Beadle's Dime Novels No. 226: The Mustang-Hunters — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

— <= a, -~ ee i ae ee” a. ne - — oa. _ — bs a te FT ’ . “ ie 2 . : . 25 a a - + “Here the hunter suddenly stopped short and listened in- tently. Frank could hear nothing, but his companion, accustomed to the *prairie, had detected above the chirp and snoring of cricket and tree-tond, a different sound. In a moment more he nodded his head. “| thank as much,” be muttered, and as he spoke, he rose to liis feet and stole off among the trees, noiseless as a ghost. Frank Weston caught up his rifle and followed. = A dead silence fell on the litile valley, only interrupted by —~ the song of the innumerable insects that serenade the traveler in Texas. Presently, however, the ear of the younger man, strained to the utmost, heard what his companion had, long before. A horse was approaching at a rapid amble. As it eame nearer, they could hear the clear tenor voice of a man singing. Frank, who had visite! Europe, recognized the well- known air, “ You'll Remember Me,” from the opera of the Bohemian girl. Old Pete gave a smothered chuckle as he listened. P “ Guess I will remember yer,” he muttered. “ Yer must be au durned fool ter go alung at this time of night singin’ like that. Come, Frank, we muut as well go back to our fire, this _ time, ’Tain’t either an Injun or any thin’ else dangerous.” ~ And the old hunter stalked leisurely back to the fire, where he threw. on an armful of brush. As the bright blaze flashed up, they could hear the ap- proaching horseman cease his song for a moment, and the ~~ hoof-beats of the horse also stopped. A moment afterward, the song was resumed, and the horse struck into a gallop, that ‘rapidly approached them. Presently they heard the snapping of dry sticks, that teld that the stranger was coming through _ the belt ef woods, and in a short time a man, mounted on & bay horse, rode boldly out from the shadow of the ireesy anit advanced to the fire, after dismounting. ~ Pete Wilkins uttered an exclamation of wonder as his ed, ~ fell on the stranger. : “ Little Gilmore, by Jerusalem !" he cried. “That same individual.” returned the stranger, in a see - yoice, with the accent and tone of a man of refinement; “ and Gea raped Wilkins, for the fuct is, L was look- hia Sect a yatd