Beadle's Dime Novels No. 139: The Border Foes — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

24 THE BORDER FOXS. heard her brother laughingly reply that he could guess what kind of a settlement it would be. She listened a few moments longer, and then arose, and tottered to the bed. “Tt is horrible,” said Martha, as she supported the nearly fainting form of her cousin. “ How can they be so wicked and so cruel? Don’t let it trouble you, Kate, for you can do nothing to prevent it.” “Why not? I can go down and tell them that I have heard their plans, and that they must not attempt to carry them out.” | “ Do not think of such a thing, Kate. It would only make them violent toward you, and it would be useless, for it would not hinder them from carrying out their purposes.” “ But I ought to do something. I must make some effort. I know a short cut to Mr. Ryeburn’s, and perhaps I can hurry down there and warn the family. It seems hard for a child to act against her father, but it is right that I should try to put a stop to his evil work.” “You can do nothing of the kind, Kate. It is impossible. Do you know how dark itis? You can scarcely see your hand if you put it out of the window, and it is not yet fairly “ But the men are going, and I ought to be able to go if they do.” “They are not going by any difficult short cut, and they are taking a lantern. They are starting already. Oh, Kate! they are dressed and painted like Indians, and the sight of them frightens me. This is horrible, indeed !” Kate stepped to the window and looked out, just in time to see her father and his companions disappear in the dark- ness. “TT must run down to Mr. Ryeburn’s,” she said. “I can no: let that defenseless family be slaughtered without making an effort to saye them. If father and William have made Indians of themselves, it is because they mean to act like In- dians.” “You shall not attempt it!’ exclaimed Martha. “ You ‘shall not stir out of the house, if I am strong enough to hold you. You must be crazy to think of it. It is so dark that ee ve terete gent area gtk eek tenn er comiclhoolks.conn