Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 19 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 19: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This is a page of running prose from chapter 3 of a work titled *Oxheart*. The text depicts a conversation between boys—Peachy, Tom, and others—discussing Virginia's military straits during the American Revolution. They debate stories about the Governor of Virginia's desperate measures to arm troops, discuss Tom's admired brother Troupe's military equipment, and speculate about finding a new lead vein to replace one that has allegedly run out for musket-ball production. The dialogue mixes boyish bravado about pirates and combat with serious concerns about the shortage of military supplies.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
OXHEART 3 “Peachy, where did you get that story?”’ “Fact. [he Governor told my father about it.” “Ts that the way the Governor of Virginia means to arm Virginia troops? For the Lord’s sake!’”? That matters were going badly for the American cause, that the army was in dire straits, every man, woman, and child in Virginia knew. And everybody in the Thirteen States might have known it; albeit the Governor of Virginia did not think the Gen- eral-in-Chief of the American army acted as if he knew it. But this expedient of the Governor’s — why, it was a des- perate measure. _ “Well, that’s what we are coming to,”’ Peachy went on. “Wonder how Troupe will look, totin’ an ole tomahawk!”’ derisively. ‘Ensign Anderson will come home danglin’ powdered scalps at his belt! Britishers!”’ “Troupe!”’ exclaimed Tom ‘indignantly, — “Troupe’s got the finest kind o’ sword. And a pair o’ pistols that would make you blink to look at ’em.’’ And he added hotly, “It’s not only the redcoats; we’ve got the devilish Tories and the bloody Shawnees to handle.”’ “And not powder and shot enough to go round. Don’t you wish we could find a pirates’ cave, somewhere, — out on Peter’s Mountain or somewhere, — full of lead and kegs of powder? We could turn it all over to Light-Horse Harry, or somebody. Eh, Tom?” Tom did n’t sneer. What boy ever turned a dull ear to that countersign of boyhood, “Pirates.”” But he was uill- pleased with Peachy’s gibe about Troupe. That gallant, brilliant, handsome brother of his was Tom’s idol. So he was stubbornly matter-of-fact. That’s one way we may get even with these imaginative folks. “D’ you know that the lead-vein that furnishes all the musket-balls for our army has given out?” It was Peachy’s turn to look “rattled.” His eyes bugged out. He gave a long whistle. _ “Who says so?r’”’ “The Governor. Why can’t somebody get out and find another vein? That would be worth doing. Carr says CORMIELOO© SS (C(O) mn