The Land Claim — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

THE FOUR CLAIM-HUNTERS. 9 straining her eyes to hem-stitch some curtains for the cabin- windows by the light of a single tallow candle. What would her proud English relations say, could they see her as he saw her at that moment? Cursing them in his heart, he started up so violently as to upset the rude chair he had occupied, and began pacing the puncheon floor restlessly. “ Go to bed, girl ! I want an early breakfast; for I shall be out ahead of them claim-jumpers. If it’s boundaries they want that’s what I'll give them to-morrow morning. If they dare to pull up one of my stakes, Pll let +. into them, with- out further notice.” Terrified at her father’s unusually violent mood, Alicia quickly and silently obeyed, retiring 10 the only bedroom, while her father threw himself on a “ bunk” in the common living room ; and st if not sleep, fell upon the inmates ay of that lonely ha PIER Il Ix quite s lifferent spirit had the evening been enjoyed | the squatters on a neighboring claim. For the sake of soci- ability, comfort ; i economy, four young hunters of claims trouble of three other cabins being built and furnished ; for the claim-laws only required that a foundation should be laid to indicate possession, and the tntention to build. Thus, while they surveyed and marked out the lines of their several claims, one roof was sufficient for all, and a vast amount of enjoyment did these amateur housekeepers find in trying to make themselves barely comfortable, A fine-looking set of young fellows they were, too, in won- derful red woolen shirts, and ® surprising amount of beard and hair. Snofficient refinement appeared in their looks and manners to show that they had “seen better days,’ while enough of the ruddy hue of active exercise glowed on their comichooks.com,