The Land Claim — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

86 THE LAND-CLAIM. the ground, Allen taking care to be uppermost ; and while he saved his hands from injury by partially releasing his antago- nist, he made his weight of good use in keeping him .down while he secured a fresh hold of his arms. Ed, or more pro- perly Joe Carnes, had been so taken by surprise as not to be able to command his whole strength, always inferior to Allen's, and made but a short though fierce resistance to his captor. “Give me your help, Alicia,” gasped Allen, panting froma exertion. “Here! bind the lariat around his arms, while I hold them. Make it tight. Use all your strength on it. There now ! tie it—good and strong !” Excitement had given her strength, and lent quickness and energy to her motions, as well as color and a resolute expres- sion to her face. As she bent above him, laboring with all her might to make his feiters fast, something of the rage and ferocity of the man’s face disappeared, and an expression of sarcastic humor took the place of it. “Tt isn’t often a man has the honor to be taken captive by a pretty girl,” said he, lightly. ‘“ Squire, I owe you something, and we'll settle that one of these days—but Miss Newcome, here—really I never can repay the kind attentions she has just honored me with.” _ Allen had seated himself on the prisoner’s knees, and was too busy tying his ankles together with a portion of the lariat to take notice of his remarks. But Alicia shrunk from his untimely mirthfulness, and retiring to a little distance, awaited the next turn in affairs. Having bound and disarmed his man, Allen forbore to make any reply to the curses “ not loud but deep ” which were show- ered upon him by the prostrate foe, leaving him to reflect upon the chances of his present position while he consulted with Alicia about further movements, “ How worried you look, dear,” he said, gazing with min- gled anxiety and admiration in her face, from which the flush had faded. “I fear I have asked too much of you already; ~- but if you would not be afraid I would like to leave that fellow in your charge for half an hour, while I go for an officer to take him.” “ Oh, let me go for some one,” pleaded Alicia, terrified at comicloooks. com