Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 256 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

—_——_—— —_$_—_ —__-- hate and exultation, their white teeth showiug beast-like between their lips and their lassoes in hand. But this was only for an instant. Then the hiss of cowhide ropes. through the air filled their ears, their horses bounding on in affright to join their kind near the river, and rendered more frantic as the riders instinctively threw up their revolvers at the very moment that the Double Dan, the Dast a | | ~ when, after their excruciating anguish at ob- serving the wagon vg and to see it | sand the crushed in the barranca, their relief at finding that Rosa was not in it, was equaled by the dis- heartening consciousness that they seemed no nearer the accomplishment of their purpose than when in San Antonio. However, as they dashed in pursuit of the teamster, their hopes revived; for they believed snake- like, deadly coils settled over their shoul- | that they could force the man to reveal the ders. whereabouts of Le Grand and his fair captive. The next moment both the planters were | But when the fugitive gained the timber and jerked to the earth, over the hams of their plunging horses, and falling with a terrible force that bereft them of sense, while two of the yellow-skinned outlaws dropped their lasso- coils, threw up their arms an with gurglin yells that forced their life-blood from mout and nostrils, fell upon the sward. The aim of the young men had been true. The faces of the, bandits contorted as their comrades fell with redoubled hatred and fury. The reports of the revolvers were heard by both Roy’s party and the captain’s, one being up the stream and the other down, from the bandit camp. They were each and allactuated by the same feeling, indignation at the sup- posed shooting of the teamster, thus cutting off all chance of forcing him to disclose the where- abouts of Rosa Ray. Then madly they spurred toward the point whence the revolver reports had sounded, echoing so startlingly through the silent natural arches of the bottom timber. Tt was at this time that Antonio darted into the camp from the und wth just in time, for he had detected from the outer edge of the bushes, the separation of the Texans, and un- derstood that their object was to prevent his escape either up or down-stream, @ was also in time to save the lives of the young planters; for, infuriated to madness at the slaying of two of their number, the furious cut-throats had burled themselves, their long cuchillas glitter- ing in the moonlight, upon the senseless Texans, A dozen knives were elevated to cut them in pieces when Antonio, with an oath of fury, rushed forward, crying out: ‘‘ Fools! Each man is worth five thousand pesos alive and not a mariveda dead. There is plenty of game in the woods, but we must take them alive. This is the luckiest bonanza we have ever struck. “ OCaramba! Look to your lassoes! To your osts, and keep your eyes open! Hark, the exanos come, and like a norther, for they are mad!” The scene that followed is beyond our power to describe, Captain Ray and his party, with Double Dan in their midst, plunged from the fiat) NAwe at the same moment that Roy, followed by his planter pard, broke bush opposite them; all filled wit eperepension, for they now believed it quite possible that the teamster had lain in wait and shot the two Texans, The sight that met their gaze dumfounded them for the moment, thus favoring the ban- dits. Lassoes hissed through the air from every side, horses snorted, plunged and reared, while yells of fury drowned the rallying outcries of Ro Randolph; whose revolver sent a bandit to his long home, on the instant that bis arms were pinioned to his side by two lariats. Revolver shots, deep curses, dying yells, out- cries of pain—a perfect vocal and optical pan- demonium—lasted for a full minute; then the Texans lay helpless on the ground, within the torturing folds of tightly drawn rawhide ropes. Double Dan was saved from like treatment by Anton‘o, whose rage was unbounded, when he recogni in him the teamster whom he sup- osed to be now advancing from the Medina, with the wagon-train, which he had intended to put to the use of the band. Bound though they were, bruised and terribly shaken up by being jerked from their horses both ie agg Ray and Roy Randolph gazed about the ye in search of Rosa; heaving sighs of relief when they perceived that she was not. as they were, in the power of the yellow- skinned bandits of the Rio Bravo. CHAPTER XXIV. COMING TO TERMS. Roy and Captain Ray had entertained no doubts that they would be able to rescue at San Antonio; believing they should overtake the wagon-train in the Alamo City. Their dis- appointment was most intense, therefore, when they ascertained that the wagons had gone to- ward the Medina; although they were positive that