In Search of an Unknown Race — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

24 VAN. the prostrate form of Smith, Tom seized Van by the shoulder, while the schooner, with no one at the wheel, came flying up in the wind. ‘¢‘Quick—inter de launch!” he hurriedly exclaimed, jumping at the same moment from the main channels into the towing boat. Van seized Captain Peterson’s revolver from the deck where it had fallen, and thrusting it into his sip sprang at a bound, inio the launch. Slashing the painter with his sheath knife, the negro pushed the boat clear of the schooner, as the voice of Bates rose above the confusion. ‘‘Hard over the wheel, Smith, if you’ve got sense enough left in that thick skull of yours! Flatten in the head sheets! ‘Trim down the fore sheet—so—that will do! Now, meet her with the helm!” While he was thus thundering out order after order, Tom and Van were cutting loose the mast, sail, and rudder from their lashings under the thwarts, and in an incredibly short time the launch was running before the steady breeze. The moon was obscured by drifting clouds, and the haze indicative of their nearness to the shore was be- ginning to rise from the surface of the water. But that the launch could still be seen from the Rattler’s deck was evident from the sharp fusillade which suddenly followed as the vessel wore round and started in full pursuit. ‘<She sail two foot to our one—not’ing sabe us now but gale ob wind, Mist’ Briscoe,” said the negro, shak- ing his head. Van made no reply. He knew that if the launch was GEOmiGdoOoks? (E(0)