Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

48 THR FUGITIVES. Stoddard Franklin had been gone about twenty minutes, ~ when the young lieutenant heard the report of a gun very near the spot where he supposed his friend must be. This filled him with apprehension, ‘which increased as minute after minute passed by without bringing the signal he was waiting to hear. Could it be that his comrade had fallen after all? Had he passed through so many dangers to become a victim, when on the threshold of escape ? Sad and despairing, Abingdon returned an answer in the negative, when he caught a plashing in the current, and in- stantly discovered a head slowly approaching the upper portion of the island. Confident of its being his friend, he raised his head and shoulders above the water, and was about to call out, when something restrained him, and he sunk back ugain. It might be somebody else, and he concluded to await further de- velopments before making his presence known. When the man walked out upon the island, there was just light enough to reveal the figure and habiliments of an Indian. “Too hasty again,” muttered the lieutenant. “I need the presence of Stoddard to protect me from my own foolishness, Hello! can it be ?” His exclamation was caused by the faint tut distinct sound of a whistle. He did not wait for it to be repeated, although that was done a moment later; but plunged into the current at once, and struck out for the mainland. The shore was scarcely visible when he discerned the figure of his cherished friend standing out in full view, as if there were no foe ian a hundred miles. “Ts it all right?” inquired the lieutenant in an anxious whis- per. “Thou mayest land in safety; I see none of the heathen, although there were one or two in the vicinity when I Bet came here.” “I feared you were shot.” “'Thee alludes to the gun that was discharged near here, a few moments ago,” ae Yes. ? Some one fired it down the river bank, and ddien plunged into the stream. I could not see the result.” There was no time to be lost in conversation, and the two connicloooks.comn