Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

40 THR FUGITIVER. every attempt to land. The only course seemed to be a retro- grade movement, and he was in the act of executing this piece of strategy, when he observed the rifle-stock again go to the shoulder of his vigilant enemy, Watching him with eagle-like scrutiny, he ducked his head at the very moment the trigger was pulled, and thereby effected another escape. Providentially, at this moment, Franklin observed a piece of wood floating down-stream, which he immediately seized, and at once turned into an effective shield, by placing it be- tween himself and the hostile rifle. By not recklessly ex- posing himself, when he knew this to be loaded, he insured his own safety, as no gun was capable of sending a bullet en- tirely through the wood. How long this aspect of affairs would have lasted it is im- possible to tell. Darkness, which was now coming on, would have probably terminated them ere long, had not the attention of the savage been attracted to something that was occurring behind him. Franklin observed him turn his head as if some signal had been made to him, and then rise to his feet and hurry away. The whole proceeding might be ® ruse to lure the young Quaker to his own destruction, and for a while he so regarded it. He carefully scrutinized the shore, and on one occasion he either fancied he saw, or he really did see the tufted crown and glowing eyeballs of the red-skin, as his head stealthily came up through the grass. “Thy cunning and treachery will compare with that of the Eyil One,’ muttered Franklin, still dallying in the water and hesitating to approach. From some cause or other, there was a renewal of shouts and outcries upon the island, as if some minor conflict had commenced. Maintaining his position: for a considerable time longer, our young friend concluded. that the patience of his adversary must be exhausted, and he there- fore allowed himself to drift down. the current toward the island. With considerable apprehension he approached the land, and when he really found himself upon the edge of the water, he still hesitated to emerge entirely. . He waited but a few mo- ments, however, when he boldly came forth and crept up the bank. coOnmicloooks.comnn