Beadle's Dime Novels No. 92: The Twin Scouts — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

68 THE TWIN SCOUTS. _ As they were passing through a defile between two lofty cliffs, the attention of Alph was called to a small circular opening a little way up the face of one. Clinging by his hands and feet, he reached the mouth of the opening and looked in. All was dark and silent as the grave. “This looks like the yery place we want, Ben,” said he. “ Get a knot from that pitch-pine there and light it, if you can. I have a mind to explore this place.” A fallen pine, partially decayed, gave them a torch in a moment, for it was the fat-pine used so often for that purpose. Lighting this, Alph led the way, and soon found himself in a small cavern, with a large opening upon the other side, through which the sunlight poured freely. Throwing away the torch, when they found it of no further use, they continued the march along the edge of the mountain ridge, finding that the path they now pursued led them nearer the village. | About a mile further on, upon a spur of the hills nearest the Village, hey found a secure hiding-place. It was approach- ed only by a rugged path, and they could overlook the village, which lay, as it seemed, at their very feet. There was a great stir among the Indians. Squaws were hurrying to and fro, bringing bundles of sticks, and stopping to peer at; some one who was partially concealed behind a lodge. He was soon led out by a couple of stout warriors, and tightly bound to a stake. The warriors began to come out im scattered groups, indulging in rude games, Their whoops Send be heard by the watchers on the hill. The person who was bound to the post was our fichting friend Tiny, who was gesticulating, in a warlike manner, and inviting the whole tribe to “come on, only to fight fa’r.” The watchers looked on with great interest. As yet, they could not make out the design of the captors, It looked like | torture, but of what kind they could not guess, | After a while each warrior provided himself with a stick, . and they fell into a double line, with an one space about six feet wide in the center. “ What are the rascals at?” asked Ben. “Tt is a gantlet, I think. I wonder who will run %” “T don’t know. If it is Tiny, look out: for fun.” “Yes, itis a gantlet, and they are forming in two lines. COmnmiclooolx<S. coms