The Maid of the Mountain — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

A TRAITOR UNMASKED. 69 two bandits, and who alone had his face uncovered, flung himself at her feet and clasped her hand in his. “ Do not go, sefiora, for God’s sake do ‘not leave me here alone.” Eiliot saw with surprise that it was a miner who had given him the best information ‘as to the whereabouts of the band, and who had been left at the village from which the Regulators ne ” said the girl. ‘ “ You know that I can do nothing for “ But, stay by me. Do not leave me alone with these men They will kill me. I know they will.” “T repeat, I can do nothing. Let me go.” She struggled to free her hand, with a face painfully im- pressed with compassion, but the man clung to her, and would not let her go, crying out that he had no ~hope but in her. The outlaws forced his hands away from her and she hurried out, putting her fingers in her ears to shut out his mournful cry for pity, and for her to stay. He feli prostrate, and seemed to have no power to raise himself again. The men lified him, but, as often as they did so he slid to the floor. Apparently the sightrof the’ stern chief had robbed him completely of Strength. ‘ 4 “Can not the man stand ?” said thechief. “Lethim bave & stoo].” | Elliot remembered him as # strong, active fellow, a perfect athlete, and wondered that the fear of a single man should so rob his strongly-built sinews of their.strength. The outlaws - ranged themselves on each side of the long. rovm, keeping “ Who is this without a mask ?” . And the band answered, with one voice, “ James Conway.” batten: ts this 2” said the chief. . “ James Conway is a mem- of the League, How came he here without a mask ?” Worthy chief,” said one of the men, “he has forfeited ‘he right to wear a mask while the band are in evuncil.” x Why ?” demanded the chief. He hath betrayed the secrets of the band.” . Ps He lies!” shrieked the man. “I never did it. I never '% word. I was true to the band in every way.” 147 3 comicboolks.conn