Beadle's Half Dime Library (no. 737) (1891 09 08)
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bial [allel ml alll rn ia m yy WS WN WWW \ Fecceeeree Ili mR, Ys WS \W/ ‘A ttzjj_ LOTT Ad 7 - Zz (a! cin! \ “i rec = fra Copyright 1891, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, September 5, Hel. ft : JBLISHE ZEKLY BY BE: AND ADAMS. ice, No. 737. “32.50 PUBLISHED WEEKLY LADLE oa ADAMS Saaee Vol. XXIX. No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK di EVERY BALL FOUND ITS TARGET IN EITHER MAN OR BEAST, FOR BUCK TAYLOR’S NERVES WERE AS STEADY AS STEEL. OR, BUCKSKIN SAM to the RESCUE, A Romance of Lone Star Heroes. BY COL, PRENTISS INGRAHAM, CHAPTER I. THE RED-SKIN RAIDERS. LIKE phantom horsemen, a large band of red- skins looked, as they wound along 4 trail through the mountains, silent as specters, riding slowly in Indian file, and even the unshod hoofs of their ponies giving back no sound from the soft ground, A hundred or more of them there were, and as their leader, a chief, reached the summit of a ridge, riding out of the darkness of the valley 4
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beyond, the moonlight fell full upon him, reveal- ing his bronzed face in full war-paint, and his bonnet of eagle feathers swayed gracefully with the movements of his horge, An instant he halted upon the ridge, and his dark eyes glanced over the miles of rolling prai- rie spread*out before him, with here and there, afar off, the twinkle of a light in some settler’s home, Then over the ridge he rode, and following hiz: came his braves, oneand all of them, as they : .e into the moonlight, showing that they were in full war-paint. It was a band of Comanches, and they were upon the war-path, They had ridden from their village away back in the mountains, to make a raid upon the settle- ments and ranches of their pale-face foes, to strike a quick, cruel blow against men, women and children alike, and to then raid their homes, escaping with what scalps, booty and prisoners they could get to the mountains while night yet covered up in part their red deeds, There lay the unsuspecting settlements, miles away, and here and there was the home of a ranchero, Cattle and horses by the hundreds were asleep upon the prairies, or grazing upon the rich grass, while about them the cowboy sentinels rode to keep them from straying, either whistling or singing to soothe the dumb beasts,* Down the “pt hillside trail rode the Indian raiders, until at last the chief halted upon a knoll and called about him a group of warriors, Ina low tone he gave them certain orders, pointing here and there, and then he rode on, followed only by some thirty of his red horse- men, As he held straight on to the trail, another chief rode away to the right with ascore of braves at his back, and a third leader went off to the left with his force, The reserve, some thirty in number, followed slowly upon the first chief’s trail, The moon had beeu up an hour now, thenight was not yet old, and the intention was to strike by midnight, do the red work quickly and be well upon the retreat when dawn should come, The leaders of the red raiders haé their orders, one to strike the ranches far to the left,ranging to- ward the right, and the other to strike to the right ranging toward the left, while the head chief was to hit the settlement in the center. The reserve an equal force with his own, was to follow and be ready to lend a helping hand to either of the three parties, or cover a retreat should the peo- ple be warned of their coming. But down from the ridge ahead of the red raiders had come a horse and rider, As he came from the shadows of the bills into the moonlight, it could be seen that his pony was staggering with fatigue, but still hard pressed by his rider, who was a youth yet in his teens— a youth clad in buckskin, wearing a belt of arms, having a rifle slung at his back, and who looked like a dangerous foe, young as he was. His hair was long, and fell almost to his waist. His face was beardless and expressive of daring, resolution and utter fearlessness, His form was tall, slender, but wiry and supple. As he rode along he urged his tired horse harder and harder, **It seems cruel, my good horse, to push you so,and iknow you are doing your best; but then, the settlements must be warned that those red fiends are coming to raid them, **Ob! that I bad not bad to make that long hard ride around the spur, for I would have been there now, and not have used you up; but, you must go until you drop, and then I must run the rest of the way, for the people must know their danger.” So again he urged on his utterly worn out horse, which at times staggered badly, as though he could not hold out much longer. Just as the red-skins filed down from the range into the prairie, the pooranimal, who had done his best, stumbled badly; then, unable to recover his feet, fell heavily and rolling over lay where he had fallen, In an instant the rider had caught upon his feet, and with a word and caress to the poor horse, he sprung forward on foot in a long, Swinging run. u_——_ CHAPTER II, THE WARNING. THE horseman, whose gallant horse had sunk under the terrible strain he had been put to, * The cowboys on guard at night sing, or whistle, to keep the cattle quiet, Tk AUTHOR. Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. started off like a man who knew full well the responsibilities devolving upon him, e knew that it was a hard run of miles to the nearest ranch; but, could he once reach there, then horsemen could be sent flying along the line of settlers’ homes, and to the settlement, giving the alarm, and warning men to rally and defend their lives and property. So he struck out at a pace swift and steady, fleeter than his horse had carried him the last few miles of the trail, He followed the trail, indistinct though it was in places, as a hound would a scent, and the moonlight showed that he was betraying no sign of his speed slacking, whatever fatigue he might feel. Often he would turn his head and glance back over the moonlit prairie, and smile grimly as he saw no Cark forms in chase, He knew that his own life was at stake, too, as well as the lives of many others, for did the Indians come up with him it would be but a short stand at bay and then the end must come, ‘‘T must warn the settlements of their danger, if I fall dead the moment I have done so,” said the brave youth as he bounded along over the soft-turfed prairie, At last be halted, and suddenly, Had his strength failed him? No, for he stood in a listening attitude, his hand to his ear, as sounds came to him from away back upon the prairie! ‘** They have found my horse and could not re- sist an outcry. Now they will press on in chase of me like hounds after a deer.” And away he bounded again, his speed in- creased considerably, and his body bent forward as he ran. He tightened bis belt, took off his huge Mexi- can spurs, threw his rifle across his shoulders, and with one hand on the stock, the other on ea barrel, thus ran at a speed that was remark- able, Only one of his sinewy, wiry frame could have endured the killing pace, One, two, three miles had been passed over and still he kept up that terrible run. At last, before him on the prairie, a dark ob- ject arose, ‘*Tt is a cowboy sentinel. Thank God! in time!” he panted, The horseman suddenly heard a hoarse call that startled him: ‘*Pard! quick! Ride toward me!” He saw a running form and obeyed. “The Indians are coming—not—a mile behind me—ride witb all speed—and—warn the rancbes and settlements, ‘**Go! don’t lose a minute!” “Ha! it is you, Buck Taylor, and you are ut- terly played out, pard. Take my horse, and—” ‘* No, no, I am too dead beat even to ride, Vl —get off the—trail, out of their way. For God’s sake—go | ‘‘ There are over a hundred—of them— oe Go ” ‘*T will, and you shall not be forgotten, Buck, for this brave work. ‘* Go off on the prairie yonder, away from the trail, and lie down flat.” “Oh, go! never mind me, Brent Baldwin!” and the words came as before, through the pant- ing breath, in a painful way, The horseman awaited no longer, but put spurs to his horse and darted away, while Buck ae turned, tottered, and fell right on the trail! His strengtb had failed him and he could go no further! But, be hoarsely whispered: “Thank Heaven! I warned the ranches, for Brent Baldwin will ride like the wind.” He seemed now unable to move, and lay pant- ing like a hound; but, at length, bis breath came more evenly, his heart ceased its painful beating, and he rose to a sitting posture. Then he glanced back over the trail he had pee eagerly searching for the coming red- skins, He had not long to look, for there they were, a dark mass, moving at a canter along the trail. He knew that he was directly in their path, but, to have saved his life, before that moment, he cculd not have risen and walked away. Now, however, his strength was rapidly com- ing back to him, and he rose to his knees, then to his feet, : He swayed an instant, and seemed about to fallagain. His brain reeled and he felt strange- ly weak. But in a moment the dizziness was gone, his nerve and strength came back to him, and he glided away over the prairie in a crouching posi- tion, his rifle in hand. I am At first his knees swayed, but the muscles re- gained their action, and he was beginning to feel that he might get out of the track of the red- skins unseen, when he beard a low cry, fol- lowed hy other exclamations, and as one man the Indian horsemen spurred toward him, CHAPTER III, AGAINST ODDS, “Tus is luck!” One who had heard Buck Taylor’s words and not seen to what he referred, would have sup- posed that he considered it ‘‘ luck ” to have some ar odd hostile Comanches riding down upon aim. But, instead, be had suddenly stepped into a hole in the prairie! It had the appearance of being a grave, and such, indeed, it was. But little earth bad been thrown in upon the form resting there, and this had settled down firmly in the time that had passed since the oc- cupant of the grave had been placed there. The loose earth was packed up around the edge of the grave, which had clearly been dug by spades, and well dug, too, if it was left, from some reason,!' but half filled in. It was some four feet deep, with the embank- ment of hardened earth around it rising a foot higher, so that a better place of defense could not be found, Many would have regarded it as ominous, to thus fall into an open grave, and perhaps become unnerved by the thought that right there life would end; but not so with Buck Taylor, the young Cowboy Scout. He congratulated himself upon his ‘ find,” as though he bad “‘ struck it rich,” and recovering iy bis fall, braced himself to what was before im, The Indians had come upon his horse miles back upon his trail, to find him dying from ex- haustion, They had seen with experienced eyes that his rider had left him but a few moments before. They knew that their coming had been seen— that the rider was going on to warn the settle- ments, and his horse failing him, be was in hid- ing upon one side of the trail, hoping for them to pass on. e cunning chief at once decided to find the man they sought. If he had gone on afoot, then they could overtake him, for what mortal could keep up a run for miles against the hardened ponies? or, if he had gone off the trail to hide, then they must find him. So the chief gave an order, and the warriors filed off in a straight line upon either side of bim. Thirty horsemen, separated by a hundred feet between each of them, extend a long distance, and so, bad Back Taylor simply left the trail to hide, he would have been readily found. As the chief rode at a canter, a rapid one, too, for he wished to lose no time, bis braves kept abreast of him, Thus.tbe line went on rapidly over the prairie, until at last the keen eyes of the leader discoy- ered a dark object ahead, It was the man they sought, and the warriors were at once called in toward a common center, — from which they began to circle and surround their pale-face foe, One thing pleased the Indians: they believed _ they had overtaken him before he had been able — to warn the settlements, They bad no idea how rapidly he bad run, and how much endurance he had shown. Afar off on the prairies they saw a number of cattle, slowly drifting toward the ranch, yet in no apparent alarm. If they could surround the man_ before them, then they might prevent any firing, which they wished to avoid; but, if he should fire upon them, their arrows would quickly end his life and silence him, when they could rush on to the attack for which they had come, Such stood at bay in the half-open grave, The red-skins, of course, did not know of this cover in the ground, They elso were unaware of the range of his rifle, and just who their foe was, Had they known him as a young cowboy who haa already won a name as scout, guide, wild rider and Indian-fighter, they would] have been more cautious, From his point of vantage, in spite of the odds" against him, Buck Taylor took the situation with the greatest coolness, He saw the circle of death narrowing about him, and picked out his men to kill. he As he ve was the situation when Buck Taylor elt down in the hole Buck raised his — a os
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——— —— oP — Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. eee to begin the fight against the appalling odds. The moon revealed the Indians distinctly, but his position in the grave allowed only his head and shoulders to be seen. A moment more and his rifle spoke. The fine weapon was a repeater, and, quick as the trig- ger could be touched, shot after shot rung out, until seven had been told, Nor had the muzzle pointed in one direction, for it had swept entirely around tke circle, until it seemed as though half a dozem men were fighting from the grave. Ponies went down, warriors fell from their saddles, and not a single shot had been lost. Every ball found its target in either man or aoe for Buck Taylor’s nerves were as steady as steel. The Comanches were startled, and for a few moments were dismayed; with wild yells they rushed upon their single foe, But, he held a revolver in each hand now, and still kneeling in the grave, his hands ex- tended right and left, his head turning quick] to aim first one, then the other weapon, Buc Taylor let fly his shots at the charging Co- manche horsemen, CHAPTER IV. THE CHIEF’S RECOGNITION, THE arrows flew in showers about the head of the heroic Texan, and the earthwork about the grave looked like a huge pin-cushion, as they atuck in it. One had buried itself in his arm, His revolvers were emptied, slowly, deliberate- ly and with deadly aim; but, what could one man do against such odds? Suddenly a loud voice rung out in an order, and the shower of arrows instantly ceased, and from all sides the Comanches rushed upon their foe. Out of the grave sprung the tall, slender form, his rifle clubbed now, and it fell with crushing force upon a warrior’s head. Then his hand dropped upon his bowie-knife; but, ere he could use it, half a dozen red-skins had thrown themselves uponghim. He was even then able to hurl them right and left, by his wonderful strength; but, some were not to be thrown off, and after a desperate strug- gle he was borne down and quickly bound hand and foot, The red-skins had obeyed their chief’s com- mand not to kill their foe. 7 His astonishing pluck and deadly aim had won their admiration, and such a man must die by torture, to see if he would still be as brave under their most inhuman cruelty, as when standing at bay and fighting them, So the arrow sticking in his arm was pulled out, and as it was seen that his other wounds were slight, the red-skins seemed rejoiced that he had suffered no serious seal Their chief had dismounted and stood regard- ing the prisoner curiously. At last he seemed to have made up his mind that he bad seen the cowboy before and asked in perfect English: ** Are you not Buck Taylor?” ; ‘*T am, and you, from your speech, are a rene- gade white in Indian togs and war-paint, to your sbame be it said,” was the reply. ‘Yes, Iam a white man and a renegade,” ** That is evident.” ‘¢ We have met before?” ‘Have we?” “Yes, but as you do not recall me I shall not now make myself known to you. “T ordered my warriors to cease firing) upon you, and to run in and take you alive, for I ad- mired your pluck, You bave killed six of my braves and wounded several more, while under your deadly aim half a dozen of my ponies have gone down. ** But I want you, and I shall send you back under a guard, while I press on to strike a blow at the settlements and bring you more com- pany.” “You mean prisoners?” ‘Yes, I have a fair lady love from Mexico, who married an American officer, and I intend to make her my captive. ** Do you know the ranch of Captain Hassan “Yes, though I do not know him,” ‘Well, you'll make his acquaintance soon in the Indian village up in the mountains,” and turning to his warriors who bad now grouped themselves about him, he gave orders that the dead should be packed upon ponies, the wounded also on their own horses, and with the prisoner, under two braves, should all go on the back trail to the mountains, When meeting the re- serve they should be hastened on after the chief, rd) The order was promptly obeyed, and after a delay of hardly more than fifteen minutes, the chief rode on at a gallop with his diminished force, to begin his attack, fearful that the firing had put the ranches in hearing on their guard. When met by the party returning with the prisoner and the wounded, the reserve learned that the chief and his braves had met with a check, at the hands of one man, then their pris- oner, There was adesire to rush upon Buck and then and there to end his life; but the orders of the chief were made known, and the attempt abandoned, though the darkest of scowls and some severe blows were dealt the prisoner, The Cowboy Scout uttered no remonstrance or outcry, but calmly and patiently bore the in- sults and added sufferings, for he did suffer from his wounds and the tight binding of the ropes, So on went the party on the back trail, the pale-face alone knowing that the Comanches were going to meet a surprise where they hoped to surprise their foes. At last the hills were reached, and as the party came to the summit of the ridge, where the chief had halted his warriors and viewed the prairie before them, with the far-off glim- mer of a light here and there from a ranch, the brave who commanded the little force also came to a standstill. He felt deep chagrin at having to retreat when his fellow warriors were going where scalps and plunder were plentiful. As he glanced off over the prairie a bright light shot up, then another and another, and ke gave a wild yell of triumph, for these told him that the chief bad struck the settlements and had begun the red work of murder and destruc- tion. Yet, as all now looked there came to their ears aringing volley of rifles,and Buck Taylor, bound as he was, burst in a shout of triumph, for it told him that the warning he bad given had been promptly responded to, CHAPTER VY. TWO PRISONERS, Tue triumphant cry of Buck Taylor, when he heard the rifle-shots, which told that the Co- manches bad met the rancheros in their raid, was received by the guards with angry words and gestures, which threatened bim with death but the prisoner knew that they dared not kill him, after the orders of their chief, and he felt no apprehension on that score, They were savage, however, in their manner and words, for on the night air came to them the rattle of many shots, and the raid they had hoped would be such a successful one, they now dreaded might be a flight for their comrades, without plunder and scalps, and with the loss of many lives among their own number, Buck Taylor understood the Comanche tongue pretty well, but this fact he kept to himself, though he heard the conversation about him, He was glad to feel that the red-skins also knew that their comrades would not meet with the success they had anticipated, and their push- ing on into the mountains convinced him that they feared the ranchero pursuit might be so hot as to endanger their retreat. Until dawn they pushed on, and then coming to a halt, an Indian brave climbed a high tree and took a look back over the trail. He soon made a discovery, for he called out to his companions that they must move on again, and the wounded warriors and prisoners were accordingly started once more on the march, They had gone but a short distance when the brave who bad climbed the tree overtook them, and said that two of the bands were returning, and both were being pursued, On into the mountains they pressed, and soon after noon came in sight of the Comanche vil- lage. ‘Buck Taylor saw that it was the main village, from the number of tepees visible, and the crowds of warriors, squaws and children that came out to welcome their coming, . But for the words of the warriors with him repeating the orders of their chief, he would have quickly been put to death, and as it was, received many a severe blow from a squaw or one of the children, ; He bore the punishment without a word, and showed no evidence of the pain he suffered under the ordeal; but he was glad when he at last was put in the Council Lodge, under guard of two braves, He had noticed that the village was splendidly located for defense, and retreat if necessary, and from what he heard among the warriors, he dis- covered that the raiders had been led by the head chief of the tribe, whom henow knew to be a renegade white man, He had heard of this chief, Ka-noon-ka, the Death Hand, as a savage-hearted man, with wonderful skill as a leader and desperate cour- age; but that he was a white man no one had te pane ow he knew that it was Ka-noon-ka, the renegade chief, who bad captured him, and what the result would be he could only surmise, for the man had seemed to rejoice in his capture from some fell purpose he kept to himself, As night drew near the shouts and cries in the village told the prisoner that the raiding party were returning, and he rolled over to the en- trance of the large tepee. to get a look at them and know if they came as victorious plunderers or defeated and in flight. His guards made no effort to prevent his see- ing, and this convinced him that one at least of the bands had met with success, for were it otherwise the two braves would have prevented his seeing the humiliation of their comrades, Then, too, the words of the two Indians, who did not know that he ke their language, soon told him that the raid had been, in a manner, successful. Soon there came into sight the renegade chief, his horse’s head hanging low from fatigue, his sides gaunt from his hard ride, Behind bim came a warrior, and by his side, mounted upon an Indian pony, was a young girl of scarcely more than ten years of age. Even at the distance he was from her, Buck Taylor saw that her face was livid with fear, and that she glanced at the howling mob of red- skins with a dread of instant death being visited upon her. Behind these came a score of warriors, each one of whom led a couple of horses, evidently captured avimals, loaded down with plunder, A herd of cattle, their tongues lolling out from the hard drive they had been forced upon, a drove of horses, a couple of hundred in number, and behind these mounted warriors formed the procession, The braves from the village dashed out and drove the captured cattle and horses toward a valley beyond the village, while the animals loaded with plunder followed the chief toward his own tepee which was uear the Council e. Then the eyes of Buck Taylor fell upon an- other party bringing up the rear, and he quickly saw that many a pony bore a rider, hanging limp across his saddle as he came along on his last ride, while upon the backs of other mus- tangs were two braves, one able-bodied, sup- porting a wounded comrade unable to keep his seat alone, Quickly over the party of dead and wounded his eyes searcbed, and he gave a sigh of relief as the words came to his lips: ‘*Only two prisoners! “That poor little girl and myself.” CHAPTER VI. THE MESSENGER, I wILu now return to Brent Baldwin the cow- boy guard whom Buck Taylor sent off upon his mission of warning the ranches and settle- ments, He was well mounted and a plucky fellow, so he felt no fear of the result; but hé was there to guard bis employer’s nerd, and so just gave the cattle a start toward the distant rancb. Then he went cff like the wind and as he drew near the ranch he made known his coming with a well-known cry of alarm, It was heard and beeded by them at the ranch, and as he rode up he called out: ‘*Men, Buck Taylor, the Wild Rider of the Rio, is back on the prairie dead beat, and he brings news of a large band of Comanches com- ing to strike the ranches, “T started the cattle down the creek, and and am now going along the line of ranches to give warning. ‘“‘ Keep a sharp lookont for the reds, boys!” With this he was gone, and he kept his spurs against the flanks of his horse, which ran with the speed of a deer, : As for the people at the ranch they hastily gathered a few provisions and wraps, mounted in hot haste, and while one man went with the women and children out of the path of the red- skins, the men began to keep a watch for the coming of their foes, so as to keep ahead of them, and just out of sight, so that they could fall back upon the force at the next ranch, The messenger meanwhile had reached the next ranch and given the same warning, and al! were prepared for the coming of the Comanches, those who could not defend themselves being
