Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 104 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 — edged the iron door—a herculean tas« to accom- ; { i — a “‘ But I do not despair, for I have this very plish his ends, but one that he had ample time to | oe Fe the corner-stone of my freedom,” e riment on. hen at last, worn out with his «wduous ex- | ercise, Merle threw himself down to sleep, he | gvitaly smiled, as in twelve hours’ work he had | only succeeded in wearing the iron anklet smooth. But day and night he continued his work, and after three long months the iron dropped from his right ankle. Then followed three more months of weary work;and Merle was free of his chains; but he arranged them so that they could be fastened on at an instant’s notice. Half the year gone, and another month to follow in completing his tools. Then he breathed ‘freely, and’ his heart throbbed with joy. “This is the beginning of the end,” he mut- tered ‘“* Now if Felipe Cosala enters this cell, I have at least the power to kill him, ere help can aid him; then death will quickly follow for me, but it is preferable to this life in a tomb—alive, yet buried.” But Governor Felipe Cosala did not enter the dungeon when the year rolled round. Prompt to the day he appeared at the little trap in the iron door. — ‘* Well, senor, are you yet alive?” “ ~~ and in good health; I die hard, Felipe sala, Re So it seems; but you must be a mere skele- n. ‘*Seeing is believing, Don Felipe.” But the Governor did not bite at the. bait thrown out at him. ** You still refuse your freedom, senor?” “T can make no other answer than I have be- fore, Don ha “Fool! you like gold better than your life, to hang on thus; but I will conquer yet. If you have an iron endurance, [have an iron will; but ae I will be merciful, as to-night I will, be marriéd—thanks to you, for my intended wife is' the’ widow of the late Governor Guarena; ethane me a good turn, senor, when you ran fim through, and I shall sénd you a feast from the wedding-table, In nothing shall I stint you, for, if in one yeat from to-day, you do. not eld, I will wall this cell up and make it your mb, as another Governor, thinking I may have been cruel, might release you.” “You do not anticipate being Governor more than one year longer, then?” asked Merle, with appareht indifference. No, the Junta will have no members then many of the old ones going out, and I may not be able to wield them to m will resign ere I am deposed. honest with you?” * Very, Senor Governor,” d “But my abdication will n nor, for I swear to you, as I before said, if you do not make known where that treasure lies, = year from to-day I will wall you in here ve,’ Without another word Governor Cosala pe away, and Merlestood in silent and deep meditation. You see [I am ly said Merle. One mere year and he knew he would be in- deed walled - in that dungeon, which even then was a tomb. So painful were his thoughts that he took no count of time, and hours passed away. Then again came the sound of footsteps, and of more ‘than one person. . The next instant the oa trap was lowered, and a lamp shoved into é opening. ‘* Now, senor, take these provisions in. They are sent with the compliments of the happy bridegroom, his Exrcellenza Governor Felipe Yosala,” said old Lamas, Merle willingly obeyed, dragging into the opening and placing on his table fruits and con- fections, roast fowl, cakes and two bottles—one of Mexican wine, the other of liquor. The plate of cake was set upon the dish of fowl, and beneath it, the quick eye of Merle caught sight of a knife and fork, that had evi- dently been left there by the carver. ** This is an oversight, but a good one for me. This liquor is invaluable in case of sickness, but the wine I will enjoy, as the bottle will be use- ful as a scraper, when my skulls wear out,” he mutteréd, as he scraped the delicacies off of the dishes to his table. Then he passed the plates back, and said to the waiting servant: ‘Present my compliments to his Hxcellenza, Governor Felipe Cosala, and say that I drink to the happiness of his unfortunate bride.” “* Si, senor,” answered the servant; but he made the’ mental reservation to bear the mes- sane od ee the word unfortunate. d Lamas then quickly closed the iron trap, for he had been disturbed in his own feast by the coming of the servant, and Merle sat down to his supper in the darkness, for he now was able to see quite distinctly, so accustomed bad his eyes become to the constant gloom of his