Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 256 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ? \ ' 4 ' = 2 ; \ | b f ’ 4 ig 18 ee Double Dan, the Dastard. —$—$—$————— ll =__T—STTW & ‘ from the fearful torture and anxiety of mind | you promise that you will keep them in a nat- } of the probability that Roy Randolph would that must be hers. Captain Ray and myself will take that gallop; but we cannot ask you, who have so nobly held to the trail until you are worn by fatigue and privation, to go with 8. ‘Rest here, for there are grass, food, and water in abundance. Guard this train until we return. We have no fear; we shall win, though we are but twoin number. Rosa Rav shall be saved before another sunset, or Roy Randolph will be food for the wolves of San Miguel.” Each of the young planters sprung impul- sively forward, grasping the hands of Captain Ray and Roy. They all vowed that they were determined to proceed to the San Miguel at any moment; all asserting, in strong language, that they would not linger on the trail until Rosa Ray was safe, and Le Grand swaying at the end of a lariat. In five minutes more the horses were tearing the rich grass from the sod, and our friends were devouring a hearty supper; everything being arranged that they sbould depart in an hour toward the San Miguel—Double Dan ac- companying them, a captive, and the negroes being left in charge of the train, CHAPTER XX. IN THE TOILS, Pen cannot portray the feelings of poor Rosa when she recovered consciousness, and, by the motion and the regular stroke of oars, re- alized that she was in ber own boat, bound and gagged, and being taken, she knew not whither, by she knew not whom. She had even been denied the power of sight, as well as of motion and speech, for a kerchief, which sickened her with the scent of vile whisky, was bound about her eyes. The poor girl was dumfounded as well as filled with the most torturing apprehension and terror, and besides this, there was the thought of the terrible state of affairs at her home when her absence should be discovered. The grief and agony of mind which her father and her aunt Roxie would suffer, added to the consternation and anguish of Roy—forced, as he would be, too, to mask every feeling for her sake—all this ery unsettled the maiden’s mind. Tn fact, continuous thinking in regard to the sufferings of those dear to her, occasioned by her mysterious disappearance, and her own probable peril, fically forced her into a dazed state, her overtaxed brain becoming benumbed. The ceaseless movement of the oars, the splash of the waters—these, all the sounds that broke the awful stillness—seemed to last for days in place of hours to the poor sufferer, but fiually she was lifted from the boat, felt herself being carried in the arms of her captor for some distance, and then realized that she had been placed oe the ground in a thicket. She heard the crashing of brush as the villain who had killed poor Hero and torn her from her home hastened away, and left her, bound and helpless—the song of birds at length prov- ge her that if was daybreak. ow long she ms thus she knew not, but it seemed ages; her limbs and body pained her, her jaws seemed to have become fixed and rigid in the unnatural position in which they had been forced by thecruel gag. When again she heard the crashing of the bushes she felt re- lieved, although she dreamed not of rescue, but the presence of a human being near her was far preferable to the position of being alone in that thicket, where some wild beast, for aught she knew, might pounce upon and devour ber, Rosa could not believe, in her innocence, that a civilized human being lived who would mur- der her, and that there was a man so cowardly and depraved as to bind and gag her thus, was a bewildering puzzle to her. She knew that two men now entered the thicket, for she heard whispers; then she was lifted and again carried some distance, when she heard the eae age: of horses’ hoofs and the rattling of harness. She next knew that she was placed in a wagon, being raised high by one man, then taken over some obstructions and lowered toa reclining position upon what seemed to be a soft couch. Then the wagon rolled on, for what eryeared to be days, although but hours, when at length it came toa halt, and a man crawled over the boxes, as she judged, in the wagon and removed the kerchief from her eyes, saying: | “Miss Ray, you are not to fear anything; you will not be harmed. Weare taking you to Randolph, as he cannot cume to you with- out being insulted and repulsed by your father, who wil) be informed of your safety, and who can again enjoy your society when you are a happy wife—not before. you will promise not to make any out- cry, [ will remove the gag. Nod your head, if you agree to this!” Amazed and horrified, as was Rosa at the appearance of this