Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

BITTEN. 83 lay, and a very little practice enables the forester, as well as the warrior, to steer his course perfectly by the lesser lights of night. Hour after hour they traveled, through the long night, till morning began to flush the east. Though they had not hast- ened, the progress of the party had been steady and uninter- rupted. Consequently they must have put many miles between them and Forest Valley, during the twenty-four hours of al- most constant travel. Ralph did not. think the total could be much less than fifty miles, probably not much more than that. With the first. dawning of light the party threw themselves upon the ground, and were soon sleeping soundly ; for, though hungry as well as tired, they had no food, and appetite could — be best subdued by sleep.. Ralph did not immediately submit to the drowsy god, for his brain was whirling with excitement. Hopes and fears alternated.. Hopes that he could yet stand forth to the gaze of his fellow-men vindicated and honored— fears that the terrible crime was too deeply fastened upon him, or that his life might be sacrificed before the consummation of his hopes. His mind was not a little exercised in regard to the experience which awaited him with the Indians. That he was not thus strangely treated without some good reason, was evident. But reflect as he would, no key to the mystery came to his mind, He imagined many possible causes, but none: of them seemed probable. However, he could only wait and won- der, and while thus engaged he fell asleep. He was awakened by some uncomfortable dream, and upon looking up saw that the hot sun was shining full in his. face. He would haye sought a more comfortable position, and re- sumed his slumbers, of which he felt the need sorely, but saw that the Indians were already astir, and making preparations to resume their. journey. Feeling thirsty, Ralph proceeded toward the spring, near which the Indians had bivouacked. It was surrounded by a dense bushy covert, which it was necessary.to penetrate in or- der to reach the water. pr The hunter was pushing them aside, when he heard that deadly note of warning-——a sharp rattle accompanied by a hiss! Knowing that he had disturbed the repose of a deadly serpent, comicbooks.conn