Beadle's New Dime Novels: The Specter Chief — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

82 THE PHANTOM CHIE¥Y. ware stock. They call him Bald Engle. [He is always movin’ about among the settlers, and is harmless enough now, though it is said he was once pretty rough company for them that crossed him. He's nigh the end of his scrimmagin,’ an’ maybe he has seen fit to mend his ways; but it’s hard to see how any good can be squeezed in or out of the critturs.” ~ The party turned in the direction pointed out by Bat | ler, and saw at some distance a small canoe, with a single occupant, floating down with the current of the river. A glance sufficed to determine his claims to the Indian char- acter, yet no one beside the speaker wou!d have ventured to identify the individual upon so distant a view. At length Butler himself seemed at a loss abou some- thing that he saw, and, as though reasoning with himself, he said, in an undertone: ‘*But what does the varmint mean by lettin’ bis cance wabble about after that fashion? His oars are good enouch, and there he swings, takin’ no more notice of us than if he was t’other side of the Great Ben’. He can't be drunk, for the old fox never trusts himself with liquor away from home: and what an almighty daub of red paid paint he’s stuck on his’’— What more this soliloquy might have led to is uncertain, as it was interrupted by a faint cry from Marie. She had from time to time cast a glance toward the * convert,” who kept his place in the middle of the boat. When the name of Bald Engle was pronounced by Batler, the In-tian rose from among the bales, and approache! the right side of the Flat-bottom, whereshe stood scrutinizing the solitary voyager. As the Ranger uttered bis remark upon what struck him as a cutious frenk in the way of painting, she had seen the Indian start, and with an involantary move ment, half unsheath a knife from its concealment within a fold of his dress, while his face indicated a fearful excite- ment. Taking advantage of the surprise occasioned by Marie’s exclamation, he repressed the sigas of emotion, and stalking towards the group, prevente! any reply on her part to the inquiries of ber companious, by ssying, Sobers com) a ~~. * —