Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 256 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

“the Bend without being o - self in regard to the identity of those who had sent him afloat without oars or rifle. It would be impossible to cover the trail, and Roy could easily trace up the party, and then the very deuce would be to pay, for Roy’s rifle and oars had been stolen by him. Then another possibility flashed upon the mind of Le Grand which caused him to quake and tremble from bead to heel, and curse bhim- self for a senseless dolt at having adopted a course in accomplishing his revenge which might bring him to the penitentiary. The great possibility was that Roy might float as far as Bend Plantation then awaked, and realizing h‘s situation, call for help, being then rescued by Rosa Ray, who, as he knew, had a boat and was an expert with her oars. This thought, the bare possibility of it, was startling and torturing in the extreme. Much had been told him by various parties in regard to the Belle of the Brazos, as Rosa was called by even the young ladies with whom she associated and who frequently gathered at Bend Plantation for a day’s enjoyment. All loved Rosa Ray, and this scheming villain had often evolved plans in his mind for becoming ac- quainted with her. He reasoned that as she had never been allowed to mingle with the world she would become an easily won victim, gliding into his net without trouble, In that cause he would not be embarrassed in the near fu- ture for want of money, as he most assuredly would be did he not form an alliance with a wealthy maiden. And the very favorable reasons which led him to decide that bis course would be all plain sailing in this his plan to gain Rosa Ray, would tend to make sure bis success to the same end with Roy Randolph, his hated and dreaded foe, should the latter, as he reasoned was quite pos- sible, come in contact with the Belle of the Bra- zos. And from the fact that such a meeting, should it occur, would be brought about through his own mad act in setting Roy adrift with such a far different object, Le Grand now be- came more furious with himself, He drank an unusual quantity of brandy, and then, as if having formed a sudden resolve, as if an idea bad entered bis mind which promised to — this dreadful marring of his plans, be, with hasty steps, secured his horse, grasped his rifle, and without giving a thought or casting a glance at poor old Dan, who still lay bleedinz and senseless near the camp-fire, Louis sprung upon his fiery steed, drove spurs deep and dashed down the Rio Brazos, along a bottom path. The overhanging branches brushed his face roughly and he at times forced bis horse to bound madly through the thickets, rather than make too far a deviation from a direct course, for he reasoned that the boat would probably reach the Bend before he could gain a point on the opposite shore where he could inspect the same, and ascertain if Roy had floated past without being observed. On, at terrific speed, that endangered the limbs of his borse, and bis own life at the same time, fired and macdened by liquor and a thirst for revenge, and withal apprehensive that he would be too late; on sped e young planter. His snake like and blood-shot eyes glared over the river whenever he could gain a view of the waters; yet he could see nothing of Roy Ran- dolpe whom he had, as he now admitted, most foolishly set adrift. Not only was it possible, but most probable that Roy would be discovered by some of the slaves working in tbe river-bottom before night, even sbould he sleep until then, and not one this, but he had performed the deed after letting his comredes know of his purpose. Then, too, there was old Dan, through whom his cowardly act would become known to the whole neighborbood, Thus meditated Le Grand, and he berated himself for drinking so heavily, cursing the brandy as the prime cause of bis foolish actions, at the same time pouring down more of the poison and resolving that there should be no witnesses in any ‘“‘crooked” or criminal act of his henceforth. But everything depended apes Roy’s passing served, for Grand well knew that if the young man did pass down the river without discovery, and by some means reach the shore without ae swept out upon the Gulf of Mexico, be woul refrain from mentioning bis adventure. He ~ was one who would wait bis own good time to avenge the outrage, the autbor of which he would without doubt trace out. Unexpectedly to Le Grand, before he had by his calculation gone more than five miles he came to a bayou, which extended north from the river, and which obliged bim, much to his annoyance, to make a wide detour. He therefore spurred bis horse until the Ae er and pansing animal was covered, as well as himself, with flecks of oam. Bitterly he cursed himself for not having ex- tended his hunting trips further down the B and in that way gained a better knowl- edge of the windings of the river, but he soon discovered, as he