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4 Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. run off to a place of safety with the horses and cattle, while the men who could be spared waited the coming of those from the other ranch to add to their numbers of defenders, To the third and fourth ranches went the flying messenger, mounting a fresh horse here as he reached the fifth, and coming sudden- ly upon a band of a dozen horsemen who had just come along the trail from the settlement, A voice called out as he drew rein: ~. ‘* Ho, Brent Baldwin, is that you?” ‘It is for a fact, pard, and though I don’t re- cognize you, right glad am I to meet you, for there is work to be done this night,” answered Brent Baldwin, ‘* Well, my friend, what is wrong?” and a horseman rode forward to greet the messen- er. ss *“*T am cowboy on Lawler’s Ranch, sir, and while minding my herd a couple of miles from the house, I saw a man running across the prai- rie toward me, and rupvning like a deer. ‘He was dead beat out, and could hardly speak, yet panted out that bis horse had died back on the trail some miles, from hard riding, and he bad run to give warning that the Co- manches were moving upon the ranches witha large force of braves. ‘*T wanted him to take my horse, but he said he was too played out to hold in the saddle, so would camp off the trail and lie down to rest while I came on. ‘¢ You are Captain Hassan, are you not, sir?” “Yes, and ‘I congratulate you upon your rapid ride, and am glad we have met you here. ‘Wewere returning from the settlement to my ranch, and I will send one of my men along the line of ranches to give warning, and another to the settlement, so you need not go further away from your people,” ‘{ thank you, sir,” answered Brent Baldwin, and Captaiu Hassan at once gave the orders that sent two of his men flying away at full 8 A He was a manof fine presence and military bearing, for he kad only of late years resigned from the army and become a ranchero, He still wore a half-military costume with his border dress, and had the air of one who was every inch a soldier. Serving as surgeon of a fort on the Rio Grande, some years before, he had rescued a beautiful Mexican girl from a band of outlaws, and between the two had sprung up a love that ended in their marriage, after which Captain Hassan, as his cowboys called him, turned Texas ranchero, and was respected and liked by all who knew hin. He was now returning to his home from the settlements, where he had been with his cow- boys to drive a herd of cattle, when he so for- tunately came upon Brent Baldwin, Learning that Cowboy Baldwin had warned the other ranches further along the frontier, and the men were falling back along the line toward where he was, Captain Hassan decided, as there was a mass of heavy timber just there, to make a stand against the Comanches, as with those coming and his own men he would have fully a score of gallant Texans to fight back the cruel foe with. Then, too, he knew that his men sent as mes- sengers would soon give the alarm, and when Per firing was he others would flock to his aid, So he quickly ambushed his men‘in the timber and hardly bad they taken position when ar lare shot up into fthe skies back on the trail wboy Brent Baldwin had come, and all knew that the Comanches had begun their fiendish work, and the Texans bided their time for revenge, CHAPTER VII, THE AMBUSH, ‘‘WHo did you say the brave fellow was, Baldwin, who so nobly brought the warning of the coming of the Comanches?” asked Captain Hassan of Brent Baldwin, after the force from the deserted ranches had come up and joined his own, and they were | ing in ambush in the tim- ber awaiting to deal: their blow against the com- ing foe, A * Buck Taylor, sir.” “*T think I have heard of a youth of that name ‘whose wonderful horsemanship has gained for him the name of Wild Rider,” * ‘Yes, sir, he is known as the Wild Rider of the Rio Grande,” ** Yes, I have heard of him; but who is he?” “Well, Captain Hassan, all I know}jis that he isa Texas boy, and has been guide and hunter, as well as scout at some of the forts, * He is a tall young fellow, quick as a tiger and strong as a giant, and has not his equal as a rider in Texas, while he throws a lasso as straight as he shoots. ‘*L believe now he is a cowboy on a river ranch, and yet he spends most of his time scout- ing on his own hook, picking up stray cattle witbout brands and catching horses. ‘*He must have been scouting up near the Comanche country when he discovered their coming, and riding his horse to death came along on foot ata pace few men could equal and keep up as he did, ‘*T only hope he will not be pursued ‘and cap- tured.” ‘* T sincerely hope so, indeed.” ‘* Some of the men from Lawler’s Ranch, Cap- tain Hassan, said they heard sharp firing back on the prairie, after they left home,” said a maa near. “Then the Comanches jumped Buck Taylor, and my word for it ne made his mark before he went down,” Brent Baldwin said. The men who had heard the firing were sent for, and Captain Hassan questioned them about it. ‘We had sent the women and children off down the creek, sir,” was the reply, ‘‘ while we fell back along the trail to Sutlow’s Ranch, and heard back on the prairie some rapid firing, as from a repeating-rifle. ‘¢ We saw the flashes, too, now and then, ‘and it seemed to be at or near the grave of a traitor guide, who was hung by the people of a wagon- train, a year ago, for trying to lead them into an Indian ambush, ‘* They but half-filled the grave in, and so left it, and if Buck Taylor found it and took shelter there, he had a good place to fight from at least, though of course he could not hold out against such odds,” Such was the explanation of the man from Lawler’s Ranch, and all hoped that Buck Tay- lor had managed to stand off the Comanches though they dreaded the worst that could befall him The burning of the Lawler Ranch cast a ruddy glare over the prairies, and they knew that the Comanches would basten on as swiftly as they could, fearing to alarm the ranches. In this they were right, for soon across the prairie a dark mass appeared in sight, and they were coming at a rapid canter. “Stand ready, men!” ordered Captain) Has- san, in his calm, soldierly way, and the cowboys grasped their rifles for the work in hand, A few shots, from fugitive ranchmen, the Co- manches might expect from the timber, and yet they would mostly believe that those who had deserted their homes had fled off the trail for safety. But that there was a score of brave men bar- ring their way they did not suspect, and as the Death Hand drew near the timber, through which the trail ran, and which the nature of the ground did not allow them to flank, he gave the order to his warriors for a rush, hoping to put to flight any two or three foes that might be hidden there, for the darkness in the woods was impenetrable, even to Comanche eyes. ** Aim to kill, men! ‘*Throw no shot away! “ Ready! aim! fire!” So ordered Captain Hassan, and almost as one rifle the weapons flashed full in in the faces of the red riders and their horser, The shock was a withering one, and down be- fore {it went horses and braves, while the wild yell of the Texas cowboys showed the Coman- ches not only who they had to fight, but also that their force was a large one. Death Hand, the chief, was unhurt, though in the lead, and he was not unnerved by the ambush and defeat of his hopes, for he knew that they dare not attempt to go on. Behind him came his reserve at-a run, for their yells were heard, and this alone prevented Captain Hassan from giving the order to charge out upon their foes after the volley that bad been so disastrous, He was sure that there were more Indians coming, that they had fired upon the advance guard only, and so they held their position in the timber, while the chief drew off his braves slowly and sullenly, unable to carry with them their dead or seriously wounded, The reserve came up and a halt was made, while the chief held a consultation with his best warriors. His keen hearing had detected no sounds of firing in the direction that his other two bands had gone, and he was cunning enough to say: “Ka-noon-ka knew that we would have to do the fighting, and my other chiefs will have to reap the reward, ‘* We will hold these pale-faces here, so that. they can not go after our braves up the line, and then we can cover their retreat, while we can drive back cattle and ponies with us. ‘* We bave lost some of our braves, but the ale-faces shall suffer bitterly for the lives they ave taken. ‘¢ Ka-noon-ka bas said it.” CHAPTER VIII. A COURIER’S TIDINGS. THEIR great chief the Comanches implicitly trusted, and obeyed without a murmur. He was a pale-face in blood, it was true, not of their race; but he had shown himself a “‘ true Indian,” and was as bitter a foe to his own peo- ple as the most savage warrior of their tribe. He had led them to victory against the whites on several occasions, and against the Apaches often, and his word was law, They deemed his words true, that he had gone to do the fighting while the other bands would get the plunder and scalps, Yet, but for the warning of Buck Taylor this would not have been the case, as the reader knows, for each ranchero had thus been warned, up to where Captain Hassan and his cowboys were met, and but for their being halted and making a stand there, the Comanches would have swept ekg upon the settlement and joined the other nds, The cunning chief feeling that he could do notbing, in the way of going on, wisely deter- mined % make a stand, to prevent his foes from going against his other bands, while, his reserve having come up, he had now enough warriors to remain, while he dispatched six or eight back over the trail to gather what plunder they could and also drive back before them the horses an cattle they could manage in so rapid a retreat, Not knowing the force of the enemy, Captain Hassan dared not leave the timber with his few men, and so remained in ambush, waiting for reinforcements. But instead of the reinforcements expected, a horseman arrived riding at full speed, and his horse had evidently been pushed to the best he could do and endure, ‘“Ts Captain Hassan here, pards?” he called out, as he dashed up to the timber. ‘*Yes—oh! itis you, Rawlings?” and the cap- tain recognized one of his own cowboys, left on the ranch, ‘¢-Yes, captain, and I have bad news for you, sir,” answered the cowboy, and his tone became low and sympathetic, Captain Hassan started at these words, and his face blanched in the moonlight. But he asked with perfect calmness; ‘¢ What is it, Rawlings?” “You have had fighting here, sir, as I heard when coming along; but back at the ranch there were not enough to beat them off, sir, and they captured little Miss Belle and—” ‘* My poor, poor child! But my wife? Quick, Rawlings! tell me of my wife!” ‘*Sbe fainted, sir, and I bore her off to safety ; but I can give you no hope for Miss Belle, whether she be dead or alive, for the Comanches shot down several of our boys and some of the peon servants, and scal them, while they either killed your daughter or carried her off with them. : “Tt was a complete surprise, sir, for they were upon us before we suspected that they were near, and there is another band which is also raiding the ranches above. “They plundered your home, sir, and have gotten away with a dozen ere and plenty of booty, and when they retreated I rode to meet you, as your wife was expecting you to return by morning.” ‘My poor, poor wife! “* But she is safe?” ‘* Yes, sir.” ** Where is she?” ‘*T carried her back to our camp, sir, and gave her to the keeping of all that remained of our cowboy band whom you left behind at the ranch,” ‘Then she is safe, though what fate has be- fallen my loved child, Heaven only knows, ‘*Come, men! with the Comanches divided, and other bands attacking the ranches above here, we need expect no aid, and that yonder force does not press on, shows that they are weak in numbers, so follow me, for I seek re- venge.” , The words were spoken in a calm tone, butall felt that a voleano was raging in the heart of the brave man who uttered them. They dearly loved their ranchero chief and Pre gaaier™ wife, while the little Belle was their 0;
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“Tittle Captain” they called her, and there was not one of the cowboy band that would not have offered his life freely to defend her from harm, or avenge her, So a wild cheer greeted their leader’s words, and they rallied quickly around him, ‘* Men, the Comanches are lurking yonder at that ranch, and we must charge them, opening with our rifles as we advance. ‘* When near enough, use your revolvers, ** Are you ready?” The yell that answered this question in the affirmative was heard by the Comanches, and Chief Death Hand at once set it down that the cowbpys had received reinforcements, His warriors who had gone ahead would have had time to plunder the ranches and drive off the cattle, and the two bands sent further up the line had a much shorter distance to go than bis party, so they had either met with success or defeat by that time, and he could only re- treat, as he had no desire to fight a body of Texas cowboys that might nearly equal his own numbers, So he gave the order tofretreat just as the cow- boys rode out of the timber to attack him. He did not observe this fact until be had got- ten some distance from the protection of the ranches, and a volley of rifle bullets began to patter about them, To return to the shelter of the ranch was then impossible, so he could only keep up bis retreat and make a running fight of it as best he could, CHAPTER IX. ON THE TRAIL OF RESCUE. THE cowboys in the advance could see that _ the large dark mass in retreat vver the prairie seemed to indicate that they were largely out- numbered; but had there been sunlight it would bave revealed that there were tully a hundred riderless horses there, for the cunning renegade chief had kept the captured animals with him to bave just this effect in the moon- light, His braves were scattered among the captured horses, too, that the deception might the better be carried out, and so where he had only about two-score. warriors, there appeared to bea couple of hundred of them as seen by the cowboys. This sight naturally caused Captain Hassan to check the too rapid pursuit of bis men, who he’ feared would be drawn into a trap, As he did not know who the Comanche leader was, that he was a renegade white man, he had every reason to believe that the red-skins had not come upon a raid, to strike the ranches at selected points and make the attack seem gene- ral, without coming with a very large force. So when they began to retreat he wisely de- termined to make a dash, fire a few volleys, at as close a range as possible, into their crowded ranks, and then halt to watch their movements, until they had gotten out of sight, when it would be well to sweep rapidly along the line of ran- ches to his own desolated and exposed home. Because he had suffered perbaps most griev- ously of all, he was not one to leave undefended other ranches, until he was certain the Co- manches’ retreat was a real one and not a blind. ‘‘Men, we will charge down upon them until I give the order to halt and fire, and then empty your rifles to a man. ‘¢ We will then make a stand to see if they continue their retreat; but 1f they press us, we — onl y fall back upon our frontier in the tim- er. Such were Captain Hassan’s orders, and the men answered with another ringing cheer. A momeut more and they were riding at full speed down upon the red-skins, Astounded at their daring, Chief Death Hand feared that they had discovered the cheat, as to his pretended numbers, and he rallied his war- riors to face the charge, which he considered was meant to break over them. But suddenly a loud command was heard, and the cowboys halted and then came the order: “Tire! and empty your rifles!” For a couple of minutes the roar of the cow- boys’ rifles was beard, and the bullets fell thick and fast among the red-skins, dropping & war- rior here, a horse there, and wounding others, though the distance was too great to do the damage that a few hundred feet nearer would have inflicted upon the red-skins, The chief ordered his dead and wounded to be cared for, and, as he saw that the cowboys did not press him nearer’, slowly continued to re- treat. Until the dark mass faded away in the dis- tance over the prairie, and even the bright moonlight revealed them no longer to the keen- est eyes, the cowboys remained in position. laa Then feeling convinced that the retreat was a real one, Captain Hassan left Brent Baldwin with the men from the raided ranches, to re- main in the timber to guard against a return of their red foes, while he pressed on with his own cowboy band toward bis home. A couple of ranches were reached, which the Indians had not visited, and then came the one nearest bis own home. It had not been set on fire, as the Comanches wished to conceal their red work as much as possible, but there lay half a dozen dead bodies about, the ranehero and his family, and from their heads the scalps had been ruthlessly torn. ‘It was the first ranch they struck, sir, and they then swept down upon your house,” said Rawlings. Leaving a couple of men to gu rd the dead, and the utterly plundered house, Captain Has- san dashed on toward his own ranch some five miles distant. He approached by way of his cowboys’ camp, and these men, acting as a guard for Mrs, agen greetod their arrival with a cheer of de- ight. ‘*My wife?” came in a hoarse whisper from the rancbero’s lips, as he sprung from his horse, ‘* Ts in the cabin there, sir, and suffers for her poor child,” was the answer of a cowboy who wore bis arm in a sling, , Into the cabin strode the captain, and with a ery of joy at his coming, of sorrow at their great loss, Mrs. Hassan sprung into his arms, ‘*My poor, poor wife! What have you not gone through?” be said in a low voice, “Do not think of me, Ned, for I am safe, thanks to brave Rawlings and his hero comrades wko rescued me; but our child, our beautiful Belle is either dead or a captive,” ‘*T will at once give pursuit, Marion, so hope for the best, and the people of the other ranches will rally about me, while, as you are safe here, I will take every man I can spare,” “ Yes, do not think of me, Ned, but go to the rescue of our child, ** Quick! lose not an instant of time,” urged Marion Hassan, as she turned her lovely, tear- stained face up to ber husband in urgent en- treaty. ‘*] go at once, Marion,” and with an embrace he left her, and loud rung bis voice as he stepped from the cabin: ‘Ho, men, rally about me, for I go to rescue my child from the red fiends!” Ten minutes after, mounted upon fresh horses, Captain Hassan and a scure of gallant cowboys were riding across the moonlit prairies on the trail of rescue and revenge. CHAPTER X, IN VAIN, THE raid of the Comanches had been well- planned, and it showed good generalship in the renegade chief, Death Hand, He had sent his warriors in two bands besides his own, and these had been directed to strike certain points of the line of ranches, to kill and to plunder, and then retreat toward a common center, His own band hed been intended for the set- tlement, where there were a few stores and a number of small farms, and there were the out- lying ranches to be taken in on the way. He had wisely had the reserve force follow him, and well for him it was that he had done 80, or the cowboys, under Captain Hassan, would have wiped out his little band, thinned by its at- tack on Buck Taylor, and the volley from the timber, as it was, Tae warning given by Buck Taylor, therefore, had saved the settlement and its surrounding ranches from a complete surprise and destruc- tion, But the two other bands had made a complete sweep of the ranches they had gone to plunder and destroy, Except that they did not burn, not wishing to attract attention, their fiendish work bad been complete, and they bad escaped with their booty, horses and cattle, while at their belts bung a number of scalps, torn from the heads of men, women and children without mercy. So it was tbat the renegade had planned well, for being a white man he bad known the ways of his people, and & dweller among the Indians he had learned all their cruelties and cunning ways, The ranch people bad fled in terror, as they could escape, and were lying in hiding when a horseman dasbed along calling for all men able to mount and pursue to do so, to follow on the trail of Captain Hassan and his band of cow- — he latter pushed on as rapidly as possible, Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. i i 5 and when they camped at dawn for needed rest and food, as the sun rose over the prairie, afar off they beheld a body of borsemen following, The cowboys gave three cheers at the sight, and awaited their coming, cooking for them extra food, They soon came up, a hastily gathered band of men, twenty in number, with baggard faces, but wearing a look of determined revenge. Some had lost dear ones, and nearly all had had their houses plundered by the marauding band of Comanches. With nearly half a bundred brave, determined followers, ranging from boys of fourteen to- gray-haired men of three-score years, Captain Hassan pressed on toward the mountains, hop- ing to overtake the retreating red-skins, for, loaded down as they were with plunder, he knew that they could not travel fast. The trails of the cattle and horses showed that they bad driven off many a fat steer and val- vable animal, and they could not make rapid time thus hampered. From all with whom he talked, Captain Has- san felt convinced that the band of marauders had been a small one, one which, bad their com- ing been known, could have been bandled with- out difficulty, had the ranch people been able to rally to beat them back, At last the foot-hills were reached and scouts were sent’ on ahead to reconnoiter, for an am- bush was feared, and justly so, for the able chief who had so well planned his raid could certainly understand now to protect his retreat, ‘“‘They are in yonder pass, captain,” said Rawlings, pointing as he spoke to a canyon that entered the mountains, and where there was a chance for the red-skins to lie in hiding, their presence completely bidden from any one ap- proaching from the prairies, ‘There is but one way to find out, Rawlings,” said Captain Hassan. ‘* Yes, sir?’ the cowboy asked inquiringly. “We must approach even within range of their fire, then balt, and all of us open with our rifles upon the rocks and busbes, ‘‘Tt will be random shooting, but some shots will tell, and they will force the red-skins to show themselves without doubt.” This plan was adopted, and the horsemen rode up within easy range of the rocky pass. They knew that the Indians, if there, would not fire, as long as there was a chance of their foes coming on into their ambush, But suddenly the little band balted, their rifles went up to their shoulders, and half a hum dred rifles flashed almost together, and a rapid rattling fire was kept up for half a minute, The result of this plan was just what Captain Hassan had expected it would be, for wild yells came from among the rocks, and bounding forms seeking better shelter were seen. Then came the order to advance, firing, but it was almost instantly countermanded as Captain Hassan saw that the red-skins were only tem- porarily stampeded, and others, already mount- ed and back in the pass, were coming forward to resist the advance of their pale-face foes fur- ther into the mountains, As the Indians now charged up in force, Cap- tain Hassan felt that it would be sheer madness to throw his men against the pass, for reinforce- ments could be rapidly brought from their vil- lage. They bad escaped to their stronghold, far back in the mountains, with what prisoners they might have, their plunder and captured horses and cattle, and to follow them with hope of success, even with a regiment of soldiers, would be in vain, Seeing this, and knowing how sadly the men were needed back at the desolated ranches, Cap- tain Hassan gave the order to retreat. CHAPTER XI. DEAD, OR WORSE, Tur party of cowboys, under command of Captain Hassan, were all brought in for con- sultation, as to what was best to be done, Though commander, and knowing that his men would implicitly obey him, Captain Hassan was anxious to learn how each and all felt upon the situation, When he told them that it would be utter madness for them to continue on into the moun- tains, even with ten times their force, they, to a man, agreed with him, and so it was that the back trail was taken, If eet little Belle Hassan could not be rescued by force, that was certain, and if dead, she could only be avenged in time, E The trail taken back was the one which Chief ' Ka-noon-ka had gone on his way to the settle» ments, ay {i DS caste; ‘i ae
