Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 293 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

— — se main camp! These bushes impeded his view, and he could see distinctly, except just in front of him. The cousequence was that the young Texan distinguished but three men—the count, Lasso Lije, and Bill Bowers. It was the first time thut be bad seen Lije, but the face of Bill was quite familiar to him, _At once he arrived at the conclusion that little or no apprehension need be entertained in connection with the trio before him. Then as Broquier passed the bottle to Lije, Steve could not resist the temptation of giving the iniscreant a good scare; and at the same time to warn the villains that their movements were known and watched. He, Chorefore, took quick aim at the flask, at the very point where Broqguier’s thumb was Clasped over it, and pulled trigger. The instant after he stole away on the back trail, feeling assured that he had broken up any hostile arrangements that the ruffians had made for that night and prevented what they might have contemplated doing, had they not been molested, Only a moment had Steve been at the margin of the gully, and therefore, for reasons men- tioned, he knew nothing of the presence of the eXicans; consequently be returned to camp without the slightest doubt that he had put au end, for that night at least, to any hostile pro- ceedings from the count and his confederates. But Steve was not done with scouting for the night, as he fondly imagined. He thought that he had Broquier just where he wanted him. If he could capture him in company with Dora’s abductors, the count’s doom was sealed. This the young man determined to do, an to gag Broquier and Lije, thus preventing their speaking, The gags should not be re- moved, except in the presence of Major Dale. =< would then force Lije to tell all that he new. But bow were they to be secured? Without doubt they would repair to the wagon during the nigbt for supplies, and then their capture could be easily effected. After thus reasoning and resolving, Steve sought an interview with Dora, and also with b Barr, to whom he revealed everything; but_he said not a word to the major. Bob was instructed to select half-a-dozen men from among the emigrants, and to be ready to £ in an hour on the proposed mission. t the expiration of that time the eight men all armed, started through the shades in the direction of Broquier’s wagon. Silently and slowly, as they neared the little ‘‘ open,” they crawled in a long crescent-like line, to surronnd the vehicle. All, however, were soon amazed by the young scout, who sprung to his feet with an ejacula- tion of astonishment and disappointment. The wagon was . Instantly Steve darted into the ‘‘ open,” but the hoofs of the mules had trampled the grass in such a manner that in the dim light, no other “‘ sign” was to be distinguished. Bounding on the wagon-trail, the scout, with- out a word, sped toward the open plain. There be saw, that the wagon had been driven down the river, beneath the branches of the outer trees; and yet, it seemed that this could hardly have been accomplished, without their having been seen by the guard at the neck of the bend. What could this mean? The emigrants gathered around Steve, all gone pe $e ye ae for hoa departure of D uler, alone—as the _ that far romtioe region. ~ is pel Ber Not until then, did Steve Speed reveal the fact, that the two outlaws of the Guadalupe had met the count by appointment, Previous to this explanation, the men had thought it strange that so many had been thought necessary to capture Broquier. The young scout’s statement caused the ut- most excitement and fury against the count. “They can’t have gone very far,” said Steve: “it's a plain trail. What say you, boys? Shall we follow them, or leave them free to craw] in the thickets, and shoot some of us without warning? They are dangerous characters, and must bang on the limbs of a tree, before you and yours can be considered safe.” “* Foller ther hellyuns!” cried Bob Barr; and his words were echoed, with mad determina- tion, by his companions. Steve said no more, but walked forward on the plain trail. All,would soon curse themselves for so doing; but it seemed to be their duty to themselves, their wives and little ones. On they went, as fast as was practicable, un- til they reacbed a point, at which Broquier, Lije, and Bill, with the other ten outlaws, bad left the wagon, and torn through the under- growth, toward the river. ‘‘What in Heaven’s name, does this mean?” exclaimed Steve: “ the wagon has gone on, and here are evidences that He & number of men bave plunged