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Full Title
The Girl Cowboy Captain; or, The Skinners of the Carolina Swamps / by Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
Author
Badger, Jos. E. (Joseph Edward), 1848-1909.
Date Added
9 January 2014
Format
Journal
Language
English
Publish Date
1889-05-18
Publisher
New York : Beadle and Adams
Series
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure > v. XXI, no. 266
Source
Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure, v. XXI, no. 266, May 18, 1889. Skinners of the Carolina Swamps.
Topic
Dime novels > Specimens.
About
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Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
. The Girl Cowboy Captain. 27
hut he must pass it, or else work with his
hands toward the gamblers, when a single
glance cast in his direction might prove fatal to
his hopes.
Cautiously he rolled over the sharp stub,
though it cut deep into his back. And as he
glanced again toward the gamblers, he saw them
rise to their feet, His heart sunk Jike lead; he
believed they had d tected his ruse.
_But not so, They merely changed their posi-
tion for one where the sun had less power, and
the cards were again dealt out. A peculiar
piitter filled Winkle’s eyes, as he noted this.
e saw that he was now nearly hidden from
their view. And leaning against the bush
where they had first sat, were the rifles of the
Cowboys. It seemed as though the devil was at
length favoring his own, :
By dint of perseverance, Winkle managed to
get the cords over the sharp stub, and after
working them up and down for a few minutes,
he steadily increased the strain, until hebrought
every ounce of strength in his body to.bear up-
on the thongs. Rewarded at last, they gave
way, aud the squatter’s hands were free.
A stealthy glance around bim showed that
the gamblers had not heard the slight sound,
and then as the blood began to circulate in his
arms, Winkle cautiously dragged himself along
until a bush hid him from view of the Cowboys.
Then a minute’s eager work freed his feet, and
as the thongs dropped loose, it was only with the
greatest difficulty that the squatter choked
down the yell of exultation that rose to his
ips.
It might naturally be supposed that the first
use he would make of his freedom, would be to
flee at once from tbe spot where he had so near-
ly lost his life; but not so. The squatter’s heart
Was on fire with hatred and revenge. Before
him sat two men whose strong arms had added
to the deep bruises that scored his back, And
Ham Winkle resolved that before many mo-
ments more should pass, he would pay the
first installment of his heavy debt.
He no longer felt the pain—he seemed a new
man. And once more the crafty swamp scout,
be glided along over the ground upon his belly,
scarce making the noise that would have attend-
ed the progress of a snake, as he neared the
bush against which leaned the fire-arms of the
negligent guards.
With hand resting upon trigger and bammer
of one of them, Wiukle peered around the bush.
The gamblers were lost to all but the game be-
tween them,
His eyes glittering like those of a venomous
snake, Winkle leveled the rifle, until the drop
rested full upon the forehead of the gambler
facing him. Then the hammer was raised, the
trigger touched, and, with the report, the Cow-
boy fell forward upon the cards, staining them
with the life-blood that spurted from his shat-
tered skull,
His comrade sprung erect, glaring around in
bewildered dismay. As the second rifle rose to
Winkle's shoulder, the Cowboy caught sight of
him, and sprung forward.
Met in mid-air by the bullet, he fell at the feet
of his destroyer, writhing and tearing at the
ground around, and a wild, exultant yell—
t-
more like that of a famished beast than a
human voice—broke from Winkle’s lips. He
had dealt one blow—paid off the first install-
ment of his debt.
“'Thar’s fo’ licks paid fer!” he muttered. ‘‘ But
I mus’n’t fool here when thar’s so much work
to do afore me. Then thar may be others
*thin sound—ef so, the shots ‘ll fetch ’em here.
Pll travel.”
Selecting the best of the rifles, he flung the
other into the swamp, and then securing powder-
horn and bullet-pouch, he quickly rifled tlie
pockets of his victims, and, leaving the island,
plunged into the swamp, where he paused only
to load his weapon. Then, with it at a trail,
a stout knife at his belt, he glided along the
plain and broad trail left by the Cowboys as
they: followed the Girl Captain.
Gliding through the gloomy swamp, noiseless
as a shadow, the scout seemed scarcely human.
His head bare, the long matted hair falling
round his face in tangled locks. Naked to the
waist, his back shone gory and discolored.
Yet the lacerated flesh did not seem to pain
him. Only one thought now filled his mind or
could find place in his heart: revenge,
Unerring as the hand of.fate, Winkle fol-
lowed the trail until at the pomt where Maria
Shelby had left them. Here he paused for a
moment, and then, with a faint laugh, he rose
erect.
“The fools! they might as well ’ve left a
finger-board here, tellin’ all they meant to do.
They halted here fer a bit; the tracks show
that. An’ here is whar one person ‘lighted
an’ walked up the trail, Then the others rid
on like they war goin’ to pass by. It’s meant
to throw Dixon off the scent, They didn’t
dream o’ my follerin’ ’em. Wal, it’s one head
ag’inst forty now. ~Thar’s plenty o’ time—fu’st
T’'ll see whar these fellows hev cached.”
Calling all his cunning into play, Winkle
glided along the trail, keeping well covered,
scrutinizing the route well ahead of him, until
nearly balf-way rcund the little clearing. And
then, in the edge of the swamp, he discovered
the Cowboys in ambusb.
Peering from bie covert, Winkle marked
their position well. Tben for a few minutes
he remained deep buried in thought.
“Tell do I V-now the gal’s grit. She’s in
the shanty, waitin’ for Dixon, I know she’s
swore to kill him with her own band, an’ she’d
do it, too, on’y for me, Bnt she’s mine—she’s
got to pay for them lashes—she ordered ’em to
do it, ef ’twasn’t ber hand as laid ’em on.”
Cautiously retreating, Winkle retraced his
steps, and then glided around the other edge of
clearing, until at a side of the shanty in which
he knew there were no cbinks, First assuring
himself that no one was witbin tbe clearing, he
darted forward across the narrow open belt,
sinking to the ground among the tall weeds,
Listening intently, he felt assured that no one
had observed his action, and then he crept on
toward the dense thicket in the rear to the
shanty, that concealed the outer entrance of the
underground passage, which we have seen made
use of before. After a moment’s thought,
Winkle laid aside his rifle, with its ammunition.
‘OT won't do for to burn powder jest now,”
eo