The Wrong Man — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

TIE WRONG MAN. i tune of Old Hundred, which he had been piously “ whistling as he went;” not exactly, like Dryden’s swain, “for want of thought,” but as one mode of letting off his inexhaustible flow of animal spirits. The circumstance of meeting a traveler in the ridge road at that time in the evening was unusual, and had also proved a greater hindrance to the ravisher than to his pursuer. The restive animal which the hunter bestrode had previously shown symptoms of impatience at being obliged to carry two riders. instead of one, of which fact he was probably made aware more by the strugeglings of Lucy than her weight. The fretting and eurveting of his horse had delayed Overton’s progress to a de- gree that, excited his irritable temper; and when, soon after- ward, the noise of Nathan Dodge's wagon was heard approach- ing, his vexation found vent in a deep-muttered curse. Fearful of continuing along the road, however, lest his son should be recognized, and his plans defeated, he struck in- to the wood, and making a long circuit round the side of the bluff, did not ascend into that path again uutil the wagon had —_ so far that the sound of its wheels was no longer audi- e. But a more serious cause of alarm now reached his ears. The delay occasioned by these different interruptions had en- abled Sedley to gain upon the hunter; and he had now drawn s0 near that the trampling of his horse’s hoofs, as they clattered und clinked over the flinty ridge, began to be distinctly heare. A deep scowl darkened the face of the ruffian, as, after a mo- ment’ of intense listening, his mind became assured of the nature of the sounds which reached him through the silent air. He cast his eyes round with a quick, perplexed glance, as if uncer- tain what course to pursue. The part of the road he had now ‘ gained traversed the center of a long narrow ridge; the ground on either side descending so abruptly that the trees which — at a little distance hardly extended their tops to a level with the summit. To ride down the steep bank would be ap adventure full of peril; but should he proceed along the road, he must soon be overtaken, as the pursuer was evidently gaining upon him, and the noise of his horse sounded each instant nearer and beurer ae In the mean while, the struggles of poor Lucy, whose quick — i ears had not failed to distinguish the d t trampling, andin - whose heart it had awakened a hope of rescue, greatly embar- _ vassed him. The hunter knew not what to do, and in his per- a plexity, turned his horse’s head tothe edge of the bank and. eu him forward, as if determined to plunge down the de- at all hazards. But the animal, frightened at peas of the dark descent, started back, and whirled F - es ~< y _ es a - ae | Pe “comicbooks:com "Taio = ok bn ied + —" —_ a Foe ‘ 7 a Oe Pa - « pee —