Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 154 — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

t! & ’ 1 ae af ' i a —— SSS = — oa a a a emnes aL ————— =e Ne eee eee ame 12 Cowed by the touch of the well-remembered lasso, the horse stopped instantly, and Jose leaped from the saddle, bending over the dust- covered body of the young vaquero. His snarl- ing curses were cut short by a glad oath as he found by examination that Joaquin’s neck was still perfectly sound, so sure had he been that he would find it broken. The young Sonorian was bruised and bat- tered, choked into insensibility, but there was yet life in him. ; Podro Canales staggered to his feet, a fright- ful looking object in the clear moonlight. rief time as he had been granted, Joaquin had xade good use of the only weapons he could vmmand, and it was as though some fero- cious hound had been throttling the burly ruffian. “Tl kill him—I’ll cut his heart out and swal- low it hot!” were the only words that could be distinguished amid a volley of horrible curses as he rushed toward the now helpless youth, with knife ae venomously in the moon-, light, but Jose bol ed S eigg ‘“* Back, you fool! back, or I'll split your thick skull with’ a half-ounce bullet! Do you think Ill stand by without a word while you throw five hundred good silver dollars to the devil! Half of that is mine, and the whole will be, unless you cool down and act more sensible.” There was no mistaking either his words or his actions, and Pedro Canales, even in the hight of his madness, was sane enough to pre- fer life to death. He came to a pause before ie ‘grim perstader, and slowly replaced his nife, ‘* You are right, Jose—but the dog-of-a-devil’s- son so maddened me that I knew not fairly what 1 was doing.” “Tt was your own fault,” seca ranted Jose, not sorry to make the most of advan- tage over the bumptious groom. ‘“‘ Itis ill teas- ing a bloodhound with a full set of teeth. I warned you, but you were too bull-headed to take advice. Now it will be as J say, at least until we reach the rancho. . Bring up. the horse and help me truss the game cock in the saddle.” Pedro Canales had been too severely shaken by bis fall and narrow escape from death, to feel anxious for a fresh quarrel, and without a word he obeyed. 4 Joaquin was hoisted astride the deep-seated saddle; his ankles were beneath the horse’s belly, his waist to the pommel, and in ad- dition a couple of t of a | were taken around his body just beneath the its. ‘*There!” cried Jose, with an air of triumph- ant satisfaction, as he g one end of the POR to Pedro Canales. ‘ Wi ou at one end and [ hold ot the other, twice the demon that he is could not give us the slip!” Never was mortal being more completely hampered than the young Sonorian as the two kidnappers mounted their horses and moved off toward the Camplido rancho. Escape unaided was an absolute apes lay. and so Joaquin quickly convinced himself, when the swift for- ward motion completed the restoration begun while the vaqueros were arranging their compli- cated fetters. — Now, as before, he made no sign of returning consciousness until he had fully mastered the situation. He saw that it would be worse than folly to attempt a struggle now, and in silence collected his energies to take advantage of the first openimg offered. But this did not come be- fore the Camplido,rancho was reached. Drawing rein when near the mass of, buildings, Jose ee a heavy, sack-like hood.of woolen stu , which he drew over Joa- quin’s head and shoulders, tying it firmly in place, ‘That will be enough,” and Jose added, with ‘a laugh: ‘‘The eye of love could not recognize him from the clothes he wears, for our dandy sport has turned to a scarecrow!’ ‘Cut his feet loose and help me down with him,” growled Pedro Canales, thinking the time had come for him to resume the ‘*So! Now go and see that the is n- ably clear. m Manuel said that none than we two must knew the secret.” With a finm gripe on the shoulder of his pris- oner, Pedro Canales forced Joaquin ahea him. The great gate was , the threshold crossed, then Jose, a rude lamp, led pat Mt NR at Pe clgytorgie ae amp and foul smelling dungeon, into whieh the young Sororian was thrust. nd aback Testing, “he " ‘ida a es. e@e, the Pp threw Joaquin down and applied the fra, (en tore the m from his head. “Who trium y confronted him with lev- you an poner before*his chained enemy. ‘“ Can y guess why you have been brought here™ Murieta was left alone with his thoughts— gloomy and serious enough! Together the two ruffians hastened to