Rocky Mountain Sam — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

222. ROCKY MOUNTAIN SAM. you have known this for years, and yet kept the knowledge from me—her son?” , The hunter nodded his head and smiled, though there was nothing of vulgar exultation in hisesmile, “That was your punishment, Robert Scarlet.” The unhappy man staggered back, and again sank down. It was some minutes before he could speak; and when he did, — his voice was hollow as if issuing from the tomb. * ‘‘Perchance it was but just,” said he. ‘But, oh, man, ‘man!’ he cried, stretching out his hands with trembling eagerness; ‘‘am I not to see her now? Will you not vouch- saie me one caress of my poor—poor mother ere I die?” “Yes; it is forthis that I have brought or sent you here. My vengeance is satisfied; I pity you. But Listen. It is useless to go into the details of my rescue of your hapless mother. But even at that time her mind was a wreck, and her captors would doubtless have soon put her out of the way as a useless incumbrance, had | not effected her release. As soon as I did so I bore her to a little cabin in the very heart of these hills—so lonely and remote that its existence is known to no other man, white or red, than myself. Here I placed her under the care of an old Shoshone squaw, who was indebted to me for her life, and who, strange to say of the Indian, was grateful. In the charge of that woman, and supplied with every comfort I have been able to provide for her—she did not need’ many, poor thing—she has lived ever since, but in almost hopeless imbecility, almost un- conscious of her own existence. I tell you this in order to prepare you for the wreck you must encounter. Come!” CHAPTER XXXIV. MOTHER AND SON. Big Horn strode out of the hut and the renegade fol- lowed with feeble, faltering steps, which apparently had no more vigor than those of a little child. The way was rugged and stony, and led into the very heart of the foot-hilis, which grew more precipitous and difficult at every step. The sun rode high in the heavens before they came to a little glen, in the center of which, but almost hidden away by the trees surrounding it, was a diminutive cabin. | comicbooks co