Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

= LYNCH LAW. 23 behind him, where they were very speedily tied. Then, that their momentary frenzy might not abate, and that good coun- sels might not prevail, he was dragged from the place, out in- to the margin of the forest, something like forty rods from the scene of excitement. Of course-his few friends followed, anxious to take any ad- vantage which might present itself’ Even a few of the women and children were drawn to the spot by an uncontrollable de- sire to witness the strange and deadly proceedings. “ Here’s a good place,” Rufus exclaimed, as he came toa stop. His assistants gathered around, and declared that. it could not be bettered. , They were beneath a huge oak, which threw out a heavy lateral branch, at the hight of ten or twelve feet. Nature ey- idently had saved the infatuated men the trouble of erecting a gallows. “Thar can’t be nothin’ better,” observed one or two, after a hasty glance around them. ‘Swing the murderer up; don’t wait for any parley! It’s the only way where there’s no law.” “Tie his legs, fust,’ commanded the leader. ‘“ We don’t want him makin’ tew much of a figure arter we’ye got him swung over our heads.” | | The command was obeyed, a strong rope being bound about the prisoner’s ankles in the securest manner possible, “ Better tie a stone, or a good sized stick of wood, to his feet, so’t his neck won’t prove too strong for his body,’ sug- gested a third speaker. “No use of it,” declared Rufus. “I know suthin’ how heavy he is, and. thar’s no danger but his neck’ll give way in good time. Just put on the rope and swing him up over that limb, and I'll warrant ye he never’ll stab another man in the back !” 3 A. sharp hiss ran through the crowd at this allusion to the most disgusting feature of the whole affair, and fresh cries _ were raised —‘ String him up !” is ae “T could go any thing. else,” said Rufus, when quiet was par- tially restored, “ but the idea of being stabbed in the back al- ways makes me feel bad, myself. But it ain’t too late now, If you say let him off, or wait a few days, we kin dew that.” . One or two of the young man’s friends ventured to suggest comiclbooks.comn