Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 36 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 No, I think the bite of this species is not poisonous, It is one of the constrictors, and kills its prey or enemy by crushing it in the folds or coils of its body.” ‘**Could any thing be more horrible than to have such a monster coiled around your throat, and slowly strangling you to death? Oh! Henry, what do I not owe you?” and Jessie placed both hands in those of her companion. The tears streamed from her eyes, but they were tears of gratitude, and, lover-like, Henry strove to kiss the pearly drops away. Love in these two young hearts was de- veloping early. ‘‘T have often thought I have had warn- ings, Henry,” said Jessie, speaking as if just coming out of a long reverie. ‘* How, Jessie?” ‘* Tt all seems very indistinct tome, but you and Murker are always mixed with them.” ** That is not so very singular, considering that we have been so much associated with you.” ‘‘] know that, Henry, and yet there is a sort of skeleton ever separating Murker from me, and cautioning me to beware of him.” ‘** You are nervous, Jessie. I think we ought to banish these superstitious feelings from us, and have a more firm reliance in the good Providence that guards the pure in heart,” The clown was preaching like a minis- ter. ‘“I do believe in a Divine oversight, Henry.” While they were speaking, birds in large multitudes were flying in their direction, ut- tering shrill notes of terror. Rabbits rushed along, squirrels scampered past them, all as though they had bcen frightened from their burrows and nests, At first, the fugitives were inclined to think pursuers were after them. Henry and Jessie looked about them, and saw, far above the tops of the tall trees, thick volumes of smoke making their way up to the heavens, and soon the heat be- came oppressive; the very air was hot, and they gazed at each other in amazement, The smoke grew deuser and the heat more intense. At last, the horrible truth flashed through the brain of the Boy Clown, and he ex- claimed: ‘ ‘‘Merciful Heaven, the woods are on fire!” CHAPTER VIII. A FIERY FURNACE, Tue fierce and rapacious element of fire was on its devastating march, and, like its many former raids, seemed as though he would not leave, until he was a conqueror. The situation to Henry was a most trying one. With the frightened and fainting girl in his arms, his chances for escape did not look of a very promising nature. Were they to end their lives in the deep woods, and was the skeleton seen in Jessie’s dream to be theirs? The situation was truly appalling, and Beadle’s. Half-Dime Library. well calculated to shake the nerves of even the strongest and bravest. Upon every side, look where he might, he could see the fire climbing thé huge trunks or leaping from limb to limb, while over all great masses of black smoke were whirling, almost entirely obscuring the rays of the morning sun. The air was filled with flying brands and cinders, while ever and anon a deafening roar was heard, marking where some mighty tree, sapped of its strength, had fallen to the earth. There seemed no mode of escape, for the fiery wall encircled the spot where the two wanderers stood, while each moment the circle grew smaller, and the atmosphere more difficult and painful to breathe. Henry saw that something must be done, some effort made, and although it seemed almost hopeless, yet the brave boy did not altogether despair. Not far off he discovered a small brook that ran through the wood, and thither he bore the now unconscious girl, and placing her upon a grassy mound close to the edge, he dipped his cap full of the cooling liquid, and with it bathed Jessie’s brow and tem- ples. Y Leaving his charge here, he ran rapidly down the course of the stream, it having suddenly occurred to him that by following it he might perchance find an opening for escape from the fiery furnace. He dared not remain absent long, and af- ter proceeding some little distance he deter- mined to return to Jessie, and taking her in his arms, should she still be insensible, make the attempt to reach open ground. He quickly retraced his steps to where he nad left his charge, but, what was his sur- prise and alarm to find that Jessie had dis- appeared! At first he supposed that she had recov- ered, and missing him, had wandered off a little way; but, after calling her name re- peatedly and receiving no reply, he became very much alarmed, and ran hither and thither, wildly calling upon her to answer. Only the echo of his own voice, mingled with the roar of the flames, and tbe deafen- ing crash of falling trees, came back to him. There was now but a scanty time left for him to think and act;.with terrible strides the fire was closing in upon him, and al- though nearly wild with anxiety on Jessie’s account, yet the instinct of self-preservation asserted itself, and after one more looh around with the faint hope that she migkt yet be seen, he dashed off down the rivulet at the top of his speed. He knew that his remaining in the place he had just left could not possibly afford the lost girl any aid, and there was a shadow of hope in his heart that she might have escaped. As he was running swiftly along the bank of the stream his eye chanced to fall upon a cave in a rocky ledge upon the further side, and quick as thought he determined to seek shelter here, trusting to that kind Pro- vidence, which had hitherto saved him from death, to bring him safely through the pre- sent impending danger. In a moment he crossed the creek, and pushing aside some bushes that grew about the entrance, entered the cavern and made his way back into its gloomy depths. The place was much larger than Henry had thought, judging by the narrow mouth through which he had been compelled to crawl on hands and knees, and without dif- ficulty, other than the profound Parnes he crept stili further back as the smoke from without began to pour in. Soon the air of the cave grew to be sti- fling, and it became necessary that he should retreat yet more, and this he did, feeling his way along the rugged walls step by step. In this manner he proceeded some half a hundred yards, when, on suddenly turning a corner caused by the cave’s making an ab- rupt bend he felt a breath of pure, sweet air, coming from the depths beyond, fan his cheek. How very grateful this was to the op- pressed lungs of the young man can be im- agined, and it brought with it not only re- lief, but renewed hope as well, for Henry knew that there must be another opening or outlet to the cave, else whence came this now strong current of air, Strengthened by the thought, Henry con- tinued to feel his way, and was presently rewarded by seeing, apparently a great way off, a gleam of light that looked like a star shining in the midst of surrounding darkness, Henry had left Jessie’s side but a few moments, when she recovered from her faint attack, to find herself lying on the margin of the brook. Looking up to see where her companion was, she saw her peril at once. She tried to scream, but her power of utter- ance seemed gone. Nature was too much overtasked, and she fainted again. There was another personage in these woods, unknown to our hero and heroine, a brawny-armed, but good-natured and honest negro, named Pete Morgan. He had the reputation of being afraid of naught. He had been away on a visit, and was return- ing, when he encountered Jessie. As the girl was in no condition to give an account of herself, the negro took her up in his arms, and stepping into the brook, he waded along up the stream. He wasa muscular fellow, and as his burden was light, he made rapid progress, stopping on- ly to wipe the drops of perspiration from his forehead. It was at a most palatial residence he stopped, at one of the many so famous at the South. Elegance was its great charac- teristic. Luxury was seen at every portion of the mansion. The negro carried his charge into the kitchen, and, much to the consternation and astonishment of the cook, Dinah, placed her in a chair. ‘‘Lor’s Pete,” exclaimed Dinah, ‘‘ what has you got dar?” ‘Spec’ it’s a fainted gal. Dinah, de worl’s all a-fire. It’s a-roarin’ an’ a-ravin’; we’s all a-goin’ to be burned up.” Dinah said nothing, but put aside the dough she was kneading, fell on her knees, and commenced to croon some old-fashioned hymn. . “Get up, Dinah! It won’t burn up un- til you gets troo makin’ your bread. The woods is on fire. Didn’t you smell no smoke?” said Pete, El OO KS €om