Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

BERTHA AND THE MAJOR. cn net BL ‘“You have no objection to our searching the house, I suppose ?’’ said the major, after a time. ‘“None whatever,’’ answered the farmer. ‘‘The Yankees have about ruired me, and nothing worse can happen.”’ . ‘‘Fixcept they take your life, sure.’ “T am not sure but that would prove a picasa fe was the old farmer’s lugubrious rejoinder. The major, at the head of half a dozen of his men, began a search of the house. Perhaps the officer did not believe the farmer a Confederate sympathizer, and wished to satisfy him- self. ‘“They will find our guest—Mr. Bluff,’ uttered Bertha, 1n a low tone, to her uncle. ‘‘If they learn who he is, the poor fellow will be murdered.’’ ‘‘Ah, Heaven!’’ groaned Orvin Clymore, ‘I am nearly distracted. If any more blood is shed I shall die.”’ ‘‘Hist! Here they come. Leave all to me,’’ whisp- ered Bertha, who at heart a stanch Southerner, was not ready to see Moses Bluff murdered in his helpless- ness. At the top of the stairs Bertha stood when Major de Banyan ascended. ~My brother is in yonder room. He was at Fish- er’s Hill, and was wounded ; you will not disturb him ?”? “T will see him, at any rate,’’ said the major, and Bertha was forced to conduct him to the presence of the young Unionist. Unfortunately, Bluff’s nether limbs were incased in pantaloons, and the color at once attracted the eye of Major de Banyan, and excited his suspicions at the same time. ‘‘So, ho! young man, you are one of Sheridan’s rough riders, eh ?”? “‘T never deny——”’ (Ee) cS CcComicboo ml