Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 256 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

es ~ “Double Dan. the Dastard. ae A A cc el a a Oe a 19 when nothing frightens or appalls, the sense of thought being blurred, as is sometimes the sense of si.ht or hearing. But there were moments when ber clouded mind became clear, and the terrible past and hopeless, horrible future shot through her brain, almost plunging her into in- — Suddenly the two men arose from their feast, the Mexican again disappearing beyond the river, and this caused Rosa increased hope, as it indicated a strong suspicion in her captors that they were pursued. Le Grand now spread a blanket, and, with an extravagant show of politeness, bade his fair captive to be seated. He then placed before her some food and coffee, saying, as he did so: ‘‘ Make yourself entirely at home, Miss Ray, for in the future, you must scheol yourself to be at home in my company, wherever we may chance to be. I apprehend that we shall be forced to lead a wandering life for some time to come, as there is no doubt in regard to your father and Roy Randolph seeking to regain the Belle of the Brazos, **T may as well tell you that I tried my best to kill Roy before [ set out with you on this weary pilgrimage. Ialso had the misfortune to kill an old slave of mine, and so the climate about the Brazos is a trifle unhealthy for me. ‘If it be any satisfaction to you, I will say that your friends are already on the trail, but by leaving the train, I have misled them. How- ever, should they become aware of this and close in on me, I promise you I will shoot Roy the first opportunity ; then you will not, baving no living adorer, make any great objections to marrying me. - ‘*You see, I have been unfortunate in my bets of late, and there are only two ways for me to insure myself against poverty. The one is, by marrying arich wife; and the other, to raise a bandit band, and Jevy toll on travelers, appropriating express-boxes and mail-bags, ‘I have astrong inclination to do both, for I think after you have recovered from your journey, you will make a dashing queen of the road. Infact, I have been surprised at your fortitude. Your strength of will and command over yourself, have, under the circumstances, been most admirable.” For a moment Rosa Ray gazed at the speaker in the utmost bewilderment. The cool, even tone in which he spoke, was more impressive than if he had addressed her in a furious passion. She knew that under that calm exterior there was a very hell of beast- like ferocity. She saw this in his eyes, and helpless, and at the fiend’s mercy as she was, she dared not speak. The food before her remained untouched, while she ee as death, despair and an- ish imprinted upon her face, while she stared nto the villainous countenance of her captor. He seemed nervous under her gaze, evidently beginning to fear that she was in danger of los- ing her reason, and the more terrible words that he had intended sneaking to crush out the last spark of hope in her bosom, remained unut- tered, He rose quickly to his feet. At that instant a peculiar whistle sounded over the San Miguel, causing the swarthy face of Le Grand to grow pale, and instinctively he clutched his revolver. He then dashed to his horse, which was feeding near, took a turn around the nose of the animal with the neck- rope, and then springing astride, urged him in- to the stream and forded, sa Ray was now alone in the camp, but she seemed paralyzed and unable to move, al- though her hands had been unbound to enable her to eat. She felt that the Mexican must have discov- ered some persons approaching—her father and Roy it might be, with a rescuing party—and her heart bounded to her throat, while she strove with all her power, to throw off the oppressive weight from her brain, and to force her muscles to natural action The sun had set some time previous, and the bottom timber was dark, although a bright moon sailed high in the heavens, lighting up the _— on either side of the San Miguel, beyond he ribbon of timber. Poor Rosa now saw that Le Grand had, in his excitement, forgotten the fact that he had relieved her wrists from the cords when he of- fered her food, It might be that this was the only opening, the only chance she would have to escape from a horrible fate. Better be devoured b wild beasts than fall a victim to the Dastard, Louis Le Grand! : These thoughts flashed through the poor girl’s mind; the possibility that her father and Roy might be on the nortb plain, hastening to her rescue, gave her hope and strength. he staggered to her feet, reeled across the camp and into the undergrowth, but before she had gone ten paces from the margin of the bushes that bordered the camp, she fell to the earth. She contrived, however, to crawl upon hands and knees into the thicket, and lay pant- ine on