the private room of their master, knowing well that he would pardon their intrusion at that war hour for the sake of the glad tidings they ore. Scarcely had their knuckles touched the door when it was flung open by Don Manuel Camp lido in person, who, after one keen glance into their faces, stood aside to let them enter. Closing the door and turning the key to guard against surprise, the ex-captain confronted his tuols, eagerness in his face and tones. ‘“What is the word—success or failure?” he demanded. ‘You bade us search until we found Joaquin Murieta, and_then to kill him or bring him back alive. Your will is law, and we have ere somewhat theatrically answered edro. ‘* He is down in the dungeon, alive and await- ing your pleasure, Don Manuel,” added Jose who was resolved to play at least an equal part with his fellow. A cry of delight broke from Don Camplido’s lips—a look of ferocity sty into his rae one who saw him then could have deemed him handsome. He looked all over what he really was—a heartless, brutal fiend in human shape, as he clutched Jose by the shoulder and cried: ‘You speak the truth? Joaquin Murieta is here, a captive, alive, sensible to torture? Be- ware how you attempt to deceive me! If you lie, I will have you torn limb from limb!” ‘Why should I lie, when the question is so readily settled?’ quietly asked the. vaquero, never flinching from that fiery glare. ‘‘’Tis only a few steps to the hole where he lies.” ut Don Manuel had not really doubted the man’s word, and now, with a low laugh so devilish as to startle even those heartless ruffians, he released Jose, and producing an ample jug of brandy, bade them help them- selves. “You have earned your comfort, my fine fellows?’ he exclaimed, moving restlessly about as though the welcome report had flooded his veins with uicksilver. ‘Drink hearty, and then tell me how it was, You had a fight?” An angry curse met the strong liquor mid- way in Pedro’s throat, and there was a sputter- ing, choking explosion. Amid his coughs and strangling, he pointed to his torn and still bleeding neck, ‘*He did that—after his hands were ironed behind him, and with a rope around his throat. He is ten thousand devils boiled down into one! A fit of coughing cut short his speech, and Jose, seeing his coveted chance, at once pro- ceeded to make the most of it. He told how luckily they were put upon the right scent. They heard and recognized the neigh of the horse which the young Sonorian had taken from Don Manuel, and they managed to keep him in sight as he beat a retreat, dog- ging him to where he lay down to spend the remainder of the night in sleep. Here the watched and waited until confident that his senses were fast locked in slumber; then he, Jose, stole forward to turn the horse loose, knowing that then the young vaquero would be wholly at their cane The horse broke away from him as he cut the rope, and its snorting aroused the sleeper. There is no necessity of following Jose further in his report, since he confined himself strictly to the truth, and that has already been placed before the reader. “You have done well,” commented Don Manuel Camplido, ‘‘and have nobly won the old ph soy De . But one thing bear in mind; eep close tongues and never let fall a hint of this affair as you value your lives. I am play- ing a bold game for a large stake, and those who endanger my plans through treachery or carelessness, must pay the penalty. “This much by way of“warning,” he added, in a very different toue of voice. ‘‘ Who saw you bring him in here?” ws old Blas, the warder, and Agatone. Jose cleared the way of the rest,” promptly re- ied Canales. ‘‘Even they could only guess Who we had captive, thanks to the precautions we took.” ‘‘They are perfectly safe, and you have done well. e, we will pay the gentleman a brief visit, or he may charge me with being an un- hospitable, host. * kid obsequiously laughed at this little bit of pleasamtry, and esco their mas- eel rai Veoslota they had left hi n Music as they 8 m halt-ree Soetast fae damp wall. He raised his eyes as the door swung open, and deadl hatred glowed in them as he recognized h rival, but them hfs face set like a mask of steel. He readily divined the reason of this visit, amd resolved to make Camplido’s victory as basren ad possi co ie ie tee bed, Batt Deg 7 uin Muriets, and somewhat sooner olpated,” moekingly uttered Camplido, ou « ry . Don Carillo Felix. Naturally he was an _all Joaquin, the Saddle King. ‘*So that you might wipe out the shame and disgrace with which I covered you this after- noon!” undauntedly