The Mohegan Maiden — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

THE UNDERGROUND PASSAGE, 68 along which he might crawl, unobserved, to the gulf below, or to the crest above—a most dangerous and weary task, he knew, but one which must be attempted. His search reyealea Several blind passages, but so filled were they with the fallen and wet débris of the walls as to render passage seemingly impossible. Selecting one which appeared to strike in the tight. direction, he at once began to remove the lower stones— an operation greatly facilitated by the large, heavy knife which the warrior had wielded. In a few moments his eyes were gladdened by the sight of light some distance ahead, and after a half-hour’s diligent labor he found himself again com- Manding a full view of the gulf below. But, it was apparent that’ the scene was changed ; he had left. the first entrance so far behind as to —have passed the rocky buttress which had brought the plateau to such an abrupt termination; and he Could now see the great rock jutting its smooth face far out from the perpendicular wall, as if to sereen him from the Sight of the basilisk eyes watching for him beyond. He took hew courage, and began to examine the ground below him With reference to a descent to the old stream bed. Twenty feet below a rock jutted out from the face of the cliff, offering secure footing. From thence a line of busheg ed away along the cliff, showing a second plateau or shelf to t. To reach this rock, however, seemed. impossible—the descent from his look-out was direct and unbroken, with not ® chance for a foothold. Pondering sadly over the seemingly hopeless task, a smile all at once mantled his face, and he be- an quickly to crawl backward through his narrow rift. dining the cave, he did not pause, bub scaling his barrier “rected in the entrance-way, he found himself once more on he plateau. There, upon its extreme verge, full in view of. those above and below, lay the rope of thongs, which had hurried the descending savage to his doom. To rush toward, Secure it, and beat a retreat, was the accomplished work of a Moment; but not too quick were his movements for two shots, ne from below and one from above, cut closely enough to ls face to prove how ceaseless was the vigilance of the foe. “ Ha, ha! Narragansett,” he audibly muttered, “it’s there you are! And there may you stay for the next hour—then you may walk in and:take possession of this camping-ground,” comicbooks.com