man, and the tissue of false- hoods, as she knew them to be, which he uttered; sO was she to be relieved of the torturing gag, that she immediately nodded her head in acquiescence, “And, if I unloose ou will be 0 so unless your hands, more comfortable; bu I cannot | Sse tse ural position. You cannot escape, for you are follow the trail or that her father would be able secured by cords of rawhide, and they cannot | to ascertain by whom and where she was tsken, be untied by your delicate fingers. could unloose them, however, escape would be impossible. Another nod, if you promise?” Rosa nodded quickly. The eyes of the poor girl had been fastened upon the face of the man who bent over her from the time that the kerchief had been re- moved, with a fixed stare of terror and aver- sion, She knew that she had never met this man or ruffian before; vet there was an indefinable something in connection with the features, the raven hair, the black pointed mustache and goatee, which caused her to think that she had seen him somewhere, under peculiar circum- stances, The black, snake-like eyes of this man, whose face was swarthy and most repulsive, glared gloatingly upon her, causing her to shudder, and to feel as one does who suddenly treads upon a serpent in the grass, and realizes that the loathsome thing is squirming and circling about his limbs. With quick movements, the gag and cords about the maiden’s wrists were removed. Then, ointing to a basket and a tin pail by her side, e said: ‘There is food and coffee! You had better eat, for you will need all your strength to bear our long journey in this cramped way. [ shall be forced, at times, to replace the gag, but only for an hour or so. Take things coolly, and all will be well in the end.” It was plain to Rosa that the smooth-tongued villain strove to appear at his best; except at moments when bis exultation overweighed all else, But she had no time to study him or to expostulate; she could not even find words to express her feelings of indignation at her treat- ment, for she could not articulate. Her tongue seemed transformed to lead, and he, whom she now decided was her captor, disappeared over the bales and boxes, and the wagon rolled on- ward. For a long time Rosa lay rubbing her wrists, and endeavoring to regain the use of her mus- cles, the face of her visitor being uppermost in her mind; when suddenly she started, a terrible shudder eonvulsing her frame. ‘ She knew now where she had seen that horrid ace. It was the same of which she had caught a limpse in the tree, across the Brazos, from the anding at the Bend, just after Roy had parted with her; and she felt positive that she was now in the power of the wretch who had, in so das- tardly a manner, shot Roy Randolph. It was, it must be, Louis Le Grand, who bad made a wager with bis dissipated companions to form her acquaintance, and become familiar with her in a week’s time. ‘‘Oh, God, protect me!” These, the first words spoken since her cap- ture, came in a hoarse whisper. But we will not detail the harrowing suffer- ings of poor Rosa, during that terrible journey. On and on, the wagon rolled; she not being permitted to look out, even when in camp, She could hear the negroes, and she knew that there were several wagons, and that ee passed over grass-grown oe and along traveled roads; but she dared not try to conjecture the distance that she bad been taken. It seemed ages since her capture, and the journey appeared an endless one. The poor girl became pic | Jerky and thin in flesh; the only place from which she could look out of thie wagon beingin the bottom at the end of her mattress, where a space some six inches square gave air and allowed a view of the ground passed over or that directly beneath them as they journeyed. The object of her being carried away was @& mystery to poor Rosa, the only solution of which that she could arrive at was that, having failed to kill Roy, this miscreant had decided to avenge himself upon the enemy by abduct- ing her, Le Grand having by spying ascertained that she and Roy Randolph loved each other. Rosa was at length aware that a different driver had been assigned to the wagon, who was evidently a Mexican, for she could hear bim curse and urge the mules on in Spanish, but that the vehicle which formed ber prison was proceeding on by itself was soon apparent also, the sounds of the other wagons and the voices of the negro drivers no longer reaching her ears. At length the poor girl was most agreeably surprised’ by having her limbs set free, and by being informed by her captor that when she could use her limbs she might climb out from the wagon and take a seat in the camp, as they would soon reach a point where they would be free from molestation or observation, It was hours before the wagon came to a halt and yet Rosa was then unable to trust herself