cell, with impenetrable blackness by night, and only the shadow of light by day. “One year—then certain death, unless I have found a way to escape. | | benefit you, se- | through the trap, for the Ee Merle spoke he walked to the corner of his celland his words were explained—a long months of tedious labor, he had raised from its lace yne of the large slabs that fornaed the ooring of the dismal dungeon! Beneath that was comparatively soft earth. CHAPTER XI A VOW KEPT. Wuen Governor Cosala told Merle that he dreaded a reaction in the Mexican Junta that would, officially, take off his head, he told the truth, for the masses of the people felt that, so to speak, ‘there was something rotten in Den- mark.” Ever quick to enter into revolution, or to draw the sword, Mexicans are yet slow to act unless some great excitement will follow, and the therefore let time settle the matter of their prominent leaders being ruled by a professional gambler. But, though Senor Jose Rozales_had left the assembly-room in amazement and disgust, at the result of, the vote cast by the Junta, he at once went to work to remedy the evil, and the result of his labors, and of other honest mem- bers, was the decision in the council that Goy- ernor Felipe Cosala should be deprived of his of- ce. But, ere this determination of the Junta could be made known to him, the resignation of that individual was sent in, with the request that, as he. had faithfully discharged his duties, in the two years he had commanded at the castle, his decision not longer to serve should be immedi- ately accepted by that august body that had given him his commission. The Senor Jose Rozales raved and swore in choice Spanish and many of his colleagues fol- lowed suit; they had hoped to disgrace the outgeneraled them, and nothing was left for them to do but accept his resignation, with or- ers to turn over his command ane the keys of the castle to General Bravo, a gallant soldier of no little renown. Anticipating what would follow after new members. had been called to the Junta, Don Felipe had been quietly making his preparations to leave Mexico and carry with him his beauti- ful wife, whose vast wealth he now held control of, and which he had been secretly transferring to the United States. But he was determined to make one more ef- fort to force from Merle the secret hiding-place of the treasure of Freelance, for he felt assured that the youth had deceived him in declaring wishes; hence I | his ignorance of it. The day before his command was to end he therefore wended his way to the dismal dun- geon, and Merle was again called to look overnor would not venture into the cell. ' As the prisoner glanced into the face of his en em strong as he was in nerve, Don Fe- ipe started back, for he beheld a face of marble whiteness, with immense eyes that looked like liquid fire, and the cheeks and chin covered with beard, while the mouth was hidden beneath a heavy mustache. Long black hair fell upon each side of the risoner’s face, and the change that two years ad made was startling indeed. ‘‘ Maldito! who are you!” cried the Governor, in a tone that slightly trembled. ‘Merle Freelance, Don Felipe. My appear- ance startles you?’ “Tt does; you have changed wonderfully,” ““Do you wonder at it—caged up in this hole as Lhave been?” “You have but to say the word to leave here forever.” “T cannot say it, Don Felipe.” ‘* Then you are doomed, is!” “« Senor Excellenza.” ‘“Where are those workmen?” “Here, Kxcellenza.” As he spoke Lamas beckoned to three men, who approached, trowels in hand. ‘« Senor Merle, these men haye come to bury you alive.” . “So be it, Don Felipe; I will never ask my life at your hands.” ** Senor, you are a fool.” ‘“ Better be a fool tham a coward such as you are, Governor Cosala,” Don Felipe did not like to measure words with Merle, for he knew well his quick wit and ready satire, and he said, angrily: “To your work, men.’ Then, from barrows in the passageway, large stones, and mortar, were brought, and the three men set to work. The cell in which Merle was confined was at the end of the passage, just around a corner, and off by itself, so that the wall could be run up across the narrow tunnel, for it was nothing more, that served as a hallway, and the dungeon be entirely cut off, leaving no sign of the black hall beyond, in which so many poor creatures had already met their death. The men set nimbly to work, old Lamas hold- ing two lamps for them, and Merle watching their every movement from the narrow opening haughty and irrepressible gambler; but he had: : mn Sst Montezuma, the Merciless. in the iron door, for they were within four fers of bim. With folded arms and a diabolical ression upon his dark face, Don Felipe watched. the workmen, until the wall was four feet high. **Now, senor, you see Iam in deadly earnest? “You always have been, Don Felipe,” was the cool reply. “‘In three hours more you will be shut out Rar the earth, and that Bienen will be your tom “To-morrow the new Governor comes in possession of the castle, but yon need expect no rome | from him, for he will. not_ know you are ere, ‘* He will be a poor Governor if he does not acquaint himself with the secrets of his cells,” quietly returned Merle. ‘‘ He doubtless will do so; but there 2ill be no cell here.” ‘I judge not, from the way your hirelings have obeyed your bidding the past hour,” *“ Caramba !” ‘and Don Felipe took a few steps up the, corridor and back. “These men will wall you out of the world senor. For not remembering anything about it I pay them a very handsome sum; while old Lamas, here, who will turn over his keys to a new jailer, will tell him that the sea beat in this end of the corridor and the Governor Cosala had it walled up on that account—gold buys the old man’s tongue, senor, ‘* You see now there is no hope for you—wn- less you tell me that which I would know,” Governor Cosala spoke the last words slow- ly and with perfectly distinct utterance; but Merle’s reply came ain ly : “Go on with your work, Felipe Cosala; the wall will shut out sight of you and the sound of your voice.” “You will die of starvation.” **So be it.” : “Inch by inch you will die; shrieking for food, but with no ears to hear your cries, and in your own agony gnaw your own flesh from your. bones,” “You draw a hungry picture, senor,” “You will go mad, and endure the torments of hell ere death comes to your relief.” “When death does come, Felipe Cosala, I will meet it as I have lived—without fear; but, ah! if I had you within reach of my Own right arm the prayers of angels would not stay my hand until 1 was reyenged on you. “You can me, fiend that you are, but you cannot break my heart,” Merle turned away from the door of his dun. geon, and the workmen, at a stern order from e cruel Governor, went on building the solid wall, that was to bury a human being from all hope of life. he clink of the trowels, the low voices of the workmen grew each moment fainter and fainter and soon no sound was heard; the silence of death reigned in the dungeon. Then Merle arose and approached the opening in the iron bot and & forth with his star- ing eyes in e ess. ' K thoriens he looked before him, and then from his inmost soul seemed to come the words: “Tam walled in; Felipe Cosala has kept his vow. ” ie aie CHAPTER, XII. RETRIBUTION. Hap Don Felipe Cosala, with his usual cau- tion, thought it necessary to examine the dun- eon in which his prisoner was consigned to death, a strange sight would have met his as- tonished gaze; but, feeling that there was not the shadow of a chance for even a bird to esca from that cell, he had not had an idea of glanc- ing into the dungeon, and he walked away from the t with the joyous feeling that he had y avenged himself upon the prisoner, even though he had lost his treasure. | But, as the old Spanish proverb says: “La gente pone ¥ Dios dispono,” (Men pro- pose, but God doth dispose), so it was in the case of Merle, for Don Fel pe, had he searched the dungeon, would have found that it had greatly changed. . The walls seemed coming the unfortunate prisoner, for greatly decreased in size. The secret of this decrease was that soft earth had been packed up against the stone walls all around, extending out a distance of two feet and reaching to the ceiling, and so securely and jy compressed in place as to look like the wall itself, Then, beneath the table, firm and solid, was a ° mass of earth, and under the broad bench, that served as a couch, the space was filled up with dirt. The secret of all this, re Gist a very deep hole was in one corner of the dungeon, from whence the earth had been taken, and duri the last year of his confinement Merle had worked fifteen hours out of twenty-four for freedom, but always in his cell at the hour old yames made it.a rule to come with his meals. ms Mice, HS had bth eareaiigeg ety nee had un more c e at su posed it to be, Beene was a man of indomitabhe will, and had never hesitated after he had ether to crush e dungeon had cour Ghoo €om S) (E()