Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

52 THORNPATH, THE TRAILER; OR, “Yes, but I mean afore we get out, or very fur from this ’ere timber.” “What makes you think so 2” “ Lookee,” said the Trailer, pointing to the ground, “ do you see that?” Frank looked as directed, but saw nothing, and informed the old Trailer so. “ Wal, really ’ exclaimed Thornpath, “ thar’s a fresh In- gin trail plain as the nose onter my face, and you know that’s purty plain.” “T see nothing—not the least sign of a trail,” said Frank. “Wal, I'll show you. You see this.’ere leaf, don’t you?” “ Yes.” “ Wal, you see the upper side is dry, while the lower or under- side is damp with dew. Now, as the dew allers falls onter the top side o’ things, it’s purty evident thet this leafs been turned over quite lately ; and if ye’d jist stand where the flection o’ the sun’s rays fall right, ye kin see whar the moccasins o’ at least half a dozen red-skins hev sopped the moisture off them t’other leaves. Thet’s how I trail red-skins, my boy, thet’s how.” ' As the hunter concluded, he moved on, keeping a wary watch on all sides. In a few minutes they emerged into the great prairie that stretched its unbroken length away north- ward for miles and miles. Here the old hunter halted, and having examined the ground for a moment, said : “T tell you, Frank, this ’ere trail winds cl'ar ‘round the vig Black Swamp, and I think we'd better take through the swamp, and save at least three miles. Of course, Red Hand hez gone to his village ; so we'll strike the trail jist t'other side the swamp.” “ But, can we cross the Black Swamp ?” asked Frank. “Cross it? Like a duck, for thar’s nary drop o’ water in the whole swamp.” '.“ Then let us not tarry here,” said Frank, impatiently. The two at once struck across the prairie, toward the Black Swamp, which was about two milesaway. Thisswamp was a low, marshy region about two miles long ant! one ‘broad. It was thickly covered with buffalo, or slongh grass, - . CommicdoolkxsS.COnn