Commodore Junk — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

THE PURSUIT. 95 were hardly moving, and it seemed to him that they were running right in among the growth that whispered and creaked against the boat. “Yes ; be patient,” was the stern reply. ‘T can see them. They’re wading yonder in the mud up to their waists.” ‘There they are,” came from apparently close at hand, and the dogs burst out more furiously than ever. ‘ Now, then, you scoundrels, we can see you. Give up.” ‘Faith, and it’s a cat he is,” whispered Dinny. ‘ What a foine senthry he’d make for night duty !” “Surrender !” shouted the same voice, “or we'll blow you out of the water.” “The ugly, yellow-faced divil!” muttered Dinny. ‘Now, then, come ashore, and [ will not be so severe with you.” ‘ Hark at that, now,” whispered Dinny to Bart. “It’s a baby he thinks ye, afther all.” | ‘Curse them! Fire then, sergeant,” cried the overseer, ‘© No mercy now.” “Down, dogs!” roared the man again. ‘“ Quick, there— fire |” A rattling volley from close at hand rang out, and it was followed by utter silence, as if those ashore were listening. ‘Curse your stupid fellows, sergeant}! Why don’t you make them fire lower?” ‘Tf they fired lower, we should have hit the dogs, sir.” “Hang the dogs! I wanted you to hit the men. Now, then, fire again.” There was the rattling noise of the ramrods in the barrels as the men loaded, and once more silence. The sinuous nature of the muddy creek had brought the fugitives terribly near to the dense brake; but Mary’s pole remained perfectly motionless, COMMICE DOOLKS