Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

50 THORNPATH, THE TRAILER; OR, shadows of the woods. After they had run some distance Miss Stump asked : “You heard that awful groan, did you, Mabel ?” “Yes; it almost chilled the blood in my veins). What do suppose it was?” “The Lord only knows; it seemed to come ftom the eart ” “To me, aunty, it seemed to come from that big log lying acar the camp-fire.” Without further conversation, the two fugitives moved on through the dark woods, their course being guided by a dull, red light far away before them, which Mabel had noticed was brighter and directly behind them when they entered the tim- ber with Red Hand. Alas! they little dreamed that it was a light made by their burning homes, The fugitives, moving as swiftly on as the rough condition of their way would permit, had nearly reached the outskirts of the timber when they detected a low, shuffling tread behind them. Crouching downin the undergrowth they listened. Nearer and plainer than before, they could hear that shu fling, shuffling gait. Then, through the almost inky dark- ness they discovered two glowing orbs of fire, back of which they could faintly discern a great, black, shaggf mass. The hearts of the fugitives seemed to cease beating—their blood ran cold, “My God! Aunt Sally, what is it ?” gasped Mabel. A low, fierce growl was the only response. It was a bear. With a wild scream the fugitives arose and fled, the brute lumbering on in pursuit. In their wild excitement, Mabel had become separated from her companion, but she was so terribly frightened that she did not notice the fact, until she had gone along ways Then she stopped, with another terror upon ber heart and ‘mind, and listened. But, all hte silent as the grave, save that deep and solemn sound pf nature that is always heard in the gloomy wilderness after nightfall, Had the bear overtaken Bally ? The thought was horrifying. Mabel called aloud the name of ber companion, but only the echo of her own voice was borne back to her ears in ga, sad refrain. Cconmiclo@Oolkkssconn