Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 334: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

316 Tom ANDERSON, DaARE-DEVIL inch in length, had been cut in the shape of a fish; every scale was sharply distinct. That it was a jewel of great antiquity was without doubt. Its splendor was indescrib- able. Tom cried out, wildly: “It’s a pot of gold! Unaka, well go home, home!” He could n’t see De la Jonquiére, who was at Codring- ton College, and he bent over his desk till dark, his pulses beating a devil’s tattoo. The following day was Sunday. He hurried off to consult the Princess. She turned pale at the story, but the sight of the antique gem awoke her ecstasy. “My dear boy, it’s a prince’s ran- som !”’ “Nearly blinds a fellow!” “T am greedy with covetousness. It would glorify a ducal collection.” “Tt must be ancient as the hills. Madame la Princesse, do you recall the description of one of the emeralds Cortez carried back to Spain? — ‘the emerald fish,’ you know?” “Ah! Aztec!” She looked wistfully at the boy. “You are beyond the reach of lean fortunes forever, Carabas! You will no longer need your friends.” “God forbid I should ever forget them!” Lord Mulgrave, Eugéne, and Lady Amy were admitted to the council-table of Fortune. “There are huge possibilities within your grasp now, young man,” said the Governor-General, ponderously. “The greatest, Your Lordship, is home!”’ “The idea of your sneaking off like that!” exclaimed De la Jonquiére. “You are just the age to enter Codrington College. One term there, and then to Paris with me.” “God bless you, De la Jonquiére. But you forget the ‘ragged Rebs’ at home. I'll go home and raise an army for Sumter. Come and help me! Be Colonel the Marquis de la Jonquiére!”’ Lord Mulgrave pulled his mustache. “You youngsters must remember I’m an officer of the Crown.” And the big emerald — fast on that ferocious finger the shark’s ECONMMICOOOKS.(© m