Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 150 — page 4: what you’re looking at

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

— ; - ' ‘ * + ;* 4 He his long sword and took his place with the confident brutal glee of an old prize- fighter who sees in his opponent a novice, and was just about to begin the duel when a stir and shouting rose in e crowd outside, which presently resolved themselves into: “F] Rubio Bravo! El Rey Espada! Viva! viva!” Pepe Gomez listened and Martino with him; and as they did so the lady beside Guartiola whispered to him something which made him sav: * Certainly. senorita, with much pleasure,” Then he called out to the espadachins: ‘‘Senores, we will postpone this battle, for here, if I mistake not, comes the king of you all, El Rubio Bravo.” There was an immediate chorus of gabble below, in the midst of which a horseman in velvet and gold lace, with long fair curls flow- ing down over his shoulders from under a broad hat, rode through the crowd and bowed to the President, calling out: ‘“‘Tam charmed to behold your excellency at -Jast. I am Colonel Olaf Svenson,” ‘‘El Rey Espada, the king of swordsmen,” cried Guartiola enthusiastically. ‘‘ You are but just in time, colonel, to give a boasting Mexican a lesson—or take one.” He added the last words under his breath, and Olaf smiled and bowed as he replied: ‘‘Nothing like commencing business early, your excellency; where is the gentleman with whom lam to fight?” ‘‘Here he stands,” cried Gomez, slapping his broad chest and speaking in a deep bass voice, “Head of the Terrible Seven of Tabasco, of whom you have heard, and able to kill any maldito Gringo like you for a thousand dollars. Aha!” Olaf turned to him as he sat.on his horse and surveyed him critically. “You seem to be a pretty good man, and I ‘have but just ridden in from a long journey. Can you let it go till to-morrow at the same hour?” “Now, now,” growled Gomez. “Aha! the Gringo is afraid of my sword, I see.” Olaf smiled and looked round up at the plat- form, where his eyes met those of the beautiful lady, who slowly waved her fan to and fro, but gave no sign of the least recognition. His face changed on the instant and a frown crossed itas he looked. The frown was there again as he ih off his horse, went up to Gomez and said to him in a stern voice: ‘You lie!” With the word, standing close to the other, “he let fly his right hand, coming up from the hip with the force of a pile-driver, catching the boasting espadachin on the left cheek under the eye, with a crack that echoed over the square, and wag: fe deep gash. Under that blow, so unexpected from a man of his slender appearance, Gomez tottered a moment and sunk down with a stupid smile on is face, while Olaf, in the midst of a deep silence, said: ‘‘When I meet brave gentlemen, I use the sword. To ruffians like that I take the weapons of nature alone. They are quite enough for my urpose ” . A thrill of amazement and terror went through the crowd; for it is a curious trait of Spanish-Americans that while they will face steel they are mortally afraid of revolvers or the fist of a boxer. Even Guartiola turned pale, but the lady by his side smiled as one well pleased, and said ina clear voice: “Well done, Rubio. I told ig excellency he was no child to be cowed by Gomez.” But Pepe Gomez, though completely stunned for a few iidoaente by the well delivered “‘ brain blow” of Olaf, was too tough a subject to be settled for good. He rose up with a growl and reached for his sword, which had escaped from his hands as he fell. ‘‘ We will see,” he hissed, ‘‘if you are as good with the sword as your hands. Cover my money or back out.” Olaf took out a little bag of gold. “Here are five hundred of your dollars, one hundred of ours. It’s alll have. Who will back mefor the rest?” The beautiful lady spoke out: “Twill. Lend me the money, Guartiola.” Guartiola was all willingness, and El Rubio allowed a smile to cross his face as he said: ‘La seno ta is very good. I will win the money for . A Par adit snd perl Googe trom where udy Vv wn e FI 2 sadale-how a long slender Toledo ‘‘Clear the road,” he cried. ‘‘ Now let us see what the Terrible Seven are made of.” circle was cleared like d the an- seattle vaged ; each o about epee f when ex a i ati mi delivered a furious ee "as Slats It never fell, however, for as soom as the Dane's sword rose, as it did like a flash to parry the