The Maid of the Mountain — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

| THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAIN. know yours just as well. There is no use whatever for you to beat about the bush. Iam Tom Elliot, and ['m death on men of your kind. What do you mean to do ?” “You have got to go with us,” said the man. “ Not if I can help it,’ said Elliot. “ Where do you pro- pose to take me ?” ; The fellow pointed into the heart of the mountain. “In there ?” said Elliot. “Yer bet: Jest as neat a place as yer ever saw. Come along.” | “T’m not quite ready,” said Elliot. “I don’t see my way clear to going there with you. I guess you will haveto ex- cuse me.”. . “ Couldn't think of it,’ replied the man. “The boss has got something to say to you. Really, you must come.” “Don’t press it,” said Tommy. “I couldn't think of it.” A A way “ Come along, you !” cried the man, beginning to get angry. “ We can’t waste time with yernow.”. | The Yankee ceased his whistling, but his eyes betrayed no emotion, though a close observer might have seen that his fect were busy, and that they had collected quite a little pile of quartz stones. Every moment the long foot and leg would he extended, and another stone added to the pile. He kept his eye on the leader of the robbers, who had turned angrily when the young man refused to go with them, and laid his hand upon bis weapon. . “Lower your hand,” said Elliot, “ or I will fire.” Instead of complying, the ruffian sprung at him with a sav- age curse, followed by his men. The pistols of Elliot ex- ploded, and the yillain fell dead, with a ballin his brain. The second was shot through the shoulder, and four men were op- posed to two. ras At this moment the Yankee. shone out with undiminished luster. He stooped suddenly, and rose with each brown fist holding a “young rock.” The next robber, seeing that the pistols of Elliot were empty, was rushing on to finish him with a knife, when the stone, impelled by the powerful arm of the Yanke, struck the rufflan’in the face, The man utter-_ —— ed a groan and dropped as if shot, his jaw shattered like an conmmiclooolks.con