Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

THE SNAP OF A TWIG. 59 fearful contest, and eagerly slain the enemies around him. But he felt no reproaches of conscience. On the contrary, he never heard more unmistakably its approving voice. The meditation of the young Friend did not prevent his maintaining a vigilant watch. He could discern his com- panions groping im the yard, while all around was perfectly Stil. The dark woods that came up in one portion within & hundred yards of the barn, were as silent as if they con- tained no living thing—a treacherous silence that boded no good to those in waiting. : Left entirely alone, Stoddard Franklin fell to speculating upon the fate of the fugitives. The thought that they were Slain could not be tolerated—the conclusion that they were Captured was inevitable. There was no doubt at all in his mind regarding this. Until the moccasin had been discov- ered in the yard, he had hoped, with good reason, that they had taken the alarm in time, departed upon their horses, and made good progress toward Stroudsburg. The thoughts of the young man naturally turned toward Annie, whose fate so greatly concerned him. Was she look- ing for rescue through his assistance? Did she believe he had taken so active a part in the contest of the day? Did She believe (and this supposition caused him more pain than any thing else,) that he would avoid the conflict, when every arm in the Valley was so sorely needed ? He was in the midst of these reveries, when his ear caught the snapping of a twig. His first proceeding was to step be- hind a tree, so his body was sheltered against any demonstra- tion from the quarter where danger was thus announced, A low, quavering whistle announced to Lieutenant Abingdon and old Gershom the state of affairs, while the Quaker turned his eagle eye toward the suspicious point. He had not waited five minutes, when he distinctly made Out the form of a person moving forward on the ground. Had he possessed a rifle, he would have doubtlessly discharged it, and thus disposed of the difficulty in the most summary manner. But he had no gun, and could therefore only watch and wait. Nearer and nearer i prépt the dark body, until but a small Space intervened between the two. ‘The sentinel could follow Comicdookks.com