galloped beneath the moss- draped branches of the trees on the verge of the below the bayou, a sight that at . ice re- ee ~ Double Dan, the Dastard. _S--- oO lieved his mind and decided him, by a rapid survey of the surroundings, that be was direct- ly opposite Bend Plantation. Not only this, but the Belle of the Brazos was in plain view. Quickly Le Grand dismounted, secured his horse beyond the possibility of being seen from the opposite bank of the stream, and then rushed to bis first position. From this he clambered up into a tree in frantic haste until he reached a point from which he could gain an unobstructed view of the opposite shore, The first sight that chained his attention was a pleasing one, and one that gave him much | relief and pleasure. It was that of a maiden reclining in a hammock, and without doubt in deep slumber, her hair flowing over and below her swinging couch. At such a distance he could not decide as to the beauty of the damsel, but his imagination from what had been told him assisted him to fill out the picture to bis own satisfaction, A small, fancifully-painted skiff; a boat- | landing at the head of the cove; a fawn on the | bank near its mistress—all framed in dark green with the drooping moss, and the waters below enhancing the beauties of the vista. All this at a glance, as has been said, gave | him relief and exultation, for he felt assured now that the boat of Roy Randolph had floated past the Bend unperceived. But, as he thus reasoned, anotber sight met his view. This | was a moving object up the river, and ap- proaching iim. Ata sight of this he clutched | the branches in a vise-like grip, ground his | i clinched teeth together in mad rage, while his black eyes glared with furious hatred, and his swarthy features became fearful in his rage. Roy Randolph was floating down toward the | Bend, still asleep, and the maiden might awake and discover him. If there should be a dog anywhere in the shrubbery, acting as a guard to the sleeping girl, as was natural, the animal would prob- ably perceive the boat, bark, and awaken er. If this should occur, Louis Le Grand felt that all his plans would miscarry; that once more his hated enemy would get the better of him, defeat and humiliate him. Terribly agitated, terribly anxious was the watcher in the tree, as the boat floated nearer and nearer to the Bend, and not until it bad arrived abreast of the cove directly between himself and the maiden in the hammock, did Le Grand breathe freely. His eyes continued to be fixed upon the occupant of the hanging couch, but he could detect no move- ment there, Distance prevented him from_ seeing the | writhing and disturbed state of Rosa Ray, as | detailed in a previous chapter. | But at the very moment that Le Grand felt | the safest, the fair sleeper sprung up in her | hammock, her face being at once turned quick- | ly and directly toward the floating boat, as if | her attention had been drawn thither by some | powerful magnetic influence. | A pang shot through the frame of Le Grand | like a knife-thrust as he saw the movement, and in bis furious disappointment and frantic rage he came near falling from his perch, His fury increased almost to madness when he saw the young girl spring from ber hammock and into er skiff, shooting like an arrow out upon the waters toward the floating boat, within which reclined the sleeping form of Roy Randolph. Then it was that the angelic beauty of Rosa Ray became revealed to him, enbanced as it was by the excited expression of her face, the graceful, swan-like bend of her form, and her dexterous handling of the oars. Her long hair floated in the breeza that was caused by her rapid speed, as the little skiff skimmed over the Brazos, All this commanded the fullest admi- ration of the concealed ruffian, whese baffled | rage was increased tenfold by a realization of | the worth and loveliness of the prize that he | now feared was lost to him forever. | “No!” he hissed between his set teeth, ‘she | Iswear by all the gods that Roy Randolph shall die by | comes intimately ac- | is not lost to me! she shall be mine. my band before hs quainted with the Belle of the Brazos. Curse him! [shall wipe bim from off tbe eartb and no human eye shall witness the deed, I swear | it by all the fiends!” | Clasping his arms tightly about the huge | limb, Le Grand watched the scene below him us | a panther watches his prey. His ey:s were | fixed upon Rosa Ray with a burning gaze as | she towed the boat with its sleeping occupant to | the cove. He saw also the act which awakened the sleeper, and witnessed the scene when Rosa was clasped in his arms. His rage, however, somewhat subsided, giving room for relief, when he saw the fair girl dart away and speed rapidly homeward. He again thought that there might be hope for him; but he relapsed into his old state as his enemy awoke and rusbed after the fleeing girl. There was aie gf no hope now. All his plans might better bave not been formed or thought of. His