The Prairie Detective: Secret Service Series No. 24 — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRAIRIE DETECTIVE, 177 CHAPTER XX. THE LION CAGED. When the scout opened his eyes again, he was high and dry upon a table, surrounded by anxious faces. At his feet stood Sycamore Dan and Esther, while Robinson was close beside him. Vixen was stretched at full length upon his chest, looking down into his face with an expression which indicated very plainly her joy at his recovery. Slowly the ideas crept back, and he recatled the fearful agony he had passed §hrough. It seemed like a black dream, too hideous to be real. He could not fully realize the fact, until reassured by his friends. “How did it happen?” he asked, as soon as he could articulate. “Why, it’s clear enough to us,” replied Robinson, with a smile. “Yas, p’raps it is,’’ added the scout. ‘‘But it ain’t so clear tome. S’posin’ ye tell me ’bout it. What . in thunder is that cellar, anyhow!?”’ “That was built by the chief’s orders after the Bloodsuckers left on their journey in which I took part. Therefore I knew nothing of it until just now. I don’t know whether he was actuated by the thought that some occasion like this might arise or not. But Ireckon he was, for the place was mighty skillfully contrived. There was one trench which opened into it, through which the water could be let in by simply pulling a cord, which lifted a gate on comicbooks com —