Beadle's Dime Novels No. 13 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

ee ae ———— i tee eee as ee 48 CEDAR SWAMP; OR, WILD NAT’S BRIGADE. their ieader for thus procuring the “tools” for those who were without them. Nat Ernshaw’s men had been at no pains to heat their gal- lant steeds, The meeting had been some time in session ere the brigade arrived in sight of the old barn. There was no sion of any person being within that dark, deserted-looking stone pile. “ By heavens!” whispered one, “T believe that for once we are out,—that we have been fooled, and that the sooner we get back to the swamp the better.” “ Pooh !” an¢wered the one addressed ; “ you had better re- serve your opinions for to-morrow morning, then, if you are alive, you are welcome to pass what judgment you choose upon the object of this expedition. Pl wager you three to one it’s not a wild-goose chase.” “ Perhaps !” | “No perhaps about it. Mark my words, we will have some sharp work to-night. Any thing that comes from Simon the blacksmith is reliable information.” ‘“‘ Hush,” said one. who rode beside the last speaker. “ The captain wants us to draw up close and listen to his commands. He has laid out: his plan I guess, and is going to explain to us.” Wild Nat had laid out his plans and did exflain them. As Ben Graham was forcing off the lid from the box of arms, Nat was approaching the house with a force of forty dismounted troopers. A sentinel had been placed on the outside of the barn, with directions to stand in the shadow. Leaving his men, Nat quietly stole around the corner of the barn, looking for the sentinel. When at length his eye rested upon the indistinctly defined shadow of the tory, he threw himself at full length upon the ground and stealthily crawled toward the spot upon which the man was stationed. Jobn Vale peered cautiously around the corner and. watch- ed the progress of his friend. He saw the sentinel suddenly start and lean forward, then a figure leapt up and struck down the man. A low whistle announced to Vale that the coast was Clear. ' | Ben Graham cast a glance of pride upon the stalwart vil COmniclsoOolks.cConn