ahie rk th 2 rr € splashing of waters, fol- lowed by crashing of bushes, and then’ the camp resounded with horrible oaths from Le | and privation were the faces of the pursuers, Grand, who yelled, as soon as he could control | and bimself: | ouble Dan was as ghastly as a corpse. Thus, on went our hero, nerved to tear the ‘ool, that I was, to leave the camp and she fiend to pieces who had torn Rosa Ray from untied! them to full speed over the plain toward the Frio. That will draw the pursuers away from find her, “Hurry, Tsay, and put two miles between you and the timber before they cross. If they press too hard jump your horse and escape. I'll find the girl and join you at the fork on the Frio, for I can locate it by the chart you guve me. Tell your comrades to lay low until I come.” These words, spoken hurriedly, caused the Mexican to work lively, and the mules were nearly harnessed when Le Grand, secreting his horse and equipments in an adjoining thicket, tore through the bushes, with horrible oaths, directly past tue covert of Rosa Ray, who was so filled with horror by this time that she fainted. ; On, like a famished beast scenting his prey, rusbed Louis LeGrand, tearing through fhe un- dergrowth, darting keen glances into each and every thicket, yet no trace was there of the one hesought. On he went, until at last a vine tripped him, and he fell, with a deep curse, into a guily, on the bed of which he lay, foaming at the mouth, frantic with fury. For the last two or three days he had refrain- ed from drink, realizing that he must keep his Antonio, hitch up the mules and put | her home and friends; while Captain Ray was insane in bis thirst for revenge, and the young planters little less so, for each hour since the the San Miguel, and I shall thus be enabled to | brain clear—'hat bis very life depended upon | how he managed his flight; but now, his captive escaped, and he forcea to send his wagon and only comrade away, leaving him alone witb the avengers advancing at headlong speed—all this, s0 totally unexpected, maddened and de- moralized him. He tore his flask from his pocket, drinking as he lay, an unreasonable quantity of the fiery liquor. All at once he thought of Antonio and the wagon, and bounding to his feet he rushed south through the belt of timber until he reach- ed the edge of the same. He then peered out. It was nearly as light asday on the prairie, and glancing over it, Le Grand discovered the wagon flying toward the Frio at terrific speed, the mules full gallop, and Antonio lasbing them at every bound, while the saddle-horse of the Mexican was bitched to the hind part of the wagon. Le Grand gave a fiendish laugh and then mut- tered: ‘‘ The infernal idiot! I didn’t think he would dare make the attempt. They will hang him like a dog, for he can’t escape them, ‘** But had it not been for him we should have been surprised and my brilliant career at an end. It was the only ruse, after discovering the pursuers, that could defeat them and save my bacon; and, now I think of it, the most lucky event that could have occurred is my charming Rosa’s flight—that is, providing I re- cover her. ‘*Had she been in the camp I should, under the impulse of the moment, have thrust her into the wagon, jumped my horse, and hurried toward the Frio. That would have secured my ‘wiping out’ at the end of a rope; and Ro Randolph would have had his revenge, and his darling as well. If I can find her now, and I know she can’t have walked far in these thick- ets, and can reach the fork where the bandits that Antonio belongs to are encamped, I shall be all serene. “Pll run them to the train, and make them a present of two wagons, with the mules. If I play my cards cunningly I can, I have no doubt, get the band under my control. ‘“By heavens, there they are! They have swallowed the bait; but they could not be expected to do otherwise. Curses on those false-hearted cowards who, a few days ago, were under my thumb! Now thev are bunting me to the death; but let them beware. Louis Le Grand has a few more cards to play yet, and the spots on the pasteboards are red—red as blood! Roy Randolph, Captain Ray, and my dear old pards, here’s luck!” Lifting his flask to his lips, he drank, pre- viously waving the same toward the plainina graceful arch, in mock salutation. And the sight that the miscreant saw was one that might well cause him self-gratulation and relief; for eight horsemen were speeding over the plain at a mad gallop, in pursuit of the wagon. They were led by Roy Randolph and Captain Ray, the ex-comrades of Le Grand being in the rear, with Double Dan, bound fast to his horse, in their midst. Bent forward, plying spurs without mercy, on they went, flecks of foam flying from their horses’ mouths. The faces of all were set with stern and desperate resolution, mingled with exultation; for they all believed that Rosa