Beadle's Dime Novels No. 214: The Forest Monster — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

EXPLORING THE CAVE. J “But they don’t know the valley of gold.” “They know it’s a handy thing to make ear-rings ‘of, and that they kin’ git plinty of powder re ead fur ha at the Forts.” ” “Wal, we'll have to take — ook in thar. Shall it be you or me?” - “Why not both ?” ~ The trapper shook his head. - “Bf it warn’t fur the varinints we might, but ebay? re too thick fur us to give ’em a chance to lock us up in thar.” “ Yees are right,” assented Teddy, who saw the prudence of his companion ; “do yees act the part of sintinel, and I'll take a betther look at the insides of the cavern.” This was agreed upon, and the two set out for the bank of thie stream, where the opening occurred. It was found to be nearly circular in character, like the mouth of an immense columbiad, so that an ordinary-sized man was compelled to quife low to enter. The top of the batik projected over and concealed the orifice, so that thére was little danger of seeing it, unless it was made a special bag pel frye ase peer was previously known, ~~ “Do*yer want yer gun ?” inquired’ ‘he trapper, as his fiend Was ready to enter. - “No; I kin do betther wid ine Hes on them enivlie: ef there should be *em in theré. Do yes iia and on Jet any of *em’ in'trpon me.” 9 Sada 2 “ Never fear for me.” With the fiithfal guard upon the outside, Teaay: wnliesi- tatingly Te-entered the cavern, and began his explorations.’ The cave in no place was found to be over twenty feet in width. The bottom was generally level, com rock and hard, dry earth. ‘The sides were the” same, ‘the oe crumbling beneath the touch like ashes. — taabtses: Its ‘Nothing unusual was observed until he had very odanty reached the scene of his ‘iffray — the oe uae here something tas seen. : Teddy's heart gave a great 1 and his eyed spartred: as he saw that he was really in a golden cave. It was all around hing, beneath Wis feet, 6ver his head, and on every hand. It was like a gorgeous dream indeed ; 80 like his night vision conmicloooks. com