Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

132 Tom ANDERSON, DareE-DEVIL whose courage and fidelity my brother’s life was saved.” It was the proudest moment of the boy’s existence. “And now, Tom Calvert, in the name of the Continental Congress, what was that explosion?” “Oh, Troupe! The precious powder!” “What the deuce! Did I explode a mine? Who had powder here, in this sky-scooping wilderness?” “T had. Barrels of it!” “The one thing needful for our salvation! Its price is above rubies! It — oh, what an infernal ass I was to touch off such a treasure!”” groaned the soldier. “Tt was a treasure! But it’s gone up in smoke. Yes, it was buried under the cornstalks — in the ground. Horn- buckle left the powder to me. I meant to talk it over with you and Unaka, and devise some way to get our prize down the mountain. Of course, | intended to turn it over to the authorities, for army use.” He stared at the stink- ing trench which yawned before them. Out of the night and the wilderness came a long, high- pitched yell. The three looked sharply at each other. ‘Tom was tense. “°Possum-hunter’s holler? Yes; but that’s no ’possum- hunter!”’ — and a leonine look stole over the stained face. “They are stirred up about that tremendous explosion. | >? They are coming to find out what it means! ‘The Tories?” ‘Tories; bushwhackers; cut-throats.”’ “By Jove! Believe you are right, Tom Calvert!” “T know I am,” sharply. “How are we off for arms? My two pistols; my sword; Unaka’s knife; your knife and rifle. No more guns?” “No. And we are three to forty-five or fifty. Big gang of ‘em. Hold on, Troupe. They don’t know anything about you or Unaka. They'll look for me. If I can’t be found, they’ll conclude that I too was blown up in the cabin.” “By Jove!” ‘And after they make up their minds I’m dead and ECONMMICOOOKS,(©) m