Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 293 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

ct ae Se 7. a LL SE 7 a ——_ —* — — — —, Ta —— SS ere ee wae ts rr re eee em eee - . ~ ° 2 . —— rR J ’ . 4 he '° — i* “ o » * 20 Stampede Steve. much on ther shoot, but they’>o perfect on ther cut an’ slash. ‘*T picked ’em up, down on the Nueces, an’ ef they sh’u’d git a fair gaze et ther outfit u yunder, I’m ’fear’d they’d wilt an’ skute. made ’em b’lieve ther train war mostly weemin and children.” **Come on then, pard Lije! I see you are my main dependence, I can stand this no longer. . The wagon must be moved, as you say. ‘**It was a lucky thought of mine, to separate from the train. But let us see what is going on. Where are your horses?” ‘Nigh byer, in a leetle ‘open,’ whar we-’uns kin sock ourselves onter ’em at any time; an’ I bes ther major’s nag till ink **That’s good, for I haven’t mine hitched behind my wagon. Confound it! Everything has gone wrong since that infernal scout struck the outfit, but Ill ring a change, or my cog’s not Dusky Dick!” The pair now proceeded stealthily toward the wagon. Upon nearing the ‘‘open,” they perceived their companions around the wagon, helping themselves to brandy. As they came up the count said: “*Did you get a sight of the assassin, boys? I say, go light on that brandy, for we need our ts now, if ever!” “We-’uns laid fer ther cuss,” said Bill, ‘‘ but we hain’t see’d a hair of him! He must ha’ dusted right peart es soon es he pulled trigger. ‘* Es ter ther brandy, I reckon we needs some- - thin’ ter keep our vim up. Hyer’s luck, Cap!” ‘* Bueno! Good health, capitan!” echoed the Greasers, each of whom had possessed himself of a bottle. “Pour some o’ thet stuff onter yer thumb,” advised Lije. ‘‘J’ll take a snifter myself.” That wortby then suited the action to the word. Broquier stood gazing suspiciously around the gloomy shades, An enemy might be lurking any where. he moon had arisen, or all would have been total darkness. As it was, the scene was wild and weird in the extreme, “This will not do,” said Broquier, at length; ‘we must remove the wagon, as Lije has pro- posed. Boys, there is much depending upon this ; bt. | “ ee You shall all roll in gold if you carry out my orders; but let me tell you, we have no fool to buck against in that blasted scout.” ‘‘T know Stampede Steve. Caramba! It ‘will be a pleasure to split his heart!” _. _Thus spoke a most ag eed pore, Mexican, and Broquier grasped his hand warmly. . senor!” he exclaimed; ‘‘you and I - are brothers in hate and purpose,” e. He then went from one to another, speaking to each in a friendly and open manner. were a fruffianly-looking lot, those Greasers; and the white outlaws were little better. ; In greasy and tattered attire, and armed in the usual manner, no harder looking crowd could have been collected than those low and ed assassins of the Rio Grande, ‘ o sooner had Broquier made bimself fami- liar with his tools—the Mexicans being ob- sequious, and treating him with the greatest respect and politeness, since their discovery of ‘the wagon and its contents—than all. bec:.me, at his orders, busy with their preparations for the removal of the wagon. Their movements were stealthy ‘and silent, the Greasers flitting here and there like assassins approaching their “O) intended victims. True were they to nature. Guards were posted, to prevent assault from _ the main camp, and some were dispatched to - jead the mules from the plain, in such a way that it would not attract attention from up the ‘Fiver. . _. _This necessitated crawling in the grass, and o's = dri the mules to feed, as they were led along. Meanwhile Bill and Lije prepared the wheels, ee es the latter had suggested, and the animals - att re quickly harnessed. _ The count, when all was ready, called the os into a dense thicket, for consultation. “Now, Lije,” he began, ‘“‘I have my sus- _ picions that our movements have been observed, _ from the very start, Steve Speed is not the kind of man to run back to camp, after dis- 9 itn us in the way that | am certain he i _ “Tf it was that infernal demon who shot me, _ * he is still keeping an eye on us. Now, I pro- pose that we outwit him, We can play a sneak game. Let all of us start with the wagon, before ATT a reaching the plain, dart into the bushes, and gteal to the wsgon-camp. We must remove the “ae from our wagon, and placed it out of ae Te care is used, keeping beneath the over- Trae, g boughs, the vehicle will be secure from discovery. How far down the stream will it bt: have to be taken, to find a safe fording-place?” **Bout balf a mile below ther