own act in setting Roy adrift had been the means of bringing the latter, bis worst and most bated enemy, into companion- ship with the very maiden whom he bad sworn that he would win, conquer, and enslave. Again Louis Le Grand had recourse to the flask of liquor and once more gazed across the Rio Brazos witk a murderous light in his eyes, His second attempt to rid the earth of y Randolph had failed; but he again swore that _a third should soon be made, and that it should be successful. CHAPTER VL MURDER MOST FOUL. DuRING the time of Roy Randolph’s absence in the bottom timber, when the latter bounded in pursuit of the fair Rosa, who had awakened him by the kiss upon his forebead—he having doubtlessly been partially aroused by being drawn into the cool shades of the cove—durin this brief absence of his enemy Louis Le Grea suffered all the tortures that can be imagined. It seemed an age, although in reality but a very short time, before Roy again appeared at the landing, and stood, with folded arms, gazing at_his boat in pad susscsl at da xity. Le Grand supposed him to be meditating upou the cause of his Jate unaccountable posi- tion, and striving to solve the mystery of his being afloat, as well as to account for the absence of bis oars and rifle. Had he overe taken and conversed with Rosa Ray? This was now the all-absorbing question in Le Grand’s mind, and which he would have given much to have bad answered. But tkere was no means by which he could ascertain it, This fact tortured his brain, and while specu- lating upon this subject, to the renewed amaze- ment and rage of the watcher, Roy turned eround and walked rapidly up the path once more, What could this mean? Le Grand wished most sincerely that Captain Ray would come upon the scene and hur! the intruder upon bis premises into the Brazos; and, had he dared, be would have fired a revolver fusilade, in hopes that the sound would alarm the people of Bend Plantation, and lead to the discovery of Roy. Unable longer to bear his torturing suspense and uncertainty, Le Grand sprung higher up in the tree, when, to his joy, he caught a view of his detested foe, Roy being now high above the cove, and on the very verge of the bank, At the same instant, however, a sight caught. the eye of the watcher which almost caused him shriek aloud in bis fury, and again to nary lose his hold, This was the peernre rush of Rosa Ray around the t!,icket and into the outstretched arms of Roy Randolph, in which attitude she remained for some time, both of them convers- ing rapidly. From this Le Grand was forced to cenclude that either these two had met before, or else that they had become so oy smitten that they threw all the proprieties to the winds. It was evident that Roy had overtaken Ros and that they had agreed upon this secon meeting; the maiden Laving merely gone to- ward the mansion to ascertain if the coast was clear, and that they were in no danger of being discovered. Again Le Grand bad recourse to his flask, while a murderous light lurked in his eye, He began to perceive that matters had gone beyond all bounds, and that there must be an immediate stop put to all these proceedings, or he should become insane with rage and jealousy. At the first glance he had of Rosa’s face and form, as she bent at her oars, aJl the pussion that his black heart was capable of entertaining went out to her. Previously he had sworn that he would win her, drawn to that oath by her reputed beauty, ber exclusiveness, and her great wealth; but now he vowed that he would wade in gore, move heaven and earth, to gain her as bis own, His she should be, though all the fiends stood between him and her. Thus he resolved and made oath, his lips foaming, his teeth grating, and be tremblin with murdercus fury. And when Le Grand was in this condition, it was, that he saw Roy Randolph run down the bank to the lansing, grasp the oars from the skiff of Rosa, spring into his own boat, and with vigorous strokes shoot out of the cove and ng Wee river, Then it was that Louis Grand, with the look of an exultant fiend, descended the tree, hastened to bis horse, sprurg into the saddle and spurred through the now dark shades of the timber, in such acourse as to pass around the head of the bayou and thence on up the Brazos, aiming to strike the same half way between Bend Plantation and the point where he had set Ray Randolph adrift. / Tbe sun bad sunk below the horizon, and al- though a bright full moon rode high in the heavens, it was quite dark beneath the bottom timber, where, on his foam. flecked steed, Louis Le Grand glided welt A like a demon of the night, along a cattle-patb, leaving his horse to its own guidance as the animal was in the direction of its home, On until the rider knew that a sweep of the river would be illumined by the moon, while the undergrowth on its banks w be as dark as Erebus, from the more luxuriant trees that grew on the rich water-side, and that were bur-. COME CS proceeding IOO —_—— TT a —_ —~— Se Pentel