Beadle's Dime Novels No. 215: The White Hermit — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

> - > - — ” island. Be that as it may, the fierce beast crouched before them with fiery orbs glancing from side to side, as if selecting a victim. © No beast which roams through the America: woods was, in the time of his power, more dreaded than the great panther. His tremendous strength, lightning-like swiftness in pursuit, and activity, made him more dreaded than even the grizzly bear, because old “ Ephraim” was rarely seen near the haunts of men, but frequented only desolate places, while the panther came even into the sheepfold to seize his- prey. As Austen. pointed the pistol and pulled the trigger,a fierce growl sounded, but only the click of the lock was heard. In his . haste, the young man had forgotten that he had been in the > water, and that his pistols were in his bel* all the time. To _ drop the useless weapon and draw his dagger was the work of x an instant, but not a moment too soon, for the body of the panther appeared again in the air, bounding at the immovable _. figure of the young man, who stretched out his arm and re- ceived the heavy body upon the long blade, aimed to strike 5 just in front of the shoulder. A jet of hot blood spouted in his face, and he was prostrated by the rush of the beast, and - expected to feel her teeth in his flesh. But, although the heavy body still lay upon him, and he was half blinded by the flowing blood, the ‘brute did not move. Slipping from be- neath his savage enemy, Laurence struck again. But he struck dead enemy. The first blow had been fatal, and the knife — had gone home to the very heart of the king of the woods, di- e -_ yected by the hand of Providence. = “ Good blow,” said Bill, slapping the captain on the shoul- = - der. “ Couldn’t have done it better myself. That's something . - to brag of when your black hair is like his,” pointing to, the old man. . _ “Are you sure it is dead ?” murmured Perdita, as she clung 2° to her father. “Are you ‘ery sure 2” > “ Quite sure,” said Austen, giving the body a kick “Iam - a little proud of this achievement, upon my honor. This has “boon basy day, and T will write it in red letter in my ee. - “Captain,” said the gray-haired hermit, coming forward, “J have to thank you for my daughter and myself. I shudder comichooks:;com