Beadle's Dime Novels No. 96: Little Moccasin — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAJOR VANISHUES. 87 “Til answer with my life,” said Gage. “ And I with mine,” added Fletcher, “See how the blaze lights up the wood, by fits.and flashes, though they have built the fire, as you see, under a big heni- lock, in the midst of a heavy undergrowth; and on the edge of the gully. So thatif the fire should happen to flash up while I am creeping from one tree to another, I wouldn’t give that for my chance ”*—snapping his fingers. The next moment he was gone. But whither? and how ? Not a sound reached them, and though it. was very dark where they stood, he seemed to vanish while speaking to them. <A thrill of supersti ious terror took possession of both ; but as they stood there liste ening and peering into the dsirkieae they saw a shadow glide along the surface of the snow, afar off on their left, more like a huge tortoise than a human being. “T’ll trust him after that,” whispered Fletcher. “ Neatest thing I ever saw ! Shouldn't wonder if he managed to bring off the girl without our help.” ‘Nor I—hush !—did y = any thing e “ What like ?” “ Like a step on our right, stealthy and—” here both stepped behind a tree, and crouched, Geening; “a fox, maybe, or a wolf.” After waiting awhile, breathless and motionless, something touched Gage on the elbow. It thrilled to the bone. “Who are you? and what so ?” said Gage, springing to his feet. A low, portentous chuckle betrayed the Old For- ester; but how had he managed to» steal upon them ‘without beitig seen ? “Tl show you,” said he, as if anticipating the question ; “Took here!” And he threw the blanket on the snow, where it lay like a deep shadow, not to be distinguished ona other shadows, and crept under it, and then, after watching till they looked another way, he stole off without being ae ceived. | “Well, major, what luck ?” ‘ow “ All we could wish. I found poor Lily-pad lying on a pile of spruce branches, with her hands tied, and perhaps her feet, pretending to be asleep. At one time, I was so near that comicbooks.com