into the thickets! ' ‘Boys, it is certainI didn’t get into their They have secured help. ‘‘ There is & lar band of outlaws, and dan- ger, and death threatens the camp of Major Stampede Steve. Dale. Back! Back, I say, and defend your wives and children!” Cries of wonder, rage, and anxiety, shot from many lips. ‘* Listen, boyees!” said Bob; ‘‘ dang my heart ef ther hellishness hain’t commenced! ‘‘Come on! Ther condemned coyotes air et ther camp already!” . At the first word spoken by the teamster, all halted in silence. The sound of fire-arms, wild yells, and shrieks, now filled the air. These came from up the river—from their camp at the bend! ‘*Back, men! Run for your lives! The safety of our friends depends upon our speed. The infernal miscreants have commenced their bloody work. Oh, Dora! My darling Dora, why did I leave you?” Thos yelled Stampede Steve, and on like madmen, rushed all the party, keeping along the margin of the timber, and aiming to enter the camp by the open neck of the bend. On they dashed, all panting, their eyes flash- ing, their weapons gripped, and every muscle strained to the utmost. —_—_—_-_- CHAPTER XXYV. RECAPTURED. It really seemed as though the Evil One favored his own—first in keeping the Greasers in their places in the gully, when Steve had fired his revolver; secondly, in hastening the departure of ej age and his allies, with the wagon; and thirdly, in luring the young scout and the emigrants, away from the camp, fur- ther on the wagon-trail. The count was almost beside himself with jo and triumph; for the keen-eyed Mexicans bad, as they came up, discovered the scout and his men, stealing toward the “open.” Not until that moment, did Broquier realize that the luck had changed. Not only had he and his confederates escaped danger and death, but a large party were absent from the bend; and would, without doubt, fol- low the trail of the wagon for some distance, This would give the camp up to him and his gang. Pin face of Broquier was fiendishly exul- nt. It was with difficulty that he repressed a taunting yell, as he pictured in his mind, the astonishment and fury of Steve Speed and his men, at finding themselves outwitted. The count believed that Steve had seen the Mexieans, at the gully, else he would not bave taken so strong a force toward the wagon. The eight men, as seen in the moonlight, seemed many more in number. But the ruffian lost not a moment. He urged his men forward, destined to make another discovery, This was neither more nor less than a huge tree that had fallen directly across the river, forming a bridge, and thus sav- ing much valuable time. us the lawless horde reached the border of the undergrowth, and peered forth in eager- ness, Moments were precious, however, and little time could be spent in reconnoitering. Broquier pointed out the wagon in which was the box of specie, and detailed balf of the Mexicans to be led by Lasso Lije, to make a dash and secure the gold. They were ordered to carry the box through the timber and over the river. Should they be followed, and in conees of losing the gold, they were to hide or sink it. All stragglers were directed to retreat down the border of the timber, on the opposite or south side. Bill Bowers had orders to secure Major Dale, if such a feat should be possible, It occupied but a very short time for the count to give these directions, for be saw that he, had arrived at a most propitious time, as all between them and the line of wagons was in deep shade, and nearly all the men of —e train appeared to be near the neck of the Dn . These were probably listening for any sound from Stampede Steve and his party, down the river, Major Dale was not to be seen, but the tent in the midst of the wagons, Broquier decided, must cover the major and Dora. The mules were scattered about the “‘ open,” between the wagons and the timber. This favored the outlaws, for the men at the neck of the bend would be impeded in their course to- ward the point of alarm by these animals, All arrangements, as bas been mentioned, were quickly made by Broquier, who was in a most excited state; his wound being, for the time, entirely forgotten. Bidding all drink sue- cess to their undertaking, he caught his revol- ver in his left band, and waving the weapon over his head, sprung from the undergrowth, all following at full s . Thus they went, Lasso Lije leading those under him, springing toward the wagon in which was the treasure. Those under the count darted between the 21 wagons and then over into the oblong space, where, upon blankets, lay full a score of women and children. Over someof these, Broquier and Bill rushed