Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 124 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

w~ farewell glance upon the spot which had so long afforded him shelter against bis pursuers, muttered a bitter curse between bis thin, pale lips, and then disappeared as he had cowe, quickly and noiselessly, in the dense, impen- etrable gloom of the forest. CHAPTER VIL. Tue ‘‘Cross-Oak ” was a place well known to the hunters of the La Fave. It stood not far from the banks of a small pond, on the edge of one of the many ‘slues,” or swamp- brooks, that intersected the bottom-lind, near a dense cane-brake, which, set on fire during the preceding year, probably by the negligence of some hunters, now offered a desolate picture of scorched and half-burned canes, through which the young, green stems were just be- ginwing to force their way in single, scattered places. The bough of a tall persimmon-tree, whose top had been riven by the lightning, had*fa!len between the forked branches of a neighboring oak, thus forming a cross, which, though rude in outline, was easily to be recognized, Rawson, especially in earlier times, had often held camp-meetings here, and, as well as Cotton, was accurately acquainted with the spot, in the vicinity of which a great number of deer were to be found, and now and then a stray bear. The hunter had reached the place about an hour before the time appointed by Rawson, and was now walking rapidly and restlessiy along the steep bank of the slue, ocrasionally casting impatient glinces toward the quarter from which he expected his com- rade to appear; while he listened shyly and cautiously, now on this side, now on thet, as if he feared the sudden approach of danger. A dry branch was now heard to crackle, and, like a serpent, the hunter glided behind a fallen tree, where he lay motionless as the wood that concealed him, Presently, however, he bebeld his anxiously-expected comrade ap- proach, and he started quickly from his hiding- piace, and hastened to met the new-comer. ‘* At last you bave come!” he cried, moodily. “‘T have been suffering all the tortures of the d—d here for the last half-hour.” “You have no reason to find fault; I am here considerably before the time, It can bardly be more than balf-past eight, and you know we were to meet here at nine,” ‘Yes, perhaps never to see each other again!” ‘‘What has happened?” cried Rawson, in alarm, who now remarked the pale and agi- tated features of his comrade and associate. ‘¢ You look as if you had lost a friend. Have the Regulators—” ‘¢| wisb, by Heaven! it was nothing more than the loss of a friend,” replied the hunter, between his set teeth. ‘‘The infernal Regu- lators have, in some way, got wind of our secret, and have surprised Atkins’s house.” ‘Thunder and lightning!’ exclaimed Raw- son, anxiously. ‘* And has he confessed?” “T hadn't the curiosity to inquire!’ mut- tered Cotton. ‘Johnson, too, must have fal- len into the hands of the accursed Indian; for he went out to dispatch him, and—didn’t come back.” ‘* But how do you know that Atkins—” “(Seeing that Johnson didn’t return, I went yut to look for bim, but I found no signs of him; and then went over to Atkius’s, to tell him of my fears. But there seemed to be a strange confusion about the farm. e horses were galloping, wild and shy, around the in- closure; and, gliding along the fence, until I came to the secret entrance, I found it open, This, of course, increased my suspicions; but I determined to try and approach the house, and I gave the signal several times. “For a long while it wasn’t answered, and at last answered wrong—only three times, I was now convinced that there was some treach- ery on foot. Il lurked for a considerable time about the farm, and, notwithstanding all my care, had nearly fallen into the hands of the knaves, who bail posted themselves on all sides; for as I was about to turn acorner of the fence, number of dark figures rusbed from their am- bushment, and threw themselves upon a single man, who, to judge from bis voice, could have been no other than Weston, I at once took to my heels, as you may easily suppose. I ran back to Johnson’s hut at full speed, concealed everything that was of value to us in the hol- low gum-tree, which stands near the house, close by the river, took my weapons, and set | Assovaum, the Avenger. the nest on fire. My only hope then was to find you.” ‘Bat what shall we dof’ asked Rawson, walking back and forth, in fearful agitation. ‘‘Suppose the prisoners should betray us? Where is Jones?” ** Probab'y in the hands of the Regutators,” replied Cotton, grinding his teeth with fury; at least I think so now—otherwise be would have returned.” ‘* We must fly, then,” said Rawson; “ there is no other way. There 1s still time.” ‘‘But how? They will pursue and overtake us.” ** We can’t of course, go on horseback,” re- joined Rawson; ‘‘now that the yelping hounds are once awake—we should have them too soon upon our heels; and, after this rain, we should leave tracks behind us an inch deep. But my boat is the thing for us; the river is still pretty high, and, as there is nobody in Harper’s house to-day, we can perhaps reach the Arkansas undiscovered. Afterward, we shall have no difficulty, By to-morrow morn ing we shall be at the mouth of the Bayou Meto; we will put in there, and then we are safe.” “But your bride—and mine? Ellen will grieve terribly,” cried the rude hunter, with a laugh of mockery. “It's too late to think of them,” replied Rawson, ‘‘Thunder and lightning! to see such a morsel snapped away from a man’s lips! But my neck is dearer to me; and I doubt if they would stand on much ceremony with us if we were once in their clutches. If we were to be delivered over to the courts, and regu- larly provided with lawyers, I would still say, ‘Let us wait—it will be time for flight by-and- by;’ but as it is, the d—1l may trust the scoun- drels not, I!” Luckily, everything is ready; and as soon as we reach the house we can— But, confound it! I expect visitors; I had forgotten that. ‘‘] must go alone, Cotton,” he continued, turning to the latter. ‘‘Roberts’s whole family, with Barker and Harper, are prepar: ing toset out for my house. I must prevent it. I will invent a pretext on the way, by which I can persuade them to wait a while, and let me go on before them, Uf we can but gain a single hour's