Beadle's Dime Novels No. 214: The Forest Monster — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

40 THE FOREST MONSTER. ‘The question was then discussed whether they should remain where they were, and follow up the prize that was so nearly in their grasp. Teddy O’Doherty was strongly in favor of it, but the two hunters had families who would look anxiously for them if they overstaid their time, and they had a load of pel- tries, very valuable, that made the “bird in the hand,” and they were anxious to dispose of them before returning upon any other undertaking. So, after a careful consideration of the matter, it was de cided to. press on toward, the States, to dispose of their stock, -and then return to prosecute their search for gold. This was done ; but the return of the hunters was much delayed by the sickness of a child of old Stebbins, who was not considered out of danger for several months. Finally, however, it re- covered entirely, and the three set out upon what was to prove a. most eventful journey. By this time it was late in summer, and would soon be time for trapping. operations. to begin. But the three came without their pack- fully determined to devote all their energies “ lion in their path,” the dreaded monster, ‘made such. frequent reference, and which, it will be: remembered, was seen by them on their return trip homeward, at. the time of the discovery of gold. _., Had old. Steb and Black Tom been single men, it is very doubtful whether the attraction of gold would have been _ sufficient to Jead. them into a region that was known to con- _ tain such an anomaly ; but the prospect of placing their fami- “Ties. in easy circumstances for life drew them onward, and thus we find them prosecuting .their.search for the precious -metal.in the facejof such a hideous monster, It.is not often Yhat +s. man finds a short and easy road to wealth; and, besides the ever-threateving peril of the beast, they made the un e discovery that there were people in this region ahead them, This proved tha eur friends were not alone in their know- ledge of the presence of gold in this, secluded part of the world, and it looked »o ways improbable that they might en- counter serious oppésilion and trouble from them, Thus they. had ie four-legged terror, the Blackfeet, and the cCommicloooks.cormn