Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 154 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

| _ so often answers the 22 ne en Joaquin, the Saddle King. only hope lies in frankly answering the ques- tions.I am about to put to you.” **Tf I confess all, may I go free, unharmed?” “Té is not in your place to impose con- ditions,” was the stern response. ‘* You are the slave now, and I the master.” ‘* That means 1 am to be murdered by inches whether I tell all or not,” cried Don Manuel, nerving himself with the desperation that of courage. ‘*‘ Do your worst, then! I will have my revenge in spite of all, for in h/lling me, know that you are signing the death-warrant of her you pre- tend to love—Carmela Felix!” “The trail to death is a long and crooked one, where you have such guides as Miguel and myself, senor,” laughed Serapio. ‘‘ Will you please put the first question, Don Joaquin?” **Don Manuel Camplido, you have spread or caused to be spread abroad the foul that I, at the head of a band of ruffians disguised as Apache Indians, waylaid the escort of Don Carillo Felix, murdering the leader and abduc- ting his daughter. Retract that calumny and confess the whole truth, or suffer the conse- quence of your obstinacy.” The prisoner turned a shade more livid, but his lips closed more firmly instead of opening, while the black scowl deepened upon his brows, The scalp-hunters glanced inquiringly at Joa- quin, who gravely bowed his head. ‘*Sorry to give you trouble, Don Manuel,” inned Serapio, *‘ but our honor is pledged to ring you to full confession. In merey to you we will proceed by easy degrees. Speak!” As he spoke, the scalp-hunter wound a lock of hair which grew over the temple, around his forefinger and pulled steadily until it came away by the roots. Don Manuel turned white as a corpse with pain, but a snarling cry passed his lips. Swift as thought Miguel caught one of his mustaches between his thumb and finger, - tearing it out by the roots with a single power- ful twist. So suddenly was this done that the wretched man had no time to steel his nerves, — a horrible scream of agony broke from m. ‘*Bah!” sneered Serapio, ‘‘had I a child one year old that would not laugh'with pleasure at such a tri attention, I would drown it in the nearest buffalo-hole as a bastard!” ‘Gag his jaws, or his bellowing may betray us tosome prowler,” coldly uttered the young Sonorian. ‘‘ When he concludes to spare him- self further and us trouble, he can nod his head as a token.” As in all else, the scalp-hunter promptly obeyed the speaker, and then resumed their tor- tu . It would be painful and disgusting to record all that was done, Enough that they were masters of the art, and that ere lon Don uel was forced to give the sign for whic Joaquin was sokeenly watching. Instantly the g was removed from the wretched creature’s ews, and a leather flask of water held to his ps. ‘*Now speak,” said Joaquin, sternly, ‘and beware how you attempt any evasion or deceit. And you, good friends, mark his words, for the time may come when I shall be forced to pro- duce you to_bear evidence to my innocence, Don Manuel Camplido was utterly unmanned, and feebly gasped out a full confession, only re- serving the fact that his bullet had laid Don Ca- rillo Felix low. **So far good; but there is more to come,” added Joaquin. ‘‘ Tell me where the Senori Carmela is held prisoner, how many men guard her, and what were your final instructions to them when you left.” Don Manuel hesitated, but only for a mo- ment. Serapio made a significant gesture, and knowing that open speech alone could save him from still more diabolical torture, he answered the demand in full. “For your own sake, quite as much as my own, I trust og have spoken the truth, Don Manuel Camplido. I mean to act Looe 8 on your information, and should it prove false in any particular, you will be the greatest sufferer. I will leave you in charge of these gentlemen—” “Pardon, Don Joaquin,” eagerly interrupted: Serapio. ‘* You surely forget! He spoke of some twenty rascals. Alone, they would mas- sacre you—with Miguel and I, the odds would be nearereven. You could look-after the lady, while we would amuse the rascals—eh, Miguel?” ‘*Good!” rumbled the giant. ‘‘ His tongue is long and uneasy as a woman’s, senor, but some- times it goes straight to the mark, as yow. We will bear you company.” — ** Nay, good friends, I ride alone in this,” said Joaquin, advancing and cutting the thongs that confined the captain’s hands. ‘“‘ You must watch over this villain—” **We can truss him up, Indian fashion, and he cannot escape. No one, saye we that are here, knows aught of this den. He might lie here alone for a thousand years—” “There is too much at stake for me to run the risk of his escaping before he has been forced to clear me of guilt in the eyes of all honest men.” “If you are murdered by his wretched as- sassins, that will be