Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

156 Tom ANDERSON, DarE-DEVIL “Deliver it to the Governor as quick as you can. For God’s sake, don’t put it in any hand but his. Now ride!” After he was in the saddle, the bearer of this queer mili- tary report looked at his prisoner with a lurid leer. “Now I got thur letter, whut’s ter hender me fum put- . eed tin’ out yer chunk Troupe’s face did not change. But ah, the serenity of his scorn! “Only one thing. I should n’t be worth a thrip to you, dead!” It would be hard to overstate the dismay and alarm of Dr. Pratt and his household when they found that Troupe was gone. [he wounded boy had left his bed! Gone, and made no sign! Noiselessly had he gone, or some of the servants would have been waked by his movements; secretly he had departed, or he would have left a word or line. ‘Damme, sir! What’s happened to the boy? I'll know! I’ll find him. Is a sick boy to be spirited from under my roof — and that boy Troupe Anderson ?”’ Here, Tony’s murmur, “Doctor, Mrs. Anderson’s car- riage, sir.” This, possibly, was the most trying moment of John Pratt’s life. He wrenched himself into composure. He endeavored to meet Mrs. Anderson and Dare without the face of foreboding. What could escape Sarah Anderson? ‘Troupe is worse!” ING; Wadarics “Something’s wrong?” ‘Tam anxious about him.” ‘More mystery!” ‘Aye,’ mopping his mottled forehead, “more mystery! He’s not able to walk. And he’s gone! I can offer no ex- planation.” Cool, dim, rose-scented, the deserted bedchamber. On the candle-stand lay a sword; and crouching by it, on guard, a little Indian dog. Later in the day the horse Troupe had ridden was Eomichbooks (E(0) m