Beadle's Dime Novels No. 213: Squatter Dick — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

73 SQUATTER DICK. The sounds made by her pursuers rapidly died away, and hope once more sprung up in her heart. Ina few moments she was terribly frightened by the noise made by = ae horsemen. as they floundered through the swamp within a dozen yards of her; so close, in fact, that the mud cast up by their hoofs bespattered her. She thought it was more of the outlaw band. Poor girl! If she had only known who they really were, her trials would haye been at an end, and how much anguish and bitter despair she would bave been spared. But it was not so ordained, and the noise gradually died away. Colonel De Forrest and his two companions passed by, neither party being aware by what a slight chance their hopes had been Once more Ada toiled on, through the mud and waters, at times. nearly. waist-deep, but still her spirit was undaunted and she did not despair. On thus, for perhaps half an hour, when she thonght the bandits were left far enough behind for her to incur no dangerin returning to the road, where it would be easier traveling, and at the same time a snre guide by which to lead her home again. Turning in the direction, as she thought, neceseary to reach it, Ada toiled on, expecting at every moment to feel the firm ground beneath her feet. On, on, until her wearied limbs almost sunk beneath her, and she could, with the utmost dif’ ficulty, extricate them from the clinging mire; yct, still she was disappointed. There were no signs of the ‘toed, _ Pausing for a moment to think, the maiden changed her course slightly, diverging | to the left, and again pressed on. But in vain, There was no road! | And at length she was forced to believe that she had erred ; and that she knew not which way to turn, That she was lost in the depths of the vast and terrible swamp! . Can you comprehend the meaning of this? Lost in the great swamp? Where one’s companions are the alligator, the many deadly species of snakes, and other swamp inhabitants—the most in- nocent being far from harmless, the ravenous and bloodthirsty mnsquito. To go on, tramping throngh the thick mire and slush, fearing to pause lest you should sink from sight for comic ooks.com