TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION!

 

 

 

 

$2.50 a year. Entered at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., as Second Class Mall Matter. Copyrighted in 1832 by BEADLE AND ADAMS. January 11, 1882.

 

 

Nunfiwr- No. 98 WILLIAM STREET, NEW YORK. F "0 Cent!-

TEXAS JACK, THE MUSTANG KING.

Thrilling Adventures in the Life of J. B. Omohundro, “ Texas Jack,” the Noted Scout, Indian Fighter, Guide, Ranchero,
Mustang Breaker and Hunter or the “ Lone Star State.”

BY COLONEL PRBNTISS INGRAHAM,
AUTHOR (w “ Anvwx’rvm‘s or» nmeo BILL," “ADVENTURES OF WILD BILL,” 1!}ch mo.

Vol I smule PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY BEADLE AND ADAMS, price, NO 5

 

 

 

 

 

“HOOPLA! BRAVO FOR an: mnnLEss mmm‘!”

 

é

Tense Jack, the Mus

0

 King.

 

I f r Texas Jack,
THE MUSTANG KING.

Thrilling Adventures in the Life of J. B. Ome-
hundro, “ Texas Jack,” the Noted Scout,
Indian Fighter, Guide, Rsnohero,
Mustang Breaker and Hunter

. tithe “ Lone Star State."

 

BY COL. PRENTIss INGRAHAM,

AUTHOR or “ADVENTURES or BUFFALO
BILL,” “ ADVENTURES or WILD
BILL,” ETC., ETC.

CHAPTER I.
A BOY’S REVENGE.

TEE name of Texas Jack will go down
to histo along with those of Daniel
Boone, 't Carson, Buffalo Bill, Wild
Bill and other noted frontiersmen who
have won fame as Indian-fighters, 'des
and hunters, and been b‘ulwar' of
strength, prowess and daring between
 and sav hordes of red-skins.

Bornonafarmin ir ’ ',J. B. Omo-
~hundro or rather, as shall call him,
Texas J’ack, won fame in his fourteenth
{Ocar- by a service he rendered his neigh—

rhood, and which will open the scenes
of his Wild life of thrilling mcident to my

ere.

From the time that he could sit on a
pony and handle a small rifle, Jack be-
came lmown as a fearless rider and crack
shot, and whenever he attended the shoot-
ing-matches in the vicinity of his father’s
farm, he was often the winner of the

prime, tho h a‘boy in ears, and by his
maihmniisghip utlon is parents’ table
man a p10
and ear e

 

. of beef, 8. shee , turke
had earned with quic

ii,

,  ’ to 'vea
 little'tellow rammivgfi of-

  ' 'tion

w' ‘Mloundlmnd ‘ he
fimamrorsignofpu’mmd parents

MW

tletellow, too, although he had pretend-

unscarred.
_ From thatdaythere was had blood be-
tween theyteacher and Jack, but no Word
of thelatter gave cause for thinking he
whim gm} p11. in ’
ong e " ‘ ' atten ' the
schoolwasaw'enof' ,gthe
daughter of a. poor butwell educated
farmer, and his onl child. z
, Her name was' aisy Victor and she
was as gentle and lo 'able as the flower

oflmdhimaelfiorthe ' g m

 

for‘ which she was named, and the belle
of the county since she was fourteen years

of age.

Upon her the tutor, Ross Enders, seemed
to have centered his love, for he was partial
toher at all times in her studies, aided her
more than any other of the scholars, and
was only too glad when recess came,
when he would give her a. lesson in draw-
ing, an art that was wholly gratuitous, as
it was not included in the school exer-

ones.

That Daisy was deeply interested in the
handsome young teac 'er, there could be
no doubt, and the school children all de-
cided that the maiden would become Mrs.
Enders if the two didn’t have a lovers'
quarrel.

Ross Enders, however, had one strange
habit, and that was to mount his horse
on Friday afternoons, when school was
over and go, no one knew where, until
the followmg Monday.

He was wont to say that he visited an
old friend living in the mountains; but
Jack's keen eyes showed him that the
teacher often looked very blue after his
trips, and all day Mondays would nod in
his chair, and generally neglect recitar
tions, which the scholars were rather
pleased at than otherwise.

One Friday Jack did not appear as
usual at school and as usual Ross Enders
de arted after hours for his weekl tri .

ut he had not gone very far he ore e
met a young girl on horseback, who said
she wasa stran r in the coun , and
was going to see relatives living 1n the
mountains.

She frankly confessed to the teacher
that she had no near kindred, her parents
had died in the city, and with what
money she had, which was considerable,
she was going to buy a little home in
some village and become a- school-teacher.

Row Enders promised her his aid, and
the two rode on together toward the
$1:th Ifgfiltoiving Monday tlae teacher 

’ , coking an haggard, 11
Jack was still  '

As school was closing Boss Enders told

- the scholars they were all invited, with

their ts,“ to farmer Victor’s home

3 on the co“ Wednesday,to the mar

' of and Dai , the maiden
mg her school life thatSEsyto become

D ' blushedandhun Mb
thénw’gurstinto tears angkissed

and then Ross

- his Wife.

rand

Endersled

and was mountmof his own animal, when
hesawzo th game h '1 horsemen
coming w e IO 00- ouse.

Ate. glpnffihe .08 'd them” the
, ° , ‘ 1 an turning ‘76
pale as he amid-pig]: at their head, it
calledou . r _ ' ’ _
"‘Pgome, Daisy! for your life come with
me

Involuntarily she obeyed, and they

awa in rapid fli ht, to the sur-
prise of the school-c ildren, while
with loud cries the horsemen started in
pursuit. ~ ’

Both the teacher and Daisy were well
mountql, and they sped away like the
wind along the mountain read, while the
tumorsoameoninhotchfie.’

But Jack was also on dly mounted,
one wiryroan' whic had won manya
long-race, and hebe to gain on the
fugitives veryslowly, and at the same

' I

,, placed her in the saddle, .

 

lime rapidly increase' the distan' ce between
himself an his companions. 

Every now and then he would observe
Daisy glance back, and recognizing her
father amo the pursuers, attempt to
draw rein; ut Ross Enders would at
such times mercilessly la his whi upon
her horse, and the and frig tened

would again fly onward.

Jack in the meantime had drawn near
enough to see that the teacher held the
rein of Daisy’s horse, and that he seemed
to use force to make her accompany him,
and he urged his roan mare to greater
speed, for he knew if Enders reached the
mountain path a hundred yards ahead of
him, he could hurl stones down upon him
that would not only keep him, but the
entire number in chase at bay, as one man
could hold that steep pathway against
fifty, with only the loose pieces of rock as
ammunition.

That Enders always went armed with a A

revolver Jack also knew; but he had his
own trusty Colt’s, a prize he had won at
a shooting~match, and did not fear the
teacher, and so pressed‘ on.

Nearer and nearer the fugitives drew to

the mountain , and Jack saw it rise
ahead only h a mile away while he
was yet fift yards from them, and the

farmer cav code was ever a mile behind.
Soon heurged RosnRaoer, as hehad
named his horse, and saw that he was
gaining rapidly, and that Daisy’s horse
was beginning to fail.
But, with all this he saw that they

would reach the pass forty yards ahead of .

him, and he determined to risk a shot.
Three times he raised his revolver, but,
uncertain of his aim, lowered it,‘unti1
seeing at last that he must fire, or the
teacher would escape, he ulled ' ger.
The black horse ridden y Ross ders
€233 a mighty bound, and swerved so
y that his rider was com ed to
release D ' ’s rein, and at this instant
Jack again red anél thetlalack stlllimlfiled
badly, staggered an won 0 ur n
the teacher over his head m g

Ere Rom Enders, who was slightly.

hurt by the fall, could rise to his feet,
Jack dashed up and got a bullet in his
left arm. .

But  tly returned the, fire, and
Ross Enders who had been kneeling
down when he fired, sunk forward upon.
his face. ‘ _ r .

.“(1), Jack! Jack! you‘have killed

thehim

“ owhedheeverhgrmedyout
“ thss-‘Jspemcftomer‘mdbaisy;

who  refineduphserhmseasquicklyas
sh rode d ' V tothe

Eggs . wmhtmw or her

 

 

i

< ‘- wu—n-xr <-~lqsi~a~m .‘u'

Jack’s heart seemed too fullforutter— ‘

ance as he saw the maiden’s dee 'ef,
tood in silence and withng

Butjust en up darted the first of the.
fanner ursuers, and it happened to be.
Dongs other. ' , , -

H h father! Jack has 1  raid
the maiden raisin her tear— led eyes.

.“What! dead?’ the farmer. ,
D “.Y‘es, Mr. Vicgr, killed 1 rind

sis is an wi me so p ease 101‘
whaty he hairdone,” said Jack in a item-
blin voice. ' _

“ I; this is no time for accusations
over his body, but Daisy shall lmow
all,” said the farmer, and the others com-
ing 11 an examinationproved that Jack’s
bullc had glanced on the skull, 

x ’ , ’

 

. a, . . -
swim: ‘4W9-xm. . ‘-,‘-i-<— < v

 

. for Jack

ci.

- that she was the wife of

yo
il
1‘”

, 1

, .
-

Texas Jacinth'e Mustang» King. i  I 3

 

 

but not killing Ross Endem, who soon
rallied and was taken to the farm-house,
Where was his home, and under the phy-
sician’s care was not long in recovenng.

Daisy learned from her father that Ross
Enders was a wild young lawyer from a
Northern city, who had a client who had
left his fortune to his niece.

That client was the brother of farmer
Victor and they had not been on good
terms or years ;- but the approach of death
made the rich bachelor leave his'all to
Daisy, and he told Ross Enders where his
brother lived, and that, the heirem was to
come into possession of h r inheritance
(when she reached her eig teenth birth-

ay. ‘

To get control of this fortune the wild,
dissipated lawyer had sought the Vicunty
of Daisy’s home, become a teacher, and
was to have made her his wife  not
Jack, with a skill that made his name

famous in after years as a trailer, dis-

himself as a girl and met the
teacher on his weekly pilgrima .

Once in the mountains, an he had
robbed the su  maiden of her money,
his all with him, though
Enders did not get it all, and then 
filer herse, had left her,.as he believ

one -

But Jack was swift of foot, followed
after him, and reachin a. village ten
miles away found that t e teacher had
sold his horse and then gone on to the

flier Jack followed him upon a
horse he had gotten of a farmer, a friend
of his father, and having discarded his
female attire searched about the streets
for his foe, for such he now knew him to
be.
Atlasthesawhimwithapartyof
others, and by inquiry found out that he
was called a gambler in the town, and
was then going to the saloon to play

“ I’m only a boy and won’t let me
in, but I’ll yet Mr. Ende‘rs,”
he said aloud, an his words were heard
bya lady who was passing and who'worc
a heavy veil. I

“ I heard youspeak anamethat Iknow

Well; man- are on uamted
‘ with was, esiid. mg

Jackwassuip' that hehadspoken
aloud, but told the lady all he knew about
 Endeé-s, an}?J frank] said 
ha him or w 'pping ' as e
and intended to be revenged upon 

Then Jack heard her stc , and it was
dbelss guided:
whom hehad isoned an iev
but whohad {licked him to reventhis
marrying the maiden who inherited
file fortune, and which she suspected was

his intention. ,
J ack_ then posed that she should go
with him to ' unfather’s, and. when they

arrived their on Monday farmer Victor
was sent for and the whole 31mg of Bass
Enders’s Villainy came out, and e neigh-
bors held an indignafion meetinfg, and
mounting their horseS, started or the
school-house to arrest the teacher, and the
result is already known to the reader,
Ross Eudora was taken back to hisold
home tried and conwa for the attem t

rwldllhiswife,and senttcprison,w e

Daisy soon got over her love and
married her second, who was a. worthy
farmer, for her wealth dld not
er, or cause hex- te leave the old
omestead. ‘

w’

 

As for Jack. he became a ,hez-ofand‘ chic

thirsting for adventure, mounted Roan
Racer one day, and armed with rifle and
revolver, and accompanied by his faith-
ful dog, set out for Texas, hoping to make
afortuneto take care of his parents in
their old age.

 

CHAPTER II.
THE BOY TRAVELER.

WHEN Texas Jack left his home his
destination was for the far South-west,
where he hoped to-lay the foundation for
his future fortune.

His personal property consisted in 'ust
ninety dollars, a good horse, saddle, ri-
dle, halter, a rifle worn at his back with
a strap, a Colt’s revolver and hunting-
lmife in his belt, a stout suit of jeans, top
boots two woolen shirts a hat, pair of
spurs, a heavy blanket, blue—blanket over-
coat and afpair of saddle-bags to contain
his stock 0 wearing a pare.

He felt very rich indeed, and, with the
education of a boy of fifteen thought that
he knew all that could be learned from
books. V

On his way south he was wont to
stop at night at any farm-house where
he could find shelter, and now and then
was forced to camp out in the woods,
when no habitation was near after having
ridden his day’s journey. ,

He was ever read to payfor his ac—
commodations: but t ose were the days
when travelers were welcome visitors,
andhlze lrod.(lg-,lnforma weelfr before he had a
mg ’5 ' g ' or.

As he pro hZoften had to camp,
as farms were few and far between, so he
invested in a. frying- tin cup, coffee-
pot, spoon, tin plate, ' e, fork and some
provisions,a.nd rather enjoyed his lonely
encampments in the solitude of the moun-
tains in the State of North Carolina.

One night he so ht shelter in a small
10 cabin, w welt but one man,
w ose‘faceJ didnot like, and conse-
quently he kept his e e upon him.

Twice, when he
asleepthearosefromhiscotinastealthy
way, ut the boy always promptly showod
himithat he was awake, and whatever in-
tentions-the man had were thw and
when the two sat down to the humble
breakfast of mm hoecake and bacon, the
host was very sullen. r

But Jack rattled on in a lively tone,
and, when leaving, asked the man what
he owed him.

“ Two dollars,” was the blunt re 1y.

Jack had not that much in change
and yes forced to let the man see his. roll
of meney when he took it out to y him
the exor itant price, and he sawliis-eyes
glitter eagerlyuass he noticed the bills.

Mounting ' horse J ackrode on his
way, dozing in his saddle nearly all day
after his mght’s loss of sleep, and at sun-
set cameto a. huge old tavern on the river
bank, where there was a. flat-boat f
“hutffiii’éfieawmmm ma" “m

e ' kindl ,.assigned
himtoalargeroomthat hesalidwas his
best, and Jack enjoyed his supper im-
mensely. I , - ,

But-as he passed out of the sup r-room
he saw his host of the night ore talk-
ing earnestly with the tavern-keeper, and
somehow he seemed to feel. that he was
the object of their conversation.

.En' thetaroo Jackobserved
thefifiaimergmcflmtumhisback

and dodge out of a side our, and then he
felt fassuned'that the fellow meant 

‘\

~Jacksawthathisbullet haden

'eved Jack fast

Jack’s arms and saddle-

 

Going,to the miserably-furnished room,
Jack looked at revolver and put it
under his illow, and then stood his rifle,
at the head of the bed ready for use. .

Worn out, thou h he tried hardtokeep.
awake, he drop 01f to sleep, after, se-
curely bolting the door. He had slept,
several hours when he was awakened by
deep breathing, and, after listening, be _
came convinced that it was Some one
the next room to him.

He had almost drop (1 of)e to sleep
again, when he wass . ed b something
touching him, and instantl he drew his » '
hand from beneath his p' w, where it .
grasped the butt of his revolver, and cried
ou :

“ Who is theretz‘ .,

There was a sudden blow on the illow
near him and then a 'pe at his  ;
but just then his istc flashed, and with
aloud cry the mi ight intruder started .
back and'fell heavily upon the floor.

