The Maid of the Mountain — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

JOSH IN THE BLUES. 65 “Tam sorry for you,” said Elliot. “ Why did you come a into the sierras ?” “Cause Pm a durned fool,” said Josh, beginning to snivyel. “T can’t help it. That feller told me of a man up here that he said was chock full of gold—full up tew the top. I didn’t like tew hev it go tew waste, and here I be, like a her- ring, ready tew be ripped open and smoked. But, gosh amighty, what right hev they to hurt me? I’m not a fightin’ man. I didn’t cum to destroy anybody” : “Bad company destroyed poor Tray,” replied Elliot. “You were taken with me; and I fancy the man whose brains you nearly knocked out with a gtone, and the one whese sealp you peeled off, and the one you were straddling when we were taken, would not give a good account of % of . ~* Bat they were comin’ right at me. Dog on it, could [ hev let ’em do as they darned please? Not by a mule’s leg. Tt was all their own doin’s. Don't yew think, ef I was tew teli’em how’t I didn’t mean no harm, they'd sorter let me _“ No, I don’t think they would, my poor fellow. Try to look the matter in the face. These are bloody villains, who think nothing of the life of a man; indeed, who would de- then—they will not let either of us escape. You heard what “ ¥es, I did, blast his pictur’ ! He ain’t no kind of a man. Anybody, with half a heart wouldn't kill men off like that. Tt won't die easy, any way. I'll lick some on ’em right out’n their boots, jest as sure as my daddy is a deacon.” “ Did you see that girl who let the Mexican go ?” - “Didn’t IT! Warnt she a buster! As pooty as a full- “I wish I could see her again.” ers “I don’t! Darn a woman, anyhow. We got along all Hy til we wee ier. A woman is sure tew upset every ‘hing. I never knew it tew fail, It’s their natur’ tew stick 3 intew everyboily’s business. But, she was &@ pooty ne. She kind o’ made a feller feel sick about the gizzard. - Hallo! here comes something tew eat.” comic ooks.com, ; = ae