whar Or foun’ we’uns, I reckon hit kin gut ay across, gece, aa right! Now, my plar/ is, for two of the boys to take the wagon across, and then up the border of the timber on the opposite side, until nearly opposite the camp of Major Dale. “Then the two men can drive the mules and vehicle into the timber, pull some wild rye, and feed the animals; being ready for a start, if it should be necessary.” “Thet’s a mighty good ’rangment,” agreed Lije, ‘‘an’ dang my heart, ef I doesn’t b’lieve we'll surprise ‘em, up-stream, afore sun-up!” “We'll play our game toward that end,” said Broquier. ‘‘ Now, who is to go with the wagon? t us have everything arranged all straight.” ‘‘Gonzales an’ Canales are ther boyees,” spoke up Bill. ‘‘ They kin take her through, fer they knows every crook an’ turn of ther Frio.” ‘ Ya-as, they’ll do,” agreed Lije. ‘ Yer hear, pards? Does yer undercomstan’ ther bull biz? ‘Si, senor,” the two Greasers replied, in chorus. “ Wa-al, thet’s all hunk, Dick; an’ now, let’s be movin’. This hyer stillness doesn’t seem jist squar’. I’m s’picionin’ some bloody biz air bein’ shoved in onter us.” Thus spoke Bill, but Lije struck in: ‘“ Satan tortur’ ma, pards, ef I hevn’t a idee! Ef we makes ther riffle toward ther camp yun- der, without bein’ see’d, we’ve gut ther dead- wood; an’ we-’uns hev gut ter work things thet- a-way. ‘“Doesn’t yer know we kin crawl back arter leavin’ ther wagon, an’ climb, on ther trees, over ther drink, gittin’ ter t’other side, whar thar’s a dead-sure thing o’ skutin’in on ther camp, on ther sly? Hit’s jist struck me whar ther camp air. Hit’s in ther big bend; an’ they won’t think o’ guardin’ any place ’roun’ ther camp, ‘ceptin’ ther narrer openin’ ter ther bend. ‘* Dang bit, ef we-uns bain’t gut a soft thin on’em! I war feelin’ sorter aub’ous ’bout no hevin’ our nags; but ther fact air, we couldn’t do nothin’ wi’ ther critters. ‘Dick, I think we’ve gut a easy glide in, ther way [hes put hit ter yer. But, fust off, does ver know which wagon ther ducats air inter? Thet’s ther question afore this hyer interested crowd o’ citizens!” ‘ Lije,” exclaimed the count, ‘‘ you’ve bit the nail on the head this time! You're a first-class leader, | must say. I should never have thought of such a proceeding. “Yes, that’s our programme! We’ll start from the wagon, down-river, a short distance; and then crossing the stream, as you propose, proceeding up without endangering ourselves, or being liable to discovery. “Never mind the wagon with the gold! I'll show it to you all, when the time comes; but I don't see any way for us to carry it on foot, we being obliged to cross the river in such a way. ‘* However, we'll understand things better, after we get up where we can see our game. All is settled, then. Strike out, boys! The game is open now, but don’t show your cards!” All stole from the thicket, and soon the wagon was slowly being drawn toward the plain. Fifteen minutes after, the vehicle was on the way down the river, beneath the outer limbs of the line of timber, in the dense shade; with but slight noise—certainly not to be detected in the camp above them, All, except Gonzales and Canales, then stole into the undergrowth, and through the same, to the river-bank; where they mounted up the huge trees, until near the top, Then they made their way, on the interlocked branches, over the dark, rolling waters, to the opposite side of the Rio Frio. : But a moment’s halt was made, to ascertain if all were present; and then, the miscreants, thirteen in number, stole, panther-like, through the shades, toward the camp cf Major Dale, but on the opposite side of the river from their intended victims, CHAPTER XXIV. THE WORK BEGUN. ‘““Wrar a lovely place this is? Why does not apa locate here permanently, instead of going urther up the river?” So said Dora Dale to the young scout. Dora appeared most teh she having quite recovered from the prostration and strain upon her mind occasioned by her capture. At times, however, she was still greatly worried in regard to the evident mystery about ber father; but as Steve had asserted confidently that all these clouds should be driven away ere long, the young girl had great hopes that such would be the case. Nothing marred the happiness of the party, except the presence of Broquier, and, as that bad to be endured out of consideration for Major Dale, there was no remedy. When the count hed detached his wagon from the train, it seemed like the lifting of a heavy load from all; but neither Steve, Bob, the major, nor his daughter felt much relieved on further thinking over the situation. The latter’s confidence ee wit the villain was the