Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

THE WRONG CUSTOMERS. 85 of his way toward the camp-fire. He knew how wonderfully acute was the Indian’s sense of hearing, and that, although wrapped in slumber, still the inadvertent breaking of a twig would rouse him to instant wakefulness ; and, as it was impos- sible to see his footsteps, he could only hope, by the greatest care, to steal unawares upon the enemy. — When fairly within sight of the fire, he observed’ that it was smoldering, as though it had beén neglected for the last hour or so. ‘Taking a careful survey, he was somewhat surprised to see nothing of any person or animal. Approaching still closer, he narrowly examined the camp. On one side, he finally detected a dark body, strongly resembling a man lying upon the ground. A closer scrutiny revealed still another, and a closer scrutiny nothing more at all. What meant all this? Where'were Annie Abingdon and her mother? Where were the horses upon which they must have ridden ? Where were the sentinels that should have been maintaining their vigilant watch ? These were the questions that came to the mind of the young Friend, as he gazed in perplexity upon the camp-fire. There were some persons evidently in his vicinity, and most probably enemies, but of the latter fact there could be no abso- lute certainty. Every thing seemed to indicate that he had come upon the wrong camp. Before approaching closer, he purposely broke a twig, to ascertain the identity of those stretched upon the ground. He narrowly watched them, but could not detect the slightest movement or sign of life. This convinced him that the persons before him belonged to his own race, and he boldly approached the fire. On the ground he discovered two men stretched in profound slumber. ‘“ My friends, thee sleep soundly !” he said, shaking one by the shoulder. The person thus disturbed, opened his eyes and gazed with a bewildered air around him. “What's the matter? What's up, eh? What did you say ?” “Thy companion is also asleep. I will arouse him.” Whereupon young preun gave him a rather emphatic shaking. “ Strikes me, stranger,” said the first mentioned, rather gruffly, conmiclbooks.com