Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 256 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

ee —————— over the plain toward the bandit camp, their eyes glaring, their faces filled with a hellish thirst for revenge, and furious at their defeat, und the death of so many of their number. ‘heir mustangs, as they dashed on in a stagger- ing lope, showed plainly that they could not keep up the terrible run much longer. aked from the waist up; their bronzed arms, breasts, and faces daubed with gypsum, ver- milion, and blue pigment, as were evea soms3 cf the mustangs, their bows and quivers fringed and beaded, hanging at their backs, on they came—the flying of the hvofs through the prairie grass sounding like the rush of a norther, In the midst of this hellish horde, bound fast to a horse, bare-headed, and bleeding from many wounds, pale as a corpse, was Doubie Dan— another white victim for the tor‘ure. On galloped the fiendish borde, with howls for the slain at times bursting from their red throats, followed by whoops of triumph as they waved the +g ea gts scalps of the bau- dits who had been sent under Double Dan to capture the wagons—over their heads, hus on dashed the pirates of the Rio Pecos, the fiends of the llanos, until all, in a mad and yelling mob, darted from the undergrowth into the bandit camp, now acharnel ground, reeking like a slaughter-pen, reeking with human blood! The recently arrived dead had been laid be- side their stark aud silent comrades, all now alike stiff and motionless forever. The feather and trinket-bedizened braves sprung from their mustangs to the earth, their arrows rattling in their quivers, while the ounger warriors, who had remained in camp, ed the horses to the sunny plain again, lariat- ing the animals until they were sufficiently cooled off to drink and feed. ny was quickly shot, fires kindled, and then the braves tore the scorched horse-meat like famished beasts, the blood dripping from their jaws, the flesh being slashed from the car- cass while yet the animal was in its death-strug- les, 7 Although they had lost many braves, they had slain twelve Mexicans and held two whites and a Greaser captive, which was sufficient suc- cess to admit of exultation, the torture of a captive being considered equal to oe Phe mustang upon which Double Dan was bound had been secured to the pone pole just opposite the other captives; but asthe feast was brought to an end, the superintendent of Le Grand’s plantation was roughly oo to the earth and bound as the others had been, ready for the hellish torture not as yet decided upon. Then followed the howls, chants, and dances around the dead braves, who were borne away upon the backs of borses during the forenoon and buried from view in some secret place; the Apaches returning in an infuriated state, eager to torture the captives. But after listening to a speech from their chief, which was received with approving yells, they kindled small fires epposite the ir itr casting horse-meat into the same, and placing gourds filled with water in front of them. The smell of the burning meat would increase their hunger, and the sight of the water would double their terrible thirst, while the hot sun would scorch their flesh wherever it was exposed, and cause their brains to seem like molten metal. Thus passed the day—a day of most horrible torture—and when night again approached and the Apaches crawled out from the shades in which they bad slept off their fatigue, a half- dogen braves, with huge pieces of borse-meat se- cured to the ends of lariats, stalked up and down toe river bottom, dragging the same upon the sward, and not until a part of that fearful night ha and the shrieks of panthers mingled with the yelp and howl of wolves, filled the timber—not until then did Double Dan and Le Grand know the meaning of the dragging of the meat. The horses of the Apaches were all on the lain, as were their equipments, and as the ereee of wild beasts soun the red fiends, with exultant yells, left their captives and were soon h by them galloping over the prairie, doubtless to scatter desolation and death down the Rio Frio, and then to return in the morni that they might see if their captives bad ~ eaped death the ravenous beasts of the bottom lands. From either side of Louis Le Grand glared the flery eyes of Antonio and Double Dan, either of whom would have torn him to pieces as the cause of the fearful position in which they now were. 1 “ ‘tact they were @ trio of maniacs, their tongues swollen, their throats parched, their lips cracked and bleeding while hunger gnawed at their vitals; but these sufferings were as naught, when compared with their mental tor- tore and Words are inadequate to express the horror and excruciating ayony that ruled these three Wie et men; but