The Maid of the Mountain — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

124 they jostled, tossed, cast back- ward to and fro, with loud shouts of-laughter, which were answered by execrations from the unfortu- nate victim of their savage merri- ment—an individual whom none of the party reeognized It was a man in rather a ie pay ad ong £ re) espera eo. himself from his captors. ‘*Bojour, brudder—white man dance—roast presen tly—fine chief —grand—big officer.’ ‘Roast! yer sneaking, naked crossing-sweepers,”’ exclaimed the white man; ‘‘ laugh away—yer vill be tired by and by. I von’t dance —I carn’t—I'm p? m gently w cof bis hatchet. ‘“Now, then,” cried the white man, ‘‘none of yer larks—it hurts. Vy, vat are you, with your mugs? Yer ugly enough to be many of yo mpg i * That man thinks it’s all fun,” said Charies,in a low, hushed tone. “ He’sa SPI Britisher,’’-replied coldly. are we not English—white bristians ?”’ 0 THE SILENT HUNTER. *“Run for your life—this way !”’ roared Charles, showing himself for a moment. “Orr rite,’ replied the other, bounding up the valley with fran- tic speed, as two or three shots from behind quickened his percep- tion of danger, In another minute’ Cornelius Ragg was under the cover of the bushes. ‘. ‘* Vell, yer don’t mean. for to say,’’ he exclaimed, as he his breath, ‘* that them ugly sweeps meant nuilin more than fun?” “They would have roasted _ before night,”’ said Charles, drily ; ‘“*but keep down—your red coat is a good mark.”’ “ Vell,’”’ continued Corney ; bobbing down ; “ this here do much obliged t you gents gid much oblig you gen to make your aequaintance.”’ A rapid inte followed, which ever, after a few minutes, ceased, as the Indians gave way, evidently a by the first discharye, made off into the forest. The whole party then rapidly rejoined the = “ Where are you going?’ said Charles, curiously. ° 4 = Vell, I ain’t partikler! Ive just escaped from a place they call the Frog's Hole—they’ve got a f master locked up—a set of pirates, sir.”’ ‘‘ Who and what are you?’ re- attentively. | , Without explaining the tof his journey, nar- rated all that had occurred up at the house of HelehRegite Rares looked inquiringly at i noplied inte euictiy.Baloa st, rep quietly; * n aspen of murder. Ask *“Ah! he did say something be- foreWe left. ‘This is worse than she sndpasts qroisenesheogaeg man. * en gee 3 Strang come to,my fathe house, comiclnoolks.cconn