Beadle's Dime Novels No. 316: Hurricane Bill — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

SCARED AT A COUGAR, 59 weirdly shaped cacti abounded on every hand. Here and there were scattered huge blocks of lava, broken into stiange, even staring shapes. No wonder the superstilious Mcexi- cans {frequently started and muttered a prayer, as the night- shadows played around these monstrosities of nature, for at times they seemed just about to leap forward and seize upon the daring mortals who had ventured into their sacred do- mains. And it was only the cool, undaunted demeanor of the two scouts that prevented: them from turning Lo seek safely in flight. The edge of the crater was reached with éordiderable aif. ficulty ; and then, pausing to breathe their animals, the men glanced downward, all curious, some awed. The seamed and cracked sides of the vast basin were thickly covered with a stunted growth of dwarf oak, mez- quite and cocoa trees.. Fur below could be seen a small Jake or pond, iis inky surface reflecting the stars above. The shrill croakings of frogs were mingled with the indistinct lrum ané buzz of many insects. “« Ay demi! what is that?” suddenly gasped one of the Mexicans, pointing downward. i There was something gliding along the side of the basin, rapidly approaching the party, without even so much as a rustle as it passed through the shrubbery. Then it paused and a low, wailing cry arose upon the night air—a cry that seemed mournful and plaintive, yet with a cadence threuten- ing, fear-inspiring. The Mexicans, giving free vent to their superstition, fell to praying and calling upon the saints to preserve them from the evil spirits; but not so the two plainsmen. They had heards imilar sounds befcre, and, with native recklessness, they laughed loudly at the terror of their companions. “ Skeered at a chougar !” Juughed Mustang Sam. “ Stiddy, old boy—stiddy, buck-skin !”” muttered Hurricane Bill, as be flung forward his rifle muzzle. The beast was crouching for its leap. But the scout’s band ‘and eye were too quick, despite the gloom that quite hid the double sights. At the sharp, peculiar report, the air was rent by a furious scream, and the cougar shot. through the - uir, falling in a heap Uenedth the horse’s feet, tearing and © connicloooks.com