Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

174 NED BRIGHTS WORK. CHAPTER XXXIII. NED BRIGHT’S WORK. ‘‘One minute for prayer, my dear captain,’’ cried the colonel, in a voice of sneering sarcasm. “Are you ready, boys?’’ — This, on seeing that Captain Chetwood made no move nor uttered a word. ‘Ready! Take aim!’ Six carbines fell to a level with the breast of Royal Chetwood. He closed his eyes to await the fatal shot. ~ Clatter—clatter—clatter ! A single horseman came dashing down through the - woods and gained the scene just as Colonel ‘Trafton’s “*take aim?’ fell on the air. ‘“Hold! Up with your arms!”’ Clear as a bell came the voice, not heavy for a man’s. In fact, the rider of the steed was nothing but a boy, with fine, flashing eyes. The command to fire was not given just then, The new-comer’s steed* was flecked with foam, and the flush of excitement filled the boy’s cheeks. “Well, what is the matter now?’’ demanded Colo- nel Trafton, angrily. ‘‘Is yonder man Captain Chetwood ?”” ‘(Tre is. »» “‘T suspected as much. You then are Colonel Traf- ton, of Mosby’s command?’ pursued the boy, fixing his. eyes in a steady, unflinching gaze on the face of the leader. ‘Right again,’’ growled Trafton. ‘‘Explain your business at once.’ “‘T was instructed to place this in your hands.” "4 comicbooks co nN .