Beadle's Dime Novels No. 13 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

90: CEDAR SWAMP; OR, WILD NAT’S BRIGADE. The melee which followed can scarcely be described. There is an appalling sublimity in a hand-to-hand conflict, when life or death is in the issue. Whether the conflict be on a larger or smaller scale, the same fierce elements are excited—the same personal results follow. As fierce the individual strife between a hundred as between a thousand times one hundred, Blended together, horse to horse, arm to arm, sword to sword, each man shouting his war-cry—each man hewing fiercely, the hundred struggled, and panted, and strove for victory, without one thought of death. “ Down with the rebel hounds!” shouted Preston. “Show the minions no quarter !” answered Nat, in a voice like thunder. In the midst of the British, fighting with the fierceness to which a despairing, cowardly heart can sometimes be goaded, was Turner. Twice did John-Vale urge his horse in the direction of the tory, and twice was he prevented from reaching him. Though blows fell fast around, yet the two seemed to bear a charmed life, and the strife continued, bearing them still unhurt. Again did Vale press forward. Suddenly he felt a strange sensation creep over him; his sight became dimmed, his head appeared to be whirling round and round, and he fell from his horse. But if John Vale was down, a score and a half of stout; unflinching, maddened patriots were not. One Briton after another fell, until scarce fifteen left, they broke and fled. Mounted on horseback, with young Hunt on foot beside her, — Catherine hastened on. Passing through the woods for some . distance, the road, turning, crossed their way, and the two kept on in the beaten path. Kate’s heart was beating wildly enough with suspense. The first volley of pistol-shots was heard quite plainly by her; after that the sounds of battle came. but indistinctly—soon nothing was to be heard, | Almost unconsciously Kate had reined in her horse, and gat as though waiting to hear news of the fight. How long she thus remained, she could hardly have told; it must haye been for some minutes, for the boy seemed to think the delay too long. » “Come, miss,” said he, “if I am to take charge of you, I would rather have you further off from the spot we have just : Conniclooks.com