Red Belt, the Tuscarora — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

ss A DESPERADO. 45 deep shade, and were swallowed up in the gloom of the sleep- ing forest. We will now return to the Indian camp far in advance of the other party and a day ahead of the events just described. It will be remembered that Roydon Howe, helpless and un- protected, was confronting Derrick Thorne, the disguised set- tler, and that the latter in a moment of blinding passion, had sprung upon the prisoner, threatening him with a naked knife Por an instant Roydon Howe quailed ; but it was only for an instant. | “Ay, Derrick Thorne! ’Tis worthy of you! Strike an unarmed—a defenseless, a pinioned man! Strike, I say, cow- ard and murderer! It will become your reputation and your prowess !” The other paused and glared at the man who thus openly defied Lim. His eyes seemed to burn down into the very bosom of the prisoner, and his mouth foamed and frothed as he gritted his teeth fiercely t ; Then he gripped the knife more firmly, and prepared for the spring. But still he hesitated. “ Hal has your high courage gone so soon, bully and dlood- hound? Ay, you are afraid to attack a man who is bound with deer-thongs! a man from whose face you would flee like a whipped cur, were Ais hands as free as yours! Perhaps the remembrance—ah, God !—of an old woman’s gray hairs dabbled in blood—of an old woman, whose breast, hacked and thrust—” “ Enough! enough, man! You will drive me mad! Were you a thousand times defenseless as you are now, I would cut your asecursed throat, and thus rid myself of you, my Black Shadow—forever hunting me wherever I go! Now, Roydon Howe, quick with your prayers, for your hour is come!” | And with a mad, ungovernable howl of rage, the man dashed upon his victim. In a moment he had grasped the captive viciously by the throat. Then, with a movement like lightning, he raised again his keen knife in the air. Another moment and Thorne was hurled backward over the remains of the camp-fire, through the bushes beyond. With a howl of rage the man quickly sprung to his feet; but Wild Hawk—his own swarthy features now dark and terri. ble to look upon, met him balf-way. Inygluatarily Derrick conmiclooolkks.comn