Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

20 THE FUGITIVES. the Connecticut line so as to cut off their retreat to Forty Fort, and the retreating army pressed toward the river. Monocacy Island offering the only hope of crossing, the stream of flight flowed in that direction through fields of grain. The scene that now ensued baffles description. The tumul- tuous retreat to the river—the scores overtaken and toma- hawked—the struggles in the water—the encounters on the island—the torture of the captured prisoners—the murders of that demon Queen Esther—the consternation of the set- tlers, and their flight through the wilderncss—their sufferings —the carnival of death—all these have been described by a far abler pen than ours, and to that pen we must refer out readers.* It only remains for us to give a few episodes of the Massacre of Wyoming. CHAPTER ITI. THE QUAKER PREACHER. A svort distance from the main road leading out of Wyo- ming Valley, stood a residence somewhat superior to those in its immediate neighborhood. Its construction and surround- ings betokened an owner of both wealth and taste. The house itself was of a pure glistening white, which shone pleasantly through the luxuriant shade-trees by which it was enveloped. The garden and outbuildings all betrayed the hand of culture; and, in short, it was one of those houses that arrest the traveler, and tempt him within its cool retreat and hospitable doors. The house in question had been built by Major Abingdon, of the Continental army. At the present time, he was so far removed that it was impossible for him to reach the Val- ey in time to take place in the battle. His son, George, how- ever, was one of the officers who resigned and hastened home- ward to the protection of the loved ones who needed his assistance so sorely; and, at the moment we introduce the * Charles Miner, whose excellent history is an invaluable str spat to American literature. comichooks.cot