Beadle's Dime Library No. 204 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

eo. _miliar. 16 Big Foot Wallace, It was probable that the Mexican spy of the Medina had met Capitan Caramba by accident, when the latter was abroad on some foray; and the spy, having witnessed the start of the wagons, had made his report to his chef, which had resulted so disastrously to ber and hers. Both the colonel and his daughter had heard the piercing shrieks of the quadroon girl, and trembled as their imagination pictured the fearful crimes that were being committed at the motte. So utterly prostrated was Colonel Bowen, so regretful for what he had left undone, tbat he mentally cursed himself for his selfishness and cowardice, in not remaining on the Trinity, and defying Frank Ames to do his worst. But these regrets and self-accusations came too late. He was now in the very depths of a hopeless despair. But as the colonel sunk deeper and deeper into despondency, Belle, much to her surprise, became more defiant and hopeful; for she recalled the fact that George Adler had promised to follow and protect her, and also that the noted scouts, Big Foot Wallace and Post Oak Bill were aware of the direction they had taken, knew all the dangers of the route, and would doubtless make it their business to ascertain if herself and poeple had arrived safe at the San Miguel. The outlaws had been amazed at the daring and skill displayed by the young girl; but their surprise was nothing compared with that of Belle herself. On the Rio Medina she had fainted with fright, at the sight of a bear; but no sooner had she been awakened by the report of rifles, than she became insanely desperate, her fear and timidity being drowned by her most heart-rending concern for the safety of her father and the helpless slaves. As these thoughts came into her mind, she remembered that she had cast aside her rifle after she had shot the outlaw from the rear of the Dearborn, and that probably the gun was ne in the vehicle, as the wagon cover having idden all her movements, the outlaws doubt- less supposed she had used a revolver. She now resolved to try and loosen her bonds, recover her weapon and defend herself and father, should they again be assaulted. At this moment, however, she heard a sound which induced her to postpone the attempt. Capitan Caramba urged his steed up to the wagon and cried out: ‘‘T hope you are having a pleasant journey, Belle Bowen. Iam pleased to state, in order to somewhat relieve your mind in your pre- sent trying position, that Frank Ames will soon be in my camp. He has paid me to cap- ture you for him, and he proposes to marry you as quickly as a priest can be induced to risk his neck in such a lawless crowd as mine. Bat just now Lhave a different idea. He has been too cowardly to win aa unwilling bride by his own exertions, so I feel the less com- punction for going back on him, I detest a coward. Your bravery and daring have im- pressed me greatly, and I think (ll marry you myself!” Without waiting for a reply, the bandit chief rode off at headlong speed over the plain in advance of them. A heavy groan burst from the lips of the colonel at the mention of Frank Ames. He did not hear the latter part of the outlaw’s speech, in regard to his own intentions with reference to Belle. . At first a sickening feeling of aversion at the thoughts conjured up by tbe bandit chief when he avowed his intention of making her his wife, took possession of Belle; but she soon grew more calm, ard the anguish of her father caused her to drown all considerations of her- self. All was now plain to them both, except the identity of Capitan Caramba, who seemed vo know their whole history, and whose voice at times had a sound that seemed to them fa- Frank Ames bad known of their de- parture, followed them, and sent the Mexican spy to inform Capitan Caramba in regard to their course and destination. Belle was filled with amazement, She now knew that Ames and this bandit chief must have been intimate friends in the past. The manner and words of the latter showed it. But who could he be? The old colonel was in despair. He knew the desperate character of Frank Ames, and it was this knowledge that had made him leave his bome on the Rio Trinity. He realized that he and Belle were in the power of those who would hesitate at no crime; yet he felt that he would rather they should both be so situated than that his darling should be linked for life to the son of Jack Ames. His brain was now | We must ri:k it at all bazards, and try our on fire, and he wanted—oh, so much—to reveal the secret of his wife’s death to his daughter, but he dared not do so, for be knew that Jack Ames had been spoken of by many, in Belle’s presence, as his own old friend and boon com- | knife, Rosa, panion. Belle would hate and despise him, if she knew that he had affiliated with a das- tardly poisoner, a criminal of the deepest dye. Not only this, but she would naturally con- plan at once. The driver can be secured to his seat, as if alive.” ‘* Your plan is an excellent one, Belle. You are a most remarkable girl. Give me the The driver must died’ | © Besure that you strike a vital spot, ‘ather. But, to give you more confidence, | will stand here with my rifle, and although the report may break up our plan of escape, I will shoot clude that the fearful crime was the result of a , him if he proves too agile and strong for you,” vile conspiracy between them. ‘*Do not worry, papa,” said the young girl. * Frank Ames will find out that his plans will be frustrated. God will never permit sucha miscreant to succeed. I have not been idle all this time—I have good reason to believe there are those upon our trail—” | | ** Don’t shoot, Belle! For God’s sake, don’t shoot!” pleaded her father, in a hoarse whisper. “Even if he kills me, you mnst make an ef- fort to escape, by leaping from the wagon, At this moment she was interrupted by the | sound of many galloping steeds in the rear of the wagon, and she became aware that one of | the horsemen was close up, and looking in upon them. Glancing up, she saw the swollen, bideous face of the man she had seen crawling in the cow-path on the Medina, and afterward noticed at the motte. With a horrid exulting laugh, the Mestizo, for it was none other, rode on to join his com- | rades, and all swept away over the plain, after their chief. Belle could not repress a shudder as