Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

THE PERILS OF THE PRAIRIE. li the property of a young southron, who, being of an adven- ‘turesome turn, took it into his head to spend a season hunting on the prairies of the great West, and, with his gun am slave set out for that region. However, soon after his arrival there he had the misfortune to lose both his life and scayp. Egypt, and his dearly beloved fiddle escaped and sought safety in Thede Thornpath’s hut, where he was well liked and kindly treated. He soon became a great favorite among the hunters, and made a brave, daring and fearless hunter himself; but no difference whether in the hut or upon the tial, his fiddle was either at his back or in his hands, callixz forth such strains as only Ole Bull could equal ! : During the day these four friends had been journeying by “water, and coming upon the little island about sunset, they concluded to encamp thereon for the night, as the place was an admirable one to guard against the sudden attacks of the Indians in whose country they were traveling. Having landed and made fast their canoe, a fire was built near the center of the island, and sume venison broiled for supper; and then, after their meal had been dispatched, Egypt produced his fiddle and began playing some beautiful airs— sweet, solemn, and melodious as a funeral march—such as had been the favorite airs of his ill-fated young master. After awhile he laid aside the instrument with the remark: “ Best not handle dat ole fiddle too long; might git wool _ Ifted to de tune ob a scalp-knife.” “No danger o” thet, Egypt,” replied Thornpath, who had become greatly enamored with the music. “Not a bit, not a bit of danger, Gyp,” exclaimed Josiah Jenkins, with a very knowing and important air. “T jist wush "bout a dozen reds would come oyer here, and I'd play “that little Deer Creek affair over ag’in.” “Wat "fair war dat?” asked the darky, with a distrustful ‘grin upon his ebony features. - “Stathers!” exclaimed Josiah; “didn’t you ever hear of _me lickin’ twelve reds in a fair up-and-down fight ?—killed “and sealped every dog of them—down on Deer Creek last year? Why, that’s all over the country down there ; and, to some right down to the facts of the matter, I’m sp’ilin’ now Comichbooksreom) . - _ a «Fo * ee.