Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

54. BLACK ARROW, THE AVENGER. them empty, and others quite heavy. There. were .also some tin dishes, cooking utensils, and. a variety of miscel- Janeous articles, including a number of, blankets and_ skins. ier couch was composed of plank laid on the ground cov- with blankets. ving observed thus much, she went to the entrance, deter- mined, if there should be a chance for escape in that direc- tion, to avail herself of it at once. She found it narrow, slop- ing upward, and so dark that she could see nothing, She could only trust to her sense of touch, which soon showed her that she was helpless. The opening was. closed by some ob- struction, so heavy or so Well fastened that her utmost efforts could not stir it. : Having exhausted herself in vain, she aid down upon her bed of blankets, to rest and to think, As far as she could see, if she could escape in any way, it must. be by digging. She judged that her prison was in the side of, a hill, and that it would be possible, if she had the time and the tools, to open a tunnel to the air. At all eveuts, there could be no. harm in making the attempt, and she began to search for something to dig with. She found a broken case-knife, which she thought would be useful, and took it to the Gre to examine it.. As she did so, she perceived something shining on the ground, and picked it up. It was a knife, bright and sharp, with a long blade and a buck-horn handle, of that pattern which has done more to make the name of Bowie famous, than his. gallant death at the Alamo. It had doubtless been dropped by St. Clair. As Rose looked at this weapon, she thought that it might be. used for her defense, as well as_to aid her escape, She did not pretend to be wery heroic ; but she. believed that des- peration might inspire her with courage to use it, and she hoped that God would give her strength in time of need, The knife was a comfort to her. It was a Godsend, it was a companion, it seemed to give her strength... She cencealed it among the blankets of her couch, and laid down, pererans thut she could rest hetier with the weapon. by her ” She did sleep, after an. hour or so of ‘wakatulnean, and. her were not. broken until morning, when she was *~- wt conniclooks.com