Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 256 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

o—_--— from the river, and this more fully confirmed Roy’s assertions. Reasoning that as the wretch had become aware of their intentions through listening at the camp, Roy now proposed that the party should at once repair to the plantation of Le Grand and endeavor to effect his arrest, while he himself volunteered to proceed down the river in search of any trace of his enemy. Our hero’s intention, however, was principally that of returning the boat of Rosa Ray; he never dreamed that Le Grand would proceed on foot down the Brazos, as it seemed probable that the villain would return at once to his home, secure what money he could, and leave that part of. the country forthwith. As the reader already knows, Roy was suc- cessful in returning Rosa’s skiff without being observed. He then rowed up the river to the place where he had left his horse when he start- ed on his fishing-trip the previous morning. The horse of Le Grand he gave in charge of one of the young men who went to the planta- tion of the former, Upon reaching his horse, Roy hurriedly equipped himself and galloped directly to his home. He arrived thither before daylight and at once prepared for a long ride to the Bend on the following afternoon; selecting for the jour- ney his best horse, an animal of great speed and endurance, keeping him in the stable in place of being driven with the herd to graze by the slaves. His preparations being finished, the young man went to his chamber and slept during the forenoon; starting after dinner to keep bis ap- pointment with Rosa, after which he intended to search for Le Grand. By this time a mes- senger from the young men who had gone to the plantation reported that the miscreant had not been there and had not been seen by any one. a Roy galloping toward the Brazos and filled with blissful anticipations in connection with the interview he was looking forward to, we will return to the missing scoundrel, Louis Le Grand. Le Grand at first, after realizing his peril, was unable to arrive at any conclusion as to his future movements, and, secreted from any pos- sibility of being discovered, he plunged into deep thought. He had three objects in view which he was resolved that he would accomplish. First, he had sworn that Rosa should be his, and he meant to keep that oath. Secondly, he had also vowed to have his so far mysteriously-thwarted revenge upon the _ he so deeply hated. Roy Randolph must e Thirdly, he himself must escape from the vi- cinity as soon as possible. He must abandon his plantation, but this did not affect him to any very great extent, for it was mortgaged for its full value, as were also the season’s crops end nearly all of the slaves, for, while on protracted sprees of late, he had lost heavily at cards and horse-racing. And now it was that he congratulated him- self upon anticipating such a time as the pres- ent, as for many months he had been intending to shoot Roy Randolph, and he knew that he might meet the latter when he himself was under the influence of liquor and shoot him in a cowardly manner. In that case, the deed being robably witnessed, his life would be placed in net ot this alone, but he was liable when half- crazed with drink to wager everything he had in the world and lose it. Consequently he had some time since pre- pared himself for these contingencies by giving a bill of sale of his wagons, mules, and other personal property, together with several slaves, to his overseer. This had been done ina legal manner, two witnesses signing the document. Both these men were of the hunting-party, 4 ex-comrades, who were now seeking his ife. His overseer, however, knew nothing of this transaction, Le Grand retaining the papers for obvious reasons until the same were needed. He now made up his mind that he would ab- duct Rosa Ray, fly up the Brazos with her, and there secrete her in the timber, while he re- paired stealthily to his home, but a pistol-shot from the bottom. He would then seek his overseer, who was a man after his own heart, and completely under his influence through his knowledge of a crime the man had some time ago committed, and give him the bill of sale. This he would do in order that no one could prevent his departure with such valuables as he chose to transport to a new section. To do this, the overseer must at once load up, and start off in the night; making away - from the river, over the open country to the Rio Colorado, He must cross this at Columbus, and go from thence northwesterly to San An- tonio, keeping as far as was possible away from ee edie Neg or self, he would gallop ahead with Rosa Ray, and lie in wait for ine wagons. Then, in