A Silver Brand — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

152 A SILVER BRAND. first train to the port. I want to put a watch on the passengers in the ocean steamers.” Paul looked up quickly. | “The ocean steamers!” ejaculated he, his very lips blanching, and then he stopped short and looked at Nat, sullenly and suspiciously. ‘*Yes,” returned Nat, calmly, ‘‘that is the route refugees from justice usually take. Their first move is to get out of the country.” ‘“‘And would Lina be taken likewise? Great heavens! the mischief that may come of it!” muttered Paul, wiping his clammy forehead. “Theodosia was right. After that warning we should not have left her out of our sighta single moment, day or night.” Nat leaped ashore the moment they touched the beach. of the mainland, and bidding Paul precede him up the path, hurried around himself to the cabin of a clam-dredger just in sight. | The man was just bringing up some young lobsters caught by his traul, and turned respectfully when Nat called to him. ‘‘Mike, do you remember the young gentleman you brought over to the island? The stranger who wanted me to get him a collection of birds, you know ?” : “Oh, yes—Mr. Nat—I remember him.” “You are almost always around when boats come and go from this side. Did you see anything of him yesterday ?” “To be sure I did. He came over with White, the fisherman, and went off up to the village.” ‘‘He did not come back with White, though I had rea- son to expect him,” spoke up Nat, sharply. “No, sir, he didn’t,” said Mike, digging one brown hand into the shock of sandy hair under his torn straw hat. Td a plaguey sight rather ha’ seen him than as he did O ) “How was that?” demanded Nat, pulling desperately at his neck-cloth as if something were strangling him there. “ He went with the pretty schoolmarm, with Miss Serena, sir. And he looked mightily pleased about it, and too handsome by half for my liking. It isn’t much good fora pretty girl like her to be listening to the idle talk of these fine foreigners; now, is it, Mr. Nat? I wish you’d hint it to her, for she’s a good girl. My Nell thinks she’s plaguey near an angel without wings.” : ‘‘He went with Serena!” ejaculated Nat, hoarsely. ‘‘How had he seen her?) Where had he made her acquaintance ?” comicbooks (ele)