Beadle's Dime Novels No. 96: Little Moccasin — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

49 LITTLE MOCCASIN. “ But where do you suppose that whelp came from ?” asked Gage. “ Not knowing, can’t say; but I have my suspicions.” “ Ah !—what are they ?” “Well, I think that cur has something to do with the moccasin-track, which, by the ’way, we shall reach within half an hour, if we spring to it.” “ Spring to it tis; then !—push ahead ” Leaving our adyenturers on the track for awhile, with every thing to encourage them, let us now go back to camp. The major is sitting in a corner by himself, and seems. half asleep. Perry has grown rather more communicative—the uncouth Hannaford is lying all abroad over the piles of eedar and hemlock——and all the rest are poking fun at poor Charley. “What are ye at there, Charley, my boy ?” said one of the crew. “What am I at, Signe !—-making a cat’s cradle for the deacon.” “Oh, bother !—what are you whittling there ?” $ Gittin’ up a baby-jumper for Hannaford.” — This was too much, and even the major was said to have smiled, but he turned quickly away, while Perry laughed out- right. And so the hours went by—most of the crew whistling and smoking—some playing fox and geese, or morris, or checkers, with red and white corn, or beans and coffee; and still nothing is heard of the captain. Arrangements are in progress for supper—and such a sup- per !—moose-lip and tongue, rabbits, grouse, brown bread, pork and beans, potted salmon, the best of butter and mo- lasses by the cup-full. | But darkness comes—the deepest winter darkness, over- clouded and starless; you can hardly see your hand before you. The men grow uneasy, and at last the major wakes up, and proposes to light torches and scour the neighborhood in search of the two absentees, the material, pitch-wood and birch- bark, being all at hand. ., Not that there was any danger of their being lost or entrapped; but their mysterious departure and the uncertainty of their object seemed to disturb them all, and especially the Old Forester. To this proposition all agreed, and just 0 as they were Siam connicloooks.comn