Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

88 | THE DOOMED HUNTER. thing which he had witnessed thus far confirmed the strange story his captor had related. “ But, how does this Sleeping Fawn know that I shall con- sent to all this ?’ demanded Ralph, when his surprise had been in a measure overcome. “It seems to me that she and your self have taken great liberties in the matter. I am not used to being courted in any such way as that.” “Klk’s Foot do what he say,” was the earnest rejoinder. “Him bring pale hunter—save him life one—two times That be not enough? He can not save him a third time.” “T know you saved my life,” returned Ralph, who felt em- barrassed by the position in which he was thus involuntarily placed. “I feel thankful to you for it, and will always be your friend. But, really, Pm afraid that I shall haye to dis- appoint your sister. I—” He would have said that his heart was irrevocably given away, but at that moment the uncertain fate of Nancy Andrews recurred to his memory, and he checked the utterance. -“ White man must be careful,” said Elk’s Foot, with native dignity. ‘Me have saved him one—two times, but me can’t do it any more. © Eik’s Foot does not rule the tribe.” It did not require any comment to satisfy Ralph as to what was meant in the words he had just heard. If he chose to _ marry the Indian princess, and become her slave and the serv-. ant of her people, he would no doubt be allowed to do so. But if he chose to dissent, and refuse all idea of such a union, the stern old chief WolfSlayer would not allow his daughter’s feelings to be outraged with impunity. eer Neither feature of the case presented seemed satisfactory to = the young hunter. He had no intention of wedding an In- dian maiden, nor had he any desire to be hurried out of the world while a crime dishonored his name among his fellow- settlers. To be certain that there was no mistake, he put the question direct to Elk’s Foot : - “You mean that if I don’t marry your sister, I shall be kill- ed by your people ?” “ Sleeping Fawn must say,” was the undecided reply. “ She have pale-face now—me done alk I say.” ¢ “You mean that I am der prisoner, and not yours: » wat “ Ugh. ” - ‘oa > a COMmicoOolks. Conn ; ¢ : ‘ 7 .