The Maid of the Mountain — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHIEF OF THE BAND. 67 chief, suddenly stretching out his hand with a commanding gesture, spoke : “ You all know why we are here. It is needless to waste words with the Brothers of the League. For — we have had a secret, which we have kept inviolate, which we still intend tokeep. Life has been sacrificed, again and again, for this one end, ‘The oath we have sworn has made this - necessary, if. we would preserve what we have so long guard- - od em, the outside. _ We have here two men, who, in spite of warn Mich should lave been enough, persisted in making themselves masters of our secret. They have done so to their cost. I will question them. The youngest of the prisoners must be examined first. Whatis your name?” “Thomas Elliot.” ' “You are not unknown in the foot-hills of the sierras. You belong to the band known as Regulators ?” “T have the honor to be a lieutenant in that body.” “ What was your purpose in coming hither ?” “To root out the outlaws called the Brothers of the “How many men have you in the band ?” “ Enough to suit my purpose.” + : “Nonsense. I know every man in the force. You can “Then why do you ask ?” “ Do you know to whomgou speak ?” > « _“I do not; neither do I care. I suppose you to be that ) apostate known as chief of the League. The guilt of a hundred murders done in the sierras, rests upon your head, and for a hundred murders you shall atone,” man listened quietly, and by no motion betrayed that a ope the slightest. degree aniMyed. He laughed lightly, 4 * You are good in presenting a case toa jury. But how, all this, do you dare to speak to me in this manner” sere Se Sapp. hes know that nothing I can say will in any Manner ¢ my fate,” “A good idea,my young friend. Make the most of a short life. You deny nothing then. You penetrated our rith eyes open, and are willing to take the penalty %” conmiclbooks.conn