Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 272 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 272: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful titled "Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil" (page 254). The text depicts a dramatic scene in which a mysterious prisoner named Anderson is revealed to be "Dare-Devil," a notorious half-breed scout and aide to the rebel general Sumter. As various British officers recognize him—including Colonel Wemyss, Colonel Tarleton, and others—they realize he is responsible for past attacks against them, leading Rawdon to denounce him as a spy. The passage emphasizes melodramatic tension through exclamations and physical reactions (fist-pounding, jumping from chairs).
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
254 Tom ANDERSON, DarE-DEvIL A quick step, the door swung open, and the British Colonel — an exchanged prisoner from Sumter’s camp on Broad River, but just arrived — came in. He wasted no look on the wretched figure in black until His Lordship indicated it. “Picked up at a rendezvous for dangerous Rebels. Seems to think you can identify him.” “T?’Pon my soul, I’m at a loss. Why — er — what’s your name?” with a contemptuous, frowning, grudging glance. “ Anderson.” At the sound of Tom’s voice, Colonel Wemyss was no longer annoyed and supercilious. He wheeled and con- fronted the speaker. “It’s Sumter’s aide!” “What do you mean, Wemyss?” Rawdon’s voice was stern. Colonel Wemyss brought his fist down on the table with a thump that made the towering silver lamp tremble — and Habersham jumped out of his chair. “T mean that the fellow inside of that black rag is ‘Dare-Devil’ the half-breed. The boast of the Border! Sumter’s aide-de-camp!”’ Enormous mirrory panels of mahogany pleated them- selves into one; and through the folding doors came the group from the dining-room. “May it please Your Lordship —” began a slim cornet. He stopped short, in much excitement. He pointed a finger at the chaplain. “It’s the ‘black Highlander’ — that knocked down Val Paris! By Jove, Your Lordship —” “What’s that, Frobisher? Why, damme, sir! It’s the half-breed that put the bullet through my sleeve at Black- stock’s!’’— and Colonel Banastre Tarleton’s great stag’s- eyes flared upon Tom. ‘““A spy!” thundered Rawdon — his reticence ripped from him. Dugald, the piper, sidled through the dining-room door. Eomicbooks (E(0) m