Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 256 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

‘ — ber, and this brought at once to the mind of Ls Grand the shot that he had so recently fired at Roy Randolph, and the horrors that had since then tortured him. Springing to the ground he drove his bowie deep into the vitals of the bear, and then gazed about the camp, but he started backward, as if the gates of belli had opened before him, as the form of old Dan met his view. There he stood, chained to the spot, his form rigid and his eyes bulging in horror. oon, however, he sunk to the earth, and | crawled upon his hands and knees until he was | where Roy’s arm hung over, a:d then clambered | up, while the water poured profusely from his near the body of his ever faithful slave. Extending his hand he laid it on the face of old Dan, but quickly withdrew it, his blood chilling with dread horror. Then, with a yell of terror and remorse, Le Grand bounded to the patch of wild rye, where his horse was feeding, and was soon in the sad- die. Driving spurs, the terrified wretch dashed away immediately on the back trail down the Brazos, gezing over bis shoulder, with bated breath, as he galloped madly away from the scene of blood and horror, CHAPTER 1X. SAVED A SECOND TIME. On down the Rio Brazos, now passing over the moonlit, silvery surface, and anon over shaded, lnky depths; the Lowering trees, as the river wound outward in a more direct course, shading the entire surface—on floated the boat of Roy Randolph, so strangely laden. And close behind, gaining dan from being less freighted and sharper in build, followed the little eraft of Rosa Ray; Hero, the faithful watde dog. still positioned as has been de- scribed, bis fore-feet on the forward portion of the boat, his head outstretched, and his long- drawn mournful bowlings breaking at inter- vals on the night—sounds that seemed ominous of death. The eyes of the faithful brute were fixed upon the prostrate form of his mistress, and at times he would gather his strength, as if to make a bound over the space that separated the boats. Then, with a whining cry, he would abandon the attempt; but, seeming to realize that the 5 a: was parrowing all the time, and that the boat he was in was gaining on the other. Thus on, until the two boats shot into a moon- lit stretch of waters; a bayou being on the left, _or northerly sije of the stream. And here it was that the intelligent animal gave a fierce growl, changing his weight from one foot to another and gazing toward the mouth of the bayou, which the boats were now approaching, his eyes fixed upon a black and stump-like object, which seemed to be floating upon the waters. This could not be the case, however, for the dark object was qua:tering through thecurrent and not floatiog with the sam uartering in such a manner as to intercept ci Toate Snuffing the air, Hero, well used to seeing the amphibious denizens ef the rivers and bayous, knew well that a huge alligator was approach- ing and that the presence of the monster threatened danger to his young mistress, Hence the menacing grow] of the dog. Nearer and nearer the hideous slimy head of the monster approached, and nearer to the leading boat glided the skiff; Hero, showing signs of intense fury, crouching to spring for- ward, but pay - his former position, with that whining cry, knowing that he could not clear the gap between the a ie As has been mentioned, the arm of Roy hung over the side of the boat and into the water, as did the hair of Rosa; the weight of the two causing thé forward end of tle boat to sink deep into the waters. This fact seemed to be noticed by Hero, who apparently by his actions knew that the alligator could easily clutch his mistress in its huge jaws, drag her into the dark depths and devour her. earer and yet nearer, glided the huge lizard until the dog could see its glittering eyes; until only ten feet parted it from the forward end of the leading boat, the limp arm of Roy glidin through the water, seeming to have attracte its attention. More and more excited grew Hero. Every muscle in his body quivering, while he jumped frantically about, and gave constantly that agonizing, Whining cry. At length, as the alli- gator was within two feet of Roy’s arm, the whine changed to a fierce growl, as the dog shot over the intervening space and landed safe- ly on the stern of the leading boat. Not an instant, however, did he remain there for, gathering his muscles with the rapidity of lightning, oy with a growl of fierce fury, he again shot through the air—this time overboard —directly at the head of the alligator, and not twelve inches from Roy’s arm. At that mo- ment the immense jaws bad opened for the fatal snap of the terrible teeth. Remarkably well calculated was the Hero, for he landed sition as to enable him to close his faugs upon the tender lip of the monster, and this in such a leap of manner