Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 231 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 231: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Page 213 This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful titled *My Lord Rawdon and the Runty Rebel*. The text depicts a dramatic escape scene where Tom helps a fugitive "Rebel" (likely a Scottish Highlander) evade capture by exchanging clothes with him and disguising him as a chaplain. When soldiers arrive demanding surrender, Tom stalls them by playing chess with a woman (apparently named Marion or associated with her) in a drawing-room, while the disguised fugitive prepares to flee. A servant named Tempe appears at the scene's end carrying a key-basket, as armed redcoats surround the house demanding the rebel's surrender.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
My Lorp RAwWpon AND THE RuUNTy REBEL 213 “Going to smoke me out, eh? Confound His Lordship! —and a wet boot!”’ tugging at the sodden boots. Tom groaned. “ They won't go on. Change clothes with me. Gives you another chance. Hurry!”’ “But your” “Who wants me?” An inspiration. Ina moment the apparel made the man. Lo, a lean, “runty”’ Highlander, and a swagger chaplain; dangerously alive — for a chaplain — and so buoyant and cocksure that his cut ill accorded with his cloth. Tom whispered: “lo pass for the Highlander that came into the house, you must be swarthy,” and an ink-bottle and handkerchief did the work. The two stained hands met, and Marion was gone. And now Tom wrestled with the stubborn boots. As he dragged them on, another signal from the secret door. She was there; she hurried him down into the drawing-room. She lighted taper after taper, until the room was brilliant with light. Then she set out a chess-board, whispering, as she bent above the pieces: “That was a brilliant ruse. You are brave! — quick-witted! God guard you — whoever you are!”’ Her passion thrilled him. Aloud he said, “It is your move, madam”’; under his breath he asked, — ““ What do you hear?” And she answered, under her breath, “The veranda is full of men!” The Venetian blinds were torn open; a saber rapped the glass; and a bullyragging voice commanded, — “Open this door, in the King’s name!” Tom took the candle from her hand. “Let me go, ma- dam,” and he threw the door wide to twoscore of redcoats. “Where is the Rebel? — Marion? Surrender him!” thundered an officer. The man in black answered with civil remonstrance, “He is not here, Captain.” Tempe came forward, extending a little key-basket, with a look of mannerly bewilderment. CONNIE HOOKS (C©) im