Beadle's Dime Novels No. 309: Mountain Ned — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

88 “MOUNTAIN NED. ~ ing light in his eyes, stood near, a silent witness and partict pant of tueir joy, and when at last the happy father released her she threw herself into the extended arms of Valdez Cas- telar, “My work is done,” said the Flying Scout. “Senor Cas- telar, look in my face and tell me if you know me.” “ David Carter!” cried the old Don. “I thought you dead years ago.” | Pants “Ay, David Carter, the husband of that unfortunate wo- man who fell by the band of Silver Lance on the day when you lost your child. On that day I fled away a madman. When I came to myself I found myself among these rude rocks, clothed in skins, a perfect wild-man, I had been here five years as I now know,-but then I took no note of time. I remembered then the purpose with which I came here, to avenge the murder of my wife and to find your daughter. So far I had done nothing more than to slay évery Comaiiche who fell in my way. “In my time of madness I had found the cave in which I have lived so long. Instinct took me back to it, and as reason came back I began to work. Before I'came to Texas and Mexico I had a perfect knowledge of the manufacture of eunpowder, and of all kinds of pyrotechnics. I was also a good machinist, and had made chemistry a study. When I found that bed of steel and iron in my cave, | saw that if I could manufacture powder in sufficient quantities, ‘and make hand grenades and small shells which could be thrown from the hand, I could make myself a terror to the Indians. New thoughts occurred to me from time to time, and at last I car- ried my work to such a pitch of perfection ‘that it astonished niyself. “T saw your daughter, one day, senor, and assured myself that she was your child, but how could I find the proof ? Watching my opportunity, I made her prisoner and took her to my cave. When she understood my mission, sbe joined me heartily in the work before me, she striving to ‘dbtait from Minnitash or Silver Lance the proofs of ‘her birth—I to avenge my dear ‘wife. Without proof she dared not go to you and say that she was your child. as ee was — but it is done at last.” - | . - ‘ [email protected] &