The Maid of the Mountain — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

68 THE MAID OF THE MOUNTAIN. “Tam ready for whatever fate awaits.” -“ Reflect, young sir,” said the girl, who bad not, thus far, uttered a word. “ Think what you say. There may be an avenue for escape.” “TI see none,” said. the satieatbinilie sii a look of open admiration at the speaker. “I am, prepared for the worst.” “It is hard to die so young,” added the girl. “ You have the best of your life before you. Every thing - beckons you on. Life is just opening. Why need you die?’ “I shall live as long as God wills if, s@fiora,” said Elliot. “I do not give up my life recklessly. I am at the mercy of the merciless men who have seized yas, and do notcare to beg my Jife with their hands on me.” “ But there es a chance for him ; is there not, chief ?” “ There is,” said the chief “ One chance.” “ What is it?” said Elliot. “Join the band.” “Indeed [15 3 “Join us. You are a brave man, just ‘the sort of recruit I require for a responsible trust. I offer you what I never offered another, taken afier killing our men:” “Let me understand you, Ican purebase life by joining my fortunes with yours, Is there an oath ?” . . © A most solemn and binding one, No secregf order, not even the Muasopic, is bound by as strong a tie as the Brothers of the League. But what we swear to do, we will perform. — You have come in good time to see how we deal with one © who is false to us. Stand aside. When you shall see how we keep our oaths, then you nay omens 24 reagan acce offer.” The stools of the prisoners Sr dA to the wall, and they seated again.~ Then the chief sounded a whis- tle'at h . In a moment the curtains of the room were wip ay pee ee entered. The banditti — marched in double file, each wearing a black mask, and hold- ing a naked dagger in his strong right hand. =—s “ Chief,” said the girl, “ I ask permission to retire”). _“ Ivis granted,” said the chief, “It is mot necessary that you shuuld look on scenes like this.” TR, ike hunted oct; 8 id who marched between the first conmiclooolkks. com 7