Beadle's Dime Novels No. 310: Foghorn Phil — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

60 FOGHORN PHIL. females were now enabled tosee the face of-the man to whom they had intrusted their lives. “It was a face rough and bearded, and not calculated, of itself, to win admiration at first sight; but the maidens had already been impressed with the goodness of the man, reflected in his kind, rude words and acts of kindness, There was nothing deceptive in his talk nor looks, yet there was a certain hesitation and blund- ering in his speech which told that he was unaccustomed to female society, although he seemed fully cognizant of the po- lite respect due to the gentler sex. As they issued from the shadows into the moonlight, the old borderman gazed down into the pretty pale faces of the girls with a kind of a superstitious admiration that all at once found expression in the involuntary exclamation : “ Je-whiz! puffect little angels !” The next instant the dip of many oars fell upon the trio’s ears, coming from up the river. They all glanced up the moonlit stream, and saw a large flat-boat driftiug into view from around a bend. There was not less than thirty men aboard of it, and some of these men were Indians. “Thar comes my gang, now,” said Bumble, pointing to- ward the descending craft; “and when we once git aboard of that boat, we'll be safe.” _ | “Why, is it the Big Horn Traders ?” asked Josie. “ Nary Big Horn, Miss. It are the Milk River Traders what are tryin’ their souls’ best to beat the Big Horns to their Blackfoot agency. But Pll guarantee your safety, gals, buat—” and he suddenly broke off, as though a startling thought had occurred to his mind—* I'd furgot to ask ye, gals, whar ye belong.” “At Fort Union,” replied Pauline. “Fort Union; and what meut yer names be ?” “My name is Pauline Afton, and my companion’s name, Josephine Markham.” “ Moly destruction! It are a God’s blessin’ ye told me so, fur it would ’a’ been was than murder to have taken ye aboard that raft.” | “Why so, Mr. Bumble? What difference will your know}- edge of the fact make ?” ‘“‘ Because you are the very ones wanted on that ’ere boat Comiclbooks.com —