Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

A THUMP. WITH THE MBAL-BAG. 69 “ Maybe dead—” — Annie hesitated, fearful of uttering her thoughts. The failure of George and Stoddard to appear had filled her with a more terrible dread than she had experienced since the com- mencement of her captivity. The mother understood what she meant; but further interchange of feeling was prevented by the scene so close by, which was rapidly becoming lively and interesting. The words of the Indians as usual were gut- tural and sententious, while those of Mrs. Smithson rung out sharp and shrill as a miniature steam-whistle. “T tell you let go that horse, or you ll wish you'd never seen me!” As for that matter, the two savages had not yet fairly had a sight of the strong-minded woman. However, they did not seem to. heed the direful threat, and persistently disputed her passage. “Pye got a bag of meal here, and if you don’t want to get whacked over the head harder than you shar ever whacked in your life, let go of that right straight away.” A moment’s silence . followed, as if Mrs. Smithson had ccn- cluded to give them time fully to digest what she had uttered. The next sound was a dull thump, such as would be na- turally made by a person being struck with a bag of meal. Mrs. Smithson had kept her word. “There! Itold you Pd do it. Now, clear out!” The next moment our friends heard the crashing of branches, and one of the Indians appeared, leading the horse, while his comrade walked in the rear, as if to prevent any attempt at escape upon the part of their new captive. The surprise of Mrs, Smithson was great upon seeing Mrs. Abingdon and Annie quietly seated near the fire and gazing toward her. “Why, how under the sun came you here?’ she asked, totally oblivious of the presence of her captors. These were pointed to by Annie, as a significant answer, “T understand,” replied the woman, with a knowing shake. of her head. “Did you ever see such imperence ?—stopping me when I was going along, minding my own business.” “ They care nothing for our rights—-else you would not see us here.” % 85 8 7 COMmmiclOolkkS.COmn