The Yankee Champion — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

x THE YANKEE CHAMPION, Tt Baxter did not hear the slight rustling at the foot ofthe bed, nor did he see the form that crept from beneath it, for his back was turned that way. He put forth his left hand, as if to stop his mouth, and then he raised his knife. In another moment the blow would have baeh struck, but there was one present who had exactly calculated that moment himself. Luke Soper sprang like a cat upon the black-— hearted villain, placed his big hand upon his mouth, and drew the head back. At the same instant Luke’s right hand fell with a heavy blow, and the knife he held was buried to the hilt in the Tory-as- sassin’s heart. The faithful protector of the boy still held his hand upon Baxter’s mouth, and though the dying man struggled convulsively, yet he was held so firmly that he made no noise. The first movement of Luke, as he sprang upon the intended muiderer, which was a low, shuffling sound, had slightly disturbed the boy, and just as his preserver arose from the corpse, he started up in his bed. “sh! Keep perfectly still, Gideon; don’t make any noise. Up, quick! and dress yourself.’’ “Is that you, Luke?’’ “Yes, yes; get up and dress.”’ ‘““What’s the matter?’’ And the poor boy rubbed his eves to assure himself that he was awake. © ‘Your life ain’t safe a moment longer in this house. Don’t make a breath of noise. Get up and look here.”’ “‘Good heavens! Luke what is this?’’ | *<_sh! Don’t you see? It’s Baxter. Look in his hand. That knife wasfor you. They sent him up ra é ’ © —— + oe ge: oe d 00g ae ae Pe 7 from below to kill you, for they’ve sworn that you Eomicboo cS Aas . co