Beadle's Dime Library, No. 13 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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‘ ous than meeting you. 20 ee Meet me to-morrow night, just as the sun is setting, and your sun and it may set at the same time—the first, in glory and brightness ; the last, in perdition and darkness.” The clear, deep tones of Pathaway had a touch of solemnity , they were like the voice of an accuser confident in the triumph of truth and justice. “It’s but an artifice!” muttered the Cap- tain. “ To-morrow night, as the sun is setting, I will meet you on this level, with a single wea- pon, and that shall be this.’ The hunter touched the bowie-knife at his belt. The outlaw stood scowling a few moments, then said : “ Let it be to-night—to-night !” “To-night be it. Do not doubt me; with- out fail I will be here. God help him that falls! and that will be you!” “T doubt whether to trust you,” said Hen- dricks, fingering his shaggy beard, while his lawless spirit chafed within him like a caged beast to which captivity is irksome. ‘Will you come alone?” he asked, suspi- ciously. ‘ Alone,” replied Pathaway. “ And ate ed “Shall need no witness,”’ added Hendricks, fiercely, as if completing the hunter’s last sen- tence. “You are not over-serupulous, Captain Dick, and taking your word is more danger- : Keep away your fel- lows; I shall be watching—lI shall be well assured on that point. Some men can be trusted ; you are not of that kind. Do I strike well, Captain ?” The grey hunter smiled derisively, while Hendricks’ brow was knit into a score of wrinkles. **”'l'was a foul blow, and shall prove the dear-, est you ever struck! Enjoy your triumph, » eritter, and don’t think to sneak away ‘thout hearin’ ag’in from Cap’n Dick. If you hope to give me the slip, you'll be disbpplinted ; for every pass and <lefile will see you, if you start. Well, ‘twon’t matter much,” he added, with a sardonic laugh, “ for a rifle ball will do Spa business jest as well, and save me trou- le. At sunset, youngster, at sunset !” ‘“My memory is good,” returned Patha- way “ Adieu, valorous Captain, till then.” he trapper-outlaw walked a short distance, then looking over his shoulder, muttered : “There'll be one cock the less to crow in the mornin’ !” A laugh expressive of his malignancy and humiliation accompanied this remark—a start- ling, unnatural sound rattling up from the chest, like the threatening growl of an animal. Pathaway made no anawer, but turned his face toward Nick Whifile’s camp. CHAPTER XVII. THE DUEL. The departing sunlight lay in horizontal beams upun the carth, quivering like lon tongues of fire upon the gress. The Seeds ing orb never locked more like a deity worthy the worship of man. Jt sank with golden majesty below the western verge. ‘athaway stood on the yrassy level where he had met Hendricks. Twilight fell like far-stretching, vapory cloud, wrapping every object in a shadowy mantle. That impressive silence that sometimes follows the dying day, rested upon the spot. The leaves hung mo tionless upon the trees, and the long spires of grass stood still and stirless. The quietude spoke to the heart of the young man as with avoice, His finer sympathies held commun- ion with Nature, wt recognized her noiseless footsteps around him. He stood with folded arms looking toward the slope where he was in momentary expect- ancy of seeing Hendricks ; and that person- age “rage appeared. He soon reached the level. “I have waited you,” said Pathaway, as the trapper-outlaw drew near. “I feared you had thought it best to forget this appointment.” “J have come to fight, not to talk!” re torted Hendricks, gruflly. * You shall be satisfied, Captain Dick.” The Ae laid aside their belts and pis- tols. Hendricks threw off his hunting shirt, displaying an arm bare and brawny. “The terms of this duel—” began the gray hunter. : “Are to the victor life, to the vanquished death !” interposed Hendricks. “TI expected as much, and came fully pre- pared for such terms.” The hunter took off The New York Library. his gray frock, but without bluster or any at- tempt at effect ; hi§ chest was full and round- ed, his arms shapely, pet without uncommon development of muscle. His antagonist ob- served him with dogged curiosity and impa- tient and insolent eagerness, as if already as- sured of victory, and unwilling to delay it. Pathaway was pale, and a m aa had grad- ually taken place in his expression; his eyes were blazing with a light that Hendricks had not before seen in them. He grasped his weapon, and the two regarded each other war- ily ; then Hendricks sprang forward, and their blades met. A sharp and angry clamor ran through the air, disturbing the soft repose of the spot. It soon became apparent that Cap- tain Dick was resolved to make the contest a short one, and end it by a bold and vigorous onset. He wielded the terrible instrument he had chosen with great skill and ly ie it waved on every side like lightning, and on every side met opposing steel. His fierce lunges at the hunter’s breast were turned away as with a shield of iron. Pathaway acted on the defensive only, now retreating, now leaping nimbly to the right or left, now warding a blow from his face, now from his neck, pi side, and limbs, perform. ing all these feats with an ease and adroitness that proved him equal to the emergency. Captain Dick perceived that he was spend. ing his strength in vain, and suspended his furious assaults to take breath. Pathaway si- fently awaited the renewal of the combat; but it was not difficult to see that he was be coming interested in the terrible game. The outlaw’s first confidence was gone ; and to lose that in such a trial, is to lose much. Victor is half won, when one does not doubt himself. Doubt is the enemy of success, H@adricks advanced to continue the contest with much more cautiousness and much less assurance. Pathaway now began to press him, and to exhibit a skill and quickness that cowed the impetuosity of his antagonist, and made his rufhan heart beat fast with apprehension. “J have you, captain!” said Pathaway, with startling emphasis. “ You are mine—I asa your master !”’ Hendricks’ weapon flew from his hand into the air, falling on the grass at some distanee ; he stood before the hunter, unarmed, and pant- panting like an overworked ox. Pathaway stood with his knife pointed at his breast, stern, firm, and threatening as a minister of vengeance. The color faded from Hendricks’ face, and he seemed to feel already the touch of death. As they confronted each other, the one with a proud glow of triumph, the other with wild consternation, the voice of a woman arrested the hand of Pathaway, and almost in- stantly a female form was interposed between him and Hendricks. “Hold!” she eried. “ Would you kill an unarmed man? It is me that you strike when you strike him.” Pathaway looked at the face that was turn- ed rebukingly upon him, and recognized the young woman that Portneuf had called Car- ota. He drew back, and answered, gracefull : “ For your sake I spare him, though his life, by the terms of our meeting, is forfeit to me.” “ And what good would his life do you?” asked Carlota. “Ask Portneuf, or Andrew Jeanjean that lquestion,” answered the hunter, ee A : “Your meaning is dark,” said Carlota, changing color. ; “So was the trapper’s grave in the lonely canon!” retorted Pathaway, with a searching look. Carlota put her hand to her brow dubiously, gazing fixedly at the hunter, whose counte- nance appeared to fascinate her. 1; “Hush! hush! no more. You are triflin with that—with that which you ought to val- ue,” responded Carléta, quickly, and with earnestness. A warning glance accompanied this remark. “ Believe me, young woman, I shall put no restraint upon my tongue while truth compels me to senk, and my arm is able to make good my words. I said that this ruffian’s life was forfeit to me ; it is, and not to me alone, but to the law; for law reaches to every country, however remote from the great centres of civ- ilization. The presence of human beings makes law even in the wilderness.” : “ Foolhardy young man!” answered Carlota “T would have given your own life for his, and you must attribute what may happen to your imprudence.” lota waved her hand, and immediately score of men arose from the grass and bushes. Pathaway was instantly surrounded by a set of fellows who would have graced the deck of a pirate-ship. The outlaw-trapper laughed triumphantly, for the vision of sudden death had passed. Men grow brave after danger and lawless passion is insolent. We oscillate like pendulums from one idea to another. The cheek that is now pale with terror will soon be flushed with pride. Sudden deliverance often produces a revulsion that reaches to the very extreme of opposite emotion. Hendricks was now disposed to abuse his power, forgetful of the clemency of his con- queror. Pathaway, however much disturbed inwardly, maintained his composure, quietly put on his coat, and while doing so, dexterously managed to conceal his knife about his person ‘“‘ Well, miss or madam,” he said, with some bitterness, ‘I seem to be your prisoner. At your request, I spared the life of this burly ruffian. What reward shall I receive for my gallantry ?” ie Pathaway, as he stood erect in his manly beauty, was an object of no ordinary interest to the girl Carlota ; and he, in turn, did not look upon her without curiosity mingled with ity. What washer cree ? What wayward ate had given her such a life? What imper ative circumstances had shaped her course, making her the friend, companion, accomplice, and leader of outlaws? He thought, as every man does when he sees & misdirected woman, what she might have beerf under different au- spices. “A little spot of earth somewhere near Trapper Trace!” she replied, in a low voice, studying his features. “Tt’s what we shall all want,” muttered Pathaway. “ Critter, it’s what some won’t want long !” said Hendricks, with vindictiveness, “T don’t know—I don’t know, Captain Dick,” responded the hunter, looking signifi- cantly around him. ‘I have seen those whose bodies will at last rest in sir.” “ You count on our bein’ hanged; but sich a thing won’t be in your day. If any on ns ever come to the halter, it’ll be arter you are past seein’ the —: Then to his men: “ Critters, form! Set your faces toward Tra per Trace, and keep a sharp look-out for this ork-eater. By-the-way, lads, that confounded Drenelonie got clear in some way ; found him last night, or his ghost, at Nick Whiffles’ camp. ’T won't do to make another sich bunglin’ job as that. Go ahead, boys, go ahead! Carlota, you come in the nick o’ time. You see I was taken dizzy of a sudden, and this critter took advantage on*.” A smile flitted over Pathaway’s lips. Some of the men shrugged their shoulders and leered at each other. The parties were soon in motion. Aseend- ing the hill, surrounded by his captors, the gray hunter, to his surprise, saw horses enough to mount them all in the valley on the other side. The outlaw trappers had left them there, in order that their farther advance might be less conspicuous. In a short time, they were all in the saddle. Pathaway found himself riding beside Carlota. He had never been placed in a position so peculiar, and one so well calculated to awaken serious reflection. The night had fully set in; but it was not so dark but he could see very well the person of his companion. She was dressed as he had seen her on the previous day. Of her face and figure he was able to form a more accu- rate judgment. That she was physically gifted by nature, he was not long in perceiving. Her swelling bust and pounded arms were fine spe- cimens of developed womanhood ; while her figure generally, indicated litheness and activ- ity. er light-brown hair was kept in place by a velvet band, but was allowed to flow in curls upon her neck and shoulders. Her fea- tures were regular, but strongly marked, and possessed of a wild and daring beauty. Her eyes were darker than her hair, exceedingly quick and penetrating. She sat her horse as she had been accustomed to the saddle from childhood. She controlled her beast with a - firm, strong hand, and rode as fearlessly as an of her lawless followers. Pathaway noticed her particularly ; for he was desirous to know if he could base hopes of eseape upon her wo- manly instincts. “ This is a strange life for one of your sex,” said the gray hunter, watching her counte- nance, to see if it gave any indication of the qualities which would operate in his favor. “ And yours, perhaps, appears strange to me. GOMIiGHOOKS (E(e) /