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; i b V The captain wished to discover just how far the Comanche raid had gone, and all the damage done, When they arrived near the first ranch which had been sacked, and set on fire, they saw a party of horsemen grouped together on the prairie, Among them was recognized Brent Baldwin, the cowboy whom Buck Taylor had first come up with, and who had been in time to give some_ warning at least of the coming raiders. They were discussing some matter of impor- tance, it seemed, when the Cowboy Rangers came in sight, and greeted their coming with a cheer, Riding forward and meeting them, Brent Baldwin called out: ‘*We are glad to see you, Captain Hassan, and were waiting for others to come, to goon to your support, for we feared you would get into trouble, sir,” ** Yes, and I thank you, Baldwin; but we de- cided to return and go over the track of the Co- manches, as the men are sadly needed at the ranches, ‘But your friends, there, are about a grave, I there are a number of dead horses ‘* Yes, Captain Hassan, the grave is an old one and was never quite filled in, and in it Buck Taylor took refuge, after he had sent me to warn the settlements, sir.” ‘* He seems to have done good work, to look at the Indian ponies lying dead about.” ‘* Yes, sir, and he doubtless brought down as ree riders as horses before they captured im, ‘* Then he was captured?” *¢ Kither killed or captured, sir; but I lean to- ward the latter as his body is nowhere to be found. ‘*The Comanches he killed were carried off, of course, and he was carried away a prisoner, or I at least hope so.” ** Death would be preferable,” **Not with Buck Taylor, sir, for he isa man to escape, if there is a shadow of a chance for him to do so.” * Well, with such a man a prisoner, or rather youth, for 1 bear he is very young, I shall feel the better if my darling child is a captive among those fiends, ** Yes, he stood in the grave there and made his fight, and from tie arrows sticking about he made a good stand-off, and I only hope was not killed.” The cowboys all now gathered about the grave and talking earnestly over the signs as they re: them, came to the conclusion that Buck Taylor had made a grand fight of it. Then the Ranger Cowboys, under Captain “Hassan, rode on their way, halting only when they came to the timber where they had ain- bushed the Indians. A short halt only was made’ here, and as the people of the ranches were returning to their plundered homes, the captain suggested that a sentinel should be kept on duty night and day, as the Comanches might make another dash upon the settlements, trusting to the confusion existing to meet with success, On then went the cowboy band, and by nightfall they came to the home of the cap- tain. Poor Mrs. Hassan was keeping up bravely, and had directed the people in getting things to rights again; but it could be seen that she hoped for the coming back of her little daughter with the rangers, ‘*Did you not find her?” she asked in a low, quivering voice as her husband came toward er. “No, my dear Marion, we had so small a ere dared not follow them to their strong- old. ** My poor, poor, child is dead?” **No, no, I Chink not, though sbe is a pris- oner, [ feel assured. ‘* She and one other, a daring youth who gave the warning of the coming of the Comanches, are all that I can learn who are prisoners, and I feel bopeful to know that Buck Taylor will be -near my child, if both are in the power of the red-skins, “There are others who suffered far more cruelly than we have, though of course, Belle was our only child. ** Bear up, bravely, my noble wife, for I shall not rest until I know the fate of our little girl, Bae bes the work the Comanches have been guilty of. ‘ aroused to resentment at her terrible affliction. a " ory. Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. CHAPTER XII, A LOVER’S VOW. THE scene goes back seven years, to a happy home in Mexico, where dwelt a wealthy Mexi- can, and his son and daughter, Senor Inglis was the owner of a grand hacienda and large ranch, counting his horses and cattle by thousands, and lived in the great- est luxury, with half a hundred peon servants to obey his bidding. His son, Ignacio, was a handsome young man, a trifle wild, however, who had been sent to the United States to receive his education, while his daughter, some five years the junior of her brother, was a beautiful maiden of sixteen, at the time she is presented to the reader. Marion Inglis received her education at home, being under the care of a governess, and thus she was constantly with her father, whose idol she was, When Ignacio returned to Mexico, after re- ceiving his education in the States, he was ac- companied by a young American whom he had met and become friends with. The truth was, Ignacio owed his life to Rich- ard Drummond, who saved him from drowning one day when they were bathing in the sea, From that day the two became devoted friends, and Richard Drummond accompanied the Mexican to his home, What Drummond did for a living no one seemed to know, and he was said to be rich; but Ignacio Inglis was well aware that his friend lived by peeenes alone, but this secret he kept to himself. In fact, when he invited him to his home, the Mexican owed the American a very large gam- bling debt, A splendidly-formed, harcsome fellow, well educated and courtly, while also reputed to be rich, not to speak of his having saved Ignacio’s life, Dick Drummond, as he was familiarly called, was most warmly welcomed at the Mexi- can hacienda, He was some years the senior of Ignacio, and seemed to possess over him a wonderful in- fluence. He was charmed with Marion at first sight, as she appeared to be with bim, and when he re- tired to his room the first night of his stay be- neath the hospitable roof, he said to himself: ““T must possess all this wealth by fair or foul means, ‘* ‘Yes, if I have to get rid of those in the way and marry the fair Marion, ‘* This is the chanoe of my life,” These words show the character of the man whom Ignacio Inglis had taken to his home. He knew his powers of fascination, his strength for accomplishing a purpose upon which he bad set his mind, and he felt that there would be no drawback to his success. Senor Inglis, ever hospitable, generous and courtly, welcomed the manwho had saved his loved son from a grave in the sea, with all the warmth of bis nature, He did all in his power to entertain him, for there were rides, drives, bunting aud fishing parties, entertainments, and all to make the guest spend an enjoyable time, The senor was fond of a game of cards, and he soon found that Richard Drummond was an ex- pert player: such an expert, in fact, that he soon had many thousands of the Mexican’s money. Marion was not, as Richard Drummond had hoped and believed she would be, so deeply im- pressed with the stranger, She thought him very handsome, most agree- able, and enjoyed his society; but, young as she was, she recognized in him something that she dared not trust. She would not admit a love for bim. This angered the man, and he determined to win her in spite of herself, Steadily he won from the Mexican ranchero until at last the large bank account was depleted and the senor had to give his notes, as had also Ignacio, his son, added to his indebtedness to their guest. Then came the avowal of love to Marion, her refusal, and next the demand of Richard Drum- Bes upon her father to force her to become his wife, The poor Mexican was in despair, and urged his daughter to consent to save them all from financial ruin, \ But Senorita Marion remained firm in her resolve, and at last ber brother stood by her in her refusal. The result was that Dick Drummond left the hacienda vowing vengeance, and he carried with him a large sum in money won from the Mexi- = —— SN EAS Rh = ree + aa Fey vevening Dick Drummond was surprised cans, father and son, and notes of hand of value covering nearly half the estate. : As these notes drew near maturity the Mexi- can ranchero was nearly beside himself with rage and despair, for to sacrifice his property to pay them would be to ruin his own and his children’s fortune irrevocably. At last Ignacio Inglis, seeing his father’s de- spair, determined to act, and so went to visit the American, who, through him, bad brought so much of sorrow upon them, He found him alone in his rooms, and at once demanded that he renew the notes for a term of years, which would enable his father and him- self to thus save themselves from financial wreck, The answer came in the low, decided tone of the American: ‘“‘T hold notes due within a couple of weeks, Ignacio Inglis, for a sum equaling nearly your father’s entire fortune, and I will surrender ie to your sister the moment she becomes my wife. ‘Tf she refuses, then the crash must fall upon all of you, and this I most solemnly vow, _ ‘** Now, sir, you know my terms,” CHAPTER XIII. A LIFE FOR A FORTUNE. ‘ I@nacio INGLIS returned to his home and made known the result of his visit to Dick Drummond, They talked over the matter for a long while, and at last, assured that the American would keep his vow, Senor Inglis decided to place the situation fully before his daughter and see what she would say. As he regarded it, Dick Drummond was a handsome, courtly fellow, an adept at cards, a gentleman, and one who loved Marion to an ex- ee that he was determined. to make her his wife, Why she did not love him the senor could not understand. The result was that he told Marion all, and added: ‘* Now, my child, he loves you devotedly, he is not - bad fellow, and will make you a good hus- band, ‘* Tf you refuse, then we are utterly ruined, ‘* What do you say?” Marion Inglis seemed most deeply moved, She did not love the man, for she had a beaw ideal in her heart which he did not come up to in any way. But her father was growing old, and she dear- ly loved him and her handsome brother, and so she consented to the sacrifice. But Ignacio Inglis saw deeper than did his father how deep it cut Marion to sacrifice ber- self, and he declared in his own mind that it should not be, So he again visited the American and told him frankly that though Marion had consented to wed him to save their fortune, he refused to let her be a victim, and furthermore added: ‘**You will either extend those notes for sev- eral years, or you shall face me in the duello.” ‘*T prefer the latter,” was the cool reply. “So be it; my friend shall wait upon you at’ once,” and Ignacio left the rooms of his one-time friend. Across the Rio Grande was a fort, on the American side of the river, and there stationed was an officer who had been most friendly with the young Mexican, when the two had met some time before in New Orleans, To this friend Ignacio Inglis now went, and explained the whole situation. The American listened most attentively and then asked: ** What did you say his name was?” “Richard Drummond.” ‘*T know a man by that name, and he was nasa an army officer, belonging to my regi- ment, ‘* He was an expert in cards, and was forced to leave the service because it was believed that he cheated, though we had no proof then. ‘** Afterward, when he was gone, we had ail the proof we wished, so I may be able to force him to give you back the notes.” __ “Tf you can do so, my dear friend Hassan, you will save us from ruin,” was the answer. ‘¢ Tf he refuses, then I am to challenge him for you?” ‘¢- Yes, senor.” ‘*T understand,” was the response, and that by the entrance into his rooms of one whom he bad met before. **T did not send my card, Drummond, know- ing that you would not receive me; butIam — here about an affair such as necessitated your ee 7" —
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leaving my regiment some years ago, for it seems you have been again showing your expertness at cards, or in other words, hold the notes of Senor Inglis and bis son for Jarge sums which I can swear you did not squarely win,” Dick Drummond’s face turned deadly pale, but he answered coolly: ‘“See here, Surzeon Ed Hassan, I am not to be insulted by you with impunity. “Tf you come as Ignacio Inglis’s friend, to arrange a meeting, I am willing to receive you, after which I shall hold you answerable for your words just spoken,” **T am here to demand the surrender of those notes, which you gained by fraud.” ‘* Well, | refuse to give them up, ** What then?” ‘* Simply that I shall show certain proofs of your acts of fraud in the past.” “We are in Mexico now, and American law does not reach my case, ‘You can go.” ** You refuse to give up the notes?” “cc Yes.” ‘Then Iam here as the friend of Senor Ig- nacio Inglis to challenge you to meet him on the field.’ ‘¢ With pleasure; but let me call my friend,” He stepped to the door of an adjoining room and called in a Mexican officer of Lanceros, “Captain Valdez, this gentleman is Senor Surgeon Hassan of the United States Army, and he bears a challenge to me from Senor Ignacio Inglis, ‘Kindly arrange for a meeting, with weapons mete and time to suit this gentleman, for I ave no choice,” Captain Valdez showed no surprise, bowed to Surgeon Hassan, and the two talked together for some time. Then the American officer departed, and re- turning to Ignacio Inglis, said: ‘“‘He refused to give up the notes, for here American law would not reach him, and sol ar- ranged for a meeting to-morrow afternoon at the old Reno fort, an hour before sunset, and the weapons are to be revolvers at ten paces.” ‘*T am content; but if I fall he will even then ruin my poor father.” *“*He has demanded a meeting with me after- ward, and it may be that he may not live to collect those notes.” ‘* Heaven grant it; but you have been drawn into this from friendship to me! and—but never mind, I will meet him,” And as Ignacio Inglis rode slowly homeward that afternoon he muttered to himself: **No, no, my brave American friend must not fall by his hand. ** Dick Drummond saved my life, but now for bim I must hold no mercy. “ Tt is his life against our fortune.” CHAPTER XIV. THE DUEL. THE meeting place was an old ruin, while about it were a number of graves, strangely and weirdly suggestive of death, At the appointed hour four horsemen were riding toward the spot, but they were following two different trails, for Dick Drummond an his second, Captain Valdez rode out from the neighboring town where the American was stop- ing, while the young ranchero and bis second, Surgeon Hassan, came by the trail from the Rio Grande, They reached the spot together almost, and coldly saluting, they dismounted, hitched their horses and the two seconds walked apart to ar- range the preliminaries, This was soon done, the men were placed ten pee apart, the revolvers handed to them, and urgeon Hassan, who had won the word, ut- tered the ominous words as the principals, calm and determined, faced each other, and which must usher a human life into eternity; ‘* Senors, are you ready?” “ Si, senor,” promptly responded the Mexican, while the American,said, sharply: “ Yer.” ‘Vire! ** One—two—” The weapons rose together to a level, there were two sharp reports, almost simultaneous, and the Mexican, Ignacio Inglis, dropped dead in his tracks, The face of Surgeon Hassan turned very white as he rose from the side of his friend with the remark: “* He is dead.” “TI shot to kill,” was the cool reply of Dick Drummond, and he was turning upon his heel when the surgeon said sternly, an angry light in his eyes; SS ee Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive.' “2 **T believe you considered yourself insulted by me, Mr. Drummond, when I called upon you at your rooms?” ** Ab, yes, I had forgotten, and I said I would hold you responsible?” ‘* Yes, and I am very much at your service, permit me to say, as I waive the fact that you are a card-sharp, and hence not a gentleman,” **T should think the fate of your friend would deter you from a desire to share his fate.” ‘* Oh, no; his fate only urges me to avenge him,” ‘* Well, send your friend to Captain Valdez when you will, for I am ready any time.” ‘*Pardoun me, but there is no time like the present, for you might run away, you know, and [ know Captain Valdez to be a gentleman, though caught in your bad company, Richard Drummond, so I will ask him to act for me as well as you, and this little matter can be settled now and here.” It was very evident that Surgeon Hassan in- tended to bring Dick Drommond to terms, and he seemed not in the least disconcerted by the death of bis friend. ** Captain Valdez, may I ask your good ser- vices in my behalf,” and the American officer turned courteously toward the Mexican Captain of Lanceros, **) will act for you if you desire, senor, but it seems a little irregular, and I would prefer to postpone the meeting so that you can have a friend, though I thank you for your confidence in me.” ‘**T request of you the favor, senor,” “Then I will act for you as wellas for my friend Senor Drummond, ‘* Shall the weapons be the same?” Before reply could be made, over the ruined wall near by peered half a dozen carbines, and a voice called Gut in Spanish: ‘* Hands up, senors! for you are our game!” “The Brigands!” ejaculated Captain Valdez, and he fea eh Dick Drummond by the arm, as he saw him drop his hand to his hip with the re- mark: ** Don’t be a fool! | 4 They are merciless and we are in their power!’ “Hands up, or die!” came the command, sharply repeated, and though a brave man Cap- tain Valdez hastily obeyed, while he said: “Take my advice and do likewise,” The two Americans, Dick Drummond and Surgeon Hassan obeyed, though the former ut- tered a little oath. “Men, kill the man who offers any resist- ance,” said the outlaw leader, and he sprung over the wall and advanced toward the three prisoners, while his men kept their carbines covering them, . He was a rough-looking specimen, half bandit, half vaquero, and came on with his re- volver in hand, sri ‘*Senors, you have been killing each other, I see, and were getting ready to keep up the red work when I broke in upon your little game, ‘But I am not half so cruel, for I will not deal in lead or steel, unless you force me to it, but in gold. ‘You see we are poor men and must borrow from the rich, ** Your purses, senors, please.” With an oath Dick Drummond tossed a well- filled pocketbook upon the ground. ** You, Senor Captain?” Valdez did the same and then the robber turn- ed to Surgeon Hassan who handed over some American money. ‘Now, senor, your watch and jewelry?” and the robber again turned to Dick Drummond, who half refused and scemed about to resist when the man called out: “Let this man have itif he refuses my com- mands,” ** ‘Yes, senor,” came in a chorus of voices, and with bitter denunciations Dick Drummond hand- ed over his watch and the elegant jewelry he wore as though it cut him to the heart to give up the costly trinkets. ‘Now yours, senors,” and the other two were likewise robbed. ‘* Now, senors, I must search you for the valu- ables you are holding back,” coolly said the rob- ber iin and be turned first to Dick Drum- mond, —_—_—— CHAPTER XV. A STRANGE ROBBER, Dick Drummonp grew Violent at this last de- mand of the robber leader upon him, and with an oath said that he would resist, But a shot from over the wall cut through the the hood sombrero ho wore, and he heard the words: “That, as a hint, senor.” He saw that those robbers were not to be trifled with, so he said: ‘“*T have only some private papers, of no use Sacsyt to myself, and yet to me they are valu- able. ‘**Let me keep them and I will give an order on my bankers for as much in money as that which you have already robbed me of.’ ** No, senor, I want the papers, for if worth so much to you they may be equally as valuable to me. **Out with them!” Threats, bribes and entreaties were unayail- ing, for the robber leader was determined, and calling two of his men to his aid, searched each one of the prisoners thorougaly, Upon Dick Drummond in a buckskin vest, were found several pockets, and from these, pa- pers sy taken which the robber coolly appro- yriated, ; Upon the Mexican captain and American sur- geon nothing more was found, ‘* Now, senors, I shall prevent more bloodshed by removing your weapons out of reach, for I claim those too, and you may consider your- selves lucky that 1 do not take your horses, ** Adios, senors, and accept my thanks,” The robbers retreated behind the walls and disappeared, while, with a little denunciation of them, Dick Drummond said; **Come, Valdez, we must get to your regiment as soon as possible, for those men must be over- taken, as they have robbed me of a large for- tune in those papers. ‘** Another time, Surgeon Hassan, I will be at your service, but now we leave you with your dead friend,” He strode rapidly toward bis horse as he spoke, and after a word of farewell, and regret at leay- ing him alone with the body of Ignacio Inglis, Captain Valdez turned to go. Then he called out: “It will be better for you to remain here, senor, for I will send you aid within an hour and a half at furthest,” ‘*Thank you, senor; I will then remain with the body of my friend,” was the response, and Captain Valdez followed Dick Drummond at a gallop. They had hardly disappeared from sight when suddenly over the wall sprung the robber leader again, ‘*Do not fear me now, senor, for I am more your friend than foe.” Edward Hassan gazed at the Mexican robber in surprise, and he continued: ‘You see, senor, I am not so bad as I seem, ‘Years ago, young Senor Inglis, lying there saved me from the Vigilantes, and though I have been a bad man he never did aught to harm me, ‘*This morning he met me, told me he was to fight a duel, and thatif he was killed, the man who took his life would fight you, and perhaps kill you, too. ‘*So he asked me to prevent it, and more: to get from his slayer some papers which I was to hand to you, with the request that you would give them to his father, ‘* Here they are, senor, and here is your purse, wateb, and all else I took from you. ‘What I secured from the American gam- mn : : b bler and Mexieon captain, senor, I shall keep, for robbing is my trade, ‘* Good-night, senor, for I must be off, and I would say to you to hide the fact that you got your valuables back and the papers from tho American gambler. ** Adios, senor.” Without another word the robber leader, who had banded over the papers taken from Dick Drummond, and all that he had robbed Surgeon Hassan of, turned quickly on his heel, sprung over the walland disappeared. In vain did Captain Hassan call to him to re- turn, for he refused, and was lost sight of in the gathering gloom, for night was now coming on. The moon soon rose, and the spot with its ruin, its graves and the dead body of Ignacio Inglis looked very desolate and lonely indeed, But at last the sound of hoofs broke the stil]- ness of the night, and there soon appeared com- ing up the hill an army ambulance, escorted by half a dozen soldiers, The non-commissioned officer in charge re- ported ti Surgeon Hassan, saying he had orders to escort the body of the young ranchero to his home, Then Surgeon Hassan rode on ahead, and arriving at the grand old home some distance
