Paddling under Palmettos — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

Paddling Under Palmettos. 225 His progress was faster now, for he could see where to go and clear the obstacles in his path. The cry of the panther sounded again, this time on his left, and very close. It did not require a great amount of imagination to believe the animal was following after him. Archie cast many an anxious glance around. Was he heading aright? The thought startled him. Was there no way in which he could find out the truth? He raised his gun and sent three shots into the top of the nearest tree. Then he listened anxiously. To his infinite relief, answering shots came from a point apparently no more than half a mile away. Under new encouragement he again took up his burden and began to stride forward. Presently he saw what appeared to be two giant fireflies bobbing about in the forest ahead of him. It flashed upon him that these were nothing less than torches held in the hands of his companions, who had come forth, thus equipped, to search for him. Gomicbooks (E(0)