Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. II, No. 15 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

ee —_______ ——————— sign to creak on its hinges with gloomy complaints, and the heavy black clouds coming from the south moved weightily athwart the sky, dropping at intervals heavy masses Of rain on the ground loosened by previous storms. . ““Come,”’ the unhappy host muttered to himself with a piteous air, “ there is another day which finishes as badly as the others. For the last week I have had no luck. If it continues ouly a fortnight longer [ shall be a ruined man.”’ In fact, through a singular accident, for abouta month the Locanda del Sol had been completely shorn of its old brilliancy, and the landlord did not know uny reason for its eclipse. After the few words we have heard him utter, the worthy Don Beuito rose carelessly, and prepared, with many an oath, to close his establishment, so as at any rate to save in candles, when suddenly an individual en- tered, then two, then three, then six, then ten, and at last such anumber that the locan- dero gave up all attemmte at counting them. These men were al wrapped up in large cloaks; their heads were covered by felt hats, whose broad brims, pulled down care- fully over their eyes, rendered them perfect- ly unrecognizable. The room was soon crowded with custo- mers drinking and smoking, but not utter- me word. he extraordinary thing was that, al- though all the tables were lined, such a re- ioe silence prevailed among these strange bibbers that the noise of the rain pattering outside could be distinctly heard, as well as the footfalls of the horses ridden by the serenos, which resounded hoarsely on the pebbles, or in the muddy ponds that cover- ed the ground. The bost, agreeably surprised by this sud- den turn of fortune, had joyfully set to work serving his unexpected customers; but all at once a singular pie happened, which Sefior Sarznela was far from antigi- pating. Although the proverb says that you can never have enough of a good thing —and proverbs are the wisdom of nations— it happened that the affluence of people, who ad tot to have made an appointment at his house, became so considerable, and assumed such gigantic proportions, that the landaiord himself began to feel territied; for his hostelry, empty a moment previously, was now so crammed that he soon did not know where to put the new arrivals who “ontinued to flock in. In fact, the crowd, after filling the common room, had, like a rising tide, flowed over into the adjoinin room, then it escaladed the stairs, and spr over the upper floors. At the first stroke of eleven, more than two hundred customers occupied the Lo- canda del Sol. Don Benito, with that craft which was one of the most salient points of his charac- ter, then comprehended that something ex- traor-livary was about to happen, and that his house would be the scene. At the thought a convulsive tremor seized upon him, his hair began to stand on end, and he sought in his brain for the means he must employ to get rid of these sinister and silent guests. In his despair he rose with an air which he sought to render most resolute, and walked to the door as if for the purpose of closing his establishment. The customers still silent ¢s fish, did not make a sign of moving; on the contrary, they pretended they noticed nothing. Sefior Sarzuela decided on addressing his obstinate customers. For this purpose he deliberately posted himself in the center of the room, thrust his fist in his side, and wising his head, said in a voice which he tried in vain to render firm, but whose tremor he could not hide: ‘* Sefiores caballeros, it is eleven o'clock. The police regulations forbid me keeping open longer. Have the goodness, I beg you, to withdraw without delay, 60 that 1 may close my establishment.”’ This harangue, from which he promised himself the greatest success, produced an effect exactly contrary to what he expected, The strangers vigorously smote the table with their Ra ta shouting unanimously: Drink {” The landlord bounded back at this fearful disturbance. ‘* Still, caballeros,” he ventured to re- mark, after ® moment’s hesitation, “the police regulations are severe, It is eleven, and— He could say no more; the noise recom- men: J with even greater intensity, and the customers shou together, in a voice of thunder, * Drink !" A reaction, easy to comprehend, then took lace in the mind of mine host. Fancyin t reoual attack was made on himsel et ed that his interests were at stake, e coward disappeared to make room for The Tiger-Slayer. him—his property. tion, ** that is the game! if *“*Ab,”’ he shouted, in feverish exaspera- Well, we will sce Iam master in my own house. I will go and fetch the alcade.” This threat of justice from the mouth of the worthy Sarzuela appeared so droll, that the customers broke out into a burst of loud laughter. The host’s anger was con- verted into raving madness, and he rushed head-foremost at the door. But he had hardly crossed the threshold ere a new ar- rival seized him unceremoniously by the arm and hnrled him back roughly into the room, saying in a bantering voice: lord ? ‘* What fly has stung you, my dear land- Are you mad to go out bare-headed in such weather, at the risk of catching a pleurisy ?”’ And then, when the locandero, terrified and confounded by the rude shock, tried to re- in his balance and re-establish a little or- der in his ideas, the unknown, as coolly as if he were at home, had, with the help of some of the customers, to whom he made signs, shut the shutters and bolted the door with as much care as Sarzuela himself usual- ly devoted to this delicate operation. “There, now that is done,’’ the stranger said, turning to the amazed host, *‘ suppose we have a chat, compadre? Ah! I suppose you do not recognize me ?”’ he added, as he removed his hat and displayed a fine intelli- gent face, over which a mocking smile was at this moment playing. ‘*Oh, the Sefior Don Gaétano!”’ said Sar- zuela, whom this meeting was far from leasing, and who tried to conceal a horri- ‘4 e emo ‘Silence !’’ the other said. ‘‘ Come hither.” With a gesture he drew the landlord into a corner of the room, and, leaning down to his ear, said in a low voice: “ Are there any Pig o in your house ?”’ “Look !”’ he said, with a Pp eous glance, he pointed to the still drinking custom- ers; ‘‘ that — of demous invaded my house an hour back.”’ lodgers ? ‘*T ask you if you have any strange As for those men, you know them as well as I do, perhaps better.”’ “From top to bottom of my house I have no other persons than these caballeros, whom you say I know. It is oe possible ; but as ever since ei have thanks to the way in wh een here, ch they are muffled, it has been impossible for me to see the tip * a nose, I was utterly unable to recognize em. “You are a donkey, my good friend. These men who bother you so greatly are all Dauph’ yeers.”’ “then w ‘Really!’ the amazed host exclaimed; ( do they hide their faces ?” “* My faith, monsieur, I fancy itis because they do not wish to have them seen." And laughing at the landlord, who was sadly out of countenance, the stranger made asign. Two men rose, rushed on the poor fellow, and before he could even guess what they intended, he found himself so mayulficentl garroted that he could not even cross himself. ‘** Fear nothing, Master Sarzuela ; no harm will befall you,’ the stranger continued. < We only want to talk without witnesses, and as you are naturally a chatterer, we take our precautions, that is all. So be calm; in a few hours you will be free. Come, look end you fellows,’’ he con- tinued, addressing is men. ‘Gag him, lay him on his bed, and turn the key in his door. Good-by, my worthy host, an pray keep — ealm.”’ The stranger's orders were punctually ex- ecuted; the luckless Sarzuela, tied and ged, was carried from the room on the Sioniders of two of his assailants, borne up- stairs, thrown on his bed and locked in in a twinkling, before he had even time tothink of the slightest resistance. We will leave him to indulge in gloom reflections, and return to the large room o the locanda. The Dauph’yeers, so soon as they found themselves masters of the hostelry, renged the tables one on the other nst the walls so as toclear the center of the room, an drew up the benches ina line, on which they then seated themselves. The Locanda del Sol, owing to the changes it underwent, was ina few moments com- pletely metamorphosed Into a club. | The last arrival, the man who had given | the order to the host, enjoyed ing to all sppeees of accord- neea, a cer influence over the honorable company collected at this moment in the the hostelry. house had made a sign com ground-floor room of preuehietenben te cle e fy) c ng silence, and speak- mandi ef ing in excellent French, said in a clear and sonorous voice: ‘‘ Brethren, thanks for your punctuality.” — Tue Dauph'yeere politely returned nis ea. the miser, threatened in what is dearest to | lute { @ cen ee aes —-- eo _ oe ee ‘Gentlemen,’ he continued, “our pro- jects are advancing. Soon, I hope, we shall attain the object to which we have so long been tending, and quit that obscurity in which we are languishing, to conquer our place in the sunshine. America is a mar- velous land, in which every ambition can be satistied. I have taken all the necessary measures, a8 I pledged myself to you to do Salome yd ago, when I had the honor of conven ng you for the first time. We have succeeded. You were kind enough to ap- point me director of the Mexican movement, and I thank you for it, gentlemen, A con- cession of three thousand acres of land has been made me at Guetzalli, in UpperSonora The first step has been taken. ~ lieuten- ant, De Laville, started yesterday for Mexi- co, to take possession of the granted terri- tory. I bave to-day another request to make of you. You who listen to me here are all Europeans or North Americans, and you will understand me. Foralong time the Dauph’- eers, the successors of the Brethren of the oast, have been calmly watching, us ap parently aisinterestcd rye a.c.s of the endless cram: of ¢h¢ 4n.erican republics, the suddea cbhsny’s anc faameless reyolu- tions ‘of the old Spsnish colonies. The hour has arrived to throw ourselves Into the contest. I need one hundred and fifty de- voted men. Guetzalli will serve them as a temporary ip is I shall soon tell them what I expect from their courage; but you must strive to carry out what I attempt. The enterprise I meditate, and in which I[ shall possibly perish, is entirely in the in- wrest of the association. If I succeed, every man who took part in it will have a large reward and pleasant position insured him. You know the man who introduced .ae to you, and he had P sepia your entire onticence. The medal he gave me, and ~uich I now show to you, proves to you chet he entirely responds for me. Will you .b your turn, trust in me as he has done Without you T can do nothing. I await your reply."’ He was silent. His auditors began a long discussion among themselves, though ina low voice, which they carried on far some time. At length silence was restored, dnd a man rose. ““Count Gaétan de Lorailles,”’ he said, ““my brethren have requested me to answer ouin their name, You presented yourself 0 us, supported by the recommendation of a man in whom ws have the most entire con- fidence. Your conduct has appeared to con firm this recommendation. The one hun- dred dnd fifty men you ask for are ipa to follow you, no matter whither ‘you may lead them, persuaded as they are that they can only gain by seconding your plans. Di- ego Léon, inscribe myself at the head of the “And It” ae And I!” * And I 1” The Dauph’yeers shouted, outvying each other. The count gave a signal, and the si- lence was re-established. “Brothers, I thank you,” he said. ‘The nucleus of our association will remain at Valparaiso, and if I need them I will draw from that city the resolute men ] may pres- ently want. For the moment one hundred and fifty men are sufficient for me. If my plans succeed, who knows what the fature may have in store for us? I have drawn u ac pene all the stipulations of whic sball be rigorously kept by myself, and by ou, [have no doubt. Read and sign. In wo days I start for Talca; but in six weeks I will meet here those among you who con- sent to follow me, and then [ will communi- “a fo them my plans in their fullest de- - Captain de Lorailles,”’ Diégo Léon re- plied, ‘* you say that you have only need of ene Hundred and fifty men. Draw them by tots, then; for all wish to accompany you.” * Thank you once again, my ®rave com- rades. Believe me, each shall have his turn. The project I have formed is grand and worthy ofyou. Selection would only arouse seria! prey men all equally worthy. iégo Léon, I intrust to you the duty of | drawing lots for the names of those who are to form part of the first expedition.” “Jt shall be done,’ said Léon. ** And now, my friends, one last word. Re- member that in three months I shall expect ou at Guetzalli; and, by the aid of Heaven, the star of the Dauph’yeers shall not be dimmed. Drink, brothers, drink to the suc- cess of our enterprise !’’ “Let us drink!’’ all the Brethren of the Coast shouted, quite electrified. The wine and brandy then began flowmg. The whole —_ was spent in an orgie, whose proportions became, toward morning, gigantic. The Count de Lorailles—thanks to the talisman the baron gave lim on part- ing—had found himself, immediately on kw : : SS. Comicbooks.corr