A Daughter of Maryland — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND, 39 ‘‘Let me assist you out upon the log,’’ said Esten Berners. ‘‘Hold fast to whatever you can get your hands upon. The old tree is beginning to roll fearfully. We must get across as soon as we can, for it is not going to remain long where it is. I will come back after you, aunty, as soon as I have seen Miss Aurian safely over.’’ The log was wet and slippery, and quivering and rolling to and fro as it was, Aurian felt several times that she must be precipitated into the surging tide below. But for- tunately the pine held to its position until the rescuer had succeeded in getting clumsy Aunt Debby to the further bank of the stream, though she narrowly escaped falling into the torrent half a dozen times. : ‘You will find a more sheltered place just below here by a big bowlder,’’ said Esten Berners, ‘‘where you must make yourself as comfortable as possible until I can help Southard bring Uncle Frost to this side.’’ ‘‘But he mus’ hab some comfort’bles—somethin’ to keep him from de wet groun’ or he’ll ketch his def ob col’.’’ ‘‘We will bring something of that kind, aunt; we shall need to wrap him up in some way; so have no concern. ’’ - Without stopping for a reply he started back over the river, finding that the pine was being fast loosened from its frail support. ‘‘How we are going to bring the old man across is more than I can see!’’ he exclaimed, as he found great difficulty in maintaining a hold for himself. But he was not long in recrossing, when he hastened to the door of the house. There he was met by the impatient Maze, | who seemed to be watching the scene with almost human intelligence, his low whinny no doubt asking when his turn would come. Gently pushing the creature to one side, Berners was stepping across the threshold, when his atten- tion was arrested by the voices of the men within. ‘‘You are sure it was Daniel Berners’ wife, Frost?’’ Car- roll Southard was asking. ‘‘Tuddy sakes, Massa Cal, dar could be no mistake. Yo’ Sean HW | . / comicbook: