Beadle's Dime Novels No. 97: The Doomed Hunter — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

° CLUBBING. ST the gun-stock Fas head of his late guard. Having thus disposed of hi idant foes, he sprung to the door, and un- - did such of the ‘fastenings as he could find. At the same _ time a tramping and rush without gave him warning that other Indians were at hand. Scarcely, indeed, had he reached the door, ere it was burst open, and two Indians rushed into the gloomy hut. Ralph ~ had stepped slightly to one side, and the two passed without observing him. A. third paused in the doorway, seeming anxious to penetrate the mystery before advancing further. Possibly his doubts may have been dispelled, certainly his con- sciousness was, by a blow from the gun which the white still held clubbed. The Indians heard the sound, perceived that they had been outwitted, and with howls of vengeance sprung to the door. One of their number lay prone with a shattered head, but the bold hunter had gone. _Others were on the way, and quickly the news spread. that the white prisoner had escaped. rs Although dismay seized the bravest at this announcement, * they betrayed commendable zeal, rushing into the forest in all directions, and keeping up a steady search for hours—it need hardly be said without success. At length, weary and disheartened, they returned, to sleep for a short time, and re- new the search again upon the morrow. a: Meanwhile, where was the man wlio had thus, fortune more than any merit of his own, escaped the | of his bloody-minded enemies, and thrown th into such a state of excitement ? >. Knowing that not a moment was to be lost if he would gain the sheltering forest, Ralph, on reaching the open air, bounded a away between two huts, and soon ound himself safe in the wooded solitudes. The savages were but just spreading the alarm, so that he had plenty of time to adopt any course of action which might seem most proper. That he could easily secure his own freedom he had no doubts. Yet, what personal liberty ayail him, if the maiden whom he loved, and who held the secret of that terrible mystery, remained = * Honor, duty, necessity, all demanded that she should ere leased, or he remain to share her fate. Spe! Finding ¢ a tree which he could readily climb, Ralph pred € 4 comicbooks.c@