Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 293 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 293: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful titled "A Wild Challenge" (page 275). The text describes a dramatic conference scene in which a young man named Tom presents a Cherokee man to colonial officials in Barbados, including the Bishop and Lord Mulgrave. Tom reveals that he speaks multiple languages—French, Latin, Cherokee, and English—impressing the assembled dignitaries with his dignity and eloquence despite his ragged appearance. The passage emphasizes the profound effect his straightforward manner has on his listeners.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A Witp CHALLENGE 275 There was wide disparity in the years of these men: there was wider disparity in their characters: their for- tunes were poles asunder. Nevertheless, you might have sworn by any one of them. Now ensued a queer, queer conference. And it cul- minated in a scene as dramatic as ever met any eye in that old island. And the old island has seen some sights itself, since ancient Holetown was new. Tom was made known to the Bishop of Barbados and the Windward Isles; to Lord Mulgrave, Governor-General of Barbados, Tobago, Trinidad, the Grenadines, St. Vin- cent, St. Lucia, Martinique, etc., etc.; to Saunders Mac- glashan, M.D.; and to Richard Knatchbull, Esq. With defiant dignity, he (in turn) presented a tattered and starved Cherokee. He drew his naked heels together, and made an obeisance. His grace was the grace that had come down to him through many Cavaliers. ‘Gentlemen, allow me to present to you the only friend I can boast in these latitudes, Unaka Nung-noh-hut- tar-hee, Kar-nung-dar-har-gah, son of the memorable chief Going Snake. This Cherokee’s virtues outweigh his mis- fortunes. Being in a worse plight than shipwrecked men, our sorry appearance demands no apology.”’ “Upon my soul, Your Lordship, this is no scurvy fel- low,” murmured Bishop Coleridge to Lord Mulgrave, in French. . “YT beg Your Lordship’s pardon,” said Tom quietly. “T understand French.” The Bishop raised his eyebrows; and his splendid violet eyes seemed to grow blacker as he listened. “Any other tongues?”’ - Latin, and Cherokee. English, of course, ‘comes by nature, ’ like Dogberry’s reading and writing.” The Governor and the Bishop exchanged glances. As there was nothing indirect, false, or flabby in this boy, there was no “waste motion” in his story. It made a profound impression. “Do I understand that you claim descent from some GOmiGcsoo SS (SO) im