Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 233 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 233: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful titled "My Lord Rawdon and the Runty Rebel." The text depicts a confrontation in Charleston between Lord Rawdon and a missionary named Anderson who arrives by ship, followed by a scene where a character named Tom becomes aware he is being followed through the streets. The passage ends with the street suddenly erupting into chaotic crowds apparently intent on vengeance, though Tom cannot determine the cause. The narrative concerns itself with espionage, pursuit, and Revolutionary War-era colonial intrigue.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
My Lorp Rawpon AND THE Runty REBEL 218 stir to wrath the haughty Germantown dames at the sur- render! ~ Who are you? — eh!” The missionary to the Indians, who had eee meekly scraping some candle-grease from his measly sleeve, man- aged to answer: “My name is Anderson, please Your Lordship. I arrived last night —”’ ‘ Does anybody in Charleston know who you are, man?” “I am not unknown to Colonel Wemyss, of Your Lordship’s staff.” A hit! And of course Wemyss was still numbered among Sumter’s prisoners, on Broad River. “Reached Charleston last night, you say?” “Yes, my Lord: aboard the brig Nancy Ireson,” humbly. Rawdon turned contemptuously away; and his rejoinder to the Sergeant was distinct enough. “Arrest him? No! What do I want with such crow-bait? It’s Marion I want! And I'll take him!” Oh, but it was good to be out in the night once more; the pavement under his feet, the sea-wind in his face. dnd Marion safe! “*Would n't I like to ‘bust out’ in a corn- shuckin’ song!’ The moon was coming up now, and the boy feasted his eyes on the picturesque old city, set in ethereal splendor. Stopping short to look about him, he discovered that somebody was dogging his steps. “My Lord’s spy saw me come out.” He tramped on, outwardly unsuspicious but full of perturbation. Then he tried to dodge his pursuer. The latter knew Charleston better than did Tom. He picked up the trail and came on. Anxiety got hold on the Virginian. “Tf the spies are after me, I’Il keep away from Rory,”’ and he turned back, retracing his steps for half a mile. And now the spy hid himself. At this instant the street was thrown into a tumult of excitement over something. [om could not make out the cause. People came rushing from every door; clamorous crowds filled the streets. [hat they were bent on vengeance CONRNICLOOO® SS (CO) im