The shot alarmed the house, and there
came a banging at the door, which Jack
hastil opened, and in dashed the land-
lord, 'ght in hand.

Udpon the floor la the form of the in—
ten ed assassin, an his hand still
a knife, the blade of which was driven an
high in 21,13 floor. th um

tra oor in e 06' ' r was :1,
and a rope ladder descendedgrom igdto
the room, showing the way in which the
man had entered. '

As the landlord turned the body over
tered the
assassin’s brain, and he shuddered at 
deadly work for 'it was the first time his
hand had taken human life. -, r I

But he also saw that it was the mean ‘
taineer in whose cabin he had the
night before, and he felt less compunction
for his act as he knew he had ollowed
hithgkillanltllarobhim. m ~ 4

“ y, 'ou vekilled' onco 1 guests
who mifdrtunately walks in his ‘ eep, and f ‘
has entered your room with p , ,
intentions, for he wouldn’t hurt a dove,” N ‘
said the landlord savagely; v I e

“ No, he wouldn’t now, I salinity”? re-
plied Jack.  .

» “None of your smartmess, boy,  I -
won’t have it, andinthis room I will .,
you with poor Dave, until the co, , e *

comes for you tomorrow, when I’m think-

mgf you’ll swing for it.-” _ 7. .
ack tried to unprem upon the landlo
as did several others, that the man
entered, his room, knife in hand, in the
dark, antfi $21M alsoltfilgetfif histh 
once wi ' e ’ t one' I
landlord would noltnlistw, and taking
left the room,
securely locking the door hind  ,
Thus was the poor bogglieft alone in the
dark with the man he killed, alone,
fnendless, and threatened with the gallows
for an_actwhere he knew he had bu
done his duty to save his ovm life.

\

 

CHAPTER HI.
THE FUGITIVE. '
AT first, when alone with the dead

‘mountaineer, Jack felt his position most

keenly, and could not suppress the shudder
and honor would creep over him.

Butinla shortfime hebeganto
plotanescape, orhewasnoboyto 've
up mthouta struggle, and having tied ,,
human hfehesawthe srlsing
beforehimin 'teofthe .

Just then e office clock tw

a _ '

 

' and was

4

 

 I 1 i r. '  i  the Mustang King.

 

. forth one, and he arose from the bed, 'up0n

which he had seated himself, and moved
in the direction of the door. v
I ‘ With all his caution to avoid the dead
body, he tumbledi‘dver it, and arose to his
feet almost ummrv‘éd
But his nerve returned to him, and he
felt at the lock of the door.
' It was a bolt, shot into an iron socket,
which was fastened on by heavy screws.
In his pocket Jack had a penknife that

f _ would just suit for the work of removing

the screws, he thought, and the blade was
isacrificed by breaking it beneath his foot.
By hard work one screw was removed
7 at last, the iron socket was drawn aside,
and Jack was'free from his prison.
The room in which he had been con—
fined was on the thirdfioor, and he cau«
tiously descended to the lower hall, and

' through a crack in a. door saw that he

was 011]: its the tap-room. 
. A r‘eflickered on the hearth, a dog
lazily lay before it, and all Was quiet

.. Jack would have gone out through
another door, which he knew opened out
in the yard; but through the crack in the
panel he had caught sight of his rifle,
' tol and saddle-bags lying upon the
\ dlord’s desk, and he was determined
, to, secure these if he had to fi rht the dog.
Opening the deorhe ente softly, and
stance the dog arose from his nap, and
Boeing’s; stran r growled.
This woul not do, for the landlord
must be sleep' near, and Jack tried to

, chc'ax the brute, ut found his persuasive

’~powersutterly useless, so with a 5 ring he
'was upon the animal, his ban on his
, t , .

It was evident that the dog had believed
that a growl, of dissatisfaction was suffi-
cient to make known to the boy that he

. could not leave the hotel without paying
his bill, and he was taken wholly by sur-
_' in discovering that the biter was

" , *‘  badly bitten, too, for Jack was _a

e'rful youth f r his years, and his
Pow  been lilfe a. clas of iron, and

, p _
gamehadbeen soquic ythrustinto

’ the side of the dog that the brute was
in an instant of time, and the only
wine made had been a. scratching upon

" the floor and a. sup ressed yelp.

_ » Had the laudlo been aroused and ap-
« peered just then in the doorwa Jack had
art inhis heart to kill him, for e felt'cer‘
' tain that hehad been the accomplice of
the mountaineer and his blood was up.

 the sounds had not disturbed‘any

' one, and leaving the dog onthe sanded

floor he seized his own property un-

molested, and unlocked the heav door
and went forth into the pitchy dar ess.

 bearin s he found the stable,

' ppointe ‘at finding it locked;

cut his broken knife came in play again,

more screws were removed, and the door

J vwasc 11' .

Jae was wholl unacquainted with
the graphy of t e stable and in which
stalffis horse W and there were over a.
score of animals here and he dared not
call out and have Roan Racer answer
him for fear of arousing the stable boy,
: whom heheard > moving in the loft over-

ne' therefore’had to find his horse. by
r the senseof touch, for it was as black as

J r inksllaroundhim.

 Entering .the stalls of strange horses
' without daring to breathe a word to them

.~ . .to quiet their fear Jack knew was no pleas- .

p
x

I

.found Roan Ra

 

ant work, but he dared not hesitate, and
be an at the stall nearest to him.

1s touch frightened the horse, but,
putting him, Jack ran his hands over
11111 until he felt he had none of Racer’s
fitigpl points, and then went to the next
s .

In that was a mule, and one touch was
sufficient for the boy to discover that it
was sudden death to fool away time in
the immediately locality of that animal,
and he quickly made a flank movement
to stall number three, which he found, by
feeling, was a pony.

Next came a very large horse, and he
passed on to the fifth stall, and gave a
low chuckle, as he felt sure that he had
car.

The saddle and bridle hung on a stick
on‘one of the stall posts, and these were
quickly, though noiselessly,‘ ut upon the
horse, and the next instant Jpack was out-
sule of the stable, his rifle at his back, his
belt of arms strapped around him, and
mounting, he slowly rode out of the
tavern yard, though expecting a call or a
shot each moment.

But no one seemed to be aroused by the
silent departure, and the only sound that
reached the boy’s ears from within was
the clock striking two.

“Four hours to day-break, and then I
guess they’ll chase me hot ” he muttered,
as he set off at an easy op.

Knowing the wers and endurance of
Roan Racer Jae felt little anxiety that
he would be overtaken, yet he under-
stood woodcraft eno'ugh ’to cover up his
trail when morning came and seek some
hidingl-place.

So e ke t on his way, slackening up
now and on for a. short rest for his
horse, and at last day began to dawn, and
then, to J ack’s horror he saw that he was
not mounted on the Roan Racer.

CHAPTER IV.
JACK’s STRATEGY.

IT was with the utmost eagerness that
Jack waited for good daylight to examine
his new horse: r

"‘ It is not Racer, and they will pursue
me as a horserthief as well as a murderer
and I guess I’ll be hung, for they are
on horse‘stealers in these parts, they tell

me. .

“But I didn’t meanto steal him, and if
I take him back they’ll string me up for
killing that mountaineer. >

“ Guess the fellow who owns him on ht
to be more pleased with Roan Racer; ut
I-don’t know about that, for this is the
best horse, that’s certain and his four
hours’ ‘ gallop hasn’t made him in the least

“ Hockey! but isn‘t he a beaut ?
“I love old Racer, but I woul
this horse for two of him.
“Come—let me see, I‘ll have to call
you—Mistake—no, I like Stm erbest;
come, Stranger if We don’t pus ahead
we won’t get a bit better acquainted, and
ou’ll~be sorry, for I was awful good to
{tam-3r. ’

The intelli nt, and really splendid
animal seem to understand the words
of his youthful rider, and started ofl in a.
long, swinging lope that readily placed
twelve miles behind him to the hour.

Pushing on until about eight o’clock
J ack came to a river, which was crosse
by a femv~boat, attached to a rope that
extended from one bank to the other.

_ There was a rope to-each end of the
beat, to answer in the place of 3"ferry-

I

’t give

 

man, so that any one arriving at the bank

and findin the flat on the other shore
could pull it across to him.

J ack readily discovered this secret and
soon had the beat across; for it was on
the other shore, and he led his horse on

It was a small affair, the ferry—boat,
some eighteen feet long and ei ht wide
with low sides, only large enoug to hold
a couple of horses and a wagon; but Jack
seemed to think it was just the thing for
his use, and gathering up a lo pole
that lay near he went on bo tied
Stranger to one of the railings, an then

V63; coolly cut the pull ropes at each end. ‘

e result was that the current carried
his craft down with it at the rate of four
miles an hour, and as there was some hay
and a few ears of corn in the boat Strair
ger did not fare badly, While Jack con~
tented himself with a piece of bread he
had in his saddle pocket. '

The river was certainly a most dismal
one, for not a habitation did Jack see on
the banks~ only swamp lands, which by
the way, he was most pleased with as
houses were not just what he wanted to
see then. '

Occasionally the current carried the
boat close inshore, and now and then it
sent it whirling along in shallow water,
greatly to Stran r’s terror; but Jack

calmed him with ' (1 words, and tried to ,

impress upon him the fact that he was
getting free passage, rest and food all for
no cost. '

After three hours' trip on the boat Jack
suddenly espied, a deer drinking at the
water‘s edve and instantly his rifle flash-

ed and witli’the report the animal drop-

Bringing his lon pole into requisition
the boy got his flat , t hora, and mak-
ing it fast, hitched his rec in a bed of
luxurious grass, and then set ofl" to get his

e. r

Cutting from the deer some choice bits,
for he had often before cut up venison,
Jack built him a fire, got his cofi’eepot
and bread out, and soon had a meal pre-
pared that rejoiced his heart.

After his dinner Jack again led his

horse on the boat, cast ofl from the shore
and resumed his voy down the river,
fully satisfied that he taken a. means
of locomotion that would thoroughly baf-
fle all pursuit. r

As the twilight drew near Jack saw a.
cabin ahead, w 'ch he knew he could not
pass unseen, and, as the nature of the
shores showed that there were doubtless
settlements below, he concluded to land
and wait until dark. I .

This‘he did, casting his boat .loose as
soon as ni ht came on and letting it drift
on down 51,

might. ,

liliount‘m hisahorse, he went along the.
bank until
a house he saw not far away, and toward
this house willingl made his way.-

A man came to edoorat his call, sur-
rounded b half a, dozen little children,
and Jack elt that at least he could get
one night’s rest Withoutdread of his host,
who must be the father of the family, and
was cheered by a ready welcome. « I

He founda warm supper, a good stable
for his horse, and was soon sleeping

soundly, and knew nothin until called
(70' an early breakfast, r which he

thanked .the settler,dfolr,he‘woutlili tgel:
nothmg in pay an earnm e
road to take,- started ’01? at agmoderafe

I'l:

e river to bring up where it ‘

ecametoaroad that led to ,

 

 

QMMAVNWWM .. “M...

 

 

 

. he could not have dogs in his inn.

‘ ,  1- Lin}; .
v

reiterates, the Mustang King] ‘  V . _"  5,

 

 

ait, fully convinced that he had thrown
his pursuers off his track. . .
At noonhe halted for rest and dinner,
and, suddenly looking u , beheld a horse-
man in sight, while at t e same time his

[presence was discovered by the roadside.

Instantly the man Wheeled his horse
quickly and rode backthe way he had
come, evidently belie that the boy
had not seen him; but e quick eyes of
Jack had not only1 seen him, but recog-
nized in the horse is own animal. Roan
Racer, and in the rider none other than
the burly son of the landlord of the
tavern.

_After all, then, he had been tracked,
and he had not escaped as he supposed.

It was an unpleasant discovery for
Jack, but one he intended to meet w1
fearlessness and promptness. ‘

CHAPTER V. .
A snorr IN THE DARK.
WITH far different feelings'from what

 

aboy unslung from hiku and

The dog seemed to wish to come on
with the man, but wasclosely muzzled
and could utter no yelp, and was left tug-
ghég at the tree to get away.

autiously the man appmmhed to
within forty paces of the fire, and azed
upon the to form rolled in blank
ets and lying as if fast asleep.

Creeping up to a tree the pursuer of the
‘ e, rested
the barrel u n a. limb, and took deliba
crate aim at e rostrate form.

Several times e ch ed the position
of himself and. rifle, flouin to make
wholly sure of his aim, and then the
fin er pulled the tri .

i h the flash andgr: rt came a second
blaze and sharp crec and the man
dropped in his tracks, while Jack stepped
out from behind a tree not ten feet away,
his rifle in his hand, and cautiously ad-
vanced toward the man who had shot at
him, as he supposed, in the dark. ,

He movedas Jack approached, and said

he had when he halted for his noonday hoarsely

meal Jack mounted and rode on his Wfl
won ering how the Roan Racer co d

cover the and he had and overtake

the splendi animal he rode, even after re 1

the help he had had with the ferry-boat.

But soon a. man came in sight with an
ox-team and he solved the question by
telling lack that he was but five miles
from the ferr direct, and that the river.
made a gain bend, which he knew then
he had 11 simply retracing his way
across, while the tavern-keeper s son had
overtaken him, owing to this mistake.

Arriving at the to of a. lo hill, Jack
rode over the rid , ut, uio y turning,
glanced over an saw the orseman com-
m on after him, but seemingly desirous
of coping a mile between them, instead
of overtaln'ng him.

This he could not account for, and now
satisfied that he had but one to deal with,
finish: confident that he cOuld escape from

, At each high hill the boy would look

cautiously back and discover the solitary

horsemanstillonhis track, and his face

brightened as it flashed into his mind to

brirtig the suspense to an end by a little
0 .

When night approached he looked
about for a. cam ' -place, for he knew
not when a se er’s cabin would come
in sight in  Wild region, and selected
a clump of pines growmg on a. 103,011 on
the banko asmall stream of crystal
water. a _

A meadow bottom was near, and here
Stranger was tied out to feed, while Jack
set about'fixing up a comfortable camp.

All the time he kept his eyes down the
mad he had come, and was rewarded by
seeing his pursuer ride into sight.

The blazmg fire caught the horseman’s
eye and Instantly he retreated from view
01106 more, seemin ly confident that the
boy had not seen ' ,and had camped
for the nlght. .

Jack seemed too full of the plot he had

ursued to re any supper and soon
igfternight Wmaman appeared in

' ht leadin a horse. ,

t was ack’s pursuer and he ap.
proached cautiously to Within a hunde
ards of the camp—fire, when he. halted,
hitched Roan Racer, and then tied to a
tree what the ho had not noticed before,
hisowndog,w'hhehadbeenpom.
pelled to leave at the tavern shut u in an
out-house, as the landlord had to (1 him

0
I

/

 

“Boy, .curse you, you have killed me.”
“And you have shot a hole through
my coat and blanket,” was Jack’s cool

Blah, go for a doctor or I shall die.”

“ It’s no use for you’ll die anyhow, as I
aimed true.

“I am' sorry to see you suffer, but our
father sought to rob me and even ' me,
I believe, and you followed me to murder
and rob me, and I don’t think I am to
blame for shooting you; but I hate to see
you suflt‘er, and only wish I could do
something for you. ” ,

“I did follow you to rob you and get
back my horse you stole. .

“ Mountaineer Dave said you had
plenty of money,” confemed the assassin.

“ e t a. good deal, but no more
than I’ll want to take me to Texas,” re-
turned Jack, who considered his eighty
odd dollars a bonanza.

The villain‘groaned and attem ted to
rise but with a. shriek of pain e fell
bac , the blood gushing from his mouth,
and in horror at his anguish poor Jack
turned away.

When he again looked at him the man
was dead. ‘ .

