Beadle's Dime Novels No. 142: The Sagamore of Saco — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

THE SILENT HUNTER. CHAPTER YV. ; THE SILENT HUNTER'S CACHE. THE trail was clear and obvious. There were the marks of the In- dians’ feet, of the girl’s moccasins, = ot hoofs = the loaded a of the cow, and the gruntin ve of Piss that strigg ied every now and then as they went along, and were driven into order, or goaded to advance at the point of a lance. They were able in this way, with so sure a track, to proceed with considerable activity and ease, the more that the route was a beaten trail which the Indians were wont to use on theirmany friendly visits to the Crow’s Nest, where hitherto they had been received with ex- treme friendliness by the hearty woodman, who had often hunted with them, and even fought with them, when quite a boy, against their hereditary foes. They trod upon the trail then, oue after anotherin deep silence, until the wind began to sigh over the trees, the gioom to collect overhead, and the forest began to assume that mysterious and solemn appearance which is always pre- sented by extensive woods on the first approach of night. It was about a quarter of an bour before dark that they came in sifht of u e one of the tributaries of the to river. “Hist!” said Custa to his com- iy oa, Harvey admiring with on, ey admiring with the eye of an artist the ch produced on the leaves by the crepuscuiar light, the Silent Hant- er ting on the past, ing on the future. All three stood instantly like the forest. In another instant they saw that it was an abandoned tire and they immediately emerged freely into the small open space by the banks of the stream, All three instantly sought the trail on that side first, and then on the other, by wading. But all trace of the whole party was gone, ‘This is Indian devilry with a vengeance,” said Harvey, angrily. ‘* lave they spirited her away, or have they hid in the trees ?’’ * Hist!’ replied Custa, “there are ¢arsinthe forest. Look atthe stricken pine—lie has no tongue — he is silent 2s the tall tree of the forest that rocks the humming- bird to rest, and sings no lullaby that can wake the echoes.” “Tf he ain’t got a tongne, anda locrum is inconvenient to him,” continued Harvey, smiling, * he has got eyes—look, he has found something.”’ Harrod was on the other side of the stream near the fire, and when they joined him they found that he had discovered the bones and some small parts of the cow, which had been slaughtered and in part devoured. The horse was also immediately afterwards found, just behind the bushes, cro ping some grass, and 80 hoppled that could not go far away, “Ugh !’ said Custaloga, in alow whisper. ; “This is the queerest start I ever saw. I guess we've got an ounce of dustin our eyes, or we can’t see for the dark. I suspect os are jpet hid close by.” . ne Silent Hunter shook bis “Water Is and earth Is hard; bat tive earth leaves a mark statues, tho a tremulous - and water | aaa yousness shook for an instant the ‘* That’s it,”’ said] ervey ; “they stout frame enthey had canoes—by gum, they must he curiously where finger in force. ve organi e no ta but no onthe tall, maving our eyes ahd sce clear,” replied “heaee Custa; “ they pave pas the Lage deep shadows of the Interior of and prisoners in fhe canines, Sm