Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

OFF THE TRACK. _ 61 ° be < | so that by scattering to the right and Teft, they prevent- ed Ralph from turning in either direction without great dan- ger of immediate capture. = Occi8ional shots were fired by those who heard the young man’s steps, and fancied that a chance bullet might save them a long run in the dark. But none Of them took effect. They were fired too hastily and without any certainty of aim. Suddenly the sound of footsteps in advance ceased, and a glad shout went up from the pursuers. They had no doubt but that he had fallen, and with renewed cries they hastened to the spot, expecting to find his bleeding form upon the ground. Very naturally there arose diverse opinions as to the pre- cise place where the sounds had ceased, more especially as they found nothing to reward their search in the vicinity. From side to side they sped, peering through the gloom at every object which appeared in dark relief upon the surface of the earth, and in useless search spent considerable time, disputing and blustering as all bodies of excited men will do. Very naturally they came to the conclusion that they had been deceived throughout, and that the man they were look- ing for had employed the time in making good his escape. in addition to this gain of time none knew the route he had taken, and pursuit under such circumstances would quite aa likely be wrong as right. “ Scatter, my boys!’ shouted William Rufus, who was al-— most frantic at his repeated disappointments. ‘“ Some of you go in various ways, and the one that. finds him fire his gun as a signal.” The men hastened to obey, and radiated thngugh the forest in all directions. As every one was anxious to find the first traces, knowing it would redound to his consequence — and distinction, the efforts of many an earnest searcher would have been ludicrous in the extreme if daylight could have rendered them visible. . But, despite all the zeal carried into the search, it proved fruitless. Guns were discharged, to be sure, and every one flocked toward the sound, but it proved a false alarm in every case, and long after day break the weary party gave over the blind search, and retired to Forest Valley, weary, hungry ae dissatisfied, Spey. connicelooolks. conn