the night-time when the negroes would be asleep, the girl could be secreted in the lead- ‘Double Dan, the Dastard. _—- oo Oooo? r- r —C ing wagon, where the overseer could prevent | Finding the oars in a thicket at the lending, her being discovered by the other drivers. By carrying out this programme he would es- cape from his enemies, avenge himself partly on Roy Randolph by stealing the maiden with whom he felt positive Roy was in love, and gain a bride who, in time, would prove a mine of wealth to him. The spirit of the girl he meant to break; he would cause her every kind of mental anguish, Le Grand placed them, as we have seen, iu tie Skiff in a careless position, arguing that the | maiden would draw the boat to the platform in order that she might secure them. When at length she did appear, the extreme nervousness _of the wretch nearly betrayed him. He had provided himself with a club, that he might cefend himself against any dog that and then, when she realized that she was lost to | | ness. all the world, she would gladly be his wife. If pursuit was made, he felt that he could evade the pursuers; and, if necessary, hasten to the Rio Grande. If Roy Randolph pursued him, he would then have an opportunity to fill his cup to the brim with vengeance, by killing him in the presence of Rosa Ray. All this having been evolved in the miscre- might scent him; and we have seen how poor Hero fell, a victim to his fidelity and watchful- The further proceedings of the villain have already been detailed; and having accom- plished his dastardly deed, by depriving a fond father of an only child, he bent to the oars, the boat cutting the waters of the Rio Brazos once | more. ant’s mind, he stole through the thickets, down | of waters, the captive of a merciless fiend— the river; crouching low, as the searching-party passed back to the camp. Knowing now that the coast was clear, he until nearly opposite Bend Plantation. Then he fastened together a number of drift-logs, pro- cured a long pole, and, after much difficulty, succeeded in gaining the opposite bank. There he secreted himself in a dense thicket, just as | the gray streaks of coming dawn shot up east- ward, ce himself upon the earth, quite ex- hausted, and fell into a deathlike slumber, which lasted until long after the sun had passed the meridian. Le Grand awoke in a most demoralized state of mind, having eaten nothing since the morn- ing previous to his camping with his comrades on the hunt—that morning when old Dan lay dead, murdered by him before the meal was cooked, With insane nervousness and anxiety he clapped his hand to his hunting-shirt pocket, pulled out his flask, and, finding it nearly full, recalled the. fact that he had cast away the other one, and had taken this from his saddle- bags just previous to his plunge into the river. Having imbibed pretty freely, he felt like another man, we he then crawled to the river, casting cool water over his face and head. All the plans be bad formed were now recon- sidered; and he sat in the thicket until near sunset, when he cautiously approached the Bend, keeping near the bank, and screened in the un- dergrowth. Eventually the miscreant reached a position near the landing, where he could easily overlook it; and be there, to his rage and astonishment, per- ceived Roy Randolph now up the Brazos in the twilight, leaving the boat of Rosa and then go- ing on up the river. t was with great eal bringing to the front all his strength of will, that Grand could refrain from drawing his revolver and sending a bullet through Roy’s heart at close range; but he knew that the report would alarm the Rays, and defeat his plans. Probably, in- deed, it would be the means of ending his own career, as the bloodhounds would be put upon his track. The face of Le Grand was filled with relief, as his gaze returned from watching Roy to the landing, the sight of the boat causing this change. He had been greatly puzzled in regard to the manner in which he should bear Rosa away, should he secure her, having meditated steal- ing a horse from Captain Ray as well as the daughter. But now Roy Randolph had brought just what he most desired—a boat, which he would use to convey his captive up the Rio Brazos, By what means Roy got possession of this boat was a mystery; but upon thinking over the events of che near past, and considering that Roy had his own boat as well, Le Grand ar- rived at a reasonable solution of the puzzle, He had shot Roy, and in place of the bullet penetrating the skull of bis enemy it had glanced along the same, rendering him sense- less. He had thus floated down the river, and, without doubt, bad been seen and rescued by Rosa Ray. Both bad then walked to the Bend, leaving their boats, fearing to row