Beadle's Dime Library, No. 13 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

ciful—” “ Are your senses so disturbed that you can think of softening me?” retorted Carlota, with scathing earnestness. “T was about to ask the merey of death without dishonor,” answered Madge, with dig- nity. “If you indeed consider me 80 much your enemy, so fatally in your way, that knife in your belt thrust into my bosom, which I here offer, will remove me from your path, and secure that silence which is eternal.” Madge parted the fold of her dress, and pre- sented a bosom spotlessly white. Carléta did not touch the weapon at her side, out partly drew a small dagger from her breast, upon the silver handle of which her fingers trembled convulsively. Her color changed rapidly, ekomneling rom crimson to white. There was a painful conflict within. « Let no false emotion of pity prevent you from striking,” said Maage, earnestly. “ If you knew the horror | have of yonder Valley and the miscreants that infest it, lam sure you would mercifully put an end to my sus- nse, Carlota slowly replaced the dagger, pressed her hands upon her heart and her face, then leaned against a rock, trembling in every limb. While both stood mute and agitated with va- ing emotions, Dick Hendricks appeared in 1€ mountain-path to fill up the picture. CHAPTER XXXII. THE ESCAPE—THE CAVERN. The dogs had disappeared about an hour after the departure of Nick, nor had Madge seen them since, She now thought of the faithful creatures, and wished they were near to save her. She looked furtively around in the maps of eeeing them, and would have called them, had ahe beea able to control her voice. _ Hendricks stared a moment at her, and Car- lota then sat down upon a stone like one ex- hausted. Carléta perceived that blood was flowing from the sleeve of his hunting-shirt, and hastened to his side. “ You are hurt!” she exclaimed. 6 Not much, but faint from loss of blood,” replied Hendricks. Carlota began to search for the wound ; and while she was bending over him, Madge con- ' 8 ceived the idea of escape. The thought no sooner crossed her mind than she put it in practice. As Hendricks and Carlota were above her, cutting off her return, she sprang down a little pawh toward the Valley with ex- traordinary swiftness. She did not turn to see if she were rem, but flew onward with feet that scarcely touched the ground. Several times she thought she heard the voice of Car lota and the sound of pursuit; but this incited her to greater exertion. In the perturbation of flight, she did not remember that she was descending to Trapper Valley, nor did that truth force itself upon her till she saw the dis. mal portals of Devil’s Gate. The unweleome sight caused herto pause. The dark mouth of the tunnel, the towering columns of basalt, the jagged rocks, the weird effect of the darkness upon all, conspired to fill her with terror. But it was no time for hesitation or delay, She began to reason and think connectedly. Shuddering, she hurried past the gloomy en- trance to the Valley, and commenced the as- cent on the opposite side, which was far less steep and more accessible. The hope of es. cape was now really strong in the breast of Madge. In the outset, the effort was but a wild experiment, with scarcely probabilities enough to give it the ppeets e of suecess. She beheld the space rapi oe ening between her and the Valley with acing of expectation that cannot well be imagined. Her frame was too delicate, however, to endure long this vio- lent exercise. By the time she reached the summit of the ascent, her speed was much atated, and her panting respiration and trem- bling limbs warned her that her physica: pow- ers had been severely taxed, and called imper- atively forrest. She sank upon a grassy knoll, and listening for the sound of pursuing feet, heard the tumultuous beatings of her own heart. Again and again she held her breath, and turned her ear to the Valley, to be as often startled by imaginary alarms and chance in- terruptions of the prevailing silence. She dared not remain long inactive; but taking, as near as she could judge, the direc- tion of Nick’s hut, went forward with more calmness, though with less s eed, She thought not of wild beasts, or of the oneliness, and sol- itude, and darkness, but of Carlota, Hendricks, and the dreaded Valley. "Tis true that she se LL SS S——GK—SK eee ee eee Pathaway. Oo” oe eee had fears for Nick, and regretted that she had | interest. Smuggler was in the timber in a not had sufficient presence of mind to ask Carlota concerning him. That she had be- trayed him, she had no doubt. This reflec- tion was fraught with pain, which even her own forlorn condition could not banish nor swallow up in its greater misery. She saw landmarks that were familiar, and a little before morning reached Nick’s deserted camp. tottered in, and completely exhausted, was glad to cast herself upon its couch of ever- greens. The sun had performed part of his diurnal journey when she awoke, How familiar the spot looked! How many memories it re- called—-some pleseant others quite the re- verse! Ilere she had been the boy Sebastian Delaunay, acting a part repugnant to her na- ture. She recalled numberless trifling inci- dents of her short sojourn at the camp. It was near it that she had received the wound aimed at Pathaway, and which, in the excite- ment of the last few hours, had been entirely forgotten by her; but the arm, now swollen and inflamed by violent exercise, reminded her of the injury. What was she now to do? Could she be long safe there? Would not Carlota’s ven- geance pursue her? If she fled, which way should she fly ?. These and a thousand other queries pressed upon her at once. Deter- mined to act like a reasonable being, and to employ every rational means of preservation, she ‘aloes herself with food that had been left there at the time of their flight. Having thus, as in duty bound, attended to the wants of nature, she resolved to seek a more secure retreat, and trust her final reseue to her friends and Providence. She recollected that in one of her rambles she had discovered a small cave, the entrance to which was nearly concealed by bushes, and immediately went to search for it. Having found it, she conveyed to it such useful articles as had been left at the camp—among which were