Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 124 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

7 2ST => SSRs —— i ee ee i | , | 10 —_— -—-— rr Es ‘In the brook?’ said the stranger; “ they ain’t standing in the brook; I left them at the corner of the field.” **Hal confound you! why didn't you take them to the old place?” ‘* Iv’s the first time I ever was here ” ** Then we must have them in at once,” cried Atkins, angrily; ‘‘ 1 shouldn’t like any horse- tracks to be found up at the fence-corner in the morning; the half-breed is still in the neigh- borbood. Do you, Weston, go with him as far as the fence; Ill first step into the house a minute, and return at once. ‘excuse me, gentlemen!” he said to the two Regulato:s, as be entered the chamber again, and drew to the door; ‘'a stranger has come, who seems to be very peculiar, and insists upon seeing aiter his horse bimself; be will be in in a moment.— But, ballo! here comes the storm Weill, that does pretty well—that flash was enough to blind a man. I ean scarcely find my eyesight again.” “Iv’s singular how light it makes every- thing,” cried Curtis, looking out of a small window; ‘‘atsuch a flash one can see over the whole fields at a glance.” **Won’t you sit by the fire, gentlemen?’ anid Atkins, with evident disquietude; ‘it's safer here and more comfortabie,” ** Why not?’ responded Cook, bringing for- ward a stool, upon which he sat down, and placed his feet before the fire, . ‘‘ Come, Cur- tix, let the storm rage, aud thank Heaven that your own skin is dry.” “TI am thankful for it,” answered Curtis, laughing, as he took a flask from his pocket; ‘‘and, that you may see that I know how to prize the advantage, we will at once drink to— good heavens, what a clap!—to the fright! Where are you going, Atkins?” **T must go over to my wife for a moment— the women will be afraid if they are lett a-one. I'll be back soon,” He glided trom the door, closed it. after him, and for several seconds the Regulators remuined speechless and motionless upon their seats. Presently, however, Cook rose, and said in a whisper: “Curtis, my beart begins to beat uncom- monly. What a night this is! the flashes smell plainly of sulphur. Well, the boys in the cane- brake will be nicely soaked, M4 ““It can’t be helped,” replied Curtis, casting a keen glance around the chamber. ‘*So, then —there are two, rifles—one over each door; that’s prudent. We had best render them barmless; we sha'n’t want to use them, and, that Atkins may do no mischief with the wea- pons,” he continued, mountivg upon a chair, and taking down first one and then the other, “I think we will blow away a little of this powder from the pan—so—both loaded—whew | ——there is dust on this one, Are there any other weapons?” **T see nono,” answered Cook, seeking around in the» chamber, ‘‘unless he has concealed them,” mine the bed—under—is there none * Welt feel nothing —but—yes, here—by my soul, two pistols! Not so bad—right handy in case of need. Well, wait, rogue, we'll spoil your sport—-so—now, you are fixed: Now, I should jike to see which of these four shooting- irons will go, off first.” ‘Be particular with the pistols; a single grain will sometimes—” “| have spit. little tobacco-juice into the pans; if he should spap the triggers till morn- ing, neither of them would go off.” ‘T shouldn’s wonder if the storm were to tear the roof from the house, Did you hear that tree fall?. I begin to feel uncomfortable; I wish we had waited for a quieter time.” ‘‘My heart beats like a smith’s. hammer,” said Cook,, paciug the chamber, rapidly; ‘t we sha’n’t be able to hear the signal in this po | ‘‘That’s of no consequence—we can’t leave our posts; but, I wish I could see something — it’s so unpleasant to grope around in darkness and uncertainty, when a man knows that a lot of stout fellows are lying in ambush, and wait- ing for their prey. You feei just as you do when you are crouching in the wood, and you hear something rustling in the bushes, and you don’t know either where or what it is.” “ Or in a big cave with a pine-torch, and you hear a bear growl, and can’t find out on which side he is bid. I—that must have struck— ligbtning and thunder almost at the same in- stant—I was once in—” Assowaum, the Avenger. | ie Ee “ Do you hear nothing?” ‘No; what do you expect a man to hear in such a storm? Iam sorry for poor Stevenson and his son, Well, they won’t forget Arkan- sas.” ‘Is the Canadian with the men in the cane- brake, or have they posted him in the wood?’ ** No, no! he is with those who are to make the attack, and a stout fellow he is too. Hark! whut was that?” ‘‘T heard nothing. What will the women yonder say to it?” ‘Iam sorry that the child happens to be sick to-night.” ‘Yes, but there’s no help forit. By Heaven, that was the whistle! Now, Cook, watch sharp —the dance begins.” “Come, be quick!” whispered Atkins to Stevenson and Weston, who were waiting for him without, near the fence. *‘ When we have once got them under cover, it will be all the better, for the storm will wash away every track, But I declare it’s too bad to be out in sucharain. Joneg told me that you wouldn’t come before a week.” — ‘Oh, spare your words until we are under shelter,” grumbled the old man, affecting a surly mood; “is this weather for conversa- tion? All I have todo is to deliver over the beasts, and I wish to Satan I had left the busi- ness to ancther, for it’s enough to give a man his death to hold his back te such a storm!” ‘Where are the borses?” ** Somewhere up yonder, near the fence. My boy is with them; that is, if the poor fellow isn’t washed away.” With these words he thrust his fingers. between his teeth, and gave alow but sharp whistle. “What the deuce are you about?’ cried Atkins, in alarm, ‘Do you hear? he answers,” said the old man; ‘‘ he’s alive yet. Where is the entrance?’ “‘ Just above—you are not far from it, But, when you come again, turn off about a hundred paces further up, and ride into the brook, Do you see yonder?” “ See? see now—in such weather? Not the hand before my face, except when it lightens, But here is the boy. Heh, Ned, come here! Are you alive yet?” “Yes, father,” replied the young man ina whisper; ‘‘ byt it’s a terriblestorm—I’m almost afraid.” . “Nonsense! you’ll soon be dry again. Have the beasts kept quiet?’ ‘‘ So, so—-only the black horse shied a little at the lightning.” ‘‘That’s natural; what beast would you ex- pect tostand quiet?—But what are you doing?’ he asked, turning to. Atkins; ‘are shi taking the fence down?” * Yes,” replied Atkins; *‘I took goad care not. to make a gate up here, I place@i the feeding-troughs in tho corner. There are too many spies in the ne fps can and the. least thing unusual would excite suspicion. So— come in—take care! here are some felled trees, Ah! that flash came at the ri ight time.” ; ‘Ts the place where you hide the horses far from here?” ‘Not a: hundred paces distant. Well, that was.a clap! Let the fence lie till we return; none of my horses will apa? now; they are all standing under the shed. So, come on; this is the place,” At this moment a dazzling flash again illu- minated surrounding objects, and Stevenson saw that they were standing near a fence, which was overhung with cane that grew. on (be other side, . “Wait a minute,” said Atkins, quickly; ‘just let me push back the bars, and remoye this log—that will give usroom. So, now— lead down the beasts; no one will look for them there; and then into the house—a hot drink — fire and brimstone! what are you about? Treachery!” And he had good reason for the exclamation; for scarcely was the entrance to the secret hiding-place opeved, when Stevenson uttered a loud, shrill whistle, The next moment a daz- zling flash illuminated the place as with the light of day, As Atkins, half-blinded by the glare, looked about him, he beheld several dark forms rush toward the spot; and while the thunder rolied, crashing and rattiing along the firmament, he felt the band of the vigorous Tennessean upon his collar. But well acquainted as he was with tho localities of the place, the darkness proved of great advantage to bim. Like an eel he glided away beneath the threatening hand, and, in- ——————— <r, stead of Atkins, Stevenson grasped bis