The Mohegan Maiden — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

A WONDERFUL INCIDENT. | BY bound, and the loss of their office greatly retarded his move- ments, Every moment he became aware that they were gaining Upon him. Of course, as they became accustomed to the darkness, the little advantage he had enjoyed would be lost, He would have turned aside, but they were too close. He Could make no movement to blind them without falling into their hands at once. The only possible course open to him wag direct flight, and that could not last long. Already he could hear the panting breath of the nearest pursuer. Hope wag fading away in the young man’s breast. He could almost feel the weapons of his pursuers, who would cut him down Without any mercy, as he was well satisfied. Suddenly the earth seemed to open before him, for he trod ON air, then shot like an arrow down into the abyss at his feet, hstinctively and instantly he threw forward his tied hands, 8nd wag arrested in his downward course with a stunning Shock. His coupled hands had passed over the top of a pro- J€cting pine, which swayed tremulously under his weight. the young man realized his situation at once, and by clasping the body of the tree with bis legs found himself momentarily Safe. But what a peril confronted him! He was familiar With the spot—a sheer precipice of over @ hundred feet in hight, with the rocky bed of a dried-up stream at its base. _ Scarcely had he come to this rude halt, when he heard 200Ve him the steps of his nearest pursucr. A moment more ‘nd the Indian had shot past him. There was an instan- ‘neous cessation of footfulls, a loud yell of horror, and then a heayy fall, far below! In a moment came another and enother, until three of the blindly pursuing savages had Plunged into the abyss. ut the warning cries which they gave arrested their com- Panions who were further in the rear, and who at once real- ‘Zed the dreadful fate of their predecessors. Not, doubting that the fugitive had shared the same fate, they hastened “Tound by a circuitous path, to search for his dead and mangled body upon the rocks beneath. comliclbooks.com