blow, the espadachin drew off before the blades touched, and made another, grand leap -_—- past Olaf to the left, when he thrust at him sav- agely. ith the slightest movement of the sword- arm Olaf wheeled on his heel, and stood with his sword pointed straight at Gomez’s eyes, and again the espadachin was foiled. In this singular fashion three good minutes passed, Gomez leaping from side to side, con- stantly threatening, but never allowing the sharp blades to cross, while the Danish master kept wheeling on his right heel, constantly facing his foe, his sword always pointed at the other’s face. This sort of work soon tired out even the werful and active Gomez, who stopped, pant- ing for breath, The moment he stopped Olaf advanced, one step ata time, but straight and rapid as a dart, and though Gomez fell back he could not keep ha swords from clashing in parrying a straight unge. “Thave you now!” cried the Dane with a fierce laugh that blended with the clash. With the word he plied the other with thrusts he could no longer evade,drove him all round the ring, and at last sent a straight lunge into his batly below the right shoulder, under which the boastful espadachin uttered a dropped his sword as he fell. Olaf calmly wiped his own sword and said: “Tf the other six are no better than you, I pity their chances, my friend. Good-night.” He turned away, resumed his jacket, and bowed low to Guartiola. “Your excellency is satisfied, I hope, and I have won the stakes fairly.” Guartiola raised his hands in wonder. “You are the king of the sword in truth. Such fencing never was seen. Now you will come to my palace, and you shall be treated in rhe, style.” e kept his word, for that very evening the genre two ei house of adobes with clay oors below—was lighted up from top to bottom ; and E] Rubio Bravo was treated toa truly royal Honduras banquet, in which Guartiola exhibited his taste for imported luxury, by bringing’ out some English plum pudding in tin cans, to- gether with three dozen bottles of Bass’s pale ale. But if the banquet was ludicrous in its bad taste, the ball was a success, on the green grass under a grove of palm trees, hung with colored lanterns; and here at last the famous swordman received as a distinguished honor from Guarti- ola an introduction to Senorita Carmelita Ximenes, who amazed and astounded her presi- dential admirer to the verge of an apoplectic stroke by saying calmly: ‘* Colonek Svenson and I need no introduction, senor. We have known each other for three years.” Then she took his arm and strolled off under the palms, while Guartiola grew green with jealousy, muttering: “* Old ac tances! And so she has fooled me after all. Well, we shall see.” As the Dane stroHed away with his beautiful partner he remained quite silent, with a strange expression of anger and reserve on his face, t she burst out laughing. ‘‘Why, Don Olavo, one would think you had seen a ghost instéad of me, Why don’t you ask where is my father?” ‘Because, senorita,” he said, gravely, ‘‘I would rather see you with him, though he hates me, than alone in the court of this v gar Guar- tiola. Senor Ximenes is a gentleman. She smiled at him coquettishly, as she said: ‘* You men of the North have no feeling. One would think you would enjoy your good luck to be alone with me after we have been parted a year. My father went to Comayagua last week, and we expect him back to-morrow. Then fare- well to moonlight music, love, and all that is sweet. oh let us enjoy ourselves.” * And ola,” he said, hesitatingly, for be couldn not resist those eyes and tones. ‘‘Guartiola is an ox, and I lead him by a rin in his nose,” she answered eee *T woul not give my Rubio Bravo for a hundred such things.” howl of pain and CHAPTER IV. THE COCK-FIGHT. THE town of Tegucigalpa was all excitement next evening, for there was to be a famous ae in the Plaza de Armas. -Americans are devoted to eet. rp bull-fights, man-fights and every other kind o contest, while they are equally fond of betting on their favorites, and in this instance ail the population were enlisted on one side or the other. Gran Matador of Comayagua, who had vanquished all opponents for nearly three years, eS Se eS from the ee ce of Tabasco, who went by the name of Im —the Emperor. Of course public opinion in Te was on the side of the Honduras on account, not so much of his prowess as of his being a Suecimen of home talent. ; The other bird