to walk, although she had been constantly rubbing her feet ond ankles, and bathing them with water. While thus engaged she had drifted into a new line of thought. She had not during the long journey thought If you | that Roy knew of Le Grind’s boast and wi gers | in regard to her, he would be suspicious of his Now, however, she reas ned that from the fact having bad a hand in ber abduction. Not only so, but she felt that it would be impossible for the wagon-train to leave the plantation of Le Grand—which she believed had been the start- ing point—without the fact being known; and, as this had probably occurred the day following her capture, everybody would conclude that Le Grand had carried her away. She was now convinced that Le Grand knew | this, and that therefore it was he had parted from the train, that the pursuers might led in anotber direction. But she felt assured that on would follow and that he would find er, No sooner did Rosa arrive at this conclusion than she felt like a far different being; hope taking the place of despair, When she gained sufficient strength to leave the wagon she per- ceived that they were encamped in a beautiful “open” in the timber, bedecked with Spanish moss, Ciinging vines, and gorgeous wild flowers, The maiden felt that in justice to herself and those who very possibly might be following her she must eat and gain strength to at least take care of herself, should there be a dash made to bewilder and slay her captors, and save her. With hope in her heart, she began at once to feel more natural and prayed fervently that her father and Roy might be directed on the right trail. She paid noattention—not the slightest— to Le Grand or to the Mexican driver, the latter of whom was preparing their suppers; but both men were at the same time keeping a keen watch on her every movement, as she paced the cool and flower-strewn sod, CHAPTER XXI, NOT YET. Rosa_Ray paced back and forth in the camp on the San oy oe her staggering gait showing that it would be some time before she fully re- covered from the effects of the treatment she had received. The torture inflicted by her captor had beer almost equal to that practiced by savages, prov- ing bim what he really was—unwortby the name of a man. Rosa, although pretending to take no notice of the two men, was intently watching their every movement and expression, as they con- versed in low tones, at times casting glances to- ward her, but evidently satisfied that she could not escape, as indeed she was herself but too well aware. The Mexican, who had driven the mules since the wagon in which she had been confined bad parted from the train, was, judging from his appearance, a fitting comrade for Louis Le Grand. The two now squatted by the fire, selfishly de- vouring their food like ravenous wolves, not hav- ing since the halt offered her the least morsel, and the r girl shuddered as she saw the murder- ous knife which the Greaser flourished, with pro- fuse threats against any who might pursue. em. Le Grand had taken the precaution to secure Rosa’s wrists together at her back when he gave her permission to exercise in the open air, thus rendering her helpless, even though it might be possible for her to escape oY making a dash into the undergrowth beneath the towering timber. She longed—oh, so much !to get a glimpse of the prairie over which we f had traveled the. past day, but not only was the camp inclosed by a wall of tall trees, but Le Grand had caused the wagon to be taken over the stream, as she well knew, for she had observed the rushing waters within two inches of the aperture in the wagon-bed. his had placed the stream between them and any pursuers who might happen to be on their trail, and the Mexican had once, to her knowl- edge, crossed this stream and reported no one in view on the north plain. This decided Rosa that her captor was apprehensive of being fol- lowed, She had not the slightest idea of imploring or demanding a return to her home, the very actions and countenance of Le Grand proving to her that she would be sneered at did she do so, Thus far the miscreant had maintained a calm demeanor toward her, without the least show of excitement or anger, but from a study of his brutal face she knew that he was a desperate man—that his recent crimes, which had caused him to fly from the Brazos and to leave probably all his worldly possessions, | had transformed him into a human byena, a pitiless fiend! ‘ Had the unfortuvate maiden not suffered so mach during her terrible pre until ber sen- sitive brain was benumbed, shé would have been now tortured beyond endurance by the con- sciousness that she had been conveyed beyond the settlements, and that her captor undoubted- ly intended to penetrate the savage wilds, from which her escape would be impossible. Rosa had reached that sad menta) condition eboo eGoim eS