Beadle's Dime Novels No. 142: The Sagamore of Saco — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

THE OUTLAW DEFIANT, 61 for the brand, the arrow, and the scalping-knife to fall heavily upon every man, woman and child in this colony, I have warned you.” He went as he came, alone, and no man dared, as he said, to molest him. These visits he repeated at all times, day or night, till the cross nurse stilled the fretful child by fear of the Sagamore of Saco. So far from being subject to fear for his own life, John Bonyton became a terror to the people of Saco, who never yentured to put any of their edicts against him in execution. Chief, as he was, of a Pagan tribe, John Bonyton never- theless felt, or affected to feel, an interest in and need of Christian worship, which he did not fail to gratify when the interests of the tribe permitted him to be absent. While in the porch of the sacred edifice was pasted up a reward, and an ample one, to Whomsoever would bring to the Governor the head of the handsome outlaw, one clear summer morning, the inhabitants being assembled for wor- ship, John Bonyton walked in and read the “ Notice” in a clear ’ voice, audible to the people inside, who trembled in their boots. He then stuck a flint-headed arrow through the paper, and walked half-way up the central aisle of the litle church, The minister was at prayer; but being an intrepid man, -and accustomed to take a peep now and then through his closed lids, he did so on this occasion, and the prayer, ordi- @ Darily an hour in length, was greatly abridged. There stood Joha Bonyton, rifle in hand, tall, dark, and defiant. As the minister said “ amen,” the women sunk into their Seats, but the men remained standing, for it was the custom in that early age and country for the people to stand in ~ prayer—not-to kneel, as the reverent will, nor to sit, as the indolent do. — There was a brief pause, and the minister said: “John Bonyton, what is your will in this place ?” “To worship God,” was the brief reply. “ Know you not that a price has been set upon your head, and any man has the right to kill you?” “ Yea, I know it.” There was a clatter of fire-locks, and a stir of heavy feet, commicloooks.conn _—