The Maid of the Mountain — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

< THE YANKEE GAGGED. — “ Dry up,” said the onilaw. “ Don’t talk no more.” “ But, mister—” began Josh. 9 hte “Didn’t yer h’ar me tell yer ter hold yer jaw? Now, look hyar. I'm boss hyar, jest now, and if you jest peep ~ azin, only jest peep as loud as a cricket, I'll. take yer ” “Scalp! Good Lord. Why that’s wuss than a wild In- jun. They don’t know any better, they don't. But yew, gosh darn it, hey bia better brought up. Don’t talk scalp tew a . white man, please don’t; I don’t like it.” : “ Gag him!” said the outlaw. Tn an instant Josh was seized, a stick thrust into his mouth and firmly strapped behind his ears, in such a way that, if bis tongue had ever so much disposition. to wag, he found it im- possible to wag it. But, he made fierce gestures, which only awakened Jaughter on the part of his captors. The prisoners were hurried along at a brisk pace for at least ten minutes, over a very rough floor and through cham- bers of all dimensions, when the lights grew brighter, and they Saw at last that they had emerged into a large room, in which a number of men were seated ‘about a table, smoking and drinking. There might have been forty of them, including those who had entered with the prisoners, These men were of every nationality, though the Mexican predominated... They ° saw the volatile Frenchman, the stolid German, the hot-blood- ed Spaniard and the half-breed, of which Mejia and men of his kind are the type. The room was one of those caves so common in mountainous districts, and well suited for the haunt of such a band as this. It was lighted by torches, and the light was reflected from the glittering points of quartz, in Which particles of geld could be plainly seen. Rough tables, formed of hewn pine logs, were ranged Uirough the center of _ the great chamber, and benches of the same material adorned the sides. Both tables and benches were supported by hage blocks of quartz. The men rose with a shout as the prison- €fs came in and crowded to get a better view of them. The €Xpression of every face was that of fiendish joy. There . Were very few among them who had not seenor heard of El- Jiot, and all ejoiced in his capture, But oneman strode from ~ among the st and fuced them withan angry eye. It was —_ CoOmmicloooks.corn