Black Arrow, the Avenger — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

94 BLACK ARROW; THE “AVENGER. _. They had nearly reached the fence, and were only abou fifty yards from the house, when Roder stopped ‘them and ex- plained his plan. It was simple enough—after entering the vate they were to divide and srrround the house, “Come on, boys! The game is im our own hands,” said St Clairy/as he laid his hands on the gate. : ‘His words gave the signal for his death. Hardly had Nhe ‘spoken, when a dark line of men rose wp bebind the fence, andthe: fire of more than two dozen rifles was + poured: into » The effect’of such a fire; at such close range, enatbanatbee . , it was murderous. It seemed that it must sweep Roder’s gang -at once into eternity, and it was near doing’so.. As an organ- ization+a reckless, desperate organization of outlaws—Roder's gang no longer existed. There were a number of men lyiny on the. ground, some of them motionless, atid others writhing and groaning. The few who were left’ on their feet were hs much paralyzed = naan how waste —_ temselves ~ pea pctaoan ae: They were not parthitted to seins more than a raiteiindl® th eat position. A terrific yell aroused them from their stupor such a yell as they hud lately heard issuing from the same throats—a yell that lent to their feet: the epeed of fear—the peremngens of the Comanches. © ~ “That wretch is here with his red-skins f” Tchimett Rode, db thendakke figures threw themselves over the fenee, to finish their work with tomahawks and knives. He dropped his gun, and turned to fly; but he had gone only a few steps when he was knocked down by a tomahawk. The savages, like wolves who have tasted blood, rushed on in pursuit of the fugitives. No one sought to stop them—no one tried to hinder them when they coolly appropriated the scalps-of the fallen victims. “Roder and bis men had so long been the terror of the neighborhood, that there were none to object to any means by which they might be swept from the face of the earth. They had come on a criminal errand, and it was fitting that they should then and there receive the pun- ishment due to their crimes. eae Seem Sen ane _~ just that they should die by the hands of savages, Some of the white men, perhaps, would have listened to commicloooks.conn