Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

THE PERILS OF THE PRAIRIE, 85 | ) about the savages, their attack upon the settlement, and the | ea tivity of Mabel and Mfés Sarah Mariah Stump. he settlers were deeply and sorrowfully affected by the supposed death of their friends, and it was several moments _ before they could decide what course to pursue. But finally | they concluded to go and examine the burning remains of . their houses, and see if they could find any traces of their | friends’ bodies in the still hissing, sputtering flames. In a few moments they were standing like grim specters around the ruins, shading their eyes with their hands, and } gazing with ghastly features into the red, glowing coals. It _ Was a sad, sorrowful sight to see those strong, brave men with _ tears glittering on their bronzed cheeks—moving about upon _ tiptoe, as if their footfalls would arouse some sleeping child ; speaking in whispers, as though they were telling some terri- ble secret. But, thank Heaven, they found no charred bodies in the fire, but they shuddered when they thought of their be- ing doomed to a worse fate. “Perhaps they fled to cache,” said young Harwood, the idea flashing suddenly in his mind. “It may be possible,” replied Mr. Eaton. “I had not thought of the cache.” ~ .“Nor I,” chorused the others. The cache, ag it was called, was a large cavern that the hunters and settlers had dug in a hillside, just south of the cabins, for the purpose of storing away winter vegetables. _ From the cabins, it was reached through a lane of dense cot- _ tonwood bushes. Toward this cabin the settlers turned, and, - upon reaching it, they found the door closed, Thornpath | tried it, but found it was fastened inside. _ Acray of hope now lit up the settlers’ faces. “Hulloa, in thar!’ called Tobias Stump. “ Jemima, are ~ “Who is that out there ?” came a shrill but familiar voice from within the cave. All recognized the voice as that of old Mrs. Stump. ee sia Seilnis Popa’ Stump,” replied the old man. abolt the door and come out” _ Tn an instant the cave door flew open, and Mrs. 2 from followed by the rest, of the women and children, emerged fi _s Eomichooks:com 7 at. m. ~ | : | «“ rT *