Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

60 THE DOOMED HUNTER. “ Nothin’ of the murderer, I reckin ?” “No, I don’t find any thing. Where’s the rest of ’em ?” “Who be you?” demanded the other, bending forward, and endeavoring to peer into the young man’s face. “ Well, never mind—the rest are right out this way; come on, Ill take ye to ’em.” “No matter about it,’ returned Ralph, carelessly. “TW take a scout off this way, and maybe we'll find something.” “Guess not!’ ventured his interlocutor, endeavoring to bring his rifle to bear. “ You're the very man we want— come along!” He uttered a loud, quick signal with the same breath, and the fugitive realized that he was getting into a decidedly dangerous position. With the bound of a cat, Ralph sprung upon the other, and bore him to the ground. Then grasping the man’s weapon he hurled it away in a direction opposite to the one he intended taking himself. : Meanwhile, the person upon the ground manifested nd dis- position to remain there. No sooner had Ralph relaxed his hold than he sprung to his feet, only to be knocked down by a powerful blow from the other's fist. While he was regaining his scattered senses, Ralph was flying rapidly through the woods. He could hear the sounds of gathering forces, and knew that every moment was inesti- mably precious. ‘There was some confusion when the settlers reached their comrade. All was conjecture as to which way the fugitive had gone. : This matter was decided by that personage himself, who unwittingly plunged into a mass of dry weeds, which cracked and snapped beneath his tread. Before he was really aware | of the danger his own movements had betrayed him. With -a shout and rush the eager man-hunters started in pursuit, some of them stopping to discharge their weapons first. But the balls flew wide, since the darkness gave them no opportu- nity to aim, and the pursued man sped forward with vigor- ous bounds. de a In a moment the race and pursuit became exciting. The fugitive had no advantage, save that of knowing the forest more thoroughly than any other person. in the settlement. But to offset this the pursuers were fresh and in great numbers ; : . CORMIE OO <S.COMM te ,