Beadle's Dime Novels No. 213: Squatter Dick — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

LOST EN THE SWAMP. 73 ever, beneath the treacherous® soil; yet, not knowing ‘into what Winger your next step may plungé yous perhaps in contact with’ one of the déadly serpents or sauvians, all’ the: more terrible from: the darkuess in which you grope.. Afraid’ td pause uponany knoll or half-deeryed log, frony dread lest it, too, shoul! be the resort of tlie venemous reptiles, ust Ah, it was a sad, sad night for poor Adat ’ She staxgered on, fearing to pause’ for'more than a mo- ment at atime, hoping against hope, praying that she’ might regain the lost path ;’the only clue by which she might hope to reguin safety. Sometimes going in a direct line, at others in a zigzag course or toiling on in an irregular circle, until at length she sunk down in utter despair, and giving way, for the first time; she wept and raved in incoherent delirium. But this soon passed away, and she bretithed a prayer to the Most High, and arose agiin, strengthened in body and in spirit. It would be worse’ than folly to remain where For a short time Ada kept on, and then, as she came upon a little hillock rising above the level of the swamp, she deter- mined to remain upon it until mornings : ~ Pausing at the edge, Ada began thrashing around with the stick she had used to’ assist her ‘steps, shouting out strange noises, to drive away “any snakes or animals that might be- upon the little mound. One or two sullen hisses und the shrill rattle showed the maiden how needful’ were these pre-. Carefully going over the entire mound, beating every inch of it with her weapon, and striking in the mud and water: around fits edges, Ada bore up bravely until fully assured tliat there was nothing harmful Jeft upon the island, althougly every step she took was’ torturing, the exquisite pain’ shoot- ing through Ler limbs being almost More than she could Kenr, “Then she was about to cast herself down to seek the re- pose she so greatly needed, when suddenly she pwuse'l, with a nioan of despair. What was to prevent the reptil’s from returning to the hillock as soon as’silenee Was restored, and if sie was found tlicre, what would be her fate? A shud. der ¢rept over ber as the answer stood eut plainly before her mind's eye. | | comicloooks.com