The Mohegan Maiden — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

56 THE MOHEGAN MAIDEN. sleep, to allappearance. He retired.a short distance, throw- ing himself upon the ground. For an hour Archibald watched him, and at the end of that time became convinced that the brave really slept. Now was his time if any thing was to be done before daylight. It was quite dark—so dark that one unaccustomed to the gloom, could not at once have have dis- tinguished even the trees which surrounded them. But the captive had been schooling his eyes, and could see quite enough for his purpose. He would have given much could he have been allowed the use of his hands for afew moments, but they were so securely bound as to defy all efforts at re- lease. : Very inet therefore, he set about leaving the unplea- sant vicinity. He dared not rise and attempt to walk any, but contented himself with creeping as best he could upon one side until he had left the circle of his foes, and gained the margin of the forest. This much required some time in the accomplishment, but it was done at length, and Archibald ventured to rise to his feet. How his heart thrilled! How terrible seemed the fate from which he was endeavoring to flee | He had scarcely regained Jjhis feet—had not, in fact, taken one step forward—when he heard a movement behind him, and, glancing back, realized that his absence had been dis- covered. It would not do to return now or endeavor to dis- arm suspicion by any false acting. Morning was drawing near, and before another opportunity would present, it would be forever too late. Disregarding the instant tumult wiach followed, he strode as rapidly and noiselessly as possible into the forest. But the distance he had gained was too slight to admit of successfully avoiding a score and a half of bloodthirsty pursuers, The sound of his footsteps was heard, and the ery raised. errand the entire gang darted in pursuit. Archibald had one advantage, however. He could sce quite well what lay. before him, while the savages, just awakened from deep slumber, were necessarily more or less confused, and ran against trees and every kind of impedi- ment. But to offset this slight advantage, the fugitive’s hands were comicbooks.conm