Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE PERILS OF THE PRAIRIE. 25 Taking it up, he rose to his feet and Jeaned over Harwood; then quicker than the lightning’s flash leavgs its home in the clouds, he brought it down upon the plumed head of the herculean Indian. Not a sigh escaped his lips, for his head ‘was completely cloven to the neck, and he fell back against the oarsmen, his hot blood spurting up in their faces. The next instant the canoe glided out into the opening. It was like passing from a subterranean darkness into daylight. In an instant the savage oarsmen recognized the terrible Serpent Trail, towering aloft in the canoe with a tomahawk raised in the air. At the same instant, a Wild, triumphant laugh burst from the old Trailer’s lips. Horror-stricken with his mysteri- ous presence in the canoe, the savages uttered a low cry of terror, and leaped from the canoe into the water, and, by diving, made good their eseape,to the forest. Thornpath now severed young Harwood’s bonds, which had become quite painful, saying, as he did so: ~ “Free ag’in, my boy; but I sw’ar I wouldn’t’a’ give much fur yer prospects once to-night. But then, you know, old Thornpath is never asleep, and I must admit, thet this war the coolest trick I ever played on thereds, I war detarmined to win er lose, sink er swim,” “You are a noble fellow, Thornpath,” replied Frank, chaf- ‘ing his cramped limbs, “ and to you I owe my life.” “Thar, thar, boy; not another word o’ Me, I know all thet you'd say. We're frien’s and it’s our duty to help one another without thanks er praise, jist the same as to help ourselyusx. Now let’s be off for the Post—but stop. I've forgot wy rifle.” | The old Trailer took up one of the deserted paddles, ard sent the canoe skimming back down the stream to the little cataract where he had left his rifle. Having procured the weapon, the two crossed over the channel and took to the forest Their course now lay over a more familiar country, conse- quently they were enabled to move forward with great ease and rapidity. The light before them grew red and redder as they advanced, and the air was becoming filled with smoke from burning wood. There was nota doubt now in the hunt- ‘82s mind as to the direction of the Post, But, hopefil thai <a> . de 5 a Sak " * >) se? ss = ~ . kh Ae + ol oD 7 . ee GOMMCDOOKS COM on * aH