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in advance of the body, he broke the news to the ranchero and his daughter of the sad end of the son and brother. He also delivered to the ranchero the papers handed to him by the robber leader, and they hip to be the notes which Dick Druramond 1eld of the father and son, ** As he was a card-sharp, senor, and surely cheated you, under the circumstances too of their coming into your possession, I would not hesitate to take them,” kindly urged Edward Hassan, as he handed the ranchero over the papers which to him was a fortune. As duty demanded his immediate return to the fort, Surgeon Hassan started upon his way, leaving the father and sister with their dead, and determined, when he gazed upon their deep sorrow, if Richard Drummond pressed the meet- ing with bim, he would do all in his power to avenge the death of the young Mexican, CHAPTER XVI, THE RESCUE, THE death of Ignacio Inglis at the nands of the man who had come to Mexico as his guest, his friend, created a very bitter feeling against him, and men began to feel that the American gambler had taken the life of the young Mexi- can to cover up some of his own evil deeds in which he had been discovered, That beautiful Marion Inglis might also have been the cause of the affair, was believed by many, and so it was that Richard Drummond found himself hated and shunned. He, therefore, having been robbed of the notes he held of the rancbero and his dead son, decided to go to the City of Mexico, and carry on his career as a gambler, intending to bide his time when he could act to get Marion Inglis into his power, But he had not been long in the City of Mex- ico, when, as a stranger, he was inveigled into a couspiracy, from which he hoped to reap most liberal rewards, , But bis hopes soon came to naught, as the con- spirators were discovered, and Dick Drummond, with half a dozen others, were seized and thrown into prison, to await their execution. But the American was a bold plotter, and he planned the escape of his fellow-prisoners, and carried out his plot so well that all got away, though they had to take the lives of two of the guards to do so. A fugitive from justice from the United States, as he was found to be, and again from Mexico, Dick Drummond leagued himself with outlaws and infested the trails leading to the mines and traveled by richly-laden wagon- trains. His appearance, his magnetism and courage, with his ability to plan and execute, soon made him aun officer of the outlaw band, and he event- ually became the chief, As such he saw riches and revenge before him, and he began to plot to get Marion Inglis into his power and force her to become his wife. is vanity was such that he believed if she did wed him, he could cause her to forget that her brother died by his hand, and as his wife she would learn to love him, and eventually all of her inheritance would be his, for her father should not long stand in the way. Thus had he still in his heart his desire to pos- sess the Inglis riches, and win lovely Marion as his bride. When he got ready to carry out his plans, he plotted well. First, he established a small, but pleasant ranch in Texas, and placed there a couple of cowboys and a servant. This was supposed to be his home, and he would have a place to retreat to, Then he plotted an attack at midnight upon the Inglis Hacienda, the plundering of it and carrying off of Marion, He was not to be known in this midnight marauding expedition, but when the men he had selected from his band to do the work, he to be along completely disguised, should reach the Texan shores, he with a couple of his men were to dash in and effect what was intended should appear to the captive as a rescue of her. The attack upon the bacienda was so well planned that it went off just as he had intended it should, ‘Toe place was surprised, the cattlemen and servants were shot down, the hacienda was plundered, and while Senor Inglis was wounded and left for dead, his daughter was carried off in triumph. _ The river was reached and the bogus rescue was carried out; but a party of United States Cavairy were discovered, and Dick Drummond had no desire to check their path, so rode off at qh Pe ag ee Te F Pee aries ENR aif eS Hf DES a A Se a I a ee a I A SS ae a OE a ee ee ao o ~~ Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. my I ee full speed with his captive, keeping his men with him The cavalry pursued, for the officer in com- mand saw with the aid of bis glass that there was a feminine captive along, and a running fight occurred. The American’ fired with the greatest caution, and slowly; but one shot brought a man from his horse and when they came up they found him dying, **’'You speak their lingo, Hassan, so talk to the fellow?’ said the captain in command of the cavalry, The one he addressed was indeed Surgeon Hassan, and he quickly held a few words with the dying Mexican, The soldiers saw him start as he listened to the words of the Mexican, and then he said quickly: ** Captain Driggs, leave several men with this poor devil until he dies, for we must push on, as he has confessed that the man ahead is Diablo Dick, the American chief of the Mexican band of outlaws we have heard so much of, ** He also tells me that he last night raided the hacienda of Senor Inglis, and kidnapped his daughter, who is the lady captive we saw in their midst, ‘*T know the senor and his daughter, and young Inglis was my friend, so I will go on in chase with a few men, unless you care to do so with all your force.” ‘ Better take all, Hassan, so as to make a clean sweep. “Sergeant Wells, you and two men remain with that dying Mexican, ‘* Now we are off, Hassan.” And away the cavalry dashed in hot pursuit. Their horses were fresh, and they were driven hard, so that they rapidly gained upon the out- laws, who fled toward the mountains, But so closely were they pressed that they stood at bay at last, and, not daring to fire, for fear of killing the captive, the troopers charged into the timber witb the saber only. The fight was short, sharp and decisive, and Diablo Dick and a few of his men barely escaped with their lives in the gathering darkness, But Marion Inglis was rescued, and escorted to her home by Surgeon Hassan. She found her father dead from his wounds, and no wonder that she turned to Surgeon Hassan for support and sympatby in her affliction, And from that day it was a love affair be- tween them, and ended in the beautiful Senorita Inglis becoming Mrs, Marion Hassan. Retiring fromthe army, Surgeon Hassan set- tled in Texas with his wife, and it was their beautiful little daughter Belle which, years after, the Comanches kidnapped from her home and bore to their village in the mountains. CHAPTER XVII. WITHOUT HOPE. THE reader now understands who it was that the Comanches had struck so cruelly, among other ranchers, in their raid that night when igor Taylor and little Belle Hassan were cap- tured. In his distress at the loss of his daughter, Sur- geon Hassan had vowed vengance against the red-skins, for he saw how deeply his wife suf- fered, But she aJso knew his secret sorrow and did all - her power to cheer him and hide her own rief. Their home was changed to another ranch far away, Which Captain Hassan owned, and which, though more isolated, they believed would still be better protected from that very circumstance, as the Comanches would hardly go so far to raid only one place, In the fitting up of their new house, which the ranchero called Soldier’s Retreat, they both, husband and wife, tried to drown their sorruws as much as possible, though desolate indeed was the place with little Belle not there and her fate unknown, That she was dead all began to believe, for scouts, men of courage and border skill un- doubted, had been sent by the ranchero to find, if possible, some trace of the missing girl. He had offered a large sum for her return to thern, or proof of ber fate, and this bad been an incentive to many to endeavor to discover the truth, Not a word too had been found out as to the fate of Buck Taylor, and a number of bis com- rades had come to Soldier’s Retreat making in- quiries regarding bim, and learning the particu- lars would depart with the firm resolve to rescue him, or revenge him if dead, Tbe ranchero had gathered about him quite a company of cowboys, who called him ‘ cap- tain,” and he kept them under military disci- pline,for he was determined that his ranch should not be surprised again, and if the Comanches came they should have a warm welcome at the hands of the best fighters of Texas, He had picked his men, and a better band of Cowboy Rangers was not to be found along the border. The new house was delightfully situated, and was made most comfortable, and but for the shadow that had fallen upon the lives of the parents they could have been most happy. From her home in Mexico a number of the faithful peons had accompanied Mrs, Hassan, and Soldier’s Retreat was looked upon as an al- most palatial abode, in its surroundings and comforts, by the dwellers upon that wild fron- tier. That it had been one who had struck the blow upon them who had been their foe in the past not for a moment did either Captain Hassan or his wife suspect, They had not heard of Richard Drummond for years, and the outlaw chief known as Diablo Dick, and whom they had known as their old foe, had dropped out of sight some time before. That he had been killed they believed and fondly hoped, and bitter indeed would have been their thoughts, had they known that in Ka- noon-ka, the chief Death Hand of the Co- manches, was a man they had more reason to dread than any other human being. Had they known that it was Dick Drummond, turned renegade against his race, that had struck them the blow, that had captured their little daughter, they would far rather that she had fallen, into the bands of the red-skins alone, But this they did not suspect, and so at least were not called upon tosuffer the greater an- guish that it would have caused them, | Other than that a few renegade whites dwelt among the Comanches, it seemed not to be known to the scouts, and that the chief of the tribe was a pale-face, no one suspected, not even Buck Taylor baving done so, ‘¢ Buck Taylor’s Boys,” as the band of splendid fellows called themselves, who had come to Sol- dier’s Retreat in search of their leader, were a dashing, daring set of young fellows, who herded cattle for the Government posts. Buck Taylor, though perhaps the youngest man of the band, had won his right tocommand by his splendid pluck, skill as a scout, and de- termined character. : When he had started upon a scouting expedi- tion alone, and had not returned, bis ‘* Boys,” a score in number, had at once decided to track him, and half of them had at last turned up at Soidier’s Retreat, having visited the line of ranches and settlement, and learned the situa- tion, They arrived at Soldier’s Retreat late one afternoon, and were met by Captain Hassan, who had made them warmly welcome, To him they stated their errand, that they were trailing their young chief, who had been missing for over three months, and that they had learned in the settlement from a cowboy, Brent Baldwin, how Buck Taylor had given warning of the Comanche raid, and since then had not been heard of, : Also they had heard of the capture of little Belle Hassan the same night. Captain Hassan had stated the whole situation and then the gallant little band bad ridden off determined to know the fate of their leader. But a month after one of their number came to Soldier’s Retreat and told the story of what they had done. They had reconnoitered the Indian camp thor- oughly, had captured a brave, a squaw, and a little boy, at different times, and they were con- vinced that not a single white person was a cap- tive there. : : ‘‘ Then he is dead, and 80 is my child! — ‘Perhaps it is better so,” said Captain Has- san, who was now utterly without hope of ever seeing his child again. CHAPTER XVIIL BUCKSKIN SAM. Monrus after the raid of the Comanches, under their white chief Death Hand, a horseman was seen coming across the prairie at a lope, and hoading for Soldier’s Retreat Ranch, Captain Hassan sat upon the broad piazza of his house, a bundle of newspapers on a stand pear bim, and several letters, for the cowboy mail-carrier had just brought in the mail from the distant settlement of Trail Crossing, from whence it was gotten semi-monpthly. 3 Seeing the horseman, the ranchero quickly turned his glass upon him, and said; 7 — ee
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} ' | i } - j | “/ Jy ' Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. 9 *T do not know him, but he rides well, and pushes his horse hard. ‘ ‘*T wonder if he has news of—” and he added in a lower tone, as he glanced in at the open hall oor: ** Our little Belle,” Wbatever the cause of the horseman’s coming. he rode at a steady pace, which, however, did not seem to cause his horse to suffer, though the same swift gait had been kept up since he had first been seen from the ranch, Entering the stockade gate, he held on toward the house, and as he dismounted Captain Hassan stood there to greet him. The stranger was a small man with a slender, wiry frame, which denoted wonderful strength and activity. His face was darkly browned by'long exposure to an open air life upon the prairies, and it was resolute and fearless in a marked degree. He wore a mustache and imperial, had black ayes that were always restless, and his hair was black as jet, and fell in curls far down his back, Dressed in buckskin from his moccasins to hunting-shirt, he wore a broad sombrero elabo- rately embroidered with silver, the designs be- ing an eagle, a serpent and a five-pointed Texas star, He was armed with repeating-rifle, revolvers and bowie, and besides a lariat and bow and arrows hung to his saddle, which was a Mexican tree, the bridle being made of Indian scalps woven into a cord, He rode with a heavy bit that would check a horse, or break his jaw, massive spurs that could be caught up with a loop on his leggings when he was on foot, and his whole outfit was indica- tive of one ready for a long trail, his horse, like tis rider, showing that he could stand any exertion and hard usage without fatigue or flinching. ‘*Captain Hassan, I presume, sir?” said the stranger, as the ranchero stepped forward to meet bim, ‘Yes, sir, and you are welcome to my house.” ‘Thank you, sir; but let me introduce myself as Sam Hall, perhaps better known as Buckskin Sam, the Texas Ranger.” ‘‘ Indeed! Major Hall, I am most happy to meet you, for you are well known to me for your daring deeds,” and Captain Hassan gazed into the face of his visitor with admiration, for long fhad he heard of Buckskin Sam,* whose deeds of daring were like,a romance in their thrilling adventures. ‘““T have come, Captain Hassan, to see you about the capture of your daughter some half a year ago, and also of Buck Taylor, who was doubtless taken at the same time by the Co- manches,” The face of Captain Hassan clouded at the words, seeing which Buckskin Sam hastily con- tinued: ‘**T have been away on the northern plains for months, but learning of Buck Taylor’s capture, decided to come and see if he was dead or a prisoner, and I also heard of your sad loss, ‘*Buck was a young pard of mine whom I loved as a brother, and I am determined to find out if he is dead or alive. “Tf dead, then he can be avenged; but if alive he can be rescued, as algo will be your lit- tle daughter, andso 1 have come to make this my starting point.” ‘You give me renewed hope, Major Hall, I assure you, and all that I can do to aid you most gladly shall be done,” ‘¢T feel that, sir.” , ‘“[ have some twenty-five good cowboys on my rancb, and in a couple of days, from the neighboring ranches, could raise as many more, which, added to your force of rangers would make a very formidable little army to go against the Comanches.” ‘** You mistake my intention, Captain Hassan, for my rangers are nearly all ranch men, being at their homes and only called out when needed, and are some half hundred in strength, ‘Of course with them, and Buck Taylor’s boys, along with the force you could raise, we would have & {most formidable band as you say. “But it will be time enough to call upon the men when they are needed,” “Then you do not intend to start at once?” “Oh, yes, Captain Hassan, I will claim your hospital ty for to-night and start in the morn- ip ‘ And your men?” *Major Sam S, Hall—Buckskin Sam, was a noted Texas Ranger, a terror to Indians and Mexican out- laws, He died several years ago in Wilmington, l.—THE AUTHOR, a Ay - ; , y er via we si} . “s ’ mi — Se mA f * *- * Bt law | » ‘* Will remain at their houses until I need them.” “What! can this imply that you are going alone to the Indian country?’ ‘That is just what I do intend, Captain Hassan, for I am going to find out if Buck Tay- lor and your little daughter are dead or alive, ** When I know the truth, then I will act; but I go alone, and the truth I will know,” was the firm response of Buckskin Sam, CHAPTER XIX, TO LEARN THE TRUTH, CAPTAIN HASSAN was a skillful prairie man himself, and among his cowboys were some of the best men on the Texas frontier; but had any one of them suggested that he could go alone into the Comanche country, the ranchero would have regarded bim as mad. But here was Buckskin Sam, who coolly said that he was going alone into the Indian coun- try and know the truth as to whether Buck Taylor and Belle Hassan were alive or dead, And when this small, bronzed-faced man made the assertion of what he would do, some- how Captain Hassan felt confidence in his ability to carry out his intention successfully. His hopes arose at once, and he led his visitor into the house after calling to a peon to take his horse and give him the most thorough care, Beautiful, but sad-faced, Mrs, Hassan greeted their guest in her cordial, sweet way, and when her husband told her just why Buckskin Sam had come, she grasped his hand in both her own, and said, in a low, earnest tone: “God bless you, senor,” The cowboys learning that the famous Ranger chief was over at the ranch, came from their camp a couple of miles away to see him. A few knew him, but all gave him a rousing cowhoy greeting, and one of the men said, with enthusiasm: ‘‘ Waal, pard, ef any other feller, barrin’ Buck Taylor bimself, said he were goin’ ter do what you has in view, I’d set him down as a darned fool as wanted ter pervide cold meat fer coyotes; but, somehow, I kinder has the idee that you knows jist what you is about, and ef yer doesn’t know what is before yer, then ther hard lessons ye has l’arned on ther perarers has done yer no sarvice, ‘¢‘ Pard Sam, I are bettin’ my whole pile upon er.” = Buckskin Sam thanked the cowboys for the honor done him by their call, and then they de- parted again for their camps, all of them, with perbere a couple of exceptions, cheered by the elief that the Ranger captain would accomplish all that he set out to do. It was late when Captain Hassan and bis guest retired, for the ranchero had found the Ranger a most entertaining companion, while, knowing the deep interest the father must feel in his plan, be told bim just wbat he intended to do, ‘“You see, Captain Hassan,” he said, ‘‘I go prepared for anything that may turn up, ‘*Tn my saddle-pockets I have a razor, paints, feathers and an Indian outfit, with which I can disguise myself completely. ““My curly hair can be braided in with red flannel, which will hide that it is not straight as an Indian’s, and the razor will soon take off my mustache and imperial if need be,” ‘¢- Vou do not intend certainly to enter the Co- manche village?” ‘* Why not, sir?” “The danger is appalling,” “Ob, no, for I'll pass muster at night very well,” ‘* But suppose you are spoken to?” : } ef ae Comanche as well as I do English, sir, ‘That is well; but then I dread the danger you wil) run,” ** No, I shall be cautious, as I alwaysam, Cap- tain Hassan, for the tales of my utter reckless- ness are all romances, as I never venture any- thing without knowing just what I am about, ‘‘ Now I shall search a biding place for my horse somewhere in the vicinity of the Indian village, and at night can reconnoiter until as- sured of what I can do, : 5 We “If I can get into the village, disguised as an Indian, it will not take me long to find out if those I seek are there.” “Tf they should be sti] alive?” “‘Then I shall find out the exact situation, and where and how they are held. “Tf unable to rescue them alone, then I shall discover the best plan of doing so by force and come for you and your men, send for my Ran- gers and Buck Taylor’s Boys, and get as many more good feilows as we can, with perhaps & \ ceca tes fee ; £ “rn " - ee ae ee P r : couple of companies of cavalry from the fort, and two pieces of artillery, for should we be pursued, we must be able to beat them back, and therein lies the greatest danger. V ‘*Should I be able to rescue the prisoners alone, so much the better, for I shall cover up my tracks so that they will never be able to trail us.” ‘* Heaven grant it.” ‘*T say Amen to that, sir,” ‘* But if they are dead will you be able to dis- cover the fact?” ** Oh, yes sir.” **T cannot just see how?” ‘A bird that can sing and won’t sing, must be made to sing, Captain Hassan.” ba exactly catch your meaning, Major all. ‘Well, sir, if Ican catch an Indian, I can make him tell the truth.” ‘*T fear they will not do so.” No, you cannot force an Indian to tellin our way, through fear of his life; but I shall try a different plan, for if I catch him he will not know that I too am not a Comanche,” “Ah! I see, and all that you say gives me greater confidence in your being able to accom- plish your purpose, ** But, major?” Vee, Sir.’ ‘Don’t you think that I had better accom- pany you, for Iam not a tenderfoot upon the prairies, I assure you?” “No, sir, for I can go alone with greater safety. ‘“ When I need you, sir, I will give you warn- ing in good time, and it will he no harm to have your men notified that they may be called upon at any time, for when | return, if [ do, you will no longer be in suspense as to the fate that has befallen your little daughter and Buck Taylor.” - reat feel that we will know the truth,” was the low response of Edward Hassan, CHAPTER XX. ON THE LONE TRAIL. Boru horse and rider were refreshed by the halt at Soldier’s Retreat, and Buckskin Sam went on his way full of hope. Mrs, Hassan had told him that she would not only pray for his success, but for his own safety, and Captain Hassan had wrung his hand in part- ing without a word, “But the Ranger knew well how much that si- lent parting meant. He had decided to approach the Indian village from the other direction than across the prairies, where a guard would always be upon the watch, He had scouted the mountains often and would reach a spot in the rear of the Indian camp where he need have no fears of finding Indian scouts or lookouts, There was no danger to be apprehended from that direction, he was sure the Indians felt as- sured, and yetone man might make his way around there, where a dozen or more, could not do so, It was after a long flank movement that he reached the mountains in the rear of the Co- manche village, and he had been particular to move only by daylight, cover up his trail where he could, and go very slow, so as not to distress his horse, When he got into the vicinity of the Comanche village, he used his bow and arrows when he needed game, for he would not have fired a shot there had he been almost starving. In the use of the bow he showed himself as dead a shot as he was noted for being with rifle and revolver, At last he came toa stream into the bed of which he turned, following it for several miles until he reached’a spot where he could go ashore upon solid rock. Here he placed his blankets, and leading his horse first upon one, then the other, led him sev- eral hundred yards toward a canyon, the iron hoofs not making the slightest mark upon the rocks. The canyon entrance was half hidden by un- derbrush; but into it Buckskin Sam went and when he had penetrated some distance came to where there was grass in plenty and a rivulet, Having covered up his tracks thoroughly, and being at the head of the canyon, he knew there was nothing to bring any one else there, unless it was to go into hiding as he had done, From the canyon to the Indian village he knew was some six or seven miles, and this dis- tance he would make upon foot, Staking out his horse he then arranged his camp, gathering wood so as to cook at night, when the firelight would not be seen. Then he set about getting his disguise, and
