Mezzoni the Brigand — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 143 “It will be night soon,’’ continued his companion. “Then you cannot see your compass.”’ “The night will be a favorable cover for us, at least, and then we have the north star.’”’ ‘And that is almost a compass.”’ “Tt is.” ‘The moon will not be up until late.”’ ‘‘About midnight,’’ he answered. At this juncture they came to a sort of open space, or plateau, upon the mountain side, not unlike that in front of the robbers, and though they paused here but for a single moment, yet it was long enough, un- fortunately, for those two men who were below them to get a glimpse of their figures. Walter also saw them distinctly, and knew that he should soon have - to fight them. _He hurried Marion along, getting among the rocks once more, and did not hear from his pursuers for some time. When he did hear from them again, and learn of their whereabouts, it was so near to him that he instinctively pulled his com- panion behind a rock, and instantly prepared to take a shot at the nearest man. He did not hurry in taking his aim from his covered position. It was all important that he should not miss. So he was es- pecially cool and careful at this moment. The rough fellows did not know that they were so near the fugi- tives, and the first intimation was a shot from Wal- ter’s revolver, sending a ball through the. thigh of one of them, and bringing him to the ground at once. The other man, utterly confused, did not know where the shot came from, and he also, half a minute later, got a ball from Walter’s revolver, probably in a vital spot, as he instantly threw up his arms, with a loud cry, and fell upon his face. Marion saw this, and almost fainted, turning as cComicbooks com.