“ My mother would say I was cruel if I
left him unburi ,” he muttered, and
finding a small ravine he took the body
there and laced it decently within it and
then pull the dirt from the bank 8. ve
down upon it.

For some time he worked at his dismal
task, and then seeking Roan Racer and
his d turned the latter loose, and put
his “(dgdle and bridle on his-own animal
and mounted hlm.

‘ ‘ Now, Stranger, you’ve served me well,
but go back home as best you can, for
nobody shall say I am a horse-thief,” he
aid, addressmg' the animal' he had ridden

ere.

But Stranger would not leave him,
although driven again and again down
the road, and at last Jack was obliged to
give it  _

“We , you can follow then, but mind
you, I lay no claim to you,” he said, and
once more resumed his 'ourne along the
dark and dismal road, or he not_the
heart to camp by the grave in the ravme.

CHAPTER VI.
THE BOY EMIGRANT. _ __
Ann-an numerous mishaps, hard ndmg,
loner camps in the vast forests alo his

 

. road, Jack at last crossed the axes

 

border, and looked about for a place in,
which to settle himself as a cowboy, for
heknewhe hadto ' atthebottom
round of the ladder to me a rancher-o
in the end. 3 v,

He had eluded all pursuit, if other than
the tavernkeeper’s son had followed '
aged unabfintgdgg rid of  ,

11 com accept ' com _,
and it soon became most napal-
pauionship, as the horse too turns about '
in relieving Roan Racer in the day’s ,
travel ‘

His dog, Grab, was also a good amo-
ciate for the lonely boy, and he]. I to

his camp—fire more cheer for

having been taught a lesson Jack shunned
asking for hospitality at night, and pitched
his own 03.1111in and did his own cooking,
for he wo (i make needed purchases
when reaching a small country store. . ,

Roan Racer not holding out as wen am
Stranger, Jack sold him to a settler for a
hundred dollars which made  feel
quite rich ind . . .

As he t awa from the mountains he
found a ess wil country, and more hos-
pitable treatment, and several times plant,
ere, at whose houses he stopped, had

64:! him to remain with them, asthey
too a fancy to the brave, handsome bay,
after hearing his story.

But Texas was the Mecca of Jack’s 3 V

hopes, and to Texas he pushed on, (moss-
ing the line from Arkansas, and the Red
River not far from the Indian Territory.
There were emigrant trains he had
passed, and been invited to join; but he .
ought shy of company, as too many long—
ing eyes were turned upon Stranger, that
ke t up lendidly un er his twenty-five
esa y whichwasallthatJack
would trav ,ashe had mercyon Grab'
too, ,for the d had become as gaunt as a
greyhound With his long tripasyet had
staminaenou hinhimto get ' matter
in severaldi culties from hisan
the dogs of e '
who keeps a fig ting pup isinvariably
drawn into the muss too. __-v
Jack referred torisk afightto  ’
Grab, w 0 beds. bark thatwould make ,.
wolves shudder, and was hisboon. pard '

nextto Stranger and the threefnends, ‘

of boy, steed and dog crossed the Tex’as
line to ther an inse ble trio. ‘
H’s night in ems, Jack halted in
front of a. cosey little cab' and asked for *
shelter for man, home an dog, and the

woman, for no one else other than a  ' a

girl of two years, readily consented, alter
one glance into the fearless, handsem
face of the boy. ,

more than any he had eaten since leaving
his own home, and found his hostessmost
clinging) and talkative for she told him -
her us and hadoncebeen well off, but
had lost his fortune and come to Texas to
live; but that she had refused to ,
the man her parents wished her to, and
remained true to her first love, and had. I

become his wife, when he came after her | I

to take her to his border home. . ,-
“ And just to think,” she contm '
“the man mytparfints tied to force mefto
marry was no no ast ey supposed‘ , or
he had gambled away his money, and‘he '
killed an uncle whose heir he was, and,
be' discovered as the murderer, was "

tri andsentencedtobehanged;buthe ‘ 7‘ It

esca and is now a leader of .an out-
law (1 in Texas, and every tune my ,
husband has to leave home to drive his " 
cattle andtakehispeltstomarket, Irfear; , ,3,

l

ttrains,foraman, '1

Jack enjoyed the supper that l '

 

. 6 7
[that  have had a nei hbor and

‘ Vyout” asked Jack.

hiswife stayall nightherew he was
gone; but this morning, when I went
atterthem, theyth gone to town, so I
was most glad see you, for if you are a
boyggu are a brave one. ’
' ‘ you think the man would harm

“Indeed he would be guilt of‘ any
meanest, from all I have card of him,”
red Mrs. Elgin

auswe .
“Somebod ought to killhim; if I was

V Iyour husban I would,” said Jack.

The outh then told Mrs. Elgin about
v' ,andhowhehadcometo'llexas
tossttlethere, and hoped in time to be—
come a ranchero, but was willing to begin

_asacowboy

“Why, my husband wants a. border
or cowboy. and he, will'be most delighted
toemploy you, for he has two hundred
head of cattle now, and the farm and

, ,trazpfigglkeep him busy.

be sure to take you, I know;
that is, if‘you will live with us.”

Jack expressed himself as delighted,
.wantout to see that the horses in the
stable were all right, and fifteen minutes
alter was 8166 ing the sleep of the inno-
cent in the tile “spare room” of the
four-room log cabin.

Feeling that his journey was ended, he

‘elded himself to perfect rest, and had to

called several times in a low whisper

  who said: '

“ .There are half a dozen horsemen out—
side, and they mean mischief, I fear.”

Jack had a. neck of dressing quickly,
and‘he was infighting trim in a minute
of time, and standino‘ on a chair glancing

, »_at the intruders Enough auger-holes
' bogethrough the logs as look-outs.

V cabin was a substantial one, built
just undentlm shelter of ahill, and front—
rairie,>whi1e just before. it, and

“3‘15 “
; y' orty paces distant, ran a small
stream

1 It'was here that the horsemen, seven in

X 1 number, had halted

 {It might be that they were on'the trail

'7 i to thevnorth 31111:. hag haltedatuo watfir tlieir
‘_  or 3 ps camp nig t; ut
* _ they 0 knew that it was dangerous

wink in that country for a party 0t men
touvmake‘a “lay-out” so near a settler’s

‘ » Kemewithout consultin him.

Back of the cabin, an closer in under
thehillside was the log stable, in which

_ ‘ fie settler apt his horses for use every
‘ J

y and in which was Stranger, whom
mix had no desire to part with; -
, In the stable he had left Grab, to 've
an alum: with one of his deepmout ed
barks should any horse-thieves attempt to
,break‘in and steal. _
The nightwas clear, and a-full moon
vealed the'men distinctly.

i I. ,. “ I have a dog that should remain with

me, but he will run on and join my hus~

, band, and so I am helpless; but, if those

men mean mischief you will find I can
fuse a rifle and revolver, for I am a good
shot; they are coming I” and the woman,
who was also standing on a chair looking

" 4 . out throu h one of the eye-holes sprung

down an seized her rifle, while jack re-

v" .‘ vmained calmly at‘his post.

 

CHAPTER VII.

a , THE JAYHAWKERS.

Tun horsemen were. all dismounted
now, and while the others remained at
'7 the creek, one of their number advanced
tomd the cabin: ~

i];  Jmkmwthathewasatallmannvith

b .

I broad shoulders and evidently very power-
ful, and that he wore a long beard and
hair that hung below his shoulders.

V He was dressed in bucksldn leggins
stuck in high boots, 'a pea-jacket, o
and showing a belt of arms benea , a
gray woolen shirt and a sombrero With
veg broad brim, pinned up u 11 one side
wi ‘23. gold star, and with a eavy black
plume in it.

He was a. splendid imen of man-
hood to look at, and ack thought so,
While he muttered: '

“His get up is immense, and he looks
like the prairie dandies I have read of in
novels. \ '

“Do you know him?” and he whis-
pered to Mrs. Elgin, who was about to
resume her position in the chair, when a
loud knock came at the door.

No answer was returned, for Jack whis-

“I’ll keep dark to see what his little
gameis."

Agfém' he knocked and Mrs Elgin asked:

“ ho is there?"

“ Ferd Elgin, that is not your voice,”
said the man without.

“ No, my husband is not at home; who
are you and what do you want?” said: the
Woman, firmly.

“I’m a paid 0’
and I’d like to got
was the answer.

“ ycabinis too smalltoaccommodate
seven of you.” ‘

The man saw that Mrs. Elg'in had not
just risen, but had seen him and his fol-

owers so he said:

“VVJell, you can give us something to
eat, ma’m?’ _

“ I cannot o n my door in the absence
of my husbandf9 for you know that these
are dangerous times? .

“Then Sophie Elgin, I’ll o n the door
for you,” was the ringing rep 

“Good Heaven! you are—’ -

“Norman Neil, your old lover, dear
Sophie, but now, owin to certain irregu-
larities I was guilty 0 against the laws
of the land, I am called Star the J ay~
hawker,” was the sneering response.

“ Heaven have mercy! it is the man of
whom I told you.

“ What shall I do i” whispered the poor
woman, trembling violently.

“ Leave him to me,” said Jack, delight-
edat bein of service to his kind hostess,
and he ad ed:

“You do the talking and I’ll do the
shooting.” ‘

“Why have you come here, Norman
Neil?” asked Mrs. Elgin, and- if there had
been a 1i ht in the cabin it would have
revealed er beautiful face as white as a
corpse. .

“I have come for you, sweet Sophie,
for I have not forgotten m old love.

“ You cast me off an married my
rival, and now I have come to steal you
from him and see how much he will pay
to get you bank.

“ He has gone to town with his cattle,
and I sent a messenger to your neighbors
calling them away, so that I would have
you in my t1power, and you might as well
come quie y, foffiou shall.”

“ Never! I w' ' myself first,” she
said, firmly. '

"‘-It will be cheaper to  him,” whis-
pered Jack.

“No, you’ll do no such thing; but go
with me you shall, so open the door or

our husband, mum,
elter for the night,”

 

r11 break it in."
“Never!” > -

 

Texas- Jack, the Mustang 

"Come, boys bring that log with you,
and break this r in.”

The er was now so close in that
Jack could not see him, but he at once
determined to give the men bringing the
heavy log a surprise party, and he stuck
his revolver barrel mto the augeiuhole,
took dead aim on the foremost Of the six
men andfired. - -

With the shot the man dropped, and so
did the log, while there was a general
stampede of the reserve force of the
J ayhawker Chief. '

CHAPTER VIII.
JACK AT'BAY.

Ir a thunderbolt had fallen fromth'e
clear moonlight sky, the J ayhawkers
could not have been more astonished than
were they at this deadly shot from the
cabin.

They had not e ted a delicate] -
reared woman, as eir chief had tod
them was the wife of Henry Elgin, to be
capable of using , and not one of
the party had thought of danger.

At first they could not believe their
fallen comrade was dead, and thought the
woman had. merely fired to frighten
them, and the man had dropped to play
’possum, so several called out: .

“Dick, are you dead?”

But no answer came, and toscare him
into acknowledging his existence, it he
was not dead, one of the men drew his
revolver and fired so near him that it
threw the dirt over him.

But the man did not stir, and one of
the hiding villains remarked: ,

“Guess he’s dead; scared to death, for
surel that woman could not hit him.”

this time Star, the Ja hawker, was
crowdin close ‘ e cabin, as
though shield imself' *from an aim
that ad proved so deadly, but at the
shot of one of his men, he called out
sternly:

“ Is not that man dead enough that you
are makin a target of him?” ‘

“Comeghere and join inc, and bring-
that log I” . ‘

But not a J ayhawker moved, and the
chief continued, addressing Mrs. Elgin:

“I‘ll forgive that shot if you will open

our door, Sophie; if not your fate will
he a fearful one !”

“I’ll not open my doorto a set of red
scoundrels, and Ias you have seen what
you may expect warn you to ‘go awa ,”
said the woman firml ,"herco risi’iig
at J ack’s cooan an unerrin am,

“If you do not open your oor within
two minutes I will burn the cabin down.”

“Do so ” was the taunting reply.

“By eaven I will,” an they heard
the man walk away.

But soon he returned and an armful of
wood was thrown against the door.

Then he called out to his men and
other feet were heard going to and fro
and other arms full of wood were piled
against the door. a «

“ The are going back and forth to the
wood—p' e, and you can see them from
that room,” whispered Mrs. Elgin.

J aek hastily rushed into the adjoining
room, sprung upon the .bed, removed the
peg from the auger-hole and looked out.

Four‘ forms were visible to his , and
they were coming toward the ea in with
Wood. ;

Instantly he took aim and fired at the
nearest J ayhawker. - ‘

Down went the wood from the arms of

I ' m ~¢V
. . y,

 

 

 

sM— _..-_4l A . _ _

I
r
l
l
I
l
l
2
l
l
4



 

HWHWW

5

Lin

 

 

. givin’ up

 the   '

,7,

 

 

all, while a cry broke from the lips of the
man he had shot. ' ' V,

Hurried feet were heard seeking shelter
again, curses from the chief, and then the
c :

r3; Cap‘n she’s not Bony,. too, fer he’s
' chec .”

“ Oh, this is terrible, ” murmured the
woman, while her child, awakened by the
noise, began to cry 11} fright. -

“ Don’ you mind it if they like it,” an—
swered Jack, and he went from place to

lacefirand, catching sight of the top of a animal

t ed.

Thebullet cut the black plume out of
the chef’s hat, one made him d e at a
rate that brought a lau h from his rutal
followers, an a curse rom him, while in
fury he fired several shots into the door.

‘ Let him waste his ammunition, for the
door is doubled plank with heavy sheet-
lron between, and on see that the logs
are square and fit 0 ose, so theyhcém do no
harm with their rifles ’said . Elgm,
whoéiad qiglileited her c  t 1f

' ee s' now,an ono answer'
he eakg,” whispered Jack, suddenly.

“ ell, sweet Sophie, how do you like
a turn about of shots?” sneered the chief.

No answer came, and once more Nor-
man Neil spoke: .

“I guess I made you hunt cover that
time, bophie.”

Still no answer.

it  pa .

N 0 reply.

“I sa , woman, are you deaf?”

“Per aps you shot her, cap’n,” called
out a man from behind the corn-crib.

“By Heaven! I hope not.

_ “  Elgin, speak to me!” he cried,
excit . - '

Yet in the cabin remained as silent
as the ve. _ _

“I’ll burn the cursed cabin, and then
I’ll hear you cry out, I guess,” he con-

‘ tinued, and a moment after the crackling

of burning wood was heard.
“It is not against the door, but six

,feet off, for I see the flames,” whispered

Jack, for Mrs. Elgin became alarmed at
the prospect of bein burnt/out.

“ New speak, or ’11 let the cabin go,”
yelled the chief.
But still no answer, and the fire burned
gher and fiercer.

‘Your shot did it, cap‘n, fer I heer’d
suthin’ drop when on fired,” said one
of the J ayhawkers w 0 had crept up and
joined his chi‘.

, "‘ Jupiter! I believe you are right.

“ ere, get that log and dash in this

, door, for there is no danger now,” called

out the chief.

The men came cautiousl
raised the log, and were just ' nmg a
trot to. 0 against the door wit terrific
force, w ien once more a shot rung forth
a man’s death—knell, and a. third dropped.

Once more down went the log, and
w1th the SW8d of doors the Jayhawkers
scampered to then' covers.

In Sglte of hunselfdack could not pre—
vent urstln ,Out Into merry ringin
laughter, an ‘3 seemed to astonish a
who heard it, for the chief, who had again
crept close up to the cabin, called out:

i ‘ Aha! cm have not been doing the
shooting, giphie? _

“But who the dev11 have you got there
with cu?”

.u ,n

It A be é"

(I Yes. 1?

“ Cap’n, I hain’t keeain’ whether ‘it are

forward,

' 1

 

aboy or a gal, a Greaser or Injin', a nig-

ger or ‘ ee, he hev got shootin’ wee:

pins, an’ knows how ter pitch bullits, an’
is off,” cried out one of the men.

“ An’ me too, cap’n, fer that kid are
dan ersome,” called out another.‘

“ -by, cap’n, we is goin’ to niove, fer
this 0 imate, are u'nwholesome ”

In vain was it the chief called to his
men to tarry; they quickly retreated
toward their orses, just as a rifle flashed
out of the auger—hole, and one of the
' » s on the creek dropped.

Instantly there was terrific haste among
the men, and not wishing to be left alone
in such a dangerous vicinity, the chief
nerved himself for the run, and dashed
ofi at a fearful rate of speed, dodging
about in a 7' way that was ludicrous,
to destro Jack 8 aim, and which made
his band ugh loudly at him

But he reached his horse in safety, and
after a volley at the cabin started away at

a op. ‘
tly Jack unbarred and unbolted

the heavy door, sprung outside, and sent
a shot after them, which greatly ac-
celerated their haste, and then he kicked
the burning wood away from the vicinity
of the cabin.

But he could not but castfurtive glances
at the dead bodies lying out in the moon-
light, the victims of his deadly aim.

CHAPTER IX.
JACK AS A COWBOY.
THAT Jack was proud of his achieve-

ment,‘in driving off seven desEersdoes,
t, and it

 

there can be nomanner of dou

filled his heart with a thrill of emotion to

hear Mrs. El ' tell her husband, when
three days ter he returned, of his.cool-
ness and ' ’ .

Henry Elgin was every inch a man, for
though born to riches, when he found
he had lost his fortune through his
father's speculations, he ut his shoulder
to the field, so to speafi, and went to
Texas and established iimself on aranch.

He had a few hundreds with which he
built himself a comfortable border home,
bought cattle and sheep, and when all
was progressing well went for the noble
giirfl who had promised to become his
w e. ‘

As true as stee'lshe went with him to
his frontier home, and devoted herself
uncom lainin fly to the.duties devolving
upon ier, an they were really happy
there, though, their nearest neighbor, an
uncouth farmer, lived five miles away.

Touched by the devotion of Jack to his
wife, admiring the, handsome, fearless
face of the~b0 , and his free-and—easy
frank nature, enry Elgin gladly bade
him welcome at Prairie Roast, as the
ranch was called, and my hero became
an inmate of the comfortable cabin, and
a cowboy, with the salary of twenty
dollars per month. .

Jack soon “learned the ropes,” so to
speak, for he. knew the ran as of the
cattle, ponies and sheep, learn the coun-
try, and did his duty well.

While on the prairies he studied hard
to become a proficient trailer, and could
soon track a stray pony or steer with the
greatest ease .

He set traps on the streams in the hills,
and caught animals that yielded many a
fine pelt, shot game for the table, and
made  so generally useful that
Henry .Elgin looked upon him as a.
treasure

 up his money which he got

 

fiomliis ts, skins, and hiswages, ina
“Salli? ‘h'e ti“ til“: 320mm”; fill?
a rame , u .

He made a larigt, which genry Elgin

taught him to throwand he soon ex-
celled his master, while as a shot he did
not yield the palm to any one, ashe seem-
ed to posses a talent for sending a. bullet
just where he meant it should .

As a raid of J ayhawkers hadfien made
in the neighborhood, headed by Norman p
Neil, Henry Elgin felt anxiousto have a

of rancheros start in pursuit of
the d of thieves and wi them out,
and Jack made a circuito the ranth
and collected the men, some thirty in
number.

Allwere willing to go, forhad itnot

been for the accidental coming of a com- a

pany of cavalry, they knew that they
would all have been great sufierers, while
Hen Elg'in shuddered to “think what
woul have happened to his household,
for the J ayhawkes were nearly two-score
in force.

The rancheros chose Henry Elgin for ‘
their captain and to the surprise and de«
light of Jack, on account of his brave
fight with them, ‘he was» chosen secondin
command.

Adding members to” their force as they
went along, the Ranchero Band went f
straight to the mountain stronghold of
the J ayhawkers, attacked them success~
fully and it fell to Jack the honor of kill-
ing the chief, which he did in an artiller
duel at close quarters.

Though severely wounded Jack had
fired unerringly, and his bullet had on-
teredthebrainofNormanNeil.g . N

Jack was too severely wounded to ride
for the bullet had entered his thig
he was can'iedtothe fort, some forty miles ~
away, and left there under the care of the
surgeon, who promised to have him on
his feet again in a couple of months.

Henry Elgin wanted to remain with
him to nurse him, but Jack would not
hear to that, and promised to return as
scones he was able. .’

But the fort life let Jack intonew
scenes,-a'nd he became delighted with
what he saw there and bein offered .a‘, .
position as hunter for the sol 'ers, he ac-~
copied it, and started for Prairie Boost
to tell his friends there
“his ' ' hm:

ey were very sorry-to with '
but they knew it was for is good, an
told him if the world went hard with him
they would welcome him homes ain.

Giving his dog Grab to Mrs. E ' he
returned to the fort and was domiczled- as
huntsman, a position he was delighted
with, for it left his movements untram-,
meled, and gave him an op rtunity of
learning the country, which e was most ,
anxious to do. .

CHAPTER X.
. THE YOUNG HUNTER.
IN his capacity as hunter Jack soon sur-

passed the other huntsmen at the fort, 

and seldom went out that he did not re:-
turn with more game than any three
others. ,
Anxious to learn all pertainingtothe
habits of wildanimals and the lay of the
country, he devoted  every energy to

it
One day he would go tin for buf-‘
faloes alone, and a singliis ogf buffalo
meat for days was the reSult. ‘
The next day he hunted deer,’ and veni: '

son was most plentiful, while some days

2

\

hand, 

ofhisdetermina- " i. ’

  
   
  
 

 

“w ,

     

:1

 

it 

 

 

, he would come inkwith Strain

'rthe‘tho

(

x ,

Q horn on. it the size 0
' ‘ while theldnsaddle—bags attached Were of

 mmflarl

 am”
" / mensaid, audayouthtowin generally

a

I "I files-ashram, the-Mustang  I.

 

ger literall
laden down ,with squirrels, all'killed wit
the rifle, aud‘those shot throu hthe head,
.1 for J ack had too much pri e to bring
home any wounded elsewhere: ~
~ Another day it would be a feast of wild
turkeys and again of wild ducks, until
the soldiers never lived so luxuriously as
under his mastership, and the officers of
the" fOrt were ever anxious to accompany
him upon his successful hunts.
There were many who predicted that

 the boy would not come back some day,
’ I and a search for him would find him

dead and seal (1, for the Indians were
constantly on t e war—path in the vicinity
of the fort; but to see an Indian on the

, Ever-path was just what Jack was longing
or.

He had’written back to some of his old
school-boy chums of his adventures, and
made the neighborhood youth wild to fol-

, low  example, and caused many of
them to make, intimate acquaintance with
a lively stick, but none of them seemed
to have the nerve to follow Jack’s foot-

', steps, and there was consequently no fall—

, mg off in the census of the country from
the factof youths emio'rating to Texas.

But Jack had not been able to write

that he had met in mOrtal combat a red-

‘, , s ' ‘ andthis was just what he was long—

‘ 01‘.

,_ * ’ ' e had seen numbers of Indians about

the fort, and once made cod time when
half a hundred got after ' , but he had
bcenin no fight with them, and could
not, consequently, reconcile himself to
ht that he was truly a prairie
boy on ' he had.

As a trailer he was now an expert, as a

Lhuuter for any kind of game he had no

’ superior, while all acknowledged his skill

A I as a lulu-thrower, shot and rider.

But he must become an‘ Indian-fighter,

Z ‘ before which all other accomplishments,
, faded ' "

 a mass of cur-lino, chestnut

 which to hes in the fashion of the

prairie he allows to grow long, until it
ell to hisbelt down his back.

 face was beardless,~ for‘his years,
seventeen, had not brouo'ht forth a de-

”,i'rsired'mustache; but his tform was fully
r .; the medium hight of man his shoulders

were broadhiswaist am his carriage

' ‘ 3  and graceful, and all at the fort called

a very handsome youth. I
Having laid u several hundreds of

:f’ 'r dollars Jack had ' ' ed his old home

waddle and bridle for a Mexican bit and
, and with a

‘ hes. with silver
mg, W a dinner-plate,

. —s .
* . ehadpaidalarge‘price toaMesican

 fora lasso, bought a sempe“ of gay

1 colors, and, considerably a dandy in dress,

,‘ r, the'had attired himself in buckskin leg—

“  fringed and beaded, and stuck in

  - ndsome cavalry boots which were
’ ’ armed with
I silk shirt wit

1d s urs; en hewore a
a b k scarf under the
wide collar, 9. stainped belt with gold
buckle, and a pair of revolvers and bowie
‘ mounted, a velvet jacket after
the Btye.of Mexico a gray sombrero,
turned up on the side ,wrth a gold star,
and with the” rim worked With silver
thread. a v

Thus 11 1Q the reader ma imagine
was “no slouch,” as e prairie

I *AMexlcan shawiwornbymen. " ' ,

the admiration of all he met, while
several ' soldiers who had called him
“ Dandy. J ack ” in an insulting way, had
been reported on “sick leave ” for several
days after from the effects of the sound
whipping he had given them, for he was
a giant in strength, with muscles as hard
as iron. ‘

 

CHAPTER XI.
A FIGHT WITH RED—SKINS.

JACK had been five months as hunter
at the fort before he had his first Indian
fight, thou h he had often gone out of
hlS way to ring about the much desired
meeting. _ ' ,

The day that he at last Succeeded in
meeting the red—skins in hostile array, he
wished that he had not almost prayed for
the opportunity before they were done
with hun. ‘ ’

He had gone out on a deer‘hunt,
mounted on Ranger, 8. large white mus-
tangflhe had won in a race with Stran er,
the tter beatin the Texas horse in a ve-
mile run just alf a length, and Jack
thereby becoming the ssessor of the two
fastest animals at the ort.

Colonel Loring, the commandant of
the fort, had presented him with a new
rifle, a Colt’s repeater, which was a
novelty in those days, and carried six
shots, and J ack‘felt as thou h thus aimed
heicould annihilate the In ' race if he
attacked them. ,

Riding leisurely along toward the hunt-
ing-grounds, at peace with himself and
the world in general, Ranger suddenly
dropped dead beneath him, a bullet
haying struck him fairly in the brain.

Jack was surprised, and no wonder and
his rifle, that was swung to his sad ewas
caught under the side of the dead horse.

. Instantl following the shot came wild

ells, an over a rise in the prairie

bed a dozen Indian warriors, mounted
on their hardy ponies. .

The longed-for time had at last arrived,
and with it came a. longing in Jack’s
heart to be along way off.

But he did not lose his nerve, though
he confessed that he said to himself:

“You’ll never grow to be a man, Jack
Omohundro.” ‘

With a terrible effort he ged the

mustang off of his rifle and raised it to
his shoulder while the Indians were yet
six paces ofl’. v '
‘ T ey saw the act and felt that they
must go down; but what Indian ever
hesitated at such a thought, when charg-
in upon a fee, and what white man
eit er, for all seem to think the next on
the right or left will be the victim, while
they escape. ‘

And the Indians were right, for one of
their number did go down, drop am; like
lead from his pony and dead ere e struck
the ground, for J ack’s nerve was not gone
from him even in his surprise and fearful
danger. '

,_ A second shot brought down a mus-
tang, and it seemed to surprise the Indians
greatly, who had not been let into the

I’Iny‘rs’oeries of a repeating rifle in those

days, for I am writing of over twenty
years ago, kind reader. , -

But when a third shot killed the dis-
mounted md-skin, and a fourth knocked
another warrior off his horse, it was more
than Indian nature could stand and
away sped the remainder in wild con-
fusion while one of the freed mustangs
dashed right up toewhere the boy stood.

 

_ He seemed'to realize his m1stake,but

 

quicker than a flash Jack had seized his
lacriat frOm his, saddle—horn and thrown
it, and the mustang was. his for the weight
of the dead horse brought ’ down.

Then Jack' hastily reloaded his rifle,
drew the Indian mustang up close to him,
all the time watching the red-skins, and
becran to strip the dead horse of his saddle
an bridle

The Indians saw his little game and
again charged, but checking their advance
at his first fire, which dro god a pony,
they began to circle arOundP im, uttering
hideous lyells, and with their force
an ente by full a dozen more who
ha come over the 'vide. ‘
They also fired arrows at him, some of’
them Coming unpleasant-1y near and one
who‘ had an old musket sent a few buck-
shot whizzing over his head. '

Jack worked with a will however, cut
011’ the Indian trappings from the mus—
tang he had captured, and soon had 
own saddle on in their place, and the bri-
dle tied to it, for he dared not attempt to
put it on; , x . '

Then he fired several shots in rapid suc-
cession, all the time advancing, and get—
ting the red-skins stampeded once more
began to collect his scalps.

He shuddered at the red work, as he
bent over a dead Indian, but muttered as
an excuse: ‘

“ If I don’t take the scalps the boys
Wfl‘lbslay: 1 In) "h it red,

‘ oscapno 'un, emute ' for
he had heard many a story of what men
had done and the general doubt that fol-
lowed unless the proofs couldbe given.

As Jack advanced to his third Indian
he suddenly saw the savage half-rise, and
an arrow was sent whizzing through the
fleshy part of his arm.

Jack had believed that that Indian was
dead, and he was taken by surprise; but
he dro pedhis rifle onhimand fired,a.nd.
knew t en that he had indeed taken his
fl' ht to the happy hunting-grounds. '

ardly had 6 taken the scalp, when.
once more the red-skins made a rush u ' ‘ '
on him, while over the divide came
a hundred more hideously-painted horse-
men. ~

“My! the whole Indian nation are
after me,” he cried, and sen ' three
rifle-shots after one party, and t roe af-
ter the other, he threw himself upon the «
mustang, and darted away like an ar-

row.

He was between two like, and thick
and fast the arrows fell around him, two
striking the mustang and one entering
his shoulder, though he wound was only
sli ht, on account of the'distance. '

loading as he ran, Jack headed in a
straight hne, and in him minutes‘ time
he had the united bands in full pursuit,
while over the rise, came fullyas many,
more to join in the chase. 3.

CHAPTER XII..
JACK BECOMES A SCOUT..'

JACK was delighted, as he away
in flight, to find that luck h brou ht
him a very fast horse, for he saw t at , .
hardly any of his pursuers’ ponies were
holding their own against him.

As for his endurance Jack could not
yet tell, but soon drew him suddenljr up,
and watching an» instant, saw that the
mustan was not seeming to feelhis rapid
runan _ he cried joyously, as he urged, ,
him on once more, while he patth the.’.
clay-colored ponyokmdly: . ‘ ., ,

‘ You‘ve got th‘ speed and bottom, » u

 

, .

 

 

 

 

i
i

 

 

' l

and the startled mustang bound

'ed' .jac

rir‘ ,r,‘
“z

‘9 i V i V ' ' . Tor-as Jackytho Mung King;

 

, old fellow, and I’m not half“ as scared as

I was. r

“I guess I’ll name you Injun, and I’ll
be a good master to you, if you’ll only put
in our best licks now.”

hen Jack had ridden a short distance
further he found that he had the fastest
horse in the lot, and the idea struck him
that it would be 2. 00d thing for him if
he could carry to ‘olonel Lorin a cor-
rect account of the number of In ' is in
the band, and he knew that b makin a
detour he could gain a sandh‘ where e
could see the prairie for miles around.

Toward this hill he headed, although it
carried him away from the fort and into
greater danger.

Whether the Indians suspected his in-
tentions or not, he did not know, but he
noticed that they lashed their ponies sav-
agely to force them on, and at the same
time began to fire at him more uently,

He was barely out of range of eir ar-
rows, and in fact was not out of range as
a dozen struck him and his horse; but
their ‘ ht was spent, and they did not

hurt, 0 er than to cause a slight twin c.

He had draw out the arrow from iis
th h and tied a buckskin thong around
it ut it still bled, and the woun in his
shoulder was also bleeding freely, as was
the one his mustang had received.

But he still was determined to reach
the hill, and after twenty minutes’ run
galloped up to-the to .

One lance .was s cient to show him
that f yfive hundred warriors belonged
to the band, for the hollow of the prairie,
six miles away, was full of them, while
half a  were in chase of him.

To give his mustang a breathing spell,
Jack fearlessly dismounted and again
fired upon the coming red—skins, empty-
ing his rifle into the mass, and causin
them to fall back hastily for the seeme
to think that the rifle had no en of shots
in it. '

Hastin reloading, the daring boy then

remounted and away once more on
his run to the fort, which was ten _ miles
distant.
‘ With wild yells the red-skins came on
in chase, all except several whose ponies
had been killed by the fire, and one wan
rior who had been wounded, and they
seemed more determined than ever to
overtake their boy foe. ' .

But Jack was beginning to feel that
luck might turn, and, anxious to get
away, he drove his spuis into ‘ 'un,”
for-
ward at still for speed, and rapidly
be to drop ’ pursuers.

ack knew that his horse could not

stand that killing pace long, but hoped to

I leave the red-skins so far behind that they

would give up the chase; and his 110 8
Was , as they were soon who] y

out bf range, and beino‘ dro steadil
felt that t e chase Wifs usgess, and ode

, by one they drew rein,

When the last one sto ed J aek ve a.
shout of 10 and broughirlnjun (10%;; to
9' gallop: W “311 was 8: I‘Elief, as the forced
pace was telhng upon him

Once fairly safe,  the boy went on
at a slow lope, for he cared not go slower,
as both himself and the mustang- were
bleedingjreely. _ ‘ ' -

At last, over a rise in the praine, th
fort came in View and Jack dashed in
with the thought that it was the proudest
moment in his life. ‘

, 'One, gilance at his pale face, blood-stain-
et and leggings, his changed

U, V

 

horse, also wound and the three
goryscal sinhishan ,weresuificientto
prove tot e soldiers t he had been in
a desperate fioht an come off (bes and
the ‘ ted ' with cheer after. c eer.

far/c raised hm sombrero, and, dis-
mounting, fairly staggered into the colo~
nel’s quarters, for he was growing very
weak and made his report, and the com—
man nt at once summoned the surgeon
toattend him, while he said: A

“My brave boy, no man could have
done better, and few as well as you have,
and I uafiipoint on a scout from today
with f pay, or you deserve it.’7

 

CHAPTER XIII.
AMONG THE MISSING.

Jack fretted very much that his wounds
did not permit him to go with the regi—
ment on their pursuit of the Indians, but
he was told by the colonel that. the infor-
mation lie 113/ 1 him enabled him to
send ample it. o tor the red-skins, and
so divide it that the victory was a complete
one.

Although‘ he was rejoiced at havin
had an Indian fight he could not but fee
that it had its drawbacks as well as plea—
sures, as he lay wounded and suffering
da after day. -

hut all at the fort treated him most
kindly, and the officers’ wives made him
little delicacies that caused him to feel
that he had plenty of friends.

Anxious to enter upon his duties as a
scout Jack arose from ' couch as

 
 
 
  

soon as the'surg‘eon would allow him, .

and ascertainin from the colonel just
what he wante him to do, started forth
armed with his repeating rifle and
mounted upon stranger, which was his
favorite.

It seemed as though od luck hung
close on Jack’s heels, for e had not been
gin? three hours before he heard mm 1:

' ' g,anduponridi11ghalfamiletodis-
cover the cause he beheld an emigrant
train of some sixty wagons corraled
upon the prairie, an “standing off” a
lar force of Indians that had attacked it.

ack knew that his unaided rifle would

have been of little use! and he saw that

the emigrants could hold their own until
night, but that under cover of the dark-
ness their overwhelming , numbers would
tell against the whites.

He was just twenty miles from the fort,
and it was just two o’clock, as he saw by
lookin at his watch, which he had taken

‘from 1e dead body of one of the men he

held killed in the attack on Henry Elgin’s
ea in.

“I know Stranger can make it in less
than two hours, but it will take the
cavalry momount and reach here three,
and it’s 'ust five to dark, so here goes.”

Like e very Wind he s d away, and
Stranger was pushed her indeed, and,
When in just one hour and fifty minutes
he darted into the fort he was white with
foam and gaunt as a grayhound.

Throwing his rein to an orderly, Jack
dashed into the colonel’s quarters unan-
nounced, and the news he brought created
an excitement in the fort, and there was
saddling and bridling of horses, arming of

men, and forming of troopers in hot haste.

Having changed his saddle to Injun,
who had fully recovered from his wound,
Jack rode to the head of the troopers and
took his place ,b the major.who was to
go in cominan, and in Elsi:
minutes from his cominrr e..departed
with relief for the train of3 emigrants. ,

O

twenty

 

Injun wanted, to go, after his long '

restand care in the government stable,
and Jack set the pace, which was a hard
one.
_ But the majorwas most, willing, and
preferred that horseflesh should suffer
rather than that Whites should be ruth-
lessly butchered, and darkness wasjust
cree ing over the prairie, when the troop-
ers w up their panting horses and the
commander and Jack rode to the to of
{he divide to glance over into the ol-
OW'.

They hadheard firing for‘some time,
and now saw that the ei'nigrants were

still in corral, with their wagons,  .

around them were encamped on the pm-
rieseveral hundred Comanche warriois.
“By Heaven, Jack, you have saved’

them, for that train could never have *

withstood a charge in the darkness from
that band of warriors.

“But we’hifive them a surprise partyi

in a little w e ” said the major.

He then diVided his force into two com-
pames of sixty men each, and as the
gards had all come up, prepared for the,
charge upon the red-skins, attacking them
from two sides, so as to drive them in
ran of the rifles of the emigrants.

TI: red—skins wholly unsus ting the
presence of the cavalry, for ey had cut

ofl'allescape from the train,so that no - V‘

one could give the alarm, formed their
plan of attack, summonintglall, t the
sentiner surroundin e co
wagons, for the counc . A
As they were seg'ating, formed in four
‘es to charge in as man different
' tions, they we startled y a ring-
ing cheer, and '

Though surprised, the sa t
to meet their fees for they cofid see that
the outnumbered them; but as they did
so esecondsquedron came in view at
full spwd and with 
the Comanches saw that they were. fairly
caught between two fires.

To fight they knew would be useless,'
and to y was theironlycourse to

and to do this they came under the fire of i

the emigrants who wild with dehght' at
a. rescue, dash’ed out in a mass and aided
the troopers.

It was no longer an attempt now at. , 

fighting with the Indians, and in wild

dismay they fled, pushed hard by the  > ,‘
torious troopers, whose carbines brought

many a red-skin and pony down.

But the cavalry horses were too'wom
out by their hard begallop to make it a. hot
chase for the res ‘
ches, and In 'un alone seemedto be fresh,
and carried ack ahead of all others. \

One by one the tree rs 'and r l
fie up the chase, and  beggar all , t
n the battle-field t0' - '

assembled u
bury the dead an care for the wounded,
for_the Indians had hit,back savagely,
while the emigrants were also sufferers
but thanked the major most warmly, an
as he told them Jack

but nowhere could he be found, and a.
gloom fell u n all, for a se cant

reported that ewas lastseencoseon e,

heels ‘of the Indians, and alone.

Brave as the boy was, theyall knew he ' i  I
was not foolhardy enough to continuethe ' " r
chase alone, and all feared the worst had  -

ha pened to him, and the major ye
gardens for rations to be cook, ed’and of? to
, ready to star-tat the fizz-stdawn' of day
to hunt up the missing young scout. ,

:1

fly over the rise a»
squadron of cavalry charged upon them. I

ponies of the Coman-  

was the one to f
thank, he looked around for the youth, '

of ‘

cheers and, 3 1 

wimp, I “. H ’3

  

['10,

 

 

'  Jack, the  '

 

 

_ , A. CAPTIVE.
THE cause of J ack’s not appearing Was

veg easily accounted for to him, and the
‘ fa t

lay with the clay—colored mustano‘
.Injun, as the boy called his captured

‘, z'pon .
The trouble was the mustang “ felt his

oats,” so to k, from having had two
months’ rest, plenty of food and good
care, and the gallop of twenty miles to the
aid of the emigrant train was to him but
a re aratory run for a long trip.

ether he recognized by instinct old
friends in the Comanches Jack did npt
knovwbut certain it is he quickly dis-
tanced the troopers, and gave Jack such

V am le opportunit for drawing a closer
 ‘  u'on the

w

I

ying Indians, that for

awhile 1e youn scout was deli hted.
But at last, ddscovering that 6 alone
was driving several hundreds of red-skins
~ before him, he became fairly frightened

, at the immensity of the undertaking, and

'at once drew rein on his pony.
But,drawing rein on InJun was one

thing, and stopping Injun was another.
The harder e ulled the more the

mustang seemed to 'ke it, and Jack soon

'realizedthathemi htaswelltrytostop

the “Injuns” in ' frontas the Injun
' he rode. 1

His mouth was a hard one, and Jack
had, inhis haste, not put on his Mexican
bridle, which was a jaw-breaker. and
which the mustang realized. .

’He tried every art known to riders, but
that; were of no use; then he tried to
m e Injunafio inan oblique direction,

' . buttonoav

  
   

’ v’fF to, stop and give an entertainment with

,x v the
' ,not ‘0 that until the last.

As he drew near the Indians Jack

, thought that he w0uld jump off and walk

back; but he did ‘not wish to lose either
ny or his fine saddle, and would

. ' But the last soon came and the young
scout knew he must jum , for there were
 Gomanches not fifty yer ahearPof him.
» ,He .feared he would ,break his neck,
and expected to break an arm, or his

 .1 rifle; but he was in a desperate situation
' f and , it r

' d desperate measures to

He slun his rifle u n hisback, fasten-
m% it to is belt, an was preparing to
an e off when suddenly behind him came
a Score of horsemen, having turned into
the c from one side.

v At first his heart gave a leap of joy, for '

he‘ thought they must be troopers; but
~ thenext instant showed him his mistake,
as lid ~was surrounded by Comanche war—

riors; the sentinels of the party who had ,
r assayed, and consolidated, to join in the '
a fight or

flight with their comrades, as the
ease might be.
Instantly their keen eyes saw that he

/ we a pale-face, and almost as quickly he

‘ ,knew that he was a captive, for they

:r”

i )

threw their lariats around him as they

rode, and soon had him at their mercy.
Fortunately for Jack the Comanches

weretoo much taken up with their flight,

him, and when after an all~night ride they

' I saw his face, they concluded to carry him

T Comanche tongue,an
and un e

on to their village in the mountains, for
they recognized in him the youth who had
so 'cleverly esca ed from them some
mentth before, beendes raisingalod - is
of mourning for the warriors he h  .
Jack .was not a roficient in the
yet he saw, and
rstcod enough to know

y regarded him as a valuable

(

that:

x

 

prisoner, and‘ he regretted that they held
such a high 0 inion of him, for it would
be that much r for him to get away,
for, from the momdt of his capture he
had been plotting an escape. ‘

But into the Villa he was taken, and
when the stay—at-ho e braves and the
squaws heard of the defeat of the war-
part , and the capture of Jack, he did
not ow whether they felt more sorrow
for their losses, or more joy at his being
a prisoner.

He was of course subjected to insults
at the hands of the squaws and children,
his hair was pulled until he thought each
old hag and pa poose would get a separate
scalp-lock, an it was a relief to him to
be at last taken to the ard tepee and
thrown in, securely boun hand and foot.

CHAPTER XV.
‘ UNFORGUI‘TEN.

So thorou hly worn out was Jack,
by all he e(passed through and not
having regain all his strength since he
was wounded, that he went into a sound
sleep as soon as he was left to himself.
for the stolid, hideous ard just outside
the tepee let him severe y alone. _
1ialhie was awakened by hearing in Eng-

“ Boy, you’ve got into the hands of the
Philistines I see.’

Jack was slightly bewildered at first,
but soon regained his scattered senses,
and saw seated on the und near him a
small, wiry—looking In ' n, as he appear-
ed at the first glance, but whose White
face was soon visible here and there
through his war-paint.

Jack 'had often heard stories of White
renegades having had to fly from their
own race to the Indian camps, and at once
set this man down as one.

Determined not to show what he felt,
he answered indifferently:

“Yes, the red Philistines have got me
sure.” .

“ Where are you from?”

“The River Fort.”

“ Ah! you are not a soldier?”

“ No.” I ‘

“What then?”

“ A scout.”

“Rather oung for tha ."

“I am 0 d enough, and from present
pros ts as old as I’ll ever get to be,” was
the aconic.re 1y.

The ren e laughed at the remark,
and said: , '

“You take it cool.”

“ What’s the use to take it otherwise?”

“That’s so; but the reds will make it
hot for you.” '

“I expect that.”

“ They think of making an example of

ou.

“That’s what the teachers used to do
with me," and Jack laughed at the re-

‘membrance of the floggings an old maid

teacher and a dominie were wont to give
him and, as they said:

“ Make an example of him for the other
Sara" n a

, you areame one sure sea

the renegade. my ’ ,

Jack made no reply, and the man, af~
terdattentively regarding him for awhile,
sai - ‘

“ How long have you lived in Texas ?”

“ A car and a half.”

“Where did you come from?”

“ say, Mister Renegade, there are more
questions in you than 1n acatechmn.”

o

 

: The man again laughed, and said in a

not unldndly tone:
“Answer me a few questions.”
“You are worse than a pump; but
3n with your catechising," said "Jae?
0g . .
“ ell, where are you from?”

“ Texas.”
“gut before you came here?"
c irginia'n
(4 Ah I"
‘ “ Is that s rising?”
“No, only thou ht so.”
“You must be a ankee for guessing

then before you turned In ‘uh.”
“I am, or rather was; ut suppose I
tell you where you live in Virginia?”
“Go ahead, and I’ll be you that In-
jun’s scalp out yonder against your own
you can’t.”

“You live not far from the James .

River in Vir ‘ 'a a lon da ’8 'ourne
above Richmgolrlid.” g I y J y

“ Go out and scalp the Injun, for you’ve
won ” said Jack, in rise.

“ You’live in a fine 01 -fashioned house,
and' on went to a country 10 cabin
schoo about five miles from your ome.”

“Say, mister, who are you?”

“ Your name ” continued the renegade,
slowly, while his eyes were riveted :11
J ack’s face, “is John Omohundro, and
you’ve got a good old father and mother,
and some sisters and brothers with as big
a heart as your own.” I

“ You’vegot ‘em down fine, pard,” said
Jack, but he was touched by this refer-
ence to the far—away home and those he
loved so dearly. _

“I have cause to remember you, and
them, too.” ‘

“Id like to know what it is, for if 1
know you I don’t recognize you in that
Injun rig.”

“You know me, Jack.” ,

“ThenI am awful so to see you a
rene ade, old man,” was ack’s blunt re-
join er.

