Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

70 THE DOOMED HUNTER. swallowed their first installments, and rushed greedily for his, But he was on the watch, and bore it away in advance of the tall warrior whose mouth was expressly prepared for it. Thus the meal passed away, the Indians taking delight in the hearty manner of the prisoner, and conferring together in re- gard to the extent of his sufferings when the flames should begin their deadly work. But Ralph was not moved by all this; he would not suffer the pangs of hunger now, that he might suffer less in that dread ordeal. Possibly he might escape, and in that case he should need all his strength. Soon after the meal was eaten, the satiated warriors began to throw themselves upon the ground to sleep. The sun had sunk low, and twilight was gathering over the forest. The prisoner did not regret this move in the least, for possibly he might sleep, and in unconsciousness lose the fearful spectacle which continually presented itself to his waking vision. It is possible that he might have had other fancies, but if so, they were not really dwelt upon. The Indians soon completed their pictiondtigine for his ac- commodation. These consisted of two long, slender poles, which were put across his body, and upon either end of which a savage was to sleep. This was not entirely a comfortable arrangement for the prisoner, but evidently quite as much so for him as for those who lay beside him. A single scout had been sent out, who described a circle around the camp, and finding all in order, returned, and threw himself upon the ground near the fire. In a very short time all seemed to be sleeping soundly. Ralph felt the need of rest, but his eyes would not close. Thoyghts of the fate which must soon be his kept all possi- bility of drowsiness at bay. Finally he began to think it~ possible that his most sanguine hopes were to be realized dur- ing the night. Surely while his captors were steeping: 80 soundly, if ever, he ought to be able to leave them. | True, the Indians had undertaken to provide against any possibility of his leaving, but after examining all the circum- stances thoroughly, he felt that with prudence and. skill he might extricate himself coasea waking the ae “ee beside him. » Comicbooks.com