The Maid of the Mountain — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

A WARLIKE MAIDEN. 47 language in every motion of her body, her lip and her eye. ~ The captain advanced, but the ringing voice stopped him. “ Stand back !” she cried. “Who are you?” said the captain. “Do not dejay us. -W a : ——s is meuk am ignorant of your mission? You are mistaken. You come to destroy the Brothers of the League. Tarn back, then. You are not the ones fated to become famous by rooting out the men of the mountain league. I bid you all turn back, if you would live.” ~ “ Weare not men to be frightened,” replied Lane. “ When my men took up the rifle for the spade, they meant work. They meant to destroy the murderers who infest the foot-hills, and they will do it.” ’ “ They will never see that day,” replied the girl. “ You tread upon a mine. Danger is about you on every hand ; deatl: lurks in eyery rock and tree. I have humanity enough to wish to save life. “Do not go on.” “ By heaven, we will,” replied the captain. “ Nothing “ Something shall, as you will find to your cost. You have been warned once, This is the second warning.” “How know you we. have been warned *” demanded “No matter; go back to the mines. For the wickedness which makes these hills a shambles, I am as gricved as you are ; but the time-is not yet to stay the bloody tide.” While she was speaking, her eyes rested from time to time | upon the face of the Mexican, with an intent look, while he did not seem to notice her. She came nearer, so that the guide was within reach of her arm. The men, spellbound, gazed at the beautiful vision with wondering eyes. While they gazed, she drew a knife and severed, at a single cut, the bonds which confined the arms of De Castro, and he was off 4n arrow from a bow, followed by a pistol-shot from Lane. Before they had time to think, the girl also was gone, disap- Pearing like a dream. - The moment she turned to fly, Lane Feached out his hind to grasp her, and received a cut across the back of it with the knife, which eaused him to loosen his and draw back with an angry exclamation. conmiclooolkks.conn