Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

63 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, eee tired torest. I have wandered very far, or I should not have ventured to knock.” And with this she was about to resume her weary pilgrimage, when the voice demanded — “Ts ita woman ?” ‘Yes, weary and fvotsore.”’ “Hold hard a bit then, I’ll let you in.” The next minute the door was unbarred, and a huge miner of ferocious aspect admitted her. The next instant poor Rose Mortimer repented hav- ing taken this step. She now found herself in a small chamber sur- rounded by a dozen of the wildest looking men she had ever seen. As she entered several of them rose and advanced towards her. One fellow especially attracted the wanderer’s at- tention. He was of the same build as the man who had ad- mitted her—perhaps still more forbidding in aspect. ‘“ A comely wench,’’ said he, staring insolently at Rose. ‘Don’t be afear’d, my gal. I’ll look arter ye. Here Penryth, tell ye what, I’ll take her home with me.’’ Rose was terrified. Bitterly did she now repent that she had asked for shelter here. Alone, and at the mercy of this horde of ruffians ! CHAPTER XXVIII. A NEST OF RUFFIANS—DISPUTED POSSESSION— THE QUARREL—THE BLOW—FLIGHT FROM THE MINER—CAPTURE—THE SWOON—THE STONE— A MURDER—ROSE ACCUSED—‘' DEATH TO HER!”’ —PERIL. As the miner spoke these words Penryth sprang up in a fury. ‘What do you mean, Miles Trunnion, by that?” he demanded. “That I’ll take the gal, Penryth, if she bothers you here,” replied the miner. ‘Then she don’t.” ‘¢ Then I’ll take her, all the same.’’ The man Penryth, who was, as far as Rose could judge, the owner of the miserable little cabin, dashed his brawny fist upon the table, with a blow which split it across, and overturned a jug of ale. ‘No, Miles Trunnion !”’ he cried, in great wrath. ‘Curse me if you do that !” “Gently, gently,’ said the other, rising also, ‘‘ Your big words don’t frighten me.”’ ‘May be.” ‘Nothing don’t. it to the gal herself. well and good. the better.” ** Never!” *¢ Hullo!” ‘*‘ Never, I say, by ‘‘ Not quite so fast. me, then go she shall.” Several of the miners joined in here. They were of opinion that Rose should be con- sulted. Already they looked upon her as their particular property, but were ready to give hera voice in the matter of her own disposal, in order to avoid an out- break between the two brawny giants, Penryth and Miles Trunnion. The former opposed this for some time, observing that, since the gal had chosen his house to come to, there she should stop. Now, I tell you what, we'll put If she likes to stay with you, If she likes to go with me, so much ” If the gal wants to go with He looked upon it, apparently, as a case of trea- sure-trove. However, he was at length forced to yield to the united voices of the whole gang. ‘‘ Well, my gal,’ said Miles Trunnion, ‘‘and how do you think now ?” Rose shrank away from him. “There, there. You see what she means for her answer,’ quoth Penryth. “* Devil a bit !”? retorted Miles Trunnion. ‘I only see that the gal is a bit skeared by our roughish ways. But don’t ye be afeared, my gal,’’ he continued, turn- ing to Rose, ‘‘ I’m as tender as a kitten.”’ cc O-ho 12? “You may laugh, Penryth. It’s true, though. I’ve got the bear’s velvet paw for a gal. The claws is only out when I’m riled !” He looked meaningly at Penryth as he uttered these words. The latter sprang forward, with the uplifted ale jug, and would have administered punishment at once had not their companions interfered. ‘‘T say, Penryth,’’ cried one. ‘‘ Drop that game, you know. All about awench,too. Well, I’m dashed if it ain’t awful.” ‘“‘ Yes, yes,” cried several. ‘¢ Took here,’’ resumed the former speaker. you what. Why don’t you share the gal.” Poor Rose was in no trifling consternation now. But she fancied that she yet perceived a loophole for escape. At any rate it would offer her-one more chance to get free trom them. The conversion of our heroine into a joint-stock property of the two miners was at once hailed by all with shouts of approval. ‘Tf I am to be asked,’’ began Rose Mortimer, ina faint voice. ‘Oh! Of course. By all means,’ said Miles Trun- nion, who fancied that he perceived in Rose’s inter- ruption a favourable omen for himself. ‘‘ Let the gal decide for herself. I ask nothing better.’’ ce Ay, ay.” And this was carried by the whole mob of ruffians nem. con. 4 ‘Then say what you would rather do, my gal,” said Miles Trunnion. ‘*1’d sooner go,” said Rose. . ‘‘Ha-ha!” cried Trunnion, with a laugh of tri- umph over Penryth. ‘‘ Then curse ye,’’ cried the latter, in a perfect fury. ‘Why d’ye come here? No. Hang me if you leave to-night.” To this Miles Trunnion replied, and a violent alter- “Tell | cation ensued. Blows would have very speedily foliowed lad not the companions of the two disputants interfered. However, the majority sided with Miles Trunnion. The gal, they said, had a right to make her own choice, and she had decided for him. Miles Trunnion rose to depart, and beckoned our heroine to follow him, whereupon Penryth sprang forward, and seized the poor girl by the arm in avice- like grasp. ‘* Let go,”’ cried Trunnion. *“ Never!’ said Penryth. ‘‘The gal’s mine, and I’ll stick up for my rights against a dozen of you and your dirty pals.’’ | ‘*‘T)’ye hear that, mates ?’’ said Trunnion, turning appealingly to the others. ‘‘ Yes,” said one. ‘‘ Drop it, Penryth, or else we must interfere.” ‘‘Hang you—do you threaten me?’ roared the maddened Penryth. ** Not I, for one,’ said Miles Trunnion. threaten any man. I act!” ‘* T never oO COMGEIOOKS GOM;)