her own scarlet blanket, a hatchet, a carbine, ammunition, and several other articles, all of which bad been hidden under some boughs The food, com sisting of dried buffalo tongues und slices of the meat prepared in a similar manner, she also carefully conveyed to her hiding-place. The cave was situated in a wood, within sight of the camp—so that, standing in its entrance, screened by its curtain of shrubbery, she could see any one who should approach ite At first, the darkness within was almost intolerable, but her eyes soon became accus- tomed to it; and by removing as much of the foliage as seemed superfluous, she let in not only additional light, but purer air. Having thus provided for her safety according to the dictates of judgment and the limited means circumstances allowed her, she felt that she could do no more, and awaited anxiously the developments of time. _ The sun had passed the meridian by the time these simple preparations were com- pleted. She was felicitating herself upon her escape, when she saw some one advancing toward the camp, and thought at first it might be Nick or Pathaway ; but it proved to be Bill Brace. He neared the camp ina stealthy manner, looked in, seemed isap- pointed, then searched for a trail. Several times he came very near the spot where Madge was concealed, but finally went away, to her grew relief. The remainder of the day and the ensuing night passed without further incident. Early in the morning, how- ever, Bill Brace and Carlota—the latter still dressed as Indian Joe—ap peared. Madge began to tremble —for Bill Brace was leading the dog Smuggler by a string. There was now real cause for alarm. The would unleash the dog ; impelled by affection, he would take her trail and come to her di- th There could be no doubt—the eatas- trophe was sure and at hand. Madge was filled with nervous horror. Of what avail was her escape from Carlota! It was only postponing her fate—not averting it. She aored with palpitating heart from her covert. he saw Carlota go into the camp, come out again, glance searchingly frcm point to point taking in the a scenery with 3 sweeping look of her quick eyes. She made a motion to Brace, who slipped the cord from Smuggler’s neck. Feeling him- self at liberty, the animal ran into his master’s camp, smelt of the boughs wlere Madge had sle pt sprang out with his nose to the ground, and ran toward the trees. Carléta as well as Madge watched his movements with intense She | moment, and as quickly disappeared. “ Where is he ?” asked Carlota. “In the bushes,” said Brace. “Let us follow faster; we sha'l lose sight of him altogether,” added Carlota. “ We've lost sight of him now, but he'll turn up ag’in soon, I reckon,” repliel Brace, looking about him with evilent perplexity. * Slow-footed idiot!” cried the girl; “if your feet were half as fast as your tongue, you would find him. He was on her trail, J am sure.” “That may be true ; but where’s the critter now ?” Brace stopped close to the cavern, “ Dogs don’t git out o’ sight in an onnatera! way, do they? Can’t sink down into the airth, nor go up into the air, can they ?”’ Brace stared stupidly at Carlota. “ You have not half the sagacity of the dog, though you may be quite as much of a brute,” retorted Carlota, angrily. ‘“ Beat every bush —look behind every rock and tree. We shall find both dog and girl in some hole or covert.” While Carlota was speaking, she sprang for- ward and stood at the entrance of the cave. Brace, meantime, ran about like one half-dis- tracted, for he dreaded the anger of Carlota. “The critter dodged us by turnin’ on his track, or round a rock ; he may be a mile from here by this time.” “ Brace, you have strength, but not half the cunning of a woman. Look here! What's this ?” Brace hurried to her; she had parted the bushes, and was pointing downward. “You'll find the dog and the one we seek in there,” she added. Then, authoritatively : “Go in, Brace, and bring them out.” “T’ll look in, first,” replied the ruffian. “It’s ruther dark ; it may be a wolf's den, for aught I know. I’m not afeard of an inemy that I ean see, but I don't like to be too ven- tur’some in the dark.” Brace thrust his burly head into the open- ing, but could see nothing but blackness. “Tn, I tell you!” commanded Carlota, impa- tiently. “The dog will tear me,” said Brace, sullenly, “What does it matter? Your flesh will heal again. you need to take such good care of it.” Brace slowly pushed his head and shoulders into the darkness. A growl admonished him to forbear. “What did I tell you?” cried Carlota, tri- umphantly. “She is there; 1 knew it.” “T can see the doy’s eyes; they blaze like coals |” “Fool! they are not the dug’s—they are her’s; they are fatally bright!’ said Carlota, wildly. “Don’t I know a gal’s eyes from a dog's?” retorted Brace, sharply. ‘Give me my rifle ; Pll shoot the critter.” Carl ta pushed the rifle with her foot, so he could reach it, then suddenly seized his arm. “Hold! Iam afraid you will make a mis- take, and rob me of my triumph. Take away your bristly head, and let me look.” Madge sat shivering in the remotest limit ef the cavern, but instinctively looked up when Carlota looked in. The eyes of the lat ter seemed to conquer the darkness, for she exclaimed ; “Come fcrth, girl, come forth! Iam here —Carlota is here. Yield, if you would save the life of your faithful dog; be obstinate, and I will order Brace to shvot him.” “Have you no pity—no remorse?” eried Madge. “For you, none; for the man I love, a world of both!” responded Carlota. “Tt's best to make an eend o’ the dog, any- way,” said Brace, in whose memory was treas- ured a former insult. “ Order away your ruffian, and I will obey you,” said Madge, with dignity. “TI feel that resistance to my fate is vain; but in common _ humanity, I ask you to epare the dog.” « Bill Brace, harm a hair of the dog, and I'll hold your life of Jess value than his!” said Carlota, imperiously, to her cringing confed- erate. Madge came out; followed by Smuggler— who wished to make an assault upon Brace, who stood with his rifle cocked, ready for such a demonstration; but, from feelings of merey to the dog, Madge restrained him. “Woman! Carlota! 1 am in your power. Dispose of me as you will; but take me not to yonder Vallev.” (COMIC 0)(0)(6) ’Tisn’tso tender and delicate that ° 6S (EO)