but a poor consolation to your friends, senor,” grumbled Serapio. Joaquin uttered a low laugh as he responded: ** He shall give me a safeguard, never fear,” tearing a blank leaf froma notebook and ex- tending it, t gether with a lead pencil, to the prisoner. ‘‘'Take these, Don Manuel Camplido, and write as I dictate. Refuse, or omit a single word, and I swear to you that what you have already undergone shall seem like heavenl bliss to the tortures which will be inflicted. Listen, and write: *GasparD: Treatthe bearer of this, Don Joaquin Murieta, with all respect, and guard life as you would my own. If aught of harm befalls him, m doom is sealed, for Iam helpless in the hand of his faithful friends, who have solemnly sworn to put me to death after horrible tortures, in case n J se fails to return safe and sound within a rea- sonable length of time. “Deliver into his hands the Senorita Carmela Felix, and suffer them both to depart at will, with- out let or hinderance. ‘““Remember, on your prompt obedience depends my life. “Signed Don MANvEL CAMPLIDO.” Slowly, and with a degree of mental torture but little if any less than that he had suffered in the flesh, the miserable wretch wrote down the words dictated, then bowed his head upon his hands with a bitter groan. Truly, the wages of sin in his case were more bitter than death! Closely Joaquin scrutinized the note, then carefully stowed it away in his m. There was an almost cheerful smile upon his face as he turned to the scalp-hunters: “* You see, my friends, Iam not so foolhardy as Mee at first believed. Not but that I would feel doubly guarded, with you two as an escort, and under other circumstances, I would ask no better sport than to pit ourselves against that score of ruffians; but first of all the lady is to be considered. We would whip them, no doubt, but s/,e might come to harm in the melee.” “We could wait until you had safely ridden away with the lady, then pitch into the la- drones,” coaxingly suggested Serapio, but Joa- quin shook his head de¢idedly. ‘*Lot'me once settle this affair, and then, if ou still wish it, I will join you in a raid on hose murderous devils. But now TI must ask you to fall in with my humor. Bind that dog again, and rd him as a miser guards his treasure. ve him food and drink sufficient to keep him from starving, but not an ounce more. If I failto return here within eight- and-forty hours, put him to death, and if you give him a slight token of what Satan, his master, holds in sture for him, be sure my spirit will not mourn deeply.” ‘*We will flay him alive, inch oy tae with red-hot knives that will scar his h so that there will be no danger of his bleeding to death,” replied Serapio, with a matter-of-fact coolness that was more dreadful than the hot- test anger. ‘*Good enough—I need say no more. Now give me some food and drink, and I will set out at once.” The young Sonorian ate and drank ravenous- ly, then the rope ladder was cast down the face of the rock, and he descended in company with Serapio. The horse ridden by Don Manuel Camplido was found hard by, the saddle and bridle were quickly adjusted, Then, with one warm hand-clasp, Joaquin rode away to rescue his loved one. CHAPTER XX. AGAINST DESPERATE ODDS. CARMELA FELIX seemed like one whose ever hope had fled, whose spirit was utterly crushe when Gaspard handed her over to the care o Diego, the young Mexican, with orders to bind her securely hand and foot, And it was not so much to be wondered at. ° Tio Tomas had convinced her that escape from the power of Don Manuel’s tools was as good as assured. She believed that the crisis of her perils was past, that in a few minutes more she would be riding at speed along the trail “which would end in the rescue of Joaquin Mu- rieta and their united bliss. But now—Tio Tomas a prisoner and surely death-doomed— herself in bondage, and liberty seemingly more distant than ever! .For one moment utter despair did fill her heart—soul-sick, she felt like giving up the un- equal battle, and as Gaspard relaxed his cruel grasp, she would have fallen to the ground but for the quick support afforded by Diego. The young man was one who had occasionally attended Don Manuel Camplido in the capacit of groom, and had been foolish enough to secre ly entertain a romantic passion for the fair lady. ‘On one occasion, when he bad drank more heartily than usual, Diego, unconscious! to himself, betrayed his secret to the keen-wi ted senorita. She was too high above him, and too much sense, to take mortal offense at his presumption, and before the hour was , She had entirely forgotten the discovery. ut now, as Diego gently raised her form in his arms, Carmela feel his lithe shape quiver with strong emotion, and like magic the mem- ory of that afternoon returned to her. At best this was a frail foundation for hope to build upon; but Carmela sprung from a fight- ing race, which had many a time turned