up the moonlit river, as they might be discovered together, thus compromising Rosa. If what Le Grand surmised had been the case, Rosa Ray must bave been at the landing near- ly three hours after sunset, when all at Bend Plantation were asleep; and there was a possi- bility of her visiting the landing late this night of all nights—to him who now crouched in the thicket, The time seemed long to Le Grand that he lay thus like a wild beast watching for its prey, the hours passing so slowly as to seem days to him; and had there not been an ample supply of liquor in his flask, be would doubtless have given up his plan for that night and hastened to his plantation, owever, the Evil One favored him; for, as the reader knows, Rosa Ray, unable to sleep, proceeded to the landing to ascertain if Ro had arrived from down the river and bad le her boat, Rosa Ray lay again senseless in her little skiff, while her father lay peacefully sleeping, as she was being borne over the silvery sheen reserved for a fate a hundred-fold worse than death! proceeded to more open ground, and walked | CHAPTER XVII. ‘““wY DAUGHTER! OH, MY DAUGHTER!” WHEN Roy Randolph left his plantation, he went immediately toward the river-road, which _led to and past Bend Plantation to the Gulf, and _having dispatched a messenger to the young ese KS Janters who had been the associates of Le Grand, e awaited, as soon as he reached the road, the arrival of these men, i:tending to confer with them in regard toa further search for the mis- creant. He bad but a few moments to wait before the expected party made their appearance around a turn in the road, galloping toward him; but, as he gazed in their direction, he discovered a man riding toward him at beadlong speed, and shout- ing like a maniac. The young man was.filled with apprehension. Had Le Grand committed another fiendish crime? This question Roy asked mentally, but there was no time for speculative thought, as both the arty of young planters and the single horseman rom down the river galloped up at the same time. He then recognized the lone rider as the overseer of Bend Plantation, and the recogni- tion caused a strange pang to pass through his heart, like a thrust from a knife, He cried out at once: “In Heaven’s name, Bob Williams, what has occurred? Are you drunk or mad?” The man seemed at first unable to speak. He was evidently laboring under the most intense excitement and deep concern, these feelings being plainly expressed upon his flushed face, which was covered with perspiration, as was his panting horse with foam. Roy and the young planters stared at him in astonishment, not unmixed with apprehension, But in a moment, in a voice that had been made hoarse with yells, cried out: ‘* Gentlemen, I come from Bend Plantation for help! Miss Rosa Ray was lost last night—stolen from her home, abducted, and has been carried no one knows where!” “Great God!” exclaimed Roy Randolph, in a Mary so changed that all turned and looked at im. For a moment our hero gazed into the eyes of the overseer witb a fixed stare; then he yelled: ““ Men, follow me! Louis Le Grand, the cow- ard, the murderer, tbe assassin, has stolen the Belle of the Brazos! Follow me to vengeance!” ** Lead on, Roy! Leadon!” And before these outcries died away nothin was to be seen down the road except a cloud o dust; nothing was heard except the clatter of hoofs. Roy Randolph and bis new followers were on the trail for revehge and Rosa : Our hero had intimated that the looks and actions of Williams, the overseer, indicated a tendency toward either excessive drinking or insanity; but Williams, as be sat his horse, gazing down the road, seemed at that moment the most dumfounded man on earth. The over- seer would have been willing to swear tliat Roy ~ and the young planters were all stark staring — maniacs. Their manner and actions sroved tbis, as well as their words. Knowing that Randolph was a good trailer, and that he hada sufficient number of men with him to attend to Le Grand when caught, Wil- liams felt that his mission was at an end. and he bastened to the nearest plantation to get a fresh mount, and then return to the Bend, On the morning after the abduction of Rosa Ray her father arose early, and, as on the pre- vious morning, proceeded to the fields to super- intend the gathering of the crops. | Aunt Roxie was somewhat later, and when Rosa failed to make her appearance as befo her aunt, recalling the fact that the maiden h oversiept herself the previous morning, con- cluded that she had studied and romped too much of late, and was in consequence not really well. This caused her to instruct the maid to allow Miss Rosa to sleep on for an hour longer ee that.she regretted very much after- — ward, , S EGomicbaoo cor