Beadle's Dime Novels No. 213: Squatter Dick — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

94 SQUATTER DICK. Ada shuddered anew as she renlized this, and her heart nearly failed her. But then she rallied, and a bright thought striking her, she said : “Zach., I feel dreadfully ill and cold. I believe I am going to have a chill. Ihave just recovered from an attack of ague. May I go and sit by the fire ?” “ Sartin, fo’ suah you may, honey. But min’, no foolishin’ now. Ef you tries to run, I'll shoot ye, fo’ Moses I will !” threatened the negro, tapping the lock of his musket signifi- canuy. . . 7 ‘As Ada passed her captor, the shudder that shook her en- tire frame was not allogether assumed. Zach. noted the tremor, and if he bad had any suspicions, they were allayed by this, and he contented himself with changing his position to one that commanded a fair view of the level spot upon which the fire was built, his gun resting across his lap. Before seating herself, Ada cast into the fire several sticks that were lying near, and then waited awhile before carrying out her plans. When the wood blazed up freely, Ada eon- trived to dig out of the ground in which they were half buried, several small sticks and cast them into the blaze. Being very damp, they sent up a considerable loud of thick black smoke that arose far above the treetops. From time to time this maneuver was repeated, Ada also adding wat leaves, in short, any thing that would increase the dense- ness of the vapor, and consequently enhance her chances of escape. | For such was her idea. She well knew that the adjacent swamps were being scoured in every direction, and hoped that some watcliful eye would discover the smoke and pro- ceed to investigate the cause of such an tmexpected sight. For perhaps an hour she had kept up this signal-smoke,with- out her object being suspected, assuming an sir of deathly illness, while fits of violent trembling would seize her form. Suddenly the negro dropped his pipe, and, advancing, thrust the embers aside with his foot, and ordered her to enter the hot. Ada obeyed in silence, wondering whether he had di- yined her purpose, and if so, fearing what might be the con- “sequence. But he ouly resumed his old position and again comnicloooks.conm