Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 295 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 295: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Description of Page 277 This is a page of running prose dialogue from chapter titled "A Wild Challenge" in what appears to be a Victorian sensation novel. The text depicts a heated confrontation between characters including Knatchbull, Tom (apparently a man of mixed race), and Lord Mulgrave, concerning Tom's legal status and ownership. The exchange involves accusations about slavery, racial identity, and a bill of sale, with Knatchbull claiming ownership of Tom based on documentation listing him as "mulatto." Tom attempts to establish his legitimacy by referencing military service, but Knatchbull counters that this would not prove identity. The language throughout employs period racial terminology in dialogue that reflects the novel's apparent engagement with themes of slavery, identity, and colonial society.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
A WiLtp CHALLENGE | 0277 Knatchbull looked at Tom casually. “Do you think I’d take that much trouble for two thousand pounds?”’ He dropped his eyelids scornfully. “*Trouble! Are you going to let a bold thief “hull’ you like a peapod?r”’ “Higgins would show a clear warrant for the transac- tion, if he were brought to trial. The bill of sale (here’s the original) from Columbus Egger to Higgins sets forth that Anderson is ‘mulatto.’ This would be Higgins’s pro- tection. He’s got us there,’ observed Lord Mulgrave. “And I’ve got two thousand pounds locked up in you/”’ Dick Knatchbull turned half toward Tom, spilling the words with lazy rancor. “What?” hotly. “Do you trade in white men in Bar- bados?”’ “Sometimes. ”’ “My dear Richard,” protested the Bishop. The black eyebrows took a sardonic slant. “But I bought you for a mulatto.”’ “Which Dr. Macglashan attests I’m not,” calmly. “Mac can’t swear you are not an octoroon. And if you ve got one ounce of nigger blood in you — you are mine.” Rage well-nigh got the better of Tom physically. “Do you imagine that if I had ‘one ounce of nigger blood’ in me, I could have been General Sumter’s aide- de-camp?!”’ “Who knows that you were?” Tom drove his nails into his palms. “Vessels go from here to Charleston. A letter to Colonel Wemyss of Lord Rawdon’s staff will establish the fact that Thomas Anderson—called ‘Dare-Devil’ — was Sumter’s aide, and — ”’ Babble! he choked. Not another word would come. “But would not prove that Thomas Anderson, called ‘mulatto,’ is one and the same person,”’ came the retort, in Knatchbull’s polished, dawdling accents. Lord Mulgrave was silent. He was never precipitate. GoOmiGcsoo SS (SO) im