The Yankee Champion — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

HE YANKEE CHAMPION. 103 energy, at the same time casting his eyes about upon his companions. ‘‘Mason was too keen for that.’’ ‘*But not too cool,’’? said Wimper. The rest all looked at the half-breed, and upon the mind of Silas Ryan the meaning of that remark at once opened itself. He was moved by a deadly fear, for well he knew that all this disappointment had its origin in his own family. *‘T think Mason would not expose himself,’’ he said at length, in an uncertain, hesitating tone. ‘‘Mason chose his own course,’’ observed the In- dian; ‘‘and I was willing he should follow it; but he was not the man for sucha job. He’s altogether too confident in his own rough strength and physi- cal courage, and too hot-headed and ugly, by half. Now I hope you don’t think those Yankees are a set’ of fools; if they had been they wouldn’t have taken that brig-of-war. Why can’t you lay your plans ac- cording to your strength, and with some regard to the strength of other parties! I serve the British because they pay me in gold, but their gold don’t make me blind enough to think that they are ever going to subdue these colonies. While there’s money to be made, I shall keep making it, and Vl be faithful, too, to those I serve.. Now open your eyes. If I had a ton of gold, I’d wager it that Mason is dead.”’ ‘‘Dead?’’ repeated the others, in a breath. ‘Ves. 93 “But what makes you think so?’ asked yen turning pale. “Didn’t the captain of the sloop-of-war tell you that he saw the blaze, and heard the report of a pis- tol, or musket, in the brig’s fore-rigging?”’ cS (E(0) EOmMICchDoo mM