Red Belt, the Tuscarora — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

his side, The dog returned the caress silently, by licking his master’s hand, and by gently wagging his tail. Then old Sampson leaned over him, pointed his head due west, and giv- ing him a smart slap on the flank, he said, in a deep, authori- tative voice ; “Go, Eagle !” *'The sagacious animal glanced once at bis master; then, ut- tering a low, affectionate whine, bounded away like wind. The old man gazed after him for a few moments, and then raising his lofty form up, he leisurely grasped the grape-vine, and slowly drew his long form out of sight in the bushes above. In a moment he stood by the side of Red Belt and — Roy, upon a large limb, high above the ground. All this time the whoops were coming nearer, and the ‘crackling bushes showed that the Indians took no precautions in the pursuit, feeling sure of their game. Then, in a few — moments, the savages had entered the wet marsh-land. Suddenly they paused, for they had lost the trail. Then there came a hurried consultation—the deep, guttural mur- murs being distinctly borne to the ears of those who stood in the deep gloom, high up in the tree, not twenty paces distant. After a pause, steps splashing through the muddy tussocks of the swamp were heard; and in a few moments a dark group passed directly beneath the thick tree, in the branches of which the old hunter and his friends were concealed. They passed by, huriying on toward the river. The old man breathed freer. Without speaking, he turned, and grasping the limb above him with a strong clutch, he beckoned the others to follow, and began to swing himself from branch to branch. The others did the same, and thus ‘they made rapid progress, at their dizzy hight, never hesitating at all. ’ At length they paused. They were now, all three, panting - ‘with exertion. But they did not stop long. “We have flung em off, boys—for a spell, at least!” said - the old trapper, cautiously. “Now we'll double, and give them another chance for a trail. The vines are getting thin; _ they will not take us much further, Once on the ground, we een i We may have trouble. jaa Ff rs Fh $ Pras 7 ve ed x ‘ie on * A