Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 367 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 367: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Analysis of Page Content This is a page of running prose from Chapter XXXVI of a Victorian penny dreadful. Old Rory McIntosh searches for his brother Tom the morning after a duel involving Sir Æneas. Rory visits the Savage house seeking Tom, where he meets a man named Troupe (described as Virginian). Rory initially mistakes Troupe's identity but soon learns that Tom Calvert is not in Charleston. The passage reveals that Major Anderson is imprisoned on a prison-ship, and Rory spends four weeks searching jails and attempting to contact prisoners, apparently without success. The narrative mixes Scottish dialect with standard English and suggests themes of family separation and wartime imprisonment.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHAPTER XXXVI THE BULL BEFORE THE GUN WHEN Old Rory McIntosh left the bedside of Sir Eneas, the morning after the duel, he set out to look for Tom. ‘Nae doot he’s wi’ his brither, at the auld hoose they ca’ Hungry Hall.” As the winter sun rose — and the Nancy Ireson stood out to sea — Rory strode off to the old Sav- age house. Troupe met him at the door. “Eh, sirs! It’s the chiel wha warsted The McIntosh!” he said to him- self. “Hello! The old chap who picked up the Baronet like a young lamb and toted him home!” was the Virgin- ian’s reflection. The beauty and bearing of the youngster fairly staggered Rory. Could that slim hand — carrying an old battered coffee-pot — be “maister o’ the braid- sword”? ‘“T am Major Roderick McIntosh,” stiffly. “I wad be muckle pleased tae speak wi’ Captain Anderson —”’ “I’m very much at your service, sir. It’s an honor to know any of the clan McIntosh. Come in, Major.” Rory melted. “He has the bonny mow’ an’ the smile o’ Tammie: as like as twa peas.” — “T’m_ seekin’ Daur-Deevil: Tammie: your brither? Pes herer”’ “My brother? Tom Calvert? Not in Charleston!” hoarsely. “Whaur, then, is he? I’God’s name? Was na he at ye elbow 1’ the kirk last nicht?’? And Rory poured out the story of Tom in Charleston; of all that had befallen Tom since the brothers parted. Moreover, Troupe now found out that Major Anderson was on the prison-ship. For four weeks they searched for Tom. Rory visited the jails, and tried to reach the prison- ship. Every effort to communicate with prisoners in the GOMmMiGcsoo SS (CO) im