Beadle's Dime Novels No. 226: The Mustang-Hunters — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

THE MUSTANG-HUNTERS ik must be here somewhar. Yes,and by Jerusalem; here it ar’ right up overhead.” And as be spoke he pointed to a faintly-worn track in the side of the rock that climbed up over the great 10ck in front at an inclination as steep as the roof of a house. ~The ascent was frightfully dangerous. A misstep would cause a fall over a sheer precipice on the right, of over a hundred feet, and they were going higher and higher, Old Pete tied the reins of the little mare in a knot, which he hitched into the crown- piece of her bridle. -“ You better do the same, boys,” he said. “ The hosses will foller better, and thar’!l be nothin to trip’em up. Now then, fellers, come ahead.” And slinging~his rifle on his back, the old hunter began the ascent. It was steep enough to require the aid of bands | as well as feet, and as the rock grew steeper it also grew narrower, till, as the summit was reached at last, a path about two feet in breadth appeared, leading forward on a level. At * one side of this pass rose a wall of rock standing away but very slightly from the perpendicular. At the other side, fell away the sheer precipice. Old Pete walked forward after a glance back for his mare. The plucky little creature had followed him, step by step, and stood beside him. Little Gil- more was almost at the top, his bay thoroughbred close on his heels. | ~The old hunter walked forward briskly. The path was amply broad enough for a man, but a close fit for a horse. The three companions followed it, however, for about a hun- dred yyrds in safety, when it began to rise again and made a > turn around the immense wall of rock to the left. The rock WE itself intercepted the view of the pass from the two men in ‘- _ the rear, and they saw the old hunter advance to the corner of the rock and Jook around it before advancing. oh Instantly he shrunk back. As if by common consent the vest halted. Gilmore and Weston instinctively wnslung their rifles, and their suspicions were confirmed by seeing Pete do- er: T the same. The veteran mountain-man turned round. ery word could be heard. Now ‘then, fellers,” he said, “ thar’s a party of Comanches