Beadle's Dime Novels No. 215: The White Hermit — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

1 fear some evil has befallen him.” “Tow did this happen ?” said Marstowe, as he looked into she face of the savage by the light of a small dark-lantern he bad brought from the cave, keeping the open face turned to- ward the center of the island. Austen explained. “Then you have heard no signal from Bill Epps?” “Yes. He gave it-a moment ago.” “Which signal ?’ demanded Marstowe. “Danger tous. He had doubiless found that the savages had sent out these men as spies. There is no better scout in the Indian country than Bill Epps. I have tried him in many ways, and though he has a rough shell, he is a pearl beyond all price. How did you know him?” “That is soon told. I was out upon a hunting expedition to the mainland, and there I was attacked by a wounded stag. You are a hunter yourself, and know what it is to meet a mad stag at bay. Iam not the man I once was; age and much trouble has robbed once well-knit sinews of their strength. Bill Epps appeared upon the scene and shot the stag while he was rushing at me to finish me. After that, Perdita was as- sailed by a wandering Indian of the Mohawk tribe, a freeboot- ing rascal, who cared not who he made his prey. Bill was again on hand, and killed the savage. We buried him upon the slope of the hill across the channel, near the spot abr ‘you saw Perdita this morning.” “You were the cause of our quarrel. Eiko weet feel iid I have a fancy for unraveling mysteries, and your residence here is a mooted point at Albany. Some believe it, others do not. I thought my friend Bill knew something of it, and usked him. Upon that subject the oracle was mute.” “TI believed him to be a man to. be trusted, and so I confided to him the secret of my residence here, and asked him to keep it etill a secret. I see he has kept his-word.” _ You may be sure of that. The fellow has been offered presents at one time and another of infinite value to him as a scout, but he has always refused to tell the secret. I myself offered him a beautiful rifle, worth forty guineas, if he would SUE Mie, Det Se persinted tx bis refusal. Yor could not have trusted a worthier man.” “ He is a strange character. Why doce: he keep sient wow ? Ye wy wh : . ee : “ sed. vy ie ‘ a7 Ts” 8? eee ec 1D PR Pe) X , 7 aR re rq Oe v1