was backed by a few Mexi- cou merchants in town. The President ami all his cabinet were of course at the cock-fight, and there was no lack ! . a —_— 2 = of : ; — : "4 _ handsome figure well. Senorita Ximenes had not been seen near the | had been El Rubio Bravo, King of the Swordsmen. of ladies, who were as read though a little risky as to the Conspicuous among the to bet as the men, ox bee pom of losses. esident’s suite could be seen El Rubio Bravo, in a sort of uni- form invented by himself whlch set off his President, and rumor at Tegucigalpa said that she and El Rubio Bravo were old lovers, who parted by a cruel father, and that now it was all right again between them, at least till Senor Ximenhes came back from his trip to the Indigo planters. e did come Saiak on the evening of the great cock-fight, and was seen to greet El Rubio Bravo with a cold civility that confirmed the story, after which he and Guartiola sat side by side, muttering under their breath to eac other, while Carmelita and Olaf made love in the most open way right under the President’s nose. But now the birds were brought out and placed in the ring singly, for the people to ad- mire, when the betting began. E] Matador—the killer—was a very handsome black and red cock, who crowed loudly as soon as he got his feet, while El Imperador was still in his handler’s arms, The people cheered him and voices shouted all sorts of bets on his vic- tory. President Guartiola turned round with a sort of vailed sneer to Olaf. ‘You don’t know much about this in your country, colonel.” Olaf bowed as he answered: “No, senor. Our ple prohibit it by law and I used to think it a stupid brutal till I went to Havana and learned the points, It is a contest of skill and strength, and I call my- self a judge now.” : Guartiola sneered again. ‘* Ah, indeed? Perhaps you'll bet against El oot then?” pe r ** Not yet, your excellency. ““Why not?’ ’ ‘“‘] have not seen the other bird yet.” _Guartiola nodded and whispered to Carme- lita’s father, a stout white-headed gentleman; ‘* He is cautious, but we'll clean him out yet.” Ximenes whispered back: ‘You shall have all the money you need, if you will get rid of him. He has bewitched the girl with his ways, and she scorns reason.” Just then El Matador’s handler took him up and a squat Mexican in velvet and gold threw E] Imperador down into the ring, shouting out: ‘Make your senores. Here stands El Im or to back them.” roar of disdainful laughter was heard from the throats of the people and a babel of voices broke out with bets against the bird. El Impera- dor was asimple black cock apparently with- out a strain of game blood in him, who stood in the pit and began picking at the dirt without so much ds a crow. But he was stoutly built and several pounds heavier than El] Matador. “Well Don Olavo, do you see any chance to make money?” sneered Guartiola. ‘*I do,” replied the Dane quietly. creole was up in amoment. | ‘What is it? Name your bet.” *‘T await your excellency’s.” ‘Very well then),a thousand on E] Matador.” “Tl take it, senor and make it eightif you like,” replied the Dane. ‘El Imperador is going to win this fight.” Guartiola put up a bag of silver. ‘“‘There’s my money. Senor Ximenes shall hold a bed nr be — Sines | He knew th e Dane only his winnings of the previous night, 4 What was bis surprise when Olaf showed him Ars 9 bag of gold eagles of the United tes. ‘‘Here are a thousand dollars our money eight of . The senor can hold them.” e old Spaniard gravely took the He had no idea where Olaf had got the money, but he had a suspicion that his daughter knew some- thing about it. Then the birds were put into the pit, which on the and was only a carpet ground, the next moment they were standing by the their feathers bristling, as the &- to and fro, watching for a chance to The clamor of bets was great the con- fusion deafening, but all became still as death a moment later, when both birds sprung aloft. and met with a clash. To the amazement and horror of the men of or : Tegucigal El sent E] Matador over on with a single kick, pounced on him as he lay, caught his beak by the back of the head and began to trample the life out of him with a power to which the other with all his pluck and activity, could no effectual settled but 4 eamncees Oe On tke a bull-dog till he killed his bird, and then uttered a regular dung- hill crow, deep and hoarse, the <€om Since his arrival, the .