Beadle's Dime Novels No. 305: The Girl Scout — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

GABR’S LITTLE JOKE. 95) Buck Bracer darted after her, but, as he made his first leap, his foot encountered something, which might have been a_ stone, but which felt more like a heavy boot. Whatever it was the obstacle was sufficient to cause Buck's feet to rise into the air, while he plowed a deep furrow in the gravel with his nose for at least a yard. When he rose, confused, the blood running down his face, Maud was nowhere in sight, but, . with a furious oath, he again sprung away in pursuit, zeal- ously followed by Gabe Best, who was chuckling over some- thing which seemed to please him very much. “ What are you snickerin’ about ?” bawled Bracer. “ Durn yer hide; I’m a ruined community ef that gal gits away. It’s as much as my life is wuth to go back and tell the capt’in what has happened. Whar is she—whar is she—which way did she run ?” “She went like a flash of greased lightnin’, Buck,” was the reply. “She’s in the swamp, and that’s all I know. Dig arter her, and I'll go back and look after my chicken.” Gube Best turned back toward the cave, leaving Buck to follow on the trail of Maud Turner. The girl, once at lib- erly, was lost in the darkness of the swamp, but she went on desperately, rather daring the dangers of. the swamp than to remain in the hands of these wretches. Deeper and deeper into the dark depths she made her way, while behind her she; heard the coming feet of Buck Bracer, who had, in some way, | got upon her trail. Desperate she fled on at her utmost speed, splashing through the pools of stagnant water and still hear- ing those hurrying feet bebind her. The night was dark, and ander the overhanging boughs it was blacker than Erebus. Nearer and nearer came the hur- vying feet, and in a moment more she was in the grasp of Buck Brader: “Aha, my lady!” he cried, gasping for breath. “ You thought you'd git away from me, eh? ‘You can’t come it, you sly critter.. Pll drag you back, if I have to tie you hand and foot.” Maud struggled desperately, but her strength was nothing in the hands of such a man as Buck Bracer, a perfect Her- cules in bodily power, though a coward at heart. He mas- tered her and bound her hands tightly. Ccomicloooks.conn