they could trail them. When, therefore, they entered the camp and found that they had been duped—that Le Grand had, with his captive and one wagon, left the train before reaching San Antonio, as they learned from Double en—ttey grew more ap- prehensive than ever. Then, when they discovered the lone wagon flying over the prairie toward the Rio Frio, after the driver had undoubtedly perceived their approach; then they were positive that their journey was nearly at an end—that Rosa would be recovered within the hour. But, disappeared, they feared that he would escape, until the revolver-shots proved that either he was shot or their friends. Then, when they found themse!ves surrounded by Mexican bandits, encircled with torturing lassoes, and afterward bound to trees; and saw their apparently dead comrades stretched on the sward, and no trace of Rosa or of Le Grand within view—when their terrible position was realized in allits details, it was not strange that they were oppressed by despair. hey bad, indeed, been foiled at every point. And deeper oppressed, and more bopeless were they, when they saw Double Dan released, and conversing with the bandits. Antonio, the teamster, who appeared to be a leader of the ruffian borde, was at first furiously incensed against Dan; but, at length, he ordered a dozen bandits to equip horses, and hasten to the Me- dina, capture the train and slaves, and return at all possible speed to their present encamp- ment. Double Dan was forced to act as guide to the party, Antonio explaining to him that all would be well, should the train be delivered over to his followers. When Double Dan and this party left the camp, our friends fully believed that the law- less horde were going, not only to regain the wagons, but to conduct Le Grand and Rosa to the bandits’ encampment. Antonio evidently did not think it advisable for him to accompany the detachment, as he feared that his followers would murder all the Texans, in revenge for their baving killed five of their number, before the lassoes had prevented further useofarms, His proceedings and words proved that he intended to profit by the infor- mation he had gained from Le Grand, while at the same time favoring the latter in every way possible; as he felt that the now outlawed plant- er would be of great service to the band. That the doubts of Antonio, in regard to his followers not obeying his orders against killing the Texans if he left them, were not groundless, was plainly evident from the murderous glances cast at the bound captives, as the outlaws re- moved the dead from the camp. At once he gave directions that the two sense- less planters should be bound, and he himself dashed ater of water over their heads; as they, with groans of agony, recovered conscious- ness, much to the relief and joy of their com- rades, as well as of Captain Ray and Ro Randolph. The two latter had been ant : . ard, bia ee ——— | ol agree to do as I shall say. We want five thou-- esos (dollars) for each of your lives “Two shall go and get the money, and then: come back here quick. They shall vot : peak of where their friends are, and sball not bave a chance to betray us. I shal] bave spies on Medina, on San Miguel, to watch for them, and I shall move my camp, leaving a spy in a high tree here. Then, if your two men who bring: the money are alone, my spy will guide them to my camp. If they bring help to fight for Ste shall be told by my spy; then you must: ie, ** You hear me what ¥ say? I shall not talk twice. If you agree to this, speak! If not, my men shal! kill you where you stand like dogs.” The young planters raised their heads, with something like hope in their eyes, but they gazed at Roy as if that hope depended enticely upon him. Our hero at once detected the glance, and. understood it. **T will give you ten thousand dollars to restore my daughter to me!” exclaimed Cap-- tain Ray, repudiating bis own fearful ‘situation. ‘‘What do I know of your daughter! I have - women captives!” retorted Antonio, savagely. ‘‘You drove the wagon for that devil, Louis: Le Grand, who stele her; and you know, or ought to know, ber whereabouts, As you hope: for mercy, tell me where my child has been taken!” Roy prudently said not a word. He realized that the situation was most desperate, and that the Mexican would not brook many words. “Tf the senorita in the wagon was your daughter,” said Antonio, impatiently, ‘1 wilt say that she escaped, and that Senor Le Grand is searching for her on the San Miguel. But IL care not for him, or for ker. I want my an- swer. Agree to pay the money and you live; refuse, and you all die to-night.” The thoughts of Roy had been busy since An- tonio first spoke; and as he asserted that Rosa had escaped, he knew, or believed that the Mexican spoke the truth. When the bandits left, under the guidance of Double Dan, our hero knew that they meant to relieve