Beadle's Dime Library No. 51: Red Rob, The Boy Road-Agent — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

os 26 Beadle’s Dime Library. _ A smile passed over every face at this reply, notwithstand- ing the serious impression left upon all by the apparition. Humility soon returned from the woods, and the uneasi- ness he now betrayed by bounding away into the gloom, then back to his master’s side, convinced the ranger that something was wrong out in the woods. So he at once made known his intention of going out to reconnoiter the sur rounding forest. He left the camp, and in less than ten minutes returned from the same direction, haying made the entire circuit of the place. His face and movements both betrayed some ex: citement, ‘¢ Put out the fire,” he said, endeavoring to appear calm, ‘‘for as true as thar’s a heaven above us, Missouri Moll, with a party of friends and a horde of, Ingins, are near! Keep cool ’bout it, or they may smell a ‘ mice.’ ” An exclamation of surprise burst from every lip, and ter- ror blanched each face. The fearful news fell like a thun- derbolt upon the ears of the little band, and for a moment all seemed stupefied by the shock it gave them. But the calm, cool voice of the old ranger, admonishing them of their danger, soon set all in motion. To extinguish the fire, secure the women and children in places of safety, and place every man in,a defensive position, occupied but a few brief moments. Three covered wagons were arranged side by side near the center of the camp, and the beds of the women placed inside of these. This was done as a measure of greater safety. If an enemy charged through camp, the defense- less would not be so exposed to crushing hoofs or murderous weapons as if they were upon the ground, Octavia St. Kelelm and Maggie Boswell occupied the wagon on the right, facing south, the Gilbrest women and children the middle one, and old Aunt Shady and another negro woman the third. Two guards were posted, one north, the other east of the eamp. The men stood with rifles in hand, waiting for the worst to come. Dakota Dan and his faithful dog reconnoitered in the woods. The horses and mules in the corral manifested some. un- easiness. The pinons swayed and rustled ominously in,the wreeze. The coyotes gibbered incessantly away off among the foothills. The men conversed in low tones, the women in tremulous whispers. Octavia and Maggie did not disrobe when they retired to their “apartment” in the wagon. Fear had banished all sleep from their eyes. They went to work and fastened the lower edge of the wagon cover securely down to the box all around, as though this frail barrier of canvas would se- cure their retreat: against intruders. Then, locked in each other’s arms, they entered into conversation. They talked in low tones of their dangerous situation, of Red Rob, and in fact of everything suggested to their young minds. Octavia spoke in praiseworthy terms of the outlaw youth, who had made captive her heart. In spite of all that her friends had said+in spite of all she,had seen, she could not help loving Red Rob. Her own reason taught her that he was unworthy of her love; still she could not rend asunder the magic chain that bound her heart to him. ‘‘ Brother Albert rejoices that we are away from the vicinity of Red Rob’s retreat,” Octavia said to Maggie, ‘‘.and all on my account. But, Maggie, 1 cannot help loving him, outlaw though he be.” ‘‘ Your infatuation will wear off, by-and-by, Octavia,” re- plied the sedate, matter-of-fact Maggie. ‘No, never, Maggie!” responded Octavia, firmly, ‘All naturally suppose that.I love Red Rob, but none knew it posi- tively but you and brother, I have made confidents of no others.” ‘‘ Red Rob is unworthy of your thoughts, Octavia, to say nothing of your love,” affirmed Maggie. ‘“We all felt thankful, from the bottom of our hearts, that he saved the train from the Indians; and then you and I, and all the rest, felt grateful to him for saving brother’s life, the night he visited the saloon in Conejos.” ‘‘T admit that, Octavia,” said Maggie, ‘* but in neither in stance was his real character known.” ‘‘That matters not, dear Maggie. We accepted. the gift, and so must not rebuke the donor, or else we will be wicked and selfish creatures. If an infidel saves. your life, the act would be no greater if it had been done by a'Christian,” , “d admit this, Octavia; but we were deceived in his chap acter. We thought at first, all of us, that we were bestow- ing our thanks and admiration upon a good, brave and noble boy, but instead of that, he turns out to be the notorious road-agent, Red, Rob. He. had some designs, it is thought, in saving the train—perhaps to destroy it himself.” “Oh, Maggie, do not talk so of him. It hurts me, and—” Octavia’s words were here brought toan abrupt conclusion by a faint noise outside, followed by a slight vibratory jarr- ing of the wagon. Both listened with bated breath and wildly-palpitating hearts. ‘‘ What do you think it was?” asked Maggie, when they found the movement was not repeated. ‘‘T presume it was one of the men passing, and struck his foot against the wagon-tongue,” replied Octavia. ‘*T will look out and/see what is going on, if the darkness will admit,” said Maggie. Carefully she raised the lower edge of the tilt in front, and gazed out, The ;wagon was standing in the little clearing, yet the shadows of the woods rose up like a grim black wall around them, infolding all in a mantle of gloom. Maggie could see nothing, but; she thought. she heard stealthy footsteps re- treating rapidly from near the wagon. Before she could make this fact. known to her companion, both felt a kind of a thrumming jar like a heavy rope being drawn suddenly taut.. The next instant the wagon started forward with such a violent lurch that the maidens were thrown from their seats, _ But quickly recovering their former positions, they were, startled by the discovery that the wagon was in mo- tion, ‘* What, does it mean, Maggie?” gasped the terrified Oc- tavia, ‘‘ The men must be moving the wagon by hand,” was the response, They tore aside the canvas in front and gazed out. Not the sign of aman or, horse was about the wagon. And yet the vehicle was in rapid motion—the wheels rattling and thundering. oyer the uneven ground as though drawn by’a span of fiery animals, ‘** Oh, heavens, what does it mean?” cried Octavia, in terror. ‘* Look, Octavia!” exclaimed Maggie, pointing on ahead; **do you see that rope?” Octavia saw it the moment she spoke. Uoptects were gradually unfolding themselves from the darkness as the eyes became ‘more accustomed to gloom, and the maidens could now see the dim outlines of arope, one end of which was attached to the wagon-tongue, the other end being lost in the impenetrable gloom of the woods, but a rod or two away. ‘‘An enemy had crept from the woogis and attached the rope to the wagon, Octavia uttered a cry of alarm. The Teport of rifles at the further side of the camp told that their friends were engaged there with an enemy. The wagon rolled into the woods and came to a violent halt by striking Laer ¢ tree. The maidens were thrown prostrate by the collision. As they hurriedly rose to their feet again, a gruff, coarse voice shouted: . ‘‘ Quick, men, seize them!” Then the canvas was stripped from the bows, and two men sprung up into the wagon. The maidens uttered a scream—it told where they were. The next moment they felt strong arms encircle their waists —felt themselves lifted from their feet and handed from the wagon to other men on horseback, ready to receive them. Then, despite their cries and entreaties, they were borne swiftly away. The conflict on the opposite side of the camp had been very brief—in fact, the enemy had only made a feint to draw the attention of the men from the foe operating on the other side of the camp. But as soon as the settlers saw what was up-—heard the noise of the wagon and the screams of the maidens, they turned and hurried to the girls’ assist- ance. But they were too late. When they reached the wagons, the enemy were gone with the maidens; but from out the darkness, a deep, hoarse voice, furious with demoniac passion, and hellish triumph, hurled back the words: “Vengeance is mine at last!” Major St. Kenelm recognized the voice. It well-nigh froze the blood in his veins. It was the voice of the Dear: Missouri Moll! _————