son, who had likewise leaped forward to seize the culprit. A second flash, however, betrayed the flying form of Atkins; and Weston also, who had been almost paralyzed by the first surprise, was seen running toward the spot where they had entered the inclosure, This place, however, was. guarded; and he had almost run into the hands of two men who were posted there, when another flash warned him of his danger. He turned swiftly, and endeavored to escape over the fence. But here also he heard steps and whispers; and now convinced that this was no accidental discovery, but a concerted plan of surprise, he behe'd every avenue of flight cut off, and the only hope which remained to him was that he might escape through the porch, or be- tween the house and the smoke-house, a narrow space which was almost always occupied by the dogs, and hence gain the wood, and with it at least temporary safety, At the moment that he leaped into the porch, however, and was about to pass between the two buildings, he heard the sound of furious wrestling and cursing in the chamber to bis right, in front the loud voices of approaching enemies, behind him his pursuers; and, in the anguish of despair, he rushed into the chamber of the women, who, with a cry of terror, partly: at the suddenness of his entrance, partly at the fearful aspect of the young man, started suddenly from their seats. CHAPTER VI. “My dear Mrs. Mullins, will you be so good as to pour me out another cup of coffee?” said widow Fuller, as she took the moaning child from its eradle, and walked with it up and down the chamber. ‘ How its little bead burns!” she then cried, holding the child so near the light, that its feverish face was pain- fully distorted, and it was about to renew its cries. ‘Hush, baby, hush! don’t cry! What lungs the child has got! and this is the third dose of calomel we bave given it this blessed day. Hush, baby, hush!” | «i Yeg” replied the elder Miss Hicks, while she filled the stump of a tohacco-pipe with glowing ashes, inhaling the smoke between her words to kindle the fragrant weed; ‘‘ yes—ths little creature—has—lamed all our arms to- day—poor thing!—the—” ‘““Have you any tobacco left, Miss Hicks?” asked Mrs. Kuller, as she stepped, to the chim- ney and drew a similar pipe from a crevice between the cross-brams, ‘I have only smoked two to-day. Mrs. Mullins, won't you take the child a little while?” ‘‘ Certainly,” replied Mrs. Mullins. ‘But, good heavens, how it cries! Won’t you drink a cup of tea, Mrs, Atkins? it will do you good,” ‘‘No, I thank you,” returned the latter, ap- proaching the child, and placing her ice-cold hand upon its bot brow, | ‘Alas! alas! it’s getting Worse; it will die—it can not live till morning!” “ Oh, no, there is no such danger, I’m sure!” said Mrs, Smith, endeavoring to, console’ ber, “Don’t think that, Mrs, Atkins, Ive seen children much sicker than this. Mrs, Preston’s baby had dark-purple spots on its little cheeks much worse than yours, and it cougbed harder, a a, arepe deal harder, and: still it lived—five Be it died?” said the mother, anxiously. ‘‘-Yes, alas! we did what we could for the poy creature; Mrs. Fuller there knows it, gave, it red pepper tea, until it couldn't keep it down—the poor littie thing ; and tie mustard-plaster on its back drew and drew until its little skin was red as fire, but for all that it died.” ‘“‘ And what an angel of a child it was,” in- terposed Mrs, Fuller, who had by tkis time gob her pipe lighted, and bad taken the infant in her arms again—‘‘a real cherub; it took down the calomel and oil as if it had been sy:up; and it died so easy—it was a pleasure to see it.” “Mrs. Stewart’s baby was a sweet little thing too before it died,” said Mrs, Smith; “it had just such a cough as yours, Mrs, Atkins; it’s strange how quick it comes—in the morning it was well and hearty, and in the evening ié was cold aud dead—the poor dear!” ‘‘What are these blue spots on the child’s neck?” said Mrs. Bowitt, bending down over the little sufferer. ‘‘ Where? where?” cried the terrified mother, “what is the meaning of those blue spots? -?~ (€ MICLOOKS (E(O) (0)