Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 389 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 389: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from Chapter XXXIX, titled "DARE," in what appears to be a Victorian sensational novel. The text describes a crisis unfolding at a plantation called Oxheart: Dr. Pratt warns that outbuildings will be burned and livestock seized unless a would-be murderer is found by daybreak. After midnight, soldiers arrive, break into the wine-cellar, become drunk, and begin looting and burning tobacco-houses while Mrs. Anderson observes the chaos. The passage ends with drunken soldiers forcing their way into the upper rooms of the house.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHAPTER XXXIX DARE BEFORE Dare could give Mrs. Anderson the substance of the interview with the great cavalry leader, Dr. Pratt came upstairs with another message. “I bring sorry news, madam,” he said heavily. “Will they set fire to my house?” “The house will be spared, because one of His Majes- ty’s officers lies in it. However, if the murderous wretch who attempted Leslie’s life is not discovered, — and that shortly, — the tobacco-houses, smoke-houses, barns, will be burned; cattle, horses, sheep, and niggers — every head of ’em!— will be driven off before daybreak.” The crisis had come! It was long after midnight before the saturnalia was on. First, a party of horsemen rode away from Oxheart. The beat of rhythmic hoofs died along the highway. After which—the storm broke. How Egger got hold of the keys of the wine-cellar remained forever unexplained. He got them — and his price for them. Before long the house was filled with drunken soldiery — and spoliation began. Stumbling feet and bawling voices were every- where; there were cries of “Loot!” “Loot!” Presently the whole sky reflected the light of burning tobacco- houses. Came a great white light; a roar; and the stench of consuming fats. ‘They are burning the smoke-houses,” said Mrs. An- derson. Louder and louder the unseemly noises in the body of the house. Staggering feet were in the upper hall now. The door shook to kicks and blows. There was a stum- bling, drunken rush for the adjoining room, a guest- chamber, just now a sewing-room where Mimi’s wedding GOMmMiIGsdoo <S (EO)