Beadle's Dime Novels No. 213: Squatter Dick — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

DICK’S PLAN IN PROGRESS. 5? foot. They intended surrounding the house, so closely as to ‘prevent any egress without their knowledge, and then, if the alarm should be given before their object was accom- plished, they could easily beat’ off any attempt made by the negroes, who would ‘not be likely to have any Weapons at their cabins of any account. A band had been selected to enter the-house and plunder it thoroughly, while the others kept guard withont. Lafiin was included among’ the former, a3 he knew perfectly every detail of the interior, They were unaware of the soldiers be- ing at the building, as-Dick had assured them there would be no persons save those belonging to the place to encounter, when he returned from his visit to Sloan’s Rangers. Laflin was not entirely at ease, for he knew not how far Sloan had succeeded in his plats, and he was certain that, after this night’s work, he would be a marked man among the members of the Black Band, as his treachery would most probably be exposed. | Bat at any risks he determined to give the alarm, so that those ‘at the’ plantation, if upon the alert, would know that they were coming. It was dark within the gloom cast by thé trees, and Laflin did not fear discovery: So he drew closer to one of the outlaws, who curried his gun across his He spoke tothe man in a low tone, asking some trivial question, and at the same time deftly cocked the musket with- outits owners knowledge. Then at the pressure of his finger the hammer fell, and the gur was discharged with a roar like that of 2 miniature Cannon;echoing through the forest’ and over the’level fields upon the still ee eee OY SA ge Ne Se _“ Thousand devils!” éxclaimed’ Mat Keedy. — “Do you want to raise the whole country that you fire off your cursed old blunderbuss in that way?’ ‘Who was it? 0 “ Swackley, sir,” replied Dick. | r Jt was an accident, captain,” hastily added the culprit. “Tf Pthought it didn't, ’d— But come on. The quicker we get to the house the better, now, for if they once get wint! of us; they may give'us trouble,” added Mat, hastily pressing slong the path that led “irectly opposite the gate. conmmicbooks.com