Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 297 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 297: 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 279). The text depicts a dramatic confrontation in which a character named Tom challenges Richard Knatchbull to a sword duel, with the stakes being that the loser becomes the winner's slave or bond-servant for life. The passage culminates in Knatchbull raising his fist in response while a Cherokee character named Going Snake appears with a knife, suggesting imminent violence. The melodramatic language and sensational stakes are typical of the genre.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
/ A WILp CHALLENGE 279 But Dick had no ears for anything but Tom. “You? Defy — me!” “T do.” ‘Tom stepped forward; his eyes were like blown coals. “I challenge you to settle the matter with swords. Come — I won’t be outdone in generosity! Ah, ha, ha!” his laugh sent a shock to the heart of every listener. “We will fight a duel which shall determine the question of ownership. The victor shall be master! The defeated fellow — the slave! Do you accept! If I lose, I am to be your bond-servant for life. If I win, I promise not to make you a hard master. Richard Knatchbull, I dare you to settle this issue at the sword’s point!”’ The West-Indian wheeled about, took one step toward Tom, and raised his ivory-white, sinewy, terrible fist. “U-hlu!” croaked the Cherokee, the knife of Going Snake twinkling above Knatchbull’s head. GOMIGD OO SS) (C(O)