Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

30 THE DOOMED HUNTER. The runner held up one hand, with all the digits extended, then held them both up. “ So, there’s fifteen,” Ralph thought, “ more than a match for the three and twenty savages, in a fair fight.” | True he did once think of joining with his captors, and making a strong resistance, but he relinquished the idea; not even to save his life would he join with the enemies of his people. “What are you going to do?” he demanded of Elk’s Foot, seeing that the individual in qyenea seemed quite complacent over the news. “What warriors do but fight ?” was the sententious rejomder, in the calmest of tones. | | The march was again taken up, in single file, and contin- ued until the natives reached a swampy creek, which was bordered by a dense willow-copse. A narrow passage-way extended several yards across a marshy plat, lined all the way by impenetrable masses of willows. ‘Through this they passed, and kept on for some distance, then turned upon their course, and entered the thickest of the willows, where in a short time every one was effectually screened from sight. Only Ralph and a single attendant were directed ‘to pursue the route toward the Indian country with all possible dispatch. The young man was glad of this for more than one reason. It would spare him the necessity of witnessing the conflict, and if the Indians should by any chance be defeated, he would not fall into the power of his fellow-settlers, So far as being overtaken was concerned he had no fears, feeling satisfied that he could distance any number of pursuers, when the stake was so important as life or death. For a short distance Ralph endeavored to draw his swarthy companion into conversation, but that personage was remark- ably reserved. He realized very well that he had been in- trusted with an important mission, and he would not allow his charge to escape him by any stratagem. The prisoner understood the motives and feelings of his conductor, and he resolved to play upon them, in case any sounds of conflict were heard behind them, They had not passed more than half a mile in this manner, when a yell and yolley burst upon their ears. Both paused, ‘ A. = comichooksrcom