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10 with a piece of glass set upon a rock, took out his razor and began to shave off his mus- tache, in fact to make his whole face as clean as an Indian's, This done, and he parted with his handsome mustache and imperial without a sigh of regret, he took out a roll of narrow red flannel and be- gan to plait it in his long black hair, which be straightened the curls out of by making it very wet, Into the braids he fastened eagle-feathers un- til he had formed a head-dress, or bonnet. Then he took a liquid from a bottle and be- an to stain bis face, neck, breast, arms and eet with it, He was not the man to take chances, for the removal of a moccasin, rolling up his sleeve, or the opening of his hunting-shirt would be- tray the white skin, So he stained himself most thoroughly with the reddish-brown liquid, which gave his skin the exact hue of an Indian. This done he took out his paints, red, yellow, black and white, and began to streak his face, neck and the backs of his hands until he looked like a brave in full war paint. His red blanket was then arranged to throw over his shoulders, while under it was to be worn a shirt of birds’ feathers, the skins of the birds having been skillfully torn off with the feathers on, and then cured, This shirt hid his revolvers, and his rifle, which was strapped up and down his back, so as not to be seen. His bow and arrows were worn openly, and a bag of provisions was also hidden under the shel- tering red blanket, When all was in readiness, Buckskin Sam inted in black upon the red blanket certain ndian signs, which he knew well, and smiled complacently as he completed the work, while he said to himself: **1 guess I’ll pass as a pretty good Indian; but woe be unto the Comanche that discovers that I am a pale-face, ** Now to get all the rest I can, and then stake my horse out where he can get grass enough to last him for a couple of days, as { may be de- tained that time,” He lay down to rest, and almost instantly sunk to sleep, When he awoke it was dark, and quickly building a fire he cooked what food he neeced and put it in bis provision bag. Then he staked his horse out in such a way that he could get both water and grass in pleuty, and remarked: “Tf you don’t bind yourself up in this rope, Yankee, you will be all right.” The horse gave him a jook as though to show he understood the exact situation, and then Buckskin Sam completed his Indian toilet and started off on the trail to the Comanche village, CHAPTER XXI, BUCKSKIN SAM’S BOLD GAME, THAT it required coolness and courage of the greatest kind for a man to venture as Buckskin Sam was doing, into the very lines of the Co- manche village, the reader can well com- prehend, He made his way along the ridge upon which the village was located, and came to a point where there was a large bowl, or round valley in the mountains, He listened attentively, and muttered: ‘* Yes, they keep their horses and cattle there, for only the passes have to be guarded, as the precipitous sides of the mountains prevent the cattle from straying. ‘* Now to go on to the village.” He continued along the ridge, going with the greatest caution, for he was drawing so near now that he knew he might run upon an Indian séntinel, or one prowling around at any minute. Soon the lights of the camp-fires came in sight, and he could hear the hum of voices arising from the valley in the mountain-top in which the camp was situated. ‘They have chosen a place as hard to take as a fort, for their village,” he said, and he re- called the strong position as he remembered it some years before when scouting through the mountains, Suddenly he drop down among the rocks and lay as quiet as death, for his quick hearing had noted falling hoofs and voices near at band. Then there came into view a line of horsemen riding along the trail, and from his hiding- place he eyed them closely while his ears were open for every sound that fell from their lips. “‘ A hunting party, thank Heaven! “‘T feared they were going on the war-path, and I would have to kill my horse, as Buck Taylor did, to get around and warn the settle- ments, ‘*T am sure that Buck must have been doing what he often told me he would do, trying to get into the Indian village, or find a secret ap- proach to it for an attack, when he made the discovery that the warriors were starting upon the war-path, and then rode for it as he did. ‘Poor fellow! I only hope be is not dead, and somehow I have hope that heis not; but he must have been made to suffer greatly as a prisoner, ‘* And that sweet child too? ‘‘My heart bleeds for ber, and it would be better for her had they killed her, ‘* But I shall soon know the truth.” Thus he mused, after having seen the file of horsemen ride by. He had counted them, and found there were fully a hundred, while every brave nearly Jed one or more ponies to bring back the game they were going to kill, Their words, as they rode along, fell distinctly upon the ears of the hiding scout, and told him that their mission was one to provide food for the village, not a warlike one, ‘*Tf I had the men near, and enough of them, now would be the time to attack their village, with a bundred of their best warriors gone, ‘* And we could ambush the hunters upon their return and wipe them out, ‘“‘T guess such a blow would stop Comanche raiding on this frontier for a long time. ‘* But my duty now is to find out what white captives they have in their villaye, and also dis- cover a trail by which we can secretly approach and attack them at another time. ‘* Now to go into the village.” The Indian horsemen had filed out of sight, and rising from his ered Buckskin Sam struck off on the trail they had passed along, and which led into the Comanche village. Having been the prisoner of the Comanches on two different occasions, camped with them when they were at peace with the whites, and had a chief, a refugee from his people, whom he had befriended and made his comrade for a long while, Buckskin Sam had not only learned their language perfectly, but had become acquainted with their actions, superstitions and peculiari- ties, The rig in which he had gotten himself up was that of a medicine-chief, and they were allowed the greatest freedom he well knew. He therefore determined to enter the village boldly, playing the part of a medicine-man, and so he went on his way, expecting to find a guard which he would bave to pass, and where bis greatest danger would lie. But soon be came in sight of a camp-fire, and around it were half a dozen forms. They were camped right at the pass through the rocks, leading down into the village, He saw at once that the Comanches were upon the alert against a surprise, though an advance guard must be stationed miles away where a view of a foe advancing over the prairie could be seen. To dare one man he would take the chances, but half a dozen, no. It would be sheer madness, for where he would come under the inspection of half a dozen braves, the cheat would be discovered, So he glided back out of sight, should any chance to look that way, and said to himself: ‘*T will camp on the trail and capture some brave who passes aloog, and thus find out what I would know,” So he retreated to a secure hiding-place a mile from the camp, and with the patience of an Indian sat down to abide bis time until a red- skin should come along and fall his prey. CHAPTER XXII. THE PRISONER. THE sun was just rising, when a horseman came in sight, slowly riding along the trail to the village, He rode like one in suffering, for he was all bent over, and his left arm hung limp to his side. [t was one of the bunters, whose horse ha fallen with him, seriously hurting bim, for his arm was broken, and he had received some severe bruises, The glass of Buckskin Sam, from his hiding- place, caused him to take in the situation ata glance, and he glided out into the trail and stoad with his hands raised. The suffering Indian rode almost upon him before he saw him, and then he drew rein quickly, for though near his own village, his nature was suspicious. ‘*My brother is hurt, and I will help him,” Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. said Buckskin Sam in the Comanche tongue, as he advanced toward tbe brave, A medicine-man just then was what the war- rior desired most to see; but in the glare of day he did not recognize the pretended Comanche, and said in a suspicious tone: ‘*My brother is not the great medicine-chief, Helping Hand, nor the medicine-man Black Spirit, of my people.” ‘*No, [am the medicine-man Sunlight, called to aid the great chief Black Spirit, who bas sent me to get good medicine, that [ alone know how to find. ‘* My brother went with the hunters last night, and his horse has fallen and bert him; but the Sunlight can make him well again. ‘** Let him follow me.” Thus reassured the brave turned off the trail and followed the form gliding along before him until they had gone some distance from the trail, Buckskin Sam played his part well, going along as though in search of some spot, and at last halted under a large tree, He aided the red-skin to dismount, bitched bis horse for him, and spread his blanket for bim to lie upon. : Then he took from his buckskin bag some thongs and leaves, bruising the latter by beating them with rocks, The arm of the Indian was broken above thé elbow, and it was set with a skill that a surgeon might have envied, the bruised leaves bound upon it with buckskin bands and thongs, Then the bruises were dressed with equal cure, the Indian uttering no groan although he had suffered greatly. Then the pretanded medicine-man began to quietly question the brave, but in a way nut to excite suspicion, It was most ingeniously done, and by degrees Buckskin Sam learned that after the return of the hunters, which would be in a couple of weeks, arrangements would be begun for a raid upon the settlement with a large force of war- riors. The hunters were to kill their game in large quantities, and preserve it for winter use, and then return to the village, though while hunting certain picked scouts were to glean all the infor- mation they could as to the foree in the settle- ment, the position of Buckskin Sam's Rangers, and the number of soldiers within call of aid for the ranchers. Telling the brave a vision that he bad, or a dream, Buckskin Sam wormed out of him a great deal of information, and that which sur- prised bim most was the fact that the head chief of the Comanches, Ka-noon-ka, the Death Hand, was a white man, for this he had not sus- pected before, and he knew that no one else on the frontier did. Buckskin Sam at last said that if he could capture a white girl and a pale-face warrior, and put them to death in a way commanded by the Great Spirit in a dream to him, he could send the Comanche braves upon a trail that would make them rich in scalps and plunder. “Why will not the Little Lily, and the Co- manche Killer do?” asked the red-skin, Buckskin Sam fairly started. He bad purposely said a little white girl anda white brave, and now came the suggestion fol- lowing his words that ‘‘the Little Lily and the Comanche Killer” might do. Who could these two be but Belle Hassan and Buck Taylor. . But he was too cunning to show his gratifica- tion, so said in an inquiring way: “But the Little Lily and the Comanche Killer are like our own people,” ‘‘The great chief Death Hand protects them; but our people hate them, for they are our foes,” was the answer, ‘** Does the Fighting Fox know this?” ‘Fighting Fox believes that the Little Lily bates our people and will never become a Comanche, and the Comanche Killer’s hands are red with the blood of our own kindred, ‘He is not like our great pale-face chief the Death Hand, who is a true Comanche.” “Tf the Fighting Fox knows this in bis heart, then let him hep the Sunlight doa great thing for our people. ‘‘ If he can bring to me the Comanche Killer and the Little Lily, so that I can take tkeir lives, then will we know just what is best for our people, for the Great Spirit will reveal to us in a dream just what we are to do, and the Fighting Fox will become a mighty chief, the leader of his tribe. “¢ Does the Fighting Fox hear the words of the medicine-man, Sunlight?” ; ‘se The Fighting Fox hears and his heart is glad, fi le i | ;
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—_— ~ a *“*Heis a true warrior and does not wish to anger the great chief Death Hand; but he will obey the medicine-chief Sunlight, for it is for the good of his people,” and the wily brave said nothing of the good he expected to reap himself from obeying the orders of the supposed Comanche medicine-man, “The Fighting Fox has spoken well. ‘Tet him bring to me here the Comanche Killer and the Little Lily when the third night has come, ‘*The medicine-chief will be here to kill them that the Fighting Fox and the Sunlight may dream what is the wish of the Great Spir?t|” CHAPTER XXIII. IN DURANCE VILE. WE left Buck Taylor a prisoner in the lodge at the Comanche village, watching the return of the raiders as they came down the ridge trail and were met by the warriors, squaws and children to see what their success had been, The wild wails of women and children, as they beheld the dead forms of their husbands and fathers hanging limp across their ponies, and saw others wounded and supported by their comrades, made the mountains echo far and wide with their doleful sound, Then came also ponies laden with plunder, warriors bearing freshly taken scalps, and this sight in a measure soothed the sorrow of those who had lost kindred, for revenge is a solace that quickly heals wounds in red-skin hearts, Then there was known to be a white prisoner up at the Prison Lodge whom they had every rea- son to rejoice in the capture of—Buck Taylor, whose last exploit in defending himself when at bay in the open grave, had already gained for him the name of the ‘‘ Comanche Killer.” When he was put to the torture, the red-skins would rejoice, In the midst of the returning warriors was another prisoner, a young girl, white-faced, frightened at the weird and appalling surround- ings, but strangely calm. This girl prisoner the great chief Death Hand had placed at once in the care of his favorite warrior, Fighting Fox, and his squaw, a young woman, They had no children, and were told to care for the little white captive as for their own child, until the chief decided what should be done with her, He had hoped to capture Captain Hassan and his wife, that he might enjoy a cruel revenge upon them, for Dick Drummond, driven at last to become a renegade white, and herd with the cruelest foes of his race, had never forgiven Marion Inglis for refusing to become his wife, nor Captiin Hassan for marrying her, and being the friend of her brother Ignacio, The parents he had failed to get into his Rial but their only child, the beautiful little elle, was his captive, and through her they should suffer most keenly. He would use her to obtain a large ransom from them, and then—wheu he had the ran- som, he would recapture the girl. All through the night after the return of the red-skin raiders, the village was wild with mingled grief and joy, The cunning chief had managed to have it whispered about that the white scout, Buck Tay- lor, had given warning of their coming, and yet he, Death Hand, had snatched victory from de- feat, and had gotten scalps and plunder in spite of their white foes being prepared for them. Tne Indians saw the affair just as he wished them to do, and they idolized their white rene- gade chief still the more, Buck Taylor did not drop to sleep until a very late hour, _He was more deeply grieved at seeing that little white captive brought into the Indian vil- lage, than at his own capture, to his credit be it said. Where he had met Death Hand before he could not understand, and yet for some reason unknown to him the chief had seen fit to spare his life. , But was it from mercy, or to torment him in the future? The morrow would doubtless tell him all, and determined to not worry until the time came, as far as he was concerned, Buck Taylor at last sunk to sleep, When he awoke he felt sore and stiff, while the bonds upon his legs and arms pained him considerably. ; @ was given some boiled meat and a tin cup of coffee, sent him by the chief, and soon after Death Hand was seen approaching the tepee where he was kept under the guard of two braves, Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive eS As he came along, walking erect as a soldier, and with his every movement graceful, Buck Taylor eyed him closely. There was nothing in his make-up to designate the white man, for he wore fully the costume of a Comanche chief, even to the head-dress, His walk and bearing, however, betrayed him to the keen eyes of the prisoner, who saw, as he drew nearer, that be was in full war-paint, and it completely hid bis white skin, Approaching the tepee he cast a glance at the prisoner, as he lay upon bis blanket, and at once said to the guards that his bonds were too tight; to loosen them, The two braves obeyed, and then the chief spoke in English, and said: ‘“‘ Well, Buck Taylor, in spite of the warning you yave, I was successful in my raid.” ‘* You were beaten back, rather, you mean.” ** Not so, for I returned with both plunder and scalps,” ‘*T saw a number of dead warriors brought in last night, and wounded ones too, while the plunder was mighty scant and only one girl] pris- oner, **T guess if you count your scalps, you will find that you have two dead warriors and one wound- ed for every one taken,” ‘*T did not come here to argue with you, Buck Taylor,” angrily said the chief, ‘* Why did you come then?” **1'o tell you that two years ago, when in the Mexican mines, I was accused of killing and rob- bing a miner, and the Vigilanves would have hanged me but for you, for, where there was no proof of my guilt, you said that I should have the benefit of the doubt, and you backed up your words with your revolvers and I was set free. ** But I did kill the man, though I had not time to rob him of the large treasure I knew he had hidden away, and nowI have come to make terms with you for your life,” “‘T know you now, Deadly Dick,” said Buck Taylor in a low, earnest voice, CHAPTER XXIv. THE CHIEF’S TERMS, ‘Yrs, I know you now, Deadly Dick, in spite * your paint and feathers,” repeated Buck Tay- or. “Did you know any harm of me in the mines?” ‘No, not then, though it was hinted that you were a desperado and very bad man, ‘Nick Sands, a man known to be very rich, was murdered, and somehow you were suspect- ed, for you were a new man there, ‘*T had met you the night before far from Sands’s cabin, and did not believe you guilty, so I stood at bay to protect you and did do it,” ‘¢ | remember it well.” “You were let go, but escorted fifty miles from the camps and told to go, and afterward it was found that you were none other than Diablo Dick, the Mexican outlaw, and proof was dis- covered that you had killed Nick Sands, so I was all wrong in protecting you as I did,” ** Well, you saved my life, and [am not one to forget a favor rendered me any more than I would a wrong done me, ‘*T was forced to bunt safety among the red- skins, and I believe youare the only one who knows that Ka-noon-ka the Death Hand, isa white man, ‘*Now Iam head chief here, and I hold the power of the sultan over my people, and so my word is law.” ‘* Tt seems to be,” ‘Tt is, as you will find out.” ‘Then do one good act to atone for your crimes, by letting that poor little girl go free.” ‘* Ah! you saw my captive?” «J got a glance of her, and she and I are your only prisoners,” “True, but Ihave work for you to do, and the girl is worth a great deal to me.” “Who is she?” ‘Captain Hassan’s child.” ‘* Ah, the ranchero of Soldier’s Retreat.” ‘* Yes, his wife was Senorita Marion Inglis, a Mexican, and she refused to become my wife.” ** Ah! you flew high.” Not noticing the satire the renegade con- tinued; ‘“She refused my love, and I am revengeful, ‘* She made me what I am to-day.” “It is a pity to blame a woman who did not love you for all your crimes,” ‘She is responsible for I would have been a different man had she become my wife,” *‘ And you avenge yourself by capturing her child?” **T lost her money by not marrying her, and I ——————————E——————— ee a a a CD oe 9 have a chance now to make Marion Hassan pay heavily to get her child back again,” ** Oh, yes, they will pay to save their daughter, as 1 would, or any one else.” ‘* Visit your fury upon me, Deadly Dick, but spare that youny girl,” ‘*T am known here as Chief Death Hand.” ‘¢Prué, but in the mines as Deadly Dick, and in Mexico as Diablo Dick, ‘* Who you were before I do not know; but if it so pleases you, I will call you Death Hand the Renegade,” eas ell, I wish to offer you a chance for your ife, ‘*Then you intend to kill me?” **T have not decided; but let me tell you that I did not rob Nick Sands, the miner, though I have a map giving full particulars of just where he has buried over thirty thousand in gold, “This map I will give to you, if you will go with it to the spot and secure the gold,” “Then ‘you would trust me?” ** Under some circumstances, yes,” ‘Name your terms,” ‘*-You are to vow to return with that treasure, and when you have done so I will pledge you my honor toset you free,” ‘*T beg pardon, but what was it you said you would pledge?” ** My honor,” ** You are joking, for a man can only pledge what he possesses,” ? ‘Do not insult me, Taylor, for it will do no b hd ‘Well, to your terms?” : ‘You bring me that treasure and I will set you free, giving you a good share, “But, first, | would have you go to Captain Hassan, tell bim that I hold his child a captive and demand for her ransom twenty thousand dollars, which you can bring to a certain speci- fied rendezvous, where I will have the girl, ‘¢Tell him that Dick Drummond is the man who has her in his power, and that will be enough, I assure you.’ ** Doubtless,” ‘* But first you are to get Nick Sands’s treasure and bring it to me,” ‘**'You trust me to do so?” “Yes, for 1 shall put you upon your most sacred oath to return, and will give you until a certain date to do so,” ‘* Should I break my oath?” ‘tT de not believe that you will.” ** But should [?” ‘* Well, on the date set for your return, should you deceive me, I will forego the money I hope to get for ransom from Ned Hassan and his wife, and turn the child over to the warriors of my village to torture as their cruel natures may inspire them to do,” ‘*Good God! would you do such a deed as that?” cried Buck Taylor, in horror, “*T would, and will, if you fail me.” ‘This puts a terrible respensibility upon me! ** How so?” ‘¢- You make me return to perhaps torture my- self, once I aw free from you, and feeling all the while should aught happen to me, to pre- vent my coming back, that the beautiful child captive you have, must suffer the torments of the damned.” ‘Well, you have the alternative, to accept my terms or refuse them. “Tf you accept, then you and the child get Seed liberty, though of course it is paid for iberally, ‘With that gold Ishall seek a home elsewhere, for I know how this must end some day. ‘Refuse, and after you have seen the girl given over to torture, your own time shal come, ‘1 ]] give you several weeks to think it over,” and the renegade chief departed from the tepee leaving his prisoner a prey to the most bitter thoughts. CHAPTER XXYV, ACCEPTED, Toe more Buck Taylor thought over the terms of the chief, Death Hand, the more he felt how utterly be held him in his power, by his threat against the little girl captive. It was an appeal to his humanity, his chivalry, his manhood, Could he refuse to saye the beautiful girl from an appalling fate, when he could do so By italy carrying out the wishes of the rene- aae, He recognized the fact that the renegade had spoken truly, when he said that his life as a chief must end some day in the near future, He could see that be had been driven among the Indians as a refuge.