cried the prisoner, his eyes ablaze with hatred and scorn. ‘‘ You can face me boldly enough, now that I am shackled hand and foot, and weighted down with a mule load of iron. Bah! cowardly cur—I defy and spit upon you!” Don Manuel Camplido only laughed, low and easily. He held all the trump cards. He could afford to bide his time. ‘‘Make what use of your tongue that best pleases you, for it will soon pass beyond your control. But if I might advise, you will use it in making your peace with the world. Your doom is sealed as surely as though you were al- ready cold in the embrace of death. That you may know I am not speaking at random— listen : ‘¢ ‘Yesterday you had an interview with Sono- rita Carmela Felix. You were interruptediby red b your audacious presumption, and hard words: were spoken before he struck you with a whip. You slunk away, after muttering a bitter threat. That threat was overheard, and will be sworn to when the proper time comes, — ““Tmmediately afterward, you are Joined by Tio Tomas, a servant of Don Felix. Seeking cover you plot against him and his. You swear revenge, and ele, Mirage they are to start upon a re JOEnEy the morning, you decide to waylay the party with a force disguised as Indians, to kill Don Felix, abduct. his daughter and force her into a marriage with you. All this was overheard by one whose word will be believed, especially when the damning testi- mony is given under oath.” Don Manuel paused to note the effect of his words, but there was not the faintest trace of emotion upon the hard-set face of his prisoner. He laughed shortly, then continued: “With the duy-dawn, Don Felix and his escort will set forth. Sometime during the day they will be ambushed, mt gs as you de- cided yesterday. Don Felix will be killed, Senorita Carmela abducted, by your men, led by yourself! Hat ha! that shot strikes home!” the villain cried exultantly as Joaquin madea convulsive motion as though to leap at the throat of the mocking demon. But the clank of the chains ‘recalled him toa full sense of his helplessness, and with a smoth- ered execration he resumed his former attitude. Unspeakable hatred glowed in hiseyes. Heaven pity Manuel Camplido should fate ever cast im into the hands of Joaquin Murieta! ‘Let me draw another picture, since you like this one so well,” added Camplido, enjoying this foretaste of revenge, and longing for more. ‘*Some of the escort will escape, and the story of the terrible tragedy will spread like wildfire. It will reach my ears, and I will at once set forth to rescue my beautiful betrothed, or to share her fate. Nerved by love, what power can resist my arm? I succeed—I rescue the lady, exterminate your, band of mock-In- dians, and take you prisoner. I deliver you u to justice. My witnesses are well trained, an tell a straightforward story. The threat and the plot are sworn to; you were recognized, despite your disguise, by at least two of the escort who escaped. hey swear to this, [ swear that I captured you red-handed. Your guilt is proven beyond the shadow of a doubt, and you are sentenced —of course t suffer death, but in just what shape Ihave not yet fully decided. If the trial takes place before a rere tribunal of law, you will be garroted. If tied by the lynch lawof your loved Amer- icans, then a hasty noose—either way a sure and shameful death! ‘And I? Carmela will redeem her plighted troth, and I will teach her to strew curses over the dishonored grave of the wretch who mur- dered her father. ‘There you have the Sp ipo Don Joa- quin Murieta. Sleep on &, and may the Virgin send you pleasant dreams. Adios!” Laughing mockingly, the exultant villain left the dungeon, followed by his only less delighted servants. CHAPTER XL Jon intended to speak nothing bu p 088 in ) novhing but the plain truth when he declared to Don Manuel ° plido that none save old Blas and Agatone had seen them enter with their prisoner, and that absolutely no one save themselves so much as . su the identity of the eaptive. But tc at he lied. Eager eyes had been upon the two ruffians when they drew rein to muffle the features of the young Sonoriam, eyes that were rendered keen and penetrating, sot by hatred, but by Attached to the Camplido household was a i woman of mixed blood, Josefa by name, ne offspring of a forced alliance between an - he ret Bg Reig a woman mc had eaptive to wan ; story of Josefa’s lie was one oF wid rdewnes con thrilling adventure, but can find mo place here. caps gas is made only to in part expleim e share she played in the eomies events. S) (EO AMICCLNOKe) ‘