A Silver Brand — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

—— 188 a SILVER BRAND, Pa any noise. The first one that maks a single cry will be shot dead. You know what that means, and you see ’m ready to do it.” ~ Serena flung her arms around Lina, and the latter, trembling in every limb, clung to her, but neither ven- tured to speak. . Meantime Mike had advanced toward them. His power- ful arms seized upon the nearest, and—how they scarcely knew—their arms were pinioned, and gags thrust ruth- lessly into their mouths. | are Serena had struggled, and desperately, but only man- aged to articulate a single sharp cry for help before she was rendered helpless. She twisted herself around, how- ever, and looked imploringly toward the boat that in re- sponse to her cry seemed fairly leaping across the water. Singularly enough the two ruffians failed to be aware of its approach until it was near enough for the owner to give one superhuman pull, and hurl it against theirs. How like a young warrior god looked the tall, graceful figure, that leaped forward, eyes blazing, arms uplifted ‘threateningly to Serena’s eyes. “Villains! ruffians! what outrage is this?” cried Ste- phano’s ringing voice. | “In Satan’s name, who are you?” growled out Robin- oe e if you care anything about your life go back from this.’ | , Stephano’s answer was to leap upon him and dash down the pistol, which fell over into the water as the boat keeled over on its side beneath the! weight of the struggling figures. Stephano fought like a young lion, but even while he seemed bearing down the burly form the other ruffian with uplifted oar came behind him. Oh, if Serena could have torn away the horrible gag that nearly strangled her! She writhed and twisted vainly to give their gallant defender some warning of the menacing danger. All in vain. The oar crashed down and the noble figure dropped like a log, and lay stirless in the bot- tom of the boat. Robinson shook himself free with an angry oath. | “Blast him! you served him a good turn. Mike, roll him back into his own boat, and push him off—the med- dling fool—and be lively about it. We’ve got to end this before the tide turns.” Mike lifted the senseless figure, and dropped it into Nat’s boat again, but had _ scarcely accomplished the feat when his leader declared ; : <: comicbooks co