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= 12 That he was using them to gain his own ends, and that now it was in his power to secure a handsome sum of money from Nick Sands’s buried treasure, and ancther from the ransom of Belle Hassan, and with this he would leave the country, seeking safety in another land, and with the means of living there, Thus, to gain this, both he and Belle Hassan were worth more to him alive than dead, and if he gained gold through them living he could afford to let them go free, for what interest held the chief in the Comanches other than to further his schemes? So at last Buck Taylor decided to go as bid- den, He saw the little captive each day, white- faced, scared-looking, yet bearing up bravely, as it was her nature to do. He must rescue that lovely girl from the awful fate threatening her, In a couple of weeks his arrow wounds had healed, as also the bruises he had received at the hands of his captors, and he made signs to his guards that he wished to see their chief, for that he could understand and speak their language perfectly, be would not let them know. The renegade came at his bidding, and said: ‘* Well have you made up your mind, Buck Taylor, for 1 have given you plenty of time?” “Oh, yes, when you knew I was too badly used up to go before,” * Youewill go?” ce Yes,” **To the mines?” *¢T will.” ** And get Nick Sands’s treasure?” **T will get it if your map takes me to the place where it is hidden,” ‘Tt will do so, for he had just drawn it, I sup- pose to send away in case of accident to him, when I killed him, * But, driven out of the mines as JT was, I could not get what 1 bad murdered him to se- cure,” “*T gee.” ‘*- You are to take a most solemn oath, by all you hold sacred, to bring me the treasure,” ac Yes.” ‘You are to vow just as solemnly not to let any one know you have been the Comanches’ prisoner, and to go and return as soon as you can,” ‘*T understand,” **'You do not have to go near the Texas set- tlements and ranches, as you know, but up into New Mexico, and I will give you back your weapons, saddle and bridle, and the best animal I have here in the village, while you shall have a complete outfit.” ‘*T will need it, for I have a long trail ahead of me,” ‘* Not so long as the trail that little girl will atart upon if you fail to return here to me with the gold.” ‘*T am not one to steal any one’s gold, or to break a pledge made in all solemnity, Chief Death Hand,” ‘“‘T understand that, or I would not trust you as I am compelled to do. ** Now you shall be set free from your bonds and get back the use of your limbs; but you must not go out of sight of your guards, for if you attempt to escape before doing my bidding, the fate of the child captive shall be the rope.” ‘‘T am no fool to set wolves upon her by act of mine, when it is in my power to save her,” That is good reasoning, and now I shall give you your freedom,” A moment after Buck Taylor arose to his feet and stretched his limbs, a free man as far as bonds were concerned. His captor gave him to understand that he had explained to the Indians that he had become their ally, and was to go upon a mission that would enrich them, That the red-skins were completely under the influence of their white chief Buck Taylor dis- cerned, not only from the warriors who had been his guards, but from other things he had observed. He walked about the village in a quiet way, all eyes upon him, many glaring at him with hatred, others hoping he would prove as good a Comanche as had their whitejchief. It was the triumph of the pale-face over the red-skin, for with all their vanity and conceit, their love of power, the Indian warriors were glad to be ruled by the renegade chief, and glad again to welcome another pale-face, one who had proven himself so deadly a foe, so terrible a fighter, as their ally, Once only did Buck Taylor get a chance to speak to his little: fellow captive, and then he glanced quickly about, and seeing that the chief Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. was not within hearing said in a sing-song way, as though singing: “Don’t despair, Little Lily, for you will be rescued in good time, ‘* See, I am free, and though I leave for along while perhaps, I will return and save you, so cheer up Little Lily.” The girl’s face flushed, her eyes sparkled, but she made no reply, while Buck Taylor quickly walked away, as he feared to cause the red-skin to grow suspicious, CHAPTER XXVI. IN THE MINES. Buck TAYLOR bad not the slightest reason to complain of bis “ outfit” prepared for him by the renegade chief. His horse was a magnificent animal, one late- ly captured on the Indian raid, and he had his own saddle, bridle and weapons, Then he had a couple of rubber blankets, with as many serapes and all else to make him comfortable in bis lonely camps at night, He had so well played utter ignorance of the Comanche tongue, never once making a mis- take, that he had picked up considerable infor- mation in the village not intended for him to know, At last he set out one morning, after a warn- ing from the chief, and took the trail heading back through the mountains toward New Mexico. ‘* That is a cunning fellow, that renegade,” he said to himself as he rode along. ‘‘Now he trusts me, and yet he is so sus- picious that I might fail him, and striking for the fort and settlements bring a force to attack him, that last night he sent off balf a dozen dif- ferent bands to head me off should I take other trail than to New Mexico, **And more, I am just as sure that I am at followed also, to see if I swerve from the trail, ‘* Well, it is a peculiar position to place one in, for it makes me responsible for the safety of that little captive, ‘1 shall go to the mines, of course, and having done this, then will be my time to act for the safety of Little Lily, for not the remotest idea has the renegade of giving her up even after he gets bis ransom for her, ‘*f am sure of that.” He rode on, musing as he did so, and just be- fore sunset went over a ridge which commanded a view far back over the trail he bad come. He rode on to a small creek, hitched his horse to a limb overhanging the water, so that he would have to stand in the stream, drew off his hoots and making them fast to his saddle slid down and went ashore, He stepped so that his bootless feet would Jeave no trail to the top of the ridge, keeping out of sight from any one coming across the plain beyond, by hiding in some bushes, For half an hour he stood there, bis eyes peer- ing out over the plain, and then he said sud- denly: “T knew it! “There they come upon my trail, and there are just nine of them, **Tt would have been death to me had I intend- ed to play false and head for the fort and settle- ments, ‘** Now I know that they will keep on my trail until they are certain I have gone to the mines,” He retraced his way, remounted his horse and rode on out of the stream, the current washing away all tracks, and his trail appearing as though he had simply crossed there without halting. A couple of miles further on he halted to camp, and though expecting no disturbance, yet he sought a place that he could defend easily and escape from if driven to it. He built a fire, yet had it so hidden that he could not be picked off by its light from a dis- tance, Having watered his horse he staked him out within reach, and then sunk to sleep, He was not disturbed during the night, and there were no fresh trails, he discovered as he went upon his way, to show that the Indians fol- lowing him had passed his camp. Later on in the day he got another chance to look back over the trail, and as before he dis- covered that he was being followed at a long distance, ** Well, they will only find that I held straight ae the mines and so return and report to their chief, “T only wish I could quickly get together force enough to return and attack their vil- lage but no, that lovely child shall not be sac- vificed, Again he camped when night came; but upon the third day’s travel he found that the Indians had stopped trailing him. They believed that he was going straight to the mines, and more they did not care to trust themselves so far from their village, so [turned back to make their report to their chief, On his way went Buck Taylor, riding slowly, but steadily, not forcing his horse, and in seem- ingly no great hurry. Days passed and at last he drew near the min- ing country of New Mexico. . e bad been all through that part of the country, for though a youth in years, he was an old frontiersman and was skilled in prairie and mountain craft and a perfect guide as well, He at last reached the scattering camps, but pressed on to the place where he bad once pass- edsome weeks and known there Nick Sands and the renegade chief as Deadly Dick. Nick Sands had been popular with all, and had struck it rich from the very day of his com- ing. f was said that he had once been rich, but lost his fortune by indorsing notes for a friend, and had come to the mines to make another, leaving a wife and two little daughters at home to await his return. But he had been foully murdered, and as all believed, had been also robbed of all his hard- earned gold, And it was up to his cabin that Buck Taylor rode one evening just at sunset, having at last reached the end of his long journey to the mines, CHAPTER XXVIII. BUCK TAYLOR’S DOUBLE GAME, As Buck Taylor rode up to the door of the cabin he saw seated there two miners, smok- ing their pipes after having just finished their supper. ‘One of them he knew as a hard-working fel- low upon whom Daine Fortune had not smiled very generously; but the other was a stranger to bim. ‘“*Ho, Buck, my boy, isthat you?” cried the miner, recognizing the young man. *¢ Yes, Pard Hatfield, Iam again in the mines for a short while.” ** Then bunk in with us, for we have plenty of room. “This is my pard Ben Brewster, and we are working poor Nick Sands’s old lead.” ‘*T see that you have his house, and I hope it pays you,” said Buck as Ben Brewster got up and grasped his hand also in welcome, ‘Well, just passable; but it pays. “Sit down and Ben will get you up some sup- per, while I stake your horse out, “*T always liked you, Buck, and am glad to see you again, though I do think you cheated the Devil out of his dues when you saved that fellow Deadly Dick from being banged.” “*T am pretty sure that I did, Pard Hatfield; but Pll see to my horse and then join you.” His horse cared for Buck said: ‘* How was it you got the lead of Nick Sands, Pard Hatfield?” ‘* Well, you see his widow came out here to see what she could find, ‘‘ We allknew Nick had struck it rich, but if he had more than his murderer found it could not be discovered, ‘“ His widow was a perfect little beauty, with great large dark eyes full of tears, and si spent many a day weeping over Nick’s grave. “T felt so sorry for her, knowing how little she got in the way of gold, that Ben bere and I decided to buy the cabin and old lead, which was pretty well worked out. ** But we did it and she returned home with what we gave her, and said when she made ample money she would have her husband’s body moved to the old burying ground in Vir- ginia. ‘* Well, Pard Hatfield, I am glad to see you in charge, and to know that you and Mr. Brewster here befriended the lady. a ‘* Now I am here on a particular business, and if I cannot explain it to you, you must still have confidence enough in me to do as I ask you, for you will benefit, not lose by it, I’ promise you. ‘** As I understand, you haye bought the Sands claim?” ; “ We bave,” * And are working it?” its ot id ** With poor results?” se¥eg," ‘Well, I can tell you how to work to strike a rich lead; but you must first promise to do some- thing for me.” — x > + oe err
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} | | ' Buck .Taylor, the Comanche Captive. 13 ‘ire away, Buck, for we are your game,” said Hatfield. “So I say,” answered Ben Brewster, and he continued: ‘1 never met you before, Buck Taylor, but I have heard enough about you to make me like you, and you belie your looks if you are not square clean through,” ; * Well, what I wish you todo, Hatfield, is to start at once for Virginia and bring the widow of Nick Sands back here,” ‘¢ The devil!” ‘* No, the widow, and when I have told her a secret, then I will show you that you have not made a bad bargain in buying your claim to help Mrs, Sands out.” ‘*Pard Buck, [have that much confidence in you to do what you ask,” ‘*T thank you, Mr. Hatfield, and while you are gone I’li be Mr. Brewster’s guest, for I have some work to do of'an important nature, ‘*When you return I will be ready for you and the lady you bring with you,” ‘* But will she come?” ‘Tell her simply that her husband, though killed, was not robbed, as all supposed, and that Buck Taylor will give her the clew to find all the gold that Nick Sands hid away.” ‘Ob, Lord! do you mean it?” “T do; but you must not let a soul in the camps know my secret, “* Now, when will you get off?” **'To-morrow.” “The sooner the better, for I am limited on time. *T see,” and both Hatfield and Brewster felt sure that Buck Taylor was on a trail he knew the ending of well. CHAPTER XXVIII. MET ON THE TRAIL, RoserRt HATFIELD had started upon his er- rand, carrying with him a very liberal supply of money, in case he should find Mrs, Sands too poor to pay her own expenses back to the mines. He had gone first by bis old home, to visit his parents, whom he had not seen for years, and it was pardonable in him, perhaps, to be glad to show them that unaided he had made some money. After but a couple of days at his home in Pennsylvania, he had gone on to Virginia, to the little village where dwelt Mrs. Sands. He found her living in a neat little cottage, tastefully furnished, and supporting herself and her two children by teaching. It did not require a great dealof urging on the part of Bob. Hatfield to get her to return with him to the mines, for he had been a very devoted friend to her in her visit there, and her sorrows, _ But traveling in those days in the far West was not what it is to-day, and it was quite a long while before the journey drew near its close. Bob Hatfield had taken the coach with his fair charge, aud knowing the dangers of the road, when the vebicle suddenly came to a halt they supposed that it was held up by road- agents, until they heard the driver call out: ‘“*Ho, Buck Taylor, ’m durned ef I didn’t think you was a road-agint, sittin’ thar on yer horse in their trail.” “No, Ribbons, I only wished to know if Bob Hatfield is a passenger with you?” *¢ He be.” ** Who else?” “A pretty lady, ther widder o’ Nick Sands, who was kilt, yer recommembers,” Buck Taylor was now at the stage door, and Bob Hatfield warmly greeted him, after which he presented Mrs, Sands. ‘““I have been on the watch for you for a couple of weeks, Bob, and I am going to ask Ribbons to hold on long enough for me to have a little talk with you and Mrs. Sands, and then to say nothing about it in the camps.” ‘* [ll do as yer wishes, Buck,” said the driver, “ Now, Mrs. Sands, here is a paper, 4 copy of an original that I hold, and by it you can find, through Hatfield and his pard Brewster, just where your husband hid a cold. aud there is quite a fortune there, as you will discover, for the different deposits are put here in this col- umn of figures, as you see, “‘Go there to-morrow and take possession, for I must come the next day, to keep a certain vow that I have made, .*Then you will also find on the paper, direc- tions to follow a different lead in the claim you sold, and which will pan out rich for Hatfield and Brewster. “*Here are the copies, and I have the origi- nals, so go to-morrow, and in excuse for your return, simply say that you came in possession of papers giving you the knowledge of your hus- band’s hiding-place for his gold. ‘** But do not mention from whom your knowl- edge came, **T have no more to say,” and Buck turned his borse and rode away. On drove the coach, and Bob Hatfield hastily glanced over the papers, which were copies of a map and some directions regarding the new lead in the claim ot Nick Sands, Mrs, Sands went to the Miners’ Tavern upon her arrival, and was given the best quarters the place afforded, The next day, accompanied by Hatfield and Brewster, she started out upon her search, and when she returned to the tavern in the evening, she considered herself a rich woman. And the same papers had also shown to Bob Hatfield and Ben Brewster that they had lost notbing in buying the claim to help the poor woman out, for, in fact, their purchase was now found to be a rich one, The next day Buck Taylor rode up to the hid- ing-place of the gold, visited the claim, and then went to the cabin, after which he said, pleas- antly: 4 Well, pards, I am off,” ** Where?” ‘Well, I am going on a secret trail, and if you don’t hear of me ia six months, Bob Hat- _ just open this package, for it will tell you a ‘*Good-by, pards, and I wish you, Hatfield, all happiness with your lovely bride, for she is lovely, and I only wish I could be at your wed- ding,” and Buck Taylor rode away upon his return to the power of the renegade chief. He had done his duty as he saw it, and was going back to face the consequences. He arrived in the Indian villaga late one afternoon, and the renegade chief eagerly led him to his tepee. ‘*-You have kept your pledge?” “ Yes.” ‘* Well, you went to the mines?” **T did, but you should have looked up the treasure sooner,” oe What do you mean?” roared the renegade chief, ‘¢) mean that there was a copy of these papers you hold, ‘“They were correct in everything, but some friend of the widow’s held the copy, gave it to her, and she had gotten possession of the gold of her husband.” “*Good God!” “It is true; and you remember Bob Hat- field?” sc Yes,” “Well, he is to marry the widow, having bought her claim.” ; ‘*Curses upon it! I feared I was delaying too ong. ‘*T should have gone a year ago myself, and risked it, but I believed I alone beld the clew to the hiding-place.” ‘* Well, I went, so could do no more,” ‘*No, Buck Taylor, you did your duty faith- fully; but I have other work for you now, as assan must pay big ransom now to get his child back, yes, double what I intended!’ CHAPTER XXIX, THE TWO PARDS, “ Wiit the Comanche Killer go on the trail with the Fighting Fox, who can not use his wea- ns? “The Fighting Fox will show him game he will wish to see?” The question was addressed to Buck Taylor, some time after his return to the Indian village, His coming back as he had, gave the Co- manches confidence in him, and all knew that the chief had other work for him to do, and they began to regard him as an ally against his own race, The Fighting Fox had sought him out in his tepes and put the question to him that opens this chapter. f Buck Taylor was cunning as an Indian, and felt that the warrior had some motive he would not make known, in wishing him to go with him, But he decided to go, and be on his guard. So the two quietly left the village and were soon at the rendezvous appointed by the pretend- ed medicine-man. Suddenly Buck Taylor saw the form of the supposed medicine-man rise before him, and he was ready to defend himself if need be, But then he stood motionless while the medi- cine-man said: ‘The Fighting Fox has done well to bring the Comanche Killer to me here, “The Sunlight will breathe in his ears words that wf sbow him what the Great Spirit would have him do.” And then tothe amazement of Buck Taylor came the low words in English: “JT am your pard, Buckskin Sam, but the Fighting Fox believes me to be a medicine-man,, and said he would bring you and the Little Lily here for me to kill, ‘* Where is the girl?” “She bas been ill, and can not come, “lamina plot now to rescue her, sodo not expose your life remaining here. ‘Go to the ranches, the settlements and the fort with all speed. ‘*'You lead the soldiers here by the Northerm Pass just ten nights from this, after midnight, for at dark I shall depart with the girl, and the pursuers must go into ambush at Red Cliffs where the Rangers must be meet them, for I will take that trail. ‘* When the braves are off on my trail, anda hundred more are still away on a hunt, for word has come they will remain two weeks longer as game is plenty, you lead the soldiers to attack the village. ‘Do you understand, Sam?” ‘¢- Yes, and will obey, for you know the situa- tion best; but I came here to rescue you and Captain Hassan’s little daughter.” “ All right, pard, but you ride for life and do as I tell you, and more, the chief, Ka-noon-ka, Death Hand, is a white renegade, the Deadly Dick of the miners, and Diablo Dick of the Mexican Raiders.” Buckskin Sam gave a low whistle, and walked over to Fighting Fox. “The Fighting Fox has done well; but I was warned in a dream not to kill to-night, “ T have told the Comanche Killer I will make him a great chief, if he will bring me the Little aor here ten nights from this, that I may kilk er, But the Fighting Fox must bring her, and the Comanche Killer will meet him here, and then I will kill both as the Great Spirit commands. “But when I strike the blow the Little Lily must be mounted upon a splendid horse, the best the Fighting Fox has in his corral, and both. must die together, ‘““ And there roust be food for the Little Lily and the Comanche Killer to eat on their trail to, the Spirit Land, “ Does the Fighting Fox understand?” The disguised scout had spoken in the Co- manche tongue, but so that Buck Taylor could hear every word he uttered, and understand that the warrior was to get Little Lily out of the village to that spot, which he could do more readily than could the white captive, He also gave him to understand that Little Lily must have a horse, and food, so that the two could go well mounted and provisioned on their hard and long flight, should aught occur to keep the Rangers from being at the Red Cliffs. to ambusb the Indian pursuers, Buck Taylor understood it all, and without a glance at Buckskin Sam, walked away from the- spot with Fighting Fox, whose superstitious na- ture was wholly under the control of the pre- tended medicine-man, and who was wrought up to the highest pitch atthe hope of becoming, through the death of the two white captives, a young girl and the Comanche Killer, a great. chief, CHAPTER XXX, THE END OF THE LONG TRAIL, WHEN Buck Taylor and Fighting Fox had’ disappeared, Buckskin Sam hastened away to- ward the canyon, where he had kept his horse in hiding the days he had been waiting the con- summation of his plans, He could not understand how it was that Buck Taylor was willing to return to the Indian vil- lage again; but he had perfect confidence in him, and so decided to follow out his plan of ac- tion. The camp was reached, and soon after the well-rested horse of the Ranger Scout was going rapidly away upon his errand, Bue skin Sam’s first duty was to make for his own gallant Rangers, and send them to the Red Cliffs to go into hiding, He explained that they were to go to the Red Cliffs by night, keep securely hidden by day, and have a close watch all the time for the com- ing of tke fugitives so as to be ready to meet their pursuers, This done they could cut over to the north. ward trails and ambush the returning band of Indian hunters, Having made the officer in command of the. Rangers in his stead, understand fully what wa
