The Maid of the Mountain — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE ROBBERS’ REFUGE. 53 “ Why don’t you mount me, then?” said Jim. “Slide up to me once; oh, do.” | - What might have been the result—and a free fight was extremely probable, and the least thing to be expected—can not be said; but, at this moment Lane and Elliot burst into the cirele, and the men slunk away, looking cowed and ashamed. ; CHAPTER VII. ~ UNDER THE MOUNTAIN. “ What does this mean, men?” cried Elliot. “What! a quarrel at the beginning of our hazardous enterprise ” “We didn’t mean no harm, leftenant,” said Burt, sheep- ishly. “ Jim was crowin’ pretty loud, and we didn't like to hev him do all the talkin’ himself.” “I thought you were the best of friends, or I should not have sent yomaway together,” said Lane. ‘ ri _ “Weare friends, I s’pose. what do yer s’pose a feller “No, ‘taint,” said Burt. “I heard "em talk, and one was the Greaser, sart'in sure.” = = : Elliot advanced to the verge of the gulch and looked down. He lay prostrate gnd peeped over ge.. As he did so, a pistol was fired with so sure an aim that the ball grazed his cheek. He drew back quickly, but not until he had caught & glimpse of the scene below. Therock on which they stood Was not more than a foot thick, and extended like a shelf over the platform below, with a ladder between the two. A number of armed men were standing on this platform. He sprung up and told his friends what he liad seen. “At the Same time a tumult rose in the regions below, and Voices and rapid steps could be heard. CoOmmicloooks.aconn