Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 293 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

— had a force of Mexicans brought to the Frio by his two confedera es, whom he had, as was now proved, dispatched from the Rio Guadalupe for that purpose. ' All was plain to Dora Dale. b Broquier, upon seeing that his plans were to be frustrated, by the course and influence of the young scout, had prepared to carry them . out by other means, if necessary. | \ But the poor girl could not avoid seeing, that | she was doomed toa fate too terrible to think } of, and from which there appeared to be no es- ! cape, except through her own efforts. As she thus looked upon her condition, she vowed that she would brave death in any form—slay her captor, or herself—before yielding to the wishes of such a miscreant! Perhaps it was the thought of the happiness that might have been—that, possibly, might be hers even yet—that nerved her heart; trans- forming her from a weak and nervous maiden, to a daring and resolute woman. This ehange was partially produced by the thoughts of her | poor father, as she had last seen him—for all she knew, a corpse! This, too, had been Bro- quier’s work, ) Two most strong motives had she, to nerve “her in the sudden transformation of feelings she had experienced, She would avenge her loved father! The cowardly villain, who had so long tor- tured his mind, who had eaten at his table, slept beneath his roof, had at last been the means, as itseemed, of bis death; or, if living, had plunged him into misery and despair, by a ae bim of his one hope in life, his only child! Again, she belonged to Stephen Speed. She was the young scout’s plighted wife; and this vile wretch before ber had tortured him to the very soul, by stealing her from him! reg these criminal outrages, Dora re- volted. The very sight of such degradation and crime, as were imprinted upon the countenance of the dastardly ruffian—proved, too, by his recent acts—created a loathing, a hatred, in the breast of Dora Dale, so intense, that her undaunted gaze and defiant mien fairl y astounded bim. He looked at the girl in dumfounded amaze- ment, compelled, at length, to drop his eyes be- fore hers, Yet on, in mad gallop, went the mules and the mounted outlaws, evidently directed by Lasso Lije. He finally caused the team to turn to the south, soon reaching the timber of the Rio Frio, into which all dashed: and Dora’s last glance, over the moonlit prairie, disclosed naught that could give bope—nothing but one besa and unbroken savannah, north, east and west! Into the somber shades, beneath the lofty trees, the branches of which bent with their weight of tangled vines, and the thick festoons of gray moss, they rode. The scene was typical of the dark despair that had ruled poor Dora’s mind, typical also of her recent resolutions; for, far down, in places, darted arrows of silvery moonlight, symbolic of the hopes born of her determination to yet balk ‘the cowardly villain, in whose hands she now was, Winding here and there, through the less dense undergrowth, Lasso Lije guided the out- fit to a point, where it was possible for a wagon to descend the bank, and ascend ou the further side; the river being shallow, It was with much difficulty, much cursing and lashing, that the crossing was successfully accomplished; the mules being allowed to slake their thirst, and the mustangs of the outlaws as well. Then it was, that poor Dora was forced to pass through an ordeal, which weakened much her resolution, and her hopes. The villainous Mexicans, now having leisure, directed all their snaky eyes upon her, with vengeful scowls; making the wretched girl shudder, notwithstanding all her efforts at self- control, and at keeping up an appearance of proud disdain. Two of the Greasers, she saw, were wounded, and she felt positive that some of their number must have been slain. This, then, accounted for their vengeful looks. They hated her, for being, as they probably reasoned, the prime cause of the death of their comrades. Might they not overpower their employers, murder them, and—? Dora dared not think further on this subject. There was no need of borrowing trouble. Short was the halt in the river, and lucky for the poor maiden that it was so: as her brave resolves were fast giving way under the gaze of that murderous cavalcade, Having crossed the river, they proceeded through the belt of timber, on the south side of the stream; and then, breaking from it, again went at speed over the plain. Afar in front, to the southwest, Dora saw a dark ribbon of timber, and immediately her conversation with Steve, in regard to her fath- er’s reasons for locating on the Leona, was_re- called. | She now knew that she was being hurried ae across the triangular section of land between , ie, ‘ ; é . Stampede Steve. the Frio and Leona, and but