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( ( { 1 14 to be done, Buckskin Sam mounted upon a fresh horse rode for the fort nearest to the Indian country. He sought the commandant and placed the situation fully before him, adding: “Now, major, my Rangers will take care of the pursuers of Buck Taylor in his escape, and have a couple of days to go on and head off the returning hunters, ‘* This will wipe out the two bands away from the village, while I can guide a few companies of cavalry over the mountains, striking the Indian village in the rear, at the time that the pursuers are away after Buck, and the hunters are also absent. **The force left in the village will hardly be over a couple of hundred fighting warriors, and as many troopers can, by surprising the camps, simply strike a blow the Comancies will never forget,” “Well, Buckskin Sam, I shall do all in my power to help you out, and though I cannot spare two hundred men, | will send four troops of forty men each, and you are to be the guide. “Two days ago Captain Wingate went over toward the Rio Grande with three troops, which weakens my force just now,” “Pd say strike them, sir, if I only bad one troop.” ‘“Yes, and with your wild Texas Rangers it might do, though 1 do not wish to disparage our troopers in saying so, only you Texans are a terror to the red-gkins, and I don’t wonder, ‘When do you say go?” ** To-night, sir.” “ All right, so get what rest you can mean- while, for you need it.” ‘* Tam never tired, Major McCook, when I am on a trail which I know has an end to it,” said Buckskin Sam, and when the time came for starting, though be had taken no rest, he seemed as bright as any of the men that were to follow his guidance upon their et expedition to go into the heart of the Comanche country and attack a village of red-skins who would fight with desperation, In the mean while matters in the Indian vil- lage were shaping to please Buck Taylor, and also Fighting Fox, who could only seein what was to happen brightest prospects for himself. The prisoner had been sent for by the rene« gade chief, who held a conversation with bim upon the subject of Belle Hassan’s ransom, ““T will again trust you, Buck Taylor, to go away. ° You are to go upon the same terms as be- fore, with the knowledge that if you do not return by such a day the girl is to be given up to torture, ** Should ap armed force advance, ransom be- ing refused, then the girl shall suffer. ‘So state to her parents, and tell her that Dick Drummond is the one in whose power she is, and that [ demand twenty thousand in gold for her ransom, “When you return come alone with the money. **T will have men on the watch for you, and will ride out to meet you on the prairie, carrying the girl with me, and having four warriors at my back, so that you may not prove false to me. ““Remember the day I set for the girl’s tor- ture, and do not shaveit too close, for before you bad but twenty-four hours’ leeway. ‘*Now start when you please, and when J have the money you and the girl are free,” “T will depart to-night, chief,” was Buck Taylor’s response, and he started off in search of Fighting Fox, who, with his wife had Belle Hassan in keeping. They had not been unkind to her, in fa¢t had done much to help the little captive in their rude way; but the warrior looked forward to seeing her die at the hands of the medicine-chief, only for his advancement, As to Buck Taylor, he supposed that the cun- ning of the supposed medicine-man and himself . were leading him into a trap, believing that when the two captives reached the rendezvous together they must die, and little knowing that the one he. believed an Indian was even then Buiding a soldier band against the Indian vil- e. ‘The Fighting Fox will see that the Little aay there,” said the warrior, and he kept his word. He first rode there upon his best horse, carry- ing with him a bag of provisions, hen he bade his squaw leave the village by one pass with the little captive, and return alone by another, telling her that the medicine-chief demanded the girl’s presence in the woods, to find through her certain herbs, Then Fighting Fox made his way to the ren- _—_ Buck Taylor, the Comanche Captive. dezvous, found his squaw there with Little Lily, and sending the former home just at nightfall, awaited the coming of the medicine-man and Buck Taylor, The latter soon arrived, and he was well- mounted, armed and equipped for the trail, As he rode up, the Fighting Fox in very bad English told him that the medicine-man would soon arrive. Buck Taylor made no reply, but threw himself upon the warrior, and at once a desperate strug- gle began. But it lasted only a minute, and the Fighting Fox had fought bis last battle, though from his lips had rung out several wild, fierce cries of warning that he knew would reach the ears of the guard. ““Now, Little Lily, we must be away for home. ‘*T am sorry you had to see me kill that In- dian, but it could not be helped. ‘*Come, this is your horse, and we will have to ride as fast as possible,” Buck Taylor placed the little maiden in the saddle, leaped upon his own horse, and led the way down the trail. He knew the country pretty well, flanked the sentinels at the ridge pass, and reached the prai- rie soon after midnight. That he was hotly pursued he knew, for as there were but three trails he could take, he knew that bands of warriors would be sent by each one. But he reached the prairie some distance abead of his pursuers and halted to give his horses a chance to blow, and water from a i the last they would cross for a long while. Just as the dawn rose the red cliffs came in sight, and back over the prairie the light now “jee the pursuers, fully a hundred in num- r. The nearest one was a quarter of a mile away and the others were scattered out for over a mile, according to the speed of their horses, They had followed like hounds, rather than human beings, in spite of the darkness, and a wild yell went up, as they saw the fugitives, Buck Taylor called Belle to his side, and his face was turned upon the Red Cliffs somewhat anxiously, He had not pressed his horses, but the Indians had urged their ponies hard, and, even should there be no ambush at the Red Cliffs, as he had lanned with Buckskin Sam, he felt that the an- mals would keep well in the lead of their pur- suers, Still he hoped that the ambushers were there. Soon they rode into the long pass through the hill, and, as he did so, though he saw no one, he heard a voice call out: “Push straight on, Buck, and let them all get into the canyon in following you.” ‘*Have no fear now, Little Pard, for we are safe,” he said, and Belle replied promptly: **l am not afraid when you are with me,” So on they sped, and on came the pursuers, They entered the canyon, and when nearly all bad gotten into the trap, a rattle of rifle-shots rung out on either side and many a brave fell from his saddle, “Wait here, Little Pard,” cried Buck Taylor, and wheeling his horse he went back like the wind and led the Rangers of Buckskin Sam back upon the now terrified and flying warriors. It was a terrible lesson the Comanches got there that day in the Red Cliffs Pass, and while the wounded Rangers went on toward Sol- diers’ Retreat Ranch, little Belle with them, Buck Taylor led the gallant riders on to head off the band of red-skin hunters, There two men were ambushed, and dealt a fearful blow, and when the fugitive warriors reached their village, they found only death and havoc there, for the troopers had swept down upon them, guided by Buckskin Sam, and to this day the Comanches recall with horror the remembrance of how their pale-face foes | avenged the raid of their chief, Death Hand, upon the Texas rancheros. As one from the grave Belle was welcomed back by her loving parents, and that Buck Taylor and Buckskin Sam, the rescuers, ever found the warmest welcome at Soldier’s Re- treat Ranch, goes without saying, and in all their daring deeds of later years, they recalled always the rescue of the Little Lily of the Co- manches as the noblest of their acts. THE END, Beatles Dime Library. BY COL. PRENTISS INGRAHAM, 640 The Rover’s Retribution. 635 The Ex Buccaneer; or, The Stigma of Sin. 630 The Sea Thief 625 Red Wings; or, The Gold Seekers of the Bahamas, 615 The Three t-uccaneers. 610 The Red Flag Rover; or, White Wings of the Deep. 605 The Shadow Silver Ship. 600 The Silver Ship; or, The Sea Scouts of ’76, 593 The Sea Rebel; or. Red Rovers of the Revolution, 587 Conrad, the Sailor Spy; or, True Hearts of °76. 581 The Outlawed Skipper; or, The Gantlet Runner, 560 The Man from Mexico. 553 Mark Monte, the Mutineer; or, The Branded Brig. 546 The Doomed Whaler; or, The Life Wreck. 540 The Fleet Scourge; or, The Sea Wings of Salem, 580 The Savages of the Sea, 524 The Sea Chaser; or, The Pirate Noble. 516 Chatard, the Dead-Shot Duelist. 510 El Moro, the Corsair Commodore. 493 The Scouts of the Sea. 489 The Pirate Hunter; or, The Ocean Rivals. 482 Ocean Tramps; or, The Desperadoes of the Deep. 476 Bob Brent,the Buccaneer; or, the Red Sea Raider. 469 The Lieutenant Detective; or, the Fugitive Sailor, 457 The Sea Insurgent: or, The Conspirator Son, 446 Ocean Ogre, the Outcast Corsair, 435 The One-Armed Buccaneer. 430 The Fatal Frigate; or, Rivals in Love and War, 25 The Sea Sword; or. The Ocean Rivals. 418 The Sea Siren; or. The Fugitive Privateer. 899 The New Monte Cristo. 393 The Convict Captian. 388 The Giant Buccaneer; or, The Wrecker Witch. 377 Afloat and Ashore; or. The Corsair Conspirator. 873 Sailor of Fortune; or, The Barnegat Buccaneer, 369 The Coast Corsair: or, The Siren of the Sea. 364 The Sea Fugitive; or, The Queen of tne Coast, 346 Ocean Guerrillas; or, Phantom Midshipman, 341 The Sea Desperado, 336 Tne Magic Snip; or, Sandy Hook Freebooters. 825 The Gentleman Pirate; or, Tne Casco Hermits, 318 The Indian Kuceaneer; or, The Red Rovers. 307 The Phantom Pirate; or, The Water Wolves. 281 TheSea Owl; or. The Lady Captain of the Gulf, 259 Cutlass and Cross; or, the Ghouls of the Sea. 255 The Pirate Priest; or, The Gampler’s Daughter, 246 Queen Helen, the Amazon of the Overland, 235 Red Lightning the Man of Chance. 231 The Kid Glove Miner; or, The Magic Doctor, 224 Black Beard, the Buccaneer. 220 The Specter Yacht; or, A Brother’s Crime, 216 The Corsair Planter; or, Driven to Doom, 210 Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. 205 The Gambler Pirate; or, Lady of the Lagoon, 198 The Skeleton Schooner; or, The Skimmer. 164 Ihe Ocean Vampire; or, The Castle Heiress, 181 The Scarlet Schooner: or. The Sea Nemesis. 177 Don Diablo, the Planter-Corsair. 172 Black Pirate; or, The Golden Fetters Mystery. 162 The Mad Mariner: or, Dishonored and Disowned 155 The Corsair Queen; or, The Gypsies of the Sea, 147 Gold Spur, the Gentleman from Texas. 139 Fire Eye; or, The Bride of a buccaneer. 134 Darkey Dan, the Colored Detective. 131 Buckskin Sam, the Texas Trailer. 128 The Chevalier Corsair; or, The Heritage. 121 The Sea Cadet; or, The Rover of the Rigoletts, 116 Black Plume; or. The Sorceress of Heli Gate, 109 Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flag. 104 Montezuma, the Merciless. 103 Merle, the Mutinger; or, The Red Anchor Brand, 94 Freelance, the Buccaneer. 89 The Pirate Prince; or, The Queen of the Isle. 85 The Cretan Rover’ or, Zuleikah the Beautiful, 2 The Dare Devil; or, The Winged Sea Witch, BY WILLIAM H. MANNING, 646 Dark John, the Grim Guard. 638 Murdock, the Dread Detective. 623 Dangerous Dave, the Never-Beaten Detective, 611 Alkali Abe, the Game Chicken from Texas, 596 Rustler Rube; the Round-Up Detective, 585 Dan Dixon’s Double. ‘ 575 Steady Hand, the Napoleon of Detectives, 568 Wyoming Zeke, the Hotspur of Honeysuckle. 551 Garry Kean, the Man with Backbone, 539 Old Doubledark, the Wily Detective. 531 Saddie-Chief Kit, the Prairie Centaur. 521 Paradise Sam, the Nor’-West Pilot. 518 Texas Tartar, the Man With Nine Lives, 506 Uncle Honest, the Peacemaker of Hornets’ Nest, 498 Central Pacific Paul. the Mail Train Spy. 492 Border Bullet, the Prairie Sharpshooter. 486 Kansas Kitten, the Northwest Detective. | 479 Gladiator Gabe, the Samson of Sassajack. | 470 The Duke of Dakota. 463 Gold Gauntlet. the Gulch Gladiator. 455 Yank Yellowbird, the Tall Hustler of the Hills, | 449 Bluff Burke, King of the Rockies. ) i 442 Wild West Walt, the Mountain Veteran. 437 Deep Duke: or, The Man of Two Lives. | 427 The Rivals of Montana Mill | 415 Hot Heart, the Detective Spy. , | 405 Old Baldy, the Brigadier of Buck Basin, | 885 Wild Dick Turpin, tne Leadville Lion, 297 Colorado Rube, the Strong Arm of Hotspur. 279 The Gold Dragoon, or, California Bloodhound, A new issue every Wednesday. Beadle’s Dime Library is for sale by all Newsdealers, ten cents per copy, or sent by mail en receipt of twelve cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Pus.isHErs, 98 William Street, New York,
Page 15
BY OLL COOMES, 5 Varabond Joe, the Young Wandering Jew. 18 The Dumb Spy. 27 Antelope Abe, the Boy Guide. 81 Keen-Knife, the Prince of the Prairies. 41 Lasso Jack, the Young Mustanger. 4 i 58 The Border King; or, The Secret Foe. 71 Delaware Dick, the Young Ranger Spy. ] 74 Hawk-eye Marry the Young Trapper Ranger. ng 88 Kollo, the Boy Kanger. 184 Sure Shot Seth, the Boy Rifleman. 148 Scar-Face Saul, the Silent Hunter , 146 Silver Star, the Boy Knight. - 158 Eagle Kit, the Boy Demon. 168 Little Texaa, the Young Mustanger. : 178 Old Solitary, the Hermit Trapper. ¥v 182 Little Hurricane, the Boy Captain. ie 202 Prospect Pete; or, fhe Young Outlaw Hunters, 208 The Boy Hercules: or, The Prairie Tramps. 7 218 Tiger Tom, the Texas Terror. 224 Dashing Dicks or, Trapper Tom’s Castle. 228 Little Wildfire, the Young Prairie Nomad. 288 The Parson Detective; or, The Little Ranger, 248 The Disguised Guide ; or, Wild Raven, the Ranger. 260 Dare-Devil Dan, the Young Prairie Ranger. 272 Minkskin Mike, tlhe Boy Sharpshooter. ay 290 Little Foxfire, the Boy Spy. ~ 800 The Sky Demon; or, Rainbolt, the Ranger. ; 884 Whip-King Joe, the Boy Ranchero. ‘4 409 sreremlest Dick, the Boy Ranger. 417 Webtfoot Mose, the Tramp Detective. + 422 paby Sam, the Boy Giant of the Yellowstone. y 444 Little Buckakin, tne Young Prairie Centaur, 457 Wingedtoot Fred; or, Old Polar Saul. 463 Tamarac Tom, the Big Trapper Boy. 478 Old Tom Rattler, the Red iver Epidemic, 482 Stonewall Bob, the Boy Trojan. \ 562 Blundering Basil, the Hermit Boy Trapper, 652 Don Barr, the Plains Freelance, : 661 Old Kit Bandy’s Deliverance. ( 670 Norway Nels, the Big Boy Mountaineer. 680 Dauntless Dan, the Freelance, or, Old Kit Bandy in Arcadia, BY BUCKSKIN SAM (Major Sam. 8, Hall.) \ a 284 Old Rocky # ** Boyees; or, Benito, the Horse-Breaker ” 246 Giant George; or, The Ang’! of the Range, iy ng 275 Arizona Jack ; or, Giant George’s Pard. = 297 The Tarantula of Taon; or, Giant George’s Revenge, 807 The Strange Pard; or, Little Ben’s Death Hunt. y } 818 Ker-wheop, Ker-whoo; or, The Tarantula of Taos, » i 827 Oreeping Bat, the Caddo} or, The Red and White Parés, 282 Frio eeea 3 or, The Tonkaway’s Trust. i $44 The Fighting Trio; or, Rattlesnake, the Tonkaway. : i? 849 WIld Wolf; or, Big-Foot Wallace to the Front, ; 538 Wrestling Rex, the Pride of the Sixth Ward, wae 541 Jeff Flicker, the Stable Boy Detective, Ri 5 651 Nick Nettle, the Boy Shadow. ’ 559 Marlem Jack, the Office Boy Detective. ' 569 Brooklyn Ben, the On-His-Own-Hook Detective, &77 Pavement Pete the Secret Sifter. 588 Jack-o’-Lantern, the Under-Sea Prospector. €OR Wide-Awake Bert, the Street-Steerer. | G14 Whistling Jacob, the Detective’s Aid. 623 Buck Bumblebee, the Harlem Hummer. bs +4 rs maxing Baw _ Ex press-Train Ferret. alt ou +? Gamin Bob, the Sowery Badger; or, Scooping & ry 658 Sky-Rocket Rob, the Life-Saver, ae so 688 Saltpeter Sol, the New York Navigator, 694 Spicy Jim, the Only One of His Kind. TO6 Tom Thistle, the Road-House Detective, T17% Mosquito Jack, the Hustler Gamin, 26 Dennis Duff, the Brown Sport’s Kid. a BY J. W. OSBON, 2 The Rival Glants of Nowhar’. 498 Cactus Burr, the Man from Hard Luck, P mek oy ee. the Sierra Shadow. owder Phil, the Boy Miner. Dorrit, the Veteran Detective. 620 Little Lightning’ , The Myat 688 Pincky Baul, te tee Mencicte eT otto Island. 2 Wotsapur Bob, the Street-Boy Detective, ato The L f era, the Butcher Boy Detective, im; or, Five Points Phil’s Menagerte. BEADLE'’S« H ALF- JDIME«[ IBRARY. Published Every Tuesday. Each Issue Complete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. Jo Double Numbers. BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, 11 The Two Detectives; or, The Fortunes ofa Bowery Girl. 76 Abe Colt, the Crow-Killer. 7% Sol Ginger, the Giant Trapper. 288 Joe Buck of Angela and His Boy Pard. 447 New York Nat. A Tale of Tricks and Traps in Gotham, 458 New England Nicks; or, The Fortunes of a Foundling, 464 Nimble Nick, the Circus Prince. 498 Taos Ted, toe Arizona Sport. 510 Cool Colorado, the Hal!-Breed Detective. 518 Cool Colorado in New York, BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR, 2 Vellowstone Jacky or, The Trappers 48 Black John, the Road-Agent, or, The Outlnw’s Retreat 65 Hurrteane Bill; or, Mustang Sam and His Parad, 119 M umene Sam 3 or, The King of the Plains. 186 Night-Lawk Kits or, The Daughter of the Ranch, 144 Dainty Lance the Boy Sport, 151 Panther Paul; or, Dainty Lance to the Rescue. 160 The Black Giant; or, Dainty Lance in Jeopardy. 168 Deadly Dash}; or, Fighting Fire with Fire. 184 The Boy Trailers; or, Dainty Lance on the War-Path 208 The Boy Pardsy; or, Dainty Lance Unmaska, 211 Crooked Cale, the Caliban of Celestial City. 810 The Barranca Wolf’; or, The Beautifal Decoy. 819 The Black Rider; or, The Horse-Thieves’ League, 885 Old Double Fist; or, The Strange Guide 855 The King of the Woods: or. Daniel Boone’s Laat Trall, 449 Kit Fox, the Border Boy Detective 625 Chincapin Dan, the Boy Trafler, 677 Chincapin Dan’s Second Trail. 688 Chincapin Dan’s Home Stretch. 698 Old Crazyyrle Man Without 1 Head, TOS Light-Heart Lute’s Legney. 718 Light-HWeart Lute’« Last Trail. 728 Silverblade, the Shoshone. BY W. J. HAMILTON, 68 The Red Brotherhood ; or, The Twelve Avengers. 66 Single Wandy or, A Life fora Life. 72 Mad Tom Weatern, the Texan Ranger. 887 Ben Bird, the Cave King; or, Big Peto’s Scoop. BY JACK FARRAGUT. 815 Ned, the Cabin Boy, 820 The Sea Sorceress; or, The Boy Skipper, BY LIEUT. H. D. PERRY, U. 8. N. 176 The Boy Runaway; or, The Buccaneer of the Bay. 180 The Sen Trailer? or, A Vow Well Kept. 192 Captain Kit; or, The Mystery of Montauk Point. BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. i Blue Dick; or, The Yellow Chiefs Vengeance. BY GEORGE WALDO BROWNE, 86 Dandy Rock the Man from Texas. 90 The Dread Rider; or, The Texan Duelist. 99 The Tiger of Taos; or, Dandy Rock’s Angel. 115 The Mad Miner; or, Dandy Rock’s Doom, 181 The Golden Mand; or, Dandy Rock to the Rescue, 164 Dandy Rock’s Pledge}; or, Hunted to Death, 178 Dandy Rock’s Rival; or, The Haunted Maid of Taos, BY GEORGE ©, JENKS. 455 Git Thar Owney the Unknown, 492 Git Thar Owney’s Pledge, 518 The Demon Doctor. 5681 Double-Curve Dan, the Pitcher Detective. 5S Flute, the Singer Detective, 608 The Pitcher Detective’s Foil; or, Dan’s Double Play, 616 The Ocean Detective: or, The Last Cruise ofthe Black Bear, 681 The Pitcher Detective’s Toughest Tussel. BY J. C. COWDRIOKR, 860 Allver-Mask, the Man of Mystery. B69 Shasta, the Gold King; or, For Seven Years Dead. 420 The Detective’s Apprentice; or, A Boy Without » Name, 424 Cibutina Jonny or, Red-Hot Times at Ante Bar. 489 Sandy Sam, the Street Scout, 467 Diaco Dan, the Daisy Dude. 490 Broadway BIlly, the Bootblack Bravo. 506 jredligks ete the Prince of the Road, 514 Broadway Billy’s Boodle. 524 The Engineer Detective. 586 Broadway Billy’s ‘DIimkilty.” 548 Mart, the Night Express Detective. 557 Broadway Billy’s Peath Racket. 4th piecline sue the once Engineer, “he Chimney Spy; or, Broadway Billy’s Surprise-Party. BOE Wilteey Giese day oy thc ny Dne' lng » 4 am roadway; or, The Boy Detective’s Big Inning. 615 Fighting Marry the Chief of Chained Cyclones Fe 628 Broadway Billy’« Dead Act, 640 Barebsek Beth, the Centaur of the Circle, reel pret peer AY the Murcinat's Ward. 59 Moonlight Morgan, the ‘* Pizenest ” Man of Ante Bas. 669 Broadway Billy Abroad, 675 Broadway Billy’s Best; or, Beating San Francisco's Finest. 687 Broadway Billy In Clover, 696 Broadway Billy in_ Texas, 708 Broadway Billy’s Brand. 711 Brondway Billy at Santa Fe, 720 Broadway Billy’s Full Hand, BY FREDERICK DEWEY 818 Cimarron Jack, the King-Pin of Rifle-Shote. 478 Tangemund, the Desert Detective, 542 The Oc~yon Pards. BY ARTHUR ©. GRISSOM. 440 Little Foxfoot, the Gold Bowie Kid. 558 The Sure-Shot Parda, 621 Truthful James, the “ Pecooliar” Man, BY MAJOR FE. L, 87. VRAIN, 292 Sancho Pedro, the Boy Bandit. 801 Leadville Nick the Boy Sport. 812 Redtop Rube, the Vigilante Prince. 888 Brimstone Bob, and His Lightning Horse Quartette, 852 Tombstone Tom, the Arizona Boy of “ Sand,” 859 Durango Dave, the Young Chamrion Wrestler. 871 Kingbolt Ohria, the Young Hard-Shell Detective. 880 Avalanche Alf, the Foothills Guide. 890 Jaguar Joe, of tho Mountuin Mail-Line, BY EDWARD 8, ELLIS, 6 BAUll Btddon, Trapper. 8 Seth Jones; or, The Captives of the Frontier, 10 Nat Todd; or, The Fate of the Sioux Captive. ®: 'rne Frontier Angel. 98 The Boy Minera; or, The Enchanted Island. 182 The NWunted Hunter; or, The Strange Horseman, 4 The Malt-Blood ; or, The Panther of the Plains, 271 The Nuge Hunter; or, The Steam Prairie Man, B’ MAJOR LEWIS W. CARSON, 278 The T).ree Trappers; or, The Mountain M 285 Indian Joe; or, us ne White Spirit of the Huis, BY CAPT. MARK WILTON, 256 Young Kentucky; or, The Red Lasso, 270 Blizzard Benj or, The Riot at Keno Camp 286 Josh, the Boy Tendertoot, - BY BRACEBRIDGE NEMYNG. sb Ia im hea The Captain o he Club: or. The Riv. 5 101 Jack Narkaway in New York’ aio BY MAJOR NENRY B. STODDARD, Ex-Scout. 