Red Belt, the Tuscarora — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

50 RED BELT, TiWZ TUSOARORA. sky, and a dismal, and as. yet, moonless night settled down. Still the hardy pioneers strode on—but their pace was slow. For it was now necessary to stop every few moments and examine the trail, which at times, and in certain places, was almost obscured. But they did not halt. At length they entered a thick, tangled brake.~ Here the trail was, for awhile, completely obliterated, The friends briefly consulted together, and, after 1 moment's hesitation, pushed straight on. It was getting late, but as yet the moon had not risen. Suddenly Eagle stopped asif shot, aud uttered a low, angry growl—his stiff hair bristling threateningly on his back—his keen nose pointed forward. . Old Sampson halted, and in an instant his thumb was upon his rifle-hammer. Red Belt peered ahead. The men looked around them silently, in every digeatian, but they did not move their bodies at all. . .. Again and again the dog. nsttened-deep; venomous growls; ~ and then he crept stealthily forward, and was about passing the hunter, when he again stopped and sniffed the air.. The animal was trembling violently, and he seemed about collces: ing his energies for a spring. “ ‘There's danger, Red Belt,” muttered Old Sampson, in a voice just above a whisper; “ but Bagle tells the tale: 'tis no red-skin, but some varmint. I never yet—’, > . “"Sh!’sh! my brother; do not move, if your life is still worth something to you... Wait, wait till I unsling my bow. Now. Slowly—lower—lower—your head !” In an instant, a bow-string twanged sharp in the air, and. @ whistling arrow brushed like lightning. through the very hwvir of the huntcr, who had not moved an inch to the — left. It darted on, on its errand.of death. A dull, crashing thud—then a heavy, rustling fall, md Tea Belt, knife in hand, rushed by...A.moment, and he stood over the writhing, death-tortured form of an immense panther. Ine quick sweep with the knife and the beast straightened mut, and with a 1 w. convulsive kicks, turned upon iis back. twas dead. Red Belt's arrow bad gone through the ani-° jal’s brain, entirely transfixing it, skull and all. They pushed on, The brake was ot last penecd,-<iid'ohés CoOmicloookxs.conn