Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 124 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

18 | Assowaum, the Avenger. ‘Loose my hands also,” whispered Marion;} In doing this he had turned his back to the | in order to avoid the first assault, hoping, per- “T am almost dying from pain and terror. “Be quiet, he’s coming this way,” said the cautious Ellen, as. Cotton approached, without beeding them, however, to watch his enemies on this side. Fearful of exciting suspicion, itea did not change her position in the slight- est degree, but glanced anxiously around to | see where the nearest weapons were lying, that, in case of need, she might grasp a knife ora rifle, and defend herself and her friend. Upon a chair, scarcely two paces distant from her, lay a long pisiol, and against each wall—she could almost reach the nearest— leaned a loaded rifle, placed thus that weapons of defense might be ready on every side. 4*Unloose these cords,” implored Marion, “‘T can not endure them longer.” ‘Wait but a few seconds,” said Ellen, ‘See, as soon as Cotton is in that corner again, I can move and free you;—do you then take the rifle that stands nearest you. Do you know how to use it?” ‘Yes,’ whispered the maiden; ‘‘ my father tuught me.” **So much the better; we will then push back the bolts, and try to escape.” “But think of the danger — Rawson bas promised us safety, if we are still and quiet,” said Marion. ‘“‘T do not trust him,” replied her friend, in a whisper; *“‘for I heard words which lead me to fear treachery—now—in a moment—as soon as he steps into that corner, 1 can free your hands.” Cotton had passed slowly around the chamber, placing hiseye in turn to the crevices, and now approached the bed to which the maidens were bound, and the curtains of which would hide them trom his sight when he stepped be- bind them. Ellen had waited for thismoment; the thick, dark-colored mosquito-net now concealed him, and she had already advanced one foot to grasp the weapon, when Rawson’s head ap- peared above the entrance of the passageway, avd the next instant he stood inthe middle of the apartment, with his glance fastened upon the maidens, a picture of the keenest atten- tion, ‘*Cotton, did you hear nothing?’ he asked, softly, as the latter stepped from the coruer. “Hear anything! where?” *“It seemed to me as if some one broke off a piece of a board somewhere; can anybody have crept to the house?’ ‘“‘He must have been sly, then,” grumbled Cotton; “ the high fence is still standing, and it’s not yet so dark that a man couldn’t see another climbing over it. But of what use would it be to them if they did? Our loop- holes are capitally arranged, and if—” ‘Well, well,” said Rawson, “‘I feel quite uneasy here now; | wish we were upon the water.” “Is the canoe in order?’ “Afloat and ready; and, now, let us go— the Regulators ure mostly collected in front of the house; and if they have, secretly, posted sentinels along the edge of the river, wbich I greatly doubt, we can paddle safely across the La Fave, and glide down in the shadows of the other bank.” : ** But the girls?” ‘Must be silenced; now, away to the boat!” ** And how shall we take down our weapons and the chest, if we have the girls to carry?’ ‘“Do you creep on before and take the little chest and two rifles with you--you can’t miss the way—the passage is perfectly straight, and the canoe lies just at its other extremity; make as little noise as possible in placing the ckest and the rifles cn board, and then hurry back, In ten minutes all must be finished.” ‘What provisions do we take with us?” “Tl have just carried them down; I had laid them in the passage, and they are now in the canoe.” “Well done! keep a good watch in the mean- while. Jl’ll be back at once.” Rawson paced the chamber restlessly. Not a breeze stirred without—not a sound was beard. Deatilike stillness lay upon the scene; around the watch-fires alone, which were a hundred and fifty paces from the house, toward the hills, a few dark forms were seen moving slowly. ‘What are the rascals driving at? Can they be planning mischief anywhere?” he muttered to himself, as he stood with folded arms be- fore one of the crevices, and looked out upon his enemies. / maidens, Ellen glided noiselessly forward, and took | the pistol from the stool, then withdrew with _the rapidity of lightning to her former posi- | | tion, for Rawson now turned and walked to the opposite side of the hut, ‘*What can keep Cotton so long#—the d—l take him!” he cried, with a bitter impreca- | tion, renewing his walk to and fr in the apartment; ‘‘should he prove false—” | He leaped into the passageway and listened. | “If Tonly had a knife to cut your cords!” _ whispered Ellen, in the ear of the trembling | Marion, | “The plank on which I am standing seems _to move,” said the latter softly, yet in a tone of | alarm—*‘* what can that mean?’ | ‘* They must be friends!” exclaimed Ellen, her joy rendering her forgetful of the requisite prudence. ““What’s the matter?’ inquired Rawson, raising his head above the surface of the floor. ** Nothing,” replied Ellen, “* Be silent then!” cried the preacher,angrily, stooping down to listen again. ‘I would shoot,” said Ellen, “but my hand trembles so that I should miss him.” “There must be some one under this plank,” whispered Marion; ‘‘I feel it stir plainly.” ‘‘Move your foot then. They are friends,” said Ellen. ‘‘ The river is on the other side of | the house, and the secret passage leads down to the bank,” ** All-merciful Heaveu! if my hands were | only free!” moaned the maiden. | “A plague upon the fellow! I neither bear | nor see anything of bim,” cried Rawson, an- | grily, leaping up into the apartment again. | “The d—I take me, if I don’t believe the scoun- | drel is playing false; but, then, God be merci- | ful to his soul! I must after him.”’ At this moment the plank was raised, and 'the glaring, threatening eye of the Indian flashed from the opening. Rawson had seized a rifle, and was in the act of descending into the passage-way, when the heavy plank, against which the ‘‘ Feathered Arrow” was pressing, yielded, and moved aside with a grating noise—the preacher turned quickly, and, in the uncertain twilight which prevailed in the hut, encountered the glance of his deadly foe, who, taking advantage of Raw- son’s astonishment, struggled to free himself from his dangerous position. Notwithstanding the preacher’s alarm, how- ever, he collected himself with sufficient readi- ness, to threaten imminent peril to the Indian, who had not yet extricated himself from the narrow opening. His situation was the more critical as be could neither advance nor re- treat with the requisite rapidity; and Rawson, darting forward, had already raised the butt of his rifle to dispatch him, when Ellen, with a | courage worthy of a chief, sprung toward him, and discharged the weapon which she had seized at the preacher, just as the fatal blow was on the point of descending. - ‘‘ D—n!” cried the latter, starting backward; but this interval enabled Assowaum to make his way from the narrow space, which had so nearly proved fatal to him. Like a panther of the woods, he clambered into the apartment, and the next instant sprung with a furious bound at the breast of the murderer, who, with a cry of anguish and despair, sunk power- less beneath his grasp. At this moment the plank was raised again, and Curtis slowly made his way into the chamber, while, at the same time, Cotton, who had returned to take away the maidens, ap- peared at the entrance of the passageway, and seeing his comracde’s danger advanced resolutely to his aid, Ellen had, in the meanwhile, hastened to the door and pushed back the bolts, while the In- dian, now boldly facing his new enemy, tore his tomahawk from his girdle, and without re- moving his left hand from the throat of his victim, brandished his weapon against this un- expected antagonist. The latter, however, after having cast a rapid glance around him, soon saw the danger to which he was exposed; for, on the one hand, Curtis wag advancing to assail him, while, on the other, Brown, followed by the Regulators, rushed through the now open door, With the rapidity of lightning, he sprung back into the subterranean passage, and, favored by the darkness, fled toward the concealed canoe, On seeing the fugitive disappear, Curtis imagined that be had thrown himself upon the ground, haps, to escape from the hut in the confusion, With a loud imprecation upon his lips he darted forward, and plunged head-foremost into the open hole. ‘““Wagh!” cried the Indian, his eyes gleam- ing with savage joy, ‘‘who will come back first?” ‘* Torches here!” cried Hatfield, stepping to the door; “bring torches, and surround the house; one of the rascals is hid under the planks.” Several men at once approached with lighted torches, and Cook, tearing one from the hands of the first whom he encountered, followed after his friend Curtis. Brown, however, sprung to the assistance of Marion, and, trem- bling from the joy of victory and renewed hope, he was scarcely able to sever, with his hunting-knife, the bands which confined the poor maiden, who, overcome by the rapid alternation of terror and delight, sunk belpless and swooning into the young man’s arms. Wilson and Ellen formed a separate group at the door. ‘Here is an underground passage,” cried Cook, from below; ‘‘the rest have fled. To the river, men! quick! and shoot at everything that stirs.” The Regulators rushed from the house, and soon after five or six shots were heard in suc- cession. ‘The scoundrels had a boat, then,” said Hatfield; ‘‘and the Indian and I thought we had searched every nook and corner.” **Are you hurt, Curtis?’ asked Cook, as he helped his friend upon his feet, in the entrance to the passage. ‘‘Yes—no—lI think not. What the deuce has happened to me? where am I? What's that shooting for?” * They are firing at the fugitives. You are in Rawson’s house, or rather under it—a nicely- arranged passage this. Well, every old fox digs his hole for a time of need; the thing was planned cunningly enough, but I think the In- dian was a little too quick for them,” ‘‘ Where is Rawson?’ inquired Curtis who, for a moment stunned by his fall, now recalled to mind what bad passed. ‘‘ Here!” answered the Indian, as he took a leathern thong from his ball. pouch, and bound the prisoner’s feet together; ‘‘ who has a hand- kerchief?”’ “What do you want of a handkerchief?’ asked Cook, who bad now made his way from the passage. ‘‘ The preacher is wounded,” said the Indian, softly; ‘‘the young maiden saved the ‘ Feather- ed Arrow’s’ life, and shot the pale man in the shoulder—Inyn ! how white he looks!” ‘* The Indian is really capable of compassion,” said Stevenson, who had just entered the hut, ‘“‘a new quality that I have discovered in him.” “‘Compassion!” cried the chief, wildly, as he raised himself to his full hight, and cast an angry glance at the speaker. ‘‘ Who says that Assowaum has compassion for Alapaha’s mur- derer? But he must not die now—here—of this wound, dealt bya woman. The vengeance must be mine. Who has a bandage for the pale man’s shoulder?” “‘Here is my neckcloth,” said Stevenson, reaching it to the Indian; ‘‘ but how is this?’ he continued, approaching his torch to the face of the half-swooning preacher; ‘“‘I have seen that face somewhere—the features are familiar to me.” Rawson opened his eyes, and gazed timidly at the speaker. ‘‘Heaven and earth! that’s the man that murdered the cattle-dealer!” exclaimed the old farmer, leaping up, partly in terror, partly in lurious anger—‘“ by all that lives, that is the wretch who shot him down like an assassin!” ‘‘ Away with you!” cried the wounded man, grinding his teeth, and turning his face aside, ‘¢ Where is Brown?’ asked several voices. ‘‘ Here,” said the latter, in a low tone; “ can no one bring vinegar? Miss Roberts has fainted.” ‘My child! my dear child!” cried Roberts, in dismay, as he knelt near the senseless body of the pale but still beautifal girl. ‘Marion! dearest, best Marion!’ whispered Ellen in her ear, when, after her first surprise and agitation had pasSed, she had extricated herself, blushing, from Wilson’s arms. ‘‘Here is some water and whisky,” said young Stevenson, reaching the leader of the Regulators a tin-cup filled with the former, EONMIE OOO G ‘SEO