Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

A TAP AT THE WINDOW. 49 CHAPTER VII. A MAN-HUNT. Tue terrible excitement in Forest Valley had given place to mourning. Nearly one-fourth of the able-bodied men had passed from earth during that night of terror. In the years that had transpired since the founding of the settlement, only one death, that of a child, had taken place. It will be easy to imagine the dismay caused by such a wholesale aSegop of the little grave-yard. The fallen ones had been consigned to their last rest, and the mourners had returned to their homes. A terrible-pall brooded over the pleasant village. Young and old ge ved about with subdued tread, and only spoke in the sad voices concerning the great tragedy which had been ee in their midst. The prosperous life of Forest Valley a been suddenly changed in its tone, and even some of the mo timid began to think seriously of abandoning the work of years and returning again to the more populous regions. It was night—a week later than that fearful night on which they had awakened to such a multiplicity of horrors. The family of Stephen Rilley—Ralph’s brother, with whom he had resided—was sleeping soundly. Suddenly, in the dead of night, Rilley anit his wife heard — a gentle rapping upon the window of their apartinent, ‘“Who’s there ?” was the abrupt demand. “ Ask no questions, but let me in,’ said a voice which they at once recognized. - _ “Ralph has come—he is alive!” said both, in glad tones. Stephen sprung to the door, and opened without any cere- mony. Ralph entered, and barely grasped the hand extended to him before sinking into a chair. 5 “JT am very tired, Stephen,’ he said. “I have scarcely eaten any thing in three days. Can not you givo me a cold bite ?——any thing to stay the pangs of hunger for a time ?” * Cer ge my brother,” returned Stephen, war my. “* Even see | *» comignoole.cotn :