Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

THE-PERILS OF THE PRAIRIE. 07 1 Above all things, a scalpless warrior among the American ladians is a creature of the lowest disgrace; it is considered the mark of cowardice. No chief nor prophet, having lost his scalp by the hands of an enemy, ever was allowed to hold power over his people afterward, but was thrown into bonds and kept as an object of derision until death released him. This Thornpath knew, hence his object in punishing Oakley in such a way. There was a few moment’s silence, then the Trailer resumed “ Ye kin take yer choice, Oakley: give us yer life or skulp, and thet in a hurry.” | “Tsthat your only—” : “That’s the only terms,” interrupted Thornpath. “Tt will kill me—it will kill me, but I will submit to fate; but remember, if I die my blood will be upon your hands.” “Wal, it will be the blood o’ atonement—the blood o’ a fiend,” replied Thornpath ;“ so ye mout a3 well git down here and let’s hey the affair over with.” The villain groaned, and, like the coward that he was, bowed his head. Thornpath tore off the gaudy head-dress. Egypt drew his keen-edged knife, and— Red Hand was foreveg dishonored and disgraced as an Indian chief. No more, with his scalpless head, would he wear the plumes of royalty and power. It was a bloody and—what Wwe would consider in this day—a heartless act, but it was a just punishment. The wound bled profusedly, the biood running in little riv- ulets down his paint-bedaubed face. Thornpath took a strip of the villain’s blanket and assisted very kindly to bind up his bead, then said: _ “Now ye kin go, Carl Oakley. Ye are free, but remember the conditions upon which your life’s been spared. ll trail ye to yer death ef ever ye are seen ag’in around the settle- ments.” “ Conditions that will never save you, curse you!” the villian mentally exclaimed, and turning, he moved slowly away, an inward fire seeming to consume his brain. Thornpath and Egypt watched him unti!] he had disappeared behind a swell in the prairie, then they turned and moved pway in the direction that Nora had gone. An hour’s walk- 7 Comicbooksreom —~