Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 91: The Lost Cache — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

STUMPED AGAIN. 87 “Who, indeed! It is'the devil’s own trap, but Lshall know how to avoid it hereafter. There is one thing: certain, Sam Myers, we are stumped again, for we are not at the-.end of our ‘124 chains, and it is not ‘likely that any man has ever measur- ed across that chasm. Are you sure that we ran the aight course ?” “There can be no doubt of it; I pe tin to “epee my pushaces well enough for that; but it by no means follows that we.are stumped. It is plait that neither 124 chains, nor 124 rods, is the measure, and the next thing is, to try 124 feet. We had our measure too ‘small when we were searching for the spring, and now it is‘probable that we have made it too large.” “That isa fact, Myers; it: is.a physical impossibility that the directions should ‘send us 124 miles to search for a square buried stone, and it seems equally impossible .that they should send us across that pears’ gulf. ial must take a fresh start.”” The two friends returned to the spring; and rieaier ik with a, txpe-line, 124 feet in the same course that had so nearly led Harry into the ravine. Having planted a peg at the point reached by this measurement, they proceeded, with —— and pickaxes, to dig for the ‘stone. - After laboring nearly an hour, unsuccessfully tur ning up the earth at and about the. peg, they rested, and looked at, each Other quite dismally. “Ts no use talking,’ said Myers; “the bievatial is too large, and the needle’ is too small. It seems, that we have got to the end of our tether, for there is no square buried stone about here.” “That much is) certain,’ samuel Harry, 33 “and we. must either torture our brains for some new experiment, or sive up the job.” Their Sropeddings had béext watched by Ben Farrar, who, when he could no longer control his curiosity, left the camp in the charge of Green, and came down to investigate the mysterious measuring and digging. “T jest would like. to know,” said he, “ what: you two are tryin’ to do. Thar’s a medicine about here that this beaver ain’t up to, and I*hope it’s nothin’ ag’in what’s right... Pre- haps I mought help ye, bein’ as I found the epring for ye.” 91 2 , COMICNOOKS.COh