Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

SUDDEN DEATH. 87 “Tt was struck by a ball, when in my hands.” “Take mine; I am so wearied that I can not use it.” “Thee may need it—keep it thyself. I can not keep a shot from striking me, if the Lord so wills, even if 1 held a loaded gun.” “ Well, Stoddard, you see how they are falling around us, Are you willing to remain by and assist me ?” mn That I will indeed gladly do, and defend thee to the | t,”? “TI will help you all I can, although I fear I’m about used up. In the old French war it wouldn’t have knocked me up . like this.” “Tis sad that necessity compelled thee to come forth.” “I was glad to do it—glad to do it,’ was the hearty ~~ response. ‘I only hope—God. receive my spirit !” The poor old man fell dead, pierced by the bullet of some dusky foe. Stooping over him to make sure that life had really gone out, young Stoddard lifted the gun from his hands, and hurried on toward the river. CHAPTER VI. A SAD DAY'S WORK. When young Stoddard reached the river, he found it Swarming with fugitives and pursuers. The former were Making for Monocacy Island, and numbers had already Teached it, and were hurrying over its surface in quest of some Tefuge from their implacable enemies. As he had delayed his flight, he thereby gained some advantages, and also some disadvantages. In the first place, he had more personal free- dom to choose his method of escape, as the majority of the fnemy were occupied with attending to those that had gone before, although there were still enough in his rear to necessi- tate promptness, expedition and cunning. On the other hand, if he meditated approaching the island, there was the —Sreater danger of discovery from the fact that numbers 85 2 conicloooks. com