Commodore Junk — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

DINNY CONSENTS. 253 “You'll go?” “Yes. Perhaps he has something to say in answer to an offer I made.” « An offer?” “Yes, Bart, to join us, and be one of my lieutenants,” « Join us, and be your lufftenant?” cried Bart. “Yes, and my friend. I like him for the sake of his old generous ways, and I like him for his present manliness.” “ -You—like him ?” “Yes, It is not impossible, is it, that I should like to have a friend ?” “ Friend ?” “Yes!” said the captain, sternly ; “‘another friend! Don’t stare, man, and think of the past. Mary Dell died, and lies yonder in the old temple, covered by the Union Jack, and Abel Dell still lives—Commodore Junk, seeking to take ven- geance upon those who cut that young life short.” “Look here!” said Bart, who gasped as he listened to his companion’s wild utterances ; “are you going mad $” “ No, Bart, I am as sane as you.” “ But you said——” ‘¢ What I chose to say, man. Let me believe all that if I like. Do you suppose I do not want some shield against the stings of my own thoughts? I choose to think all that, and it shall be so. You shall think it too. I am Commodore Junk, and if I wish this man to be my friend, and he consents, it shall be so!” ‘‘ And suppose some day natur says, ‘I’m stronger than you, and I’ll have my way,’ what then ?” “T’ll prove to nature, Bart, that she lies, for she shall not have her way. If at any time I feel myself the weaker, there are my pistols ; there is the sea; there is the great tank with its black waters deep down below the temple.” Eomicbooks —)