that the quick-following, spiteful snap him, and sprung to a sitting posture; | rr ee | A a | | —— | | — ———— ~ Double Dan, the Dastard. } of the saurian’s jaws did not close upon the dog's | nose. The same instant both Hero and the head of the alligator di appeared beneath the surface, the huge monster’s tail thrashing the wa:ers for a full minute into foam, and throwing bizh a silvery spray, which descended in a shower upon Roy and Rosa. A moment after, the dog appeared above the surface, and, plunging forward with the current, placed its paws upon the side of the boat where it was nearest to the surface, being the point body. The shower caused by the alligator had served to partially restore Rosa to consciousness, and Hero’s liberal scattering of the water caused the poor girl to spring partly upward, the dog shaking himself vigorously at the same time, This third shower-bath not only fully restored our heroine, but caused a groan to Issue from the lips of Roy Randolph—the sweetest music that the maiden had ever heard—causing her to ery out, in heartfelt tones: ‘I thank Thee! Oa, Father in Heaven, I thank Thee!” As Rosa thus exclaimed, her attention was | | | | | | 2) sweeping the surrounding banks of the river, then glancing at the dog, and lastly being fas- tened upon Rosa, whuse form all this time con- cealed the little skiff m.he rear from view. Then he spoke, Lut his voice sounded strange- ly: ee Rosa Ray, | beg of Ne to explain this most perplexing mystery. In Heaven’s name, bow happened you and that dog in my boat, and where are we? ‘¢ Why are we on the river together at night’ For God’s sake—for your own sake and muwe, tell me what it all means?’ ‘‘Ob, Roy, do for my sake endeavor to get to the bank or i am Jost. There is a seat in my skiff astern which I wrenched from its place in order to paddle to your assistance. Ob, do think of the position I am in! ‘*Tf I do not reach the Bend before morning, I am lost, lost, lost! I bave risked my life and everything for you, Ray Randolph, and ob, for the love of mercy and justice, try and gain the south bank ere it is too late! 1 will explain all.” The agonized and pleading manner of the ——— ' maiden was irresistible; and although still more } drawn to the actions of the dog, the poor brute | having refrained from expressing his intense joy at the recovery of his mistress, and prepar- ing for another bound into the water. Guided by the gaze of the animal, Rosa, to her _ astounded by the boat of Rosa being just astern —which fact, however, in a moment after served to account to him for her presence om the river—Roy quickly secured the same, made it fast to his own, grasped the loose thwart, and without a word, bent bimself to the task of addling toward the south bank—Rose sitting in the stern of the boat, and Hero lying at her horror, discovered the alligator, the monster | feet. having again come to the surface, and was now approaching the boat with furious speed. | It was no slight undertaking, but at length he pained a cove up which he forced the boat. He iving vent to her terror by a shriek, the | then secured both it and the little skiff in a shel- ulled the arm of Roy from the the bowie- knife from his belt, and, gathering strength, drove the blade directly into an eye of the beast. The huge saurian thrashed the waters for a few moments, and then disappeared amid a shower of spray, the commotion, with the act of Rosa, coming near swamping the boat. Hero meanwhile filled the air with frantic growls, and it was at this time that Roy’s lids quivered, his eyes slowly opened, and the young girl water, jerk strange scene was revealed to him. But, at the | moment, he recollected nothing of the near past, or of bis condition. The face of the young girl expressed the various emotions that swayed her; but as she agoin saw the soul light in the eyes of him whom she had once believed to be dead, she fell forward, clasping her arms about the young man’s heag, Soon recovering herself, she poured water over his face, washing away the blood, which saturated his hair and partly blinded his eyes. She continued her labor of love, while Hero stood beside her, wagging his tail and shuwing the strongest manifestations of relief and joy, although at times he shot glances on all sides of the boat, in a suspicious manner. Roy spoke not a word, but as he seemed gradually to arrive at a realization of the con- dition of affairs, although seeming dumfounded and mystified, he raised his arms, clasped them about our beroine, and drew her gently upon his breast. His eyes were filled with a tender love, all else except the present moment seeming to have been banished from his mind. ** Oh, Roy, thank God you live! Thank God! Thank God!’ These words came from Rosa with a prayerful pathos—a loving sweetness—in a low, almost whispered voice, as the poor girl clung to Roy, with a strange, wild light in ber gaze—a feelin of intense relief, joy and thankfulness expresse —and yet a terrible apprehension, dread con- cern and agony shown in her features. Suddenly she released herself and sprung up- ward and backward upon the middle thwart, covering her face with her hands, ber head bent forward, her hair vailing her form, while her frame shook and trembled with the strongest emotion. This continued for some minutes, Roy meanwhile striving with all his power to fathorn this latest mystery; to account for, not only his present condition and his position on the river, but also for the presence of Rosa Ray whose face recalled at this time culy the inter- views he had had with her at the Bend. His muscles seemed to have lost all power, and bis frame to be as lead, incapable of mo- tion. His brain, however, seemed to recover more readily than his powers of motion, and the sight of Rosa, apparently in great distress, served to arouse him, especially when she sud- denly raised her head, swept back the Jong hair from her pale face and cried out in a voice that was most agonizing to bear: } | | | ' tered nook and clasping Rosa in his arnis, toiled - through the bushes and timer. Not until clear of the same did he a. the young girl upon her feet. The faithful dog, Hero, kept: close by his side throughout, During this time the young man’s brain had been busy, and he had recalled aj] his experi- ences of the previous evening up to the time of his being struck senseless while rowing up the _river, and he knew that be bad been ay | feeling the track of the bullet along his sku Taking the hand of Rosa, the latter now seem- ing to have become hopeful and more like ber own sweet self, Roy led her up the river bank on the verge of the timber, each for a brief mo- ment gazing into the eyes of the other, the young man satisfied that again he was indebted to the fair girl at his side for the greatest self- sacrifice and heroic daring. ‘*Now, Rosa Ray,” he said, with deep feeling, and with no little curiosity, ** do, a €xX- plain your yer on the river! I have rea- soned out the cause of my being there myself, and the cause of my condition. Some one sbot me, it is evident, and shot to kill, while I was rowing up-stream, and at quite a considerable distance from the Bend. ‘““T do not know who the cowardly assassin was, but Ihave my suspicions. There is but one man on the Rio Brazos who bas any motive in seeking my life, and that motive is revenge—re- venge caused by my having publicly humuiated him as he deserved, He it was, lam sure, who first sent me adrift when I was asleep in my boat in a cove, fatigued after a long row, and from being last night on a fire-bunt. “Explain, Rosa, I beg of you, your presence on the river to-night!” Our beroine hesitated for a moment, as she did not wish to confess that, from thinking of the man at her side, she bad been unable to sleep, and this she decided to omit, or at least to mention in such a marner that it would not re- veal her sentiments to an unmaidenly extent. ““Ohb, Roy!” she said, in deep emotion, **1 will tell you allina very few words, I retired at my usual hour, but the excitement of the even- ing kept me awake. I arose, dressed and, un- known to all at home, walked down to the land- ing. Hero, my dear faithful old dog, accom- panied me. I thought that a walk in the open air would compose me, and that upon my re- turn to the house I could sleep. ‘*Roy Randolph, I have not been back since, and if we do not reach the Bend before morning, 1 tell you again, lam lost! Iam not exagger- uting when | say this, Father will never for- give me for what I bave done. If they bave dis- covered my absence, ob! what shall I dof” As she said this Rosa Ray burst into a fit of hysterical weeping. CHAPTER X. SAFE AT HOME, ‘*Do, for your own sake, compese yourself!” pleaded Roy, as the young girl began to sob. “Oh, Roy, what has occurred? Whd"was it | ‘‘ Please dry your eyes, and tell me, if you can that shot you, and for what? Ob, what a night this has been! May I never have to go through such another, Oh, what shall we do? What shall we do? What will my fatber think? He will go mad with grief!” _ These words were spoken quickly and plead- ingly, while her voice and manner were more childlike than ever, as if her only hope, her | in the water in such a | very life depended upon Roy Randolph. By a great effort the latter now threw off the lethargy and benumbing feelings that Cppreeesd is gaze | | | | : udge by any landmarks, the distance we have oated, Do not tax yourself with further ex- planations; for I can easily account, J think, for everything from what you have told me.” By a powerful effort of the will, the maiden controlled herself, and dried her eyes. She then looked around her for a moment. suddenly exclaiming, with a tone of deep relief in her voice: ‘*Oh, Roy! from the Bend! mile, 1 am sure. Thank Heaven we are not far We cannot be more than a If we leave the timber here, GOmiGooo (C “S (E(@)