Beadle's Dime Novels No. 309: Mountain Ned — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

hi 18 MOUNTAIN NED. : our lives, and we won’t hurt him, but run him down we must. I've got to save the girl !” The Flying Scout kept ahead of them with the greatest ease, while they sirained every nerve to overtake him, His wild laugh rung out across the mountains as he ran. | “They chase the Flying Scout. Ha, ha, ha! They chase the mountain terror in his secret haunts. I Jaugh at them and their wiles—I am free in the mountains—free, free, free!” ° The last word was uttered ina tone which was almost a shriek. , " Hold on !” cried Mountain Ned. “I want to talk to you.” “Stay “tere you are, then,” cried the Scout, “and Pll hear you.” Ned stopped at once, holding back his friend. “T want to ask about the girl. You have got her hidden somewhere, and I must know where it is.” “That is none of your business. The girl is mine and I will keep her. Mind you, she is as safe with me as in a sanctuary, for I will\guard her with as jealous care as ever priest guarded his idol. She is my child, and I will keep her !” “Your child !” “If I choose to call her so, that is my affair. I tell you again that the girl is safe, and where she is, neither you nor any otber man shall know. Turn back then, for when you follow me you follow a phantom, one who is gure to. elude you, follow close as you may. Young map, I like you. Bold of heart, ready of hand, you remind me of my own youth, I have beén of service to you once and T will be so again, ‘When you think of me, think of me_as one in my grave _at ‘who can rise again for the good of his Kind.” Something in the solemn words of the strange man strock a chill into the heart of Mountain Ned. , Not that he feared the scout, bit hé knew that this was ho ordinary be- ing. “You warn me back,” cried Ned, “but you do not tell me what Task. You seem to know me. well, and must be aware that Ido not give up aby thing easily upon which T set my commichooks. com