The Land Claim — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

oe THE PRISONERS. 93 “J don’t understand surgery ; and besides there’s no light,” said Flag. “There's a lantern somewhere in the cabin,” whined Carnes, overcome by his distress. “ Yes, I know, but the eandle’s burnt out. If it wasn’t, I don’t know as I would help you, Ed. Your time has come for suffering some of the things you have made other people suffer; and though I am not usually vindictive, I do bear you some malice. You have been a devil whose malign influence has haunted Fairview all summer. When you are chained, we look for the millenium.” Carnes made no reply except to breathe a smothered groan which ended in an imprecation. “Tf you take on in that way, you will frighten these com- rades of yours,” said Flag, in an ironical tone. “ Blast their cowardly souls! If I had had two whole arms, you would never have taken me alive.” “ Wouldn't he, Joe ?” retorted one of the thieves. “TI reckon you was took once last evenin’ when you had two whole arms—an’ a girl tied you too! An’ guarded you arterwards.”’ “ Waat girl was that?” asked Flag, with interest. | “Twas that pretty child of Newcome’s,” answered the man, “ Hold your tongue, Jim!” growled Carnes. “T won't hold my tongue. Ef you hadn’t acted the fool about comin’ in here, we wouldn’t a-been in this ere scrape we're in this-minit. If the whippers git us, I hope they'll make me lay it onto you. Ti swear I'll lay it on well.” What Carnes muttered, no one heard; and Flag asked the man to tell how it came to pass that Miss Newcome took part in the former capture of his prisoner. Cr “ Waal, that I dunno. But I was down in Fairview last , evenin’, an’ I heerd somebody a sayin’ that thar was a man tuk, up in the Newcome woods, for horse-stealing. I reck- oned right off who it mout be; ‘cause I knowed the captain was expected over that arternoon, an’ we was to meet him in the woods at dark. 80 I listened round, an’ I heerd the feller that come arter the constable, atellin’ the constable that thar was nobody to guard the prisoner but just Miss Newcome ; an’ that he must go right back agin. Then he started off ; comiclooOoks. com