The man fairly started at the words of
the young scout, and said, in a voice that
slightly trembled:

“Boy, you can be no more sorry than
am I, but evil companions in outh, card-
playing and drunkenness, maths me what I
now am, a white man afraid to live

among his own race, and herding with‘

savages." o

“Yes, whisky and cards are the ruin
of many,” said Jack, in a moralizing tone,
and hardly knowing what to sa , as the

man’s manner and words made 1m pity ‘

him deeply.

 

CHAPTER XVI.
A RENEGADE’B HEART.
BUT though Jack pitied the renegade,
he pitied himself the more, and said, as a
hint~

“ Well, old man, 1 am sorry you have

become so wicked as to see those red-skins '

kill me.” '

“ Bo , you asked me if you knew mes
and I’ tell _ ou‘who I am.”

“ That’s what I’d like to know.” "

°‘ Do you‘remember one day, some two
years ago or more, when you were at
school and kept in for some trick you
had played on the teacher, you were
standing at the window during thé‘noon-
day recess, looking wistfully out at your
comrades at 13. i .

“ I remember so many occasions of that
kind, old gentleman that I fail to recall:
the exact day to
sponded Jack, With honest 

\ .

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which you refer,”re- '

 

 

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and :-

 

ve
ith ‘
iin
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sde,
is a

ave
nns

mes

 

two
e at
you
were
con-
your

that
wall
," re-

w . . x

' 6
/

l

Texas J aok. MufitfingK-mgr. \ 

.c,

 

 

thelen a mums
alon , , sic an wre I an

could hfilgyegvalk, and the childmn be-
gantohallo at him, and because he got
angry some of the larger boys stoned
him ’

“ bh! I remember that man,” said the

“It was one da

young scout.
r “You have cause to, for (you sprung
out of the window, knocke down the

big boy that was stoning the poor wretch
and uncaring what your teacher would
ut him on your horse and walked

. 535’ P . .
by his aide the five miles to your home.
spite of his rags he was a human

5‘
In
being, sick and need , and your good
parents made him we come, and you all
cared for him until he got well, and then
gave him some clothes, a few dollarsm
money, and let him on his wa With
far less bitternessinhis heartthan 6 had
felt before _

“ Jack Omohundro, I was that misera-
ble tramp.”

K t  ?” ' .

"‘Yes, and morerat that time I wasan
escaped convict, for m hand had taken
life when I Was mad ened With drink,
and I hadbeen sentto prison to serve out
the end of my days.

“ I was happy at first in saving my

~nwk from the gallows; but as the da s

and nights came to me in my lo'nely ce ,
I wished I had been hanged, and then

the feeling took possession of me to es
‘- ca . .
ReI plotted night  day, and at last

hit upon a Ian and did esca ,but in
doin so I ed the keeper, smiles hunted.
man wandered through the country and
was On my way to this State when you
kindly'cared for me during my weeks of
sickness.

Leaving you I tramped on South, but
it seemed to me that in evrey town I went
to I saw some one I had known before,
and when I came here to Texas I was
recognized by a man who had been a wit-
ness against me, and I lied to these red-
skins to save my miserable, worthless life.

“There is a. reward for my recovery,
tals, you know Where I am you can
ge 1 ’ .

“ I don’t want blood—money, Joel, for
I remember you now, as that was the
name you gave me as your own.”

“I lied to you about my name, Jack!”

“I don’t care; you’d be as wicked
under any other name. ‘ '

"‘ Besides, if I did feel mean enough to

'betra you I don’t feel exactly in good

healt in self in this camp.”

“ I un erstand you; but I will save
you, if in my wer.”

“ If you do, oel, I’ll just go round the
country hunting up tramps to be good to
in case of future accident to yours truly;
but do on think you can work it?” and
Datum y Jack felt the deepest interest in,
the renegade. _

“ I am a chief'here; the third in rank
in the tribe.”

“Then you can do it, I guess.”

“ In one Way I may be able.”

“I’ll hel all I can.”

“Well ’ve got to recognize in you a
younger rother—” ,

“I see, a. long lost brother with the
Strawberr mark on my left arm.”

“ Boy, his is no joking matter, as you
may find out.” . -

I think I know that, Joel; well, I’m
to Pgour brother?” . _
_ 98, and youareto beWillmgtore-
mam in camp with me.” '

 

 

“ But I ain’t.” i
“ For awhile you must; and play good

Ingun, too. .

‘I’ll haveto kill myself to beadgood
Injun, as live ones I’ve seen have got
the devil in them.”

“ You’ve certainly got your share,
Jack; but you must pretend to be an
Injun, and watch your chance to, escape;
but on must make me a promise.”

“ hat is it?’ . .

“ Notnto guide the soldiers against this

“Now I must have the promise; you
can fight them whenever you catch them
away from the village, but not come
here with the troops. '

“Will you make it?”

H Yes. H ‘

“Then I will use all my influence to
save ou. '

“ ow, I must and have a tall: with
the chiefs, and tel them who you are.”

“I guess some of them know me,” was
Jack’s laconic remark.

“Allof them know of you and fear
you, for your deeds have been reported.

“Inhan anhourorsoIhopetob
you good news, so keep up a good heart. ’

“I’ll do it, Joel, for I am not the kind
of boy to get blue because it’s cloudy
weather.

“ But don’t forget that Injun’s scalp is
yours, so take it as you 0 by and he’ll
stop watching me ” and ack pointed to
the Indian aid outside of the tepee

' whohadwatc ed him continually, though

without seemin to  him. i

Jack remaine certainlyin better, spirits
than before, and sat pondering how a good
not in his ounger years was bringin
forth cod. ii'uit then when he so muc
need aid. '

True to his promise, the renegade chief
came back, said a word to the Indian
guard, unbound Jack’s buckskin bonds,
and led him to the medicine-chief, where
a dozen stern—looking, savage-faced chiefs
sat awaiting him.

Jack was resented to each one of them
as White -* olf—the rene ade’s brother,
who was very willingto ecome a 'good
red—skin.

Jack nodded assent to everythin ,
smiled sweetl , wrung the chiefs’ has: 5
with a gripe at made them wince, gave
the head chief his watch, another his
chain, a third a gold piece, and so on
with his penknife, ring, and other trinkets
he happened to have with him, but was
asdeaf as a whole dumb asylum when
they. hinted for his rifle, revolvers and
bowie-knife, -which the renegade had
brought from the guard tepee with him.

The chiefs put their heads to ether and
named him Youna Killer, and ack men-
tally took the oath that if he got out of
that village alive »they should all be
convinced the name did notbfilie their
wisdom in giving it to him. '

Then he was led away to White Wolf’s
tepee to dinner, which consisted of jerked
bufl’alcrmeat, a wild turkey, some corn
bread and coffee, the last mentioned Jack
readily uessed having been stolen in
some rai on the settlements.

As soon as Jack found that the squaws
and children no lon r cared for locks of
his hair, and insul him, he turned his

stay amon the red-skins to benefit, by
studying eir manners, customs, cun-
nin and a. hundred other things that

wo d benefit him as a scout.

 

He hunted-with them, fished with them,

learned the secret for trailing and under-
standing signs, and aftersix weeks’ stay
smog them, and when he had wholly
gain their confidence, bade the rene-
gade chief a quiet
mounted the verybest orsc in the
whose fine points he had studied, and
coollyrode o .
Two days after, when believbd dead by
all in the art, he was spied by the sentinel
on duty'coming atan easylope across

Apr-aims. .
though. dressed in Indian garb, he

the
was and cheer after cheeil
arose as he dashed into the fort-and dis-

‘mounted, andsaid inhisdry way: “Bo

whitewash me from head to foot, for I la
been an out and outer Injun for two
months.” '

 

CHAPTER XVII.
HOW HE GOT CHRISTENED TEXAS JACK.
SOME months after his esca from the
Indians, Jack joined a train 0 gold-seek-
ers going into New Mexico, having re-
Signed his position as scoutto go with
them in the ca acity of guide.’ ' 7
Though he id not know the country,
11:1: now felt 1Eonfidentpehenpu lzhin himself
anyw ere an e ’ 'epartyto
thefiodestination with a celerity and pre-
cision that shewed he had not been
mistaken in his prowess as a ' 'de.

But Jack did not like wor ' g in the

mines, as he preferred riding over the
prairies,’and~was constantly makin tours
about the country on his, splendi mus-
tang Comanche,’ which he had taken
from the Indians the reader will remem-
ber, in place of Injun, at the time of, his

escape.
Arriving in Santa Fe one night Jack

put up at the best hotel, which at best -

was a bad one, and sauntered out to see
the town. .
Attracted by the music he went to a
fandancro,* and paying
fee, looked on for awhile at the dance. ,
Jack was a good dancer,  flattered
himself that he could “shake a foot ”

with even a teacher or the “light fantas- I

tic,” but he knew not a soul in Santa Fe,
and had not the courage to ask any of the
pretty senoritas to dance with him: ,

One of these, a lovely gir with large
dreamgneyes, saw Jack’s ' deuce, and
behol ' g a very handsome, elegantly—
attired youth of twenty, for the youth-
looked several years older than he was,

stepped up to him and asked him to

dance with her.

Thus invited Jack res ended rom t1  i
h P $8111) X,

and he won t e admiration ‘o

senoritas and theenvy of all the men by?

his very elegant step and grace of 
ner.

Once he had broken the ice of reserve
he kept busy, but would often return and
claim his first partner, until a tall, heavi—
ly bearded man, dressed in miner cos-
tume, came 11 and said, sternly: ,.

“ Young fe OW, you are go' it a lit«
tle too lively with my girl, and want it
stopped right here.”

‘ As long
with a dance, sir I shall not ask your
consent,” was J an 7s prompt reply. ’

In Santa Fe, at that time, aword would
sometiimas bring on death and allpresent
expected trouble, for the man seem-

ed to be well known. .
But instead of flying into a
many expected, he merely said:

*AMexicaudme,orbau.

.11‘

-by one night, ,

the peso entrance,

as the senorita will honorme 7"

rage. 

s,» r

 ’  12 '
“ This is no tune to have trouble, but in
easel meet you again I’d like to know
what-to callyou. , ' ,
“My name aka, Kansas Kit.”
“And mine is Jack,” said the youth,

. uietl . .

q ‘t‘rHsdin’t’ you got a handle to it?”
' . “My name is Jack Omohundro,_.‘and I

ain’t ashamed of it, as you doubtless ' are

of yours,” and it Was evident that Jack

I

was ulgettmg nettled by the persistent and
ins t

ing manner of the man.
’f “Jack what :2”
5 ,“Omohnndro.” V
 , \ “ O—my-hun-ky-o? What aname. ’_’
n, ' ' “There’s one thing about it I hke,”
' said Jack.
' “What’sthat?”
“It’s my own, and I’m not dodging

, ‘- the law under the name of my State, as
‘ ,‘ you are.” , ' t

.'  The words came hot and were meant,
. all could see; but still the huge bully

. only said:
- , ‘ What “State might you hail from?”
'f‘I might hail from Kansas, but I
, dongs.” ' G' , * ,1
.“ ass on are a reaser. ’
. “ Yd: areya liar l”
“ Say, bog, I’ll have to clip your claws
I reckon; ut as I' wants to know
about. you for the obituary and tombstone,
Iva  ask you from what State do you
, ha“ Texas.” '
V  W ' “Ah! I has not a wordto say’ag’in’»
(,5 ‘ 'that State; and as you comes from ere
w .1 I’ll christen ou Temanack.”
,2 “ As the bullyogoke he suddenly raised
  ' ' an «uncorked le of wine he held in his
 ,hand, and bro ht it downu n Jack’s
heed, breaking eglass and dc uging him
with wine.
Down in his tracks went the outh
under the unexpected and stunning low,
and when he recovered consciousness he
found himself in his own room in the

  I hotel, awMexican nurse seated by his bed, I

 - r \ sndhisheadbound up.

 ‘ , Heasked his nurse several questions

5  , and discovered that the senorita he had

,   with had had him brought

 there and a. doctor sent for, who
‘» , dnssedhis wounded head.

. himselfu nthehard-
nesso hish ,forvasligllt headache

' was the only inconvenience he felt from
7  theblow, Jack dropped off to' sleep, and,

, when he awoke, found that it was nearly
moon of the followin , do

1 ] orn'ved and dressed the cut in his scalp,

‘   himself as well, and saun-

 out for a walk and to purchase a

‘ new 'acket and sombrero, both of which

athcl' .es of apparel he had on being badly
 with ‘lood and the wine.

,7 ‘ Having suited his somewhat fastidious

\ taste, he took dinner and then went to

v f ’look after his horse Comanche, intending

V mtakearidetolimberhimselfu .

«To his surprise and indi ion he
found his horse, saddle, and ridle gone,
. and was very coolly told by the stable—

. , man that Kansas Kit had come there and
1  9 taken them, and left word if Jack want-
 , / ed’ them he could be found at the Monte

‘ Jack at once felt, from all he heard of
the wild ,
  that‘the man was seeking trouble
To avoid it he knew he would; have to

in; nemethe Texans cell Mexicans.

 

 

,tV,

 

His head felt dull, utzvhen the doctor bull

and reckless freaks of Kansas '

 

V..

‘ ‘Téisjga’acktiiemustang mg I y - ‘I ,

leavgrdtown, and men would  him a

cow . ,

He had already been in'ured by the
desperado, whom all seems to fear, and
who had now stolen his horse and ac-
couterments and he was not the youth to

' submit  a wrong donelnm.

Going to room in the hotel he
looked carefully over his arms, and then

,started for the Monte Hall to interview

Kansas Kit.

CHAPTER XVIII.
JACK’s DUEL.

Upon arriving at the Monte Hall Jack
found that the man stylin himself Kath
sas Kit had not arrived, ut would cer-
tainly be there that evening. .

Then he returned to the hotel for so -
per, and was entertained 1) several ‘wi
stories of Kansas Kit’s de ' tr , his brav»
cry, the many men he had killed, and
how mm in Santa Fe feared him.

This ' y was not cheerful news to

ur into J ack s ears, but it did not deter

im from his intention to demand his
stolen horse from the desperado, and
shortly after, dark he went again to the
Monte Hall. ,

. The door-man told him that Kansas
Kit had gone in half an hour before and
psiying his fee Jack alsoentered the large

oon

It was a gambling and drinking saloon
combined, with games of monte, faro
and dice being pla ed upon all sides, and
there were in the 1hr e room fully a. hun-
dred, men made up 0 miners, tradesmen,
teamsters, soldiers, prairie men, and des—
peradoes, and in fact representatives from
all classes in Sante Fe.

Jack glanced, carelessly around him,
though ' eyes were searching for one
person, and as he moved through the
room he was reco ' by some one who.
had been at the endango the night be-
fore and a. voice cried: * V

“ Ilullol there’s the youn feller as
Kansas Kit baptized Texas Jan last night
with abottle 0 wine.” . .' r

“Where is he?” called out aloud voice,
and the man who had overhead the re-

had markrosetohisfeet.‘
It was Kansas Kit, the very man that f

the youth was in search of, and having
been imbibing freely he seemed ready for
trouble. '

“ I hain’t nothing ag’in’ the boy only I
borrowed his horse, and left wordwhere
he’d find me if he wanted him,” said the

y.
“And I have found yo and now ask
you by what right you take my
arse? ’ said Jack sternly. '

“ ’Cause‘ I simply wanted to, andagy
the same right I baptized you Texas J
last night; '

“Have you got anything to say ag’in’
my actims?” , .

All in the room were now attracted by
the. loud voice of Kansas Kit, and, like
men accustomed to such scenes, the crowd
fell back on either side, leaving the two
standing in'betwee‘n a human lane.

“ Yes,” came the reply slowly from
Jack’s 11135: K

“ Yes, I have to say that in striking me
as (you did last night you are a coward,
an in stealing my orse you are athie .”

There was no mistaking this language,
and a hum of applause at Jack’s pluck in
hurling it in the teeth of the desperado
went round the room. , .

It was, evident that Kansas Kit was
matched, for once in his life, and not ex:

 

pectinfi the warto be carried into his own
camp 6 hadbeen taken unawares, for
the youth had covered him with his
revo ver at the first word. '

Kansas Kit Was no fool, and had the

ood sense, when he saw a man “had
t e dro on him,” not to hasten the
climgin y putting, or attempting to tut

can ht helfnswered 

“cu asadtone oungs,
when on holds agll the trgu 

“ I’ say it to your face under any cir-
cumstances.” -

“ Not if_'I had my hand on my shooting'
iron}; d ,

“ es and .if on out ‘ve u m
horse I’ll make ydhl’ g1 p y
, “The horse is in my stable, and I’ll
kee him until you come after him,”
rep 'ed Kansas Kit, hoping to gain time.

“ I have come now.” _

“Well, on can’t git him.”

“Then ’11 have your life.”

There wlals not addoubt  thle mimigf
any one w 0 upon e no 1
but that he magi; what he sai , ankd 0113;
of Kansas Kit’s sycophantic , wish—
ingto rescue his riend from ' disagree-
ab ’cament, called out:

“ guesses this affair mightbe settled by
a due .” , '

“I am willing,” cried Kansas Kit.

“I don’t want to kill you. I only
want my horse ” said Jack.

“ Is you backin” pard?” asked the des-
perado. '

“From on, no; butI ama.
heme, and you insulted me, and struck me
last night, but let that ; now on have
stolen my horse, and ’11 have ' back
or kill you.”

“ I’ll play on for him.” ,

“I don’tp yeards.” '

“ Then you as to fight for him.”

“All nghtif I must; but it mustbe
to-ni ht.”

“ ow if you wish it.”

“Well, we’ll settle it here.” ’

“‘»Who’s yer friend?” rudely cried, the

desperado. - l
‘ ‘ I have no friends here, ”, said Jack, cast-
' a glance around the room, and his eyes
' only iépon strange faces.
But he di have friends there, for a.

number of those present had admired his.
pluck, and hatin the desperado, had de- '

tcrfiined to stan by the youth, and now
as e
forw and said:

“I am Captain Kennon of 'the army,
sir, and will see that at bully takes no

air advantage of y u.”

“Thank you, sir,” and Jack at once
lowered the weapon, which he had all the
while kept covering the heart of the

bully. .

“ guess I’ll settle with you sir, after
I cut that youngster’s claws,’ growled
the» desperado oifended at the officer call-
 him a bully.

‘All ri ht, 1f Texas Jack, as ou call
him, dan’ kill you, I have no 0 jection
to savin the hangman trouble,” was the
cool re y of Captain Kennon, who then
led J ac across the room' and stood him
against the wall, while Kansas ,Kit’s
second did the same» for him, for intui-
tively all present seemed to know how the
afiair was to be arran ed. ’

, “You are a good 0t?” asked the cap
tain of‘Jack. , r r

“A dead shot, sir,” and there was no

sign of boasting in the tones.

x, i

d on his own weapon, :30 t us

ke, anpfl‘icer of the army stepped ,

“You can depend upon your pistols?” I I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

' . ' 7' 1 Texas Jack, theiMustang'King. V

“ Yes, sir.”

“Thatfelmw is as quick as a flash.”

“So am I.” ,

“You will both' advance at the word,
when I give it, and at the third step com—
mence firing as you walk on each other,
and empty your pistols, if one or the
other does not fall, ” ex lamed the captain.

“ I only want one s lot,” modestly said
the youth, and CaptainKennon was evi-
dcntly pleased With 1115 protege, whose
part he had taken. ‘

The two duelists were now in position,
each with his back to the wall, and a. re-
volver in his hand.

They were about forty paces apart, and
a. lane of humanity, fifteen feet wide, ex—
tended across the room.

All present knew Kansas Kit’s deadly
aim, having seen him in many a fierce
fray; but they did not know what Jack
could do, and trembled for the life of the
da’rin youth, who was perfectly calm,
and a nost indifferent.

“ Are you ready l"

The question came from Captain Ken-
DOD.

‘ “I hm allus ready,” wan-zzKansas Kit’s
gruff mp1): , . . . -.

I am ready, Sir,” said Jack, in dis-
tinct tones. ‘

“March! one! two! three I" ‘

Both had step forward at the word
march, and as t wee left the captain’s lips
two Weapons flashed almost to ether.

But the one. that had flash a second
the quickest did the deadl work, while the
one who was hit did no arm.

, It was Texas Jack who fired first, and
his bullet penetrated the v center of
the desperado’s forehead, and aid him his
length upon the floor a dead man.

A perfect yell of de ight burst from the
crowd, for at last a. man had fallen whom
no marshal in town dare attempt to ar-
rest. ,

An admiring crowd at once pressed
around the youth, while cheers went ‘up
upon all sides for “ Texas J ack,” until he
wasglad to seek refuge in departure, ac-

companied by his friend, the captam.

“Now, my b0 I' advise you to leave
town, for that fe owls friends will assas-
sinate you, and I can offer you pot-luck
with me, for I start for fort Inge mTexas
as soon as I can get a. guide.”

“Iamaguide, sir, andwill begladto

take on there ” said Jack.
“ y the gods of war, but Iam in luck,
for we’ll start at daybreak. ”
' ‘ .“But I must answer for the ' ‘ ,of

that; man before a. coroner,” remark the
youth. , .

“ Nonsense, the town will conmder on
have done it a. favor, and the 3.1 de*
will doubtless look you upntlo give you a.
vote of thanks for rid ' g the com-
munity of a. terror.

“ Cosme, get your horse and we’ll go to

Jack did get his horse, and before mid-
night was 881er in the' Government
camp over who _Capta.in.Kennon had
command. .

CHAPTER :15;
m MUSTANG-HUNTER.

‘ Tour: to his promise, Texas Jack—m every
one now called him, for his struuge u chmtem
ins,” and his duel and killing his “Vchrigtener’”
went through the country .nke wild-fire...
guided the Government tram wFort IInge,
though it had some narrow escapes from cap.
turn by the Indians while on routs.

, .‘A Mexican judge.

 

 

" .1... -:.

 

,l’.

And Captain Kénnon had been each day
more delighted with his young protege and
hoped to keep him with hizfi at the fort after
his arrival there. ' ‘

But Jack had a restless nature, and having
met a Mexican boom-0* who told him about
the delights in catching and taming wild horses,
be determined to accompany him upon an ex-
pedition into the mustang country, and alter
lariatirg and breaking a‘numbor of horses, to
carry them to the forts and settlements to sell,
for so far the youth had never gotten his in-
tended fortune to go beyond the figure of five
hundred dollars.

So up to the mustang country went Jack and
Mendez, the Mexican, and they went prepared
in every particular for along and thorough
hunt.

Mounted on Comanche. who‘ having been
Wild once himself, Jack felt certain would be
an adept at catching his equine comrades, he
also took with him a long-bodied American
horse of great speed, a present from Captain
Kennon to him.

The Mexican was also wall mounted, and
had a. led horse, besides which Were two pack
animals, with lariats, cooking utensils, stores,
anda small tent and blankets, with plenty of
extra. ammunition, for the wild horse region
was a good place to expect to find Indians as
well, scarcely less wild, and a good deal more
savage.

After reaching a good camping-place, the

Mexican told Jack that they could not want
any better locality for- their work, but that
there was an old hacienda a few leagues away
that was said to be haunted,- and that they
must give it a wide berth.

Now Jack cared no more for haunted haci-
endas than he did for those that were inhabited,
and he at once expressed a determination to
visit it acme time, which greatly horrified the
Mexican, who told him that. his death would
surely follow. -

Jack laughed, but went on with the work on
the camp, and by night the two home-hunters
had as nice a little encampment as heart coal
desire. ' '

It was well located onthobank of a. stream
and' on the edge of a. heavily wooded hill, while
the approach. to it was visible from every di-
rection from which danger might be expected.

Jack was delighted with the (amp, and re-
tired to rest, after a‘ hearty supper, with no
thought of danger. .

The following day they hunted for game on
,foot, to give the horses 3 rest, and the next
were in the saddle early and in full chase at a.
drove-of mustangs. r

Jack had never lassoed a wild hone, though
he had become expert with the lax-int in catch-
ing tame ones, and he was not only surprised
at his good fortune, but also .at the , perfect
manner in which Comanche behaved.

Mendez, the Mexican, was anvold mustangsr,
and seemed really. hurt when Jack brought five
ponies into the camp to his tour,‘ the result or
their day’s work. '

The next day and the next the mustang hunt
went on, and each time Texas Jack surpassed
the Mexican in numbers, and that he rode and
broke the wild adimahbetter, there was no
doubt, for he seemed to have a nackat that,
as in all other things pertaining to prairie life.

As the days progressed J uck noticed that
the Mexican’s manner changed, yet could not
account for it, and one day Mendez flew into a.
violent pasaion when the youngToxon told him
he had been to what the Mexican called the
“Haunted Hacienda.” ’ ,

“Why, Mendez, what is the matter with
you?” asked Jack, as Mendez nearly foamed
with tags.

Be” made no reply and Jack went on:

“ It’s the Hints of what was once a fine
hacienda, and the only thing I can see spooky
about iii/ls a number of saves. in' the garden,
and at night the ghosts may prowl, but I’ll
have to see it to believe it.

-‘ 'Afwfld  '

 

“But the walls are good, and with a little
patching will easily form‘ a corral for several
hundred ponies, and so I say move there."

“ Never. senor, or curses will fall upon us."

“ I’ll risk the curses, Mendez.”

“ But the ghosts, senor! the spirits!”

“ I don’t mind ’em, Mendez; in fact I want
to see a real live ghost.”

“ But we must not go, senor.” .

“We must, and I shall, while .you may do
as you please; but of late I have seen signs of
Indians about. and that haciendawe can hold
against a. hundred, while there is good water,
a fine corral, after spending half a. day’s work
on it, and I notice tl at the wild mustangs feed
in that vicinity more than elsewhere, and they
don’t seem to fear witches and ghosts riding
them on moonlight nights.”

“ No, senor, you shall not go.” * ,

“Shall is a big word to me, Mendez, unless
you can enforce it,” answered Jack.

The Mexican dropped his hand on his knife
with a vicious look; and Jack rose to his feet.
“ Look here, Mendez, I want no quarrel wi

you. i

‘ ‘ I came here at your suggestion, and I am ‘ I

making money, for I have a. hundred ponies
that will bring me twenty dollars each, and I
can catch twice as many more in the next two
months, and the hacienda is where I intend to
keep mine, so I can stand the Indians oil it ‘
they make a. raid on me. v . ’

“ If you don’t wish to come, stay here, and
I’ll give you the tent. I

“ If you wish to- come, say so; but don’t
ever put your hand on your knife to thresten
me.”

“ The senor can go, and I’ll stay here; but
let us be friends,” said the Mexican» quietly.

.“ Oh, yes, life’s too short to spend it in quar-
reling; we'll be friends, and I’ll go tothe haul
enda while you stay here. ~

“ Come over some time, .Mendez, and I’ll
introduce you to the ghosts.” ' L

That afternoon Jack drove his mustangsvovor
to the Haunted Hacienda and took possesdon.

 

CHAPTER XX.
m HAUNTED HACIENDA. , .
THAT he was-wise in taking up his abodwh
the old ruin, Jack at once discerned. . ’
In the first place it was a strong as start,
and in the next, the half-dozen acres inoloaod
by the wall were inches deep with vdvety
grass, while a stream was m, forming a ,
splendid corral for his mustangs, Which by day _
could be lariated out on the prairie. , , ' - ‘
The breaks in the wall Jack readily repfired
with saplings which he cut down near by, and
when he turned his horses in they seemed to be
delighted with the change. v ‘ ~
The best room in the hacienda and the one
fronting his corral, he took tor himself. ’ i '
_ It was large, bed a fireplace in it, and swept .
out with a bundle of switches, an impromptu r
broom, it was by no means a disagreeuble
abode. . ' . ‘ ‘
Swinginghis Mexican hammock whiw he
always carried with him, Jack arranged  '
cooking utensils and stores, reduced one-halt by , .
his division with Mendez, the Mexican, ' and

then cut wood for his flre,,for thou-owns a quail-v L  , i:

tity near by.

After his supper he sat down to meditate.
and his thoughts were first aboutohis hundred
mustangs, and Mondez’s seventy. » " .

Then they turned upon what he expected,
catch in the next two months and be calculated, ,

iftheIndians an notmnkearaidonmm,tm 7 X",

he would have A. large enough number to
bring him five thousand dollars. '

With that sum he intended to get a ranch
and buy cattle, and then he knew it would
only take him a few years to become at floor
King-or wealthy ranchero, and wouldn’t'the
folks at home be happy in his good We!

' From thesepleasing “castlesintheuir,”.laok
turned to the hacienda, and could not l refrain
from listening, in spite othlmself, to see-it he
could hear the ghost: «'1' their?an mil!-
night prowls.

13', 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i4

V to hadbo

 

 

it, p,

a

 

Taxes Jack, the Mustang King.

 

. He was lying quietly in his hammock, and
‘without all was dark, but “the door was open,
and somehow ,the hour and scene would con~
jute up in his mind the weird stories told by
Mendez the Mexican about the old place, of
how, one night, a wealthy Texan, who had
married a lovely Mexican girl, was murdered
there with all his family, and the place sacked.
‘ It was said that the Robbers of the Rio
Grand“ had done the red deed; but no one
seemed to know, and in that wild country few
seemed to care, and the heirs not claiming the
hacienda it was allowed to go to ruin.

~ - Suddenly Jack, who glanced toward the
door, saw a human form.

But, ere he could grasp the pistol by his

side, or rise, there came a flash, and he sunk
back in his hammock.

 

CHAPTER XXI.
gran mnxrcsN‘s SECRET.

WHEN Jack fell back in the hammock, a.
second shot came, which seemed to pass
through his body. .

Then, as though satisfied with his work the
assassin entered the room with stealthy trend,
and approaching the fire, threw on afew sticks
that made a ruddy blaze. '

He then, in the same stealthy way wont up
to the hammock and muttered as he gazed
upon the result of his shot:

“Good aim that, for the first bullet went

. through his head, and the second struck him

‘ about here," and he laid his hand over the

heart of Jack.
“ He would come here and so his fate rests
on his head. r .
‘5 I rather liked the boy, and would have
gspared him, if only for the good he did for me
in cbming here, for I would not, as a Mexican,
dared come this far into Texas country, and it
was a good scheme of mine to play on him to

- , come here that I might accomplish my ends.

“ Nowl must get to work, and this night I’ll

start‘for the Rio Grande, and get across with.

my drove, and they’ll bring me a goodly sum.
, f‘But the boy has a watch and chain, and
diamond studs, and a couple of hundred in
mono , and I will take them, for every peso" is
valuable to me now, though time" was when I
cared not for thousands of them.”

The man, as the reader has doubtless sur-
mised, was Mendez the Mexican.

The words he uttered were to himself, as

‘ 3' V though speaking aloud his thoughts.

, As he ceased speaking he deliberater took
from the, youth a handsome watch and chain
ht in Santa Fe.

Next to owed a diamond stud from his silk

V drirtfront, and then a pair of sleevebuttons

and a finger ting, and he ended by taking the
golden:- from the Texan’s hat.
’  Gloating over these treasures, he thrust his
hand into the pockets, and drew out a roll of
' bills, with a few pieces of gold, all of which

' ’ .mm transferred to his keeping.

 Thea, without a. glance at the one he had
robbed he left the hacienda.

Hardly had he disappeared when Texas Jack
opened his eyes, and putting his hand to the
side-of his head muttered:

“Your bullet was well sent, Mendez, but
I’ve got a..th head, thanks to the knocks it
got in my early boyhood, and your lead
glanced on the skull and cut its way out,

_ though it did stun me for a few seconds.
, “Well, iIxyou am not a precious scamp I
' never saw one, and I’ll just see what you are
up to now.” ‘
, AsJaok said this he slipped out of the ham-
‘ meek, and something hard dropped upon the

E; stooped and picked it up. It was the.
‘seoond bullet, which had been caught in the

folds of the blanket, and missed its mark.

altogether. .
Going to the door Jack looked out, and
heard a dull, thumping sound. . V

'Aflexicandolar.

,.,

 

" I

i

 

“The rascal is at some deviltry,” he mut
tered. ‘

Following the sound he soon beheld him
with a lantern, digging the earth out of one
of a row of graves in the garden. ,

“ He’s digging my grave, I reckon, and it’s
kind of him.”

But Jack saw that he was digging the dirt
from a grave in which a body already lay, and
he continued :

“The lazy devil; he spares himself by dig—
ging where the earth is soft.

“ But no, he would not bury me, and as he
has a shovel, spade and lantern with him,
he either came here to kill me, or he came for
some other purpose.

“I often asked him why he brought those
digging instruments along, and now 1’11 find
out-ll

Creeping nearer Jack watched the worker
for some time in silence, and then said:

“ Guess he’s digging for the ghosts he warned
me against.”

But whatever the Mexican was working for,
he was in deadly earnest, and threw up the
earth without the slightest pause.

At last his spade struck something that gave
back a dull sound, and with a, cry he stooped
down in the grave. “

For a moment he was lost to sight, then he
reappeared, and his hands were full of some-
thing.

He seized his coat near by, spread it out be-
fore the lantern, and began to pour into it
handfuls of something that glittered in the
light, and the sight of which made Jack creep
nearer.

It was gold, there was no mistaking that,
and a goodly quantity was soon piled upon the
coat. ,

“All safe, by the saints, after the seven
long years that have gone by since I buried
them here and hid the treasure in the grave
with her.

“ Yes, here are her diamonds too, and they
are all mine now.” '

“ What will you bet they are, Mendez?”

The Mexican .uttered a wild shriek, for he
beheld Tans Jack bending over him, and the
cold muzzle of a revolver was pressed against
his head.

 

CHAPTER XXII.
ms JACK'S BONANZA.

Tmrit was enough to startle the stoutest
heart, no one will deny, to see one bending over
you, whom you had believed you had killed an
hour before.

Working as he was among dead bones, his
feelings wrought up to a high pitch by his
deeds and his surroundings, Mendez the Mexi-
can succumbed under Jack’s words and
presence and fainted.

The youth at once securely bound him.hand
and foot, and carried the grave-treasure with
his prisoner intothe hacienda.

Then he threw water into the face of the
Mexican and revived him.

“Ghosts!”

It was the first word that broke from the
Mexicsn’s lips. ‘ w

“ No, sir, I am real flesh and blood, but no
thanks to you that I am not a ghost.”

“It was a joke, senor." .

“ It doubtless was to you, but to me it was not.

“Now tell me, Mendez, who are you i”

“ A Mexican,” was the sullen reply. "

. “ That is evident, and the worst of your
breed; but who are you?"

The man remained silent, and Jack cocked
his revolver. . '

“You know my name.”

“Mendez you call yourself; but had you
over anything to do with this hcienda?"

“No.” V

“Then how comes it that you knew this
treasure was in that gravel" .

The man mad no reply. _ .

“Come, for know all, and tell me if you
were not the lover of the Mexican girl who
married your rival, the Mexican?” ‘

“Yes.” I

“ I thought so, by your words and actions.

“And you are the one who killed her, her
husband and servants?”

The Mexican made no reply. e._ - *

“Speak, sir, for you cannot make yourself
worse in my eyes than you are, and your pun-
ishment will be about the same.”

“What will you do with ‘ me?” eagerly
gasped the man.

“ I ought to kill you.”

“ Mercy, senor.”

“Well, I’ll decide after I hear all.
came here and killed them all?”

U Yes.”

“ And buried their jewelry and gold in the
grave with the lady?” 

U Yes.”

“And you made a cat’s-paw of me to get
here to this hacienda?"

H I did-”

“ Answer me."

H  17

“Now who does this gold belong to?”

U Me. )1

“ You lie, for not one peso of it is yours, and
not one dime shall you touch, Sir Robber of
the Rio Grande.”

“ You cannot prove that I am a Robber of
the Rio Grande," most eagerly said the wretch.

“No need of it, for I know enough now to
hang you."

“ Mercy, senor.”

“ Who owns this treasure?”

“ She married a man by the name of Lacey
Carroll; he was an American cadet in the
Mexican war with the States, and his family
live in New Orleansl but-oh, senor, give me
the go .”

“Not an 0113a, even to bury you; by the
way, you've dug a grave, and I guess I’d better
throw you in and fill it up. ”

“Ah, senor, for the love of God, mercy l”
groaued the frightened wretch. v .

“ I’ll not do it now, but I‘ll think of it," and
Jack dressed the wound on his head as best he
could, and getting into his hammock, was soon
fast asleep.

With the dawn he awoke, and found his
prisoner still boundas he had left him.

You

and hid it away, and after preparing his break-
fast oflered the Mexican some, which was sul-i
lenly refused. ' -

Then mounting Commohe he rode away.

In a few hours he returned, driving the
Mexican’s drove oi mustangs ahead of him,
and with a pack-horse loaded down with the
traps taken from the camp.

Having put the mustangs in the corral Jack
cooked his noonday meal and again the food
was doggedly refused. '

“ You'll eat or die, Mexican,” said Jack. and
he at once began to break up camp, and had
all in readiness for an early start in the mom-
ing. ,

“ Are you going to the settlements?" asked
the Mexican.

1; Yea” V ‘ \_ ‘

“I’ll tell you where there is a treasureif
you’ll let me go.”

“No, for I’ve got a treasure here, and I
cannot part company with you, Mendez,”

The Mexican seemed to feel that it was nee-
less begging, and said no more, and. with the
peep of dawn Jack tied the Mexican on his
horse, sprung upon one of the wild stallions,
without saddle or bridle, and the drove
moved off at a gallop, Jack shouting:

“ Hoopla! Bravo for my Riderless Regi-
meutl"

The prisoner‘s steed was tied between the
pack-horses and lit-Ought up the «rear, keeping
the mustangs in place. ,

All day be pressed steadily on, and at night
stood guard ‘over his horses and prisoner: ‘

And thus it went on camping at night until
the settlements were reached and Jack turned
his cringing prisoher over to the oflcers of the
law. From that day the name of the Mustang

 

I

[King was added to Jack’s other appellation.

Filling up the grave, he collected the gold

man“

her

self
run.

:rly

.011

the

get

ad
of

of

'\ V," l. : ., , V  - .,,

. Texas seek,“ the Musmng’ning.

>15

 

 

Readily selling his mustangs at a fair price,
he looked up and found the heir of the Lacey
Hacienda, and turned over to him the jewels
and gold of his kindred, with the true story of
their death. .

But ere Jack went on his way to the fort, to
pay a short visit to his old comrades, there
was atrial before Judge Lynch in town, and
Mendez the Mexican was summarily hanged
to a tree for his crimes, while the Regulators
turned over his share of mustangs to the yputh
as his heir, and thus he got a Bonanza, and
almost considered himself a millionaire.

CHAPTER XXIIL
THE RANcHERo.

UPON his arrival at the River Fort Jack
was most warmly welcomed by his old com-
mander Colonel Loring, and all of his comrades
that had known him as hunter and scout. '

Through visitors, trains, couriers and others
they had heard of his career, and he found
himself already famous over the Lone Star
State and everywhere known as Texas Jack,
since his duel with Kansas Kit-

Taking a friendly interest in him, Colonel
Loring advised him as to the best place to
locate his ranch, and sent a company of
cavalry with hime drive his stock, aid him
in building his cabins and to otherwise lend
him assistance. ’ - ‘

The situation Jack selected was a most do-
sirable one for stock-raising, though terribly
isolated; and miles from a neighbor; but he
was accustomed to loneliness and did not mind
that, and when he had his cabin built, his cattle
bought and branded, and all about him that he
desired, he felt indeed like a Hoof King, and
was soon spoken of as Texas Jack the Ranch
ero.

One day, some months after he had been
settled upon his much, a party dashed up to
the door, and to his —surprise and delight he
recognized Colonel Loring and a number of
officers and ladies from the fort.

They had received some visitors, in the per-
sons of several English. nobleman, who had
come to the wuthern prairies to hunt, and the
colonel advised that they go to Jack’s ranch
and he would lead them to the game. '

The young Ranchero was delighted at the
visit of his distinguished guests, and readily
made them welcome, for his cabin was large
enough to accommodate all.

He told the colonel to make himself at home
with his friends, and thentbe servants with
the party prepared a. dinner for all, which'wus
enjoyed immensely, after which they set"out
in. the moonlight listening to Jack’s stories of

rsirie life.

He told Colonel Loring that the red~skins had
several times visited. his ranch and run at his
cattle, but that he had promptly followed and
gotten back his stock, and in some cases added
another scalp to his string.

After numerous tales had been told the

retired for the night, Jack giving up his
cabin to the ladies, while the gentlemen roughed
it, rolled in their blankets out under the trees.

'- But at an early hour all were in the saddle,

and Jack certainly led them to where there
was plenty of game of all kinds.
After several days of sport the last. hunt

game round, and this hunters and huntresses

were returning to the cabin, distant ten miles,
their horses loaded down with game, when
they saw Jack suddenly stop and glance behind
him.

All eyes were at once turned in that direc-
tion, for they saw his face chmge color.

There was no reason for asking the Ranchero
the cause, for far 03 on the horizon was soar.
ing into the Heavens clouds of smoke and‘Eame.

The prairie was on fire, and the wind was
blowing directly toward them.

CHAPTER XXIV.
SELF-SACRIFICE. ‘
' AL; excepting the English nobleman knew
what a prairie fire , in Texas was, even to the
half. dozen ladies of the party.

 

 

They couldalso see that the wind was blow-
ing the fire toward them, and the roar of the
flames reached their ears. ~ I _,

“Cast oil! the game, and ride for your
lives 1” - ' -

The cry came in Texas Jack's ringing tones,
and the buckskin thongs that held the game
were quickly removed, and, as it going into a
charge, the horses bounded forward together,
for their instinct told them, too, of danger.

It was a long, long ride to the creek, just
beyond which was Texas Jack’s ranch, and
the horses were already tired.

But between them and the creek there was a
bed of tall, waving dry grass, that would burn
like ’a match, and. not a place of safety be-
tween.

On came the roaring, plunging flames, and
on rode the score of fugitives before it, the
ladies’ whips and the men’s spurs urging their
horses on. ,

All seemed well mounted, and the horses
appeared of strangely equal speed: but those
who glanced at Jack, who forced the riding by
leading, saw that he was holding back the
splendid animal he rode. '

Colonel Loring’s steed could also have guns
faster, and perhaps one or two of the animals
ridden b the other oflicexs, had they not been
held in c eck.

But four-fifths of the horses were doing their
level best, and yet the flames were gaining
rapidly.

For the first time in his life Colonel Loring
saw Jack look anxious, and it made him fully
appreciate their dan er, for he read that the
Ranchero felt the ho 5 would not make the
creek before the fire was upon them.

At last one of the animals began to fail
steadily, and drop back.

With noble-heartednels the others hung back
too, for the rider was a. young and beautiful
girl, the belle' of the fort, and the colonel’s
niece.

Shesoon realised that the others were de-
layed on her account, and said firmly:

“ Ride on and leave me, for it better be one
than all."

Texas Jack heard the words, and instantly
reined back alongside of her, and let his lash
fall heavily upon the failing horse.

But it was no use, the poor animal was doing
his best. ,

“Ride on all, we will come all right,” he
said cbeerily, and trusting in him they obeyed,
and the W0 dropped back. .

Jack had seen that the‘ party would reach
the creek, if not detained by the failing horse,
and he had determined to act promptly. '

“ How can we escape, sir?” asked the beauti-

ful girl, her face white with fear, yet still keep

ing her preSence of mind.

“ I will show you, miss,” he said, and in-
stantly he slipped to the back of his horse, and
his strong arm encircling her waist, he drew her
into the seat in his saddle.

“ Here, take the reins, please, and he’ll carry
you to the fort.”

Mechanically she grasped them, and Jack
caught the rein other horse, and at the same
moment slipped over the haunches of his mus-

‘tang to the ground.

lie chught nimny upon his feet, and checked
the maiden’s steed, while she dashed on.

“Oh, sir, what would you do?" she cried.

“ I am all right, ride on,” he answered.

She tried to check the mustang but had not
the power to do so, and on she sped.

The others saw the act of Texas Jack as she
dashed up, and halt—way drew in their homes.

What did he mean?

He would sacrifice himself to. save the
maiden. ,

But on came the flames, and though they be-
lieved they would escape they knew it would
be a hard race, and they proceed on with whip
and spur, Jack’s horse having dashed to the
front with his precious load. ' ‘—

Looking back some pf them saw the horse
by when he stood rear wildly and ran.

Then be bent over him, and then a moment

.themmfiedalrotthatcllm._m

 

after he seemed to fall too, and the flames shut
out er'view, as they swept over him.

Ano er instant'the creek was reached, the
panting horses plunged in, crosseth the other
side, and they were saved. » '

But up in front of the cabin all saw the baf—
fled flames half leap sci-pas the water, waver,
and with nothing more to feed up die away.

Then volumes of inky smoke rolled away,
and a charred plain was before them, with
dark objects here and there upon it, marking
where cattle or deer had fallen and perished.

But upon one of these dark objects all eyes
were turned with sadness, and a cry burst
from every lip as suddenly they saw it mm,
then a charred side-saddle and burnt blanks
fly each side, and a. head appear. — '

Next, up was the tall form of Texas Jack.

He had killed the horse, torn out the entrails
with his knife, and crawled into the heated
carcass, and with-the side-saddle and blanket
had protected himself from the flames. '

His hair was singed, his clothes were red in-
places and smoke—begrimed, his taco and hands
were very rosy in hue from the intense heat,
but he was not hurt, and came on at a swing-
ing gait for the ranch, where he received a
welcome that would make glad the heart at
any man. . ~

 

CHAPTER XXV. , l
CONCLUSION.

Tim heroic self-sacrifice or Texas Jack, the
day of the prairie fire, Would have gained for
him greater fame than it did, had it not been
that suddenly the breath of war swept over
the land or the North and South, andthe two "
sections became divided in civil strife.

The gallant soldiers with whom Jack had
often served, went northward with the stars'
and stripes, while be, giving up his ranch and
cattle, upheld the stars and bars which in the
end went down in gloom.

Of Texas Jack’s service as a. daring scout in
the Confederate Army I will not speak; but
with the reckless Rangers of the Lone Star
State, he won a name that was known ovorthe
South, for his experience on the prairies, his
trailing Indians, and desperate encounters
served him well in later years. -‘ ‘

At the close of the war he returned to the
State of his adoption and began’ life again Is
a cowboy, but once more to rise totbe position
of a noted scout, and side by side with Buflulo
Bill won a name that will live long in frontier
history.

0! the thrilling adventures of hislater
as scout, guide and lndian-fighter on the west--
em plains; another book might be written,
and mayhap, kind reader, will be some day.“

 

'Texas Jack diode! pneumonia. ulna leach-
Lesdv-llle. It is a. disease that is mos: prgv‘alent in
emu. ‘

m END.

DIME DlliflGllES Hill 89th

 

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