Penny Dreadfuls, 1899 · page 189 of 231
Ensign Merrill — page 189: what you’re looking at
A restored page from Penny Dreadfuls, 1899. Page through the whole issue in the reader above.
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~ oa 4 . mons « i, s “. - P.. / a ¥ x aay % si SES : “ sr att hee aes) 2), te aa aoe Sf aoe ; : > . i . Ms I x . ee St ake mito ; - “f has ‘ Fo oe tees ; : J Jae < 784 THE PIRA re caer. Ak “ ., . : a i “hs 7 - Bey ts Naa é aes with a and ceobabiy Sentibaiass two rooms. Traces _ here and there in the débris indicated that the furniture _ was good if not luxurious—the spoils of many dainty me cabins had no doubt been utilized. The party under Mark’s direction cautiously ascended the hill, and, passing close to the ruins, marched to the other slope. About midway down, a thick clump of trees was encountered. Pointing to it Chow, who walked at the ensign’s side, whispered that concealed therein was the entrance to the cavern storehouse. “How is it guarded?’ the ensign asked. | *“*T do not know,’’ replied the Chinaman, ‘‘but | bardly think there is any especial means taken to de-. fend it. The chief relies on its hidden entrance. I tell you frankly, sir, without my aid you could seareh for months without finding it.’’ | ‘“You will receive due credit for your valuable assist- ance,’’ answered Hare shortly. ‘‘Now, show us the way to the interior.’ | Stepping slightly ahead, Chow fords d his way be- tween a couple of the dieintad trees, and beckoned to the ensign. . Placing one hand on his revolver, Merrill fol- lowd him. ‘The underbrush was so dense that he could barely squeeze through, but by dint of using both arms he reached the renegade’s side. The latter was stand- ing in a little space rendered almost dark by the ver- dure overhead, but Mark was at last enabled to seea short and apparently decayed stump in the_ center. His attention was attracted to it by Chow’s actions. The man placed his arms around it and with a sharp tug lifted the wood clear of the ground, revealing a small cavity in which it had been inserted. Then stoop- ing over he thrust one hand in and fumbled about for a moment. A slight creaking noise behind caused Mark — to turn his head, and, to his unbounded aTALEOn he j