Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

78 THE FUGITIVES, “Hardly enough to make a decent row—s’pose I contract to take them in hand,” said Gershom. “Thee both are acting in a foolish and unbecoming manner. Thou knowest not what we may have to encounter, and George, if thou can not restrain thyself, we shall-surely be compelled to leave thee behind.” “Ah! Stoddard, no impatience; you will find me cool enough when the danger comes; but now! when a fellow feels good, what’s the use of keeping it to himself?” laughed young Abingdon. “Tt is proper fora man to be a man, and not a boy,” replied the Friend, unwilling to admit an excuse for such a display of exuberant expectation. The lieutenant was not to be robbed of his good humor, and he therefore laughed and kept silence for the time. Old Gershom, with a happy un- consciousness, did not conceive. that a portion of the reproof was intended for him, and his equanimity also remained un- disturbed. Arthur, although considerably wearied with his long tramp, was still as eager to join in the pursvit as any ofthem. Pete simply grinned, and complacently viewed them. The party by common consent made their way to the wood, where they halted a few moments to arrange the man- ner of pursuit. “ Friend,” said Franklin, with the deliberation that always characterized him, even at the crisis of danger, “we are about to venture upon an undertaking that is not going to be the child’s play that some of thee imagine. Although the captors may now be but two in number, we can not tell how soon they may increase to a war-party. They may take pre- cautions to guard against capture, and thee all know what é it will require upon our part.” “ Jes’ de obserwations dat I was goin’ to obsarve,” said Pete, eagerly. “I's long been ob de ’pinion dat de part knows for de amount required all know—dat’s de fact.” “We can sarcumwent them,” said Gershom. “TI never yet see’d a white man that cotldn't do it when he tried, and if there’s any white man that can do it, that same man is Stod- dard. Don’t you think so, lieutenant ?” “T think he has already proved himself the best Indian fighter in the party.” Ccommiclooks.comn