the laugh of the half-breed sounded in ber ears, | and crawling through the grass, »ud away from the trail.” ‘‘Words are useless, papa. Make the at- tempt, and the cause of right and justice must succeed.” Rosa cowered at the feet of her mistress, and the old colonel, his knife grasped tightly in bis hand, pressed a kiss upon bis daughter’s fore- head, and then crept slowly but cautiously over the ba'es of goods toward the driver, As if to favor the colonel, the wagon had struck a belt of **hog-wallow” prairie, and in consequence the violent swaying and jolting of the Dearborn obliged the Mexican driver to concentrate all his attention upon the guiding of his horses. Instantly realizing this, Colonel Bowen crawled quickly forward until just in the and the old colonel again groaned in agony of | rear of the driver, when, without a moment’s spirit; but, at this moment, she felt a hand | pause for preparation, by a lightning-like grasp her ankle, and she drew up her feet, as | movement, he knocked the sombrero from the if she feared some terrible reptile was in the | doomed man’s head, grasped him by the hair, wagon. For an instant, the blood in the poor | pulled his form quickly backward, and then girl’s veins seemed to be congealing; then the | plunged the knife to the hilt in his breast, thought occurred to her, that she had not seen There was no time for a struggle, or an at- Rosa with the other slaves, and that she had | tempt to ward off the deadly blow. Before no doubt been concealed in the Dearborn. the outlaw could realize that he was in danger, With a powerful effort Bell rose to a sitting | the life-blood spurted from his mouth and nos- posture, and peered out into the darkness at the driver, who had been placidly smoking his pipe, without paying any attention to his cap- tives; in fact, to do so, he would have been obliged to stand up, and look over the bales of goods which were piled behind him near the wagon seat. Belle could distinguish nothing, so she ut- tered the name of the quadroon in a nervous whisper. No answer came, but again her ankle was grasped, and she was now conscious that it was by a human being. Had she not felt posi- tive that it was Rosa, she would have fainted with fright, for the daring and desperation which had upheld her at the mofte, bad now deserted her. A mass of curls now soon swept her cheek, and trembling lips were at ber ear, whisper- ing: ‘‘Here I am, Miss Belle! For the. good Lord’s sake tell me what Rosa can do for ou!” “Thank Heaven!” was Belle’s fervent re- sponse. ‘‘ Everything may depend upon im- mediate action. Put your hand into the breast of my dress, Rosa, and you will find a knife, Cut us loose quickly.” With trembliug fingers the frightened slave obeyed, and a moment afterward, both Belle and the colonel were freed from their bonds. ee ee ee SC 9""N™—_ => Up to this time Colonel Bowen had seemed | as helpless as an infant; but no sooner did he realize that he was free from the cruel cords, and that there was a chance of escape, than he sprung at once to a sitting posture, and whis- pered: “God bless you, Rosa! I believe. that Heaven has preserved you as an agent to save us from a terrible fate. Ishall be myself in a moment. Belle, leap from the wagon, and lie stillin the grass. You, Rosa, follow her. I will join you in a moment.” ‘‘T shall not leave you, father,” said Belle, firmly. ‘ Basides, it would be foolish to at- tempt leaving the wagon, while the driver is alive. He is certain to look back very soon, and when he finds we are gone, he will fire off his rifle as a signal to recall the bandits, and then we would be recaptured.” ‘You are right, my daughter. My head is not as clear as it might be; butif I kill the driver, will the horses keep on! That is the question. You must know that the outlaws will now and then look back to see if the wagon is following them.” ‘‘The horses will naturally follow their kind, especially in the night time. They are checked up so that they cannot stop to feed! trils, smothering the shriek of horror and deathly fear that he strove to utter. So instantly was he struck with death, that the reins did not fall from his hands; just the opposite indeed, for they were clutched in the death-grip, and held tightly after the breath of the outlaw had left his lungs forever. Steadying the dead man in the seat, the col- onel cried out; ‘‘Jump, Belle! Jump from the wagon, my child! We are free, thank God!” Hastily catching up the loose ends of the reins, the colonel tied them around the body; then, with a rope which he secured from under the seat, he secured the corpse in a natural po- sition, raplaced the sombrero on the head, after which he wiped the blood froin the face. There was now little outward change in the Mexican. Filled with heartfelt joy at the prospect of escape, Colonel Bowen now crawled rapidly to the rear of the wagon, where be was caught around the neck by his daughter, her feelings finding vent at last, now that there seemed in- deed a hope of freedom. ““Why did you not obey me, my child? Come, as quickly as we can! One moment’s delay may cost us our liberty, if not our lives;” and springing out the rear end of the Dear- born, he assisted Belle and Rosa to the ground. Then sinking upon their kuees, the young girl passed the rifle to her father, and they all crawled in haste from the trail into the tall prairie grass, and then disappeared. CHAPTER AIV. SHARP EYE. On the morning of the day that Big Foot Wallace so effectually and promptly “ civil- ized” Miguel, the Spy_of Capitan Caramba, in San Antonio, a beautiful girl of some eighteen summers, in company with a young man, ap- parently a Texan, might have been seen gal- loping up the north side of the San Miguel, near the ribbon of timber which bordered each side of the stream. Both were mounted upon spirited half-breed horses of speed and endurance, that covorted and tossed their heads playfully, as their fast- flying hoofs scattered the dew from the flowers and grass in their course. The young girl was Maggie Moore, the grand-child of Post Oak Bill, and her companion was a young ranchero, somewhat noted as a scout, and known by the name of Sharp Eye, which cognomen had been given him by Wild’ Wolf the Waco, with whom the young Texan had hunted and scout- ed upon many a trail. But few knew or cared what his real name might be, and there was no man on the San / Eomicbooks ? J we eee oe