Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 51: what you’re looking at

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THE ESCAPE. ¢ 53 scarcely a dozen of them, but it was far from a pleasant sensa- tion on my part to see them coming directly up the stream. I had supposed they would go downward, but their noses or some other sense must have directed them toward me. On they came, a portion upon either, bank of the stream. I was somewhat relieved at finding that they only looked for my tracks, though I could not suppose they would pass the bushes with- out giving them a thorough overhauling. But they seemed te have no idea that I had stopped in the vicinity. They mere- ly examined the borders of the creek upon a run, glancing all around to see if I was in sight through the trees. “ After going up some distance above my hiding-place they returned, galloping and shouting, and soon disappeared down the creek. It was a question with me whether to remain where I was, or continue my way. I might be discovered, in any case, but I felt the safer way was to “make the best time I could toward home. I climbed out cautiously, and hearing their shouts a long way off, I bent my course over the hills at a rate which soon removed the extra water from my clothing. “T gave them the slip, and succeeded in escaping their observation. They followed me during the day, frequently getting ahead of me, but I always managed to elude them. Once, indeed, a single savage espied me, and ealled to his fol- lowers, but I turned sharp upon my course, and left them be- wildered and discomfited. There a chase must have ended, for I saw them no more. “T have been lying about in the woods for weia hours, not caring to come in till the inhabitants should all be asleep. I must not stay longer. Let me get my weapons, and then I can liye in the forest, harming nobody and afraid of nobody. Sooner or later this mystery will be cleared up, and then I .can come back and be your brother again, openly.” “You will at least lay down and sleep a few hours,” urged Kate, who felt all a sister’s interest in the noble young man. “We will wake you before light, so that there can be no danger.” “No, no, Kate; I must not stay. I can sleep perfectly well in the forest, and when I have means of procuring food © and defending myself from Indians, I can live very well till such time as I am proved innocent.” | Stephen had passed from the apartment, but soon came 5 COMME OVO KSaC@hn) ‘ne