Antonio showed it little. aa will was as yet unbroken, and he Grand words of taunt ng and hatred at Le and Double Dan; at times calling down But thie of his former employer. pom the head But this state of things did not last long. ‘Double Dan, th -_——— ee ee _——~ oe — ee Fiery eyes of wolves shone horridly from the thickets, and nearer and nearer sounded the blood-curdling shrieks of panthers, as they scented the blood along the sward where the horse-meat had been dragged. At length, grow- ing bolder, the coyotes sprung upon the meat- less carcass of the pony, fighting and tearing, their teeth grating upon the bones. But these cowardly wolves caused no appre- bension to the captives, the gaze of the trio being fixed and frozen in borror upon an ad- jacent tree, a rustling among the branches of which attracted their appalled ears, Two burning eyes giared down upon them, and a scratching sound chilled their blood, followed by fragments of bark falling to the ground, Then came a crashing through branehes and bushes on the opposite side of the camp, anda sound like that of a heavy body falling upon the earth. The very hair upon the captives’ heads seemed to crawl like scorched serpents, and a piercing shriek—yes, shriek after shriek— sprung from the cracked and bleeding lips of each, as the lithe, and supple, and cat-like forms of two huge panthers crept slowly over the sward, from the dark shades on either side; the eyes of the beasts like coals of fire, their tails lashing their sides, and the white teeth gleam- ne tom their parted lips. tter far, if the wig ee wished to —- their miserable lives, had they remained silent, and refrained from writhing at their bonds; for the panthers might then have satisfied their appetites upon the flesh of the corpses, and left those erect, strong figures free from their terri- ble fangs and claws. However, the shrieks and writhing incensed the beasts, as a struggling object ever does any- thing of the cat species; and, gathering their lithe forms, they bounded forward simulta- neously, while the yells of horror from the doomed wretches filled the air, causing the coyotes to dart with fear into the thickets. hen followed a horrible tearing of flesh, and crunching of bones, with gasping and half- smothered cries of mortal dread, a wrenching of stekes from the earth, and flerce and terrible struggling. The four stakes no longer stood upright, neither cid the three human forms; but where the trio had been bound were the two terrible beasts tearing with teeth and claws, their vic- tims! Death, most borrible inform! The panthers ruled the bandit camp. And the silvery moon rolled on, smiling placidly down, as ever, upon the blood-smeared sward and mangled men; its rays reflected in the glassy and sightless eyes of the trio of miscreants and murderers—Louis Le Grand, Capitan Antonio, and Double Dan! Ray and Roy Randolph had been terri- bly avenged! CHAPTER XXXIV. AFTER THE STORM. THREE months after the terribleand startling events which ended in the rescue of Rosa Ray, and the horrible death of the trio of miscreants who had caused her such sufferings, or had been parties to the same, the crescent of magnolias, as well as the mansion of Captain Ray, and the boat-landing, were illuminated by hundreds of Chinese lanterns. The exhilarating strains of a band of music,that floated through the balmy, perfumed air indicat- ed, as did the illumination and the gayly attired ladies and gentlemen who promenaded the gardens,an important occasion. And, in- deed, taking time and piace into consideration, there was evidently a very grand affair in progress. pon the front piazza, in her easy-chair, sat aunt Roxie, the very personification of peace, joy, and contentment; now listening intently to a narration of some of the details connected with the rescue of ber pet and niece—the nar- rator being none other than Big Foot Wallace, who, to use bis own words, “ war lun furder inter civilize than he’d ever sku afore, er ever tended ter ag’in; an’ which he wouldn’t ba’ did fer any other human ’ceptin’ Rosa an’ Roy.” Near to this couple stood Captain Ray, con- versing with a number of the neighboring planters, and as happy asa schoo!boy at vaca- tion, while the clerical appearance of a gentle- man thumbing a book in the doorway, indi- cated that some ceremony was about to be performed that called for the services of a clergyman. The nature of this ceremony might have been readily from the appearance of five beautiful maidens in the hall, attired in Spotless white. : In company with these young ladies, and act- ing as most attentive cavaliers, were the five young planters, the Peg a 7 aor Pe » who had played such a prominent part in the hunt sae” Shain leader, when his true character had become known to them, in all its oie