four miles away, now lost in the shadows of the grim old mountain beyond, CHAPTER VII. A NEW CHARACTER ON THE STAGE, Octavia St. KENELM was in peril. The very danger which she might have escaped and which threatened her friends, befell her. She rode back antil the train was in sight, and was a wit- She saw the savages charging down upon > GOMIEDOOKS (E(o) =}