Le Grand and his tool of their train, and that there was no tie between the miscreant and the bandit chief, except that the latter intended to bleed Le Grand of everything. The assertion in regard to Rosa lifted a heavy load off the mind of Roy and the young plant- ers, While Captain Ray called out in heartfelt tones: “Thank Heaven, my darling has escaped from that buman hyena!” The matter in hand, as faras Roy could de- cide, admitted of no delay, and required no de- liberation. The money must be procured, and delivered without the bearers bringing any help to rescue them, or against the bandits, All this was plain, and the cunning outlaw had laid his plans well. There only remained the manner of procuring the ransom, and a depressed, when they reflected that these young guarantee of their being set free upon its recep- men had been, as they thought, slain, while nobly acting as volunteers in the attempted rescue of poor Rosa. These two were now also bound, the captives forming a crescent; all being able to look in each other’s eyes, their heads being free, but their wrists secured behind them, and to the trees, After the departure of Double Dan and the twelve bandits, there were but eight, including Antonio remaining, and these beld seven Texans captive; the latter, not only bound and helpless, but broken by privation, fatigue, and utter de- spair. All, except Roy and the captain, seemed to have relinquished all hope, expecting nothing but death; the rescue of Rosa they had aban- doned as an impossibility, their ote Aa being now bent entirely on their own terrible position, and the probable near approach of death fron the knives of the swarthy assassins in whose power they were. Captain Ray and Roy Randolph were in a state of desperation. All their senses were strained, watching each movement and change of features in their brutal captors, to detect aught in their favor, or some knowledge in regard to Le Grand and Rosa. When they reflected on the sufferings, mental and physical, that the ag A maiden must be enduring, it caused them banish all thoughts of self, except to plot and am toward escape, which appeared now to be mpossible. In fact, the more they reviewed their surroundings, the less grounds of hope they felt toward accomplishing an escape. They knew that they were not near the trav- eled trail, or wagon-road, from Rio Medina to Pleasanton, and that there was no possibility of rangers, scouts, or ranchmen, coming in the vicinity ;if there was, the Mexican bandits would not have encam there. While our friends were thus meditating, the camp had been restored to order, the dead buried, and sentinels posted; and then Antonio, with a most fiendish expression of countenance, stepped within the crescent of captives, saying: ‘Now, senors, I talk wifh you. My men want your blood for killing five good fighters, and I will give you over to them if you do not | tion. ‘Which two of us do you propose sendin for the money?” asked Roy. “ v Antonio pointed out the two young men who had first entered the camp. ‘Why do you not send myself and this gen- Westen" he next inquired, designating Captain The bandit chief cast a look of mingled hate and fury at the speaker, as he replied: ‘*T am not a fool, and I shall not wait for an answer to my question much longer.” “If this money is forthcoming,” continued Roy, *“‘ bow do we know that you will release us upon its payment? This I consider somewhat important.’ ** My spy shall lead the two senors, who brin it, out on the plain and there leave them. I wi go alone and see if the money is all right. If so, I will give the signal for you to be released. You will take your arms and horses and ride down the river; then the two men will leave the money, step back to their hurses, and ride to ‘That is fair,” said Roy; ‘‘ we agree to your terms as there is no alternative. ‘“‘Mr. Drew and Mr. Gould, you each raise your share, and it shall be returned to you, for you are in the service of Miss Rosa Ray, I will give you an order upon my overseer for fifteen thousand dollars, and Captain Ray will draw upon his man Willams for ten thousand, pe That fills the bill. Are you agreed, cap- n?’ ‘* Most certainly. But my poor child—whaté is to become of her?” As be spoke, the old man’s voice trembled. ‘* Cheer up, Captain Ray!” said our hero; “it | is some consolation to know that she is not in the power of that wretch. He shall yet die, as I have sworn! “Capitan Antonio, produce your paper and untie our hands! ‘You have made a good ha | but the career you have chosen will have a ter- rible ending. I warn you now, that after our release, I shall do my utmost to regain my gold and avenge myself for the treatment we have: received. As we are to pay heavy for sem: entertained by you, I demand food and drink <S ECO MNMUCEL OOK) SRT TP mo tay (E(e) +. oe ee 740 —— é - Ie!) © Sherwin o - —————— ES * eee . ops