Beadle's Dime Novels No. 215: The White Hermit — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

THE TROPHY. ya to think what might have been our fate if either of us had met this fierce brute, mad with hunger. Jut, perhaps there is an- other.” “JT don’t think it,” said Bill Epps. “This critter wouldn't be here, ‘cept for some accident, for the darned brutes don’t ‘take to water any more than a cat. I know all about ’em, *eause I've fit’em on every spot of ground, it seems to me, atween the Mohawk and New York. But, let’s take this carrion away and throw it into the lake.” Assisted by the captain, he draggec the body of the panther through the bushes to the lake shore, which was only a few * hundred feet from the point. Before throwing it into the water he took out his knife and scalped the brute in a scientific manner and thrust the ears into his belt. “Ef we get safe through all this, Captain Larry, you will like to have this to show.” ‘. SS ny So speaking, he gave the body a push with his foot and it dropped with a dull splash into the water below. Night was } now coming on, and they hurried back to the hut. “To attempt to hide from you the fact that my daughter — and myself live in this island alone would be foolish,” said the old man, “and I shall not deny it. My reasons are my own, _ and TI do not care to give them. Enough that I seek here the quiet and rest f-om persecution whicl: I could not find in my own land. Here I had thought to end my days, but my en- emy has long arms, and can reach me, even here. Chenango, " have you strength enough to walk a short distance ?” _. “Let me try,” said the chief, rising. “ Yes, but I am very _ weak.” — _ “Lean upon me,” said Austen, giving him his arm. The chief accepted his aid gratefully, and walked feebly on after the others. A short walk through a narrow wooded _ path brought them to a place where a high bluff rose fromthe _ Lin natn iy Se-neenaahd Sratabinete At the back of this bluff. _ the stones which went to form it in’a great degree were scat- = tered here and there in wild confusion as if they had been - thrown there by the hand of nature. The old man stooped, _ gad grasping a huge bowlder which would hive weighed half = | ton, he moved it easily aside, revealing an ( pening which led _ a + go the heart of the bluff, apparently. The stone which ho =. 215 2 ‘Tr * 4 7 7 Rt hy . Sil SYP Lp SNe, eg : (ae Tho uy} oo? Sts i i= ‘ ' ¥ is ae w& = *-