defeat into victory, and from that instant her resolve was taken. Diego bore her back to where she had passed the hours until the wild outburst followed the disastrous venture of Tio Tomas, then gently lowered her to the ground. ‘Pardon, lady,” he muttered, in a tone of confusion, as he produced a stout rawhide thong. ‘‘ You heard his orders. I must carry them out, or else suffer death in his rage.” Silently Carmela held out her hands, but there was a sad, reproachful light in her dark, lus- trous eyes, that caused the young groom to flush painfully, Still he did not neglect his duty, and as Carmela félt the thong drawing tighter, a faint cry rose to her lips, and she quivered as thoughin pain. Diego trembled from head to foot, even more violently than she, and his unsteady fingers could scarcely loosen the knot they had formed. ‘* Thanks!” softly murmured Carmela, sinking down upon the ground and putting her ankles together. ‘‘ The pain is not quite so severe now. I may be able to bear it.” Every word cut to the heart like a keen knife, and Diego made haste to compete his disagree- able duty, cursing Gaspard fiercely, if inaudi- bly, for having pitched upon.him for such ser- vice ‘“‘Never mind me,” sobbed the maiden, in a voice that hardly rose above her breath. ‘Go do what you can for my poor old friend—save him, and my undying gratitude is yours.” “T would do much for your sake, lady, but what you ask is an impossibility. Tio Tomas has slain two members of the band—for Antone is dying—and the law appealed to is a sacred one, ere I to interfere, I would only beslain, without serving either you or him.” **T ask not for impossibilities; but you can de- lay the horrible crime—give my poor friend time to make his peace with Heaven—gain him what respite you can—go!”’ Diego was only too glad to obey this last. com- mand, On that one pane his heart was very tender, and he knew that, unless he was speedily beyond the personal magnetism of this rarely beautiful maiden, he would be undone. Should she beg him to set her at liberty, he felt that he could not refuse, and he felt not the slightest de- sire to fall a martyr in a tales where he could expect no reward. , hen too, the horrible fascination was upon him that was felt by tits comrades—he was eager to witness, if not take an active part in, the ex- piation of blood. Therefore hé gladly skurried away, nor was Carmela less pleased. . She had played her part most admirably on a moment’s notice, aided by the curious infatua- tion of Diego. Any one in his usual senses would Derr ey ee: her cry of , however natur sounded, was assumed for a : would have noticed the manner in aiioe she bowed her wrists a where the rawhide thong crossed them, and known that when the muscles were relaxed she could readily slip out first one small hand, then the other, without the knots being untied. And scarcely had Diego turned his back before this was done, Carmela saw that the attention of the outlaws was wholly occupied by the dying man: and their prisoner, and tossing aside the rawhide thong, she drew from her hair the little silver sg jg that answered the purpose of a fastening to her locks, and bending over, quickly cut the bonds that confined her feet. Now she was at liberty. One quick lea would carry her into the clump of bushes whi had served Tio Tomas so well, and with that friendly shelter interposed between herself and her enemies, Carmela could speedily steal awa to a safe distance pinepe the thick-lying bow]l- ders. Once out of sight, there would be little danger of her recapture, provided she was at all rudent, and a human trail could only be fol- owed through that hy under the broad light of day, and even then by only the most skillful. Reason told Carmela this, yet she hesitated to take the one step which divided ber and com- Spar safety. Prudence dictated instant ght, lest the golden moment should vanish never more toreturn; but the maiden recalled all that poor old Tio Tomas had dared for her sake, and the momentary temptation fled. Yet how could she save him from the horrible fate which the dying outlaw was even then pro- nouncing?! What could she do pitted ea against nearly a pe well eteed men with no weapon save & toy-dagger er ion? Truly it was a wild and desperate on , Such as few women could have entertained even for a moment, and still fewer find the courage suffi- cient to attempt its accomplishment. Her face was white and sternly fixed as Car- mela keenly overlooked the ie a and weighed the chances forand against the desperate project ie was gradually shaping itself in her busy rain. The outlaws were gathered around the spot where Antone half reclined, where Gaspard held Tio Tomas in his strong grasp, all listening eagerly to Woyeca” of their Ceath-stricken comrade, ond them was the natural corral where the horses were staked out, while some little distance to the left grazed the GComicboo (E(0)| a