Ray was in the fast-flying wagon. Indeed, they bad not the slightest doubt that Le Grand was also in the vehicle; this last belief, when they thought it over, causing them the utmost con- cern, for they feared that the miscreant might kill the maiden when he saw that capture was inevitable, Pallid, careworn and drawn with anguish start had increased their hatred for the Dastard who had so disgraced them by association, and nearly led them into outlawry themse!ves. Again the demon laugh of Le Grand burst forth in exultation and taunt, as be shook his. clinched fist toward the galloping men; crying out as he darted into the dark depths of the bottom timber: ‘*Not yet, Roy Randolph! Not yet!” CHAPTER XXII. BEATEN AT ANOTHER POINT. WuHeEN Rosa Ray recovered from her swoon, she knew not at first where she was, nor what bad occurred. A shudder ran through her frame as she realized that she was in the dark woods, far from any human habitation, alone, and where wild beasts might at any time discover her, and tear her to pieces. It was some consolation to her that her limbs were free, and that, from what bad occurred, she well knew that friends were near who would risk their lives to save her. It was some time, however, before she felt thus comforted < ard then she crawled stealthily in the direction of the camp, as she judged, fearing each instant to hear Le Grand crash through the bushes and clutch her, Avoiding the open patches which the moon illumined, Rosa crept onward; when suddenly the thunderous tramp of animals almost para- lyzed ber with fright; for the poor, nervous girl, so broken by anguish, terror and priva- tion, thought the sounds must be caused by the mules and wagon, and that they were speeding in her direction. She was unable, in her weak state, to reason that it was impossible for a. wagon to pass between the trees, beneath which she was crawling, or even through the under- growth, were there no timber. Instinctively she hastened onward, when in a very short space of time, to her surprise, she saw the moonlit plain in front of her, and realized that the sounds of fast-tramping hoofs were now evidently upon the plain. guided by Parting the bushes slightly, and the sounds to her left eastward, a sight burst upon her astonished vision, that so overpowered her, and filled her with thankfulness and joy, that she gasped for breath. It was that of her father and Roy, with half a dozen other men, all galloping from the line of timber out on the plain; while afar in their front, also going at a fearful rate, was the wagon that had so long been her prison. Rosa now recalled the words of Le Grand, as > he had instructed the Mexican; and she knew that her friends supposed her to be in the wagon ahead of them, as her captor bad intended— that Antonio was leading them away from the San Miguel, to enable Le Grand to recapture ber, and foil her friends, she was being left to her fate, while those who were dearest to her on earth were galloping fast from her. She strove to shriek, but not a sound could find utterance; and she was forced to clutch at the bushes to support even a crouch- ing position. Far more than life depended, she knew, upon her warning her father and friends, but she was unable to articulate a sound. And before she recovered sufficiently to call out, the maiden knew that it would be useless, and even hazardous; for the galloping horse- men coul? not hear her, but wi ae! Le Grand could, and would be guided by the sound to her side. Thus she sat, watching the fast-speeding forms of those who had come so far to save her from a horrible fate. Every hope seemed now to be banished, as the awfulness of her position was fully realized. By an almost superhuman effort she drew herself to a standing position, and staggered out from the undergrowth over the plain. There was no hope that she pak overtake her father and Roy; but the timber held a hor- ror that was too dreadful to think of—the brutal face of Le Grand being ever present with her—and the faint, weak, and hopeless maiden stumbled along over the prairie, her swollen ankles torturing her atevery movement. Not more than half a mile from the timber had she gone, when again Le Grand peeped from the undergrowth, anxious to ascertain if the wagon had been overtaken, and he gave one of his fiendish cries of triumph, when he saw his recent captive, and knew that she was again in his power. Like a madman, he rushed to the thicket where he bad secreted his horse, equipped the animal with all possible d, sprung into the saddle, drove spurs, and dashed through the — and out upon the plain at headlong - -* She saw then that | speed, Poor Rosa heard the tramp of the steed, and turning quickly, the exultant laugh of Le Gran broke on her ears, At the same moment, she recognized the fiendish face. <€om Ebooks.com : a ee ee ee ee ke | oe - P+, LEGO Ds Le - 7