hideousness, eowardice, and crimi- The two whe had been sent for the ransom ee 3 by Antonio, bad been met by. their frie as they were returning; and a most joyous meeting it was to all, while they thanked their stars that Big Foot Wallace had bappened e Dastard. oe — ——e ee ee 29 on the Frio, thus bringing matters to a crisis before they could return with the money— return, only to be waylaid, robbed, and mur- dered by the bandits. Not long were the parti:s we have mentioned thus positioned; for the sound of a galloping horse drew every one from the gardens to the portico, and the next moment Roy Randolph dashed up, and instantly alighted. He was greeted warmly upon all sides, and especizliy by the old scout, aunt Roxie, and Captain Ray; the latter regarding bim with a pride that was. most noticeable. Gozing earnestly and longingly through an open window into the parlor, Roy presently sprung through the same, to be met by the one true and loving darling of his heart; who, bright, fresh, and beautiful as a rose, sprung into his arms. A very short time after Roy’s arrival, the marriage-party assembled, took their places, and the ceremony was performed, agreeebly to- Rosa’s request, beneath the fragrant magnolias. There, later on, a bounteous repast was spread for the many guests, while music floated through the evening air; Big Foot Wallace being forced. to occupy the seat of honor, next the bride, It was at a late hour that the party broke up; many of the guests remaining at the mansion, as their homes were some distance away, The midnight hour found our hero and hero- ine standing at the boat-landing—a spot ever to be beld sacred by them both, as from it Rosa had first seen ME apparently dead, floating down the moonlit bosom of the Brazcs, In closing, gentle reader, we have but a few remarks to make, explanatory of this tale of South western life. Captain Ray bad from the moment that he first started on the trail of his loved and only child, felt that her rescue depended entirely upon Roy Randolph; but, though he noted the energy, skill, and interest of the latter, not for: a moment did he imagine that the young mam was ergaged in a labor of love. Not even when Roy had rescued Rosa from the Apaches and galloped away with her, did tbe o'd man havea thought in re to bis oft- repeated vow that no man should steal the love of his only child. But on the trail back from San Antonio, when the mind of the captain was more settled, he observed enough not only to convince bim that Roy and loved each other, but. to compel him to admit that they ap ed created for each other. So he put e bis jealousy and was thankful that his darling had found a man who was worthy of her. Then the time came when they not only con- fessed their love, but revealed the fact to Cap- tain Ray, that they had met and loved before Rosa had been abducted by Le Grand. Captain Ray was astonished beyond measure at the confession made to him, but it increased —if such a thing were possible—h‘s love for and pride in his daughter, and when the strange events were generally known, every one assert- ed that Rosa was a fitting mate for the daring, 1g bandsome and gentlemanly Roy Ran- olph. TT gy ——— The captain would not listen to Roy in regard to es latter carrying on a separate establish- mon He popes —_—* on en? OF nae it, if Rosa left him; so sed of his tation, and made the Bend bis toate, a Aunt Roxie was greatly rejoiced, and de- clured that she felt twenty years younger when her niece returned, Big Foot Wallace could not be prevailed upon to linger on the Lower Brazos, especially after some joking remarks of Rosa in eonnection with auvt Roxie. To such an extent was the giant scout frightened by the bare suggestion, that he — left immediately; the bride declaring that he was ‘‘real mean” to take a joke so seriously. The wagons, mules, and slaves of Le Grand were sold, and the proceeds divided among his many ereditors; and his ex comrades settled down into respectable and honest men, marry- ing and becoming honorable members of society. Big Foot Wallace yet lives, is one of the king bordermen of the great Southwest, and the writer looks baek, with pride and pleasure, upon the time when he was a “prairie pard” of the | Giant Seout of the Lone Star State. Roy and Rosa, with their children boon them, live at the beautiful Bend, and are pros- perous and happy as the day is long; although a great grief has befallen them in the death of Captain Ray, as well as in that of aunt Roxie, both of whom were laid to rest in their last and narrow home, beneath the magnolias. And, although many years have come and gone, Rosa Randolph is still a beautiful woman; but she lays no claim to her old distinctive title, for her eldest daughter is now known ag— The Belle ef the Brazos.” THE END, GOmichboo ~