Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

58 ; THE DOOMED HUNTER. have escaped so far, though I must be ina hurry. When I went up the chimney I stopped on, top of the partition, and concluded I could slip from side to side and dodge them so. I did that while they were searching the rooms, but when they began to talk of burning me out with straw, I concluded that it would not be safe with allmy powder aboard. I knew by their conversation that all of them were in this room, and they seemed to have forgotten that there was any other out- Jet to the chimney. So I slid down into the other room, and in the closet found a secure hiding-place till they had gone. But I must not stay a moment longer than necessary. Look out, if you want to see fun !” “T only wonder what you intend doing with my roayee- per!” said Kate. “Tt will be no wonder 200g, he remareed, descending the cellar steps. rt Having reached the cellar, Ralph proceeded to oné of the windows, which he carefully opened, and gazed forth. The silent Sri crouching a few feet distant heard no sound till the doomed hunter spoke in 4 changed voice. “D’ye hear any thin’ ?” he almost whispered. “What d’ye say ?” demanded the watcher. “D’ye hear any thin’ ?” “Ts that you, Jones?” “Tt ain’t anybody else.” “No, I don’t know’s I did,” was th auitid reply, as the face drew near the cellar window. — “ did think I heern somebody in thar’, but a fellercan’t look in, an’ I guess ’twan’t nobody but Steve —” 7 At that moment his observations came to an end, as “the snap handful of pepper was dashed into his face, filling his eyes, nostrils and mouth with the fine, pungent dust! The effect was electrical. The unsuspecting victim rolled upon the ground, coughing, gasping, sneezing, endeavoring to shout, but utterly unable to commarid the requisite amount of breath. Ralph merely made sure that his work was effectually done, and then hastened above. Hefound Stephen and Kate almost convulsed at the ludicrous postures of the suffering spy whom they had watched, __ ~“T haven't hurt him,” the young man said, hurriedly. ea COmichOol<s.cOm