a few miles from the confluence of these rivers, as a glance to the eastward proved; for the two lines of timber united after a gradual approach to each other. From this Dora was positive that but a short distance intervened between her and the camp of her father; certainly. not more than ten miles in a direct line, but a much longer distance as the outlaws had traveled. But as they had maintained great speed, the young girl felt convinced that it was not yet midnight. She reasoned that it would not be very diffi- cult to follow the trail of the galloping mules and horses; for, as Dora glanced behind them, influenced thus to do by recalling what Steve had said to her in connection with night-trail- ing, she saw that a heavy dew was falling, and that the trail was clearly defined. It could easily be followed at a gallop. This discovery increased the maiden’s hopes; for she well knew that the young scout, with a large force, would at once be on the trail. But Dora knew nothing of the difficulties, at the start, in finding the trail; that no dew was beneath the overhanging branches—the way in which the team had been guided—and that the outlaws had re-crossed the river from the side to which they had retreated with her to the camp; the side on which they still were. It was evident to Dora that her captors, hav- ing crossed the Rio Frio, were now almost free from apprehension in regard to pursuit; for the mules were no longer lashed so terribly, and all traveled at less speed. All, however, kept on through the timber until they reached an “open” in the same, when a halt was made, and the outlaws began to drink and confer among themselves. Until this halt the maiden, whose mind had been so occupied with thoughts of her almost hopeless position, had not been aware that she was bound; but, upon moving, she became con- scious that cords were not merely around her ankles, but about her waist. The last was slack, but was tightly tied to the bale of blankets upon which she reclined. She now noticed that quite a wordy dispute had sprung up between the white and yellow outlaws. | She could distinguish the words ‘“‘camp on the Nueces,” and “‘come back for the gold after the train is gone.” These were spoken by Broquier. hat could it mean? Had they been obliged, in their retreat, to drop or secrete the major’s money-box? This must be the solution of it. That she was to be left on the Nueces was ground for bope, as the strength of the party would then be reduced. . Such were Dora Dale’s reflections, and she was amazed at herself, and almost indignant at her own calmness and power of banishing the influence of the near past. She saw one of the Mexicans gallop toward the south, soon returning, having evidently in- spected the open plain that stretched afar to the Rio Nueces, and, as far as Dora Dale could judge by his manner and gestures, he had found the ‘coast clear.” ; Broquier unloosed the horse that had been taken from Major (Dale on the Guadalupe and secured the animal to a tree. Lije and Bill also lariated their beasts, and then the trio of whites threw themselves upon the sward, with their saddle-bags before them, with the evi- dent intention of taking a lunch, and all wav- ing their hands in farewell salutation, Broquier calling out: ‘* We'll overtake you, Gonzales, before you have traveled three miles. Adios, Miss Dale! ‘‘Tt is bard to part even fora few minutes, when we have enjoyed each other’s company so little during our trip. [ll see you later.” With a mocking smile, the ruffian whirled his sombrero about his head and the wagon with its guard of Mexican miscreants spen on through the timber, and over the plain, ina southerly direction, toward the Rio Nueces and Mexico. ° CHAPTER XXVIII. THINKING OF TO MORROW. THxk searchers, led and directed by Stam- pede Steve, were unsuccessful in finding any trace of the outlaws, and the young scout was nearly distracted. They examined the under- growth thoroughly, but without success. Had Steve passed through the timber, on the opposite side of the river, and gazed over the north plain, he would probably bave seen the wagon and the outlaws speeding west. But he had not the slightest suspicion that they had crossed the river. So it was, that no one in- spected the north plain, until the outlaw cutfit had passed beyond the curve of the Frio, and was hidden in the heavy timber. There was but one comfort. Daylight would favor the following of the trail. The wagon, and such a number of borsemen, would cer- tainly leave a plain trail, which could be very easily followed. Nearly wild with anxiety, Steve continued his search, tearing through thickets, until there seemed no further use in it. Then he rushed to the camp, and found that Major Dale had ‘ , * m | ° —_* ¢ 4 2 e Z j dp 3 - : ’ b “: P 5 = es : - prt es OE - ye" a 4s " A . A ’ ‘es .S “ “ .7 val + . bd * : i“ rs ie 34 Ge LEE — 23 recovered, but was in a dazed state, not seem- ing to comprehend what had passed, or was passing. Fearing that the old planter would, upor be- holding him, recover sufficiently to ask for Dora, and dreading to explain matters—thus plunging the major into deeper despair—Steve did not remain in his vicinity. He strode through the camp, and gave direc- tions as to the care of the wounded, the burial of the dead, and the putting of the camp in or- der. He then selected a dozen men to prepare themselves to dash to the rescue of Dora, and to avenge the death of their comrades, This done, Steve mounted and sought a ford- ing-place below the camp, passed through the timber and down-stream, his eyes carefull scanning the ground and bushes as he proceed For some time be went on in this manner, when suddenly he discovered a bush that had recently been broken. He slid at once from his saddle. The wagon had been there. This was nothing more than he had sup- posed. It had been brought over the stream for the purpose of carrying Dora away. The discovery was not as important as he had thought. The mind of the young scout had been so peed ie by his mental suffering that he had lost all skill and perception. The vehicle bad crossed from the north side of the river, it was true, but would the wheels on the south side have, in passing, bent the bush toward the river ? Z Certainly not! Then it had re-crossed, and not only that, but at a point nearest to his present position. © In an instant, Steve was in his saddle and spurring madly toward the river. Once there, ted he saw that the banks on each side were com- © paratively low. Again he dismounted, and rushed downtothe © water’s edge. y There, directly at his feet, a bar of moonlight shining upon it as if to pointoutthecoursehe — should proceed, was the plain prail of wagon- < iy wheels, proving that the vehicle had again ao. crossed the river. The mystery of the disappearance of the out- laws was now explained. pz Again mounting, Steve forded the river and re spurred through the timber for the north plain, too! knowing that it was needless tolook for other ‘*sign,” unless he failed to find trace of the ab- ductors in that quarter. ieee Fortunately, he happened toemerge fromthe — timber directly at the same point as had the ~~ outlaws. ie Ee The scout spurred forward, the trail being now clearly defined, thanks to the dew. ent Soon it curved abruptly and led west, paral- — lel with the timber of the Frio. Steve — “J could with difficulty repress a cry of joy and relief, .¢ ; ae All was now plain as day. While they had been searching the thickets, the outlaws had escaped in a cunning manner. The wagon had been waiting for them at acer- | ace: «oe aodg Ve 4 = <4 2 < owen ty Oya? tain point on the south side. They hadsprung ~ into it with their captive, and sped over to the other side, reasoning, and with good OAS) eet that their foes, the pursuers, would for some ae time be engaged in searching on the southside of the stream, during which, bya bold dash, they could escape, Spa Tbe close pursuit had prevented the outlaws from carrying out their original plan, forcin ve them to return to the spot whence they had r come, ) bees Steve now blamed himself for not having dispatched men to watch for any possible movement of the miscreants on the n eas The trail now pointed west, up the Rio Frio, = and directly opposite the neck of the bendin which. the camp was situated. Bari ly The outlaws had shown deep cunning. Tbey bad evidently argued that the. ca ere would be in such confusion, all attention might ante ed » 1 . é > a2 2 J "4 ? 5 od > ct < ea : > - attracted toward the wagons, that they migbt pass undetected, and they had accomplis their attempt, as Steve saw at once, ea That the ruffian horde would at once strike out toward Mexico, knowing that their saa ae demanded such a course, the young Texan wel] knew; consequently, they would not keep onto the westward for ae great distance, but would by Lo cross the Frio probably above its junction with || the Leona, then the latter stream, and thence — on toward the Nueces, mart Greatly elated and hopeful was the scout, for he now saw a way to outwit and defeat the outlaws, even as they had done him, inrecross- ing the Frio, "> — t was not necessary to follow the trail, but to cross the river to the south side,and gallop ss up the margin of the timber to the confluence of the streams, and thence on upthe Rio Leona, cutting off the retreat of the band: the latter, yt — ag “ese _ ae — of the © SEY, ona amd das ward the Nueces, being ex- ‘ * » \ hw _ were 8 4 - wy y . id « — to the view of their pursuers on the . Steve gave utterance to a joyful cry, and his Rieu 4 4 : : ¥ aes” . Aw | ‘s.com By) a9 ‘ "ai. fg? Lae . a P ‘ ~~ " °F as %. a (Bie ae Zu Re oe GComicboo ‘ FF bs) « >. 74 - > -* oe at oe wee