Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 279 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 279: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful novel titled "A Mulatto from the Rebel Plantations" (page 261). The dialogue concerns characters discussing the arrival of a slave ship in a colonial port. A man named Knatchbull describes pursuing an enslaved vessel and mentions acquiring plantations; conversation turns to a trader's offer of a "mulatto from the Rebel Plantations" reportedly skilled in singing and banjo-playing. The text reflects the period's popular entertainment focused on colonial adventure and slavery-era commerce, rendered in dialogue among apparently upper-class British characters.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A MULATTO FROM THE REBEL PLANTATIONS 261 and goings were unceremonious. In fact, he was related in some way or other to Lord Mulgrave. A big, comely, but sulky-looking fellow with a moody eye was Knatchbull. “See that little bob-tailed brig yonder?”’ with a wave of the hand toward the bay. ‘I know her. That’s the slaver,”’ put in the boy. “Chased her all the way from Point Pitre to Carlisle Bay. Oh, I needed some boys. I was at Barbuda when she touched at Guadeloupe. Now that Guadeloupe’s an Eng- lish possession once more, I don’t mind buying plantations there. But the last one I got is deucedly run down —”’ ‘The cane does deteriorate so,” said Mrs. Council. “Goes to nothing. This time it was the soil: needs sea- mud. I’m going to send boatloads of it up the Lizard. Means a lot of work, and more niggers. So I had to follow the Yankee.”’ “We are much obliged to the Yankee for bringing you, Dick.” So! the moody eyes could kindle? “But was n’t I glad to get away?!” “The Marquis says Barbuda belongs to Cousin Alfred Codrington. Does it, Dick?” “Oh, the Marquis! Is he a ‘house-cat’ too, Lord Harry?” “Your little Lordship must not eat that apple without peeling it,’ interposed Mrs. Council. “Did you go over to the brig, Mr. Knatchbull?”’ “No; health officer has n’t made his report yet. Soon as the niggers are brought ashore I’m going down to look at "em. The trader says he has a mulatto from the Rebel Plantations he thinks would suit me. Fellow with all sorts of accomplishments, according to the trader. Looks like a coffee-colored ghost, and sings! — Lord, he outdoes the baritone they had at Covent Garden last time I was in London.” ) “Indeed? You saw him, then?” “Yes; we went alongside. He was propped up on the taffrail, making an old banjo hum. Happy as a lark! Lend — § GONNIECOO eS (C©) mn