Penny Dreadfuls, 1888 · page 142 of 284
Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 142: what you’re looking at
A restored page from Penny Dreadfuls, 1888. Page through the whole issue in the reader above.
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> oa 5 ee e7] ‘ 4 il ee ; PA 9 {s % yb: Ps tae + ae th 132 | OCTAVIA'S PRIDE. swung to and fro, and rocked and creaked; but the little egoshell boat was like a feather in a whirlpool. Jane let go the oar, while the spray flew over her in rather uncomfortable shower-baths, and clung to the seat, expect- ing every moment to be tossed out upon the chilling wave. The fog and the darkness shut down around her, wiping out everything, and leaving only a staring black space, which her straining eyes in vain essayed to pierce. A sud- den shock, the lurch and quivering of her frail craft, and the event she dreaded came. She was tossed out as a cork might be flung upon the river. She screamed for help in- voluntarily, though she believed she had drifted against Aaron Morley’s boat. A stout, hearty voice responded close at hand: - ‘¢ Ahoy there! Who’sin trouble? Blast this ee fog. I’m here bending over the stern of my boat. Where are you? Sing out again if. there’s help wanted.” Jane struggled toward the voice,. buoyed up by her clothing, and regaining her presence of mind. “1 am a helpless woman, trying to escape from a cow- -ardly man,” said she. ‘‘ Help me, I pray you.” And in. a moment after she was able to discern the outline of a boat, and a dark figure stooping down to the water. ‘Here! here!” cried she, gasping and panting. He pushed a stroke with the oar, and seized her. It was the wounded shoulder, but Jane did not utteracry. Shesat down in the bottom of his boat as soon as he had dragged her in, and tried to stop shivering. The man, whoever he was, for the darkness would not al- low her to see his face to tell if it was familar, began ‘whistling. “This is a queer go,” said he, presently. «Where do you want me to take you? for I suppose you expect me to carry you where you were going, since I’ve run into you, and lost you your boat,” ‘ f ) aca 2 comic subi 5.0 , 4 é in 5 ‘ Me ft, : : / : +, - , +4 : EF, 5 SAE yy 4 4 See £5 ee ieee ogi? MAMAAF ho teste Spe matt Ae ean Oa Caregen siya Wick i