one thing which kcpt her from dreading the worst. In the presence of Steve she strove to appear oblivious to any thoughts of the evil genius that had haunted ber own and her father’s life for the past two years. It was with this feeling that the young girl spoke the words with which this chapter opens. ‘It is, indeed, a charming spot,” was the re- ply of the young man, “‘and this is a most ro- mantic encampment. I have lived on love and romance for some time past and enjoy it ex- ceedingly.” ; ‘For all that,” said Dora, laughing, ** you seem to have bad quite an appetite for more substantial food—but, pray go on; excuse my interrupting you.” ‘‘An interruption from you is always wel- come.” ** Ob, of course! But, pray answer my ques- tion?” Both laughed in chorus, ‘Very well; I obey. In the first place, this bend at the time of heavy rains up the country is overflowed, and therefore useless for a build- ing location. ‘Secondly, cattle would stray from a ranch on this side of the river, while, sbould your father locate beyond the Frio, or on the north bank of the Leona, those streams form barriers that will prevent such losses. You must see at once the advantage; for stock can stray only westward.” “Yes, I see that now,” said the maiden. ‘‘ Besides that,” continued Steve, ‘‘ there is one other advantage, which is more to be con- sidered, ‘‘Tt is, that war-parties of Indians dash down between the Leona and the Nueces, avoiding places near the confluence of rivers, where they are not easily forded.” ‘‘ Please don’t speak of such a thing. I should faint, I verily. believe, at the sight of a red-man or the sound of a war-whoop.” ‘‘T can bardly believe that, Dora; but I trust you will not be put to the test. Generally speaking, however, the Apaches and Comanches when in such a retired section as this, make their presence known in ample time for de- fense,’ it ‘There, that is quite sufficient on the Indian uestion! I declare I never bear one spoken of, that it does not bring that Broquier to my mind. How I detest, and fear that man!” ‘‘He is a very good subject to practice such emotions on,” said the scout; “ but 1 sincerely trust you will bave no more cause for hating him, than you have at present. He is much too cowardly to be Indian-like, however. — ‘‘ But, now that you speak of his bighness, I am reminded that T sitet take a short scout in his direction, and ascertain what he is doing. His leaving the train is more than suspicious. It convinces me that he is waiting for those vil- lainous associates of his, and I must investigate matters; although I am confident they could not collect a force of outlaws, strong enough in numbers to cope with us, with any chance of success,” ‘Don’t go alone, Steve,” pleaded the maiden ; ‘‘ that wretch may shoot you from some covert!” ‘“T have to risk all such chances, Dora; but, don’t fear for me. I can take care of myself. “It is strange that Major Dale seems to be more downcast and hopeless since the count left.” . ‘‘Papa’s suspicions are probably similar to your own, He fears some desperate attempt of roquier toward his sworn revenge.” ott is a singular case,” said Steve. ‘“ You have said that your father bas never appeared the same, since Broquier first visited him, He has never explained i: nything to you?” ‘* Not a word; altbough I have often begged, and prayed him todoso. But, of late, I have refrained from saying anything to him on the subject. ‘The dread secret, whatever it is, has nearly brought him to the grave, Oh, how I do hope ou may be able to clear it up satisfactorily !’ “TI fully expect to do so. But I must now leave you. Do not go payons the bounds of the camp. There is danger, | am convinced, in the very air.” It is needless to follow Steve Speed, in bis slow and cautious advance do®n the river. He reached the wagon of Broquier, shortly after the latter had set out to meet Lasso Lije and Bill. In fact, Steve was so near to the miscreant, that he could hear the cracking of twigs, as he struggled through the undergrowth, Satisfied that the count would not have left the wagon, unless he expected to meet bis pards, the young scout pressed on, but still more stealthily. Some time passed, and Steve knew tbat Bro- quier must have gone to the margin of the tim- | ber, to ascertain what distance he bad gone, This movement convinced the scout that the outlaws bad agreed upon a particular place of meeting. He soon had full proof of this, Voices were heard, and presently a_ slight glow from a camp-fire was distinguishable. Eagerly Steve leaned forward, as he the scout’s ability to out- ' the bushes that bordered the ‘‘ wash-out,” 4 =e