The Dugdale Millions — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

{ 114 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. right and occas.on to defend himself. If the offense Bessie held he had committed was explainable, he would explain it; if he had unwittingly offended her, he would admit the offense and apologize; if she were obdurate and resolved to end their relations, he would bow to the inevitable, and retire from further struggle against her injustice, but he would no longer continue in the condition of doubt and anxiety which had become torture to him. As he thus planned his course, he had wandered in the direction of the river, and had reached the rocks, beyond the tunnel overhanging the water. The shining river placidly flowing under the sun and bear- ing the lazy sail upon its bosom, unruffled by the slightest breath of wind, presented a restful picture and invited him to the contemplation of a repose to which his mind had been a stranger for many days. Yielding to its influence, he rested his elbows upon a jutting rock extending beyond the line of the shore, and with his head upon his hands dreamily viewed the peaceful scene. His attention, however, was taken by a discordant shout beneath him, and looking down, he saw a small rowboat, with three men in it, one of whom was stand- ing in the bow, ready to spring on to land when the boat reached the shore. ‘Though the distance was great, he thought he recognized in the standing man one employed by Mr. Hetlow at “The Larches,’’ who had impressed himself upon him by his ill-favored face. The man who was pulling the bow oar turned his head to see how the other would make his landing, thus presenting a side face to view, when with a start Dick thought he recognized the features of Ransom, who had called upon him five days previously. At this mo- ment the man lifted his head, saw Dick, turned away quickly, and though the one who had leaped to shore turned his face to those 1n the boat, the man at the bow oar said something to the other and they pulled sharply Comicloeo® S C@ 3