The Yankee Champion — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

144 | ‘(PHE YANKEE CHAMPION. Luke paid no attention to the cringing coward, but springing toward Ryan he struck him a blow in the pit of the stomach that settled him upon the turf like arag. Once more he set the lantern upon the ground, and having secured Ryan’s pistol and placed it in his pocket, he turned toward Dow. ‘Now, start for your home, you brandy-bloated villain, or [ll shoot vou like adog! Start!”’ , Dow waited to hear no more, nor did he think of looking ufter the fate of the companion he left be- hind, but turning quickly upon his heel, he fled as fast as his legs would carry him. By the time Dow had got out of sight Ryan had arisen to his feet. Luke picked up the lantern, and holding a cocked pistol in his hand, he faced his soi- disant master. ‘‘Soper, did you kill these men?’’ asked the old Tory, in a trembling, fearful tone. “Yes, I did, Silas Ryan. I told you I would watch over and protect that boy, and when I said so, I meant it. I didn’t think you would try to kill him again.”’ ‘‘T didn’t try to kill him.”’ ‘‘Don’t blacken your soul any more, Silas Ryan.”’ Ryan gazed into the face of the man before him, but he did not speak—he could not. The time, the place, the scene, and the circumstances, all com- bined to affect him thus. His face was of a livid hue, and he trembled like a ghost-frightened girl. ‘“‘Go back to vour house, Silas Ryan, and leave the boy with me. I will meet you there again.”’ ‘‘Luke,’’ gasped the terror-stricken, miserable wretch, ‘‘you have not betrayed me?”’ ‘No, nor will [if you leave me now, Go home, - : ‘ ' A Res a it he . . 4 Md Ot a Oy r . . - ¥ ‘ aJ : comicbooks