A Silver Brand — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. ee Cee will help me a little longer? I must get well. Imust get strong enough to go upon the search.” “Yes, sir. It has been a sore trial to all to have you here unable to give even a helping word.” ‘IT wish you would tell me what has been done. Who .; | has taken charge of the investigation? I wish you would bring your brother here.” “I will tell Mr. White,” answered Penelope, ‘meekly. “They will none of them listen to a word of mine. Theo- dosia has won over Paul, and I cannot wonder. Itisa terrible blow to lose Lina. Oh, heavens! but is it not most terrible of all for me?” ‘Poor creature!” repeated Nat, pitifully. ‘‘This is in- deed a sore strait for all of us. My head will scarcely bear too deep thought. I will try to rest a little now, and then. will you send for some one who can: tell me what has been © done, and how much discovered? I must find them! I will find them !” : At that very moment, over in the old Jight-house cottage Lina was flinging herself upon Serena’s breast, and crying out bitterly : : ‘‘Oh, Serena, my hopes begin to failme. Nat is dead— he must be dead, or he would have found us before now. And this new movement frightens me. I’m afraid. Oh, I am so afraid !” ‘‘Hush, darling. Heaven has protected us from real harm yet. Is not the Lord the ruler of the sea as well as of the land. It seems hard, very hard for us to be torn away and carried thus from home and ‘friends; but, dear Lina, it will be our own country still. And you remember how we have longed to see the fatherland,” answered _ Serena, soothingly. “And poor Stephano. They were talking angrily and pitilessly about him. Oh, Serena, I am afraid they will kill him, or throw him overboard.” “They shall not!” cried Serena, while her blue eyes flashed ominously. “Robinson is somehow afraid of me. He shall only kill Stephano when they have first killed me.” ‘“‘Tf we had only let him’ try to escape when he was so anxious for it,” sighed Lina. “Oh, how foolish and reck- less we were! It seems now as if it would have been nothing for us three to have conquered those two men here in this peaceful spot, so near our friends. But how helpless we shall be, in the power of a lawless crew on board that schooner on the broad ocean. Oh, Serena, my courage failsme at the thought. And what will they SS (Efe) EOMIGHDOO