toward the white tent, and then the camp rung with the shrieks of the appalled wo- men and little ones. Not until then did the exultant yells of the Mexicans, eager for blood and booty, cut through the air. The busbands and fathers, who were on guard at the neck of the bend, then realized the cause of the alarm, and rushed with vengeful outcries to the scene of tumult, Before Broquier reached the tent, Dora Dale and her father sprung from it, and stood bereft of all power to speak or move. Words cannot express the borror of the poor girl, when she recognized one of the men who had taken her captive on the Rio Guadalupe. eyond Broquier and Bill was a horde of hid- eous Mexicans, all brandishing knives and pis- tols and yelling like fiends. It was enough to appall the stoutest heart, and no wonder was it that poor Dora was help- less with fright. Major Dale, fora moment was thunderstruck ; but the danger that threatened his child, and the recognition of the dastard who had so per- secuted him, aroused the old planter to furious action. Bounding in front of Dora, the major drew his bowie, and stood braced for the shock; but, with a defiant yell, Broquier sprung aside, and Bill Bowers rushed headiong upon him. The dastard count then clutched Dora in his arms, with a yell that was perfectly fiendish in rl was. intonation. With loud cries for help, the cig hurried toward the wagons by her abductor, who then perceived Lije and one of the Mexi- cans with the treasure-box, rushing in the direction of the undergrowth. Giving an en- couraging yell, Broquier sprung upon the tongue of a wagon. Then it was that the reports of pistols rung out, and the negroes had all they could do to prevent a stampede of the mules. The count cast one glance backward, poor Dora’s gaze being also fixed in horror upon the struggle between her father and Bill Buwers, which terminated in the major’s being felled to the earth by a terrible blow from Bill’s revolver; but the outlaw was too closely clutched to shoot, or even to cock the weapon, and he realized that he was lost if be lingered where he was. The unhappy girl saw her aged father fall to the earth, his co like face upturned in the moonlight, and the blood plainly distinguishable upon his brow. Then with a piercing and bit- ter cry, the terribly tortured horrified maiden lost all sense. ‘““Come on, men! On, to the river, I say! Retreat! Retreat!” Thus yelled Broquier, springing from the wagon-tongue with his fair burden, who lay, limp and pallid, her wealth of wavy hair fly- ing free over the miscreant’s arm and shoul- der. By this time, the infuriated men of the train were close upon the outlaws, and four sers lay outstretched, dead ee the sward; while groans of agony and shrieks of anguish told of — the dead and wounded within the circle of wagons. Broquier knew well, that no mercy would be shown him if captured, that he and any of his followers would be strung to the end of a lariat without a moment’s delay to die a terri- ble death. Like a madman, bis all, his very life,depen- _ ing upon his exertions for the moment, the — count dashed desperately to cover, and toward — the natural foot-bridge; tearing tb the thickets, and hearing on all sides, the crashing of bis miscreant followers. ie Greatly to his surprise and indignation, the arch scoundrel discovered Lasso Lije and the _ Mexicans, striving with all their powertce gain the tree-trunk, pursued by an infuriated Texan. He perceived at once that Lije had at first strayed from his course. “ay The pair were so bard pressed by their , suer, that they were forced to drop over the river; but, asthe Texan badobservedtheact, " Bill Bowers, who sprung up e ae immediately shot the trainman dead in his tracks, ‘ws The next moment the count, with Dora in — bis arms, sprung over tbe tree-trunk, andinto the dense undergrowth, disappearing from view, _ with a number of Mexicans in his front, and Lasso Lije with them, ay. Close behind them, followed Bill Bowers, and _ the few stragglers that had brought uptberear, _ in the conflict and flight. 4, The yells of the maddened Texans caused the — outlaws todash wildly through the undergrowth — for their lives, going toward the south plain, — where they expected the wegon. s But not far bad Broquier proceeded, slowly — from necessity, burdened as he was, when, above the din at the camp, he heard a sounding _ of vengeance. __ . Not only he, but “ae and Bill as well, knew | that sound, and trembied. ee It was the vengeful yell of one whom a feared, more than they did the entire force the camp—the yell of Stampede Steve! COmicbooks.corn ‘ aponaie Rel | 7 5 « 7: . - 4 P ’ é fl | —_