Ruby's Reward — page 121: what you’re looking at

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

But even before he could stretch out his hand to help her, be saw that she could go no farther, for her dress had eaught upon the stump of the tree, while the tanglod woodbine which had grown so closely about it held her fost. He was not five seconds in reaching her, hut that would have been long enough for her to have been past all human aid, but for that rayged, splintered trunk, and those closely interwoven vines. — He reached down and firmly grasped the hand that she stretched forth to him. “You are safe,” he said, reassuringly. ‘‘Wait just an instant until Tecan get a firmer footing, then £ will lift you up.” He planted one foot securely between a rock and the trunk of the tree, for he knew the danger that a single false move would entail, while neither tree nor vines would be strong enough tobear their united weight if he should lose his balance. Then he stooped and put his arm around her slight form, and drew her safely up and away from the fearful peril that had menaced her. It was a very narrow escape, and both were weak and faint from ‘he trying ex-; perience. , They stood looking into each other's face fora few moments, speechless and trem- bling, Both were of the hue of death, while neither appeared to be aware that Walter had encircled the girl he had saved | with both arms, as if thus he would shield her from all future harm. comicbocks.comn