The Maid of the Mountain — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

~ 46 THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAIN. his part would be the signal for his death. The stern, set faces of the men On either side boded little good to him if he dreamed of betraying them. The clouds had ‘passed away, and all the glory of the mountain summer fell upon the hills. The peaks were crowned with the rays ofthe rising sun. Through the deep defiles, up steep ascents, through low growths of bushes, they made their way, and at last emerged upon the summit of a lofty ridge, which presented a strange appearance, high above the rank vegetation of the foot-hills. The grass was changing under the summer sun, and the bare rocks lifted - tied heads on either side. | “ Gosh !” said Josh Saapises, “if this ain’t an all-fir: -d cu- rus sort of place, I’m a tinner.” 7 * Why. have you brought us here ?’? demanded Lane. “ Because this is the only way to the haunt of the robbers,” replied De Castro. “ Forward, then,” erica the Regulator. “We have work & do.” . ; The band advanced at a quick pace, and went after the Mexican to a narrow openiog in the mountain side, through which they must pass. As they neared this opening, « light step was heard, and a woman came out into the open space. Such a woman! In all his wanderings, Tommy Elliot could remember nothing half so beautiful. Her dark hair was unconfined, and allowed to sweep in heavy masses about her form of faultless symmetry. Her dress was simple, and adapted to the region in which she lived. A short kirte, _ reaching to the knee, Turkish trowsers, fastened by a silver . buckle at the dainty ankle,and moccasins. On her head she wore & Scotch “ bonnet,” with a waving feather. <A belt was girded about her slender waist, supporting a pair of pistols. In her hand she carried alight and beautifully-made carabine, which she threw forward with her thumb upon the lock the moment the band appeared in view. ie * Halt!” she cried. was. this woman ? Whien0e::did..she come? Females then were scarce enough in California, especially beautiful ones, and a ee loveliness. There was COMMIEDOOKBs Con)