Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 284 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 284: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis This is a page of running prose from *Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil*, a Victorian penny dreadful (page 266). The text depicts an auction scene where an auctioneer conducts a heated bidding war over what appears to be enslaved people (referred to as "boys"). Dick Knatchbull ultimately wins the auction at two thousand pounds. The passage emphasizes the frenetic excitement of the bidding through rapid-fire dialogue and comparison to a horse-race, while the auctioneer's commentary mocks Knatchbull's competitive bidding style. The text makes clear this is a slave auction, though specific plot details beyond this scene are not visible on the page.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
266 Tom ANDERSON, DarE-DEVIL pounds. D’ you hear me?” “Eighty.” “Eighty-five.” ‘One hundred.” “Hundred and ten!” “And thirty.” — “And fifty.” Some of the planters laughed and shook their heads. Give the price of three “boys” for one? Not they. But as the number of bidders dwindled the excitement grew. Ihe auctioneer was tense. His voice was a gong. “One hundred and seventy-five? What, Mr. Townsend! A-h-h, two hundred and fifty. Three hundred! — from Mr. Knatchbull.” The bidding was fast and furious, now. The bidders few, and fierce. It was better than a horse-race. ‘Four hundred.” marye C6 S1x.”’ epeVER® “Nine! damme, sir!” “One thousand pounds “Mr. Cobbet offers one thousand pounds. One —” “One thousand and one hundred.” Dick Knatchbull took a step forward, and scowled at two others afire with the gambling passion. “One thousand and two hundred.” ‘And three!” said a grim voice. ‘And four.” River €¢ Six.’ “Seven. “Fight! Eight! Ezght!/” barked Townsend. “One thousand and eight hundred pounds, gentlem —”’ ‘Two thousand pounds!” bellowed Dick Knatchbull. There was a fraction of a pause. The town clock chimed out. “One. Two.” “Two it is!”’ called Knatchbull triumphantly. “Two. Two! Two? Only two! Knocked down at two thousand pounds to Richard Knatchbull, Esq., of Guade- loupe, Barbuda, Barbados, the Grenadines, etc. Mr. Knatchbull bids like a Guadeloupe grandee.” {> Eomilcbooks (E(0) m