Beadle's Dime Novels No. 142: The Sagamore of Saco — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

SHE MIDNIGHT COUNCI 89 At length Hope divined, from the pre ns made Ly her keepers, that some important event was about to transp As idnight ap ed, a group of the chief pe of the tribe emerged from amid the spray at the entrance of the grotto, and seated themselves in front of the council-fire. Burning torches were placed under the arches, and the cave glowed with the raddy light of a crackling fire in the center. Acashee, blessed or cursed with an almost sleepless vitality, paced the solitary and echoless void in a tumult of contending passions. She wus dressed with care, and had, since her return, assumed the air and tone of one who had a right to command. Hope slept, or affected to sleep, in front of the stone of sacri- fice, couched amid snowy furs gorgeously ornamented with wampnm, and branchesot evergreen, cool and aromatic, spread at her feet. Several familiar pets slumbered around the fair an Inystic-ensbrouded form, while the panther had placed his broad head upon her shoulder. oslt-onalh As Acashee paced back and forth, she sometimes paused in front of this dainty couch, and eyed the recumbent Hope with #% malignant scowl that showed the envy and rage that contend- ed within, but, as Hope had said, she dared not lift a finger against her ; and as Hepe was now doomed to perpe impris- onment, separated forever, as she deemed, from John Bonyton, a grew like honey under the tongue, because of the pr misery of its object. More than once, as Acashee thus paused in fipns of Hope, the panther raised himself into a couchant attitude, and eyed er with a sidelong glance, gs a cat will watch a mouse, which she is-sure is within reach, and therefore may be allowed to gambol with impunity. : j oN stopped her weary pacing to and fro, and - leaned with folded arms against a massive stalactite, and eyed the consulting chiefs in silence ; but as they planned, discussed and advised, she was called upon to participate in their deliber- ations, and her suggestions were often hailed with tokens of ap- proval; for the woman was of a keen and penetrating mind, i by passions at once powerful and malevolent, Had the party observed the white occupant of the sumptuoys couch, they would have becn aware of a pair of dark, ht eyes peering through those snowy locks, and red lips parted in the eagerness of the intent ear. Fieet-foot returned, Sacos are coming: reclaim tribute of a pee a ns.” metsallt? bey _“"Phey are already oe their way; Usey have landed at the meeting of the wa = ; . liwwk and the brand? Give me sho war b of a chief, and T conniclbooks.conn