start, I fear nothing more, then we are safe. Make, therefore, with all speed for my house, for though I have first to go to Roberts’s, yet I shall get there pretty nearly at the same time as you do, for my horse is good, and if he will but hold out to- day, he may break down when he will.” “But if I get there before you?” said Cotton; ‘for, believe me, I sha’n’t stop on the way.” ‘* Mount by the ladder to the upper part of the house; there stands the little chest, ready packed for such an occasion; 1t contains all that we shall need on our journey.” ** and the signal?” * You will see me come; the house commands a view for several hundred paces round of the little knoll on which it 1s built.” ** But it isn’t right to leave our comrades so in the lurch,” said Cotton, thoughtfully. “Who knows but we could be of use to them, if we should remain here all night. There are many farmers hereabouts that wish us well, and are ready to lend us a helping hand; but how can we expect them to stir when we take to flight at the first alarm?’ “The d—] take your scruples!” cried Raw- son, impatiently. ‘‘ Do you think that { mean to interfere, when, perbaps, Weston and Jobnson have already confessed, to save their own hides? Confound me, if I thrust my neck into the noose, merely to see how a couple of others that I can’t help, have got into it. I shall be off—you can do as you please.” ‘But you don’t know whether your name has been mentioned. You remember our oath?” “Oh, yes—all of it, very well—but the d—l may trust to the oath, not I. It wouldn’t be the first that a black hickory stick bas broken; and didn’t you say yourself that Jobnson was afraid of being betrayed by that infernal red-skin? The same thing threatens me, only in a still worse degree. If the Indian hadn’t shown himself again in this part of the country, perhaps I would have ventured it, and staye}. But I can’t remain to be dogged for- ever by that vengeful, skulking rascal; there- fore, I shall quit the field. Will you go with me or not?” “‘Why, of course, I sha’n’t leave my fingers in the broth alone,” replied the hunter, gruffly. 13 ‘‘T find it comfortable enough here on God's earth, and I hav’n’t the slightest thing to look for with my eyes staring out of my bead, and my wueck close under the branch of an oak, Let us start, then—but whither?” *‘T am going to the island,” said Rawson, resolutely; ‘where are you bound?” ** We shall have time enough to consider on the way,’ replied the hunter, evasively; ‘‘ but first of all, let us quit this place; for any other, even the Arkansas yenitentiary, is safer for us at this moment than the La Fave. But come soon, and don’t keep me waiting long. I shal] feel rather uncomfortable if I have to stay there for an hour, I should fear every moment to see the house surrounded by Regula- tors.” “ Never fear; I'll be there soon enough I hope the Robertses hav’n’t s'arted yet, for their presence might be a seriovs inconvenience, I’) be with you as soon as my horse can carry me there. After all, ’m half giad that I can at last throw off the preacher’s mask; tor the last two weeks especially, it has been terribly wearisome,” ‘*T only hope that the air of Arkansas may suit you better unmasked than masked,” re- plied Cotton, as he drew irom beneath a thick growth of green briers and creeping plants, a bundle of clothes, wrapped in a coarse blanket, and threw it aoross bis shoulders—‘* So! now I am ready for the journey,” be coutinued, easting arounda shy side-glance; ‘‘ follow soon, Good-by |” **Good-by!"" answered the preacher, as he gazed long and thoughtfully after him, until he had disappeared behind the thick papao and sassafras bushes, Then he hastened to his horse, which stood grazing quietly, leaved into the saddle, plunged his spurs into the beasi’s flanks, and galloped as repidly as the under- brush permitted further into the wood, toward Roberts’s dwelling. CHAPTER VIII. Borns Harper and Barker, but especially the former, had accepted Mrs. Roberts's invita- tion reluctantly, yet it had been given with such warmth and heertiness that they were unable to refuse, and they at once prepored to saddle and bridle their beasts, that they might not keep the party waiting. It was with an air of restless anxiety, that Murion made the necessary preparations for a step which wis henceforth to remeve ber from the bouse of her parents, and this emotion was so evidently imprinted upon ber features, that even the rude and careless Barker remarked it, and spoke of it to Harper. ‘*Pahaw! nonsense,’ exclaimed the latter; ‘it’s all your imagination.” Mrs. Roberts, who had a thousend things to prepare and pack, had gazed for a while with evident impatience at the dilatory proceedings of the men; at last, her accustomed restiless- ness, her desire to do and arranze everything with her own bands, gained the ascendency, and, rising from ber chair, she turned to Marion and Ellen, and said, as che took her daughter’s bonnet from the nail on which it hung: **Come, children, put on your hats and be gone; Lam tired of this bustle; I have a beap of things to get together and take with me, that are indispensable to a well-regulated household, and that are seldom found in a bachelor’s dwelling. In the meanwhile, as soon as Mr. Rawson returns, Sam will take the baskets upon his horse, and we three will fol- low you immediately, You can chat together there, as well as here, and we won’t keep you waiting long.” Nothing could be said against this arrango- ment; even Harper made but a few feeble remonstrances, and soon the little cavalcade, headed by Roberts and Barker, set itself in motion. In tbe meanwhile, Mrs. Koberts bustied around with the greatest activity among jugs, and chests, and boxes, taking out a multitude of utensils, which she found her- self obliged to return to their places, as it was impossible to transport them all to Marion’s new abede. She bad already unpacked the three baskets for the third time, to fill them anew, when, suddenly, the figure of the In- dian appeared at the threshold; his eyes shone so earnestly and darkly, beneath bis wildly waving hair, that the good dame actually ut- tered a slight ery of terror, or rather of sur- prise, and almost droppéd from ber hans an earthen vessel, which she bad filled with dried peaches, eS “ Ah, Assowaum!” she said, at last, with @ AMICELOCIC) iGO (c Sale (0)