806 Neck-Tle Ned} or, The Dug-Out Pards, 846 Rapier Raphael; or, The Swordsmen of Zacatecas. 891 Kid-Glove Kit, the Dandy of the Rockies. B98 Kid-Glove Kit and Pard; or, The Gold King. 406 The Mad Man-Hunter?: or, The Golden Gulch Mystery, 505 Powell’s Pard; or, The One-Armed Giant. s BY CAPTAIN FRED. WHITTAKER, 15 The Sea-Cat; or, The Witch of Darien. 29 The Dumb Page; or, The Doge’s Daughter. * 48 Dick Darling, the Pony Express Rider. 150 Lance and Lasso; or, The Children of the Chaco. 154 The Sword Hunters; or, The Land of the Elephant Riders, 159 The Lost Captain; or, Skipper Jabez Coffin’s Cruise, 20 © Boy Bedoutna; or, The Brothers of the Plumed Lance, ean Weis ang, the Robber of the Rhine. 7? The Land Pirates; or, The League of Devil's Island, 87 The Helpless Hand ; or, Backwoods Retribution, 289 The Gold-seeker Guide? or, The Lost Mountain, BY WILLIAM R. EYSTER, 190 Dandy Darke} or, The Tigers of High Pine. 210 Faro Frank; or, Dandy Darke’s Go-Down Pards BY ©. DUNNING CLARK. 185 Captain Paul; or, The Boy Spy of the Mountains. 280 The Yankee Rajah; or, The Fate of the Black Shoreof, BY OAPT. ALFRED B. TAYLOR U. 8S. A. 191 Buffalo Billy, the Boy Bullwhacker. 194 Buffalo Bill's Bet; or. The Gambler Guide, BY LIEUT, A. K. SIMS. 546 Captain Cactus, the Chaparral Cock. 5668 The Dandy ot Dodge. 576 The Silver Sport. 588 Saffron Sol, the Man With a Shadow 589 Tom-Cat and Pard; or, The Dead Set at Silver City, 601 Happy Wana, the Duteh Vidoeq. 611 Bildad Barnacle, the Detective Hercules, 622 Texas Tom-Cat’s Trind 681 Tom Cat’s Terrible Task. 688 Tom-Cat’s Triumphs or, Blyck Dan’s Great Combine, 646 Cowboy Gid, the Cattle-Range Letective. 657 Warbling William, the Mountain Mountebank, 665 Jolly Jeremliahy the Plains Detective, 676 Signal Sam, the Lookout Scout. 689 Billy. the Gypsy Spy. 699 Kimple Stim, the Rroncho Buster, 712 The Measmerist Sport; or, The Mystified Detective, MISCELLANEOUS AUTHORS, 4 The Wild-Worse Munters, By Capt. Mayne Rela and Frederick Whittaker. ® Adventures of Baron Munchausen, 12 Gulliver’s Travels, By Dean Swift, 14 Aladdin; or, The Wonderful Lamp. 16 Robinson Orusoc, (27 Illustrations.) 18 Sindbad the Sailor. His Seven Voyagen, 22 The Sea Serpent; or, The Boy Robinson Crusoe. By Jnan ewis, 88 The Oeean eens or, The Red Pirates of the ee. . . “0. 86 The Boy Clown or, The Arena Queen. By F 8, Finn. BS Ned Wylde, the Boy Scout. By Texas Jack. b1 The Boy Rift'es; or, The Underground Camp. By A. C, Irons, OF By Lett bat, Hacccnt, ” eevee aera 98 Kobin ITood, the Outlawed Ear); or, The Merry Men of Green- wood. By Prof. Gilderaleeve, 105 Old Rube, the Hunter; or, The Crow Cavtive. By Captain * i Me Holmes. (Death, 8 11 e Mad Hunter; or, }beCave of Death. By Burton Saxe, 124 Tippy, the Texas or, The Young Champion. By George epaon, 128 te Young Privateers or, The Pirate’s Stronghold, By arry Cav a 148 Sharp Siam . or, The Adventures of a Friendless Boy, By J, exander Patten. 227 Dusky Darrell, T al The Greon Ranger of the Yel- owato e 4 oi . 261 evens Fearnaught the New ¥ rk Boy. By G. L. Alken. 266 Killb’ar, She guides or, Davy Crockett’s Crooked Trail. enaign C.D. . . pati Hed ct aw, the One-Eyed Trapper: of, Tho Maid of the Cliff Ain ° 817 Peacoek Pete. the Lively Lad from Leadville, By Lieu- tenant Alired Thorne. 828 The sky, Detectives or, A Boy’s Fight for Life and Honor. y Maior ne. 850 Rea Kalph, the River Rover; or, The Brother's Re- venge. By Ned Buntline. 865 Baltimore Ren the Bootblack Detective. By A. P. Morris, B74 Gold-Duat Toms or, Ben’s Douhla Match, G H, Morse, 876 Cailfornin Joe’s First Trail, By Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monastery, 418 Billy Bombshell, the Cliff Climber. By F. 8. Winthrop, 475 The Black Bee: By John 8 Warner. 484 Comapene ote and His Three Invinelblea. By $2 The Cowboy Duke, Brooke Forrest, bbe Artel_ the Athlete. By Riedy is 3 585 Will Waters, the Boy Ferret. By H. Enton. 682 The Vead Weteativesa Double. By Gerald Carlton, @21 Maverick Mose, the Arizona Detective; or, The Wizard ot Urkos Pass. By Will Lisenbee. A New tissue Every Tuesday. The. Half-Dime Lib: fe for sale by ail newsdealers eonts per copy, or sent by mail ou receipt of slx conta each, De BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Stzect, New York. 09 wi BY COL, A. F. HOLT. slack Buckakin: or, The Masked Men of Death 419 Kenneth, the Knife-King. Omri 485 Little Lightfoot, the Pilot of the Woods, 828 The Dandy gport; or, The King Pin Conspirator, 678 Ralph Renwood, the Lightning Express Detective. 691 Headlight Harry's Haul. 727 Headlight MWarry’s Siren, :
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Published Every Tuesday. Hach Issue Co ——_____ BY EDWARD L. WHEELER, Deadwood Dick Novela 1 Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road. 20 Deadwood Dick’s Detlanee; or, Double Daggers. 28 Deadwood Dick in Disguise; or, Butfal, ben 85 Deadwood Dick in Hi« Cuatle. 42 Deadwood Dick's Bonanza; o., The santom Miner, 49 Deadwood Dick In Danger; or, Omana Ol. ~ Deadwood Dick’s Engles; or, The Pards of Flood Bar. 78 Deadwood Dick on Deck; or, Calamity ¢ ne, the Heroine, 7 Deadwood Dick’s Last Aets or, Corduroy Ciarlie, 100 Deadwood Dick in Leadville, 104 Deadwood Dick's Device; or, The Doable Cross Sign, 109 Deadwood Dick as Detective. 129 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Gorgon’s Gulch Ghost. 188 Deadwood Dick’s Home Kase; or, Blonde Bill. 149 Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike; or, A Game of Gold, 166 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood: or, The Picked Party, 195 Deadwood Dick’s Dreamy; or, The Riveds of the Road. 201 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hill’s Jezebel. 205 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Adventure, 217 Deadwood Dick’s Dead Deal. 221 Deadwood Dick’s Death-Plant. 282 Gold-Dust Diek. A Romance of Roughe and Toughs, 268 Deadwood Dick’s Divide; or, The Spirit of Swamp Lake. 265 Deadwood Dick’s Death Trail. $09 Deadwood Dick’s Deal; or, The Gold Brick of Oregon, B21 Deadwood Dick’sa Dozen; or, The Fakir of Phantom Flata 847 Deadwood Dick’s Ducats; or, Days in the Diggings. B51 Deadwood Dick Sentenced; or, ihe Terrible Vendetta, 862 Deadwood Dick’s Claim. 405 Deadwood Dick in Dead City, 410 Deadwood Dick’s Diamonds, 421 Deadwood Dick in New York; or, A “Cute Care,” 480 Deadwood Dick's Dust; or, The Chained Hand, 448 Deadwood Dick, Jr. 448% Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deflance. 458 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Full Hand. 459 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Big Round-Up. A465 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Racket at Claim 10, ATL Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Corral; or, Bozeman Bill. 476 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’*, Dog Detective, 481 Deadwood Dick. Jr., In Deadwood, AML Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Compact, 496 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Inheritance, 600 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Diggings, 608 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Deliverance, 615 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'4, Protegee. 522 Deadwood Dick. Jr.’s, Three. 5629 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Danger Ducka. 544 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Death Hunt. 539 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Texas. 544 Deadwood Dick, Jr., the Wild West Vidocg 549 Deadwood Dick, Jr., on tfis Mettle. 654 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Gotham, 561 Deadwood Dick, Jdr., in Boston. 567 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Philadelphia, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In Chicago, B78 Deadwood Dick. Jr., Afloat. HS4 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Denver, 690 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Decree. 595 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Beelzebub’s Basin. 600 Deadwood Dick, dr., at Coney Island, 606 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Leadville Lay. 612 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Detroit. 618 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Cincinuattl, 624 Dendwood Dick, Jr., in Nevada, 680 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In No Man’s Land, 686 Deadwood Dick, Jr., After the Queer. 642 Deadwood Dick, Jr., in Buffalo, 648 Dendwood Dick, Jr.’s, Chase Across the Continent 654 Dendwood Dick, Jr., Among the Smugglers. 660 Deadwood Dick, Jdr.’s, Lnsurance Case, 666 Deadwood Dick, Jr., Back in the Mines, 672 Deadwood Dick, Jr., tu Durango; or, ‘ Gathered In.” 678 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Discovery; or, Found a Fortune. 684 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s. Dazzle, 690 Deadwood Diek, Jr.’s. Dollars, 695 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Danger Divide, 700 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Drop. 704 Deadwood Dick, Jr., at Jack-Pot. 7210 Deadwood Dick, Jr., In San Francisco, 716 Deadwood Dick, Jr’a, Still Hunt, 722 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Dominoes, 728 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Disguise, BY CHARLES MORRIS, 118 Will Somers, the Boy Detective, 122 Phil Hardy, the Bons Boy. 126 Picayune Pete}; or, Nicodemus, the Dog Detective. 180 Detective Dick; or, The Hero in Rags. 142 Handsome Harry, the Bootblack Detective, 147 WIll Wildfire, the Thoroughbred. 152 Black Ress, Will Wildfire’s Racer. 157 Mike Merry, the Harbor Police Boy, 162 Will Wildfire in the Woods. 6 Baggage, the Railroad Boy. iD Biny Bs Tenant’ or, Will Wildfire Wine and Loses, A Bob Rockett; or, Mysteries of New York, 179 Bob ptpekees the Bank Runner, : 188 The Hidden Hand; or, Wil! Wildfire’s Revenge, 187 Fred Halyard, the Life Boat Boy; or, The Smugglers, 189 Bob Rockett; or, Driven to the Wall. 196 Shadowed; or, Bob Kockett’s Fight for Life, 206 Dark Paul, the Tiger King, 212 Dashing Dave, the Dandy Detective. 220 Tom Tanner; or, The Black Sheep of the Flock, 225 Sam Charcoal the Premium Darky, 2%5 Shadow Sam, the Messenger Boy. 242 The Two * Bloods”; or, Shenandoah Bill and His Gang, 252 Dick Dashaway ¢ or, A Dakota Boy in Chieago. 262 The Young Sharps: or, Rollicking Mike’s Hot Trall 274 Jolly Jim, the Detective Apprentice. 289 Jolly Jim’ Jobs or, The Young Detective, 208 The Water-lMound; or, The Young Thorougnored. £05 Dashaway, of Dakota; or, A Western Lad in Quaker City. 824 Ralph Ready, the Hotel Boy Detective. 841 Tony Thorne, the Vagabond Detective. 858 The Reporter-Detective ; or, Fred Flyer’s Blizzard, 867 Wide-Awake Joe: or, A Boy of the Times. 879 Larry, the Levelers or, The Bloods of the Boulevard, 408 Firetly Jack, the River-Rat Detective. 428 The Lost Finger; or, The Entrapped Cashier. 428 Fred Flyer, the Reporter Detective, A4$2 Invinelble Logan, the Pinkerton Perret. 456 Billy Brick, the Jolly Vagabond. AGG Wide-Awake Jerry, Detective; or, Entombed Alive, 479 Detective Dodge; or, The Mystery of Frank Hearty, 48% Wild Dick Racket. 501 Roots, the Boy Fireman: or, Too Sharp for the Sharper, b&6 The Secret Service Boy Detective, HO Jimmy the Kids or, A Lamb Among Wolves. 627 Yom Rruce of Arkansas; or, The Wolfin the Fold. 655 Pincky Paul, the Boy Speculator. 667 Bob and Sam, the Daisy Detectives. 2709 Tke Curbstone Detecttve; ‘or, Harry Hale’s Big Beat. BEADLP’S«H ALF-PIME« TL IBRARY. Other Novels by E. L. Wheeler, 26 Cloven Hoof, the Buffalo Demon. 82 Reb Woolf; or, The Girl Dead-Shot, BY Deuth-Face, Detective; or, Lite in New York. 45 Old Avalanche; or, Wild Edna, the Girl ®rigand, 58 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix, 6L Buckhorn Bills or, T) 1 tide Team 6Y Gold Rifle, the Sharpab ter: or, The Boy Detective, SO Rosebud Robs or, N Ned, the Kuight. 84 Idyl, the Girl Miner er, Rosebud Rob on Hand, 88 Phetograph Phil; or, Rosebud Rob's Reapearance, 92 Canada Chet; or, Old Annconda in Sitting Bull’s Camp. 96 Watch-Eye 3 or, Arnbs und Angels of a Great City, 8 Juck Moyle the Young Speculator, Gilt-Edged Dick, the Sp rt Detective Cilunamon Chip, the Girl Sport > Bouanza Bill, Miner, Bosna Bob the King of Bootblacka, Solid Sam, the Boy Roud-Agent, Captain Ferret, the New York Detective. New York Nell, the Boy-Girl Detective, Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Sierras Scamps. Wild Frank, the Buckekin Bravo, Fritz, the Bound-Boy Detective. Fritz to the Front; or, The Ventriloquist Hunter, Snvoozer, the Buy Sharp; or, The Arab Detective, Apollo BUI, the Trail Tornado, 0 Cyclone Kit, the Young G)adiator. 244 Sierra Sam, the Frontier Ferret. 248 Sierra Sam’s Secret; or, The Bloody Footprints, 255 Sierra Sawm’s Purd; or, The Angel ot Big Vista, 258 Sierra Sam’s Reven; or, The Stolen Bride. 278 Jumbo Joe, the Boy Patrol: or, The Rival Heirs, 277 Denver Doll , the Detective Queen, 281 Denver Doll's Victory, 2S5 Denver Doll's Decoy ; or. Little Bill’s Bonanza. 201 Turk the Boy Ferret. 296 Denver Doll’s Drift; or, The Road Queen, 99 A \.o. 1, the Dashing Toll-Taker. 808 ’Liza Jane, the Sirl Miner; or, the Iron-Nerved Sport. B25 Kelley, Mickey & Co.,, the Detectives of Philadelphia. B80 Little Quick-Shot3; or, The Dead Face of Daggersville, 884 Kangaroo Kit; or, The Mysterious Miuer, 889 Kangaroo Kit’« Racket. 848 Manhattan Mike, the Bowery Blood. B58 First-Class Fred, the Gent trom Gopher. 868 Yreka Jim, the Gold-Gutherer; or, The Life Lottery, 72 Yreka Jim’s Prize. 878 Nabob Ned3 or, The Secret of Slab City. B82 Cool Kit, the King of Kids; or, A Villain’s Vengeance, BS5 Yreka Jim’s Jokers or, The Rivals of Red Nose, 889 Bicycle Beng; or. The Lion of Lightning Lode, 894 Yreka Jim of Yuba Dam. 400 Wrinkles, the Night-Watch Detective. 416 Wigh Hat Harry, the Base Ball Detective, 426 Sam Slabsaides, the Beggar-Boy Detective, 484 Jim Benak and Pal, Private Detectives, 488 Santa Fe Sal, the Slasher. 456 Seulskin Sam, the Sparkler. SENS PRSLCEH Beemer cus erie’ RO RO RO UU et tt pk tt ae _ BY T. C. HARBAUGH, 28 Nick o’ the Night; or, The Boy Spy of ’76. 87 The Hidden Lodge; or The Litth Hunter. 47 Night ale Nat; or, Tne Forest Captains, 64 Dandy Jack; or, The Outlaws of the Oregon Trali, 82 Kit Harefoot the Wood-Hawk. 94 Midnight Jack 3 or, The Boy Trapper. 106 Old Froatys the Guide; or, The White Queen, 128 Kiowa Charley the White Mustanger. 189 Judge Lynch Jr.¢ or, The Boy Vigiiante. 155 Gold Trigger, the ment er, The Girl Avenger, 169 Tornado Tomy; or, Injun Jack From Red Core, 18S Ned Temple, the Border Boy. 198 Arkansaw ¢ or, The Quen of Fate’s Revenge. 207 Navajo Nick, the Boy Gold Hanter. 215 Captain Bullet; or, Little Topknot’s Crusade, 281 Plucky Phil; or, Rosa, the Re! Jezebel, 241 Bill Bravos: or, Tie Roughs of the Rockies, 255 Captain Apoli«, tne King-Pin of Bowle, 267 The Buckskin Detective. 279 Old Winch; or, The Buckskin Deaneradoes. 204 Dynamite Dan}3 or, The Bowle Blade of Gochetopa, 802 The Mountain Detective; or, The Trigger Bar Bully. 816 Old Eclipse, Trump Card of Arizona. 826 The Ten Parday or, The Terror of Take-Notice, 886 Bie Benson; or, The Queen of the La 80. 845 Pitileas Matt; or, Red Thunderholt’s Secret, B56 Oool Sam und Par’; or The Terrible Six. 866 Velvet Foot, the Indian Detective. 886 Captain Cutlass; or, | he B: ceaneer’s Girl Foe. 896 Rough Rob; or, The | wm Champions of Blue Blazes, 411 The Silken Lnaso: or, The Kose of Ranch Robin. 418 Fellx Fox, the Boy Spotter. 425 Texas Trump, the Border Rattler, 486 Phil Flash, the New York Fox. 445 The City Vampires; or, Ked Rolfe’s Pigeon, 461 One Agatinat Fifty; or, The Last Man of Kenc Bar, 470 The Boy Fhadow; or, Felix Fox’s Hunt. AT7 The Exceisior Sport; or, The Washington Spotter. 499 Single Sight, the One-Kyed Sport, 502 Branded Ben, the Night Ferret, B12 Dodger Dick, the Wharf-Spy Detective, 621 Dodger Dick’s Rest Dodge. B28 Fox and Falcon, the bowery Shadows, BSS Dodger Dick, the Dock Ferret. 548 Dodger Dick’ Double: or, The Rival Boy Detectives, 558 Dodeer Dick’s Desperate Case. 568 Dodger Dick, the Boy Vidocq, 578 The Two Shadows, 582 Dodger Dick’s Drop. B94 Little Lon, the Street-Singer Detective. 610 Old Skinner, the Gold Shark; or, Tony Shorp on Guard, 626 The Champion Pards. 687 Dick Donn, the Dock Boy Detective. 645 Kit, the Pavement Sharp. 658 Rilly Bantam, the Boy Beagle. 671 Jersey Jed, the Bov Hustler; or, Shadowing the Shadower. 685 Happy Hugh, the Bov Musician Detective. TO1 Photograph Fred, the Camera Sharp. 715 Wide Awake Len, the Quaker City Ferret. BY WM. G. PATTEN. 489 The Diamond Sport: or, The Double Vace of Bed Rock. 519 Captain sfystery } or, Five in One. $81 Datay tare the Sport from Denver. 587 Old Bombshell, the Ranger Detective. 604 Tron Fern, the Man of Fire. 619 The Boy Tramp Detective: or, The Double Grip Witness 6209 Violet Vane, the Velvet Spor. 641 Dismal Dave’« Dandy Pard. 651 Bound Boy Frank, the Young Amateur Detective 66% Violet Vane’s Victory. 682 Wild Vulcan, the Lone-Range Rider, 69R Violet and Daisy, the Posy Pards, 705 Violet Vane’s Vow; or, The Cratty Detective’s Craft, 714 Old Misery, the Man from Missouri. 724 Violet Vane’s Vengeance. mplete and Sold at the Uniform Price of Five Cents. No Double Numbers. (ee eS Ss BY COLONEL PRENTISS INGRANAM,. ? The Flying Yankee; or, The Ocean Outcast. 17 Ralph Roy, the boy Bucean. er; or. The Fugitive Yacht, 24 Diamond Dirk; or, The Mystery of the Yellowstone, 62 The Shadow Ship; or. The Rival Lieutenants. 75 The Boy Duelist; or, The Cruise of the Sea-Wolf, 102 Dick Dead-Eye, the Boy Sinuggier. 11L The Sea-Devil; or, The Midshipman’s Legacy. 116 The Hussar Captain ¢ or, The Hermit of Hell Gate, He Little Grit; cr, Bessie, the Stock-Tender’s Daughter. Gold Plume; or, Butfilo Bill, the Pony Express Rider. 216 Bison BILL, the Prince vi the Reins; or, Buthalo Bill’s Pluck, 222 Grit, the Bravo Sports; or, The Woman Trailer, 229 Crimson Kate; or, The Cowboy's Triumph, 287 Lone Star, the Cowboy Captain. 245 Merle, the Middy 3 or, The Freelance Heir, 250 ‘The Midehipman Mutineer?: or, Brandt, the Buccaneer, 264 The Floating F eather: or, Merle Monte’s Treasure, 26” The Gold Ships or, Merle, the Condemned. 276 Merle Monte’s Crutse; or, * The Gold Ship ” Chase, 280 Merle Monte’s Fate ; or, Pearl, the Pirate’s Bride, 284 The Sea Muraudery; or, Merie Monte’s Pledge. 2ST Villy Blue-Fyev, the Boy Rover of the Rio Grande. 804 The Dead Siot Dandy ¢ or, Benito, the Boy Bugler. BOS Keno Kits or, Dead Shot Dandy’s Double 814 The Mysterious Marauder; or, The Boy Bugler’s Trai). 877 Bonodel, the Boy Rovers; or, The Flagiess Schooner, BS8 The Indlun Pilot; or, The Search for Pirate Island, 88ST Warpath WILL, the Boy Phantom. 898 Seawall, the Koy Lieutenant. 402 Iacdor, the Young Conasptrator; or, The Fatal League, 407 The Boy Insurgent; or, The Cuban Vendetta, 412 The Wild Yachtamany or, The War-Clouu’s Cruise. 429 Duncan Dare, the Boy Refugee. 488 A Cabin Boy's Luck; or, The Corsair. 487 The Rea Raider. 441 The Ocean Firefly ; or, A Middy’s Vengeance. 446 Waphazard Harry ; or, Tne Scapegrace of the Sea, 450 Wizard Will: or, The Boy Ferret of New York, 451 Wizard Will's Street Scouts 462 The Born Guide; or, The Salior Boy Wanderer, 468 Neptune Ned, the Boy Coaster, 474 Flora; or, Wizard Will’s Vagabond Pard. 488 Ferrets Affoats or, Wizard Will’s Last Case. AST Nevada Ned, the Revolver Kauger 495 Arizona Joe the Boy Pard of Texas Jack, 497 Buck Taylor, King of the Cowboys. 5608 The Royal Middy: or, The Shark and the Sea Cat. 507 The Hunted Midshipman, 511 The Outlawed Middy. 5620 Buckskin BILL, the C 525 Brothers in Buckskin, 530 The Buckskin Bowers, 5835 The Bue skin Rovers. 540 Captain Ku-Klux, the Marauder of the Rio, 645 Licutenant Leo, the Son of Lafitte. 550 Latitte’s Legacy: or. The Avenying Son. 555 The Creole Corsair. 560 Pawnee Bill, the Prairie Shadower. 565 Kent Kingdon, the Card King. 570 Camille, the Card Queen. 575 The Surgeon-Scout Detective. 580 The Cutecast Cadet; or, The False Detective. 556 The Buckskin Avenrer. 591 VDelmonte, the Young Sea Rover. 57 The Young Texan Petective. 602 The Vagabond of the Mines. 607 The Rover Detective; or, Keno Kit’s Champions. 617 Ralph, the Dead-Shot Scouts or, The Kio Raiders, 644 The Hercules Highwaymun.,. 650 Butterfly Billy, the Pony Kider Detective; or, Buffalo Bill’s Boy Para, 656 Butterfly Billy’s Man Hunt. 662 Butterfly BiUlly’s Bonanza. 668 The Buceancer Midshipman. 674 The Wizard Sailor; or, Red Ralph, the Rover. 679 The Sen Shadower; or, The Freebvoter’s Legacy. 686 Orlando, the Ocean Free Flay; or, The Tarnished Name, 692 The Rival Sharps; or, Redfern, the Secret Service Scout. 697 The Scarlet Sombrero: or, The Sharp from Texas, 702 Blue Jacket Bill; or, The Red Hat Ranvers’ Red Hot Racket? TOT The Red Sombrero Rangers; or, Redfern’s Last Trail, 718 Carl, the Mad Cowboy; or, The Lariat Queen. 719 Pawnee RVs Pledge: or, The Cowboy Kidnapper, %25 Daring Dick, Pawnee Bill’s Pard; or, The Red Cavalry Raid BY BUFFALO BILL (Ilfon. Wm, F. Cody), 8 Kansaa Kings; or, The Red Right Hand. 19 The Phantom Spy: or, The Pilot of the Prairie. 55 Deadly-Eye, the Unknown Scout, 68 Border Robin Hood; or, The Prairie Rover. 158 Fancy Frank of Colorado; or, The Trapper’s Trust. LATEST AND NEW ISSUES. 729 Silverblade, the Half-Blood; or, The Border Beagle at Bay. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. 780 Violet Vane’s Verdict; or, The Crooked Game at Coffiz City. By Wm. G. Patten. %81 Ruth Redmond, the Girl Shadower; or, The Rivals in Buckskin. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham, 782 Daisy Dell, the Pavement Detective; or, Trapping B g Game, By T. C. Harbaugh, 288 Toltec Tom, the Mad Prospector; or, Unearthing the Cavern, League, Ky Lieut, A, K. Sims. 784 Deadwood Dick, Jr.’«, Double Deal; or, The All- Around Surprise. By Edward L. Wheeler, 785 Broadway Billy’a Business; or, Waking Up Wind Can- yon Camp. By !. C, Cowdrick. 786 Larry, the Thoroughbred; or, Beaten on Every Side. By George C. Jenks. 287 Buck Taylor, the Comanche’s Captive; or, Buckskin Sam to the Rescue. By Col. Prentiss Ingraham. 788 Broadway Billy’s Curious Cases or, The Mysterious Disappearance at Manitou Springs. By J.C. Cowdrick. %89 Silverblade, the Hostile, or, The Border Beagle’s Ghost Trail. By Jos. E. Badger, Jr. Ready September 22. 740 Deadwood Dick, Jr.'s, Deathwatehs or, The Moving Mystery «t Mexican Mustang. By Edward L, Wheeler. Ready September 29. A New Issue Every Tuenday. The Half- Dime Library 's for *1le by al! newsdealers, Sve. cents per copy, or sent by mail on receipt of six cents each. BEADLE AND ADAMS, Publishers, 98 William Street, New York.