Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

THE PERILS OF THE PRAIRIE . 23 busied with thoughts of how he should rescue his friend, Had they been anywhere else but on the water, he would not have hesitated a moment to have attacked the four savages. But one thing was certain: the number of savages in the canoe would not be diminished, and it might be increased, so he knew that new was the time to strike, if ever. But how should that strike be made? This was the question which agitated the Trailer’s mind. At length, however, an idea flashed across his mind, and at the time it was all he could do to restrain himself from burst- ing into a fit of laughter. Bending low, the Trailer shot sofily but swiftly past the canoe—on swiftly up the stream—on, until he came to where a little torrent came dashing down from the hills, and, plung- ing wildly and madly over a high, perpendicular rock, fel) with a rush and a roar into the channel, and beat and churned its darks waters to a foam. Here he halted and listened. The canoe was far behind. “Pye plenty time,” he murmured to himself. “Oh, but I'll trick you, my beauties ;” and again he had to bite his lips to refrain from laughing at the trick he was going to play on the savages. The place chosen for his purpose was an admirable one. The trees stood thick and close to the bank, excluding every ray of light from the stream, while the rush and the roar of . the little torrent drowned all other sounds. Laying aside his rifle, Thornpath groped about in the dark until he found a small log. Taking it upon his shoulder he cautiously descended the bank of the creek, and wading into the water to his chin, he placed the log upon tlie water, just opposite the little cataract and between him and the ap- proaching canoe. Placing his knife between his teeth and then firmly grasping the log, he awaited the approach of the canoe, He had not long to wait. Soon he could distinguish the steady dip and swash of the padcles from the continuous roar of the cataract. And soon he could faintly discern the Outlines of the canoe, and the savage seated in the prow, while his own form was hidden in the water and his head ‘ind the log blended with the dark waters so that it wav im- commicloolkS.cGolin)